Winds of Fire, стр. 42
George smiled as he heaped potato salad onto his plate. “You couldn't have asked for a better day for the barbeque.”
“It's perfect. Hey, George, why didn't you get in the pool?” Frankie asked.
He scratched his jaw. “You know darned well I hate swimming, Frankie.”
“Well, Arlan and I certainly enjoy the pool. Maybe someday we'll get one put in,” Kate said.
“Until you do, you're welcome to use ours anytime you want to,” Johanna said.
Kate nodded. “We just might take you up on that once we get settled into our house. I'm sure you'll get sick of us in no time.”
“Never,” Frankie replied. “Which brings me to an important question, is everything on track for the wedding? Do you need Johanna and me to do anything else? We've already made arrangements for the shower.”
“So far, so good,” Kate said holding up a hand and crossing her fingers. “Everything is on schedule.”
“Do you have the dress?”
A cloud passed over Kate's face as she stole a glance at Arlan. “I do.”
Johanna looked at George. “I'm sure you've planned the bachelor party.”
“We're helping him,” Trey said. “We should have a pretty good time.”
“Just make sure he shows up for the wedding,” Kate replied with a smile.
“Oh, he definitely will,” George said. He paused. “Isn't it something that every one of us sitting here at this table is in the wedding?”
Arlan nodded. “It wouldn’t be a wedding without my family.”
* * * *
Later Frankie sat at the picnic table with George while Johanna, Kate, and Arlan decided to have another swim. Trey and Will had left a few minutes earlier.
“How's the fire investigation going?” she asked.
“Keeping us busy.” He ran his hand through his hair. “The fire marshal and police think they're close to identifying a possible suspect. They've been going through all the surveillance tapes from the businesses over the past few weeks. I'll be meeting with them tomorrow.” He grunted. “You don't know how I dislike the police chief.” He looked at her. “Did I ever tell you that we go way back?” He shook his head not expecting an answer. “We've been rivals since the day we met.”
“Well, I hope they throw the book at whoever is responsible,” Frankie said.
He looked uneasy and then flashed a halfhearted smile. “Every day it seems someone is calling a meeting.”
She sipped at her beer. “You seemed distracted when you stopped at the office the other day. Is everything okay, George? I've got to admit, you weren't yourself.”
His face slightly flushed as his eyes drifted toward the pool. “Looks like they're headed back.”
Frankie followed his gaze. He sounded relieved, but seemed tense. What was wrong with him?
Johanna slid into a seat next to Frankie and took the beer Frankie offered her. “It feels good to get in that pool again.” She began to towel dry her hair.
Kate and Arlan declined the beers Frankie offered. “I've had more than enough to drink today,” Kate said. “We should get going in a few minutes. My mom is expecting a call tonight.”
“Well, you'll be able to tell her that everything is running smoothly,” Johanna said.
“I wasn't so sure. Thank God my wedding dress is safe and sound inside my closet.”
“When did you pick it up?” Frankie asked. She remembered the look that had passed between Kate and Arlan earlier when she'd mentioned the dress.
“Yesterday afternoon. All the alterations have been made so I saw no sense in leaving it there. I'm glad I got it when I did.”
“Having the dress ready must be a load off your mind,” Johanna said.
“If I hadn't picked it up when I did, I don't know what I would have done,” Kate replied.
Frankie picked up her beer bottle and took a long swallow then set the bottle back down on the table. “Kate, you still have a few weeks. Plenty of time to put the finishing touches on the dress if it wasn't a perfect fit.”
Kate scowled. “I wouldn't have had a dress. Not with the fire.”
Frankie's heart froze. “What fire?” She looked at Kate and then turned her head and saw George staring intently at her and Johanna.
Arlan rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “You didn’t hear about Eastens last night?” His eyes narrowed. “It was all over the news.”
Frankie was momentarily taken aback with his slightly accusatory tone, but assumed it was because he was upset about the fact that Kate could have lost her gown. “No,” she replied.
“How could you have not heard?” Arlan demanded.
Frankie shrugged. “We were busy getting everything ready for today. We never even turned on the news last night or this morning. I haven't even gone down to the newspaper box to pick up this morning's paper.”
Arlan's dark brows drew together. “Eastens burned to the ground last night.”
“What!” Frankie looked at Johanna, the shock evident on her face. “That's horrible. Do they have a cause?”
Arlan toyed with an empty beer bottle. “What do you think?” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Do you have any possible suspects yet?” Johanna asked. “This is getting scary.”
Arlan didn't answer, but instead turned his head and looked at George.
George cleared his throat. “We're close...very close.” He immediately pushed his chair back and stood. “I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have to get back to the office.”
Kate looked relieved as she scrambled to her feet. “We have to go, too.” She held Arlan's arm. “Thank you for today.”
“You're welcome,” Johanna said. “Sure you can't stay for just a while longer?”
“Like George said, we're swamped with everything going on. But thank you again for getting everyone together and making sure the wedding is on track,” Kate replied forcing a smile to her lips.
“That's what your matrons of honor are supposed to do,” Frankie said as she and Johanna walked with them to the driveway and watched them get into their cars.
They stood at the front of the house and watched as the two cars made their way down the driveway.