Aunt Bessie Provides (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 16)

by Diana Xarissa

  Doona sat down next to Bessie and slid an arm around her. “I wish I could say that I’ve brought you good news, but I really only came by because I was bored and frustrated and I thought talking to you would cheer me up.”

  “Well, let’s work on cheering you up, then,” Bessie said. “Come inside and have a cuppa and a fairy cake. I have the most amazing fairy cakes you’ve ever eaten. If they can’t cheer you up, nothing can.”

  “Where did you get them?” Doona asked as she followed Bessie up the beach.

  “They were a gift from Andy Caine.”

  “Really? He makes amazing puddings. Are you sure you want to share with me?”

  Bessie laughed. “He gave me a huge box of fairy cakes a few days ago. I’m eating them as quickly as I can, but I’ll never finish them all by myself. You’re welcome to one or even two.”

  After putting the kettle on, Bessie took the box of cakes out of the refrigerator and opened it. Doona looked inside and gasped.

  “They’re all so beautiful,” she sighed.

  “They taste better than they look,” Bessie told her.

  “I’m not sure that’s possible,” Doona replied.

  At Bessie’s urging, Doona took both a chocolate and a vanilla cake. “It says ‘thank you’ across the icing,” Doona exclaimed as she picked up the first cake.

  “Yes, I know. They all have. Andy seems to think he has something to thank me for,” Bessie replied, flushing.

  “From everything I’ve heard, he spent a lot of time here when he was a child. No doubt he does have a lot to thank you for.”

  Bessie shrugged. “I did what I could,” she said.

  After making tea, she sat down opposite Doona and helped herself to a fairy cake. The box was nearly empty now, which was both good and bad. “This problem with the solicitor, is that what’s bothering you?” Bessie asked.

  “I suppose so,” Doona replied. “I don’t know. I’m just a bit out of sorts, really. John’s excited because his kids are coming to stay, Hugh’s happy because he and Grace are buying a house, Helen and Pete are getting married next month. I don’t know, maybe I’m just lonely or something.”

  Bessie took a sip of tea and tried to work out the best possible response. She was pretty sure that Doona had feelings for John, but with his children arriving soon, now wasn’t the time for them to start a relationship. From what Bessie could see, John was still struggling to deal with the breakup of his marriage, anyway. He wasn’t ready for a new relationship, even if Doona was.

  “Maybe you need to find a new hobby or something,” Bessie said eventually. “Something with which you can fill some of your spare time.”

  “Don’t laugh, but I’ve been thinking about taking painting classes,” Doona said, blushing brightly.

  “Why would I laugh? You were really good when we took those classes at the holiday park. I think you have real talent.”

  “The police sketch artist was in the office the other day, working on doing a better job on that sketch from twenty years ago, and we were talking. He still takes art classes all the time, trying to improve his technique, and I think he does brilliant work. Oh, not that sketch in the paper, or even what he does for the police I mean the pictures he does in his spare time.”

  “You should try,” Bessie said firmly. “If you don’t like it, you can always quit.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right. There’s a class at the college starting in the autumn. I thought maybe I’d try that. They’re group lessons, though, and I’m not sure I want to have other people see my feeble efforts.”

  “Are private lessons very expensive?”

  “They are, but they might be a better idea. I could schedule them for whenever I wanted to take them and I could have them at home or somewhere else that’s convenient for me, rather than having to go into Douglas every week. I just don’t think that I’m good enough to take private lessons.”

  “Surely the point of taking lessons is to get better. If you were already good, you wouldn’t need lessons.”

  Doona chuckled. “Maybe. I’m going to think about for a little while.”

  And I’m going to nag you into it, Bessie thought but didn’t say. “In the meantime, do you want to go to Agatha Marsh’s memorial service with me tomorrow?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “John already told me that I am,” Doona replied. “I’ll collect you at half twelve.”

  Doona helped with the washing-up and then headed home. “I do feel better, thank you,” she told Bessie as she gave her a hug at the door.

  “I didn’t do anything, but you’re welcome,” Bessie replied.

  After the previous evening, Bessie wasn’t sure how she’d sleep, but after she’d crawled into bed, she seemed to fall asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. In the morning she was only vaguely aware that she’d dreamt about Craig Fox. In her dream he’d been trapped inside a large oil painting that Agatha Marsh was carrying through the rain. Maybe she should stop having tea and cakes so close to bedtime, she thought as she got ready for a new day.

  Chapter 12

  It was another rainy morning, and Bessie had the beach mostly to herself again. A few older children, maybe nearly into their teens, were out digging in the sand as she walked behind the holiday cottages, but otherwise she was on her own all the way to Thie yn Traie, where she turned around. Feeling chilled and damp, she made herself an extra slice of toast once she was home, washing it down with piping hot tea. Then she settled in with a book and lost herself in coastal Maine for a few hours. After a light lunch, she got ready for the memorial service.

  Only black would do for Bessie on such occasions. Now she pulled a black dress over her head before combing her hair and adding a bit of makeup to her face. She rarely wore makeup, but a touch of powder and some lipstick seemed appropriate to her. Her favourite black flats needed a quick polish, but she was still ready several minutes before Doona was due to collect her.

