It was as if a heavy load had been lifted from her shoulders. She walked taller now, with eyes straight ahead and a surer step.
I was so proud of her.
“Marcella, they’re back.”
My mother’s words grated on me. I jolted out of my reverie, realizing I’d been polishing the same glass over and over again as I stared out over the lake. Quinn, Harrison, Roberta, and Copper arrived at the dock in my bass boat, brandishing strings of perch and pickerel.
Callie trotted in from the back where she’d just finished mowing the lawn. She looked hot and thirsty. The girl had insisted on doing such tasks for us since Sky had been injured and since her lifelong affliction of agoraphobia had lifted. It seemed to do her good, and as much as Quinn and I had fought her on it, she insisted. She said it brought her a sense of euphoria to be outside and working hard. I loved seeing the excitement in her eyes as she discovered more and more about herself in her newfound freedom.
She pushed back her damp hair and smiled at me. “That felt so good. I needed a workout.”
I gave her a hug. “You’re a nut, you know that? And you’re so hot! Come on, let’s get you a cold drink.”
We walked arm-in-arm to the fridge, where she picked up a bottle of hard lemonade.
“Is it too early to drink?” she asked, winking at my mother.
Thelma pattered to the fridge, looked at the clock, and chuckled. “It’s twelve-oh-two. Past noon.” She pulled out a bottle of her favorite Narragansett beer, popped off the cap on my countertop, and took a swig.
“Thelma!” I met her eyes and we all giggled. “What are we gonna do with you?”
Our fishing crew entered through the front door, faces flushed from the outside.
Quinn kissed my cheek. “Heading up for a shower, babe.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Good thing. You smell kinda fishy, hon.”
He smirked and took the stairs two at a time.
Copper gave Callie a hug, whispered to her, and then took me aside. “Honey. I know you made a special lunch, but Callie and I need to get up to see Sky. We promised him we’d be there fifteen minutes ago. I’m so sorry.” She hugged me, taking both my hands in hers. “Harrison and Roberta are coming up with us to see Sky one more time before they head back to the Adirondacks.” She locked eyes with me. “Is that okay with you? It looks like you went to a lot of trouble…”
I glanced at the table—set for nine—and at the huge spread I’d started to make for lunch. “Uh, it’s okay.”
Roberta caught my disappointed tone and sidled up to me. “Chickipoo. You’ll be better off with time to chat with Poloma alone, without four of us sitting around and butting in. You and Quinn have so much to discuss with her, you know? And Harrison just got a call that his mare is about to foal. He doesn’t want to miss it.”
Harrison shot me a sheepish smile from across the room. “Hope that’s okay, darlin’.”
I set aside my petty disappointment and forced a bright smile. “Of course it’s okay. You two get cleaned up and pack. Sky will be glad to see you before you go.” I had a sudden thought, which cheered me. “And I’ll put up a nice lunch for you. These roasted chickens will make great sandwiches.”
Roberta hugged me tight. “Thanks, honey. We’ll see you again soon at Tall Pines, right?”
Energized now, I headed for the kitchen. “Of course you will.”
***
At twelve forty-five, Quinn and I carried the lunch sacks out to Roberta’s old pickup. We hugged and kissed them both, and watched as they followed Callie and Copper up the narrow paved lane. I sighed, knowing I’d sorely miss Roberta.
Quinn watched me, picking up on the emotion that flitted across my face unbidden. “You’ll see her soon, sweetie. We’ll go up for Columbus Day.”
“I know. I just…” I pulled out my iPhone to check the time. “Oh, gosh. Poloma will be here soon.” Another wave of sorrow washed through me. I’d have to give up Kitty next.
He caught me in his arms and pulled me close. I inhaled the scent of Australian Blue, glad he’d taken my hint at wearing it for an aftershave. “I know you’re sad to lose Kitty, babe. But Poloma is her mother, and Kitty needs to be with her.” He tilted my chin and kissed me. “Right?”
His insight into my every mood never failed to astound me. I sighed, long and low. “Of course. I know. But still…”
“Come on. Let’s go back inside and heat up those mashed potatoes. They’ve gotta be getting cold. We’ll have a nice meal with my aunt, and then we’ll talk with her about Kitty’s future.”
