The Dana Potter Cozy Mystery Collection

by Liz Turner

  “We could have a little house with a garden just like this, if you want,” Roger whispered to Angela.

  “Aw, that would be absolutely adorable! But the question is—would you be the one to tend to it?” Angela nudged Roger. “I’m not the type to stay at home and be a cute little housewife. If we have a garden, it has to be our garden to maintain together!”

  Roger smirked. “I like the sound of that. And I know you’re not the housewife type. Your ambition is one of the reasons I like you so much.”

  “Okay, so what else makes you like me so much?” Angela said, playfully.

  “Let’s see…” Roger pretended to think carefully. “Your smile, your kindness, the way you laugh, that adorable thing you do when you’re excited… Shall I continue?”

  Angela’s eyes teared up. “Ugh, why are you so perfect?” She threw her arms around Roger and giggled.

  He chuckled in return, stumbling back slightly under the force of her hug.

  Dana sighed, unable to keep up the guise of being too distracted to notice their behavior.

  She didn’t want to become too much of a doting aunt. After all, Angela had made it this far without much guidance, so she knew how to take care of herself. Plus, Roger seemed to care for her as much as she did for him.

  Still, Dana couldn’t help worrying. She wasn’t sure what had happened between Angela and her mother, but whatever it was, she feared it may have left Angela in a vulnerable position.

  What if Roger’s taking advantage of her isolation from her family? Dana pondered.

  Her reservations just made her all the more eager to find out what had happened. Even more, she hoped she could prove during this trip that Angela had an aunt she could count on.

  While she stared down the street as a last resort to keep from noticeably watching the young couple, Dana noticed Mrs. Cleveland farther up the road, walking home from the church gathering.

  “Oh look, there’s Mrs. Cleveland,” Dana said, jumping at the chance to distract the couple. “Looks like she’s got some of her pies left over. Although, unfortunately, that means the gathering must have ended.”

  “That’s all right, Auntie. But is Mrs. Cleveland, ya know, safe?” Angela asked.

  “In regard to gossip, she loves to hear it, but she’s not one to spread it. I believe she finds it entertaining, but she has a large moral compass, so she believes its wrong to speak ill of others or share their secrets.”

  “Okay. So she won’t tell anyone else what she hears, but will she pry for information just to hear it?”

  “Well, she isn’t the most delicate in her speaking,” Dana said thoughtfully. “She’ll ask questions and she’ll pressure people to follow the ways of the Lord, but she always means well…Looks like she’s stopping by the front of the house. I’ll have to introduce you to her. Then you both can decide for yourselves if she’s someone you’d like to get to know while you’re here.”

  Dana led the couple through the house and onto the front porch right as Mrs. Cleveland walked up the steps.

  Mrs. Cleveland waved and wore the usual smirk she got whenever something interesting was happening in the community. “Oh! Hello, there,” she said, smiling at Dana. “I see your niece has finally arrived!” She turned toward Angela. “Dana told me how excited she was that you were coming!”

  “Aw, Auntie!” Angela glanced at Dana before turning her attention back to the other woman. “I’m Angela. You must be Mrs. Cleveland.”

  “That’s me! Now, who’s your friend?”

  Roger smiled politely. “Hello. I’m Roger Lenoir. Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cleveland. By the way, those pies smell delicious! Did you make them?”

  “This is Georgia, honey. Of course, I made them!”

  A sly smirk spread across Mrs. Cleveland’s face, and Dana worried Roger and Angela would be put off by her, subsequently not wanting to go out into the community that weekend. Something in the woman’s expression already gave off the impression that she was judging Angela for bringing a man to town with her.

  “Speaking of your pies,” Dana said, eager to change the subject, “is the luncheon after church over?”

  “I’m not fully sure,” Mrs. Cleveland answered. “I left a bit early to be sure you got a taste of these pies before they were all done for. I was worried about how they turned out, but they turned out all right. So I thought I might as well bring you a slice, knowing you couldn’t make it to church today and all.”

