I went up and down the freezer aisle. Nothing. I even went to the bakery section. Nothing. I decided this called for special measures, got back into my car, and went to the bakery on Berkeen and 17th.
I walked in and saw a lovely lady. She smiled and asked what I would like. Since I really don’t eat anything a bakery prepares, aside from the occasional cinnamon roll or glazed donut, I was at a loss.
“Well, I am having guests tonight, two women, one of them being my sister Teagan…”
“Teagan O’Flynn?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Such a nice girl. How she keeps that figure with her trips in here, is beyond me.”
“Does she have a favorite?”
“She does. Sin.”
“Sin?”
“It is the most decadent dessert we prepare.”
“Sounds like Teagan.” I smiled. “Can you give me enough Sin to serve 6?”
“A dinner party?”
“Actually, Teagan and a friend are coming over, and I thought I’d get some extra for my boyfriend.”
“Good choice. It’s in the back. I’ll just be a minute.”
Several minutes later, the woman appeared with a pink box, tied with the traditional red string. I always love that. Some bakeries use tape now, but I like the red string.
The bakery my dad used to stop at once in a while used the string, and he would bring home a little box with two donuts, and he and mom would have tea. We’d sneak out of bed and watch them chat and eat and drink their tea. The way they looked at each other brings tears to my eyes even now.
I want that.
The romance after years of being together, I can take or leave the donut.
But, I need to discuss the whole trollop-hugging incident before I go any further down that path. One trollop can lead to another trollop, who can lead to a full-blown floozy, or maybe floozy comes first, then onto harlots, then I’ve lost him forever.
“Will there be anything else Teagan’s sister?”
“I’m sorry. My name is Cara. I think this will do it.”
Once the bill was paid, I headed for my car, thinking about trollops and floozies and harlots, and wondering why I was being so judgmental of this other woman, never mind of AJ. I’ve never been the jealous type, what’s up with that?
I put the pink box with the red string in the trunk and was just to my door when Officer Jerkface caught up to me.
Maybe I read too many weird stories, but they all seem to agree, that the most dangerous time is when you have discovered there’s a problem, but before you extricate yourself from the situation. Just my luck that I’d be meeting with a lawyer tonight and the could-be bad guy shows up now.
You know what they say about the Irish. If it weren’t for bad luck, we’d have no luck at all. Seems ‘they’ were right this time.
“Joe? What’s up?”
“Just headed for the bakery. Saw your car. Wanted to make sure that you were okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“You never know Cara. Life can be dangerous.”
“For everybody, right Joe? Especially for people like you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Cops.”
“Yeah, right. What you up to today? You ever finish with Louis’s condo?”
“His brother never got back to me. I’m just kind of waiting on it. He sent me a really generous check when I first started, but that was used for locksmiths and boxes and everything. I’m really not going to do any more until I hear from him.”
“But you went there with your sister, and two guys.”
“Actually, that wasn’t about cleaning the place out, that was about my sister’s boyfriend looking at the place to buy. At some point it’s sure to go up for sale, and it’s just his kind of place. I figured since I had the key, there was no harm in showing him the place.”
“Well, I gotta go. You be careful Cara.”
“Always.”
He disappeared as fast as he appeared. My heart was pounding so hard, I wasn’t sure I could drive. My sister calls it jackrabbit gas. Your foot shakes and you kind of progress down the street in spurts. I was all the way to Buchannan before I was driving like a normal person.
The question is, or the questions are, was he following me? And if not, how did he know we’d been at the condo?
Thank God Teagan has help coming, this is starting to scare the Sweet Jesus out of me.
I know normal people say bejesus, but my mom always thought that was disrespectful, and you could end up with a smack if you were disrespectful. I’m not sure why Sweet Jesus is better, but in my mother’s world it is, and we all live in my mother’s world. It’s kind of like when she was cold, you wore a sweater, didn’t matter if you were cold or not. Same thing.
I got home in record time, terror will do that for you, put the dessert in the fridge, and tried to decide what the lawyer could do for us, considering we don’t even know what’s on the memory cards.
Then I got forty-three kinds of paranoid and started to wonder why the lawyer suddenly showed up at Teagan’s office, and why they had become so buddy-buddy so quickly, and why was she doing this for me for free? Maybe she isn’t a lawyer. Maybe she’s some kind of plant. Maybe she’s Jerkface’s sister, the one that he said was at the cemetery that day, and maybe she’s trying to take the memory cards before we do anything official.
They say that you should never give out any personal information on the phone or through the Internet unless you are the one that initiates the contact. Shouldn’t it be the same way with a lawyer? I didn’t contact her; she contacted me, so how do I have any idea who she really is.
I’ve gone around in so many circles because of all this I’m beginning to get dizzy.
I was just about to throw something, when Morgan called. She is the most serene person I’ve ever met, and she seemed flustered. That did nothing to calm me down.
“Cara, I have a problem. Liam said he would call, but I think it’s only right I call, and you can say no, really, it isn’t a problem.”
