Zimmerman Academy: The New Normal

by Kathi Daley

  He somehow managed to nestle both Haden and Hudson into his arms and I picked up Holly and followed him up the snowy walk and into the house.

  Brady stopped in the middle of the living room and looked around. “Nice.”

  “I think you’ll be comfortable here. The house has four bedrooms, all on the second floor. You can use one for an office or den if you plan to have the twins share.”

  “It sounds perfect. Let me change the boys’ diapers and slip them into their pj’s and then I’ll get my things out of your car.”

  “Daddy?” Holly lifted her head from my shoulder. I wondered if she’d wake up when I’d picked her up, but she must be a heavy sleeper because she hadn’t stirred until this point.

  “Right here, honey.”

  Holly struggled to get down. I set her on the floor and she ran over to her father. The poor thing seemed to be feeling insecure about the move. Not that I blamed her. The boys were too young to understand what was going on, but for a four-year-old being uprooted and forced to leave everything she had ever known must be terrifying.

  “The bedrooms are at the top of the stairs. You’ll find two cribs in one of them. Why don’t you get the kids settled and I’ll grab the luggage?”

  “Are you sure? The large suitcase is pretty heavy.”

  “I’m sure. I’m stronger than I look.”

  By the time I unloaded the car and returned to the living area, Brady had all three of his children changed into warm pajamas and snuggled up on the sofa. He’d even managed to start the fire, which had been prepared so that all you had to do was light a match. The twins were drinking bottles, which they held themselves, and Holly was sitting on her dad’s lap with a child’s cup in her hand. It looked like she’d be asleep within minutes.

  “Did you figure out the bedroom situation?” I asked.

  “We did. And thank you very much. Holly loved the purple comforter on her bed. Purple is her favorite color.”

  I smiled. “Mine too.”

  “Zak leased a car for you. It’s in the garage. The keys are on the kitchen table. I brought the car seats in; they’re with the luggage in the hall.”

  “Thank you. I can see I’m going to love working at the Academy. Everyone has been so nice and helpful.”

  “We’re a family. It really is the best place to work. Let’s see, the thermostat is on the wall near the entrance to the kitchen and there’s food in the refrigerator; not a lot, but enough to make breakfast for your family. There are extra linens and blankets in the closet at the end of the hall on the second story and the TV remote is in the drawer of the little table next to the sofa. I’ll be by tomorrow morning to introduce you to the babysitter. Her name is Stephanie. She’s really nice and very responsible. I’m sure the kids will love her, but I thought it best she spend some time with them before you start teaching your classes.”

  “Thanks. I agree it will be easier on Holly especially if she knows the babysitter before she’s left alone with her. Do you know when I’m supposed to start classes?”

  “Zak will be back from his trip on Monday. I know he plans to meet with you on Tuesday. I guess you can discuss a start date at that time. Until then, I’m here to help in any way I can.”

  Holly had fallen asleep in Brady’s arms. “I’m going to put her to bed. Can you keep an eye on the boys until I get back?”

  “Absolutely.”

  I sat down on the sofa between the two toddlers, who had both finished their bottles and were fast asleep. I scooped Haden into my arms and settled him onto my chest. It felt so right to be holding a baby. I wrapped his blanket around him and snuggled him next to my heart. What I wouldn’t give for one of my own someday.

  I looked up to see Brady watching me. He smiled and I smiled back. Brady picked up Hudson and cuddled him into his arms. He sat down next to me and we sat in silence, each lost in our own thoughts yet finding comfort in the toddlers we held.

  When I noticed Brady nodding off I suggested we put the boys to bed. After they were tucked in I confirmed a time to bring Stephanie by and then headed out to my car. The solitary ride back to Zoe and Zak’s, where I was staying while they were away, seemed so lonely after the warmth and companionship I’d shared with Brady and his children. I loved the little boathouse I lived in, and my dog, Shep, was the best, but my heart yearned for someone special to come home to at the end of each day.

  I parked in the back of the house near the kitchen. When I walked in through the side door I noticed the lights were on. The dogs all ran up to greet me, and I let them out into the yard for a quick run before heading into the living room, where I found Levi watching a movie on the giant flat screen television.

  “Levi, what are you doing here?”

  “I was waiting for Zoe. The door was open.”

  “Zoe and Zak are in Ireland. You’d know that if you were ever around.”

  I watched as a sadness came over Levi’s face. I know I was being snappy, but somehow, seeing him sitting there just like old times, made me feel sadder than I was already.

  “I know I haven’t been around much,” Levi answered. “I just thought it would be easier if I stayed away for a while.”

  “Easier for you so you have more time to spend with your new girlfriend?”

  “That’s not what I mean, and she isn’t—or I guess I should say, wasn’t—my girlfriend. Exactly.”

  “What do you mean wasn’t?”

  “I mean she’s dead.”

  “Dead?” Suddenly all my anger melted away. Poor Levi. “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. I wasn’t able to get hold of Sheriff Salinger to confirm the details. I do know they found her body in her apartment this morning after she didn’t show up for work. I didn’t find out until after school let out. I’ve been trying to call Zoe ever since, but she isn’t picking up. I forgot about the whole Ireland thing.”

