by Judi Lynn
“God!” Maury ran his hands through his gray, kinky hair. It was cut short, close to his head, probably to control it. “How did Cal find him? Back in those days, adoption files were closed. No one could see them.” When Jazzi gave him a thoughtful look, he said, “My Gina had two miscarriages when we got married. The doctor said she’d never be able to have a child. We were thinking about adoption when she got pregnant and had our first son. The agency assured us that our files would always be closed if anyone tried to look at them.”
“Times change. Cal hired a detective.”
Maury stopped pacing. He stared. “Times do change, don’t they? Are you going to have a funeral for Lynda?”
“Mom talked about a private graveside service. That’s all.”
Maury nodded. “I understand. If they find her son, will you let me know? Lynda was my first love. If the kid needs anything . . .” He trailed off. “I can’t believe she gave him up for adoption.”
Jazzi didn’t know what else to say.
Maury gave one last sigh. “Thanks for talking to me. I appreciate it. Tell your mom I was thinking of her.”
“I will.”
When he left, she started back to the kitchen, but he’d ruined her mood. Nachos and watching a movie alone didn’t sound as good. She glanced out the back window and saw Reuben’s car parked at the back of the property. She gave him a quick call.
“Hey, I was wondering if you’d like to grab something to eat with me, my treat?”
He hesitated. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a little restless.”
“We’ll go dutch, and you can drive, so I can have a martini. How about the Gas House?”
“I’ll put on some good slacks.”
He chuckled. “I’m on my way downstairs.”
He looked elegant, as usual. It only took ten minutes to reach the restaurant, and Reuben decided he’d like to eat on the outdoor patio, overlooking the river. Jazzi got her usual fare—the prime rib—and Reuben ordered the crab cakes. While they gossiped about their days, Reuben dug in his wallet and handed her a business card. “Isabelle asked me to give you that. She’d love to see Cal’s house one more time, if you wouldn’t mind.”
Jazzi put the card in her purse. “I’m halfway thinking about buying his place. My apartment’s too small when I invite my family for Sunday meals. I’m ready to have something bigger.”
Reuben leaned forward, excited. “When would you move? Because I’m growing quite fond of Isabelle, and she’s hinted that she’d move in with me if I had more space. When she hinted that to Cal, he didn’t take her up on it, but I’d like to, and our landlord has let me know he’d like to get out of the leasing business. I was thinking about making an offer on our old Victorian and restoring it into a single home again.”
“You’d make it beautiful.” She had no doubt that Reuben would restore it to its former glory. “My lease is up the middle of August. Is that too soon?”
“That’s perfect!” Reuben finished his crab cake and took the last sip of his martini. “If you’d like any advice on Cal’s house, I’d be glad to help out.”
“Maybe I’ll invite you and Isabelle to look it over once Jerod and I finish sanding and staining the floors. We’ve gutted everything else.”
“It’s a date. We’ll bring champagne to celebrate your new home.”
She grinned. “We have to stay in touch after I move. I’ve gotten used to you, you know.”
“Likewise, my dear. I don’t want to drift apart.”
She intended to follow through on that. After they both finished their meals and returned to the Victorian, she waved good-bye as he headed to his upstairs apartment. She settled onto her sofa and turned on the TV to relax. Two hours later, she was more than ready to call it a night.
Chapter 12
The next day was so hot and humid that the window air conditioner woke Jazzi as it droned to keep the apartment cool. She kicked off her sheets and lay still, letting the cool air fan over her before she pushed to her feet. July in Indiana could wilt a steel beam. She pulled on jeans for work anyway. Had to protect her legs, but she tugged on a sleeveless T-shirt and scraped her hair into a high ponytail. She was going to sweat a lot today.
On her way to Cal’s house, Jazzi stopped to buy stain at her dad’s hardware store. Time to finish the floors. Dad was at their southwest building, but she ran into Chuck Huestis. He’d bought one of the grand old homes that she and Jerod had restored in Forest Park. When she raised an eyebrow, he grinned. “No worries. You guys fixed every little thing in that house, but my wife wants a soaker hose for her roses. We love what you did to the place.”