  “Well, I sure appreciate that,” Dana said. “In fact, I was meaning to take these two on a tour of the town, and hoped we’d make it to the luncheon before it ended. I want Angela and Roger to meet some neighbors so they can have more people to talk to than just little old me.”

  “But I love talking to you!” Angela interjected.

  Dana smiled. “Sure. And I love talking to you too, but maybe you’d meet a few kids your own age at the church, and then they can show you all the hotspots for youngins that I know nothing about.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Roger turned toward Angela. “Then maybe I could go out for a few hours to let the two of you have some quality time together to catch up.”

  “Sounds good,” Angela said. “Auntie, would you feel better talking about my family one-on-one?”

  “I wouldn’t mind that. And I would definitely love some quality time with my niece,” Dana said.

  “Perfect! So let’s get to this tour!” Angela said cheerfully and then gave Mrs. Cleveland an apologetic expression. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation with my aunt. She’s all yours now!”

  “No, no, it’s not a problem at all!” Mrs. Cleveland said. “Anyhow, I was thinking—if it’s not any trouble, I’d absolutely love to tag along on this tour!”

  “I would love that.” Angela smiled. “That’ll give us two tour guides and twice the knowledge!”

  “Wonderful!” Mrs. Cleveland turned toward Dana. “That is, if it’s all right with you, Miss Potter?”

  Dana raised her eyebrows. She knew Mrs. Cleveland didn’t have ill intentions, but her imposing presence bothered her sometimes; it wasn’t unusual for her to use food as a means of getting her way. However, if Angela wanted her there, Dana was willing to go along with it. “No, not at all. Let’s get these pies set out in the kitchen and then get going.”

  Chapter 2

  New Generations

  Dana sat with roast beef, baked potatoes, biscuits, and gravy set out before her on the dining room table. Tired and hungry from meeting people all afternoon, Angela and Roger gawked at the food. And somehow, Mrs. Cleveland had weaseled her way into Dana’s home for dinner as well.

  “Auntie, this food smells amazing! How come Mom never cooks like this?”

  Dana laughed. “Clementine never liked cooking and never learned properly. If I remember correctly, she was always making excuses when our mother—your grandmother—asked us to help with dinner. When we were kids, she avoided things she didn’t want to do like the plague!”

  “Sounds like she never lost that trait.”

  Dana noticed the ravenous look in Mrs. Cleveland’s eyes at Angela’s comment about her mother. Consequently, Dana luckily decided against responding.

  “Have you told your aunt about Quebec yet?” Roger suddenly asked, promptly changing the subject. It seemed he had apparently sensed Dana’s line of thinking.

  “Oh, that’s right!” Angela said. “Roger and I are planning a tour of Quebec for next summer! His parents kindly offered to let us stay with them for a couple weeks. I think it’ll be fun!”

  “That sounds great!” Dana said, latching onto the subject. “Will this be your first time out of the country?”

  “Well, I went to Mexico on a cruise once, but we were only on land for a day or so, and it was just in the touristy part of town. I’m much more excited for this trip. It’s kinda terrifying though—the idea of meeting Roger’s parents for the first time.”

  “I’m sure they’ll love you,” Dana sai
d. “Any other fun trips planned in the meantime?”

  “Not really…”

  “What about Christmas, my dear?” Mrs. Cleveland said. “Are you going to spend it with your mother?”

  Angela’s expression turned contemplative. “Possibly. I’m not quite sure yet.”

  Mrs. Cleveland raised her eyebrows, but then caught Dana’s eye, recognizing the stern look warning her to stop prying. The last thing Dana wanted was for Angela to feel uncomfortable. At the same time though, Dana wondered how to best approach the situation; she couldn’t help if she didn’t know what was going on.

  It wasn’t like Angela to respond passively, and it was even less like her to be so apathetic about spending Christmas with her mother. Again, Dana wondered what happened between them. However, it was hard for her to talk to Angela with Roger present, and even more so with Mrs. Cleveland watching and listening to every word.