  I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around Levi in an offering of support. He’d been my best friend before he was my ex. Somehow, if I wanted to remain best friends, I needed to get past the ex part of our history. “I’m so sorry. I know the two of you were close.”

  “We were friends. She was a nice person. I want to find out what happened. I hoped Zoe would use her influence with Salinger to get the answers no one seems willing to share.”

  “Zoe does seem to have a way of gaining cooperation from our grouchy sheriff,” I admitted. “But we’ve helped out in the past as well. He knows that. Maybe if we go talk to him together he’ll tell us what he knows.”

  “You’ll go with me?”

  “Yes. I have to take the babysitter over to meet the new math teacher for the Academy at around ten. Why don’t we hit up Salinger first thing, when he’ll most likely be in his office?”

  “I have a class at eight, but maybe I can get a sub for first period. A couple of staff members owe me favors.”

  “Okay. If you can get a sub we’ll meet at the sheriff’s office at seven thirty. Once we hear what he has to say we can take it from there.”

  Levi hugged me tight. “Thanks, El.” He took a step back and looked me in the eye. “You know I love you.”

  I smiled. “I know. I love you too.”

  Chapter 2

  Friday, February 12

  Levi and I came prepared to bribe Salinger into speaking to us. Levi carried a bag with a dozen gooey doughnuts and I carried an extra tall vanilla latte, just the kind he liked. Luckily, the front door to the main lobby from the street was open, and it was early enough that Salinger was the only one in the office.

  “Where’s Donovan?” he barked the minute we walked in the front door.

  “Ireland,” I answered as I handed him the large coffee cup.

  “Damn. I was afraid it was something like that. I’ve left twenty messages and she hasn’t returned a one.”

  “Don’t feel bad,” I said. “Levi and I have left a ton of messages as well and she hasn’t returned ours either. I bet the cell service isn’t
operating where she’s staying for some reason. I tried calling Zak’s line, but he didn’t pick up either.”

  Salinger looked at Levi. “I bet those doughnuts you’re holding are supposed to soften me up so I’ll tell you what I know about Ms. Kramer.”

  Levi handed the bag to Salinger. “Is it working?”

  “No, but I wanted to talk to you anyway. Let’s go into my office.”

  Salinger locked the front door, I imagined because there would be no one in the reception area until the clerk arrived at eight, and led us down the hall to his office. Levi and I sat down while Salinger dug through the bag of doughnuts, looking for his favorites.

  “It appears,” Salinger began after taking a couple of bites of the sugary treat, “Ms. Kramer ingested a lethal dose of sleeping pills sometime between ten o’clock Wednesday night and two o’clock Thursday morning. The coroner is working on whittling down the time span, but for now that four-hour window is what we have to work with.”

  “You suspect foul play?” Levi asked. “You don’t think it was suicide?”

  “Is there a reason Ms. Kramer might have wanted to kill herself?”

  Levi hesitated. He glanced at me and then back at Salinger. “Maddie and I fought on Wednesday night. I didn’t kill her, but when I left she was pretty upset, and she’d been drinking, but no, I don’t think she’d kill herself.”

  “Do you mind telling me what you fought about?”

  “She wanted us to move in together. I told her I wasn’t interested in that sort of a relationship and she accused me of using her.”

  “Did you have a sexual relationship with Ms. Kramer?”

  Levi glanced at me, a look of apology in his eyes, before he answered. “Yes. We had a physical relationship. But at no point did I indicate that I was interested in settling down.”

  I felt my heart explode with pain and betrayal. I’d suspected Levi was sleeping with Maddie, but I didn’t know for certain it was true until now. We’d broken up less than two months ago, after a year-long relationship. It hurt that he’d moved on so easily.

  “What time did you leave Ms. Kramer’s apartment?”

  “Around nine.”

  “Did she say anything to you that would indicate that she was expecting anyone to come by?”

  “No.”

  “Did she seem overly distraught?”

  “She was upset, but like I said, Maddie didn’t seem the type to end her own life. She had too much self-esteem for that.”

  “Could she have accidentally overdosed?”

  Levi didn’t answer right away.

  “Did you find an empty pill bottle?” I asked.

  Salinger turned his attention to me. “No, we didn’t.”

  “If Maddie was alone and she either accidentally overdosed or intentionally committed suicide, the empty pill bottle would be nearby. I doubt she’d bother to remove the bottle from the immediate area if she was intending to kill herself; likewise, if she simply intended to use the pills to induce sleep, she would have no reason to discard the bottle. If the bottle wasn’t in the apartment, there’s a good chance another party removed it. The only reason I can see to do that is to cover up a murder.”

  “Good point.”

  “Maddie lived in an apartment building. Chances are someone saw something. If I were you, I’d take a look around to see if the pill bottle rolled under the sofa or behind a chair. If you don’t find it, I’d start looking for suspects.”

  “You filling in for Donovan while she’s away?” Salinger teased.

  “Yes,” I answered quite seriously, “I guess I am.”