She smiled. “Good, we try to catch everything.”
“You did. Believe me.” He nodded toward the cans of stain in her hands. “I hear you’re working on Cal Juniper’s house. We both belonged to the Country Club. I miss him. I hated it when his nephews rented out his place. They didn’t give a crap about Cal. But they didn’t mind inheriting all the dividends from his stocks and bonds.”
That surprised Jazzi. “Cal left all his money to them?”
Chuck shrugged. “His sister was his only living relative. He wouldn’t leave his fortune to her. She quit speaking to him when he got engaged to Lynda. Never forgave him. Have you met Katherine?” When Jazzi shook her head, he said, “You’re lucky. She tilts her nose in the air so high, I’m surprised she can function. Cal was never like that. He was one easygoing guy, but his sister made him so mad, he told me his will left everything to Lynda. Thing is, no one could find her, so his money went to his nephews. He couldn’t name their dad in his will. Tim blew through every penny he’d ever made.”
Jazzi hadn’t really thought about Cal’s will, but she and Jerod had bought the house from his nephews. They must not have cared how much it was worth, so she’d guess they got so much money from Cal that it didn’t matter to them. It made her sad. “Cal’s friend Isabelle loved his house.”
Chuck nodded. “I think Cal included her in his will. She’d earned it, and she was his best friend.”
He hadn’t asked about Lynda, so she wondered if he’d heard the news. “You know that we found Lynda’s body in a trunk in Cal’s attic, don’t you?”
Chuck looked shocked. “No. In Cal’s attic? Cal would never harm her. He worshipped her. Like I said, he left everything to her in his will.”
“He tracked down Lynda’s son, too, but Noah disappeared on his way to River Bluffs.”
Chuck took a deep breath. “Lynda had a son?”
Jazzi filled him in on the latest news.
“And the boy was coming here to meet him?” Chuck’s lips turned down. “I hadn’t seen Cal for a while. I’m behind on his news. Bet he was glad the kid said yes. He invited his nephews to stay with him every once in a while, but they always made an excuse not to come.”
“They live only three hours away, don’t they?”
“If that. You should get together with Isabelle sometime and talk to her about Cal. He confided in her. He told her everything. She knows things none of the rest of us do.”
“I’ll do that.” She decided she’d like to know more about Katherine’s sons. When she got home tonight, she’d look them up and start asking around about them, and sometime, she’d call Isabelle.
She and Chuck walked to the cashier together, paid for their items, then left.
Jerod and Ansel were already working on drywall when she reached Cal’s house. Jazzi dragged in the tall floor sander she’d brought, then went back for the stain. She told both men about her visit with Chuck Huestis.
Jerod stopped to inspect the drywall on the outside wall. The kitchen was starting to look like a room. “I like Chuck. If he says Cal’s nephews are rotters, they are.”
“How’s Emily?” she asked Ansel.
His lips pinched. “She isn’t happ
y at her job. She could make more money as a traveling nurse.”
Jerod stopped and stared. “Traveling where?”
“We didn’t renew the lease on our apartment. I got happy about that and started to look for houses, but that’s not what she wants either. She’s talking about California. She got a license to work there.”
“And you?” Jerod asked. “Do you like California?”
“I don’t know. This was sort of sudden.”
He turned back to the drywall. He clearly didn’t want to talk about it. Jazzi didn’t want to pressure him. Instead, she pitched in to help him and Jerod. It was a big job. It took them all day to finish installing it. They were all drenched in sweat when they put up the last sheet.
“Franny’s not going to let me in the house tonight.” Jerod used his shirt hem to wipe his forehead. “She’ll make me stand in the backyard and hose me off.”
“How’s she doing lately?”
Jerod had said Franny was touchier than usual, that she snapped at him and the kids more. She’d seemed all right at the Sunday meal. She hadn’t talked and laughed as much as usual, but no one did. They all answered questions for Arnie.
