by Kathi Daley
Chapter 3
Friday, May 4
Tilly and I headed into town the next morning to cover our last route of the week. It was only a little over a week until Mother’s Day, and the influx of mail created by colorful cards was beginning to make its way into the daily delivery. So far, we’d gotten away with a single mail bag a day, but my bet was that by next Monday it would be another thing entirely.
“Oh good, you’re here.” My best friend, Bree Price, met me at the door of her bookstore, the Book Boutique, when I arrived with the day’s mail. “I tried calling you at home last night, but you didn’t answer.”
“I was sitting on the deck with Tony. I guess I didn’t hear it ring. So, what’s up? Why were you trying to get hold of me?”
Bree handed me a card in a pink envelope. “I’m not sure what to do with this.”
“It’s a card. I guess you should open it.”
Bree rolled her eyes. “I did open it. I opened it last night when I opened all the mail you dropped off yesterday. I didn’t realize until after I did that it wasn’t for me.”
“Ah, this got mixed in with your mail and you want me to get it to the rightful recipient?”
“There’s more to it than that. Look at the address on the envelope.”
The address was correct, but the name wasn’t Bree Price or the Book Boutique, but rather Edna Fairchild of Edna’s Antiques.
“Edna Fairchild used to own the antique store in this building four or five years ago,” I commented as it dawned on me how the error had been made.
“I know that,” Bree said. “It’s obvious whoever sent the card wasn’t aware that she’d closed her store. Normally, I’d simply ask that you deliver it to her home, but …”
“Edna passed away,” I finished for Bree.
“Exactly. My first thought was to send the card back to the sender with a message, but there’s no return address. The postmark is Chicago, but I’m not sure that will do us any good without a name.”
“I can send it over to the dead letter department. In cases like this, there’s only so much we can do.”
Bree frowned, her perfectly shaped brows narrowing above her bright blue eyes. “Read the card.”
I set down my bag and opened it. On the left inner flap was the following message:
Hi Mom,
I bet you weren’t expecting to hear from me, but as Mother’s Day approaches, and I think of the good times we once shared, my resolve never to speak to you again for what went down almost a quarter of a century ago has wavered. I’ve spent some time thinking about everything that happened, and I think I’m finally ready to admit that at least part of the blame for our estrangement falls directly on my shoulders. Life is too short to hang on to grudges from the past, and I want to put this behind us so we can enjoy the years we have left. I know the depth of the pain we inflicted on each other runs deep, but if you’re willing to put it behind you and give us another chance, I’m ready to apologize for my part in our estrangement and forgive you for your part. If you can find it in your heart to give us a second chance, meet me in our special place at noon on Mother’s Day.
Sincerely,
The Prodigal Child
I looked at Bree. “Wow. I guess whoever sent this has no idea their mother has passed.”
Bree tucked a lock of her long blond hair behind one ear. “I feel like we should track down this person and let them know Edna died six months ago. I’m just not sure how to do it.”
In all the time I’d known Edna, she’d lived alone in a small house just one block over from Main Street. She’d spent most of her time at the antique store until a stroke forced her to slow down. She’d continued to live on her own for a few more years after closing the store, but eventually, she’d been forced to move to an assisted-living facility in Kalispell. I seemed to remember reading she’d passed away just before the holidays.
“We’re too young to remember her child if he or she left twenty-five years ago, but my mom or Aunt Ruthie might. I still need to drop off the mail at the café, so I’ll ask them. If they don’t remember, Tilly and I will go back by to talk to Hap or Hattie. If Edna’s child ever lived here, I’m sure someone will remember them. Once we have a name, I’ll have Tony do a search for a phone number or address. I’ll call you later to let you know what I find out.”
“Thanks, Tess. I knew you’d be able to help. Do you want to grab dinner tonight?”
I picked up my mailbag and slung it over my shoulder. “I have plans with Tony tonight. Maybe next week.”
