Oven Baked Secrets (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries Book 2)

by Tyora Moody

  As I opened the door, my housemate came running and barking. My dearly departed husband, Ralph Patterson, would have never allowed any animal in the house. My little furry friend gave me some normalcy. While Kisha and Porgy went off to play, I changed out of my church clothes into a warm velour outfit that was suitable for comfort and entertaining guests.

  I had laid the photo that I had acquired from the young woman on my dresser. Jocelyn’s comment about not stirring up the past still bothered me. Why did the young woman feel compelled to see Louise today?Why wouldn’t she let her mother know? Maybe Louise’s long lost daughter had also tried to reach out to Louise but with unfavorable results.

  I placed the photo in my trouser pocket and tried to put my thoughts on hold. I had a Sunday meal to pull together in a few hours. The past and all of its secrets weren’t going anywhere.

  I went downstairs and stepped into the kitchen. I already had some chicken thawing in the fridge. I did a lot of oven baked recipes since the fall weather had arrived. Something about a toasty kitchen from the oven made the house cozy and reminiscent of the days when it was full of family. Plus, it didn’t hurt to use the oven with my new healthier eating habits.

  As I seasoned the chicken, I looked over at Leesa who was bouncing Tyric on her knee. A few months back she hadn’t adjusted too well to the newborn. Part of the reason for her moving closer to me was so she could go see a therapist about her postpartum depression. As a teenager, Leesa suffered from depression, and I had always felt I should have been more vigilant about seeking help for her. Sometimes you need to place pride to the side and do what is best for a loved one’s mental state.

  I covered the chicken with aluminum foil and placed the glass pan inside the oven. I pulled out a chair at the table and sat down to finish chopping up the vegetables. Since I’ve been retired, I’ve started to use social media a bit more. I loved using Pinterest to find lesson plans and activities my last few years in the classroom, but lately I’ve been pinning oven baked or roasted recipes. The Wednesday Chef had a great recipe for roasted vegetables that I have tried at least three times. I can’t say I was ever into zucchini and eggplant before, but I like them alongside the carrots and potatoes. Instead of onions I decided to substitute one of my favorite vegetables, squash.

  While I chopped, I thought it was a good time to check on my daughter’s on and off again boyfriend. Chris Black was Tyric’s father. On my first meeting with Chris the large, intimidating man and police officer didn’t meet my approval at all. When Kisha mentioned Chris had hit her, I had questions about the man’s temperament and if he was really a good fit to be around my daughter and her children. I have seen him several times since our first meeting. He seemed to be trying. “Has Chris come down to visit you and the children lately?”

  Leesa smiled. “Chris came to visit yesterday and we took the kids to the South Carolina Aquarium.”

  “Oh well, that was nice. Sounds like you two are acting like a family.”

  Leesa eyed me. “We working through some things, but Chris does love me and the kids.”

  I wasn’t encouraging Leesa to do any more than make sure Chris was a part of his son’s life. I didn’t like when a man was irresponsible. I wasn’t one to encourage a woman to marry a man if there were signs of immaturity. Marriage is simply not taken seriously these days. Divorce is too easy and quick to choose. I responded. “I just want to see you happy and married to the right man for you and the children.” I stood from the chair and grabbed the pan for the vegetables.

  “Well, what about you, Mama?”

  I looked at Leesa. I knew what she was trying to ask me, but ignored her until I mixed all the vegetables into the pan. I placed the pan down and gave my attention back to my daughter’s face. “What? What about me?”

  Leesa raised her eyebrow. “You sure me and the kids aren’t interfering with your Sunday dinner with Mr. Amos?”

  “Who said I was cooking just for Amos? I have to eat too.” I covered the vegetables and turned my back to check on the chicken. I thought I was the mother and interrogating was my job.

  Leesa laughed. “I’m just teasing you, Mama, but Cedric said we should give you some time with Amos.”