  Dana cleared her throat and looked at her niece. “Ever since I heard that your father passed away, all I can think about is how your mom must be feeling. I understand, to an extent, with my boyfriend dying not long before. I sure wouldn’t want your mom to be alone during the holidays like I was. So you be sure to let me know what you’re planning for Christmas. I’ll try to be there for her if you’re not able to .”

  “Ha,” Angela scoffed. “That’s the problem. She won’t be alone. That’s why I might not be going.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Dana.

  Angela waved her hand dismissively. “Forget it. I just have… other plans…”

  “And what are those?” Mrs. Cleveland asked, leaning forward curiously.

  “Okay, okay…I actually don’t have other plans.” Angela sighed. “But she sure does, and I hate it! I hate how she thinks she can just… shut me out! On Christmas, no less!”

  Mrs. Cleveland raised her eyebrows and pretended to munch on a biscuit while Dana glared in her direction. She could hear her niece’s labored breath as she tried to hold back tears.

  Luckily, Roger swept in to help once again, putting his arm around Angela and speaking to her in a soothing voice.

  Although she hated to admit it, Dana was beginning to like him even more, and was glad Angela had found such a good man.

  “I’m so sorry for how you’re feeling, sweetheart,” Dana said after a long moment of silently glaring at Mrs. Cleveland. “What are your mother’s plans for Christmas, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “She’s planning to go on a fancy cruise with her next ‘Mr. Right,’ and I’m not invited. Not that I would even go with them anyway though.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful!” Dana said. “You’re always welcome to spend the holidays with me. And honestly, your mother deserves to be happy–”

  “But what about my dad?” Angela interrupted, teary-eyed.

  “Angela…” Dana said, softly, “I know it’s hard to lose someone. Believe me, as old as I am, I’ve lost a lot. But there comes a time when no matter how difficult, we have to be strong enough to move on…”

  “But not like this!” Angela argued. “She thinks just because he’s dead and buried, she can throw herself in the arms of a total stranger? And all she does is make excuses for them. Like, ‘Well, it’s been several years’ and ‘Well, he has money’ and all this stupid–ugh! I just don’t get her sometimes! How could she do this to me? How could she think this was okay?

  “And from the looks of it, she hasn’t changed much since she was running rampant in this town. All she ever did was lie to me about how horrible this place was so that I wouldn’t want to come here for all these years! Like really—how bad do you have to be to make it so that your own daughter can’t go to your hometown without being ridiculed? Seriously, how can you think this is okay, Auntie?”

  “I don’t,” Dana said. “But it was never her fault…”

  Angela glared off into space in a blind fury. Dana could practically hear the fire crackling in the girl’s mind, and it hurt to see her so upset. She had never been put in a position like this before—having to figure out how to make sure both her sister and her niece were happy in a situation that clearly wasn’t going to work as a compromise.

  “Of course it wasn’t,” Angela said after a moment. “She obviously felt the same way. Nothing is ever her fault, is it?”

  The whole table sat in silence, the food getting cold.

  Dana’s frustration with Mrs. Cleveland returned, for it was her prying that had ultimately made the conversation take such a difficult turn.

  Sensing Dana’s disapproval, Mrs. Cleveland took the opportunity to go pull the pies out of the oven where they’d been keeping warm. “Who wants pie?” she asked merrily.

  “Me! And Angela, I’m sure,” Roger said meekly, cautiously glancing at his girlfriend.

  “I’ll take a slice with me to the porch, thank you,” Dana said. “Roger, if you don’t mind, will you join me? I’d like to speak with you.”

  Roger nodded. “Absolutely.” He turned toward Angela again. “Will you be all right if I stepped away for a moment?”

  “Of course,” she said absentmindedly. “It’s Auntie’s home. Her rules. I think I’ll just take a small slice of pie for myself and then turn in for bed. Good night, Auntie.”