I fretted inside but tried to sound reasonable. “Okay. Let’s go get ready.”
And with completely unreasonable thoughts of keeping Kitty forever, I followed him indoors.
Chapter Forty-Three
Quinn and I rested by the lake with Kitty, waiting for her mother. The warm waves lapped at my bare feet, and the sun felt hot on the back of my neck. A family of ducks swam by, rippling v’s in the placid surface. This return to summer—though clearly ephemeral—had been perfect for healing and trying to forget about our past experience with Big Fred and his thugs.
Reaching into my pocket, I took out Kitty’s homemade bracelet I’d found in the back seat of the van when she’d been kidnapped from Callie’s driveway. I’d come across it in the laundry earlier and had meant to return it to her all morning.
“Kitty?”
She opened her eyes slowly and turned to face me, a lazy smile on her lips.
I held up the bracelet. “I found your bracelet this morning. I’ve been meaning to get it back to you.”
Her face blossomed with delight. “My crystal.” The words came out softly, with little hesitation now. “Thank you.”
I fastened it on her wrist and squeezed her hand gently. “There you go, honey. It’s back where it belongs.”
I still had so many questions about this young woman and her future.
How would she ever deal with witnessing her best friend Birdie’s murder?
Could she go to school now? Earn her GED? Could she move on to college? Or would her shy demeanor keep her back at the reservation, forever?
Would her mother encourage her to move ahead? To reach out into the world to experience all the things a young woman these days should encounter? A job? A soul mate? A home of her own?
I realized with a start how similar Kitty and Callie’s lives had been. Callie—after the college rape that gave her a severe case of agoraphobia—had virtually been a prisoner in her own home, until the potential reunion with her brother got her outdoors again last summer, and she’d somehow miraculously broken through her paralyzing fears.
Kitty—who’d been cast away from society and left to live in the barn with the horses—who’d been the innocent witness to horrendous deeds done by the man her mother had married after her father died—she’d been equally as much a prisoner in her own life.
The parallels continued with their respective breakthroughs. Callie was now free to love Copper, to roam the Adirondack woods, to work hard at Project Hope where she would help prove to the FDA that the essential oils of curly pondweed were indeed a promising relief for leukemia patients.
And now dear Kitty had found her voice. She would learn to read with my help, I hoped. I wanted to visit her often. And maybe Kitty would one day write her own story recounting all she’d endured and survived.
I sighed and glanced at the girl who reached down to pat Dak and who wiggled her pink-painted toes in the lake water. She was so beautiful.
Quinn turned suddenly, shading his eyes from the bright sun. “I think your mother’s here, Kitty.”
Kitty leapt to her feet and trotted toward the back of the house, where I could barely see the shadow of a woman walking toward us. I needed sunglasses to focus in the strong light, but instead used my hand as a visor, and walked arm-in-arm with Quinn toward the driveway.
Poloma carried herself with grace. Although her face was careworn, she stood tall and proud with her chin up,
her silver hair plaited in one neat braid down her back. She wore jeans, a tangerine-colored beaded shirt, and sandals.
In her arms, she carried a child.
I exchanged a surprised glance with Quinn. I hadn’t known his aunt had a little one.
Kitty hugged and kissed her mother, and took the baby immediately into her own arms. A pretty little thing, she must’ve been about a year and a half. Maybe two. With dark button eyes and a ribbon-curved mouth, she was absolutely gorgeous. A patch of dark hair matching Kitty’s and Quinn’s lustrous locks curled atop her head. For a moment, I wondered if the child could be Kitty’s, but I quickly dismissed the thought.
Quinn embraced her and spoke for a few minutes in their native language, then made the introductions.
“Aunt Polly, I want you to meet my wife, Marcella. Marcella, this is my aunt, Poloma.”
I took her slim hand in mine. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
Her eyes crinkled and watered. “You two saved my girl.” She pulled me to her and hugged me for a long time, then took Quinn’s arm and added him to the embrace. “Thank you.” She kissed my cheek. “Thank you.”
