by Dale Mayer
She looked at him and said, “Do you really have to do that on the kitchen table?”
He completely ignored her, but then what else was new? The animals always ignored her. At least when she was telling them off. She got up, grabbed a leash for Mugs, and put it on. She then looked at Goliath and asked, “Should we try this again?”
He gave her a scowl, and she had to laugh at such a disdainful expression. “It would be good if you would learn though,” she said, coming toward him, her smile coaxing. But, as soon as he caught sight of the cat harness, he was gone, like a rocket. She groaned. “This isn’t helping, Goliath,” Doreen cried out. “You can’t keep avoiding this forever.”
A half cackle came from Thaddeus. She glared at him. “That isn’t helping either.”
“Maybe not,” he said.
She stopped and asked, “What did you just say?”
“Maybe not, maybe not, maybe not.”
“Oh, my goodness,” she said. “Sometimes I wonder if you do understand what I’m saying.”
“Maybe not, maybe not, maybe not.”
“And then the rest of the time I know you have absolutely no clue,” she said, staring at him, chuckling.
Thaddeus seemed to take offense and glared back at her. She groaned. “You guys will end up making me nuts. You all know that, right?”
He made another weird cackling sound.
She sighed. “Oh, fine, point taken. Let’s go before I get any more nuts.”
Of course if it would help or not was a matter of opinion. With the animals at her side she walked down to the river path. Thaddeus had taken up a perch on her shoulder and was even now peering around her head, as if trying to see everything all at once.
“It hasn’t been that long since we’ve been out here,” she muttered. “Stop making me feel bad.”
But they weren’t exactly ready to let her off the hook, and even Mugs was determined to sniff every little bush. Goliath was quite content to wander around, as long as he could keep just far enough away from her that she couldn’t catch him. She’d stuffed the cat harness into her pocket anyway, thinking maybe the opportunity would present itself to try again.
She wasn’t even sure when or how it had all gone so badly, but it had definitely taken a turn for the worse somewhere along the line. Most likely she just hadn’t been consistent with the training. That was the thing about animals; she was supposed to be so consistent, and she was anything but. Her approach appeared to be lackadaisical when it came to a lot of things in life.
Thankfully she hadn’t heard from Mathew in the last four days. She hadn’t heard from Mack’s brother, Nick, either, but then she knew that he was dealing with the fallout from Robin’s death. That had to throw a wrench in his plans. To think that her former divorce lawyer had been murdered was already chaotic, but to think Robin had been murdered by her own ex-husband was even worse. As for Rex, Mathew’s henchman and Robin’s lover, Doreen wasn’t sure if he was being charged with anything or not. After all, he did kidnap Doreen on Mathew’s orders.
She’d walked away from that whole incident and would just let the chips fall where they may. Nobody would be too upset at the police whenever investigating the various people involved. Her neighbors were probably more concerned about the neighborhood going to pot with all these extra cases, but at least this latest kidnapping case didn’t involve Doreen.
Trouble was that Robin and Mathew and Rex and then Robin’s ex-husband, James, had all come here to Kelowna because of Doreen being here. And, for that, she was sorry, yet she didn’t really want to think of any of this mess as her responsibility.
Mack would say she wasn’t responsible at all, but he was always trying to let her off the hook because he was a nice guy. She wasn’t sure anybody else was too willing to do the same, particularly her neighbors. Richard was barely civil most of the time, and now, since Robin had died shortly after being on her front porch, Doreen found a suspiciousness to Richard’s sideways looks. She didn’t think he really believed that Doreen had done something, but she could never really tell. He would just prefer that she would disappear and stay that way.
Not that it would happen. This was now her home, whether Richard liked it or not. With her menagerie all around her, she headed down past the back of Richard’s house, then several others, until she came around the corner, and the animals automatically headed toward Nan’s place. But she tugged Mugs in the opposite direction. “Nope, we’ll keep going for a while.”
Excited at the thought of a longer outing, they all happily headed in the new direction. Doreen smiled. “See? It’s good to go someplace else sometimes.”
Mugs woofed in delight and dropped his nose to the ground.
They wandered around, appreciating the afternoon sunshine and the chance to stroll around. She really enjoyed walking. A couple grocery stores were up ahead, but she’d have a hard time going in with all the animals.
“I guess we’ll do without a few groceries,” she muttered. Mugs woofed again, but this one was different, more urgent somehow. She looked at her dog and frowned. “We still have dog food, don’t we?” He woofed again, and that made her wonder if they were a little bit on the low side, but she didn’t think so. Granted it was a huge bag in the front closet and, while Doreen reached in to scoop up dog food, she didn’t look inside the deep bag. However, her routine today had her fingers sweeping through more dog food in the bag to get her scoop filled, so she thought there was plenty for another week. Mugs just didn’t want to run out. She looked over at Thaddeus. “We still have bird seed and cat food, so we should be doing okay with all you guys.”
