Hyacinth and Homicide: Book 3 in the Black Orchid Mystery Series

by Pyper James

  “No,” Winnie replied, taking over the conversation from Jacob as she tried to sit up higher on the bed. Vivica came to her aid, helping to adjust the pillows behind Winnie’s back.

  “What do you mean, no?”

  “Winnie smiled at her friend. “This is the birthing room. When it’s time, the staff will come in and adjust the bed for the birth, but you all get to stay,” Winifred explained.

  “Even the boys,” Vivica asked surprised.

  “Yep, they’ve been through it before. It’s no biggie for them.”

  Vivica was surprised as she watched the boys playing, completely unbothered by what was going on. They hadn’t even looked up when their mother was crying out in pain.

  “So, it’s a total family experience now?”

  “Right, Winnie rasped. “Eww, another contraction. Jake!”

  Her husband immediately moved to her side and this time it was he who endured the full force of Winnie’s death grip. Vivica watched as Jacob Sr. encouraged her breathing and rubbed her back with free hand until the contraction subsided.

  “How far apart are they now,” Vivica asked when things calmed down.

  “About six minutes,” Jacob Sr. replied. “Shouldn’t be too much longer now.”

  Vivica was still trying to wrap her head around this new to her family concept for the birthing experience. But she didn’t have long to ponder. Just as Jacob said, it wasn’t long before the contractions started coming faster and faster. Winnie was a brave soul and even after she was again offered something to help with the pain, she refused. She wanted to have her baby naturally as she had done with the others.

  “As long as the baby is no in distress, I don’t want anything,” she told the attending nurse. Vivica was right there with Winnie, learning to help her breathe as Jacob demonstrated and endured the pain of having her hand squeezed nearly off. The excitement in the room grew as the nurse checked Vivica one more time.

  “I’ll get the doctor,” she announced, quickly padding out of the office.

  “That means the baby’s coming,” Winnie giggled, seeing how big Vivica’s eyes were at the announcement.

  “Oh my,” Vivica sighed. “Okay Winnie, tell me what you want me to do. Take care of the boys? Hold your hand? What?”

  Winifred loved the fact that Vivica was so excited for her.

  “Just stay here with me, and when it’s time to push, do like Big Jake did. The boys will take care of themselves,” Winnie said breathing heavily.

  “I wanna push,” she exhaled as yet another contraction struck.

  “You can’t yet, Winnie,” Jacob reminded. “Gotta breathe through it until the doctor gets here.”

  “Then he needs to hurry up cause this baby is coming,” Winnie cringed through clenched teeth. Jacob didn’t waiver but Vivica was shocked at the quick change in Winnie’s disposition.

  “She gets like this,” Jacob said, noticing the look on Vivica’s face. “Nothing to worry about.”

  “And stop talking about me like I’m not even here,” Winnie threatened. She seemed so angry, but Jacob didn’t flinch. “It’s your fault anyway, Jacob,” Winnie seethed.

  “I know, babe, just keep breathing,” he coaxed.

  Things shifted gears fast. The room went from family and friends only to a full medical team, adjusting Winnie's bed and bringing in equipment for the birth. The flurry of activity was dizzying. In an instant, Winnie was sitting up with the bottom of the bed dropped down. Dr. Lemon sat between her feet with nurses on both sides ready for the big moment. Even the boys knew what to do, finding a seat on the couch that sat against the wall where they wouldn’t be in the way. It was clear, after only a few moments that this was Dr. Lemon’s show.

  “Alright my girl, let’s see how you’re doing.”

  He reached under the sheet that had been draped over Winnie’s legs.

  Vivica looked in the doctor’s direction and watched the sheet move and adjust under his touch.

  “Nice, Winnie dear. You are fully effaced,” he said smilingly. “If you’re ready dear, we can push now.”

  Vivica liked how calm the doctor was. He was also very pleasant; like he and Winnie were old friends about to have tea versus the undertaking of Winifred giving birth.

  “I’m ready, doc,” Winnie said, blowing out through her mouth between words.

  “Fine, then on three let’s push,” Dr. Lemon advised.

