Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 04 - Death by Dumplings

by Hope Callaghan

  Still, her number one concern was Andrea. Gloria was very protective of her young friend. She couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt. But then, Belhaven was a small town and eligible bachelors, especially ones like the one sitting across from her, were few and far between.

  She answered as honestly as possible. “I think you two could be a very good match.” Her eyebrows drew together for a second. What if she did a little investigative work on him? Find out if he was on the up-and-up. For Andrea’s sake, of course. “Only time will tell.”

  He didn’t get a chance to answer. Ray was back with their lunch. The roasted chicken looked delicious. She sliced off a small piece to sample before digging into her salad.

  The two chatted easily about life in a small town. What his plans were for the corner grocery and drug store. She popped a piece of lettuce in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “I never see you working in the grocery or drug store. Just the hardware store.”

  “I have to confess, the hardware store is my favorite. The smells, all the neat gadgets and tools.” He shrugged his shoulders. “The other two – I have good people running them and they just don’t need much of my time.”

  “You know Andrea owns an insurance agency in Green Springs.”

  Brian nodded. His mouth was full of broccoli spears. “Mmhmm.”

  “And that she’s fixing up the old mansion on the hill, not far from your place.”

  He nodded. “She told me to stop by one day and she’d give me the grand tour.”

  They were still chatting away when Lucy and Margaret stopped by on their way out the door. “You two better watch it. Tongues will start wagging,” Margaret warned.

  Gloria waved a hand in the air. “Oh stop it!”

  “Poor Paul,” Lucy teased.

  Margaret leaned forward. She tapped Gloria’s shoulder and whispered in a low voice. “Dot said you figured out it was Tony last night.”

  Gloria nodded. “Yeah, it took me awhile.”

  Lucy was keeping track. “Three for three.”

  Gloria had to admit she was getting pretty good at it. Now if she could only figure out a way to make a little money on the side. Not that she needed it. She remembered the gold coins hiding in plain sight inside her kitchen. “I met with some attorneys the other day to talk about writing up a will.” Gloria gave Margaret a meaningful stare.

  Brian set his fork down. “You don’t have a will?” He was surprised. Gloria seemed to have it altogether. At her age, she should most definitely have a will. Not that she was old or looked like she was going anywhere anytime soon but things could change in an instant. “I can recommend a good one, if you need.”

  Gloria pretty much decided on the woman she met with. What was her name? Melissa, Clarissa? “Do you know a Patricia Caldwell?”

  Brian nodded. “She’s good,” he confirmed. “There’s also Evan Tate.”

  That was another one of the other attorneys Gloria met with the other day. “I met with him, too.”

  “You can’t go wrong with either one,” he said.

  “We can talk about it later.” Margaret was using her “don’t say too much” voice.

  “Gotcha!”

  Ray was back to pick up the dirty plates. He set the bill on the table. Gloria and Brian reached for it at the same time. He got there first. “You can get it next time,” he bargained.

  She pulled her hand back. “It’s a deal. But I invited you,” she pointed out.

  “True,” he agreed. “But let me be a gentleman.” He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. “What will everyone think if I can’t even buy my girl lunch?”

  Gloria rolled her eyes. “Okie doke. Lunch is on you.”

  Gloria nodded to a few of the diners as the two of them made their way back outside. She and Brian meandered along the sidewalk as they headed back to the hardware store, enjoying the tiny bit of sunshine peeking through the heavy rain clouds.

  They stopped in front of Anabelle. “Thanks again for lunch.”

  He nodded. “We’ll have to do that again soon. It was nice to take a break.”

  He unlocked the hardware store, the keys juggling between his hands. “You know, I don’t think I want to buy Dot’s place anymore. Belhaven needs a place like that.”

  He rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms. “If you could think of one thing this town needs – other than a good restaurant. Something you have to drive to the next big town to get, what would it be?”