The feelings I’d been harboring of mild resentment toward her evaporated. I’d been angry that she let Kitty live with such a monster as Big Fred. Mad that she hadn’t sent Kitty to school. And more than a little ticked that she’d sent her unannounced to our house with thugs on her trail.
But now, as I looked into her wounded eyes, the sentiments dissipated and I felt only kinship and sorrow for the life she must have endured at Big Fred’s hands.
“Come. We have a nice meal ready.” I took her hand and led her toward the house.
Kitty had already walked inside with the baby, and was on the floor playing with her when we entered.
Quinn stooped to caress the child’s hair, and received a broad smile in return. “She’s beautiful, Polly. What’s her name?”
She reached for the child and slung her onto her hips. “Her name is Kimi.”
Kitty stood beside her and played with the baby’s hands. “Secret.”
Poloma’s eyes widened with joy when she heard Kitty speak for what was probably the first time since she’d wandered into the woods as a child and become lost. “That’s right, honey. Her name means secret.”
My throat tightened. The child was so beautiful, the essence of the baby I’d always craved. I touched her soft cheeks with the back of my hand, sighing. She looked back at with me complete and utter trust. “Oh. She’s just perfect, isn’t she?”
Poloma smiled. “She is.”
The baby reached toward the platter of chicken and vegetables Quinn carried to the table. “Nummy.”
We all laughed, but to my embarrassment, I hiccupped a sob. Quinn put down the platter and pulled me to him, patting my back and drawing me into the kitchen. “It’s okay, babe. Shhh.”
I pulled myself together before the weeping could begin. It had shocked me, embarrassed me.
Why was I such a basket case?
Had the past few weeks of tending for Kitty weakened my resolve? Had my yearning for a child been amplified by playing the role of mother? I shook my head and tried to gain some solid ground.
I was a mess.
My mother had come downstairs dressed in her usual flamboyant outfit. Today she sported a shiny silver top with hot pink pants and pink pumps. Dangling from her ears and wrists were hoop earrings and about seventy-five silver bangle bracelets.
Quinn introduced them, and after a few minutes of playing with the baby and making small talk, Thelma turned to me with a disapproving frown.
“By golly, Marcella. This lady’s come a long way to visit us. I’ll bet she’s ready to drop from hunger.”
I hopped up from the couch where I’d been sitting and cooing to the baby. “Oh, sorry! Of course. Poloma, please join us at the table. It’s all ready.”
Poloma glanced at Kitty, smiling. “Of course. And then, we must talk. I have so much to tell you.”
Chapter Forty-Four
After lunch we migrated to the lakeshore. Quinn set up the umbrella and angled it so it covered Poloma, Kitty, and little Kimi. I passed around the homemade sunscreen I’d made from essential oils, brought out a fresh pitcher of lemonade, and set out a big bowl of cold water for Dak, who lapped at it, then circled beside me and fell asleep in the shade of my chair with his big head on my bare feet.
After a few minutes of small talk, Kitty crooked her finger for my iPhone and wandered up onto the shaded front deck with a shy smile. Poloma cocked her head and watched as if she didn’t recognize her daughter, then started to speak softly to us, rocking little Kimi against her chest.
“There are so many important things I need to tell you, Quinn, especially about Birdie.”
I glanced up at the deck, but Kitty hadn’t heard Birdie’s name mentioned. Or if she did, she didn’t react.
Quinn leaned closer to Poloma. “What about Birdie?” His face fell. “We already know she was murdered. Kitty saw it happen.”
His aunt teared up. “I know. It was awful. That’s one of the reasons Fred was after Kitty.” Her voice thickened. “But that’s not what I want to talk about right now.” She shifted on her seat and sat up straighter. “First of all, let me say that I’m not necessarily proud of the way my life turned out. My first husband was a good man. A wonderful man. But he got sick. And we had no money. And I had to take care of Kitty…”
Quinn touched Poloma’s arm. “We know it wasn’t easy for you.”
