Neighborly Thing

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Be careful with that,” Sinda cautioned. “It’s quite valuable.”

  He carried it gingerly across the room and placed it on the table.

  She stood up and moved to his side. “So what do you think?”

  Glen drew in a deep breath. “I’d say someone is playing a pretty mean trick on you, and I’ve got a good idea who that someone might be.”

  “You do?” She clutched his arm as though her life depended on it. “Who is it, Glen? Who could be hiding my doll parts?”

  “My daughter.”

  Sinda’s eyes widened. “You think Tara did it?”

  “She’s the only one with opportunity or motive.”

  “You make it sound as though she’s some kind of a criminal.”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but Tara does resent you. I think finding out I’m in love with you might have pushed her over the edge.” He cleared his throat a few times. “Now you know why I didn’t want her coming over here yet. I needed to discuss this with you in private.” He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “Of course, she is the only one who can help us find the rest of the missing doll parts.”

  Sinda stood there, slowly shaking her head. “But how? When could she have done all this?”

  “When she was helping you repair dolls,” he answered. “She was here for several hours at a time, then again when you kept her while Mrs. Mayer was sick.”

  Sinda pulled out a chair at the table and almost fell into it. “I did catch her nosing around the place a few times, while she was helping out with the dolls.” She clicked her tongue. “I can’t believe Tara would do something so cruel.”

  “Was she ever alone? Were you out of her sight long enough for her to hide the parts?”

  “Several times, but—”

  Glen snapped his fingers. “Case solved!” He pulled out the chair next to Sinda and took a seat.

  “It’s not as simple as you might think,” Sinda said, toying with a strand of her hair.

  “It seems like an open-and-shut case to me. The only thing left to do is have a little heart-to-heart talk with that daughter of mine.”

  She touched his arm. “Tara was not in my house today, Glen.”

  “So?”

  “She couldn’t have put the bisque doll in my refrigerator.”

  Glen squeezed his eyes shut, praying for guidance as he tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “Maybe she did it yesterday.”

  Sinda shook her head. “The doll wasn’t there before my nap. Tara hasn’t been here today, and neither has anyone else.”

  Glen’s forehead wrinkled. “I’ll tell you what I think.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I think the doll body was in the refrigerator earlier, and you just didn’t see it.”

  “I don’t think so,” she argued. “If it had been there, I’m sure I would have noticed.”

  He pursed his lips. “I’m convinced that Tara has something to do with this. She could have come over here while you were taking your nap. Was the back door unlocked?”

  Sinda shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I usually lock it, but it’s possible that I forgot after I took out the garbage.”

  “If the door was unlocked, Tara could have come inside, crept down to the basement, picked up the doll body, and put it in your refrigerator.” Glen turned his hands palms up. “It makes perfect sense to me. Tara’s jealous and she’s taking it out on you.”

  Sinda’s body sagged with obvious relief, and she gave him a wide smile. “Glen Olsen, you’re beginning to sound more like a detective than your nosey daughter.” She emitted a small sigh. “If you’re right about this, and Tara is responsible, what do we do now?”

  He stood up. “I’m going to call my detective daughter on the phone and tell her to get over here right now.”

  “Could you wait awhile on that?”

  “What for?”

  “I’d like to discuss a few other things. That is, if you have the time to listen.”

  Glen chuckled in response to her question. “For you, I have all the time in the world.”

  ❧

  Sinda handed Glen a glass of iced tea as they took a seat on the couch in her living room. She was about to bare her soul, because she couldn’t carry the pain any longer. Her nerves were shot, her confidence gone, and she was afraid she might be close to a complete mental breakdown. “You know that old trunk of my mother’s?” she asked as she pushed a stack of magazines aside and set her glass down on the coffee table.

  Glen nodded.

  “I looked through the rest of it the other day, and I found her Bible, as well as an old diary.”

  “Have you read any of it?”

  Her eyes filled with unwanted tears. “All of it.”

  “I assume the content was upsetting?”

  Sinda reached for her glass and took a sip of tea before answering. “Terribly upsetting.”

  “Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

  She swallowed hard and nodded. “Remember when I told you that Mother left when I was ten years old?”

  “I remember.”

  “Her diary revealed some things I didn’t know before. Some alarming things.” Sinda paused and licked her lips. “Mother didn’t leave because she wanted to. She was forced to go.”

  Glen’s eyebrows shot up. “Forced? How so?”

  “When I was three years old, Mother had a baby boy, but he was born prematurely and died a few days later. If not for that diary, I would never have known I’d even had a brother.” Tears coursed down Sinda’s cheeks, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. “Dad blamed Mother for the death of the baby.”

  Glen frowned as he set his glass of tea down on the table. “I don’t understand. How could your mother be held accountable for a premature baby dying?”

  “As far as I can tell, she wasn’t responsible. Her dairy says Dad accused her of doing too much while she was pregnant. He hounded her about it for years—even to the point of verbal and physical abuse.”

  “Your dad must have wanted a son badly to be so bitter and hostile. I think he needed professional help.”

  Sinda closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “He took me to church every Sunday and claimed to be a Christian.”

