A Timely Vision

Kevin and I hustled out of the crowd and headed across the park where Andy was already starting his tai chi class. “Thanks, I think,” I said to Kevin as we walked across the dew-covered grass.

“I thought he was getting too close.” He shrugged. “We don’t know what that guy is capable of yet. Sorry if I scared you.”

“I think you scared him a lot more. I should take you along to all my press functions. Not that most of them are that dramatic. But you could liven them up.”

“Better to act when you’re not sure.”

“I agree.” I put my hand on his arm, enjoying the little tingle that accompanied the contact. “Thank you for protecting me.”

“My pleasure.”

I spent the next twenty minutes with Andy’s tai chi class. Except that once I got there, they didn’t want to do tai chi anymore. They wanted to ask me questions about what had happened with the press. Then they wanted to ask me questions about Miss Mildred. By the time I was done answering questions, Tai Chi Time on the Green was over.

“Sorry.” I smiled at Andy. “If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve called and canceled.”

“That’s okay.” He stood close to me, staring at Kevin, who was a few yards away, waiting and watching. “Is that guy really your bodyguard? Did the town pay him to be here?”

I reassured him that no one had paid for Kevin to be here. I knew there would still be questions about it at the next town council meeting. That’s the way it goes when you’re a public figure who could be spending the town’s tax money.

With all the excitement behind us (I hoped), Kevin and I walked back to the Coffee House where word of the encounter had already made the Duck grapevine. People stood back when they saw Kevin, even moving out of line to let us order first. Seriously, I could get used to that kind of respect!

“Don’t you run the Blue Whale?” Mr. Finklestein, one of our New Jersey immigrants, asked Kevin while Phil made our coffee.

“I do.” Kevin shook his hand. “Or I will, when I finally get it open.”

“Good deal! You do what needs to be done, young man! That’s the way to live!”

Our presence silenced the chatter that usually drowned out the sound of the espresso machine. Everyone seemed to be watching us to see what would happen next. I decided getting first place in the coffee line wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I could almost hear the sighs of relief when we walked out the door.

“Where to now?” Kevin asked, sipping his triple-shot latte.

“I’m going to open Missing Pieces, as usual. I think I should be safe there. You must need to go back to the Blue Whale.”

“Actually, there’s not much I can do there anyway. I’ll hang out at your shop for a while.”

I didn’t want to hurt his feelings or sound ungrateful, but I also didn’t want him glowering at my customers. “No, really, I’ll be fine. Maybe we could meet later for dinner or something.”

I guess he understood because he agreed to meet me for lunch. That was some reprieve anyway. He cautioned me about wandering around the boardwalk alone, and we parted ways close to town hall.

I checked in with Nancy, who was frantically trying to find volunteers to help set up Turtle Rescue Day. “Mary Lou called in here a while ago. Some of her volunteers are out sick, but they have a lot to do to get ready for tomorrow. I hate to ask, Dae, but could you go over there? They need people to take supplies out to the beach. You know most of those turtle rescue people don’t drive anymore and don’t walk so good either.”

“Sure. I’ll put a sign up at the shop letting everyone know I’ll be opening late. I’ll go through my cell phone directory and see if I can round up some more volunteers too.”

“Thanks, sweetie. I appreciate your help.” She turned back to start typing again. “No messages yet. Check back later.”

I took out my cell phone and called as many potential volunteers as I could think of while I walked to Missing Pieces and put out my “Back at One” sign. Some of them said they’d go down to the beach and help out. Some were working and couldn’t leave. I talked to Cailey Fargo at the fire department. She promised to send everyone available over to the turtle rescue site. That’s one thing I love about Duck—we all pull together.

I was on my way home to pull out Gramps’s old Jeep when Tim almost ran into me. He swerved his shiny police car in my general direction, pulled up short in front of me, flashing his blue lights. “What do you think you’re doing out here alone?”

I shaded my eyes from the sun with my hand so I could look up at him. “I think I’m on my way back to my house. The turtle rescue people need vehicles to transport stuff.”

“I understood that someone was supposed to stay with you at all times.” He glanced around, sniffed and hitched up his belt. “Where’s Brickman?”

“At the Blue Whale painting, I hope. The way we’ve had rain lately, he better get some painting done before another storm hits. Why?”