Bree raised one brow. “Tony? Didn’t you just say you were hanging out with Tony last night?”
“I did.”
“Is there something going on I should know about?”
“Nothing’s going on. Tony has a new video game to test. I’d invite you to come along, but I think Tony plans to ask Shaggy, and I know the two of you don’t get along.”
Bree crossed her arms over her breezy yellow blouse. “That’s an understatement. I guess I’ll just stay in tonight and do laundry.”
“At least you won’t have to deal with it on Saturday.” I glanced at the clock. “I need to go if I’m going to have time to check with everyone about Edna’s child. I’ll call you later.”
Tilly and I had made good time that afternoon, so I figured I’d have extra time to spend on the mystery of the Mother’s Day card. The café was busy when I arrived, so I slipped into a booth, motioned for Tilly to slide under the table, then let my mom know I needed to speak to her when she had a few minutes. She delivered food to a table before sitting down across from me.
“What’s up?” she asked, brushing away a strand of hair that had worked its way loose from her serviceable bun.
“Bree received a Mother’s Day card that was meant for Edna Fairchild. The envelope doesn’t have a return address, but based on the contents of the card, it appears it was sent to her by her child. I hoped you’d remember the name so we can track him or her down.”
Mom furrowed her brow. “Edna did have a son. He must have been around twenty when he left White Eagle. I seemed to remember them having a falling out. I never saw him again after he left, and Edna stopped talking about him altogether. It was creepy in a way. It was as if she completely cut him out of her life. She acted like she’d never even had a son.”
“Do you remember his name?”
Mom pursed her lips as she appeared to be considering my question. “I was a young wife and mother back then and didn’t have money to spend on antiques, so I didn’t spend any time in her store. I barely knew Edna until much later, but I think her son was named Craig, or maybe it was Carl. I didn’t know him, but I seem to remember he was a wild one. You know, it might have been Curt.” Mom’s eyes narrowed as she focused on the name. Her eyes grew big. “Or maybe it was Clint, or possibly Cliff. You might ask Hattie. She didn’t own the bakeshop back then, but she also didn’t have children to tend to, so she had a lot more free time than most. She liked to socialize with the merchants on Main.”
“I’ll head over there next.”
“Dinner on Sunday?” Mom asked.
I knew it was important to my mom that Mike and I come to Sunday dinner as often as possible, but I didn’t want to be put in the position of making small talk with her until I knew more about Romero’s role in the death of his fiancée. I wasn’t very good at covering my thoughts and I was afraid my expression would give me away if his name came up in conversation. “I have plans this Sunday, but I’m totally on for Mother’s Day. And you aren’t going to cook. You and Mike can come to my place. He can barbecue some ribs and I’ll make the sides and a dessert.”
Mom hesitated for just a minute and then smiled. “It is beautiful out at your place at this time of year. Maybe we can eat outdoors if it’s warm.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. Is Aunt Ruthie going to Johnny’s?”
Mom nodded.
“Okay, then it’ll just be the three of us.”
“Br
ee is probably going to spend time with her own mother, but you should invite Brady,” Mom suggested. “He doesn’t have family in town, and he and Mike get along well.”
It looked like Mom was on duty as a matchmaker even on Mother’s Day. “I think Brady has plans, but if you don’t mind, I might ask Tony. He probably won’t be busy.”
A thoughtful look crossed Mom’s face. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately.”
I shrugged. “We’re friends. Have been for a very long time.”
“Yes, I guess you have. I think it would be lovely to invite Tony. It’s been a while since you’ve brought him around. It’ll be nice to catch up.”
“Okay, I’ll ask him. I’ll ask Bree too, just in case she doesn’t have plans with her mom. I sort of remember her mother was going to spend the weekend at Bree’s sister’s in Fargo.”
