Page 15 of A Little Bit Whiskey
“How did you know I was here and not at the house I shared with my twin?” Noir asked.
“I’m married to the chief of police.” She set her bag on the table, pulled back a chair, and sat down. “There isn’t much in this town that doesn’t get by me.”
“By all means, make yourself at home.” Noir contemplated whether he wanted to sit or stand. He opted not to be rude and eased into a seat across from Anna. “What brings you by this late at night?”
“I’m incredibly concerned about my daughter.”
Noir cleared his throat. He knew how much Tamsyn hated it when Anna flippantly tossed that word around. As a kid, she often referred to Anna as her guardian, which would send Anna into a tailspin, especially at mother-daughter functions. Tamsyn hated those and resented Anna for wanting to attend.
But this moment wasn’t the time for him to correct Anna, even though Tamsyn would have.
“Why?” he asked.
“For starters, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be dating Tamsyn.” Anna dug into her purse and pulled out her cell. “I don’t have to be told what a wonderful man your father is, even though he’s done some shady things.” She held up her hand. “He’s certainly proved his worth in this community, and Lord knows he has to be a saint for putting up with Weezer.”
“Those are my parents. I mean no disrespect to you, ma’am, but I’m not going to sit here and listen to you speak unkindly about either of them.”
“Well, you’re going to have to hear a lot of unkind things if you continue this ungodly relationship with Tamsyn, young man. I understand that there is no basis to the rumor about Carter and Elizabeth. But this town has a long memory, and Weezer was not kind to Tamsyn’s mother. On any occasion, even if she says she was. You were just a little boy. You don’t remember all that transpired. Elizabeth was my friend. She confided in me and that argument your mother had with Elizabeth wasn’t the only time Weezer made sweeping threats.”
“I need to stop you right there.” Noir rubbed the back of his neck. “None of this has anything to do with me and Tamsyn. I appreciate your concern, but we’re adults. Capable of making our own decisions. We can handle whatever the people of this town decide to toss at us, and I doubt it will be what you think.” Noir wanted to add that Anna was full of shit. That she’d never been a real friend to Elizabeth. That the only time she’d ever done anything nice for Tamsyn’s mother had been when it would make Anna look good. Otherwise, she stayed clear of Elizabeth, calling her the town loon. She once even stated that Elizabeth was crazier than Weezer.
Noir had been present in the local coffee shop for that one.
But he refrained. Besides being too tired, pissing Anna off to the point he had no chance of ever having any decent relationship with Anna and Fred wasn’t a good idea.
He cared for Tamsyn too much to do that.
“It’s going to be hell, and Tamsyn is the one who is going to get hurt. If you care for her at all, you’ll end this right now.”
“I’m sorry, Anna. But I’m not going to do that.” He stood. “You’ve said your piece. It’s late. Please drive home safely.”
“I’m not done yet.” She tapped her cell. “I need you to speak to your mom about something for me.”
This should be rich. “About what?”
“The Holiday Showcase.” She held up her phone. “She’s completely taken over, without holding it to a vote with the committee. That’s unfair and unreasonable. I tried talking to Weezer, but she’s not willing to budge. Everyone on the committee is afraid to challenge her, with the exception of me and Mrs. Cummings. Please explain to your mother that there are other venues in town and other people willing to step up and do the showcase. It needs to be voted on, proper.”
“I’m not getting involved in that.” Noir couldn’t believe that Anna would even ask him to do such a thing. It was utterly absurd.
“Yes, you are. Or you will leave me no choice but to show the committee this note that I’ve been sitting on for twenty years.” She rose, shoving her phone in his face.
He took it, glancing at the scanned in, handwritten note.
Anna,
I’m scared. It’s getting worse. The threats are constant. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid if I don’t do what she says, she’ll follow through.
Elizabeth.
“Have you shown this to Tamsyn? To Fred? To anyone?” Noir asked, handing the cell back.
“Tamsyn has not seen it, but Fred has, and I told the police when Elizabeth disappeared all about Weezer and her unrelenting harassment.”
“That note says nothing about my mother,” Noir said. “Threatening to show it to the committee if I don’t try to stop my mom from having the Holiday Showcase at the winery is falling on deaf ears.” He turned and opened the door. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it. I hope we can put our differences aside because I care about Tamsyn and I’m not going anywhere.”
Anna scoffed. “We’ll see about that.” She snatched her purse, tugging it over her shoulder. “May I use your bathroom before I leave?”
“Sure.” He pointed over her shoulder.