  I shook my head and then reached for the pan of vegetables. “Your brother needs to tend to his own business. I still don’t see why he asked Carmen to move in with him. What happened to proposing, getting engaged, married and then move in together?” I placed the pan of vegetables on the rack above the chicken.

  Leesa responded. “Geez, Mama! People like to do a trial period. I mean most marriages don’t work out. You and dad were rare.”

  I closed the oven door a bit too hard and placed my hand on my hip. “Because we decided to stick it out and work through our issues.” I didn’t understand the world, but then again God gave us all free will. It was up to us to make our own choices. “Let me hold Tyric while we wait on the food to finish cooking.”

  Leesa handed my grandson to me. “My, my you’re getting to be a big fellow already.” The men in our family and Tyric’s dad were well over six feet so I imagined my grandson would be a giant too. As I bounced him on my knee, my mind wandered back to Louise.

  My friend had a baby many, many years ago. I wondered how often she had thought about that child. Did Louise even know that she had a little girl? The child that Louise told me she miscarried had been a boy.

  From the facial features of the woman in that photo, I suspected the father was a black man, which made me all the more curious. Louise was a teenager during the 1950s when interracial relationships were practically impossible. There was no way a black man was even supposed to look at a white woman. So how did my friend manage to have this secret love affair?

  I decided I would pay another visit to my friend. The haunted look in Louise’s eyes told me she longed for a child that she had lost for reasons far beyond her control.

  Chapter 6

  I enjoyed Amos’ company not only because he was a great companion, but he enjoyed his food. As a cook most of my life, I liked to feed people and see them genuinely satisfied from the experience. Amos never disappointed.

  I also liked that he didn’t mind cleaning off the table. I have to say Amos and I had developed quite the Sunday tradition of eating dinner, cleaning up the dishes and then talking on the porch. We couldn’t talk on the porch as much anymore because fall had finally arrived. Once the sun went down, the temperature and the sun dropped for the evening. So we moved the conversation to the living room. I was still looking forward to our conversation tonight since I had a lot to tell Amos.

  I walked Leesa and the children to the car. Kisha held my hand extra tight like she didn’t want to let go. No one would ever accuse me of having favorites, but this was my girl. My only granddaughter from my only daughter, us girls had to stick together. I let go of Kisha’s hand and squeezed her until she giggled. Then I reached over and stole a kiss from Tyric. He giggled too. The smile on Leesa’s face warmed my heart. It was nice to see members of my family in a good place.

  I pointed at Leesa. “Now you be sure to call me when y’all get home.”

  Leesa grinned. “Of course I will, Mama. You sure are in a hurry to get rid of us. I hope I don’t have to tell my Mama to behave.”

  I swatted at my child. “Girl, get those children in the car.”

  After the Kisha and Tyric were buckled up safely in the backseat, Leesa winked at me and then climbed into the front seat. I waved as Leesa backed out of the driveway. With a sigh of relief, I turned and headed back into the house.

  Before I opened the front door, I noticed another car coming down the street. I stood and watched the car turn into the driveway of Louise’s house. It was William’s car. He climbed out of the car and from what I could make out in the growing darkness William was still dressed in the suit. He stood and waited as another car arrived behind him.

  Now who is that? I didn’t know anything about cars, but it appeared the person was driving
a sports car. I remembered that William said he’d found a buyer for the house. That meant I would have a new neighbor sooner than I thought. Driving a car like that made me a bit apprehensive. Why didn’t William just move back home and let his mother live in peace in her own house? But that was my own selfishness, I guess.

  I didn’t want to appear too nosey so I moved farther inside the house, slightly closing the screen door. I wanted to see who would step out of the car. I heard the car door open, but it was kind of hard to see through the crack in the screen door.

  I heard William say, “Hello. I’m so glad you could make it tonight. You’re going to love the house.”

  “I can’t wait to see it. It’s just the way I remember it.” The voice that responded in the darkness was female.