At least she hoped so. She needed to start a grocery list. But it was still something foreign to her. The whole process of being responsible for cooking and buying groceries and everything else that she needed for daily life was such a new responsibility. Just like cooking. Mack had shown her several dishes, but some of them she couldn’t afford to buy food for, like salmon. She had been stricken with shock the first time she went to buy a piece to cook. Then again, seeing the price of many different items—ones she was accustomed to eating—she’d quietly written them off her menu permanently.
Chapter 2
Just thinking about the change in her circumstances brought her pending divorce from Mathew—and Robin’s will—to mind. Before Robin’s death and before finding out about Robin’s will, Doreen had been reconciled to what the fates had handed to her and had appreciated her freedom from her controlling husband Mathew more than ever. And now, with Robin’s will dangled in front of her, … Doreen had to wonder if it was even legit.
Mack wasn’t saying anything. Nobody had contacted her about it. Doreen hadn’t seen names as to who was the executor on Robin’s will, but Doreen wasn’t sure she could even trust the executor. Robin’s world was full of vipers. It just amazed Doreen how people could be so bad in this world. In her cold-case reviews, she’d seen some crimes that were more accidental or more protective of somebody else they loved, but those motives were not involved when dealing with Mathew, Robin, Rex, and James. Each were all about vindictive greed.
Doreen would never understand. Mathew was the same as he always was. She was seeing that more easily now. Even when he’d come here, he’d demonstrated the same kind of attitude. She didn’t understand it, didn’t understand him. All she wanted was for him to stay out of her life. Having him show up on her doorstep had been unnerving.
As she walked, her phone rang. She looked at it and frowned, then clicked Talk. “Hello, Nick,” she said. “I was wondering if you would even bother with my case now that Robin is gone.”
“No such luck,” he said, laughing. “Just because Robin is dead doesn’t change the fact that she created serious damage while she was alive.”
“What does that change though?” she asked, looking around to see if anyone could hear them. “It’s not like she’s there to punish anymore.”
“Nope,” he said, “although I understand there might
have been some change of heart on her part.”
“Supposedly. I don’t even know what you’ve talked to Mack about,” she said, “but it still won’t change the facts with my ex-husband.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said. “I’ve filed an injunction, regarding several of her cases and the criminal manner in which she acted. Several of those have been paused and put on hold, while another lawyer looks at the outcome of Robin’s actions.”
“Oh,” Doreen said, frowning at all that lawyer stuff. “But what does that actually mean?”
“It means that your separation agreement is no longer valid.”
“You said it wasn’t valid anyway,” she said.
“Well, it was valid in that you signed it, but you were under duress, with fraudulent information being passed on to you as the truth,” he said, “but now that’s not even a legal issue.”
“So?” She let her word draw out, as she tried to understand exactly what Nick was trying to say.
“It means that, at the moment, with no agreement in place of any kind, you’re entitled to half of everything as always, including any money he has made since.”
“Since what?”
“Since you left.”
“Wow. Okay, that’ll really piss him off when he finds out.”
“That’s another reason why I’m calling … to warn you.”
“Warn me? Why?” she asked, her heart sinking. Please not more about Mathew.
“Because a formal letter has just gone out, saying that I am representing you in your separation.”
“Uh-oh,” she said, with a heavy sigh. “Does that mean he is on his way back here?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Would he likely come in person?”
“I don’t know,” she said thoughtfully, hoping not. “Maybe he’ll be even angrier because Rex failed to pull off kidnapping me.”
“Maybe so, but that’s not your problem,” he said. “If Mathew does contact you, do not respond and do not answer the door. Don’t talk to him. As soon as he opens his mouth, you say that you are not allowed to speak to him without your lawyer present.”
“Are you my lawyer?”
“I just said I was, didn’t I?”
“I don’t recall retaining you,” she said doubtfully. “Don’t we need some sort of agreement?”
Silence came first, and then he chuckled. “That is quite correct. Am I retained as your lawyer?”
“I’d like to say yes, but I don’t have any money to pay you,” she said cautiously.
“Where are you right now?” Nick asked.
“We’re walking to the Eco Center to check out the park. The animals and I are just out for a nice morning walk.”
“I’m at the grocery store, not too far away,” he said. “I’ll meet you at the eco center.” And, with that, he hung up.
She frowned into the phone. “What difference does that make, for crying out loud?” she muttered, but she obediently picked up the pace and made her way toward the eco center. The center was filled with lovely parks, covered picnic tables, and barbecue areas, plus a big information center and a gorgeous log house. And all of it was beside a spawning channel. She would never get tired of coming here because she always found something to look at and to enjoy. She hadn’t been here more than ten minutes when a large black Mercedes drove up and parked. She watched as Nick got out, a big smile on his face. He raised his hand in greeting.
“You don’t live here in town, do you?” she asked.
“Not technically, no,” he said. “I’m at the Lower Mainland. But I am looking at buying a condo up here. I’m here often enough.” She looked at him in surprise, and he shrugged. “I’ve been thinking it might be nice to come and visit family a little more often.”
“I certainly agree with that,” she said, studying him. “Your mother would be overjoyed to have you here more. You all seem pretty close, and I’m surprised you’ve been working down in Vancouver as it is.”