  “I need to get to work,” Levi informed Salinger. “I have a class in twenty minutes. Will you please let me know what you find out? I didn’t love Mattie and I didn’t see us having a long-term relationship, but I did like her, and I cared about her. If she was murdered, I want to see her killer caught.”

  “The two of you have helped Donovan investigate enough times that I suppose some of her natural ability could have rubbed off on you. While you aren’t my first choices I’m shorthanded. If you want to stop back this afternoon we can chat again.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” Levi stood up.

  “When will Donovan be back?” Salinger asked me.

  “Monday.”

  “All right. If you get hold of her tell her to call me.”

  Levi and I let ourselves out of the office. The clerk had arrived while we were chatting with Salinger so the door had been unlocked.

  “Do you have time to meet up later this afternoon?” Levi asked.

  I wanted to say no. I wanted to remind the man I’d loved for what seemed like forever that he’d hurt me deeply and I needed time to heal. But I didn’t. I told him I’d be happy to meet with him as long as Zoe’s parents were able to keep Alex and Scooter at their place for one more night. I was supposed to be child sitting, but I’d asked them to watch the kids while I went to Bryton Lake to pick up Brady. When it had gotten so late I’d called and arranged for them to spend the night.

  We arranged to meet at three thirty, after Levi finished his classes for the day. I didn’t need to tell him how much he’d hurt me by jumping into Maddie’s bed before ours had even grown cold. I could tell by the way he was avoiding eye contact that he knew exactly how I felt.

  Decompressing Levi and his motivation for doing what he’d done was going to get me nowhere, so I decided to focus on my morning with Brady. I’d take Stephanie over to meet the kids, and if they all seemed comfortable together, maybe he and I would run a few errands so they could spend some time together as sort of a trial run for when he’d need to leave them for a full day while he was at work.

  I very much wanted to be Brady’s friend. There was something about him that I was immediately drawn to. Maybe it was the fact that we were both struggling with finding a sense of normalcy, but I felt like he understood me better than anyone else right then.

  “Picking out the right diaper is tricky,” Brady informed me after we’d settled the kids with Stephanie and headed to the store. “This one,” he picked up a box with a blue lid, “fits the best. The sizing is far superior to say this one.” He pointed to the box with a red lid.

  “So get the one with the blue lid.”

  “The thing is, the ones in the red lid are much more absorbent than the other ones. I’d estimate that the diapers in the blue lid need to be changed twenty percent more often than those in the red lid.”

  “Is changing more often a problem?”

  “Not during the day. I like to keep the boys fresh and dry, and the diapers in the blue lid are less expensive, so even though I use more it works out to about the same cost. The problem comes into play at night. I’ve found that if they’re wearing the more absorbent diapers they tend to sleep longer.”

  “So get both. Use the better-fitting diapers during the day. That’s when they’ll be moving around and fit will be more important. Use the more absorbent diapers at night.”

  “The perfect solution. You’re going to knock this parenting thing out of the park when you have children of your own. It took me a year to figure out the trick of buying both rather than choosing just one brand.”

  I tried not to let my smile slip, but it must have.

  “Sensitive subject?”

  “A little. Maybe I’ll tell you about it sometime. For now, let’s try to figure out which brand of toddler food to buy.”

  “That’s where it gets really tricky. I’ve developed a spreadsheet to help me determine the best products based on taste, nutrition, and price.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “’Fraid not. Once we get the toddler food I say we move on to cat supplies. I’m afraid I don’t have any research to back up my purchases in that department.”

  “I can’t believe there was a cat sleeping in Holly’s bed when you went in to check on her last night. I guess she got in at some point during the day. The front door was cracked open when we got there last night
.”

  “I spoke to the very nice woman who lives next door and she told me the cat belonged to the former owners. I gather they just left her when they moved. She’s been feeding her, but she assured me that if I was willing to adopt her that would be a much better solution.”

  “And you’re okay with Holly having a cat?”

  Brady nodded. “She’s been taking this move hard. She misses her grandparents. I think the cat will be good for her.”

  I had to agree. Holly had been quiet and sullen the previous day, but when Stephanie and I arrived this morning she couldn’t wait to introduce us to Mittens, who seemed to be a perfect pet for the young girl. Mittens was a small female cat with long gray fur and four white paws. She really was precious and she seemed to adore Holly.

  “Is there a farmers market in town?” Brady asked.

  “Only during the summer. During the winter you’re pretty much limited to what the grocer stocks, but most of the time the produce is fresh. I’d avoid fruits and veggies that are out of season, though. The flavor really isn’t there.”

  I watched Brady’s hands as he picked out three large tomatoes. He held the tomatoes the way he held his twins, with a gentle strength. I really shouldn’t be noticing the hands of a man so newly widowed, but I found that I was having the best day. Not only had Holly been cheerful and talkative when I arrived that morning but the twins had toddled over to me as soon as I walked in and reached up their arms to be picked up. Picking them both up at the same time without dropping either was hard, but I managed just fine and was rewarded by sloppy kisses that melted my heart.

  “So, where do you stand on pasta?” Brady asked.

  “Pasta?”

  “Most of the women I know won’t touch the stuff. Too many carbs.”

  “I love pasta.”