“I’m woozy again.” Pressing my fingers into my closed eyelids, I lay back. “It’s all too much. Belly killed Bangor Floyd. Now this?”
Sandy produced a stethoscope. “Gimme that baby.” She’ll always be a nurse, no matter how many bars of soap we sell.
She handed Allison over to her. Clucking, she cradled the child pulling down her blanket. “You sweet baby girl. Let Auntie Sandy give a listen.” She touched the cool end of the scope to the baby’s chest, and she didn’t even flinch.
Ally stood rearranging her shirt, shaking out her dreadlocks. “Mom? Did you say Belly killed somebody? Like in murdered?”
“All I know is what Anita told me this morning. Teddy said he heard the same thing on the scanners. I haven’t heard anything since then. Now this…” I waved the tissue I’d been holding in the air.
She whispered. “Belly? Murder?”
Sandy finished listening to the baby’s heart. “We’re all in shock. What do you say we put the closed sign on the door and take a break?”
“Oh, no. I have work to do. I can’t—” I pointed at Myra’s open house purchases on the floor.
“I insist. Gather your things. We’re taking you home.”
“But—”
“No buts. Put on your coat. This baby needs a warm bed and you need two hot showers.” Sandy held up two fingers. “You hear me.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m on it.” Ally gathered her belongings, shoving discarded layers of hitchhiking clothes into her backpacks.
I put my feet on the floor slipping into my shoes.
“Here you hold her.” Sandy lay the baby in my arms. “I’ll go lock the doors and turn off the lights.”
Goosebumps crawled along my arms. I wished upon a star hoping I’d see my daughter again, and now the universe gave back an incredible bonus—Allison Ann Walker.
Chapter 9
Allison
Fretting, Sandy helped load the Honda. “Oh dear, we don’t have a car seat.”
Ally bundled the baby in the baby bundles scarf and tied it around her chest. “It’s okay. No one will notice her. They didn’t while I was hitchhiking.”
Hearing her casually mention hitchhiking made me gasp. “I can’t believe you hitchhiked. Why didn’t you call someone?”
Ally huffed, getting into the backseat. “I don’t have a phone.”
Sandy held out her hand. “Gimme the keys. You’re not driving.” She was right, I wasn’t in any shape to drive.
“There’s no longer keys for new cars. Get in. I’ll teach you how to start it.”
Mumbling, she went around the car. “These newfangled gadgets. A car without a key, how does that work?”
I instructed her and she fumbled with the brake, pushing the start button too gently or letting off the brake, until she got it started.
Wearing a sad expression, Fanny stood outside the door, at the center of her chest a golden yellow color pulsed. Seeing me look back, she waved. Guilt sprouted, she was enthralled by the baby and now, we’re driving away without Fanny.
Ten minutes later, Ally climbed the stairs carrying my granddaughter like she was weightless. Allison was small, but Sandy pronounced her healthy. With Ally so thin, she couldn’t have eaten properly during the pregnancy, but then she was a small baby, too.
I clucked, taking the backpack Sandy handed me. “She could’ve taken the elevator.”
Sandy shouldered the other backpack, chuckling. “Gee you turned into a grandma real quick. Stop fretting. Both mother and child are well.”
Riding the elevator, she chattered, excitedly making baby plans, but I only nodded agreeing with her. Stepping off the elevator, Sandy said, “I think I have a crib in my storage building. It’ll due until she can get a better one."
Ally leaned against the wall. “Why didn’t you go inside? It’s cold out here.”
“Jason threw away my keys, too.”
“He was a gem, wasn’t he?” Sandy asked. That was what I thought of the boy, he was no man dumping my daughter and granddaughter in a snowstorm, fifty miles from home. If Fanny couldn’t poke him with her needle, I wish I could, but I probably used all my wishes getting her home.
Sandy added another snarky remark. “At last a proper lock and key.”
I unlocked the condo, allowing Ally and Sandy to go inside first. “I’m leaving the door unlocked for Anita.” By now, she’s heard the noise and will be here any moment.
