When Daisy finally did lay Sammy in his crib, she knew the baby monitor would be recording everything he did. Vi had a wireless monitor set up in the kitchen and it blinked whenever Sammy moved.
After Daisy kissed the little guy’s cheek, she returned to the living room. The table Vi and Foster used in the kitchen was small. They used folding chairs around it to have more room to maneuver. Daisy noticed the glasses of iced tea were already poured and dishes, silverware, and napkins laid out. Vi had left the sliced tomatoes and carrots on the counter because there simply wasn’t room on the table. She’d lined a basket with a napkin and the croissants rested in there. The chicken salad was mounded in another bowl. She’d also opened a bag of potato chips and poured those into a serving dish.
She asked Daisy, “Still asleep?”
“He must have tired himself out.”
“He was going strong when I arrived,” Piper said. “I didn’t know babies could crawl that fast.”
“I think he’s almost as fast as Marjoram and Pepper when they dart across the room. Just wait until he’s walking,” Daisy warned.
The conversation around the table was light as the women talked about their lives.
Vi was still complaining about the motor scooter that Foster had bought because one of their cars had broken down. “We’re saving every penny we can,” she said. “Soon we’re going to have to start paying Mom rent.”
“Vi, I don’t want you to worry about that.”
“We made a deal, Mom. You had this apartment finished for us. You said you’d give it to us rent-free for a year. A year will soon be up and we want to pay.”
“We’ll talk about it,” Daisy said. “We can always use a sliding scale.”
Vi rolled her eyes.
Piper tried to suppress a smile. “You sound just like my dad, Mrs. Swanson. All my life he’s wanted to protect me. When I married Emory, I think Dad thought he could release that responsibility into Emory’s hands. But I don’t believe he’s ever done that. He’s as protective now as he was before, maybe in a different way.”
“My dad’s always been supportive and protective,” Daisy admitted. “But when I moved away for all those years, he really had no choice but to back off. Since I returned to Willow Creek, he’s protective but at a distance. I like that.”
“Does he worry when you’re involved in murder investigations?”
“I don’t tell him every detail,” Daisy confided. “If he does worry, he hides it as much as possible.”
A shadow seemed to cross Piper’s pretty face. “I don’t know if the police still suspect me and Emory, or if they’ve moved on. Everything you told me was helpful when they questioned me. I don’t think I was as nervous as Emory because of talking with you.”
“I’m glad I helped.” Daisy took a bite of the croissant loaded with chicken salad. Some of the chicken salad fell onto her plate and she wiped her mouth with her napkin.
“I heard a rumor,” Piper said, “and I wondered if it was true.”
“What’s the rumor?” Vi asked.
“I heard that Hiram Hershberger died of an overdose of insulin. Is that true?”
Should Daisy say anything or shouldn’t she? The bigger question was why was Piper bringing it up? Daisy decided to circle around Piper’s question. “I’m not sure the police have all the autopsy results in yet. Why do you ask?”
“If it was insulin, it seems there could be a lot of suspects.”
Vi tag-teamed with Daisy. “Why do you say that?”
“Taking insulin for diabetes is more common than it used to be,” Piper mused. “Isn’t it?”
Daisy’s background as a nutritionist kicked in. “I think many more people are diagnosed early with diabetes now so they can protect themselves for the future. Diet is a big part of that, and there are medications besides insulin that help. I’ve never seen the statistics on the breakdown for the patients who use insulin.”
“I think everybody knows someone who does,” Piper said.
Daisy and Vi exchanged a look.
Vi inquired, “Do you know someone?”
“I do. Emory’s mother is a diabetic who uses insulin.”
Daisy felt as if a clue had dropped into her lap. She wondered if Zeke knew that. She also guessed that if Zeke did know that, Piper and Emory would even be more likely suspects.
* * *
Daisy was pinching herbs from the pots on the tea garden patio to use in her recipes when Foster came to talk to her Monday morning. She knew he wasn’t serving out on the patio today so it was unusual to see him there. From his expression, she suspected he hadn’t come out on the patio to refresh iced tea glasses.
