“Sully’s been cooking in there for over twenty years and he’s never had a fire. ”
Mike leaned on the pass-through and called out, “It was a grease fire, sure enough. Must’ve had some drippings on the bottom of the oven. ”
Bear’s eyes narrowed, but Sorrow cut him off before he could speak. “No way. There is no way this is my fault. I keep a spotless kitchen. ”
Damien’s parents came back in. “Sweetheart,” Phoebe told her, “I am so sorry. Your big night was ruined. ”
Dabney turned to Sorrow, too, giving her a bolstering look. “She’ll get another chance, won’t you, kid?”
“She spilled grease in the oven,” Bear said.
Sorrow’s voice was dangerously calm. “Spilled grease? There’s no grease in my Coq au Vin. ”
Billy put a protective arm around her. “Nobody keeps a healthier or cleaner kitchen than your daughter. ”
“Well something was in that cocoa van of hers. ” Bear shook his head as he told her, “I told you not to cook. That kitchen’s too big for you. ”
The patronizing comment sent her over the edge. She crossed her arms tightly at her chest, edging one step closer to her father. “Too big? Too big?”
Dabney helped his wife shoulder into her jacket. “Listen here, Bear. If the girl said there was no grease, there was no grease. ”
“It’s a shame. ” Phoebe gave her a hug good-bye. She held her chin and looked into her eyes as she gently said, “One of these days, this town will serve something more palatable than Tom’s chicken poppers, and my money’s on you. ”
Dabney went to the door. Looking back at Damien, he said, “Come on, son. I’m afraid you’re our ride. ”
Billy had to give the guy some credit—at least he looked hesitant to go. Damien turned to Sorrow. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. The Simmons family left, with the rest of the crowd close behind.
“Grease fire,” Chief Haskell said as he made his own exit. “There’s nothing much to do but clean it up. Believe it or not, the oven survived. ”
“Thanks, Mike,” Sorrow said. “That’s good news. ”
“Anything for a pretty lady. ” Mike gave her a wink.
Billy clapped him on the shoulder, giving him the hint. “All right, work’s done here. Don’t you have a wife to get home to?”
Mike laughed. “Understood. Hey, Sorrow, we’ll see you at the festival. I hear it’s shaping up to be a doozy, what with all the Buck Larsen stuff. ”
“Let’s hope,” she said, giving him a tired smile.
The sight stabbed him. Billy wouldn’t stand idly by—he needed her father to listen to reason. “I wish I could convince you,” he told the man. “First the freezers, now this. I don’t think these accidents are accidents at all. ”
“That’s enough for one night. I told you before, city boy. All we have in Sierra Falls is neighbors. No vandals, or gangs, or anything like that. ” Bear nodded toward the door. “Time for you two to get out of here. I’m closing shop. Gonna open some windows to air it out. Between the stink and the cold, we’re pulling a goose egg on business tonight. ”
Sorrow stiffened. “It wasn’t my fault. ”
“It was somebody’s fault,” Bear said.
Billy was quick to intervene. He was just as done with Bear as Bear was with his night. “We’ll lock up here, Mister Bailey. You go join the missus. ”
Laura took her father’s arm. “Come on, Dad. Let’s go watch some CNN. ” She winked at her sister.
Her father sucked at his teeth a second, then with a stoic nod, let Laura lead him back to the lodge.
Sorrow gave Billy a sad half smile. “I think Dad could use some alone time to sit in his recliner and lick his wounds. ”
“Do you need to go back to the lodge, too?”