  “Good night, sweetheart,” Dana said.

  Dana cut a slice of apple pie for herself and then plated another for Roger. She didn’t like the idea of leaving her niece alone with Mrs. Cleveland, but she knew the woman tended to avoid overly emotional conversations. Thus, after what had just occurred, Mrs. Cleveland knew what topics to stay away from.

  Roger held the door open for Dana as they exited the house, causing her to approve of him even more. She slid her favorite rocking chair across the porch, setting it beside the chair swing on the opposite side. She then took a seat in the rocking chair and gestured for Roger to take the chair swing.

  While Roger oriented himself in the chair swing so that he could eat his pie, Dana held her ear near the slightly ajar window to see if she could hear Mrs. Cleveland and Angela in the dining room.

  “What are they talking about?” Roger asked.

  “Dunno. Seems they aren’t chatting quite yet.”

  “I see.” Roger paused for a few seconds. “It’s nice sitting out here in the evenings.”

  “Yes, it is,” Dana agreed. “Mornings, too! I sit on this porch regularly, if you couldn’t already tell. Now… I’m sorry about my niece’s outburst, Roger. I’m sure she’ll come to realize that her mother isn’t about to forget her father anytime soon. I’d say she’s just trying to fill the void from his absence with good companionship.”

  “I’d have to agree with that,” Roger said. “I’ve tried telling Angela much of the same thing—that it’s not her mother who’s to blame. But she just doesn’t want to believe that her mother could be fooled.”

  Dana raised an eyebrow. “Fooled? You mean by her new love?”

  “Exactly…” Roger sighed. “I understand why Angela’s angry with her mother. If I was in her shoes, I’d probably respond the same way. However, I think much of her anger is rooted in the fear that this man will tarnish the memory of her father. She doesn’t want him to take her father’s place when she’s not sure she can trust him. And I don’t blame her, because I don’t trust him either…”

  “Interesting,” Dana said. “I’d sure like to know more of your thoughts on this man. But first, let’s not detract from what I brought you out here to talk about. I understand this man plays a large part in Angela’s anger towards her mother, but it seems you know a little more about their relationship than Angela’s been willing to tell me. I’m not close with my sister anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love her. That being said, I’d like to know what you’ve witnessed between them over the time you’ve known Angela.”

  “From my understanding, their relationship first turned shaky when Angela started college,” Roger said. “All she wanted was her mother’s support, and her mother wasn’t capabl
e of providing the kind of support she needed. From what Angela’s told me, her mother didn’t believe she needed college to be successful and did everything in her power to make her come home. And I do mean everything. If Angela needed even the most basic emotional support, her mother refused and told her to come home instead.

  “Of course, when Angela first told me this, I tried to see both sides. Her father had just died, which greatly affected them both, just differently. Angela tried to cope by keeping busy. Meanwhile, her mother struggled to cope with the loneliness; not only was she dealing with her child leaving home for the first time, but she was dealing with the absence of the man she loved. So while I didn’t approve of the way she treated her daughter, I understood why she was doing it.

  “Then, when her mother started struggling financially, she took it out on Angela. Angela was trying to balance work and school and had to deal with her mother begging for grocery and rent money. For a while, Angela’s mom even refused to find work, claiming she was too depressed. It wasn’t right for her to ask Angela to support her, but Angela always did what she could.

  “At that point, I think, Angela started questioning her mother and became curious about you and her mother’s family. I met her around that time as well, and I was happy to hear she was developing a relationship with you. Finally, I felt she had someone who could provide the encouragement and emotional support that her mother never could. I didn’t expect it to backfire the way it did, but I believe things will eventually sort themselves out.”

  Dana tilted her head. “How do you think it backfired?”

  “At first, I thought getting close to the family her mother kept her from was good for her. Finding the missing pieces of her family was making her happier. She lit up whenever she got a new package from you. But then, this last thing her mother did… Well, I think that was the breaking point for her.