  “Just because someone goes to church doesn’t make him a Christian. Christianity is a relationship with God.” Glen flexed his fingers. “Far too many people go to church only for show.”

  She nodded in agreement. “I was shocked to learn it was Dad’s blackmailing scheme that drove Mother away.” Sinda choked back the sob rising in her throat.

  Glen’s eyes clouded with obvious confusion. “Blackmailing?”

  Sinda set her glass down on the coffee table and stood up. She began to pace the length of the room. “Apparently Dad demanded that Mother move away and take on a new identity. He threatened to tell me that she’d killed my baby brother if she didn’t.” She hung her head. “He also threatened to hurt me.”

  When Glen stood up and guided her to stand in front of the fireplace, she leaned her head against his arm. “I can’t believe I was so taken in by his lies. If I had only known the truth.”

  “You were just a child. Children usually believe what their parents tell them, whether it’s right or wrong.”

  Sinda’s eyes pooled with a fresh set of tears. “I grew up thinking I was just like my mother, and Dad reminded me of it nearly every day.”

  Glen quickly embraced her. “You can’t let the words of a bitter, hateful man control your life. God created you, and He gave you the ability to love and be loved.”

  “I can’t,” she sobbed. “After what Dad did, I can never trust another man.”

  Glen kissed her forehead. “You can trust me.”

  “I wish it were that simple.”

  “It can be. Let me help you, Sinda. Let me show you how much I care.”

  She moved away from him. “I need more time. I need to work through a
ll the things I’ve just learned. Dad pretended to be such a good Christian, all the while blaming Mother for everything. He was abusive to her, and as much as I hate to admit it, there were times when he abused me.” She shuddered. “It was not normal discipline, Glen, but hair pulling, smacks across the face, a belt that could connect most anywhere on my body, and once, he even choked me.”

  Glen’s eyes darkened. “I’m beginning to understand your reluctance to let me get close,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through.”

  She sniffed deeply. “I’ve never discussed this with anyone. Our family secrets were well hidden. No one knew how controlling Dad could be.” The strength drained from Sinda’s legs, and she dropped into a nearby chair. “I covered for him because I thought everything was Mother’s fault. If she hadn’t gone, he might have been kinder. If I hadn’t reminded him of her, maybe. . .” Her voice trailed off, and she closed her eyes against the pain.

  Glen snorted. “Each of us is responsible for our own actions, and not all men are like your father.” He moved to stand behind her, then began to knead the kinks from her shoulders and neck. “You’ve been through so much and discovered a lot in the last few days.”

  She shivered involuntarily. “There’s still the matter of the missing doll parts. The mystery hasn’t been solved yet, and until it is. . .”

  “It will be solved soon,” Glen said with assurance. “By the end of this evening, we’ll have some answers.”

  Twenty

  When Tara arrived at Sinda’s, she was wearing a satisfied smile, but Glen glared at her, and it quickly faded.

  “What’s wrong, Dad? I thought you called me over to help solve a case.”

  He ushered Tara into the living room and motioned her to take a seat, then he joined Sinda on the couch.

  “What’s up?” Tara asked, dropping into the antique rocker.

  Seconds of uneasy silence ticked by, then Glen glanced at Sinda. “Do you want to tell her or shall I?”

  She shrugged. “She’s your daughter.”

  Glen leaned forward, raked his fingers through his hair, then stared at Tara accusingly. “Sinda has some doll parts that are missing. Would you care to tell us where they are?”

  Tara rapped her fingers on the arm of the chair. “Where were they last seen?”

  Glen jumped up and moved swiftly across the room. “Don’t play coy with me, young lady. You know perfectly well where they were last seen. Tell us where they are now!”

  Tara’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. “You think I took some doll parts?”

  “Didn’t you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Come on, Tara! This has gone on long enough! Sinda needs those parts, and I want you to tell her where they are!”

  Feeling a sudden need to protect Tara from her father’s wrath, Sinda stood up and knelt in front of the child’s chair. Even if Glen wasn’t going to strike his daughter, he was yelling, and that upset her. “We’re not mad at you, Tara,” she said softly.

  “Speak for yourself!” Glen shouted.

  Tara looked up at her father, and her eyes filled with tears. “I haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t know a thing about any missing doll parts.”

  “Are you saying you haven’t hidden doll parts in some rather unusual places?” Sinda asked.

  “Like maybe a freezer or the refrigerator?” Glen interjected.

  Tara’s mouth was set in a thin line. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Tara Mae Olsen, I’m warning you. . . .”

  “Maybe she’s telling the truth,” Sinda interjected.

  Glen shook his head. “She has to be the guilty party. She’s the only one with a motive.”

  “What kind of motive would I have?” Tara asked shakily.

  “Do you really have to ask? You’re jealous of Sinda, and you’re trying to scare her away with ghost stories and disappearing doll parts.”

  Sinda looked the child full in the face. “Please believe me, I’m not trying to come between you and your father.”

  Tara glared back at her. “I think you’ve got him hypnotized into believing he loves you.”

  Glen held up his hands. “See, what’d I tell you? She hid those doll parts out of spite!” He gave Tara another warning look. “Are you going to show us where they are or not?”

