Honeybun One and Done

CHAPTER TWO-1

CHAPTER TWO

PERCY KNOCKED ON BRITA’S door. He’d had a few drinks and decided he was going to confront her once and for all. He was surprised that the dogs didn’t bark at him when he rang the bell for the fourth time. It usually took little more than a squirrel running across the lawn to get them started.

But as he continued to ring the bell the five dogs were silent, telling him they probably weren’t there.

A sense of foreboding slipped over him. Brita wasn’t there and neither were her dogs. Nobody had spoken to her since the wedding the day before. Percy had a terrible suspicion she’d left town. She’d been talking about taking some time off and, since she’d run away from Percy and her feelings the day before, it probably seemed to her like a good time to do it.

After five more minutes of knocking and waiting, he gave up, jogging down the steps toward his SUV.

“You lookin’ for Brita?”

He turned to the elderly woman who lived next door to Brita. “Hi Mrs. Peoples. Yes I am. Do you know where she is?”

The woman hobbled closer, her thin, cotton housedress catching on the tan support hose she wore inside her slippers. “She asked me to watch the house. I think her parents are keeping the dogs.”

Percy barely managed to maintain his smile. “She’s out of town?”

Stopping a few feet away, the woman nodded. “Poor thing has looked so tired lately. She works too hard.”

Percy nodded. “She does. I’m glad she’s taking some time off.”

Mrs. Peoples nodded in agreement, her chins wagging with the movement. “I’m surprised she didn’t tell you though, son. I thought you two was good friends.” She arched a sparse gray eyebrow at him, her smile sly with innuendo.

“I’m sure she’ll give me a call when she lands somewhere.” Percy reached out and squeezed the woman’s soft, wrinkly arm. “Do you need anything, ma’am? Can I help you get back inside?”

She patted his hand. “Thank you, son. I’m fine. The exercise is good for me.”

Percy nodded but he waited until she’d hobbled to her mailbox and back to the house before climbing into his car.

He dialed Brita’s partner, Bud Hinks. If anybody knew where Brita had gone it would be him.

Bud answered after three rings. “Hinks.”

“It’s Percy Honeybun.”

There was a brief hesitation and then, “Percy. How’s it goin’?”

Percy almost felt sorry for Brita’s partner. He always seemed to find himself an unwilling middleman in the estrangement between Brita and Percy. “I’m sorry to bother you but, I wondered if you knew where Brita had gone. Her neighbor said she was leaving town.”

A soft exhalation of air met Percy’s request. “You know I couldn’t tell you even if I knew, Percy. Brita’s my partner. If she wanted you to know where she was she’d have told you.”

Percy fought the rising anger and tried to understand Bud’s predicament. It didn’t work. Logically he understood it. Emotionally it was a sack of crap.

“I’m worried about her. She hasn’t been herself lately.”

“To tell you the truth I’m worried about her too. I’ve never seen her so unhappy or...”

“What? Or what?”

“Restless. I guess that’s the best word for it. Something’s going on with her and she won’t talk to me about it.”

“Join the club,” Percy murmured. “If you hear from her will you ask her to call me?”

“Sure. But I wouldn’t hold my breath, Percy.” Silence pulsed between them for a beat and then Bud sighed again. “Look, Percy. I know you love her. I even think she loves you. But if you two were gonna work it out it would have happened already.”

“What exactly are you saying?”

“Just that I hate to see you both so miserable. I think it would be easier on everybody if you two would just cut the cord and be done with it.”

Percy’s gut twisted as Hinks verbalized his own doubts. He’d had the same thought a hundred times, before his heart intervened and cancelled out the sensible but brutally painful solution. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Hinks.”

Another sigh. “Yeah. You’re right. Who the hell am I to tell you about your love life? I’ve only been married to the same woman for thirty wonderful years. I’m obviously an i***t when it comes to relationships. Have a great day, Honeybun.”

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