  “Tell me about the family,” Doona invited her once they were settled in Doona’s car and on their way into Douglas.

  “Agatha was married to Aaron,” Bessie began. “They had a couple of market stalls where they sold various things. I understand that the family now has a proper import and export business, but in the early days I believe they were buying mostly from estate sales here on the island and across.”

  “I’m always surprised at how many ways people find to make money,” Doona remarked. “Presumably they made enough on their market stalls to make it worth doing.”

  “I believe they did very well, actually. Aaron went across fairly regularly and was able to get things in the UK that were hard to find over here. Then, when the island became a tourist destination, they started carrying a lot of touristy things, like plates with the castles on them and things like that.”

  “My mother had a set with the castles, the Laxey Wheel, and a bunch of other things on them.”

  “Yes, I suspect many island residents bought them, as well as tourists.”

  “So they had a successful business.”

  “Yes, and they had four children. They started having children somewhat later than most couples did, actually. They were married for some years before Adam came along. I believe Agatha was in her mid-twenties when she had him, which was old for a first-time mum in those days.”

  “Adam is the oldest, then?”

  “Yes, and for whatever reason, Agatha named her children in alphabetical order. Adam was followed almost exactly two years later by Brian. Two years after that, Christopher came along, and then two years later she had Dorothy.”

  “And then they stopped?”

  “They did. I’m not sure if they wanted more but couldn’t have them or if they chose to stop after Dorothy for some reason, but she was their last.”

  “And how old are the children now?”

  “Oh, let me think,” Bessie said. “I’m sure Adam must be in his mid-fifties, which makes Brian around fifty-two or fifty-three. Dorothy
must be in her late forties.”

  “So Christopher would be right around fifty?”

  “Yes, I shouldn’t have left him out, really.”

  “Except no one has heard from him in twenty years.”

  “Agatha insisted that he was absolutely fine.”

  “Tell me about Adam,” Doona suggested.

  “I can’t tell you much, as I barely know the man. I told you about seeing him at Noble’s. I know he’s married. I believe his wife’s name is Anna. They’ve been married for around twenty years, if I’m remembering correctly.”

  “Is it just coincidence that they got married about the same time that Christopher left?”

  Bessie was silent for a minute. “I don’t know,” she said eventually. “I’d never put the two events together, but now that you mention it, they did get married not long after Christopher left. I remember seeing the wedding announced in the local paper. It was just a quiet wedding, in September, I believe.”

  “The body was found in July?”

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe we should try to talk to Anna,” Doona suggested.

  “I’m not sure how there could be any connection between Christopher’s leaving and her and Adam getting married,” Bessie said thoughtfully. “But I want to talk to everyone, anyway. I’m sure someone must have Christopher’s address.”

  “Adam and Anna never had children?”

  “No, they didn’t.”

  “What about Brian? Is he married?”

  “No, he has a partner called Edward, I understand,” Bessie told Doona.

  “And Dorothy?”

  “Got married about a year ago to an older man. I gather he has children in their twenties.”

  “I think Dorothy is the most likely to have Christopher’s address,” Doona said after a minute. “She’s the baby sister, after all. Surely she’d have wanted to stay in touch with her brother.”

  “I really hope so,” Bessie told her. “I also hope she’ll be happy to share the information with us or with the police.”

  “I’m not sure I understand why Agatha wouldn’t.”

  “I’m not either, but there’s nothing we can do about that now.”

  “No,” Doona agreed. She pulled into the car park for the church. It was more than half empty, which made finding a space easy.

  Bessie smiled and waved to another woman who was climbing out her car near the church door.

  “Terrible thing, this,” the woman called. “Agatha was only seventy-nine, you know.”

  Bessie nodded and then followed Doona into the church with the other woman on their heels.

  “Agatha and I were friends for seventy-odd years,” the woman said loudly. “I think I should sit near the front.”

  Bessie and Doona stepped aside and watched as the woman marched down the aisle and took a seat in the second row.

  “Where do you want to sit?” Doona whispered.

  “Near the back,” Bessie replied.

  The large church felt sadly empty as it reached the time for the service to start. Bessie felt as if she knew nearly everyone who had gathered to say goodbye to Agatha Marsh. Pete Corkill took a seat in the very back just before the family walked into the church with the vicar.

  “Adam is the tallest,” Bessie whispered to Doona. “The brunette must be his wife. Brian looks almost exactly like him, but he’s several inches shorter. I’m not sure which of the other two men is Edward, but presumably the other one is Dorothy’s husband.” She didn’t have to describe Dorothy, as she was the only other woman in the group, although Bessie was surprised at Dorothy’s grey hair. Surely the woman was too young to have gone completely grey?

  While they watched, the plump and balding man took Dorothy’s hand and led her to a seat. Edward and Brian were close behind, also holding hands. Adam took Anna by the arm and led her over to join the others, leaving the vicar to begin the service.