  Gloria’s first thought was a bank. It was a real pain in the rear having to run all the way to Green Springs every time she needed some money. To her, it was a no-brainer. “A bank.”

  As long as he was asking, she had something else to throw out there. “And maybe expand your grocery store. It’s nice and everything, but bigger is better, especially for food. Plus, if you did, I can guarantee it would be worth your while.”

  “I’m one step ahead of you on that one,” he said. “I already have an architect working on a set of prints for an expansion.” He made a pushing motion with his hands. “Double the size of what we have now and add on a small bakery with a gourmet deli.”

  Gloria loved the idea. Just imagine. Being able to drive into town and pick up deli treats. Plus, it would create more jobs for the small town. Something they desperately needed. “I’ll be your first and best customer,” she promised.

  Just then, someone met them on the sidewalk. He pointed to the hardware store. “You open?”

  Brian nodded. “Yep.” He waved at Gloria before he and the customer disappeared inside.

  Gloria slid in the driver’s seat and started the car. She pulled out of the parking spot and headed in the opposite direction of home.

  The road at the edge of town curved sharply. The drive from town was pretty. A small, green valley dipped out of sight beyond the guardrail. It was a peaceful place. It wasn’t a road that Gloria traveled down often. Except when she was coming here.

  She made a sharp left as she pulled in the small rutted drive and coasted to the back. She glanced around. The place needed to be mowed, she decided. Weeds were beginning to sprout up here and there.

  Gloria stopped Anabelle in her usual spot. She pushed the knob to park and shut off the engine. She grabbed the plastic bag from the passenger seat and opened the driver’s side door. She glanced down at her purse lying on the seat beside her. There was no need to take it with her. Or even lock the car. There was no one here but her.

  She made her way to the front of the car and stepped across the gravel drive. Up ahead was the familiar oak tree. The tree hadn’t been there long. It was planted only a couple years ago. When Gloria first started coming here.

  It was getting big now. The leaves were pushing out, reaching for the warm spring sun. The branches sprawled forward, as if to shade the place Gloria was headed. Except today it was gloomy. There was no need for shade. But soon enough it would be summer again and the leaves a welcome cover from the oppressive heat.

  Gloria stepped forward, her feet sure of their destination. When she got there, she kneeled on the ground in front of her. She leaned forward as she pulled the grass around the edge of the marble marker. Her hands reached forward as she brushed away the leaves and debris from the name etched on the surface. James Rutherford.

  She talked to him as if he were right there in front of her. “What a gloomy day. Did you order this?”

  “Oh, I brought some flowers to spruce the place up.” She pulled the flowers from the bag and stuck a bunch of red Geraniums near the family headstone. The one with James’s name. Her name was on the other side.

  “They’re your favorite. Red Geraniums,” she added. She arranged several more bunches around the top before placing an Easter Lily flower cross next to his tombstone.

  “That reminds me.” She leaned back. “You’d be so proud of me! I remembered not to plant the tomatoes yet. But I got some radishes, carrots and cauliflower in this morning.”

  She changed the subje
ct. “The kids are all doing great. Jill came by with the boys the other day. We went to the flea market.” She slid her finger across his name as she talked. “You wouldn’t believe how big Ryan and Tyler are getting!”

  A lump lodged in her throat. She sighed as a tear trickled down her cheek. This was always the worst part. She swallowed hard.

  A sudden breeze picked up and the wind whistled through the branches overhead. “I’ll give them a hug from you,” she whispered.

  She glanced up at the storm clouds brewing. A drop of rain touched her hand. “I better go. It looks like it’s going to rain.” She choked back a laugh. “I guess you’re trying to get rid of me, huh?”

  She shifted forward and eased her aching knees from the hard ground. She put two fingers to her lips and softly kissed them before touching her fingertips to his name. “I love you.”

  Without saying another word, she grabbed the empty bag and turned to go. With one last longing glance, she shuffled over to Anabelle and slipped inside. She started the car and headed back down the bumpy path and out the cemetery gate.