I left the café and headed down the block to Grandma Hattie’s Bakeshop. The first thing I noticed upon entering, the first thing I always notice when visiting Hattie’s bakery, is the smell. It’s like entering a corner of heaven. It was only an hour until closing and most of the doughnuts, muffins, and cookies, had already been sold, but there was something in the oven that was sending my senses into overdrive.
“What is that heavenly smell?” I asked after nodding to Hattie’s dog, Bruiser. Bruiser didn’t like to be touched by anyone other than her, so I didn’t touch, but I’d noticed he seemed to be fine with a casual acknowledgment of his presence.
“Cinnamon pecan cake for my women’s group,” Hattie answered after handing Tilly one of the small dog cookies she always had on hand.
“Sounds wonderful. I don’t suppose you made an extra cake to sell?”
“Sorry. I do still have a lovely blueberry cake with crumb topping that’s been doing well today, though. Add a dollop of whipped cream to the top and you have a real treat.”
“I’ll take it with me. I’m having dinner with Tony tonight and he loves blueberries.”
Hattie smiled and began boxing the cake.
“I came back to ask you about Edna Fairchild.” I explained about the card Bree had received by accident. “I hoped you’d remember the son.”
“I remember him. That boy broke his mama’s heart.”
“I gathered that by the note he wrote. It seems he’s ready to make amends, although it’s too late for that. Still, we’d like to get hold of him to let him know his mama passed. Do you happen to remember his name?”
“Everyone called him Chip, but I’m not sure that was his real name.”
“Do you have any idea how to get hold of him?”
Hattie shook her head. “I’m sorry. I have no idea where he went when he left White Eagle. Edna never spoke of him again. I think it was just too painful for her, so she went on with her life like she’d never had a kid in the first place.”
“Did Chip have any friends he might have stayed in touch with? Maybe someone who’s still around and might be able to provide his contact information?”
“I seem to remember him being friends with Rupert Hanson. I guess if anyone might know what had become of Chip, it would be him.”
Rupert was a contractor who still lived in the area. I didn’t know him well, but he knew Mike, and I’d met him a time or two, so if I called him to ask about Chip, he might be willing to talk to me. I thanked Hattie for the information, paid for my cake, and took Tilly back to my Jeep. I needed to drop off my mailbag before I headed out to Tony’s, but I decided to talk to Mike about Rupert first, because I had to walk right by his office on my way back to the beginning of my route. When I entered the small police station, I was greeted by Frank Hudson, Mike’s partner.
“Is Mike in?” I asked after returning his greeting.
“In his office. I’d tread lightly. He seems to be in a foul mood.”
“He’s been in a foul mood a lot lately,” I observed. “He hasn’t mentioned that anything’s wrong, has he?”
Frank shook his head. “You know Mike. He’s not one to share. Based on some of the comments he’s made, however, I think his problem may have to do with a girl, or in his case, the lack of one.”
I frowned. “Mike’s a personable, popular guy. He’s never had a problem getting female attention when he wants it.”
Frank shrugged. “I don’t disagree. If his problem isn’t female-related, I have no idea what’s up. He’s your brother. Maybe he’ll talk to you.”
I laughed. “Unlikely. Mike has never confided in me. I see no reason for him to start now. Listen, you don’t have a phone number for Rupert Hanson, do you?” It suddenly occurred to me that if Mike was in one of his moods, it might be best to avoid him altogether.
“Sorry. He might be listed in the book, although there are fewer folks with landlines these days.”
“Yeah. I guess I’ll have to risk Mike’s cranky mood to ask him. Is it okay if Tilly waits here with you?”
“Fine by me.”
I walked down the narrow hallway to Mike’s office. The door was open, but he didn’t seem to be paying attention to his surroundings, so I knocked anyway.
“Tess.” Mike looked surprised to find me standing at his door. “What are you doing here?”
“I wondered if you had a phone number for Rupert Hanson.”
Mike sat back and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Yeah, I have it. Why do you need it?”