  The count gave everyone a chance to get ready. Winnie lifted higher up and grabbed onto the rails as one nurse held one leg, and Jake held the other. Her husband had a front row seat to the entire thing.

  “Is the baby here yet,” Josiah called out from the couch. Vivica looked over and saw the child craning his neck trying to see.

  “Not yet, buddy,” Big Jake said over his shoulder. “Give mommy just a few more minutes.”

  His father’s answer must have been sufficient because the boys went right back to what they were doing as Dr. Lemon started the countdown.

  “Three, two and push, Winnie.”

  Winnie leaned forward, and her hands became white-knuckled as she gripped the rail. Vivica put her hands behind her friends back and encouraged her to push. A low guttural growl escaped Winnie’s lips as the doctor instructed her on how long to bear down.

  “Okay, you can relax,” Dr. Lemon encouraged. “You are doing excellent as usual.”

  Winifred collapsed back onto the bed. Her brow was wet with perspiration. Vivica found a rag and went to the sink in the room to wet it. She came back with the towel and dabbed her friend's forehead with it.

  “Thanks,” Winnie replied, closing her eyes and giving her body a chance to rest for the moment she had. It didn’t take long before Dr. Lemon told her it was time to push again.

  “This time, I need you to hold once the babies’ head is out, so we can make sure the umbilical cord is clear, okay?”

  Winnie nodded her head as she again lifted herself into the push position. The doctor counted down again and Winnie followed suit; gripping the rails and panting before growling and pushing.

  “Ok, Winnie, the head is out, Dr. Lemon replied. “Give me a second, and don’t push.”

  “Ugh, it hurts so bad, it hurts so bad,” Winnie moaned. Vivica felt helpless. There really was nothing she could do to alleviate Winnie’s pain.

  “I see our baby, Winnie! Oh my God!” Jacob exclaimed.

  “Looks, good, Winnie, the baby looks really good. The chord is clear so this time, give me one good push and then we’ll stop. Ready?”

  This time when Winnie nodded it was like a bobblehead the movement was so fast.

  “Now push!”

  “Arhhhhhhh!” Winnie’s face turned red as she pushed all her energy down towards her legs. Jacob was right there encouraging her.

  “Here come the shoulders baby!”

  “Take a break for just a second, Winnie and then give it all you’ve got! We are almost there!” Dr. Lemon was ultra-encouraging as he went about his doctorly business.

  “Do you want some ice chips or something Winnie,” Vivica asked, trying to help her friend take her mind off what was happening. Winnie slumped back down on the pillows and nodded. Vivica dutifully fed her friend ice chips until the doctor told Winnie it was time to push again. Vivica sat the cup down and prepared to hold her friend up as she plowed through this last big push. She was exhilarated and excited, but she could also see how emotionally taxing this whole thing was, and physically taxing for Winnie.

  “This is it honey, push one more time,” Jacob encouraged.

  Breathing out heavily, Winnie pulled herself back up one more time. She looked so determined. Her brow was furrowed, and the beads of perspiration returned as though they’d never left.

  The growl that came through Winnie’s clenched teeth grew until a scream as everyone in the room encouraged Winnie to push. It was almost like a chant as Dr. Lemon focused on safely bringing the baby through the birthing canal.

  “Shoulders are out.
Just another push and we will be done,” Dr. Lemon said through the fray. Winnie didn’t have time to relax. She wanted this to be over. The pain of pushing out the shoulders had been a lot, but she had a little bit more to give and when she did, Jacob’s eye grew wide and filled with tears.

  “He’s here!” Jacob exclaimed. “My boy is here!”

  When Winnie collapsed back this time, there was a smile on her face as her chest continued to rise and fall from the effort she just exerted. Doctor Lemon turned his attention to Jacob as he handed dad the scissors to cut the umbilical cord. Vivica’s eyes moved from Winnie to the baby the doctor lifted from under the drape. When her eyes landed on the newest Baxter bundle of joy, tears sprung up in Vivica’s eyes.

  “He’s beautiful, Winnie.”

  The medical team did what they needed to do as far as checking the new baby and then they wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to his father. Jacob’s eyes absolutely lit up looking down into the face of his newest son. Before long the three older brothers were right there ogling their newest sibling.