“Maybe,” he said, “but that’s where a good share of the work happens.”
She laughed. “Oh, I think we have plenty to keep the lawyers here busy too.”
He grinned. “Hey, you’re giving me an opportunity to go up against a badass,” he said. “By the way, do you happen to have any change?”
She stared, yet instinctively dug into her pockets, but they were empty. Then she pulled her purse in front of her to check. “Are there parking fees here?” she asked, looking around. She opened her purse, found a few coins, and triumphantly handed them over.
“Ah, so now,” he said, gently taking the change and putting it in his pocket, “you have officially retained your lawyer.”
She watched as his empty hand came out of his pocket, and asked, “Is that legal?”
“Absolutely legal,” he said, “and it’s now binding.”
She tilted her head, studying him. “Is that why you drove here?”
“Precisely,” he said, “and now you are fully covered.”
“Okay, if you think that’s a good idea.”
“I think it’s the best idea,” he said cheerfully. “Now remember. No talking to him anymore.”
“That might be a little hard. He’ll think it’s bizarre if I’m not talking to him the next time. He was just here, and I was friendly with him.”
“You won’t be friendly anymore,” Nick said sternly.
She winced. “You don’t understand,” she said. “That’s not really a viable option.”
“Why is that?” he asked.
“Because, when I went out to dinner with him, I seemed to fall right back into this pattern of the obedient wife.”
“And you were an obedient wife,” he said, “which will make the difference when it comes to your settlement.”
She stared around her in confusion. “Wow,” she said, “this flips things and will take a bit to get used to.”
“You have a lot to adjust to,” he said, “and that’s okay. I know Mathew was a controlling man, who abused you physically and verbally. But you are away from him now. You have Mack and me and Nan and others in this community to help you. You can do this.”
“Maybe,” she said cautiously, “but what about Rex?”
“What about Rex?” Nick asked, raising his eyebrows. “Have you heard from him again?”
“No,” she said. “I haven’t talked to him for days, not since he crammed me in the trunk of that car.”
“Good,” he said. “Remember. No talking to anybody associated with your husband without your lawyer present.”
“What about Mack?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Mack knows to call me.” He walked back to his Mercedes and said, “Now go enjoy the rest of your day.”
She watched him get into his car and drive onto Springfield Road toward the Mission District. She looked at Mugs. “Okay, so they’re very different people, Nick and Mack, but both are very caring.” At least they seemed to care about her.
She still couldn’t believe that Nick drove over just for a few coins. If that’s all he would charge her, she should be laughing at that. She frowned. She hadn’t asked about fees. She quickly texted Nick. I forgot to ask about your fees for handling the divorce.
His response was immediate. You just paid it.
She stared at her phone in delight, then sent him a thank-you note and a heart emoji. She sat down on one of the park benches and searched Google on this topic for a few minutes and soon realized that the small transaction seemed to be all that was required. Nick was now her representative, and, according to him, she didn’t have to pay more. That was just amazing. She bounced to her feet, laughing, now too energized to sit still.
As she walked, several people lifted their hands, and she greeted them, sometimes not even knowing who they were. She remembered the odd friendly face, and she came to a stop, when she recognized one of the scuba divers from a couple months ago. She thought his name was Warren. Or maybe Brandon.
He lifted a hand in gre
eting and called out, “Do you want a hot dog?”
She stopped, stared, and said, “I’d love one.”
He motioned toward some public group event happening. “You should join in the fun.”
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s just a meeting for naturalists around town,” he said. “We’re all water nuts, bird nuts, you know.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “We’re just plain nuts.”
“Hey, I like nuts,” she said, “and you seem a whole lot more natural to me than a lot of so-called normal folk are.”
He burst out laughing at that, then pointed at the barbecue pit area, heaped high with hot dog buns and hot dogs.
“Wow,” she said, “this is a great spread.”
“When I saw you walking there, with all the animals earlier, I wanted to call you over. But then I saw you with someone and didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Yeah,” she said, “that was Nick, Mack’s brother.”
He looked at her. “The lawyer?”
And she laughed. “I keep forgetting how small the town is. Of course you know who Nick is.”
“I know of Nick anyway. I grew up with the two brothers,” he said. “Don’t forget that Millicent has been around this area for decades and decades.”
She grinned. “I look after Millicent’s garden right now too.”
“Is that right? You do keep busy, don’t you?”
“Hi, Brandon,” called out a passerby.
He waved to them and picked up a particularly beautiful-looking hot dog, nicely golden and sizzling on all sides, put it in a bun for her, saying, “Mustard, ketchup, relish, and anything else you want is over there. When you’re done with that one, come back for another.”
She hesitated. “Are we supposed to pay for these?” She mentally calculated how much money she had on hand, and it wasn’t much, but, if the hot dog were only a couple dollars, she would be okay.
He shook his head. “Nope, this is free for everybody today. We paid for it out of our bottle-drive fund that we keep going for get-togethers like this. It’s just a social happy hour,” he said, “without the booze.”
