Best Laid Plans Page 27

  “Neither do I, but we can’t take the risk of carrying it into the funeral home.”

  “You knew that and you still told me to take the shotgun?”

  “Must have slipped my mind.”

  “And what about your pistol?”

  “It’s concealed. And what Auggie doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

  Mopp muttered something under his breath but got out of the car without making any more of a fuss. He went to Josh’s side, and in spite of himself, Josh rested his palm on Mopp’s lower spine. It was above Mopp’s butt—that pert, rounded—

  No, he was going to stop thinking about it, and he was going to keep his hands to himself. He took his hand away.

  They walked across the parking lot to the shallow steps that led up to the front door. Josh had just opened it when Auggie Canis, the funeral director, welcomed them.

  “Gentlemen. Good afternoon. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  “Thanks, Auggie.” Josh had first met the short, dapper funeral director when Tom still taught at Pulaski and Jasper University. Josh had toyed with the idea of dating Auggie, but as it turned out, he was straight.

  What was it with him and straight boys? Even Lucas, the man he’d lived with for so long, had been deep in the closet, not that Josh could really blame him. Lucas was career military, and DADT didn’t make coming out feasible.

  “How late are we?” Josh asked.

  “You’re actually not. The family time has just finished.”

  “I’m surprised to see so many cars in the parking lot.”

  “Frankly, so am I.” He sighed as more cars pulled into the lot and then backed out when they realized there wasn’t a single empty spot. “Even the spillover lot across the street is filled. I don’t know where we’re going to put the overflow. I expected most people to arrive later this afternoon—you know how it is—I love you more than anyone else, so I’ll be here first to prove it.” He gave a rueful smile and gestured for them to enter the funeral home. “But of course we anticipate quite a turnout for both of tomorrow’s visitations. Right this way.”

  Auggie paused by the double doors and then flung them open. Mopp stopped so abruptly Josh walked into him.

  “Sorry,” Josh murmured. And then he got a good look around the room. “Good grief!”

  It was filled to overflowing, and not only with flowers. Partitions had been folded back, and three rooms were now one, large enough to accommodate the number of people there—at least a hundred and fifty—all looking shell-shocked.

  “Who are all these people?”

  “I know most of the men from work, and some of the wives from the Friday barbecues,” Mopp said. “And I think that group over there delivers the supplies Rush and JT order for the company.”

  “I thought only the family was supposed to be here now,” Josh said to Auggie. Sitting on a long, low-slung sofa and the large chairs flanking it were JT, Tad and Rush, and Miss Becca, as well as Miss Abby and Miss Lizzie.

  “So many people showed up early. Mr. Jackson was very well-thought-of, and when people began arriving, Mr. Weber agreed to cut short the family time.”

  “Pardon us, please.”

  Mopp was standing beside Josh, their shoulders brushing, and oh God was he in trouble. Just that simple touch made his cock hard. Why had Mopp told him he’d be gay for him?

  Tom was going to give him hell for this.

  “We’d better move out of the way,” Mopp said in an undertone.

  “Huh?” Josh looked over his shoulder. Two men dressed in windbreakers with the name of the florist embroidered over the left breast pocket stood there, holding armfuls of flowers.

  “Sorry.” He and Mopp stepped aside, and the men made their way to the front of the room, placing vases on pedestals and funeral sprays on the floor around the casket. A third man carried in a standing spray and set it between a pair of wreaths.

  “These flowers are beautiful,” Mopp murmured. A red rose half casket cover lay over the bottom of the casket. The ribbon attached to it read Beloved Partner. Inside the casket was a garland of cream, coral, and peach roses from Tad and Miss Becca.

  “Yeah, and how sad is it that we only get flowers after we die?”

  “Josh, I didn’t even think about getting flowers for Mr. Jackson.” Mopp sounded distressed.

  “You have an excuse—you were shot. Don’t worry about it. I ordered flowers yesterday and put both our names down on the card.” He pointed out a standing spray of roses, lilies, and carnations.

  “But—”

  “You can pay me back later.”

  “Thank you.”

  Josh squeezed his shoulder. He found himself hoping Mopp would rub his cheek against the back of his hand. Then he found himself afraid he would. He yanked his hand away.

  “Let me know how much I owe you.” Mopp smiled at him, and he almost swallowed his tongue.

  “Okay.”

  “Josh.”

  “What? I said okay.”

  The look Mopp gave him said he was aware that Josh would conveniently forget about it. How was it the boy knew him so well?

  Just then Tom looked up. He was under control, although his eyes were red, and he rose and crossed to them.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner, Tommy.”

  Tom stepped into his personal space. “Buddy, I…”

  Josh wrapped his arms around him, and Tom rested his head against Josh’s chest. Mopp was a little taller than Tom, but his head would pretty much reach the same spot.

  He had to stop thinking of things like that.

  “Whose idea was it for all these people to show up now?”

  Tom began to speak in a soft whisper that only Josh and Mopp could hear, simply because they were so close to him. “I don’t know. Rush didn’t have a chance to make many calls—he’s been too busy consoling Tad. But one of Jack’s foremen said word starting going around that the viewing was only going to be today.”