“I’ve nicknamed her Moody Mama. This heat isn’t bringing out the best in her. She’s tired a lot, too.”
Jazzi wiped her face and neck with a damp paper towel. She tried not to stare at Ansel. He’d taken off his shirt while they worked, and muscles glistened everywhere. “I think everyone’s a little moodier than usual. This heat just saps your energy.”
“Not yours.” Jerod patted her head. “You’re motivated to fix this house.”
She was excited to see how it turned out. She went to the sink to wet another paper towel to cool off her neck and listened to the water gurgle as it slid down the pipes. “We’re going to have to check the plumbing. Things are sluggish. There are enough trees on the property, we might have to snake out roots.”
“I kind of figured on that. I checked on when the septic tank was cleaned last, and it should still be good.” Jerod started putting away his tools. “I’m going home and I’m going to jump in the pond with the kids. Want to come?”
“Thanks anyway, I want to stop and check on Grandma tonight. She went a little fuzzy before she left my place on Sunday. Hopefully, she’s clear again today.”
“I’ll come,” Ansel told Jerod. “Want me to stop and buy Coney dogs on the way to your place?”
“I love you, friend. Franny doesn’t like to cook to start with, but in hot weather, forget it.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Ansel tugged his shirt back over his head and he and Jerod started to their trucks.
Out of curiosity, Jazzi went to flush the toilet on the ground floor and shook her head when the water took forever to go down. Yup, tomorrow they’d have to check the pipes in the house. Thankfully, Ansel and Jerod were as good at plumbing as they were with hammers.
Chapter 13
Jazzi drove home and grabbed the slow cooker to take to Grandma’s. She’d started brats and sauerkraut before she left for work this morning—one of Grandma’s favorites. She wasn’t sure if Grandma would remember she was coming or not, but she pulled into her drive at six sharp. No time to take a shower, but she’d done a quick rinse-off at the sink, so she didn’t look too bad.
Grams was sitting on the front porch, fanning herself with a magazine. She lived in a little town south of River Bluffs and raised chickens. Today, they were loose and scratching in the side yard. She’d planted a garden, as usual, but the tomato plants looked a little droopy from the heat. Grams always brought fresh produce and eggs to Sunday meals—when she remembered.
“Sarah!” Grams stood to wave Jazzi into the house.
Jazzi grabbed the bag of hoagie buns she’d brought, along with the slow cooker. Grams held the door so she could carry them inside.
“It’s a hot one today,” Grams told her. “I made us a pitcher of lemonade.”
Good, she’d remembered Jazzi was coming. She just had the wrong decade. She was a young woman again, getting together with her sister.
When Jazzi made her way to the kitchen, Samantha came up from the basement with a load of folded laundry. A widow, Samantha had moved in with Grams for free room and board and kept an eye on her. So far, it had worked out well for both women.
“How’s it gone lately?” Jazzi asked.
“We’ve been fine, moving a little slower than usual since it’s so hot, but nothing to complain about.”
Grandma poured them each a glass of lemonade. “I told Samantha the good news about Lynda having a baby. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Babies are miracles.” Jazzi searched in the cupboards for paper plates. Grandma was worse today than usual.
“Jerod’s going to be so happy it’s a boy.” Grandma put silverware at each place setting.
Poor Jerod. He was the first of their generation to get married and have kids, so he must have stuck in Grandma’s head as Noah’s father.
Grandma shook a finger at Jazzi. “Franny’s pregnant, you know. I saw the mask, always do. I can tell what a woman will have. She’ll have another boy.”
Jazzi stared. Where had that come from? Grams gave her a severe look. “If you want to make babies, you’d better get to it. Hens get old, and their eggs stop coming. Same will happen to you.”
Oh, Lord! Time to change the subject. “I brought you bratwurst and sauerkraut.”
Grams smiled, and her eyes cleared. “We need mustard. Samantha, Jazzi brought us supper.”
