Death of the Family Recipe (A Scotti Fitzgerald Murder Mystery Book 3)

by Anita Rodgers

  And as though on cue, the door opened and Ted bounded out of the house. "Please don’t say anything to him, Matt. I’ll tell him, but I decide when. Okay?"

  Matt nodded. "Okay."

  Ted opened my door and leaned in to kiss me. "Hi baby. Look, we’re both home at the same time." He helped me out of the car. "You have packages?"

  I put my hands on his chest and gave him a gentle shove. "Oh no, you stay away from those packages."

  Ted looked over my head at the back of the car. "Something for me?"

  I pushed him toward the house. "You’ll just have to wait 'til Christmas morning little boy."

  Matt gave me my keys and a quick hug. "See you tomorrow." I nodded, but he took my hand and held onto it. "Tell him, okay?"

  "See you tomorrow, Matt."

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Ted and I settled on a blanket by the fire — nibbling from a tray of brisket sandwiches, potato salad, cheese and fruit. A sort of Christmas picnic. Both content just to be in the same room at the same time and conscious. I fed him an apple slice topped with Irish cheddar. "How’s work, Mr. Busy?"

  He grabbed a sandwich from the tray. "Work is done until Monday."

  I clapped my hands, then raised my wine glass of club soda. "Here’s to Christmas vacations." I kissed him, and he tasted like brisket. "And by the way, you’re all mine until Monday."

  He tugged on a lock of my hair gently. "Except for the Christmas Eve shebang at Mom’s tomorrow."

  I rolled my eyes. "I can’t believe we have to drag everything over there so we can all open our presents together. We’ll be opening presents until New Year’s."

  Ted looked into my eyes. "So what happened today?"

  I shrugged. "Nothing. I baked cakes with Matt, Ginny and the girls. Then Matt and I delivered the rest of the cookies and then we came home."

  He studied my face. "Nothing else?"

  I rearranged the cheese slices on the tray, wondering if Matt had called him and told him about our stop at Jennifer’s. "Like what?"

  "I don’t know, you tell me."

  I gathered the dirty dishes onto the tray. "Nothing to tell, honey." I smiled at him and said, "Or is this your way of tricking me into telling what I got you for Christmas?"

  He slid the tray aside and took my hands. "I’m your husband."

  I kissed him. "Yes, I know."

  "And I’m pretty good at reading you."

  I reached for the tray again. "What am I, a book?"

  Gently, he pulled me into his arms. "You’re upset."

  I made a face and shook my head. "Why would I be upset?"

  He kissed the top of my head. "That’s what I’m trying to find out."

  I sighed. "Fine. If you must know I think Ingrid is out there."

  He looked toward the door. "Out where?"

  I flapped my hands. "Watching me. Whenever you’re not around, I just feel her. Out there, somewhere, watching me."

  Ted held me tight. "I promise you honey, she’s not."

  I wriggled out of his arms. "And this is why I didn’t say anything. You don’t believe me, or you think it’s my hormones." I twirled my finger. "All in my head, right?"

  He took my hand. "No honey, I believe you feel that way. And I get why. She made you feel unsafe in your own home. That would mess with anybody’s head."

  I sulked. "But?"

  He pulled me back into his arms. "You’re safe, I promise."

  It wasn’t exactly a lie. I did feel Ingrid was out there watching me. But it wasn’t exactly the truth either. I’d tell him about Jennifer. But later. After Christmas. After I knew who and what I was dealing with and what I was going to do about it.

  <<>>

  On Christmas morning, Ted woke me wearing only a Santa hat. "Ho, ho, ho."

  I laughed and pushed him away. "Sorry Santa, my husband gets jealous when I sleep with other men." I squinted at the clock, then rolled out of bed. "Put on your pants. It’s time for hot chocolate, cookies and stockings."

  While Ted finished getting ready, I set out our cookies, hot chocolate and stockings on the coffee table. Then quickly slid his special gift under the tree.

  Ted, still wearing his Santa hat but also a pair of green pajama bottoms, caught me as I turned away from the tree. He slid his arms around my disappearing waist and whispered, "What have you got there, little girl? Something nice for Santa?"

  I ducked out of his arms and went to the sofa. Patting the place next to me, I said, "Come sit with me, honey." Ted sat next to me but was fixated on the tree. I slid the plate of cookies in front of him. "Oatmeal raisin, your favorite." He didn’t even look at the cookies, which was a first. I threw up my hands and jumped off the sofa. "Okay, straight to the presents it is." I pulled his gift from under the tree and held it out to him. "Merry Christmas husband."

  Ted grinned, reached over the side of the sofa and pulled out a surprise gift of his own. He held it out to me. "Merry Christmas wife."

  Both gifts looked remarkably similar — framed artwork. "You first."

  Ted took his time removing the ribbon and lifting the tape from the wrapping paper. It took forever, but the look on his face was worth the wait. "Oh, baby."

