No.
Dumbfounded, I didn’t have words for a reply and simply stared at Helen.
“Anyway, I told the callers to bring the newspaper along, in case they caught you here. Alternately, we could have a signing here at Beaver Creek.”
I could almost see the lightbulb go on above Helen’s head. “That’s it. A book-signing, um newspaper signing. We’ll set up a table for you in Evelyn’s Party Room and serve refreshments.”
“Oh. Let’s not do that. All the excitement will die down in a day or two. They’ll forget about me.”
“Think about it. The citizens I talked to were determined. If they don’t find you here, they might show up on your doorstep. Do you know how easy it is to find someone’s address in Evelynton?”
“They wouldn’t go to that much trouble for an autograph, would they?”
Helen nodded.
I had visions of autograph hunters knocking on my door at all hours of the day. “Now that I think about it, set up a time and let everyone know I’ll be here on a certain date—for one hour.”
“Oh no, at least two hours. And plan on extending it if the need arises. You wouldn’t want to miss anyone. Trust me, as activities director, I know how these things go.”
“Okay, two, but that’s all.” Not waiting for another argument, I turned and fled.
I found Louise sitting in her oversized recliner, feel dangling a few inches above the floor. “How are you, Louise?”
She aimed the remote control at the television and clicked it off. “Lauren dear, come in. I’m just dandy. And how’s your day?”
“Not as peaceful as I’d expected. I came to see about you.”
I crouched down beside her chair. “Have you been lonely this morning since Deloris moved out?” I hesitated to say Deloris was arrested. How much did the elderly remember or understand?
Louise grinned. “Lonely? Not a chance. More company now than ever. You’d think I was some kind of celebrity. People stop by and want to know all about what it was like to live across from a murderer. Did I suspect? Did she tell me about her secret life?”
Louise’s laugh tinkled like tiny bells. “I’m thinking of charging a fee to tell the story. Start up a little business of my own.”
I moved to sit on the edge of Louise’s bed. “That’s a relief. I thought you might have been upset. The other residents weren’t distressed over the whole thing? Did anyone indicate they were afraid to stay here?”
Laughing full out, Louise slapped the side of her chair. “Of course not. We haven’t had this much excitement in the last decade. More fun than watching Perry Mason reruns.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
I shoved the Chrysler into park, opened the car door, and had one foot on the ground before noticing the scene unfolding on my neighbor’s doorstep. I had to force my mouth to close. Murine Baron was enfolded in a passionate embrace with a man! Towering over her, the stranger stepped back to gaze into her eyes. His broad hands engulfed her thin shoulders. Then she stood on tiptoe to kiss him again.
What was this? Murine, with a boyfriend? I pulled my foot back into the car and waited. Should I stay in the Chrysler? Should I walk into the house and pretend not to notice?”
When the man turned, and I saw him in profile, I gripped the steering wheel to keep from falling out of the car. Clive Baron, Murine’s missing husband.
He was alive. Even after the body in the woods had been identified, in the back of my mind I’d thought Murine had shot her husband with his 12-guage.
At least this man looked like Clive. There was still the possibility of alien abduction.
I waited but the hot sun was making the inside of the car unbearable. Couldn’t sit there all day. I climbed out and slammed the door, hoping to give the impression I’d just arrived.
Murine twirled to face me. She wore a big smile. “Lauren, look who’s home.”
I feigned surprise. “Hello, you two. Clive, I see you’re back from your fishing trip. Did you have good luck?”
I didn’t expect an answer. He hadn’t spoken to me in over a year since I’d been his neighbor. But with his arm still around Murine, he actually smiled. “I had very good luck. Not so much with the fish, but I learned what was important in life.”
His voice was deep and rough, but not as gruff as I’d imagined it to be.
“After Murine gave me the ultimatum, it took a while to understand what I’d be losing. I know I have to treat her better. She deserves a loving husband. This woman is the most important thing in my life, and I should handle her like a precious gift. Like a priceless pearl, a treasure of great worth.”
My mouth might have been hanging open. Not only had Clive spoken, but he was poetic—even biblical.
Murine gazed up at her husband. “I didn’t tell her about the ultimatum, honey. I keep our private affairs to myself. I just waited for you to come to your senses. And you did.”
Clive let out a loud laugh. “I should have known. You are a good woman. You’ve always thought of me first. But, I don’t mind if the whole town knows.”
He peered over at me. “She told me to get out until I could become a real husband. Kicked me out of the house. This woman doesn’t get mad often, but when she does, she means business.”
Murine’s cheeks turned pink, and she gazed up at him. “I’m sorry it had to come to that, Clive.”
Clive lowered his voice and stared deep into his wife’s eyes. “It was worth it. I was a prideful, unkind man and thought only of myself. I want all my friends to know, so they won’t make the same mistake.”
Murine beamed and the two of them went into their house, hand in hand.
I stood in the drive for a minute before continuing up the steps to my door. I’d like to experience a love like that. Someday.
Thirty-Three
W arm rays of the late afternoon sun filled the back porch. I opened a bottle of wine and carried it along with three glasses from the kitchen. After handing Clair and Anita their glasses I set mine on the little wicker table. Anita lounged in one of the matching chairs with her legs stretched out in front of her. My friends were frequent visitors to my back porch during the summer months. What was unusual was the sight of Clair sitting on the floor. She trailed a twig across the floorboards for Mason to chase.
