Stefano nodded. “We’ll make sure he gets that.”
Maxx opened the lid on the grill. “Good.”
We sat in the gazebo eating grilled chicken, potato salad, and lots of other things Charly and Mary had made. I was starving. Between how busy we were in the garage and my extracurricular activities with Kelly, I hadn’t eaten. My tank was empty. I was pleased to notice her tucking in, eating everything on her plate. I slid another piece of chicken onto her plate when she was talking to Charly, and although she frowned, she ate it. I wasn’t the only one depleted.
“Kelly, are you feeling better now?” Theo asked, licking his fingers.
“Use your fork,” Gabby admonished.
“It tastes better with my fingers, Mom.”
She sighed.
Stefano chuckled and took Theo’s plate, cutting the chicken into bite-size pieces. “It’s a casual meal, Tesoro. It’s okay for today only.” He directed his response to Theo. “Only today, okay, little man?”
Theo nodded happily, then looked at Kelly again. “Are you okay?”
She smiled at him, puzzled. “I’m fine, Theo.”
“Oh.”
“Why do you think I’m not?” she asked.
“I saw Brett with his leg wrapped around you, like Dad does to Mom sometimes. Dad says it is so he can make her feel good. Mom always laughs, so it must work. I thought maybe you were sick and Brett was helping you.”
My fork froze partway to my mouth. Stefano met my panicked gaze. Gabby turned pink. Kelly made an odd noise in the back of her throat.
Charly sat back in her chair, clearly enjoying this. “When did you see this, Theo?”
He picked up another piece of chicken, chewing slowly. “This morning.”
I shut my eyes. The kid had seen me. Dammit.
He kept talking.
“I came to find you to ask, but no one was in the garage.” He turned to Maxx. “I think it’s haunted.”
Maxx frowned. “Why would you say that?”
“I heard some weird noises but didn’t see anyone.”
Stefano sat back, draping his arm over Gabby’s shoulders, a smirk on his mouth.
“Weird noises?”
Theo nodded around a mouthful of chicken. “Maybe it was a bear. You guys have donuts in the office.” His eyes grew round. “It could still be there! If I stayed, it would have eaten me!”
“I don’t think that’s what was being eaten,” Maxx muttered, blowing out a sharp breath when Charly elbowed him.
“Not a bear, little man,” Stefano said, now grinning widely.
“Maybe a raccoon,” Theo mused. “I don’t know what kind of noises they make.”
Stefano looked at me, smiling. “Do you know what kind of noises raccoons make, Brett? You hear anything funny in the garage today?”
Kelly covered her mouth with her napkin, clearly distressed. Charly was laughing so hard, tears were coming from her eyes. Gabby had to turn her head to hide her amusement. Mary was laughing with Charly, clearly enjoying herself. I felt everyone’s stares.
“Nope,” I said firmly. “Didn’t hear a thing.”
“Maybe it is haunted, then,” Theo said.
Maxx patted his shoulder, a wide grin on his face. “Not haunted. I had a piece of machinery running. It makes some, ah, odd noises at times. Sounds like people grunting.” He made a noise that made Kelly shake her head in embarrassment. It sounded far too familiar.
“Like that,” he finished.
Theo nodded. “Yes! Whew. I’m glad. I don’t want to work in a garage that’s haunted.”
“Nope,” Maxx said. “Or with wild animals doing God knows what in my garage.” Then he started laughing.
Mary covered her mouth, looking down. Then Stefano started guffawing. And suddenly, we were all laughing. Even Kelly. Theo, who had no idea why, joined in the merriment, his little-boy laughter high and amused.
Maxx wiped his eyes.
“If my dad only knew what his garage would become,” he said.
“Maybe we should rename it the passion pit,” Charly deadpanned.
That set off another round of laughter.
It felt good.
We ate and sat around, laughing more and talking. The girls set up the croquet set and played a game with Theo. Maxx built a fire, and we relaxed, talking about the garage and the upcoming expansion. My phone rang with an unknown number, and although I usually ignored those, I answered.
“Brett Conner.”
“Mr. Conner, this is Officer Gallagher of the Lomand police department,” a feminine voice said. “Do you know a Chase Donner?”
My gut clenched. “Yes. Is he okay?”
“He’s drunk. I found him trying to get into his vehicle in the parking lot of a bar.”
“Jesus, he was going to drive?”
Her voice was amused. “No, he was trying to unlock the back door so he could go to sleep.”
“The back door doesn’t have an outside lock.”
“I pointed that out to him. Look, I can haul him to the drunk tank, or you can come pick him up.” Her voice lowered. “I have the feeling he’s had a bad day.”
“Yeah, he has. I’ll come get him. Which bar?”
“O’Shea’s.”
“I’m on my way.”
I stood, everyone looking at me. “Chase is drunk and was trying to break in to his own vehicle to take a nap. I’m going to go get him and take him home.”