“I’d really rather not,” Elinor said, yawning. “You can take the box, though. It has all of the details of every plan, and a letter, signed by all of us, agreeing to it. Tell your inspector friend that he can come and get me in about an hour, or maybe ninety minutes would be better.”
“Elinor, you can’t kill yourself,” Bessie said firmly. “Come along with us and we’ll get you someone to talk to.”
“I don’t want to talk any more,” she said, closing her eyes. “I’m very tired, though. Maybe you could let yourselves out quietly? I’ll just take a little nap.”
“Elinor, have you taken an overdose of sleeping pills?” Bessie asked, as the last puzzle piece slid into place.
“Don’t send the police yet,” Elinor said to Bessie, staring hard into her eyes. “Let me die in peace first. If you could, maybe you could sit with me? I’m not sure I want to die alone.”
Bessie and Doona exchanged glances and then Doona headed for the door, grabbing the box of evidence on her way out. Bessie hurried to catch up.
“I’m calling John,” Doona said, punching buttons on her mobile as she walked. “You don’t think we should just let her die, do you?”
Bessie shook her head. “She might not mind having the deaths of four of her friends on her conscience, but I’m not having hers on mine.”
Chapter Fifteen
Several days later, in the late afternoon, Bessie sat on the rock behind her house and stared out at the sea. When Doona sat down beside her and put her arm around her, she forced herself to smile.
“Hello,” she said softly.
“Hello,” Doona echoed. “How are you tonight?”
Bessie shrugged. “I think I’m starting to feel better,” she said with a sigh.
“Are you ready to hear what the police found in the box?” Doona asked.
“I suppose,” Bessie glanced at Doona and then looked away. Ever since their meeting with Elinor, Bessie had refused to discuss anything to do with the Raspberry Jam Ladies. Doona insisted on telling her that Elinor had died in the ambulance on the way to hospital, but beyond that nothing had been said.
“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Doona said, looking anxiously at her friend.
“I’m a strong woman,” Bessie replied, still looking out at the sea. “And I’ve lived through a lot. Something about this, these deaths, has really shaken me. I’m older than they were and I still feel like I have so much to live for. Or at least I did, before all of this happened.”
Doona gave her a hug. “You do have a lot to live for,” she said firmly. “And you have friends who love you. John was explaining to me about how groups can be led in different directions depending on their leaders. Elinor wanted to die and she managed to convince the others that they wanted to die as well. With a different leader, the jam ladies would all still be around, complaining about their aches and pains, but carrying on like normal.”
Bessie shrugged. “Does the evidence support her story?” she asked.
“It does,” Doona told her. “Everything she said was there, is there. The ladies all signed a letter detailing their plans. There are sheets with each plan carefully laid out, including several that were never used. It’s scary.”
“I can see why Elinor wanted to die,” Bessie said sadly. “Nathan was her whole life and she felt lost without him. But I don’t really understand the others.”
“Nancy’s doctor has confirmed that she had six months, at best, and that they would have been painful ones at that,” Doona told her. “As far as Agnes is concerned, her doctor told her in March that she could go any time. He was surprised she made it to July.”
“Poor Agnes,” Bessie said. “She was a sweet woman who lived a very hard life.”
“They were all good people, except for Elinor,” Doona said.
Bessie shook her head. “Elinor was smart and ambitious in a time when women weren’t supposed to be either,” she told Doona. “I think the strain of raising Nathan and the circumstances around his death drove her slightly crazy.”
“She was more than slightly crazy,” Doona responded.
“What about Joan and Margaret?” Bessie asked. “What did their doctors have to say?”
“Joan was in a lot of pain and her doctor did say that she spoke to him more than once about wishing it was all over. She didn’t feel she had much to live for, apparently.”
“I never thought she recovered properly from when her little one died,” Bessie said. “I guess you never do get over such a thing.”
“She also told her doctor that she’d heard from her son and he’s planning on coming back to the island when he gets out of prison. Apparently, she wasn’t pleased about that.”
“I wonder why,” Bessie said. “I never did get the whole story with what happened to him. I suppose he won’t bother coming now that his mum is gone.”
Doona shrugged. “He’s actually due out soon, from what I understand. John’s keeping a close eye on him.”
“And Margaret?”
“Margaret was diagnosed with dementia about a year ago. Apparently she was very concerned about being on her own as it got worse. Her doctor was trying to persuade her to move into a care home where she could be looked after, but she didn’t want to leave the home she loved.” Doona shook her head. “Dementia can cause depression and impaired judgment,” she told Bessie.
“I think I was right to not want to talk about this,” Bessie replied. “It’s all very sad.”
“It is sad,” Doona agreed. “Perhaps you’re right not to think about it.”