  “This doesn’t sound right.”

  “It doesn’t, does it? Tim and Cris arrived earlier, and I asked them to take Miz Babe and Denny down to the lounge on the lower level and stay with them.” He turned his head and looked into Mopp’s eyes. “You work with these men. Do you recognize them?”

  Mopp nodded. “I can tell you who I’ve been on various jobs with, who’s delivered material and equipment to the jobsites, but I don’t know the suppliers, not by sight, anyway.”

  “That’s okay. I know some of the older businessmen, and the ones I don’t, Rush does.”

  “Josh told me the men who shot Mr. Jackson wanted Denny. Do you think they could have started that rumor?”

  “I don’t know, Mopp, but I don’t plan on taking any chances. Josh, did you bring a gun?”

  “I’ve got a .22 in my pocket, Tom. Mopp’s shotgun in the trunk.”

  “Not a good place if those men put in an appearance.” Tom discreetly pulled back his suit jacket to reveal a revolver tucked into his waistband, then stepped back, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped it over his dry eyes and cheeks.

  Mopp touched Tom’s arm. “I’m so sorry. We’ll make sure no one goes downstairs.”

  “That’s going to be difficult. The restrooms are down there, as well as the lounge.”

  “Dammit. All right, Mopp and I will pay our respects, and then go keep Tim and Cris company.”

  “Josh—thank you.”

  “That’s what friends are for, buddy. Mopp?”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  They walked up to the casket and looked down at the man lying there, who’d been so alive only two days before.

  “He does look like he’s sleeping,” Josh said.

  “Yes…” Mopp’s eyes suddenly welled with tears. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice wavering. “He was a g
ood man.”

  “He was good to you, Mopp.”

  “He was.”

  “And in the end, he was good to Tom.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Josh shook his head. “It’s not important, not anymore.”

  Mopp leaned against him. “Mr. Jackson gave me a job when I was just a dumb, inexperienced kid who needed whatever work he could get. Daddy had just gotten laid off, you see, and Jim Bob…” He sighed. “He never could hold down a job for very long.”

  Josh didn’t even hesitate. He just slung an arm around Mopp’s shoulder. Tommy was so going to kill him, but the boy needed comforting.

  “Come on.” They turned to where Miss Becca and her brother and brother-in-law sat on the low-slung sofa.

  They murmured a few words of condolence, offered handshakes and hugs, and gave another glance around the room.

  “Do you see anyone you don’t know?”

  “No.”

  “Hey, Mopp, come on over.”

  “Mopp?”

  “It’s just a bunch of the guys from work. I’ll introduce you.” Before Josh could tell him it wasn’t necessary, Mopp had gripped his sleeve and dragged him along. “Hey, Sam, guys. This is my friend, Josh Cooper.”

  They greeted him, and Josh gave a curt nod. Most of the men were older than Mopp, but Sam was about his age. If Mopp was so intent on being gay, someone like this Sam would be perfect for him.

  Sam grinned and poked Mopp in the chest. “How’s the college boy?”

  “You mean aside from the bullet he took to the head?” Josh knew his voice was curt, but he also knew how much getting a college education meant to Mopp.

  Sam’s eyes widened. “What?” His voice came out in a squeak.

  “Didn’t you know?” Josh demanded.

  “Uh… no.”

  “What did you think this was for?” Josh gently touched the fresh bandage Mopp wore.

  “Um… a zit?”

  “Jesus.” Josh growled under his breath, and the men looked uncomfortable.

  “I’m sorry, Mopp,” Sam said. “There wasn’t anything about it in the newspapers. It… it sucks about the boss. Do… uh… do you know what Tad is going to do about the business?”

  “I think you’d better ask Mr. Weber about that. He runs it. And you know as well as anyone that if he hadn’t taken over the books, this company would have gone down the tubes years ago.”

  “But he’s gay.”

  “Yeah? So What?” Mopp’s voice was colder than Josh had ever heard it, and he shook his head in disgust. “I’ve gotta take a leak.” He turned on his heel and stalked away.

  Josh had never seen him lose his temper. It was… arousing. He gave the men a brisk nod and went after Mopp.

  “Do you really need to use the facilities?”

  “No, but I was afraid I’d slug Sam in a minute. He can be such an asshole.”

  “You did good, Mopp. I’m proud of you.”

  Mopp’s face lit up. “You are?”

  “I am.” Josh cleared his throat. “Now let’s get downstairs and see how Miz Babe is holding up. She looked stressed when I saw her earlier.”

  “I can understand that.”

  Just as they walked out into the hallway, the front door of the funeral home opened and three men walked in. They didn’t look familiar to him, but that didn’t prove anything.

  “Mopp?”

  “No, I don’t know them.”

  They followed the men back into the visitation room and watched as they made their way around the room before finally approaching the casket. They bowed their heads, and after a few moments stepped away and went to where the family was seated.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” one of the men said to Miss Lizzie. “Your husband was a good man.”

  Miss Lizzie gave him a tight smile and said, “Actually, he was my brother’s husband.”

  The man turned pale. One of the others smacked his arm. “I told you that didn’t look like Dan. I’m sorry, ma’am, we seem to be in the wrong room. If you’ll excuse us?”