  Bessie found herself watching Agatha’s children and their partners as the vicar spoke. Adam stared straight ahead, ignoring his wife and siblings. Anna spent most of the service looking through her handbag. Every few minutes she would pull out a tissue and wipe her eyes. Edward had put his arm around Brian when they’d sat down, and he didn’t move it during the service. Dorothy and her husband whispered together as the service started. He then took her hand and held it tightly. When the vicar was done speaking, he invited family and friends to say a few words.

  Adam was the first to stand up. He walked up to the front of the church and then turned around to face the congregation. “Thank you all for coming today. My mother was a very special woman. She worked hard for many, many years and I always felt as if I’d finally accomplished something with my life when I finally persuaded her to retire. She still came by the offices at least once a week to make sure we were doing everything correctly, but at least she was partially retired.”

  A polite chuckle rippled through the crowd before Adam continued.

  “I’m sure many of you remember her from her days on the market stall. When my brother and sister and I took over the day-to-day running of the business and began to discuss giving up the market stall in favour of expanding into other areas, Mother was not pleased. She loved the market stall, mostly because she loved people. Sitting in an office all day, moving goods around on paper, wasn’t any fun for her, no matter what the profits. She thrived on selling goods to actual people and she really missed it when we did, eventually, give up the stall.”

  “He’s really just talking about himself,” Doona murmured in Bessie’s ear.

  “I could go on and on all day,” Adam said. “But I know there are other people who want to say a few words as well. Please join the family in the church hall after the service for tea and biscuits. My brother and sister and I would enjoy a chance to share memories with all of you.”

  He returned to his seat and sat back down next to Anna, who seemed to be ignoring him. Brian stood up and made the short walk to the front of the church.

  “My mother had her faults, as we all do, but for me the best thing about her was that she accepted my partner into our family. She was smart and better at running the family business than my father, even if he never would have admitted that. She’d been ill for a long time, but I still wasn’t ready to lose her and I miss her a lot.”

  When he sat back down, Edward handed him a tissue and then put his arm back around the man. Dorothy looked unsteady as she walked to the front of the church. She turned around and seemed to stare at her oldest brother for a moment before she spoke.

  “Mother will be missed, I’m sure, by many. I can’t say I always agreed with everything that she did or said, but she was my mother and I believe that she did what she thought was best. It was difficult watching her deal with so much ill health and I’m relieved that her suffering has ended.”

  Once Dorothy was back in her seat, a few of Agatha’s friends took turns speaking.

  “Agatha was great fun when she was young,” the woman who had followed Bessie and Doona into the church said. “Then she got married and had children and all of the adult responsibilities that go with such things. We were still good friends, though, and I will miss her.”

  Two other women expressed similar sentiments before the vicar concluded the service. “Please join the family in the church hall,” he reminded everyone at the end.

  “That’s the part I’m looking forward to,” Doona whispered to Bessie as they stood up. “I really want to talk to Dorothy. I still think she’s the one who’ll know where Christopher is.”

  The family disappeared through the doors at the front of the building, leaving everyone else to follow more slowly. Inside the church hall, a single table had been set up with tea and biscuits. As there was a large crowd in front of it, Bessie and Doona made their way further into the large room.

  Adam and his wife were standing in one corner, not speaking. Bessie headed straight for them, with Doona on her heels.

  “Adam, I’m so sorry fo
r your loss,” Bessie said when she reached the pair. “I had no idea, when I saw your mother just the other day, that she was so unwell.”

  “She’d been unwell for years,” Adam replied. “The doctor kept telling us we could lose her at any time, but, well, you don’t like to believe it, do you?”

  “No, of course not,” Bessie said. She turned to Anna. “I’m Elizabeth Cubbon. I’m sure we’ve met, but it must have been many years ago.”

  “I’m Anna Marsh,” the woman replied, offering a hand.

  “I live in Laxey, so if you ever helped out at the market there, we will have met,” Bessie continued.

  “Oh, I’m sure I did when Adam and I were first married,” Anna replied. “That was a long time ago, though.”

  “Nearly twenty years, isn’t it?” Bessie asked. “You got married not long after Christopher left the island.”

  Anna flushed and looked down at the floor. Bessie bit her tongue, not wanting to break the awkward silence that followed.

  “It was a shame that Christopher missed our wedding,” Adam said eventually, putting an arm around Anna. “But he’d gone off to have his own adventures by that time. I’m sure Mother let him know it was happening, though.”

  “I’m surprised he didn’t come home for it,” Bessie said. “Weddings always brought families together in those days. Well, weddings and funerals. Did you let Christopher know about your mother?”

  Adam took a deep breath and then smiled tightly. “No, I did not. I believe I told you that he and I had a falling-out. I haven’t spoken to him in twenty years, and I don’t believe my brother and sister have either. Mother kept in touch with him, of course, but I didn’t find his address in her address book.”

  “What a shame. I would have thought he would have wanted to be here,” Bessie said.

  “I doubt it,” Adam snapped. He took another deep breath. “He and Mother weren’t close, at least not anymore. He’s been gone far too long, really.”

  “But Agatha was his mother.”

  “He didn’t come home when Father died,” Adam pointed out. “As I said, we had a falling-out. He decided to cut all of his ties when he left, and I can only assume that he hasn’t changed him mind about that in the years since.”