  So there was a woman driving the car? Interesting. What did she mean by it’s the way she remembered it?

  It suddenly occurred to me with the lights on behind me that they would be able to see me. That’s not a good way to make a first impression, Eugeena. Of course, intimidating my possible future neighbors sounded like a pretty good plan. Maybe the woman would decide not to buy the house since there was a crazy neighbor next door.

  Knowing I had Amos waiting on me in the living room I closed the front door. I had to laugh because I had really taken on too many of Louise’s habits. Now I was the neighborhood busybody. It was destined to happen. Long before I was head of neighborhood watch, Louise had that position and had pretty much helped established the watch. I still haven’t figured out how the position was passed to me this year.

  Amos peered at me as I entered the living room. “What’s going on, Eugeena? You’ve been chomping at the bit all night.”

  I sat down with a huff in the chair opposite from Amos. He liked to sit in the recliner which used to belong to my deceased husband, Ralph. What was even stranger was how Porgy was sitting at Amos’ feet. The Corgi looked over at me, but seemed to be content where he was lying. My how life changes.

  I leaned against the back of the chair trying to figure out how to start my story. “I wanted to say something earlier, but neither Leesa nor the children needed to hear this story. It has quite a few twists and turns.”

  Amos raised his eyebrow. “Well, don’t keep it to yourself any longer. What happened?”

  He didn’t have to encourage me anymore; I spilled the entire story of Jocelyn showing up at Louise’s room, claiming to be her long lost granddaughter. I had slipped the photo from my pocket and pulled it out for him to view.

  Amos studied the photo that I handed to him. When I mentioned William had showed up out of the blue, he shook his head. “Sounds like our neighbor has a bit of family drama stirring. Who knew?”

  I shook my head. “I know! The thing that’s really bothering me is there was a hint of longing in Louise’s eyes like she knew this girl was related to her somehow. I just don’t understand why Jocelyn changed her mind all of sudden.”

  “Well, Eugeena, if Jocelyn’s own mother didn’t come to search for Louise on her own, maybe the past needed to be left alone. Plus, it sounds like William made her nervous and it was best not to rock the boat.”

  I crossed my arms. “I agree William wouldn’t have taken the news very well. He’s over there now trying to sell the house. It just bothers me. Do you know how often I’ve heard Louise’s desire to have grandchildren?”

  “Yes, grandchildren from William.”

  I waved my hand. “That’s not going to happen. William is just plain selfish and in his own world. You know it was really strange of him to show up all of sudden. He’s up to something. The man was dressed up in a suit and looking like some businessman, which I doubt William has a single ounce of business sense.”

  What was that about anyway?

  I sighed deeply. “Louise has barely been in that nursing home a few months. That was her home for thirty years. He had no right.”

  Amos nodded. “I know she’s been your neighbor and a really good friend, but all of us are getting older, Eugeena. Louise is his mother and his responsibility. I don’t know if my daughters would even come to look after me.”

  I had sense enough to keep my mouth closed as Amos grew quiet. Amos was a good man, but he was caught up in his career as a police officer and then a detective while raising his children. Both of his daughters lived far away, one in California and the other one out in the Midwest somewhere. I knew Amos also longed to have contact with his own grandchildren.

  A loud bang shook both of us from the quiet moment of reflection.

  Porgy started barking and running in circles.

  I stared over at Amos. “What was that—” Before I could finish my question, another loud noise sent both Amos and I from our seated positions.

  “Get down.” Amos hunched over. “That’s definitely gunshots.”

  I whispered loudly, “Where are they coming from?”

  Amos moved past me. “It sounds like it’s coming from next door. Stay put.”

  Now that man knew better than to tell me to stay put. As Amos slowly opened the front door, I was right on his heels.

  Amos hissed at me. “Woman, didn’t I tell you to stay put. We don’t know what’s going on out here. Call 9-1-1.”