I watched her for a while, then couldn’t resist. “Clair, I have to ask. Are those jeans you’re wearing? Didn’t know you owned any.”
Anita laughed. “And did you notice she’s wearing flats? Shocked me that she could walk in anything but high heels.”
She looked at Clair. “Doesn’t it throw you off balance?”
Clair pointed the twig at Anita. “No, I can walk perfectly fine. This is my new casual attire. From now on, when I’m not working, I’ll be the picture of comfort.” She glanced at both of us. “And since we’re on the subject of my changed lifestyle, I’m in the market for a house.”
Anita sat up straight. “No kidding? I thought you loved your apartment. Great security. No weeds to pull or lawn to mow.”
Pulling Mason onto her lap, Clair twisted to face Anita. “I’m tired of apartment living. I want a yard and maybe a porch like this. I could get a grill, and have cook-outs. So, since I’d be looking at houses and wandering around yards, I needed shoes that wouldn’t sink in the dirt and jeans to fit in with the country life. I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and plant flowers.”
Anita looked at me. I shrugged. She returned her gaze to Clair. “Flowers and dirt? You might ruin your manicure.”
Clair contemplated her perfectly smoothed and painted nails. “That’s okay. I’ll wear them short. Don’t act so surprised. I told you I wanted a change of life.” She held out her glass for me to pour the wine. “Only half-way, please.”
I ventured a question. “Why now?”
Clair continued. “You know, girls, I know almost everyone in town, but I don’t have a clue as to who they really are. Do you understand? I know them as they relate to my business, b
ut not as real people. Lauren, I read your newspaper article about the elderly at Beaver Creek. It really touched me. I not only want to adopt a resident, I want to know my neighbors. Really know them, as friends.”
“Huh.” Anita reached into the potato chip bag and pulled out a handfull.
“Anita, you have always had a house in the country. You know everyone in town and people love you.”
Anita stuck a chip in her mouth. “It’s just the way I am. I don’t think everyone should live like I do.”
Clair gestured with her glass. “And let me tell you, the next man I date will be someone who is down to earth. He’s not going have to dress up all the time, and he’s not going to be impressed by expensive clothes. He’ll love taking long walks, and sitting by the fire on cold nights.”
Anita grinned. “And will he ride a motorcycle?”
Clair was quick to answer. “Ugh. No.” She paused and added, “At least, I doubt that will be one of his hobbies.”
“He’s going to be more like your Jake, Anita.”
“My husband is a keeper, that’s the truth. You wouldn’t be wrong finding someone like him. It might take time, though. Jake and I’ve been married a long time. We had to get accustomed to one another. You’ll have to be patient. Can’t fall for the first one you meet.”
“I can wait. I want a real relationship. Not just dating.”
Mason purred as Clair rubbed his ears. “And as soon as I move and have a yard, I’m going to adopt a dog from the canine rescue. You said you liked Mason’s veterinarian, Lauren. What’s his name?”
“Michael Barry.”
Anita cut her eyes to Clair. “Ha. I’m beginning to see the light. Dr. Barry is single and really cute.”
Clair smiled. “He is nice looking. But the best thing about him is he’s down to earth. And friendly. I saw him at the grocery store. He showed me how to choose the best peaches. Isn’t that sweet?”
“I think you’ll be happy with your lifestyle change, Clair. Mine was sort of forced on me. I hated to leave the condo in Florida. But I have to admit, this house and small-town living is growing on me.”
I set the wine bottle on the floor and picked up my glass. The wicker creaked as I sank into my chair. My eyes and thoughts drifted to the neighbors. In the last weeks, I’d seen Murine and Clive in town, together, holding hands. It had taken them a while—some hard truth, and an ultimatum—but they had found a great relationship.
A cell phone rang in the distance. Clair and Anita said, “Not mine” in unison.
“Darn. Left the phone in the house. I just got comfortable. They’ll probably call back.”
“Clair peered at me with an impish grin. Better get it. It might be the chance of a lifetime.”
Anita laughed. “Maybe you won the Clearinghouse Giveaway. You could be set for life.”
The phone continued to ring. I called to it. “Alright, I’m coming.” I hauled myself out of my chair and into the kitchen, catching the phone before it went to voicemail.
“Lauren.” The sound took my breath away.
I managed a weak, “Hello, Jack.”
“I’ll be in Evelynton this weekend. I was wondering if you’d be free for dinner?”
The End
Don’t Miss Heart Strings, Book One. Get it here
Born and raised in northeastern Indiana, Lynne Waite Chapman is a lover of mystery and suspense. In September of 2016, she published her first cozy mystery. Her debut novel, Heart Strings—first in the Evelynton Murder series—was a 2016 semi-finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Association Genesis contest. Her second novel, Heart Beat, published in 2017, continues the series.
Lynne Waite Chapman began her writing career with fifteen years of composing weekly non-fiction content for the BellaOnline.com Hair site, drawing on her thirty plus years as a hairdresser. Retiring the Hair site, she has spent the last twelve years penning weekly content for the BellaOnline.com Christian Living site.
She is a regular contributor of devotions for several print publications, and has written articles for many church bulletins and newsletters. She has also contributed articles to numerous internet publications.
She currently resides in northern Indiana with one West Highland White Terrier
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