  Chapter Nine

  Gloria drove straight home from the cemetery. The familiar pain stabbed her heart and after all these years, she knew how the rest of her day would go. A fog of melancholy ache would stay with her for hours.

  She knew in her soul that James was in a better place, keeping a watchful eye over her. And he reminded her in simple ways he was still with her, even if it was in spirit.

  She unlocked the porch door and let herself inside. Mally hopped out of her bed and wandered over to greet her. Gloria bent down and wrapped her arms around Mally’s neck. The dog didn’t budge as Gloria buried her head in the soft fur. Thank you, God for this dog’s love. When she stood back up, Mally thumped her tail softly and let out a low whine as if to say I love you, too.

  Gloria fed Mally and Puddles before she walked over to the fridge. She pulled the door open. She stared inside but saw nothing. She wasn’t even hungry. She closed the door. Instead, she went to the cupboard and grabbed a glass. She filled it with tap water and headed to the living room.

  The remote was on the stand next to her favorite recliner. She eased into the chair before she reached over and picked it up. The news was on but it was just background noise. She stared at the screen, her mind a million miles away.

  The phone rang. She stared at it for a long minute. Long enough for the ringing to stop. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow she would be ready to join the world again. But not tonight. Tonight was for the memories.

  Puddles jumped up on the recliner and settled in on Gloria’s lap. Mally was there too. She stared straight at Gloria. Not blinking. “I guess you want up here, too.” She pulled the lever on the side of the chair and the footrest popped up. Mally hopped up and squeezed in on the other side.

  It was this exact position that the three of them drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day and it would be here soon enough.

  Gloria sat upright in her recliner, her heart pounding. Mally and Puddles were right next to her, in the exact same spot as when she fell asleep. A dream woke her and Jennifer was in it. Gloria could see her plain as day. It was so real to her that she was certain that if she reached out, she could touch her.

  Someone was chasing Jennifer through her house. She couldn’t see the face of the shadowy figure. It was just a vague outline. Jennifer was screaming at the top of her lungs. “Help me! Somebody help me!” The shrill terror in her voice pierced the still air.

  It was at that precise moment Gloria remembered. She remembered the nagging something stuck in the back of her mind. It was something Jennifer told her at the party the other night. How her father-in-law, Fred, had borrowed her car just before the brakes went out. And that the car was running fine before he took it.

  Jennifer had laughed, saying it was just her luck. But maybe it wasn’t luck. What if Tony’s dad was in on it, too? What if he cut her brake lines? If he was in on it, would he try to finish the job now that Tony was behind bars?

  Gloria heard rumors around town that Fred’s sawmill was having financial troubles. How the whole place was in foreclosure and they were months away from losing it all. The house. The land. The business. Tony and Jennifer’s place.

  Gloria struggled to get out of the chair. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was still early. Only 8:30.

  Should she warn Jennifer? Tell her her suspicions? Would Jennifer even believe her?

  Gloria’s was torn. To warn or not to warn. She decided to err on the side of caution. Before she could change her mind, she grabbed her car keys and purse and headed to the door. She decided if the lights were still on at Jennifer’s house, she would just go up and knock on the door.

  If the lights were off, she would wait until morning. She hopped in the car and headed out of town. It was time to warn Paul of her suspicions.

  She dialed his cell number, all the while focusing her eyes on the dark, deserted country road. Her eyesight at night, especially when she had to drive, wasn’t what it used to be.

  Paul picked up on the first ring. “I tried to call you earlier.”

  “I fell asleep in the recliner.” It was true. She had.

  “Listen, I had a dream. I think Jennifer Barrett’s life is in danger.”

  Paul listened as she told him about the conversation she and Jennifer had the other night at the cookout and her suspicions. “I’m on my way over there now.”

  “I’m right behind you,” he said. “Please wait until I get there.” He didn’t want her doing anything rash like try to be some kind of super hero and put her own life in danger.

