Lists and Questions

I spent the hours Ryan was working to finalize the small last-minute details for the party. I finally got the last RSVP and I was beyond grateful that I didn't have to make any more calls to people that hadn't responded. Our budget wasn't big enough to accommodate a ton of unexpected guests.

I set up an itinerary for the day of and kept Lucy in the loop regarding the schedule. She said she'd come help me decorate on Thursday and Momma volunteered as well. I know she is just making sure I do in fact have everything together and I am ready to prove to her I could follow through from A to Z.

When I wasn't consumed by party details, I decided to try and figure out who sent me the voicemail myself. I didn't want to think of the whole Gus thing so it was easy to sway my thoughts to the case. Austin and Ryan didn't say much after they hacked my phone, but I know they have the police tracing my calls now.

I used Ryan's kitchen table to set up my timeline and I wrote down every detail I knew about the case. I start with Poppy's discovery of the accounting discrepancies and filled in everything I knew up until the voicemail. There were some questions popping up that I know I can't ask Ryan, but I decide to write them down anyway.

1. If not Arthur, who?

2. What's in the safe?

3. Did they ever find the murder weapon? Was it a golf club?

4. They issued a warrant for Arthur's house but the accounting info wasn't there. Where is info?

5. Poppy installed the cameras to catch on to something, but what? Was she looking to see if Arthur went upstairs? But if so, why not make the office the priority instead of the foyer?

6. Will it be awkward to see Gus and Annabeth on Friday? - does not pertain to case, but still mind-consuming.

7. How hot will Ryan look all dressed up for the party? - I feel like I have an answer to this, but also mind-consuming- in a delicious way.

I drop the pen and stare at my questions. I had added more mentally throughout the week but I know I don't have answers to any of them. I think back to the office at the Wellington House and immediately think of the safe. A golf club is far too large to fit inside a small wall safe but accounting documents would. I pick up my pen again and scribble:

8. Why haven't the police ransacked the Wellington House?

I reread over my list of growing questions and try and think over everything that's happened in the past two weeks. Finding Poppy, Arthur's odd behavior, getting the checks, searching the house. I know the answer to all this is right in front of me but I can't figure it out. I slump back into the kitchen chair and pull my hot tea up to my lips. My brain is on overload and I wish Ryan would just fill me in. Just give me something to work with or answer any of my questions so I could solve it myself.

I hear the front door unlock and I immediately scramble out of my chair and scoop up my papers into a pile. I am not quick enough to stash them and I hear Ryan's voice.

"Whatcha got there darlin'?"

I shove the stack of papers back into my folder but Ryan comes and stands next to me with his palm out. I shake my head as I swat a playful hand at him.

"Oh, it's just party stuff."

"Liar," he says with a smirk and he continues to hold his hand out. I hug the folder against my chest and say, "You have secrets. So do I."

I put my nose in the air but it only makes him laugh. He drops his outstretched hand and shakes his head as he moves to the fridge. I look to him and ask, "Why you home so early?"

"I wanted to catch you in the act!" He jokes as he grabs a beer from the fridge. He then spins around to face me.

"Just got what I needed to get done done early."

"So, you're off for the rest of the night?"

He nods as he twists the cap off and I am suddenly jealous of the beer bottle.

"I am indeed. Do you have everything you need for tomorrow?"

"Yessum, I do. I have some people coming to help me set up so if you or Austin can't make it, that's fine. I won't be alone," I tell him. He takes a long swig of his beer and then says, "I'll plan on dropping you off and pickin' you up. How about that?"

"Or I can just ride with my mother."

He shakes his head no.

"The next two days are going to be important. I need to know where you are and what time you got there."

"Are you going to tell me what you and Austin have planned?" I ask.

He glances to my folder.

"Are you going to tell me what you are hiding from me in that there folder?" I frown so he says, "Didn't think so."

I watch as he takes another long drink and then says, "Have you talked to Gus or A.B since you got your phone back?"

I move over to the breakfast bar and drop all of the folders onto the counter.

"No. I told Annabeth that I was up to my eyeballs in party stuff so I wouldn't be around to hang out much this week. I just don't know what to say to Gus."

I walk over to the fridge and pull out my own beer. It's only three o'clock but Ryan started it.

"I'm sorry that you're going through all this. When it rains it pours, I guess," he says as he pulls me into him.

"I think it's been a very good thing that I've been forced to focus on the party. If I didn't have that distraction, I'd be drunk on my roof right now. I'd be losing my mind."

"Well hopefully they'll be fine when you see them on Friday. I know this party means a lot to you," he says as he kisses my forehead.

"And to Austin. After Friday, I could be gettin' the winery and Austin will be gettin' married. Man, I do hope things go smoothly. I don't need anything messin' this up."

"You and me both, darlin'. There's a lot ridin' on this party," he says, more to himself than to me. Right after I let my guard down, Ryan snatches the folder from the counter and I immediately try and rip it away from him. My list of questions is right on top and he says, "Well let's see what your questions are."

I burn red and shake my head.

"You weren't tellin' me anything so I tried to piece some of it together myself."

I don't want him to read my work but there's no way to stop him. He starts reading my questions out loud.

"1. If not Arthur, who? Well, I do know the answer to that one but I can't tell you."

I frown to him and murmur, "I didn't think you would."

He continues.

"2. What's in the safe? Well now, hopefully the missing accounting information." He answers and I am surprised I got that much out of him. After that I let him continue.

"3. Did they ever find the murder weapon? Was it a golf club? No and yes," he says and I raise my eyebrows. So, it is indeed a golf club and they have not been able to find it yet.

"4. They issued a warrant for Arthur's house but the accounting info wasn't there. Where is info? Hopefully the safe," he answers quickly and he doesn't let me say anything before he continues, "5. Poppy installed the cameras to catch on to something, but what? Was she looking to see if Arthur went upstairs? But if so, why not make the office the priority instead of the foyer?"

He looks to me.

"Fantastic question."

"So, you don't know the answer to that one?" I ask and he shakes his head before he reads on.

"6. Will it be awkward to see Gus and Annabeth on Friday? - does not pertain to case, but still mind-consuming. My guess is yes but for your sake, I am hoping no."

He glances to me and I roll my eyes. I wasn't exactly looking for an answer to that one. I remember what was next on my list and try and snatch the paper from him before he reads it. But I am too late.

"7. How hot will Ryan look all dressed up for the party? - I feel like I have an answer to this, but also mind consuming- in a delicious way."

He gives me a swoon-worthy grin and in a gravelly voice he answers, "Smokin'."

I laugh loudly and he bounces his eyebrows up and down before going back to the list.

"8. Why haven't the police ransacked the Wellington House? It's all in the timing my love."

He looks to me and I am surprised he answered a few of my questions. He gave me something. He glances to what else is in my folder but doesn't say anything about what I have. He snaps the flap closed and then looks back to me.

"Now we can stand here and discuss all of the things I can't tell you. Or I can take you upstairs and take your mind off all of this completely."

I catch the twinkle in his eye and he's never looked so inviting. His shirt is already slightly unbuttoned, his short hair is messy like he's been running his hands through it all morning. He takes a slow step toward me and I put my hands right as his waistline. I run my hand up his shirt as I reply, "Why you gotta take me all the way upstairs?"

I watch his eyes light up and his hands are suddenly gripping me by my thighs. He lifts me onto the counter and as he's sliding up my skirt, he says, "I'll never be able to eat in this kitchen again without thinking about you on this here counter."

I wrap my legs around his waist and tell him, "Don't tell that to Austin the next time he's eatin' his cereal here."

He lets out a loud laugh before he plants his lips on mine.