d5e426eccb138e04dab909926b2752c6

“She has a heavy cross to bear,” I agreed.

And since Harriet and Brutus had already left, and so had the rest of the family, Dooley and I made our way into Marge and Tex’s backyard to guard Big Gnome #21. And it was as we arrived that I found the door to the shed askance, and when I entered the small structure, and glanced around in search of the painting, I discovered that it wasn’t there. Probably because Tex had hidden it somewhere where I couldn’t see it.

“So?” asked Dooley, joining me. “Where is Big Gnome #21?”

“No idea. Tex must have hidden it.”

“Maybe it’s for the best,” said Dooley. “I didn’t like the look of that gnome.”

I found a nice piece of cardboard that had my name on it—not literally, of course—and Dooley found one with his name on it, and soon we were pleasantly dozing, and making sure no gnomes could be absconded with, twenty-first ones or otherwise.

Chapter 40

When Odelia pressed her finger to the bell, she silently said a little prayer and hoped for the best. She liked her uncle, and if they were going to prevent him from making a career-destroying decision, they needed to talk fast and be convincing, but also to listen and hear his side of the story.

“Ready?” asked Gran.

Mom, Dad and Chase all nodded. Especially Chase and Dad didn’t look eager to launch into this intervention, but then neither did Odelia think this was going to be a walk in the park.

The door swung open and to her surprise it wasn’t her uncle who appeared but Charlene!

“Oh, hey,” said Charlene. “I didn’t know there was a family evening planned, but come in.”

The Mayor was dressed in yoga pants and a Garfield T-shirt and had her hair down. The fact that she had a drink in her hand indicated she and Alec had thought they’d spend a nice evening at home together.

When they walked into the living room, Alec got up, surprised at the sight of his entire family filing into the room.

“What’s going on?” he asked. “Did something happen?”

“Alec,” said Gran, stepping to the fore and taking charge. “Sit down. You too, Charlene. This is an intervention,” she announced, taking a wide-legged stance and planting her hands on her hips. “Your family loves you very much, Alec, and we don’t like to see you throwing your life and career away the way you’ve been doing.”

“Wait, what?” asked Alec, flabbergasted.

Charlene laughed a nervous little laugh.“An intervention? Are you serious?”

“Dead serious,” said Vesta, fixing the mayor with a gimlet-eyed look and shutting her up. “It has come to our attention that you’ve both been playing hooky at work, so you can spend time in your alleged love nest. Well, we’re here to tell you that all that is in the past.” She pointed abony finger at her son. “You’re going to show up at work on time. You’re going to stay there during office hours and do your duty the way you promised when you accepted the honor of being this town’s chief of police, and you’re going to perform your duties to the best of your abilities. And that goes for you, too, young lady. It’s an honor to be our mayor.”

“I agree,” said Charlene.

“And you’re going to do your job from now on, and not sneak off for some canoodling sessions with my son.”

“Ma, please!” said Alec.

“Shush. I’m not finished. I’m a busy woman but I’m going to sacrifice my precious time to keep an eye on you two. I’m going to sit in your office for the next week and make sure you don’t leave before five o’clock on the dot. And I’ve asked my friend Scarlett to do the same for you,Charlene. She will sit in your office and she will not move from your side for a week. And if by the end of the week you’ve both shown that you’re worthy of our trust, we might let you off the hook. If not, another week will be added, and one more, for as long as it takes to get you on the straight and narrow again.”

“But Vesta…” said Charlene with a laugh.

“You think this is a joke?” Gran barked. “Do you see me laughing?”

“No, but…”

“This is your life, young lady. And you’re not going to throw it away on this bozo.”

“I’m your son!”

“You’re a fine mayor, and people like you, but not if you keep shirking your duty. Is that understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Charlene with a smile and glance at Alec, who sat silently fuming.

“Great. Then we have an understanding. And don’t think I do this because I like it. This hurts me more than it hurts you,” Gran concluded her harangue.

“You can still canoodle, though,” said Marge, eager to make her point clear. “But you should do it in the evenings, not when you’re supposed to be working.”

“Are you finished?” asked Uncle Alec stiffly.

“Yeah, just about,” said Gran.

“We haven’t been playing hooky. In fact we haven’t been shirking work at all.”

“Oh? I’ve heard different,” said Gran. “And when Scarlett and I paid you a visit this afternoon Dolores said you’ve been absent from work every afternoon for the past two weeks. And your secretary told us the same story, Charlene.”

Charlene shook her head.“I feel like I’m back in high school.”