  “It’s a boy, right dad,” Justin asked.

  The broad smile on Big Jake’s face became even broader as he answered affirmatively to his son’s question. Jacob gave the boys a chance to take a look and then walked over to the bed where his wife was.

  “Here’s our son,” Jacob beamed, not worrying about the tears streaming down his cheeks. Winnie reached for her son and Jacob placed their newest boy in her arms. The glow that came from Winnie was infectious and Vivica found herself shedding even more tears.

  “He’s perfect,” Winnie sighed as she looked down into the baby’s angelic face.

  “Do you have a name for the fourth Baxter boy I’ve delivered,” Dr. Lemon said as he stood to his feet. He looked just about as proud as the parents did. Then it all made sense why he was so comfortable with Winnie. He was familiar with her and the entire family.

  Jacob looked at his wife. Winnie returned the loving look to her husband and nodded.

  “In keeping with tradition, the fourth Baxter boy’s name is Jared Thomas Baxter.”

  “Aww,” came from around the room. It was a wonderful moment.

  Chapter Ten

  As difficult as it was, Vivica eventually tore herself away from Winnie and the new baby and returned to Mulberry Grove. Vivica was still on a virtual high until she pulled into the driveway, remembering what her Aunt Mildred and the rest of the guests at Mulberry Grove had to contend with. When Vivica parked her car and made her way inside, she found Mildred behind the desk talking to a guest. Vivica could overhear the conversation. She wasn’t surprised by the content.

  “No, unfortunately, I haven’t heard a word from the sheriff’s office as to when you all can check out. But I am waving the fees for the nights you didn’t book. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon.”

  The guest accepted what Mildred had to say and walked away, but Vivica could see that this whole situation was taking a toll on her auntie. Mildred tried to offer a smile as her niece approached the desk, but it was strained.

  “So many want to leave, which is understandable,” Mildred began. “But in good faith, I can’t even allow those scheduled to come to do so, not with what has happened.”

  That was an unexpected consequence Vivica didn’t foresee.

  “Can we go to your office and talk,” Vivica asked. Mildred nodded her head as there were no more guests to attend to immediately. They walked the short distance down the hall to Mildred’s office and closed the door.

  “From the looks of things, you don’t have good news,” Mildred replied, sitting down heavily on the couch in the corner. Vivica sat across from her.

  “Unfortunately, it looks like Mr. Gingham was murdered.”

  Hearing Vivica say it aloud sent a chill down Mildred’s spine. She didn’t want to think the worst, but this by far, was the worst.

  “That means somebody here is a murderer,” Mildred mused aloud. Vivica nodded her head. “Unless somebody from somewhere else came upon Mr. Gingham in the vineyard at just the right time, we have to assume that somebody here is responsible.”

  “But who? Who would want to hurt, Braxton?” Mildred asked befuddled.

  “That we don’t know, but I promise you Auntie. If I have anything to do with it, we will figure it out,” Vivica replied, doing her best to sound reassuring.

  “I do have a bit of good news, though,” Vivica offered.

  “And what is that?”

  “Winnie had her baby; auntie, and I was there for the whole thing!”

  “Oh, that is wonderful,” Mildred replied. “So happy for her and Jacob.”

  “And before you ask, the answer is yes, it’s another boy.”

  The two laughed and smiled with the joyous news, but for Mildred the happy moment was fleeting. She was worried and Vivica could see concern etched on her aunt’s face.

  “Have you had a chance to see about Mr. Gingham’s family?”

  It was an abrupt change of subject, but Vivica knew that resolving this issue was the biggest concern for her aunt.

  “I have been woefully unsuccessful,” Mildred answered. “And now, I need to try and get dinner together.”

  “You do that,” Vivica replied, “And I will see what I can find out about Mr. Gingham and whether he has a family or not.”

  “I appreciate that, dear, it’s just a lot for your old auntie right now,” Mildred acquiesced.

  “First of all, you are not old. Let’s get that straight. But secondly, you know I will do whatever I can to help. It’s what I’m here for,” Vivica replied.

  The two split company; Mildred heading towards the kitchen and Vivica traipsing upstairs to see what more she could find out about the elusive Braxton Gingham.