Sandy took charge, taking Allison from Ally and ordering her into the shower. I flopped into my overstuffed chair putting my feet on its hassock, happy to have Sandy bossing Ally around, Ally wouldn’t give her any guff.
Clucking and fluffing her feathers, Sandy prepared to nest, but lay the baby in my lap. “Look lively, grandma, you’re on guard duty.”
Passing behind my chair, Ally patted my head as she headed for the shower. Soon hot water surged in the pipes under the floor toward the shower, and she shut the bedroom door.
Swaddled and fussing, I placed the child on my chest, wondering what would happen next.
I shouldn’t think so much, because for all my getting over Ally’s whereabouts, now I felt robbed.
There wasn’t a baby shower or shopping for a layette. I didn’t get to pace the hospital halls wondering why birth took so long. Where were my bragging selfie photos of our newborn?
Allison stretched, yawning and I cradled her in both arms holding her out. Her little cherub lips switched as she dreamed of sucking, and I counted her finger and toes.
She was beautifully perfect.
What’s wrong with you Patti?
Your wish came true. Now isn’t the time to fret over what you missed, your future rests on your arms.
Behind me, the electric teakettle boiled and automatically shut off. Sandy chattered, but I tuned her out. She sat a cup of tea on a coaster on the side table, I smiled watching her mouth move. She curled her fingers for Allison, and I gratefully handed her the child, and she went into the kitchen.
Bah humbug was a formidable complex, hanging on like a bad cough. Despite my heartfelt joy over having Ally return and my feelings over missing so much baby preparation; Belly’s problems weighed heavily on my heart. Was he dead like Fanny said? She must’ve been mistaken? Had Belly murdered someone or had he been murdered? I needed to know, but it’d have to wait. First things first.
Anita rattled the doorknob, but knocked and peeked into the door. “Hello? Yoo-hoo, Patti you home?” She saw me and walked in. “Heard you knocking about. Thought I’d stop by to chat.” In other words, she wanted to see why I had company and was home in the middle of the day.
From the kitchen, Sandy leaned over the bar. “Anita. So nice to see you.”
“Sandra!” Anita looked down her nose at her, but sat on the sofa. She squinted, passing judgement on my lounging position in the overstuffed chair. “Didn’t know you had company.”
She knew the moment we slammed the car doors in the parking lot.
“We had to come home... to bring... hi Anita... how are you?” Tongue-tied, I didn’t know where to begin. Should I ask her about the murder? Or about Ally and the baby?
Anita squinted, passing judgement on my lounging position. “You didn’t respond to my text message. What’s wrong with you, anyway?”
If only I could explain what was truly wrong, then we’d both know.
“I’m… under the weather. The news is too much.”
“I’ll say. Imagine killing someone. I’m not Belly Walker’s biggest fan, but geez Louise, he didn’t have to go so far.”
Belly was in big trouble, but my focus changed since Anita sent her early morning text message.
In the bedroom, Ally bumped and Anita cut a glance toward the hallway. “What’s going on here? You two are acting weird. Why aren’t you at the shop?”
This was the first time we’d closed the shop. For months, we kept the Row open seven days a week, working ten to twelve hours a day. It’d been a long time since I sat this long in o
ne place with a cup of tea.
“Sandy, can you c’mere a sec?”
Sandy tittered, sounding thoroughly entertained. “Sure.” This would be Sandy’s coup d’état.
The two of them bristle, trying to best the other. Equally skilled at gossip and insults, neither of them wins, but they haven’t stopped warring. I loved them both, but this time I’d let Sandy win the battle.
Anita’s curiosity and nosiness would finally be bested.
Sandy pranced into the room, nearly pirouetting with glee, spinning slowly with Allison sleeping on her shoulder.
Anita squinted, her ears pointed, eyebrows knitted, and she took a deep breath. “What you got there?”
Sandy giggled and glanced at me, giving me the floor. Maybe presenting this baby to Anita would be better than a boring regular baby shower.
“Ally came home this morning.” My words slipped out easily as if she returned from a trip with adventurous stories. Having a baby in the back of a van topped anything adventurous I’ve done—except maybe visiting the Southern Club with Fanny.