  He stared at picture of us feeling the babies kick that first night. It was such a special moment of our life together that I wanted both us to always remember it. Franky had done a beautiful job of enlarging and framing it — perfect. Ted kissed me. "Our first family photo. I love it." He hugged me for a long moment. "Merry Christmas, baby." Then he laughed and crossed his eyes. "I think I’m catching your hormones." He handed me my gift. "Your turn."

  I ripped off the paper to get to the prize inside. I was floored and stared at him. "I can’t believe you did this." It was a pastel drawing of the old photo of Rose and her baby. "How?"

  He waggled his eyebrows. "I snuck into your desk and scanned the photo, then I sent it to an artist friend of Steve’s."

  I gawked at him. "You snuck into my desk?"

  "Don’t be mad — it’s Christmas, honey."

  I couldn’t stop staring at the picture — it was as though Ted found a way to bring my mother to life and give her to me. "How could I be mad at the most wonderful husband in the world?"

  Ted put his arm around me. "Now our kids will know both their grandmothers. And where the looks in the family come from."

  I studied the picture. "She looks different than the photo — happier. How’d they do that?"

  "I asked the artist to give Rose your smile."

  Gently, I lay the picture on the table and put my arms around him. "Thank you. It’s the best gift anyone ever gave me."

  <<>>

  Not to be outdone by anyone, Christmas at Melinda’s was like walking onto the set of TV Christmas special. I almost believed she could command the sky to give us snow if she wanted a white Christmas. She looked fabulous and wore a red velour warm-up suit the way most women wear Chanel. "Thank God, you’re here." She pointed upstairs. "Teddy, will you please, for the love of God light a fire under your brothers?" She hooked her arm through mine. "Scotti darling, I know I said you had the day off, but I’m desperate for help in the kitchen."

  Ted winked and patted my butt, then headed upstairs to roust his lazy-assed siblings out of bed. Melinda and I went to the kitchen and did our own brand of magic.

  Once we got breakfast going, it took me back to my diner days — bacon sizzling, French toast browning, eggs scrambling and coffee brewing. Soon, Ginny appeared dressed in a bright green warm-up suit and grabbed a bowl of juicing oranges. Her girls Chelsea and Katy carried plates and flatware to the dining table. Dave’s new girlfriend, Sandy warmed up the syrup and clarified the butter. Before we could say, ‘Breakfast is served,’ everyone was around the table laughing and talking at once.

  When Melinda and I took our seats everybody stopped eating and stared at me. "What’s the matter? Nobody hungry?"

  Melinda turned her head toward the kitchen and said, "Okay."

  All
the grins and giggles going around the table could only mean one thing — I was about to be punked, and since it was Christmas it would be memorable. Then Zelda waltzed out the kitchen door. "Hey roomie, Merry freaking Christmas."

  I don’t even remember getting up from my seat, but the next thing I knew, I had her trapped in a bear hug. "Zee! You’re here!"

  After a couple of minutes of little girl squeals and gushing, Matt tapped his juice glass and said, "Dude, can we eat now?"

  Everybody laughed, but when I saw Eric, he was treated to a lift off the floor bear hug too. "Scotti, man, I can’t breathe."

  I happily endured a lot of jokes about my hormones until the crowd got bored and got down to some serious two-fisted eating.

  After breakfast, the gift opening began and went on throughout the day. Stockings first. Then gifts for our nieces, Katy and Chelsea. Then testing the toys. Then gag gifts. Then eggnog and cookies. Then gifts for Melinda from her sons. Then lunch. Then finally giving up and everybody ripping into whatever was left. Then naps. Christmas was a lot of work at the Jordan house.

  While everyone else snoozed, Zelda and I snuck off to the library. She showed me pictures from the trip — starting with her on the bunny slope and eventually graduating to the slope of terror. Her dark eyes bright, her skin kissed by the sun and her mouth going at warp speed, I’d never seen her so happy.

  "You had a great time."

  Zelda smiled and cozied against the cushions. "We did. But I’m glad to be home." She nudged me with her foot. "Loved that little Christmas display you left for us. Thanks, Santa."

  "Is there any cake left?"

  She laughed. "Hell, no. And Eric says thank you for the dirty lingerie. Once I figure out how to put it on, things should be smoking hot." She stared at my belly. "The kiddies are really starting to take up some real estate."

  I cradled my stomach. "Yup, big heads and clown feet run in Ted’s family — lucky me." I caught her up on all the family and baby stuff, then I told her the story of Rose.

  She sat back. "Damn Scotti." She pointed a finger at me. "So that’s what you and Joe have been all secretive about? Rose?"

  I nodded. "Yeah, sorry. I needed to keep things to myself for a while. Let it all sink in." I shook my head. "I was so sure she was a monster and so ready to tell her off. Then I find out she was just a young kid in this impossible situation." Tears brimmed, and I squeezed Zelda’s hand. "But she wanted me. She never stopped looking for me. Knowing that has changed everything. You know?"

  Zelda hugged me. "It's different when you know they loved you, isn’t it?"

  "I wish I could’ve known her." I rubbed my belly. "That they could know her."

  Zelda put her arm around me. "They will. You’ll find out all about her, and you’ll tell them."