  After following her aunt into the kitchen to get some rubber gloves and then checking to make sure her canine was doing okay, Vivica went up the stairs and walked down the hallway to Mr. Gingham’s room that was still quartered off. Vivica carefully removed the yellow caution tape, just enough for her to enter the room. Vivica paused long enough to glove her hands before touching anything. She remembered what Ms. Sophie said about Mr. Gingham possibly writing his memoirs or keeping a journal of some sort. Vivica thought, if anything, Baxter’s personal writings may offer some insight now only into who he was but who he may have been connected to. That insight might also provide a foundation as to why someone would want to hurt him.

  Vivica didn’t bother looking in the obvious places they had the night before. Instead, she opened drawers and looked in the bottom of the closet to see if Baxter had indeed been writing. The dresser drawers proved fruitless, and Vivica was just about to give up on the closet when she noticed a small suitcase that sat in the farthest corner. Pulling out the luggage, Vivica noted that it felt heavy, like it wasn’t empty of its belongings. There were two other much larger suitcases in the closet that were readily seen. This one sat back in the furthest corner as though Mr. Gingham tried to hide it.

  Vivica sat the suitcase on the bed and sat down next to it. She examined the leather latches on the case which were easily opened, but there was a lock in the middle that required a key to open. The key was not attached. When Vivica lifted herself from the bed this time, it was in search of the key that could possibly open the lock. Once again, Vivica looked through the dresser drawers, carefully so as not to overlook the key. Finding nothing, Vivica turned to the two bedside tables.

  The one on the right was the closest so she opened those two drawers first. The top drawer held the King James Version of the Bible; an offering provided by the inn. There was also a small notebook and an ink pen on that side but no key. Walking around the bed, Vivica opened the top drawer on the right-hand side. There she found a few things Mr. Gingham had obviously put there; a pair of reading glasses and a couple packages of flavored crackers, presumably for night time snacking. Finding nothing else there, Vivica opened the last drawer at the bottom. Initially, she thought the drawer was e
mpty as her hands didn’t run across anything. Refusing to give up, Vivica traced her hand around each corner of the drawer. Still nothing. Then she had a thought. If there was something she didn’t want anyone else to find, where would she put it? On a whim, Vivica turned her hand over and felt the underside of the top drawer. She couldn’t see it because of the positioning, but she slowly rubbed her hand up one side and down the other.

  When her fingers ran across something that wasn’t smooth like the rest of the underside, Vivica closed her fingers around it and pulled out a small yellow envelope that had been taped to the top drawer.

  “Maybe just maybe,” Vivica said as she uncoiled the string on the envelope and opened it. “Aha,” she exclaimed as she poured a key into her hand. “Now let’s see if it fits.”

  Vivica made her way back to the suitcase and sat down once more. Turning the suitcase to face her, Vivica took the key and stuck it in the lock. When she heard the click, Vivica smiled as she released the lock and opened the case. There was a part of Vivica that was almost hesitant to peruse Mr. Gingham’s secret stash; like somehow, she was violating his privacy despite the reasons. Yet, she knew that in order to help Mr. Gingham she had to learn more about him. That may be the only way to determine who may have killed Baxter.

  The first things Vivica encountered upon opening the case were what looked like greeting cards. They were no longer in their envelopes, but there were several, representative of various holidays and birthdays. And as Vivica opened them to read the inscriptions, they were all addressed to Mr. Gingham. What she was looking for was who they were from. Some didn’t have anything other than a closing salutation like, ‘love you, or miss you Baxter’ with nothing that offered any suggestion as to who they were from. If the envelopes were there, that would have helped, Vivica thought as she turned several of the cards over to see if she could decipher the issue dates on the back.

  Checking the barcodes on the back, some of the cards date back more than ten years. Vivica checked a few more, trying to see if there were some that were more recent. She found a few that were within the past six months. She looked at them again. One was for Christmas and one was a kind of ‘I was just thinking about you’ sentiment. Without personalization from the sender, Vivica didn’t know how helpful the cards would be. Still, she stacked them to the side, newest on top and dove back in the case to see what else was there.