The Christmas Letter

by Kathi Daley

  Odd. Someone must have slipped it into my bag while I was making my rounds. I’d stopped several times to warm up, and each time I’d taken off my bag and set it on the floor, so there were any number of places the note could have been dropped inside without my noticing.

  I opened the envelope and took out a single sheet of white paper. It was a typewritten note that said, Secrets long buried are better off left buried.

  “What does it say, Tess?” Mom asked.

  “It’s just an invitation to a Christmas party,” I said, not wanting to worry her.

  “That’s nice. It seems a lot of folks are having parties this year. I’ve been invited to four myself. Of course, I have my duties at the diner to consider, but I might try to fit one or two into my schedule. Would you like more coffee, dear?”

  “No. I should get home. The kids will be waiting for their dinner.”

  As I made the short drive home, I tried to remember all the places I’d stopped that day. Someone must have been alone with my bag long enough to slip the note inside. The method of delivery seemed childish and inefficient. When I stopped to think about it, the note could have ended up mixed in with anyone’s mail.

  The envelope had been at the bottom of my bag. I supposed whoever put it there hoped I’d find it at the end of the day. Still, the whole thing reeked of high school.

  I turned onto the highway, still wondering where the note could have been put in my bag. The most logical explanation was that someone had put it in before I loaded the day’s mail and I just hadn’t noticed it. There were only seven employees assigned to our branch of the post office. While it was possible any of the other six could have done it, the most likely were Jane Watson, a thirty-year veteran who worked the desk, or Luke Smith, a twenty-year veteran who worked the back room. I mentally considered each of my coworkers in relation to the motive they might have to send me the note. It seemed to me the secret referred to in the note was the same one Pike had been carrying around all these years.

  I set the puzzle aside as I pulled into my drive. Tang and Tilly both acted like I’d abandoned them for weeks instead of hours. I put some soup on to heat because I was still hungry despite the sandwich Mom had made for me, then took Tilly out for a quick walk. When we returned I fed both animals, then settled onto the sofa in front of the fire to have my dinner.

  God, I was tired.

  I’d just finished my soup and was about to doze off when my phone rang.

  “Hey, Bree; what’s up?”

  “I just wanted to touch base. You hurried in and dropped off today’s mail before I was even able to say hi.”

  “I wanted to get my route done before dark and with the storm it was looking unlikely, so I didn’t stop to chat. I have time now, however.” I got up, picked up my bowl, and started toward the kitchen. “I didn’t see you all weekend. How are you doing?”

  “If you mean how am I doing with the fact that the man I thought was the love of my life stole an old man’s life’s savings to pay off a gambling debt and will most likely spend a whole lot of years in prison, fine. Don’t get me wrong; there are moments when total disbelief sets in and I’m numbed by the absurdity of it all, but looking back, I can see Donny was never really the man I thought he was. Before this happened, I would have sworn I wasn’t the sort of woman to be so taken with a man that she couldn’t see his shortcomings, but as it turns out, I was wrong. That’s exactly the sort of woman I am.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up. Donny had a charm he used to cover up his true personality. I was fooled too for a while. I think the best thing you can do is to put this behind you and move on with your life.”

  “You’re right and I will. As soon as I’m done wallowing in self-pity.”

  I laughed. “Wallow all you want. I believe ice cream is the regularly prescribed remedy for a broken heart. I’d invite you over to have some, but I’m all out.”

  “Ice cream is the last thing I need. Now that I’m back on the market I need to watch my calories. By the way, how did dinner go last night?”

  “It was nice. My mom loved Brady, as did Mike. We had a lovely meal and everyone got to know each other a little better. Mike was impressed that Brady signed up for the search-and-rescue team and the two of them spent most of the afternoon discussing past rescues and new equipment. It was a very relaxing and pleasant day.”

  “So, are you going after him?”

  “Going after him? What am I, twelve?”

  “You know what I mean. Do you plan to pursue him as a sexual partner?”

