Page 49 of Frosted and Sliced

CHAPTER 21

They spent forever at the pet store. Suddenly Burke, who normally couldn’t care less about shopping, was all in on picking out the perfect pet accessories. He wanted Georgie’s opinion on collars, laying out several to choose between, and then spent more time picking toys than most people use when choosing a college to attend.

“I think the tiny mice are nice, but will they be too easily destroyed?” he asked, towering over them as they lay on the table, lifeless and immobile.

“I don’t know,” Georgie said. She wanted to be patient and helpful, she really did, but this was pointless to the extreme, almost ridiculous in the amount of time it took. Meanwhile she had actual work that needed to be done.

“Is catnip healthy for cats?” he asked. “Can they get addicted or get brain damage?”

“I don’t know,” Georgie said.

Burke sighed, eyes flitting between the two piles of toys.

“Burke,” she said, trying not to snap.

“Hmm?” he said.

“Get both,” she said.

“Oh, I guess I could. Okay. Is there anything else?” His eyes scanned the store with slow precision and Georgie had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming.

When they finally exited the store, her mind began doing calisthenics, trying to figure out what she could get done when she got home, but Burke steered her toward the food court.

“We’re eating?” she said, dismayed.

“Of course we are. I owe you for shopping with me today,” Burke said. “Anything you want, it’s my treat.” He motioned toward the food court where Georgie had her pick of cheesesteak, bourbon chicken, or egg rolls. None of it sounded good, but she couldn’t refuse Burke’s generosity.

“Bourbon chicken would be great,” she said.

“Great. Now, what do I want? Hmmm. Hmmm.” He eyed the food court with the same indecision he’d used in the pet store and Georgie wanted to cry.

“Get it all,” she tried.

He laughed. “That would be a lot of food and a lot of money,” he said, and she felt bad. Did Burke have the money for lunch? Especially after he’d spent so much at the pet store, he might be out of funds. She touched her hand to his bicep.

“You don’t have to pay for me. I can buy my own lunch, you don’t owe me.”

“Nonsense,” he said, giving her hand a pat. “I always pay my debts. Chicken cheesesteak? That’s wild,” he said, and then proceeded to read each menu like maybe it was going to show up on a test later while Georgie fidgeted from foot to foot, losing the battle with impatience.

They finally got their food and Burke ate with precision. Did he always eat like that and Georgette hadn’t noticed, or was his commitment to chewing each bite twenty times something new? In any case she wolfed down her food and then sat waiting an inordinately long time for him to finish. When that finallyhappened, they walked to the car and started to drive, and it took Georgette a long time to notice they weren’t headed home.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I wanted to check out a warehouse,” he said.

“Why?” she asked. She probably sounded whiny and desperate, but she couldn’t help it. This was turning into the longest day on record.

“It’s the hub where the Pelletier farm ships their maple products. I’d like to get a read on it.”

She couldn’t argue with that, especially not when they were all the way here. They parked outside the warehouse and stared at it for a minute.

“What happens now?” she asked. “Do we get out and look around?”

“No.” Burke rolled down his window, opened his palm, and a tiny creature flew out and away.

“What was that?” Georgie asked.

“Tech. It’s going to explore the warehouses and come back. I’ll download the images when we get home.”

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