“I’ll say she did.” Sandy beamed, getting a big kick out of this moment. “Looky here. Pattianna’s a grandma.”
She held the bundle of baby out, and Anita’s chin double waddled, her mouth opened and she sputtered. “Pfft! Are you joking?”
I should’ve taken a selfie with Anita. It would be the first of Allison’s many photographs.
Sandy held out the baby at Anita. “Don’t you want to hold her?”
Anita sputtered, turning ashen. Allison mewed, kicking her blanket. She glanced up at me clearly flummoxed turning timid. “No…no…I better, not right now.”
“Looks like her blood pressure dropped. We might have to put her feet up.” Giggling, Sandy hung over the back of my chair patting Allison’s back.
The bedroom door opened, and Ally padded down the hall toward the kitchen. “Oh hey, Auntie Anita. How are you?” She spoke casually as if she’d seen Anita yesterday.
Sandy asked, “Can you get Anita a glass of water. She’s puffing so hard she’s liable to blow a gasket.”
“Sure thing.” Water ran and the sound of her bare feet padding on the carpet sounded like as nice as ringing church bells. “Here you go.” Ally wrapped a pool towel around her wet dreadlocks, and she walked carefully balancing the load.
Ally motioned for her baby. “I’ll take her. I gotta take a nap. Been up all night.”
Sandy let her take the baby and flopped back onto the sofa, emitting a soft moan.
If Anita had a bad heart, now was a good time for it to act up. Finally, she took a deep breath, burped a bit and patted her chest. “Ah-hum. An interesting turn of events.”
“Sorry I didn’t answer your messages. This morning’s been a whirlwind.”
Anita’s lips worked, she uncrossed her legs and rearranged her huge breasts, letting them rest on her belly. We succeeded in tilting Anita’s windmills. “It’s okay. What happens now?”
Sandy looked at her watch. “You know what? I’m heading back to the Row.”
“Sounds good. Think I’ll go back, too.” Nothing cures shock faster than work, and we had plenty of work to do.
Sandy looked for her purse. “Did I tell you there were ten gift boxes ordered on the website this morning?”
“I think you did.” Whatever Sandy said this morning left my head.
Anita asked, “What about the… them… the baby?”
“C’mon. They had a long night, hitchhiking—”
Fumbling Anita tried to get off the sofa, but held up her palm, shaking her head. “No! Hitchhiking? I don’t even want to know. Oh my, that’s so dangerous. How’d she? Don’t we need to stay… help… take care of them?”
“You know, ol’ gal, Ally’s got this. She’s an incredible mother. The baby is just fine.” I offered Anita a hand and helped her up.
Letting Ally and Allison alone to recuperate was best for everyone. No sense hovering, knocking about in the condo, making unnecessary racket.
“Where’s the key fob?” Sandy handed me my purse.
“Oh, that’s right.” She pulled it from her jean pocket. “Here you go. You’re driving?”
Things didn’t seem so horrible at the moment. Watching Anita’s disbelief was entertaining enough for me to see the humor in the situation.
Opening the door, I waved the girls through it. “Etta will be there soon. We need to teach her how to manage the online orders, they’re overwhelming me—us.”
“But?” Anita stepped onto the condo’s landing beside us. “But… they…”
Sandy put a finger to her lips. “Shush. Baby’s sleeping.”
Turning the key in the deadbolt, I made sure my babies would be safe.
Chapter 10
Etta
Flickering in firefly green, Fanny met us at the backdoor blurting questions.
“Hush, I can’t make heads or tails about what you’re saying.” Her enthusiasm overwhelmed my already taxed system. “Take a deep breath.”
I peeled from my jacket, and she scurried across the workroom, but didn’t stop chattering. “Be quiet. I’ll answer your questions and qualm your worries soon enough?”
Sandy stopped by the coat hooks. “What are you saying? What qualms and worries? I’m cool as a cucumber. For a minute, I thought your fainting spell fixed your silly outbursts.”
I stifled a grin, circling a finger at my temple. “Still Loonie Tunes.”