  “Geez, Bree, that’s a little personal even from a best friend.”

  “So, you are going to pursue him?”

  I paused before answering. “I’m not pursuing anything. Brady and I are friends. He happens to get along well with my family, so I’m sure I’ll invite him to Sunday dinner again, and I plan to volunteer at the shelter on Saturdays, so we’ll be spending some time together there, but at this point there’ll be no pursuing, sexually or otherwise.”

  “But you like him?” Bree prodded.

  “Yes, I like him. I like a lot of people. Now can we change the subject?”

  “‘Tess and Brady sitting in a tree…’”

  “Geez, Bree, have you been drinking?”

  “A little bit,” she admitted. “Don’t worry; I’m not going out and I’ve only had enough to take the edge off my misery, which I assume is the exact amount it takes to bring out my silly side. I’m sorry. Let’s talk about something else, as you suggested. Are you still looking in to Pike’s death now that saving Donny is off the table?”

  “I am, but I’m not having a lot of luck.”

  “Well, I may know something that will help. It’s actually the reason I called you in the first place, but then the whiskey took over and I got sidetracked.”

  “Okay; what do you know?”

  “Rita Carson came into the bookstore today and we got to talking about Pike’s death. She said she’d seen Austin Wade’s car in the parking lot in front of Pike’s cabin the day before you found his body.”

  “Did she know why he was there?”

  “She said she didn’t. She just remembered seeing the car.”

  Tang jumped into my lap as soon as I settled onto the sofa. I scratched his neck and he began to purr. “It sounds like Austin being at Pike’s on the day he died could be a real clue. The first real clue we’ve had, in fact. Did Rita say anything else?”

  “Nothing that seemed important or relevant. She talked a bit about the mayor’s gala, but that was about it. You can stop by to talk to her tomorrow to see if she has anything more to say.”

  “I think I’ll do that.”

  We spoke for a few more minutes and then I called Tony. He didn’t answer, so I left a message, then went into the bathroom to take a hot shower and get ready for bed. When I came out dressed in my footie pajamas, Tony was sitting on my sofa talking to Tilly.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, crossing my arms over my well-covered breasts.

  “I saw I’d missed your call. I was in town, so I stopped by. The door was open.”

  I looked down at the one-piece outfit that was superwarm on a cold, blustery night but looked like something a toddler would wear. It momentarily crossed my mind to be embarrassed, but then I decided the heavy garment wasn’t at all revealing, and I’d certainly seen Tony wear odder things.

  “Why were you in town?” I asked as I sat down on the sofa next to him, curling my legs under my body.

  “I was hanging with Shaggy. He was asked to test a new video game that will be coming out next year and he invited me to join him.”

  My face fell. “You didn’t call me?”

  “We did call you. Check your messages.”

  Sure enough, there were missed calls from both Tony and Shaggy. “It’s been a long day. I’m sorry I missed it. It’s been a while since we all got together to play.”

  “You didn’t miss anything. The game is a dud. I hope the company
takes our suggestions. If they don’t I think they’re going to end up losing a lot of money. So, why did you call me?”

  I pulled a blanket over my lap because I was still cold despite the fire that burned brightly in the fireplace, the hot shower I’d taken, and my footie pajamas. “I hadn’t talked to you since Saturday, so I wanted to see if you had any news.”

  “Not really. I may have narrowed in on the woman who sent the letter about Patricia. I need another day or so to know for certain. It seems we have a lot of information but nothing even resembling a smoking gun. Did you ever sit down with Mike to compare notes?”

  “No. I was going to on Sunday, but he wasn’t in a sharing mood, and Brady Baker was there, so I never had the chance to grill him. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. If he seems open to a discussion I may even invite him to dinner this week. Are you free to join us if I can arrange it?”

  “I’m always free for you, love.”

  I smiled. Tony really was the sweetest person. “I know you just finished playing a video game with Shaggy, but it’s been a long day and I need to unwind a bit. Are you up for a quick game of World Domination?”