“Is something wrong?” There could be a situation inside that she needed to take care of. But after all, Tessa was inside and so was Iris.
“There’s someone here to see you—Miriam Yoder. She told me she didn’t want to attract any attention but she wondered if she could talk with you.”
“I suppose that means she doesn’t want to sit at a table inside?” Daisy asked. Miriam was conscious of appearances. Apparently she didn’t want many people knowing she was at the tea garden.
“Does she want me to come inside?” Daisy asked. “We could go to my office.”
“I suggested that,” Foster said. “But she asked if she could come out here.”
Customers were enjoying tea and baked goods at a few of the outside tables. But she and Miriam could take a walk down by the creek. “Tell her to come on out.” Daisy laid the herbs that she had gathered on the rim of one of the pots.
Foster stayed where he was and motioned to the person inside.
Miriam came out and crossed to Daisy. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said shyly.
Foster made his exit.
“I don’t mind. Come on. Walk with me through the yard down to the creek. We can talk there.”
Miriam seemed grateful for the idea as she said, “Danke” and they crossed the parking lot to take the walkway through the flower beds.
Daisy glanced at Miriam, a beautiful young woman probably in her late teens. Her light-brown hair was pulled back into the requisite bun. Her heart-shaped kapp was set high on her head. Today she’d worn a pale blue dress under her apron.
Daisy led Miriam down the stepping-stones until they were far away from the outside customers. Miriam walked gracefully beside Daisy.
“I guess you wonder why I’m here,” Miriam murmured.
“Yes, I do. But take your time.” Daisy knew for Miriam to come talk to her, her concerns had to be about something important.
“Me and Eli, well, we’re in lieb.”
“Love is a very wonderful thing, isn’t it?” Daisy asked.
Miriam’s eyes shone when she turned toward Daisy. “It is. But my familye doesn’t know. They would think I’m ab im kopp.”
Daisy knew that meant something in Pennsylvania Dutch like crazy. “They think you’re crazy because Eli left the faith?”
“Ya. But Eli is going to fix that. I came to you because I don’t know who else to talk to. Rachel told me I could trust you.”
“Trust me with your secret?”
“Ya. But also—the police called Eli to their building. I’m afraid if they do it again, they’re not going to let him go. I’m afraid he’ll be charged with Hiram’s murder.”
“Are you sure he didn’t do it?” Daisy thought broadsiding Miriam might bring out the truth.
Miriam swung around to Daisy, totally outraged. “Of course, he didn’t do it! He has decided to confess his sins, return to his faith, and live in the Amish life. He can’t do that with this hanging over his head. What should he do?”
Daisy wasn’t sure why Rachel had sent Miriam to her. Maybe simply for common sense advice. “I’m not a lawyer so the advice I’m going to give you has nothing to do with the law or what the police might do. But I think Eli should tell the truth.”
“He has,” Miriam insisted.
“Has he?” Daisy as
ked pointedly. “Do you know everything about his life?”
Miriam looked totally perplexed.
“At the furniture sale, I saw Eli taking money in an envelope from another protestor. Do you know what that’s about? Has he been honest about whatever that is?”
“He tells me much. He’s been taking as many jobs as he can to open a business and give us a future,” Miriam said with certainty.
“Do you believe it’s honest work?”
“I do. Especially now. Yes, he deals with Englischers, but they’re not bad, ain’t so?”
“That depends. I know Amish women often take a back seat to the man they love. If you want to spend your life with him, maybe you should ask him tough questions.”
“I can’t believe he’d lie to me.”
“There are lies by omission. When I asked Eli why money was exchanged, he wouldn’t tell me. To me that meant he was hiding something. Do you think he’ll hide it from you too?”
Miriam stared out over the creek. They could hear the burbling of it as it wandered over stones near the shore and flowed silently through the center . . . the deep part of the creek. Daisy knew its depth there was about ten feet. She could also hear a mockingbird in a tall silver maple tree as well as the chatter of squirrels.