  I lay my head on Zelda’s shoulder and sighed. "I’m going to try my damnedest."

  Zelda patted my knee. "And I’ll help you. If you want me to. I’m in."

  I laughed and threw my arms around her. "I was hoping you’d say that."

  Having Zelda back home and being surrounded by the family I’d come to love, made that the best Christmas of my life. The presents were nice and there were plenty of them, but the real joy was in the connection with these wonderfully weird people who’d somehow become my family.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Ted wandered into the nursery as I was sorting out painting supplies. "What have you got there?"

  I snapped open a tarp and positioned it. "Nursery stuff."

  Ted tapped his chin with a finger. "I thought you wanted to wait on the nursery." He squatted and pulled brushes and rollers out of the bag. He made a face at the paint cans. "You decided on the colors?"

  I snapped open another tarp. "I did wait. Now I’m not waiting anymore. And of course I decided on the colors — can’t buy paint if you don’t know what colors you want."

  He put his hand on his hip. "Without any input from Daddy?"

  I pawed through one of the bags looking for painter’s tape. "Yup."

  "I thought we were going to discuss it first."

  I found the tape and carried it to the window. "Well, you thought wrong. This is my project." I turned to him. "You’re welcome to help, but I’m calling the shots."

  He creased his brow at the paint cans. "Lavender and yellow?"

  I nodded and started taping around the window. "I’m using the colors in the drawing of Rose as the palette." I looked around the room, imagining it with the crib, the purple elephant lamps, the matching rockers and the singing lamp that danced stars on the ceiling. "You’ll see, it’ll be perfect. You’ll love it."

  Ted grabbed another roll of tape then started taping out the other window. "I’ll love it, huh? And you don’t need any help from Daddy?"

  I shrugged and got on the step stool to reach the top of the window frame. "Matt and Zelda already volunteered. And unlike Daddy, they take direction quite well."

  Ted came up behind me and put his hand on the small of my back so I wouldn’t fall. "What if I promise to take directions well?"

  I turned to him and said, "Your first direction is help me down."

  Ted lifted me off the stool and set me on my feet. "How’s that?"

  I rolled my eyes. "A simple hand down would’ve worked." I put my arms around his waist. "By the way, a lot of my purchases didn’t come home with me today. Because a nursery needs a lot more than paint, right?"

  "Like?"

  I giggled and counted on my fingers. "Drapes, rugs, a twin crib, a changing table, a bureau, two rocking chairs, teddy bears, elephant lamps…"

  Ted got that how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me look. "Do we have any money left in the bank?"

  I shrugged. "Sure. A little."

  <<>>

  Ted took directions well for about an hour, then called in the rest of the troops. Shortly after that, I was ousted from the room because of the paint fumes and wasn’t allowed to watch them from the doorway without wearing a paint mask.

  Mid-afternoon, Zelda dragged me down to the kitchen to order pizzas. "Oh quit pouting, they’re just painting walls."

  "Yeah, but I wanted to do it."

  Zelda put on the tea kettle. "So, they do the grunt work, you do the fun stuff." She pulled up the stool next to me. "Besides, you’re way ahead of schedule. If they screw it up, we can re-do it. The kiddies won’t be here for months."

  I put my hands on the basketball that was my stomach. "Not necessarily. Val said I could deliver as soon as seven and a half months."

  Zelda raised her brows. "As in three months from now?"

  I nodded. "Yup. That’s why I started this so soon — I want to be ready." The tea kettle whistled, and Zelda slid off her stool to make the tea. She sucked in her lips and stared at me. "What?"

  "So we could be in the middle of a run and you could start popping babies?"

  I snickered. "Not this week." Zelda frowned. "Relax. We’ll figure it out."

  Zelda scoffed. "You say that now. But when the time comes, we’ll need a jackhammer to pry you out of that damn truck."

  I rolled my eyes. "For the millionth time, I’m pregnant, not terminal."

  Zelda squinted at me. "Okay smart-ass. But know this, I ain’t delivering my godchildren in the back of the food truck. Got it?"

  I gushed. "You want to be their godmother? Really?"

  Zelda brought me my tea. "Did you have somebody else in mind for the job?"

  "I didn’t think you’d want that kind of responsibility. If anything happened to us, then you’d…"

  Zelda frowned and slapped the counter top. "First of all, nothing’s going to happen to you. And next, if you think I’d desert your kids then you’re nuts."

  I put my arm around her. "My kids are so lucky to have you."

  Four hours and seven pizzas later, the nursery was painted, the hardwood floors were buffed and the windows sparkled. The lavender walls with the pale yellow trim were perfect, and I could see my babies asleep in their side-b
y-side crib, cooing and dreaming sweet baby dreams. Ted came upstairs and admired the room with me. "Looks good."

  I put my arm around his waist. "I told you, you’d love it. Thanks for calling in the troops." I leaned against him and chuckled. "I’d still be rolling if you hadn’t taken over."

  "I didn’t take over."

  "It’s okay, honey. It’s what you do."