  “I’m up for it if you don’t mind losing.”

  Chapter 8

  Tuesday, December 19

  The snow had stopped by the following day, leaving a blanket of white covering the landscape. I glanced toward the ski area on the nearby mountain, wishing I had the day off so I could get in a few powder runs while the snow was fresh. Another storm was predicted for later in the week, so maybe there’d be powder conditions again by the time the weekend rolled around.

  “Morning Tess, Tilly,” Hattie greeted as we entered the bakeshop with the mail. “I see you’re still carrying the kitten around.”

  I tossed a pile of mail on Hattie’s counter. “Yeah. He’s old enough to stay home now, but I haven’t quite figured out how to make the transition. I don’t think he’s going to be happy staying home alone if Tilly and I both leave.”

  “Seems to me,” Hattie said as she pushed a blueberry muffin still hot from the oven in front of me, “you’re either going to have to leave Tilly home as well or you’ll need to get a second kitten to keep Tang company.”

  I broke off a corner of the muffin and put it in my mouth. “I’d hate doing my route without Tilly, but I suppose a second kitten might be doable. Taking Tilly along with me wherever I go is pretty easy, but as Tang gets older it will be harder to bring him along as well. Brady mentioned he was expecting the arrival of a litter of kittens at the shelter when I spoke to him on Sunday, so maybe I’ll stop by there after work.”

  “Seems like it might be a good idea. The new vet seems to be settling in right nicely. Everything I’ve heard from those I’ve spoken to has been positive.”

  “Brady’s a great guy. It seems obvious to me that he really cares about animals, and he and his dog Tracker are going to join the search-and-rescue team. White Eagle is lucky to have him.”

  “I spoke to Bree, who seems to think the two of you might be an item.”

  “Bree doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Brady and I are just friends.”

  “Figured. I always thought you and Tony might make a go of it.”

  “Tony? Why would you say that? Tony and I are just friends. Have been for years.”

  “Maybe that’s true, but the nerdy little kid who moved to White Eagle has grown into quite a good-looking man with a brilliant mind and a wad of money to boot. If I were you and I was interested in a relationship with him that amounted to something more than friendship, I wouldn’t want to wait too long.”

  I picked up my pack and slipped it onto my shoulder. “I promise you, Tony and I are just friends. It’s all we ever have been and all we ever will be. Thank you for the muffin, but I have a route to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Tang, Tilly, and I continued down the street. The walkway had been shoveled, but it was still slippery, so we took it slow. “Why on earth would Hattie think Tony and I were anything other than friends?” I asked Tilly.

  She barked, either in response to the question or to hearing Tony’s name.

  “Sure, he’s a really good guy who always has my back, and, given all the hiking, skiing, and wood splitting, he’s filled out quite nicely from the tall but stick-thin seventh grader I first met, but the idea of us as a couple is absurd.”

  I glanced at Tilly, who was trotting along beside me. “Am I right? The idea is nuts.”

  Tilly didn’t say anything, but I had the oddest feeling she agreed with Hattie. I decided on the spur of the moment to stop in to talk with Brick. Rita had told Bree that she’d seen Austin’s car in the parking lot near Pike’s Place on the day he died, although it was just as likely Austin had been at the bar as it was he’d been visiting Pike.

  “I guess I must have mail today,” Brick greeted me. “Been awhile since anyone sent mail to the bar.”

  “Actually, I don’t have mail for you, but I do have a question. I’ve been told Austin Wade’s car was parked in front of Pike’s Place on the day he died. Do you remember if he came in here?”

  “He never comes in here. I guess we aren’t upscale enough for his fancy tastes. And I don’t remember seeing his car. Guess you could ask some of the other merchants. Once I come inside I rarely go into the lot unless I have trash to dispose of. Even if his car was in the lot I most likely wouldn’t have seen it.”

  “Okay, thanks. I was just curious because you remembered seeing Donny’s car.”