  “I’ll wait until the last possible minute,” she promised. That was as close to a promise as she could make.

  The Barrett home was lit up like a Christmas tree. Every window in the place glowed. Even the front porch light was on. Of course, they had teenagers and they were like shadow people. Sleeping all day and staying up all night…

  There was an empty farm field directly across the street from the Barrett’s mobile home. Gloria backed into the spot, switched off the headlights but left the car running. She could see shadows moving around inside. Ten minutes went by and so did the shadow people inside. Back and forth.

  Paul should be here any minute, she thought.

  A dark figure rounded the side of the front porch deck. It crept up the deck steps and made its way to the door. When the unknown figure reached the door, the porch light illuminated them.

  Gloria’s eyes widened. It was Fred - Tony’s dad! She could see him lift his hand and ring the bell. He stood there for several long moments before he pressed the bell again.

  Gloria’s eyes darted down the dark road. Hurry, Paul, hurry! she whispered.

  The door finally opened. Gloria could see the outline of a female figure. It was Jennifer!

  The screen door swung open and Fred stepped inside. Jennifer closed the door behind them.

  Drops of sweat beaded up on Gloria’s brow. She rubbed the top as her eyes darted down the road. What was taking Paul so long?

  Jennifer Barrett was having a very bad day. It all started when the police knocked on her front door bright and early that morning. They had an arrest warrant for her husband, Tony. He wasn’t even dressed yet. At least they let him throw on some clothes before they read him his rights and put him in handcuffs.

  They did it right in front of her and the kids.

  Jennifer followed one of the officers out onto the deck and closed the door so her kids wouldn’t hear. “What is going on? Why are you arresting my husband?” A sob caught in her throat when she saw Tony’s hands cuffed behind his back.

  Two officers guided him to the squad car. “Murder and attempted murder,” he said.

  Tears sprang up in her eyes. She started to chew on her lower lip. “Wh-whose murder?”

  “Michael Foley.”

  “And the attempted murder?” she whispered.

  The officer stared at her sympathetically.
It was this part of his job he hated most. He reached forward to touch her arm but let if fall to his side instead. “Yours.”

  A loud buzz filled her ears. The feeling was all-too familiar. It was one she got moments before she fainted. She grabbed the edge of the porch chair and felt her way to the seat before plopping down with a thud. Her head fell forward into her hands. “I-I just can’t believe it.”

  She looked up when the car’s engine started. They were pulling out of the drive. Jennifer could see Tony’s dark head in the back seat. He was staring straight ahead. Surely there must be some mistake. Did they have evidence against him? They must have.

  “….wait for someone to be here with you.” The officer was talking but Jennifer missed most of what he said.

  She shook her head, as if to clear the cobwebs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch what you just said.”

  “I asked if you wanted me to wait here with you until family arrived,” he said.

  “No. No, I’ll be alright.” A trace of irony touched her lips. “There’s no one here but me,” she explained. “My family lives out-of-state.”

  Jennifer’s oldest son, Chad, stepped out onto the deck. He placed a protective hand on her shoulder. “She’ll be okay.”

  This was another part of his job he hated. When children were involved. “You sure, son?”

  Chad straightened his back. His mouth set in a firm line. “Yes, sir.”

  Jennifer reached up and clasped her son’s hand. She squeezed it tightly. “I appreciate your concern. We’ll be fine,” she added.

  Jennifer and Chad watched the officer climb into his car and drive away. Neither spoke as they opened the front door, stepped inside and closed the door behind them.

  The rest of the day was a teeter-totter of emotion for Jennifer. There were moments her brain refused to believe Tony was capable of murder. Or worse yet, capable of killing her! His own wife.

  But there were other moments when the pieces began to fall in place. How he dropped her off for work that morning the man was poisoned. She remembered telling him in the truck how much she loved Wednesdays at the restaurant because it was “Dumpling Day.” Her favorite dish at the restaurant and how she sampled it every Wednesday morning.