Community Gardens (Community Garden Series Book 1)
Page 8
Sara stopped, put her head in her hands and sobbed. Ed clutched her shoulder. “No need to go on Sara.”
Sara looked up and said “Oh, but I do. It's time. There is no one after me. I have no family, no heirs, no one to disgrace. I will finish.”
She drew a breath. “That sweet innocent child standing at the table was Stephanie.”
Confused, Joan shook her head. “Della Stone's daughter? But how could...”
“It happened so fast. Stephanie reached for the candy dish setting on the table. She barely tapped the gun. In a heartbeat a shot rang out. Blood gushed from my husband's chest. Without a sound he collapsed on the floor.”
Sara paused. Joan started to say something but Sara cut her off.
“We panicked. We wanted to protect Stephanie. But which one of us should take the blame for killing my husband? We knew that any investigation would harm Stephanie and ruin both of us. We agreed to bury him under the rosebushes. Later, to make it look like an accident, we unhooked his skiff, filled it with beer cans and pushed it into the bayou.”
Exhausted, Sara paused for a moment. Ed patted her shoulder.
“I have made sure that Stephanie has had a decent life. I helped her mother give Stephanie up for adoption to Della Stone. Della and her husband were overjoyed to have such a beautiful daughter. Neither of them know anything that happened that night.”
“As for Stephanie, she knows her momma loved her very much and wanted the best for her. And Stephanie understands her momma let Mr. and Ms. Stone adopt her because the Stones could provide for her better than her momma ever could. Stephanie's only recall of the night is that a scary goblin from the parade pulled a prank on her momma and me.”
“The child has a good life. She's studying to be a marine biologist. Unfortunately Stephanie's mother died years ago, but those wounds are well behind her. The Stone's have a good life. I have a good life. You see Joan, searching for my husbands killer would destroy a lot of people like destroying a garden in full bloom. Shall we agree to let this tragedy rest?”
Joan set her cup down. There was nothing that could be said or done that would change the past. It was dead and buried. But they could all move forward. She clasped Sara's hands. “Agreed.”
Chapter 14
The next morning Joan walked to Holden's before the heat and humidity became too hard to bear. This morning, she told herself, I am going to drink something other than my trusted old coffee. Along the way she brushed against a sprig of rosemary then rubbed it over her hands. She wanted the scent to linger for a long time.
At Holden's, she picked off a few dead leaves from the vines she'd planted. These vines were still the best choice for these old urns. They gave it a regal look and feel. She looked inside. Blaine was busy cleaning the shelves behind the counter with his feather duster. She tugged at the massive oak doors and stepped inside.
He quickly turned and smiled. “Ah my dear extra cream in your coffee?”
“Not today.” Blaine raised a thick eyebrow and stared directly in her eyes.
“Today I think I want a latte with that chocolate whip you've been serving.”
“Oh, a bit daring so early in the morning?”
“No just something different.” Joan looked at the familiar pictures on the wall while he made the steaming latte. The pictures had become so familiar she'd practically forgotten they were there. Looking at them this time, she noticed a slight crack in one of the frames. She thought about telling Blaine then decided otherwise. The crack added a bit of character to the frame.
Blaine set a white cup and saucer, full of the steaming latte, on the counter. She sipped the frothy mixture. “Hmm, perfect.” After savoring several more sips she asked, “aren't you going too ask me about the skull?”
“Hadn't planned on it.”
“Really, but you always...”
“Alright, if you wish.”
For a moment she was stunned that he didn't ask for all the details. But then recalled Blaine knew everything, sometimes before it happened. But this time she decided to repeat the story in her own words. “You remember the blue moon of Halloween back in 2001?”
Vaguely, yes I do recall, very busy night. Lots of drinking.”
Joan looked in Blaine’s eyes. Blaine, who knows everyone’s life story, can vaguely recall the rarest event in fifty years? She knew just by looking into his eyes, he not only knew the story, but would keep the secret safe forever.
“As I understand it Sara's husband disappeared that night. So when we found the bones we hoped it was him. Unfortunately, it wasn't him. They don't have an answer and it doesn't look like they ever will.”
“Maybe someday they will find out what happened.” His eyes flashed as if a tightly guarded secret flickered across his mind.