She continued, her face frozen in agony. “Fred seemed like a good choice at the time. It took several years before he showed his true nature. And by then, he had me in his control. The threats against those I loved were very real. And his new friends who came from the west were powerful. Mean. Ruthless.”
I wanted to understand, but it was hard to fathom. “What were they after, Polly?”
She cringed. “It was all about the money. Always about the money.”
Quinn grimaced. “You mean the whole sales tax thing? Where Big Fred paid off the state officials to keep the ‘no tax’ policies on cigarettes, and such?”
Polly nodded. “That. And more.” She glanced at Kitty, and appeared relieved she wasn’t listening. “But that’s not it, either.”
I was starting to get nervous. What could be so important about Birdie, Quinn’s old girlfriend? I touched her hand and offered advice I hoped she wouldn’t take. “Just take your time. There’s no hurry.”
She glanced at three majestic hills anchoring the southern end of the lake. They appeared purple-blue in the distance. She seemed to draw strength from the view. “It goes way back. Back to the early days when your father was still alive.”
Quinn sat up. “What? It’s about my father?”
Poloma looked nervous. “Yes. I’m sorry to tell you this, but Palmer Hollister wasn’t a very loyal husband to White Dawn.”
Quinn grew quiet. “What? You mean he cheated on my mother?”
“I’m afraid he did. With several women in the tribe.”
“But why tell me now?” Quinn’s eyes hardened. “After all these years?”
She sighed. “Because I have to. You need to know.”
“Know what?” I asked, leaning forward.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then turned to Quinn. “You need to know that Birdie was your half-sister.”
Quinn’s mouth dropped. “My what?”
“Your father, Palmer Hollister, was her father. It’s why your mother didn’t want you to date each other. She didn’t dare reveal the truth. If the tribal elders found out, they would have booted him from the reservation. And in spite of his failings, White Dawn loved him.”
“How do we know for sure?” I asked. “I mean, did they do DNA tests or something?”
“Palmer told your mother and me that Birdie was his daughter, just before he died. He asked White Dawn and me to watch out for her, keep an eye on her.” She looked toward the porch at Ki
tty again. “You may have noticed that Birdie had the same color eyes as you.”
Quinn lay back against the chair. “Uh. Yeah. That was a little weird. I thought maybe way back in time there was some common white man in our distant heritage.” He slumped forward, hands laced together. “But I didn’t think it was because we had the same father.”
“Your father had those same bright aquamarine eyes, Quinn. I know you don’t remember him. You were just a baby when he died,” Poloma said.
Quinn hung his head and sighed. “That’s why she went crazy every time I went out with Birdie.” He stuck his legs out straight and leaned back against his chair. “But why not just tell me? It would’ve made life so much easier.”
Poloma passed a hand over her eyes as if she were trying to banish the memories. “She promised Palmer she wouldn’t tell.”
Quinn pursed his lips. “Then why tell me now?”
I watched her face change, soften. She glanced at Kimi, then back at Quinn. “Because you are the closest living relative to Kimi now.”
Now it was my turn to be shocked. “Wait a minute. Aren’t you the closest living relative to your own daughter?”
She shook her head, twirling a finger in the baby’s curls. “No. Kimi isn’t mine. She’s Birdie’s baby.”
We sat in stunned silence. Waves lapped at the shore. The whine of a jet-ski echoed in the distance. A hawk screeched overhead.
I turned to stare at the baby. “Kimi is Quinn’s niece?”
She nodded, weariness etched in the lines around her eyes and mouth. “She is. I’ve been caring for her since Birdie was killed. But with no income now, I’m not really in the position to…”
Quinn sat bolt upright. “You mean… you need someone to raise her?”
I spoke but felt as if I were a thousand miles from the conversation. This couldn’t be happening. “You want us to…”
She smiled now, handing the sleepy child to me. “If you are able, I think Birdie would have wanted her brother to raise little Kimi. It just makes sense.”
My phantom womb contracted. I held the child close to me, cuddling her and kissing her hair and cheeks. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t dare believe Poloma’s words.
Tall Pines Mysteries: A Mystery/Suspense Boxed Set Page 68