“Before you give me a graceful out, maybe you should ask the question.”
“Well, it’s two questions really.”
“Okay, ask your two questions.”
“I don’t know what else to do. I need a babysitter. My regular sitter has an out of town thing, and she isn’t available. I know it’s short notice, but it’s just after school tomorrow for a couple of hours, and if you can’t do it, I really understand and I’ll figure something out, but I have this really great opportunity with a client I’ve been chasing for over a year, and if I can do this presentation, I’m sure they will like it, and just the initial contract will pay my mortgage for a year, but I really believe that it will lead to future business, and Liam would take him, but it’s the perfect storm of bad timing and he can’t do it either, and I really really really don’t want to ask my mom, last time I asked she said something snide, but I can make other arrangements.”
“The first question is an automatic yes. Unless I’m in a coma, the answer is always yes. I’d love to take Himself for the afternoon. Do I need any special paperwork or anything to pick him up at school?”
“No, I’ll send a note to his teacher and email the office. I can’t tell you what this means to us.”
“And..?”
“And?”
“The second question.”
“Oh, well, now I feel stupid.”
“Never feel stupid. Liam does enough stupid stuff for both of you. What was your question?”
‘How much do you charge?”
“Okay, I take it all back. Feel stupid. Do you really think I would charge to take care of my own nephew? I would pay. Especially since I get the bragging rights of being the first aunt to do so.”
“Cara, I’m not used to all this family stuff. Liam told me you would feel that way, but I didn’t really believe him.”
“Liam is often wrong, but not about family, and certainly
not about you. It’s my privilege to hang out with Himself. We do not babysit boys of a certain age, they are beyond that.”
“Yep, he has hit that age, at least in his mind.”
“What time?”
“Bell rings at 3:40.”
“Wow, we got out of school earlier than that.”
“It’s a new thing they implemented last year. Working on getting the schools competitive with the rest of the country. They’ve done pretty well. They’ve brought the grades up for most of the students.”
“I knew they were going to start one of those academy type schools over there. The ones where they treat it like a private school, the kids all wear uniforms and everything. I know they have had huge success with them in the northeast.”
“They needed to do something. Kids don’t seem to graduate with the skills necessary to live their lives successfully.”
“I have a theory about that. We can have a long conversation about it one day, but basically, when we decided to make everything in life have a basis in psychology, and when we decided that every kid is able to do everything, we blew it. Some kids are created to be brain surgeons and some are created to be artists. The two brains are not the same. It’s an insult to either of them to assume they can be the other of them. You know what I mean. And to give a kid a pass just because he shows up is even worse.”
“I like your theory.”
“It isn’t very politically correct.”
“Maybe it’s time to be a little less politically correct and a little more realistic.”
“So, here is our plan. Tomorrow, I will be waiting outside Jordan’s school, at or before 3:40. Tell him that I will park my car, since he isn’t used to looking for it. I’ll park at Bellinger and Bluefort and come across the street to get him.”
“Oh, you mean you’ll park outside the ice cream store?”
“Ice cream? Really?”
“He’ll be thrilled.”
“Does he have any allergies?”
“None that we’re aware of.”
“Okay. Don’t expect him to eat dinner with you. It’s my first shot at uber-auntie status, and it’s gonna get ugly.”
She laughed.
“Thanks for taking him Cara.”
“Thanks for trusting me with the most important person in your world. I don’t take the honor lightly.”
“I can’t believe your family. You guys are nuts, but you’re good nuts.”
“Us and the Macadamias.”
I’d just hung up when Jovana called. I’m getting popular.
“Hey, Sugar. I just wanted to thank you for going up to Adeline’s today. She thought you were just great, and she said she looks forward to seeing you again soon. Do you think you’ll be able to go on over again tomorrow?”
“I think so, but I have two things I need to talk to you about. The first is that I would have to be out of there by three o’clock. I’m picking up my nephew from school. The second is that I really don’t understand. Either I’m missing something really big, or Adeline needs me like she needs a hole in the head. She was completely lucid when I was over there. She was telling me all kinds of stories about when she was younger and raising her kids, and she didn’t skip a beat. We had a great time, and I’d love to be her friend, but I don’t think they need to pay me to visit. She is fine.”
“She was having a good day Sugar. I’m not sure what her neurological status is, but some days are good and some days are really very bad. Her daughter told me that it is early onset Alzheimer’s, and just a matter of time.”
“I don’t know anything about neurology or Alzheimer’s. I’ll do some research. Please give her daughter my email address and ask her to contact me. I’d like to be able to give her a report each time I see Adeline.”
“That’s one of the reasons I called Sugar. The other reason is to ask you if you have some time soon. I’ve got a real big mailing to do, and I could use some help. I usually have my husband and daughter-in-law help me, but they have some tourist board meeting to go to, so I’m on my own.”
“I’d love to. Any special time?”
“I like to get it done as early in the day as I can. What time is only a little too early for you?”