  “Okay, okay.” I went to reach for the phone by the door, but noticed a car speeding away down the road. “Amos, that car was just in Louise’s driveway. Can you see the license plate?”

  Amos had already made his way outside and down the porch steps. At his age, I didn’t know the man could still move that fast. Was that really the same car that drove up behind William’s car a while ago? Surely the gunshots didn’t come from next door. Maybe the woman was just scared off.

  I was really concerned. I grabbed the cordless phone from the table in the hallway and dialed 9-1-1.

  The dispatcher came on. “How can I help you?”

  “I think there’s been a shooting in my neighborhood.”

  “Can you tell us where you’re located?”

  “2045 Sugar Creek Drive.” I hung up once I received confirmation that the police were on their way. I pushed open the screen door and peered into the darkness, but I didn’t see a sign of Amos or anyone. “Amos?” I continued to grip the phone in my hand like it was a weapon and crept down the porch steps. I noticed William’s car was still in the driveway, but the other car was gone now.

  Did something happen to William?

  I sure wish Amos would appear because I was really scared. I crept towards Louise’s house. I knew if Amos saw me doing this, he would have some terse words about me staying put. Suppose he needed help? Amos had saved my life a few months before from walking into a situation that I should’ve thought through a bit better.

  I stepped around William’s car and noticed that the front door was wide open. I moved towards the door, hoping the police would arrive soon. As I drew closer, I peeked inside Louise’s home, recognizing the layout of the living room. It was empty of all of Louise’s furniture, belongings and cats. I had always wondered how William managed to gather all the cats. Louise had at least four or five in the house.

  Amos was squatting down over a man’s body on the floor. It took me a second before I realized it was William’s body.

  I swallowed and asked. “Amos, is William okay?”

  Amos stood and looked at me. “Stay over there, Eugeena. This is a crime scene.”

  I had no intentions of walking anywhere near the scene. From what I could see from where I stood those bullets had landed in William’s body. But why? I swallowed before I asked my next question, already knowing Amos’ answer. “Does he need an ambulance?”

  Amos shook his head. “He’s gone, Eugeena.”

  As much as I didn’t care for William, I wouldn’t wish that kind of heartache on anyone. I had a feeling I would be the one to break my poor friend’s heart about her beloved son and until recently was known to the world as her only living child.

  Chapter 7

  When the police finally a
rrived, I had to remind myself to listen to my phone messages. Sure enough Leesa had called while Amos and I were checking out the crime scene.

  Leesa fussed, “You told me to call when we got home. You and Mr. Amos were that busy you couldn’t come to the phone?”

  “Girl, if you don’t stop that foolishness. An emergency came up next door.”

  “What kind of emergency?”

  “I can’t get into it right now, Leesa. I’m glad you’re home safe. Tell the children goodnight for me.” After I hung up the phone it occurred to me that Leesa and the children had left only an hour before everything went down next door. That was too close for comfort.

  It was cold, but Amos and I sat bundled up in our jackets on my porch. I didn’t want to miss a single thing. Neither one of us were surprised when Detective Sarah Wilkes walked towards us. The red-haired detective had her long hair tied in a messy bun on the top of her head. It wasn’t that late, but Detective Wilkes looked like she lacked a few days sleep. She eyed me and then Amos before speaking. “Weren’t you two the first ones on the scene of the last murder that happened in Sugar Creek?”

  I was a bit offended by Detective Wilkes’ tone, but Amos chuckled and responded. “Detective, Ms. Eugeena and I can’t help that we have this much excitement around us. We’re retired folks just trying to enjoy a Sunday evening.”

  Now I liked the way Amos set Missy straight. “Yes, it wasn’t like we were expecting to hear two gunshots next door.”

  Detective Wilkes whipped out her notebook and pen. “You said you heard two gunshots. About what time?”

  I don’t know if Amos was paying attention to the clock or not. “Well, my daughter left around seven o’clock with my grandchildren and I think we’d been talking at least an hour. I would say around eight o’clock.”