She smirked, flipping on the lights and pushing up the thermostat. Behind her back I made a face at Fanny shaking my head, mouthing go away. Fanny faded to a hazy grayscale, getting away from Sandy.
“Too bad, Santa’s elves didn’t make the gift boxes.” Standing over the bags, I didn’t know where to start.
“Only in our dreams,” Sandy said, going into the showroom.
A few seconds later, the doorbell tinkled telling me she unlocked the door. Business remained quiet for the next few hours as we caught up. Sandy printed off the web orders and gave them to me without any admonishments.
Fanny flitted moving the tissue papers and made her presence known. Quietly and in subdued colors, she sat on the arm of the loveseat sewing, pouting while I worked on the gift boxes and my worries.
We had gotten to know each other well. When she was moody and lonesome, she chattered or pouted. When she was happy, I’d answer her rapid-fire questions enjoying her expressions and laughter. My moods weren’t so easy to deal with. When I needed to think, I wanted quiet and didn’t ask much of anyone. She and Sandy learned to leave me alone. Like now, they both knew I was lost in the enormity of today’s events.
I’d need to tell Craig. And Delbert, my ex-husband and the kid’s dad, he needs to know he’s a grandfather. I’d rather not know his opinion of Ally’s choices, running off with Jason on a wild whim, returning without warning and a newborn.
What about Belly and Walker? They deserve to know about their daughter and granddaughter. When the dust settles, after she agrees to a normal hairstyle, we’ll go visit them. That was if Belly wasn’t in jail, or worse tied up and tortured by the entire Floyd gang. Until I heard Belly’s version of what happened after he left the Row, I won’t breathe a word about the Floyd boy’s theft of vintage parts.
I streamlined the gift box production. Lining up three boxes on the workbench, filling them with plenty of gold filler, arranged the products, checked the receipt making sure I included everything. Then I cut three lengths of ribbon, wrapped a box, sealing each with a fancy Row sticker.
At that time of day, the doorbell tinkled announcing Etta’s arrival. She and Sandy whispered before the girl entered the workroom. I knew from the look on Etta’s face—she can’t keep a secret either—Sandy whispered my news.
“Hi! Grandma!” Etta held up her palm, and we shared a high-five. “Wow what a surprise, huh?”
“I’ll say. I’m still in shock.”
Fanny came into the room. “It’s a booger, ain’t it?”
She flitted beside the workbench moving the crinkled filler I dropped. “Booger is a good thing.”
“Not in my book.” I waved Fanny off. “Stop moving stuff.”
Etta shrugged, without responding to my odd statements. “What do you want me to do?”
“Dunno. We need to get these gift boxes started.” I nodded at the receipts on the end of the table. “All of those bags on the floor are Myra’s gifts. If you could do those, it’d be a great help.”
“Okay.” Etta peeled from her coat and hung it on the coat hooks.
Dare I mention the unfortunate turn in Belly’s events? She hadn’t fully recovered from finding the singer poisoned in our bath bombs during our opening weekend. This news won’t set well with her.
I couldn’t just blurt guess what Belly murdered someone, so I asked, “Did you get over the parade?”
She looked at the orders. “Yeah, it was fun. I got lots of text messages from my friends with photos they took of me throwing candy. I’d do it again.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Today, you’re learning to shrink wrap.”
“Oh, goody, just what I want to do.” She rolled her eyes, but I knew she’d do anything we asked, except maybe mix poisoned bath bombs.
I needed to tell her sooner than later, so I sat the box aside and cleaned the workbench. “So, there was a bit of trouble last night.”
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “Trouble? Uh-uh?”
“There was… Belly got into trouble. I thought you’d like to know.”
She laughed, “What ‘d he do? Slide off the road driving drunk?”
Don’t I wish? A suspended driver’s license and a few sessions at AA never hurt anyone. “No. Not that.”
Holding the shop’s tablet out, Sandy burst into the room. “Oh, my God. This is terrible.” She came around the workbench and held the tablet in front of my face.
I clamped my hand over my lips. A new sob crawled out of my chest, but I managed to utter. “Ahhh! It can’t be. That’s not true!”
Found Dead in the Red Head Page 5