  Nice save, Josh thought grudgingly, watching as the men hurried out. Only as it happened, there weren’t going to be any other visitations in this funeral home today.

  Josh was on their heels, and Mopp followed him. “Close the doors, Mopp.” The last thing the family needed was to be disturbed if there was a fight. “Then go get the Winchester.”

  “There’s no time—”

  “Don’t argue with me, boy.”

  Mopp muttered something under his breath, and Josh was pretty sure he didn’t want to know what it was. But Mopp turned and pulled the double doors closed.

  As Josh had suspected, the men were heading toward the stairs that led down to the lounge. He approached them, drawing himself up to his full height. “I think you gentlemen are going in the wrong direction,” he drawled.

  “We don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I’ll just bet you don’t.”

  “Look, Mac, we apologized for showing up at the wrong wake—”

  “You must be in the wrong funeral home.”

  “Huh?”

  “There isn’t going to be another wake here today. This is a small funeral home, and Canis and Sons did this as a favor for the Jackson family.”

  “Uh…” one started to say, but another cut him off.

  “Yeah, well, you’d just better piss off. You might be big, but there are three of us.”

  “Three of you, three of us… I’d say we were pretty evenly matched.” Mopp’s voice was even colder than before. And then there was the sound of a pistol being cocked, and Josh realized what he meant by “three of us.”

  The three men wheeled at the sound, and all color left their faces as they stared at the .22 Mopp pointed at them. It looked familiar. Had Mopp taken it from the gun safe?

  Well, no time to wonder about that now. Josh reached for his own .22. “Looks like this baby makes it four against three. I’d say you’re outnumbered.”

  The one who had first spoken swallowed heavily. “Now wait just a fucking minute.”

  “You don’t belong here,” Josh said, his own tone icy cold.

  “We know that. We told you it was an honest mistake—”

  “Maybe it was, but then again, maybe it wasn’t. Either way, I suggest you get out. We people of Savannah are peace-loving folks, but if you rile us up, we’ll blow your fucking heads off.”

  “We’re going. But don’t think we won’t report this to the police.”

  “You do whatever you need to. Just get out of my sight.”

  The men stalked out, slamming the door behind them.

  “That wasn’t very polite of them.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” Mopp grinned at Josh. “I want to be just like you when I grow up, Josh Cooper. You’re my hero.”

  Josh could feel himself blush. That might be, but seeing how Mopp handled himself was a definite turn on.

  No, he couldn’t be thinking things like that.

  Mopp tucked the pistol behind his back.

  “So that’s where that came from.”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t take a chance anything would happen to you.”

  “Thank you.” And Josh had missed the gun because he’d wanted his hands on Mopp but refused to allow himself more than a brief touch. “Just in case those assholes come back, wait for me by the stairs. After I tell Tom our visitors have departed, we’ll go down and make sure Miz Babe and Denny are okay.”

  He was afraid Mopp would give him a hard time, but he just said, “Okay,” and did as Josh asked. But before he did, he smiled at him, and Josh gave a dreamy sigh.

  Then he gave himself a shake.

  He was in such deep shit.

  Fortunately, Mopp didn’t seem to notice. He headed for th
e staircase.

  Josh watched him for a moment, and blushed when Mopp turned in time to catch him staring. He turned and opened the door and hurried to where Tom stood.

  “Are they gone?”

  “Yeah. I just wanted to let you know. Mopp and I are going downstairs now.”

  “You’d better make a lot of noise on the way down. You don’t want to startle Tim and Cris.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Josh?”

  “Yeah, buddy?” Okay, here it came.

  “Thank you.”

  Wait. Tom wasn’t going to give him hell for falling for a straight boy?

  “Uh… you’re welcome?”

  Tom shook his head. “Go. I’ll see you later.”

  Josh wasn’t going to press his luck. He strode out of the room to where Mopp waited.

  “Tom said we should make a lot of noise going down.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” And Mopp took off before Josh could tell him he was going first.

  Chapter 20

  “TIM? CRIS? IT’S Josh and Mopp. Tom sent us down here.”

  “Come in, but keep your hands where we can see them.”

  A young man walked in first. “Geez, you guys sound like something out of a cop movie.”

  “Not amusing, Mopp.” The man who spoke was big—really big. Tim was used to being dwarfed by his lover, but this man was even taller than Cris.

  Tim recognized him and relaxed. He was a friend of Tom Weber’s, and Tom had brought him to the pub a number of times.

  Mopp grinned at the big man, not in the least intimidated, and to Tim’s surprise, the big man blushed.

  “Josh.” Tim crossed the room, his hand extended. “It’s good to see you, although not under these circumstances.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for being here for Tom.”

  “It’s the least I could do. This is my fault.”

  “It isn’t. Shit happens, and no one expected this.” Josh shrugged. “Listen. We’ve got a problem. Where are Miz Babe and Denny?”

  Tim went to the supply closet and tapped on the door. “Babe, it’s okay to come out.”

  She opened the door and peered around cautiously.

  “You know Josh and Mopp, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” Her relief was obvious.