  The child squared her shoulders. “I can’t, because I don’t know.”

  “I believe her, Glen,” Sinda said as she pulled herself to her feet.

  “Well, I don’t, and if she doesn’t confess, she’s going to be punished!”

  Sinda flinched. She closed her eyes, trying to dispel the vision of her father coming at her with his belt. You’re a bad girl—just like your mother, and you deserve to be punished. Dad’s angry words echoed in Sinda’s head, as though he were standing right beside her. She cupped her hands against her ears, hoping to drown out the past.

  Sinda felt Glen’s hand touch her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m a little upset with my daughter right now, but I shouldn’t be snapping at you.”

  When Sinda made no reply, he added, “It’s okay. No one’s going to get hurt.” He gave Tara an icy stare. “Even if they do deserve to be spanked.”

  Tara shrugged, apparently unconvinced of the possibility of being taken over her father’s knee. “I can’t make you believe me, but I am a good detective. So if you’d like my help solving this mystery, I’m at your service.”

  Sinda offered the child what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “We appreciate that.”

  “Where do we start?” Tara asked eagerly.

  “I think we should wait until tomorrow,” Glen said. “It’s getting late, and we’ll all function better after a good night’s rest.”

  Sinda gulped. “You might be able to get a good night’s rest, but I sure won’t. I haven’t slept well in weeks. Not since this whole frightening mess started.”

  “I’ve got an idea. Tara and I can spend the night over here,” Glen suggested. “That way you won’t be alone.”

  Before Sinda could respond, Tara grabbed her father’s arm and begged, “You’ve got to be kidding!”

  Glen brushed her hand aside. “I’m completely serious. You can sleep upstairs in one of Sinda’s spare rooms, and I’ll sleep down here on the couch.” He smiled at Sinda. “Since tomorrow’s my day off, and Tara’s on summer vacation, we can sleep in if we like. I’ll fix us a hearty breakfast, and afterward we’ll turn this house upside down until we find all those doll parts. How’s that sound?”

  It sounded wonderful to Sinda, but she hated to admit it. “I–I couldn’t put you out like that, Glen.”

  “I’m more than happy to stay.” He glanced down at Tara, who stood by his side with a frown on her face. “Let’s think of this as an adventure. Who knows, it could even prove to be fun.”

  ❧

  Sinda sat on the edge of her bed with her mother’s diary in her lap. She blinked against the tide of tears that had begun to spill over. Mother, if you are still alive, where are you now? Do you ever think of me? Have you tried to get touch with me? She didn’t know why she kept running this over and over in her mind, or why it seemed so important to her now. She glanced at the diary again and knew the reason. Mother didn’t leave because she wanted to. She left because she was afraid of Dad. She thought he would turn me against her, and she was right, that’s exactly what happened. Thoughts of her father’s betrayal seemed to be just under the surface of her mind, like an itch needing to be scratched, and she groaned.

  Throughout her youth, Sinda’s resentment toward her mother had festered. It wasn’t anger she was feeling now, though. It was sadness and a deep sense of loss, but she knew there was no going back. What was in the past was history. She would have to find the strength to forgive both of her parents and move on with her life.

  She snapped off the light by her bed and collapsed against the pillow. What she needed now was a l
ong talk with her Heavenly Father, followed by a good night’s sleep.

  ❧

  Glen punched his pillow for the third time and tried to find a comfortable position on the narrow couch he was using as a bed. He hoped they would find some answers to the doll mystery soon. Sinda needed to feel safe in her own home. He didn’t relish the idea of making her living room a permanent bedroom every night, either. He gave the pillow one more jab and decided he could tough it for one night.

  Glen fought sleep for several hours, and just as he was dozing off, a strange noise jolted him awake. He glanced at the grandfather clock across the room, noting that it was one in the morning. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch. His body felt stiff and unyielding as he attempted to stretch his limbs. He listened intently but heard no more noises. Since he was already awake, he decided to get a drink of water.

  Glen entered the kitchen and was about to turn on the faucet at the sink when he heard the basement door open and click shut. He whirled around in time to see Sinda walk into the room. He hadn’t turned on the light, so he could only make out her outline, but it was obvious that she was wearing a long nightgown. She padded across the room in her bare feet. It looked like she was holding something in her hands.

  Glen squinted, trying to make out what it was. “Sinda? What are you doing?”

  She made no reply as she bent to open the oven door.

  “You’re not planning to do any middle-of-the-night baking, I hope,” he teased.

  When she still didn’t answer, he snapped on the overhead light. “What on earth?” Sinda was putting a vinyl doll leg into the oven! He moved in for a closer look, watching in fascination as she closed the oven door and turned to leave.

  Glen followed her through the hallway. She opened the door that led to the basement and descended the stairs in the dark. Afraid she might fall, he turned on the light over the stairwell and followed.

  Sinda walked slowly and deliberately into the doll hospital, apparently unaware of his presence. Glen watched in amazement as she pulled one of the boxes from a shelf and retrieved a small composition arm. She set the box on her workbench, turned, and made her way back to the stairs. When she reached the top, she headed toward the next flight of steps.