When Miriam reverted to Pennsylvania Dutch again, Daisy knew she was upset. Miriam said, “Wu schmoke is, is aa feier.”
Daisy knew that saying well. Where there is smoke, there is fire.
Miriam’s pale cheeks reddened and her chin lifted. “I’ll find out what he’s keeping from me, I promise you that.”
“The two of you together should decide what you should tell the police if Eli needs to tell them anything more. Remember that hiding it could push him into even more trouble.”
“Thank you for talking to me, Mrs. Swanson. You have really helped. Gott segen eich.”
Miriam had just said, God bless you. Daisy hoped they would all be blessed with the truth . . . and soon.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
That evening Daisy was tilling the soil around the rosemary, marjoram, and lemon balm, along with the tomato plants in her garden, when she heard laughter along the side of the house. In the early evening, she expected Vi but she didn’t expect to see Ramona. She had a little boy with her who was about three, and Vi carried Sammy in her arms.
Daisy waved to the two young women and motioned for them to come into the yard. “Just in time for me to take a break. Hi, Ramona. How are you? And who is this?”
“This is Petey.” Ramona tousled her little boy’s blond hair.
Sammy reached out to Daisy, both arms extended, his fingers wiggling.
“We’re having a play date,” Vi said. “We just decided to go for a walk and we ended up here.”
“I have cookies and iced tea in the refrigerator. Are you interested?” she asked them both as she snuggled Sammy.
Petey looked up at Daisy with a grin. “Cook-ee.”
Daisy motioned them to the glider and chairs. “Go ahead and sit on the patio. I’ll go inside and get the tea and cookies.”
Today Ramona was wearing a white tank top and navy-blue shorts. She swooped up her little boy whose hand she’d been holding. “Jim and I try to keep him on a healthy diet,” she admitted. “But you know how that is.”
“I certainly do. Is chocolate chip okay? They don’t have nuts.”
“That sounds good,” Ramona agreed.
“I bet Petey might like the glider,” Daisy suggested. “Sammy does.” She handed Sammy back to Vi. His face scrunched up in a frown and he looked as if he was going to cry.
Daisy ran her hand lovingly over his cheek. “I’ll be right back.” She pointed to the glider. “Swing, back and forth.” She motioned with her hand and a smile appeared on his face again.
She’d found her grandson was fairly easy to distract. Generally, he was a happy boy and didn’t often have sad times. But she imagined he could be getting tired at this time of day.
“We had supper at my place,” Vi said. “I made macaroni and cheese and they seemed to like that.”
“Always.” Daisy remembered her girls’ tastes. “You and Jazzi wanted mac and cheese every time you could have it.”
Swiftly Vi took Sammy over to the glider and sat with him on her lap. Since Ramona was thin, it was easy for Petey to slip in between her and Vi.
Ramona lifted her hand and brushed her long bangs across her forehead. “It’s nice to get out. Jim really helps me with Petey, but he has things he likes to do too when he gets home from work.”
“Speaking of male counterparts,” Vi said. “Where’s Jonas? I thought he might be here with you. Where’s Jazzi?”
“Jazzi’s babysitting tonight. I have to pick her up around nine.”
“She couldn’t convince you to let her have your car?” Vi asked.
“Not tonight. I had a couple of errands to run after work, so I dropped her off and I’ll pick her up.”
Ten minutes later, Daisy came outside with the tray and set it on the table. Vi, Ramona, and the children moved over there. Sammy sat on Vi’s lap happily munching on bits of cookie that she fed him. Petey sat at the table with a small glass of milk that Daisy had provided and his cookie, taking small bites as he nibbled at it. He smiled at her with crumbs all around his mouth.
“What was Jonas doing tonight?” Vi asked. “You never answered me.”
“He was delivering furniture from the sale.”
“I heard about that sale,” Ramona said. “I bet they did well.”