The conversation turned to Grandma’s crop of green beans, how young the new minister was at Grams’s church, and how the neighbor’s dog got loose and came to scare her chickens. When they finished their meal, Grams studied Jazzi and asked, “How’s your mom holding up?”
Jazzi didn’t want to talk about Lynda. She was afraid she’d lose Grandma again to the past, so she tried to keep her answer light. “She’s doing fine.”
“That girl always put her sister on a pedestal, always stood up for her. Lynda wouldn’t do the same for her. I tried to tell Cyn that.”
“She’s learned that the hard way. It’s bothered her.”
“Why wouldn’t it?” Grandma sighed and leaned back in her chair. “You always were the best cook in our family, Sarah. I don’t suppose you’d want to leave me the leftovers, would you?”
Sheesh. She was Sarah again, but Jazzi smiled. “I’d be happy to leave them. I even brought plastic containers for you to store them in.”
Grams chuckled. “You always did spoil me. Mom said it was a wonder I turned out decent at all.”
“I like spoiling you. It makes me happy.” Jazzi helped Samantha transfer the food into the disposable containers, and then she kissed Grandma on the cheek. “I’d better get going. I have a big day tomorrow.”
“You work too hard. Always have. A body needs a rest sometimes, or you’re going to wear yourself out before your time.” Another truth. Sarah had died before she was seventy. “And find yourself a nice man. Life’s better with a partner.” But Sarah never had. Is that why Grams lumped her and Sarah together? Because she worked too hard, too, and still wasn’t married?
Come to think of it, though, Jazzi didn’t want to end up like Sarah. She’d owned a dry-cleaning shop and didn’t retire until she was sixty-eight. A year later, she died. Jazzi bent again to kiss Grandma’s cheek. “Love ya.”
“The next time you come, I’ll teach you how to make strudel. You asked me about that.”
She had. Grandma’s head was one giant jumble. “We’ll try some day when it’s not so hot.”
“I have eggs for you to take home.”
Samantha had put three dozen cartons of eggs in a tote bag.
“Thanks. I’ll come again soon.” On the drive home, Jazzi was grateful once again that Samantha lived with Grandma. She wouldn’t be safe on
her own anymore.
Later that night, she called her mom. “I went to see Grandma.”
“How was she?”
“Sometimes I was Sarah. Sometimes I was me.”
Her mom sighed. “At least she’s not getting worse.”
“That’s a blessing.” Jazzi paused a second. “Did you ever meet Cal’s nephews? I ran into Chuck Huestis at the hardware store today, and he didn’t have anything good to say about them.”
“The apples don’t fall far from the tree. Their mother’s ego could suck all the air out of a room, and their dad can make money disappear. If those boys had spent more time with Cal, they might have had a chance, but they chose not to.”
“Did they come to River Bluffs when Cal died?”
“They were here for his funeral. Stayed in his house until the lawyer read his will, and then they grabbed his money and ran.”
“That’s pretty much how Chuck described them.”
Mom sighed. “It’s too bad. Cal deserved better.”
That’s how Jazzi was beginning to feel. First, Cal fell for Lynda, and that didn’t end well. Then his sister shunned him. And finally, he found Lynda’s son, but Noah never reached River Bluffs. The man might have had lots of money and friends, but he had his fair share of grief, too.
“I’ll let you go, Mom. Are you hanging in there?”
“I’m starting to focus on how thoughtless my sister was, and it’s making me feel better.”
Not what Jazzi had expected, but if it worked, why not? “Anger can be a good thing.”
“Yes, it can. It’s going to get me through this.”
When Jazzi turned out the lights and went to bed, she thought about Mom’s words. Mom had every right to be mad at her sister. It was a little late, but better late than never.
Chapter 14
Jazzi sanded the living room floor on Wednesday while the men ran snakes down every drain in the house. She’d started in the living room, so she’d be out of their way while they cussed in the bathrooms and kitchen. The water still didn’t drain right.