“Well, are we doing it at the studio, bar, or your house?”
“I think my house would be the easiest. We could spread out on that big table in the formal dining room. Is that too far for you to drive?”
“Not at all. I’ll be going against traffic. I can help you with the mailing, and then I’ll drop in and visit with Adeline. What time would be best for you?”
“Is seven too early Sugar? I could get the mailing done, and still be at the bar before the lunch crowd.”
“I can do that.”
“Thanks Sugar, see you then.” As I hung up the phone, my mother’s voice whispered in my head. Be careful what you wish for. I’d wished to be busy. I hadn’t clarified that it be for pay, or that it be a career, or that it be something fabulous.
Teagan and the lawyer showed up right on time.
The lawyer was not what I expected.
She is tiny, cute, looks about twelve-years-old, and had an aura about her that made me instantly comfortable, which probably should have put me on alert.
Her name is Stephanie but everyone calls her Steph.
She graduated top of her class, passed the bar first time, loves law, hates injustice, and is out to save the world, one court case at a time.
Turns out she has been a client of Teagan’s boss, for a while. Teagan just never had reason to discuss her before.
Also turns out that she and Teagan have done lunch and coffee a few times, but never after hours, which is why Teagan never mentioned her before.
Wonder what else Teagan is keeping from me.
I sure seem to be possessive lately. What’s up with that?
We chatted for a little while. I made tea. Even took out my good teapot, cups, saucers, and sugar instead of Splenda.
I put out my little dessert plates, which my grandma gave me years ago, they have matching ice cream dishes, but we wouldn’t need those tonight.
I pulled some Oreos out, and put them on my plate. Teagan obviously thought that they were for everybody and rolled her eyes.
She seemed much happier when I pulled my pink box with the red string out of the fridge.
When I pulled out the Sin, she broke into a huge smile.
Steph spoke first, in a voice so reverent I had to laugh, “What is that?”
Teagan whispered, “That is Sin.”
“What is Sin?”
Teagan smiled, “Sin is good.”
“Don’t tell Mom that.”
Teagan did the honors, cut the Sin into slivers, and placed a sliver for herself and a sliver for Steph.”
“Aren’t you going to have any?”
Teagan answered for me. “She’s weird.”
“I am not weird, I simply choose to save my adventurous side for something other than food.”
“It isn’t an either or thing Cara. You can be adventurous with food, and other stuff too.”
“Can we not have this discussion again? I am not going to change the way I eat. I’m good with it. Let it go.”
“Fine. You want to be adventurous with us and get a body wrap tomorrow?”
“No thanks. I have a date.”
“AJ?”
“Nope.”
“Cara, what’s going with you? AJ is not going to be amused if he finds out that you are dating other men, especially while he is living right here in the house. That just isn’t cool at all. I’m not going to lie for you.”
“No one asked you to. I’m not going to lie to AJ. I might even ask him to join us.”
“Oh, my, you are getting adventurous.”
“Shut-up. I’m picking Jordan up from school tomorrow.”
“Why did they pick you?”
“Unemployment? Everyone else will be at work.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair.”
Steph stayed quite and watched us go back and forth. I couldn’t get a read on her read of us.
All was quiet while they consumed their sliver of Sin. They each took a very deep breath and laughed. I guess it was the sugar rush.
Teagan jumped up and got them each another sliver.
It says something about them that they didn’t go into a sugar coma; they were, however, hyper-focused.
I told Steph everything I knew, most of what I guessed, and a few of the thoughts that fall under the heading, I can’t imagine, but…
She asked a lot of really good questions.
I didn’t have a single answer.
We decided that I would think about all she said for about 24 hours. If I still wanted her to represent me, she would meet me at her office, I’d bring the memory cards with me, she would go from there.
Teagan seemed all excited about the prospects.
I’m not so sure.
I just don’t want to do anything that will mess this all up, most importantly, getting someone hurt, or making my brother’s career implode.
Of course, for that to happen, it would almost have to be police corruption, and really, what are the chances of that?
I couldn’t let it go.
“So, Steph, what happens if it’s just geezer porn?”
I thought she was going to spew Sin all over my apartment.
“What?”
“Well, they are memory cards, which are most commonly used for pictures, and they were found in a place frequented by senior citizens. It could just be pictures that some mature perv doesn’t want his wife to see, or some wife doesn’t want her husband to see, or some couple doesn’t want their visiting grandchild to find.”
Teagan asked,” If that were the case, why was the key hidden in Louis’s condo?”
“I keep forgetting about that. I keep having this conversation with myself, and it always comes back to the same thing; Officer Jerkface is a bad cop, he is afraid that Louis knew about it, and was going to turn him in.”
The penny dropped, as they say.
I looked at Teagan. “If Jerkface is a bad cop, and he was trying to keep it from Louis, and Louis found out about it, and that is why Jerkface is being so strange, then, how come the journal says something about forgive me for keeping this from you Jerkface?”
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