“Only a few pieces didn’t sell,” Daisy said. “I think everyone was pleased. They’re planning to do it again next spring or summer.”
“Jim stopped in at the barn for a bit. He liked a tea cart and a set of TV tables, but we’re watching every penny now. If the clinic doesn’t settle with us soon, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
“Your funds were tied up for in vitro?” Daisy asked.
“Not just our savings, but we took out a loan too. And the bank isn’t putting a hold on paying it back. I thought they might, given the situation. Hiram Hershberger defending a class action suit rather than settling certainly didn’t help because we knew that would take months if not years. The bank knew all about it when we discussed it with them. Daniel Copeland told us another lawyer was going to pick up the defense.”
“I did hear they were trying to find someone,” Daisy acknowledged.
“There are plenty of lawyer sharks who would probably be willing to go at it. Even if they do, Mr. Copeland told us the clients in a class action suit usually don’t make out real well. It’s the lawyers who do.”
Daisy heard the disdain for lawyers in Ramona’s voice, and, in this case, she didn’t blame her.
“Maybe Troy Richter will decide to settle,” Daisy offered. “The expense of going to court for a long time can’t be good for him either.”
“I heard the rumor that he’s out of the country,” Ramona said. “Sure, he can just go flying off to an island somewhere, lie on a beach, and drink a piña colada while we’re back here wondering how we’re going to pay our bills.”
As Ramona’s voice had gone up, Petey looked up at his mom as if he were worried about her. She saw the look on his face and she brushed a few crumbs from his chin. She admitted, “I keep everything bottled up most of the time. The nice thing about girl talk is that I don’t have to then.”
“I know what you mean,” Vi said. “I can talk to Mom and she mostly understands.” Vi looked at her mother and winked. “But sometimes I think it’s hard for her to remember what it was like when she was first married.”
Daisy balled up a paper napkin and tossed it at Vi. “I can remember very well. I remember how much fun it was going home to my new husband at night . . . how we couldn’t wait to see each other. Your dad wasn’t a romantic, but he’d make a meal for me when I was tired, or he’d watch a rom-com with me when I knew he’d rather be watching a thriller. I specifically remember how ecstati
c we were when you were born.” She looked down at Petey and then at Sammy. “I have a baby book where I recorded every stage of your development as well as Jazzi’s. I kept locks of hair, first teeth . . .” She trailed off.
Vi laughed. “All right. I get the idea. You remember. But you and Aunt Iris and Gram are a lot older than I am, even if you do remember. Things are different now.”
“They are,” Daisy agreed. “But you can talk to Jazzi too.”
“I can,” Vi admitted. “But she has a teen’s concerns. She has butterflies over a boy looking at her, or . . . taking her to a carnival.”
“Don’t remind me,” Daisy mumbled.
Vi glanced at Ramona. “Mom has trouble admitting that Jazzi is growing up. That is the point. She’s still growing up. Ramona understands how I feel at my age and in my marriage. In fact, a lot of women in the mommy group do. That’s why we enjoy it so much. I just wish—”
“Wish what?” Daisy asked.
“I wish so many women hadn’t been affected by what happened at the clinic. It caused a lot of heartache, Mom.”
Daisy studied both young women who were sharing their hearts and their lives. “I know. Maybe once this murder is solved, it will help everyone move on. Maybe the clinic will try to do what’s best for everyone.”
However, Daisy saw Ramona and Vi exchange a look, and it wasn’t an optimistic one.
* * *
The next morning Daisy sat in her tea garden office, catching up on bookwork, when her cell phone played its tuba sound. She took it from her pocket and checked the screen. Jazzi was working today so she knew it wasn’t her. It could be Jonas, Vi, or Foster she supposed. She was surprised, though, when she saw Glorie Beck’s name. Glorie didn’t use her cell phone often. She usually only used it for emergencies.
Daisy hoped it wasn’t an emergency this time. She kept her voice cheerful, not letting worry creep into it. “Hi, Glorie.”
Murder with Orange Pekoe Tea Page 17