I briefly explained about the card Bree had received and our desire to notify Chip about his mother’s death.
“I’ll call Rupert for you,” Mike offered. “See if he has contact information for Chip. If he does, I’ll call Chip and notify him of his mother’s passing. Notifying next of kin sort of comes with the job description. If Rupert doesn’t have a way to get in touch with Chip, I’ll do some digging around on my end. I’ll call you either way. Will you be home tonight?”
“I’ll be at Tony’s, but you can call my cell. If I don’t answer, it’ll be because we’re in the basement. There isn’t any cell reception down there. Just leave a message and I’ll call you back.”
“Okay. How’s Tony doing anyway? It’s been a while since I’ve run into him.”
I leaned a hip against the doorframe. “He’s good. Been busy. I hadn’t seen him for quite a while myself, but he showed up at my place last night and asked if I wanted to help him test a video game. Seemed like fun, so I agreed. Ended up taking a walk instead, so I’m going over to his place for a rain check tonight. Do you have any plans for your Friday night?”
Mike scowled. “Not a one.”
I supposed after what Frank had said, I probably shouldn’t have asked that question, but it had slipped out. “You should call Bree,” I suggested. “She wanted to have dinner tonight, but I already had plans with Tony. She might be happy for an alternate to grab a bite with.”
Mike gave a little half smile. “You don’t think she’s made other plans by now?”
I shrugged. “You won’t know for sure until you ask, but I spoke to her less than an hour ago, so I sort of doubt it. Call her. If she’s busy, you’re no worse off than you are now, and if she isn’t busy, you’ll have someone to grab a meal with.”
“Okay. I just might do that.”
Chapter 4
Tony lived on a large, isolated estate about halfway up the mountain, which put him a good twenty minutes from town. His amazing home was located on a private lake he skated on in the winter and fished in the summer. When he first bought the property and built the huge house, I thought living alone so far from his friends might get lonely. But when I realized how busy Tony was, working on all the projects he appeared to make millions from, and observed his contracting schedule up close, I understood why he probably enjoyed the solitude, which allowed him more time to focus on his work.
The house had a huge living area, most of which was dog and cat friendly. The clean room, which housed his computers and other specialty equipment, was in a finished and insolated basement. Due to the sensitive nature of th
e equipment, the animals weren’t allowed there, but they didn’t seem to mind because Tony made sure to have comfy beds and lots of toys in pretty much every other room. I’d begun spending nights over at Tony’s from time to time after we began to research my dad’s disappearance, and somewhere along the way, one of the guest rooms had been officially designated as “Tess’s room.”
I put my bag there and then headed back into the living area, where Tony was greeting Tilly and the cats. “I hope you’re hungry. I made a pot of my chili.”
“I’m starving,” I said as my stomach began to rumble. “It’s warm this evening. Why don’t we eat on the deck overlooking the water?”
“You read my mind. I already wiped everything down, so all we need to do is grab the food and utensils. Maybe we can take a walk around the lake after we eat. It’ll give the dogs a chance to tire themselves out before we settle in with the game.”
I grabbed spoons and napkins while Tony scooped the chili into brown stoneware bowls. He’d made corn bread to go with the chili, so I brought out small plates as well as butter and knives. Tony chose to have a beer, so I had one as well. Once everything was set up out on the table overlooking the water, we settled in to enjoy Tony’s special recipe. I wasn’t sure what he did to make his chili so tasty, but it was the best I’d ever had. I’d asked him for his recipe, but he’d told me it was a family secret that could only be handed down to relatives; if I wanted it, I’d have to marry him. Marriage seemed like a big step to take just for a chili recipe, though every time I ate a bowl of the spicy yet flavorful meal from Nirvana, I found myself wanting to agree to do just that.
“Is Shaggy coming by?” I asked after I’d eaten almost half a bowl of yummy goodness.
“He had plans to bowl with some of the guys who live in his apartment building, so it’s just you and me.”