  “That was a fluke. Donny just happened to be parked in the lot when I went outside to meet one of the dealers dropping off beer kegs. I most likely wouldn’t have noticed at all except that it was a slow day and the lot was mostly empty.”

  I thanked Brick again and went on my way. I’d need to pick up the pace if I was going to make my meeting with Bella Bradford.

  ******

  Bella lived in a cheery home not far from Bree’s. I didn’t want to leave Tang and Tilly in the Jeep too long even though they were both tired out and sleeping peacefully in the cargo area, so I rang the bell intent on a quick but hopefully fruitful interview. Bella invited me in and we got settled and I dove right in with my first question.

  “Did you know Patricia well when she lived here?” I asked as soon as we’d established the fact that they’d been acquainted.

  “As well as anyone. During her time helping her friend she got to know many of the women in White Eagle and decided to stay. We didn’t have a hospital back then, so many of the women elected to have home births. Patricia’s services were very much needed and appreciated.”

  “I understand she and Pike married at some point.”

  Bella nodded. “They did. They seemed happy enough, but it didn’t seem to me they shared a great passion as much as a deep and abiding friendship. Still, it appeared it worked for both of them and they seemed to settle in as a married couple just fine.”

  “Do you know why she left?” I asked.

  Bella hesitated. She furrowed her brow as she seemed to consider the question. I waited patiently until she was ready to speak, and when she did, she spoke slowly and carefully. “I can’t say as I know for certain what caused her to leave, but I do remember when it occurred. Patricia was a very good midwife who seemed to have an excellent record for healthy deliveries. I’m sure she must have lost a baby or two along the way—it wasn’t uncommon for women to suffer complications that led to disastrous results in those days—but while she’d been in White Eagle she hadn’t lost a one. At least until Emily.”

  “Emily?”

  “Emily Brown was no more than eighteen. She was pregnant with her first child and was happier about her impending motherhood than anyone I’d ever seen. She was the sort of girl who drew you in with her smile. Everyone in town loved her. Anyway, Emily went into labor a couple of weeks early, which wouldn’t have been a problem except that Bella was up at the Wade home, delivering Alberta Wade’s oldest son. Alberta had been having problems since the
beginning of her pregnancy and Bella didn’t want to leave her alone, so when Emily’s husband, Tom, came to tell her that Emily had gone into labor early, she assured him first pregnancies had long labors and she’d be by as soon as Alberta’s baby was delivered. The problem was that Alberta’s delivery took longer than she’d predicted, and by the time she made it to the home Emily shared with her young husband both Emily and her baby were in distress. In the end, both Emily and her baby died.”

  I put my hand to my mouth. “Oh God. The poor woman. Her poor husband.” I took a breath and let it really sink in. “Poor Patricia.”

  “It was a dark time for the town. Emily had been so full of life and was such a popular figure. Everyone in White Eagle mourned for her. Not long after the funeral Tom left the area and life went on. I’m not sure why Patricia took Emily’s death as hard as she did, but it seemed to haunt her. She slipped further and further into a dark depression and eventually, she returned to the home she’d left when she came to White Eagle in the first place. I never saw her again.”

  “Wow,” I said as I fought my own tears. “That was quite a story. I guess I can understand why she might feel the need to get away. Thank you for sharing the story with me.”

  Bella put her hand over mine. “I was happy to help. Pike was a good man who lived a lonely life after Patricia left. I hope you find out who killed him.”

  Tilly, Tang, and I went on my route. We were making good time this afternoon and I hoped we’d be done early. The idea of getting a second kitten so Tang would have a companion was growing on me. I’d called and talked to Brady, who said he had four kittens looking for homes.

  I’d just finished my delivery to Sisters’ Diner when my phone rang. It was Tony. “Hey, what’s up? Are you still licking your wounds from the lashing I gave you last night?”

  He laughed. “We both know I let you win so you wouldn’t be aggravated after the long day you’d had.”