The sound of a car arriving had both women turning to see who was there. Bessie recognised Hugh’s car as it pulled up in front of her cottage. Both front doors opened and Bessie smiled as Hugh and Grace climbed out of the car. Hugh was carrying several pizza boxes and Grace had a bakery box in her hand.
“Hullo, Bessie,” Hugh called. “We brought dinner.”
Bessie laughed in spite of her mood. She and Doona made their way back up the beach and Bessie opened the cottage door for her guests.
“John should be here any minute,” Hugh said as Bessie found plates and glasses. “He’s bringing the champagne.”
“What are we celebrating?” Bessie asked, looking hard at Hugh.
“Just life,” Hugh told her with a grin. He looked over at Grace and then smiled at Bessie. “Grace and I have been talking and we aren’t quite ready for marriage yet. We’ve only been dating a few months, after all.”
“Oh?” Bessie said, looking at Grace for confirmation.
Grace smiled. “Hugh’s right,” she said. “We both only want to get married once and make it for life, so we have to be absolutely sure we’re marrying the right person. I’m still going to try for that job up here so that we can spend more time together, but if I get it, I’ll be looking for my own little place, rather than moving in with Hugh. We were kind of rushing things.”
Bessie nodded and replied carefully. “You two have clearly given this a lot of thought,” she said. “Just keep in mind that marriage is a huge leap of faith as well, no matter how well you know one another.”
Hugh nodded. “Maybe we should start eating while we wait for John?” he suggested.
Everyone laughed and Bessie passed around the plates. John was only a few minutes late and he brought a bottle of champagne and a bottle of sparkling apple juice.
“For the people who are driving,” he explained.
Everyone ate pizza and then enjoyed the jam roly-poly that Grace had brought for pudding.
“I’m glad it’s strawberry jam,” Bessie commented after she’d eaten her first bite of pudding. “I’m not sure I’ll ever eat raspberry jam again.”
Grace flushed. “Oh, dear, I never even thought about that,” she admitted. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Bessie said. “I was mostly teasing.” She sighed. “I really do appreciate you all coming over tonight to cheer me up. I needed it.”
&n
bsp; “It’s always fun to come and see you,” Hugh told her. “Whether you need cheering up or not.”
Bessie smiled at him. He was turning into a lovely young man and he and Grace had a good chance of having a happy life together, assuming he figured that out before she got away.
“I’m so lucky to have you all as my friends,” Bessie said, thoughtfully. “In good times and in bad.”
“To Aunt Bessie,” Hugh said, holding up his glass for a toast.
“To Aunt Bessie,” everyone echoed.
Glossary of Terms
Manx Language to English
fastyr mie
good afternoon
kys t’ou
How are you?
ta mee braew
I’m fine.
House Names – Manx to English
Thie yn Traie
Beach House
Treoghe Bwaaue
Widow’s Cottage (Bessie’s home)
English/Manx to American Terms
advocate
Manx title for a lawyer (solicitor)
aye
yes
bank holiday
public holiday
bin
garbage can
biscuits
cookies
boot
trunk (of a car)
car park
parking lot
chippy
a fish and chips take-out restaurant
chips
french fries
comeover
a person who moved to the island from elsewhere
crisps
potato chips
cuddly toy
stuffed animal
cuppa
cup of tea (informal)
flat
apartment
gaol
jail
holiday
vacation
journal
diary
lift
elevator
loo
restroom
midday
noon
nappy
diaper
pavement
sidewalk
peckish
hungry
plait
braid (in hair)
pudding
dessert
queue
line
rota
schedule or list of who is to do what job or task
shopping trolley
shopping cart
skeet
gossip
starters
appetizers
telly
television
till
check-out (in a grocery store, for example)
trainers
sneakers
Other notes:
If someone “wouldn’t say boo to a goose,” they are shy and try to stay out of the way.
A “car boot sale” is like a garage sale or yard sale, where, traditionally, the goods for sale are loaded into the boot (trunk) of the car and cars are parked in neat rows so that people can walk around and see what’s on offer. Now they are often held in church halls or schools where the goods are displayed on tables.
CID is the Criminal Investigation Department of the Isle of Man Constabulary (Police Force).
“Noble’s” is Noble’s Hospital, the main hospital on the Isle of Man. It is located in Douglas, the island’s capital city.
When talking about time, the English say, for example, “half-seven” to mean “seven-thirty.”
A charity shop is a store run by a charitable (non-profit) organisation that sells donated second-hand merchandise in order to raise funds for their particular cause. They are great places to find books, games and puzzles, as well as clothing, knick-knacks and furniture.
When island residents talk about someone being from “across,” or moving “across,” they mean somewhere in the United Kingdom (across the water).
The emergency number in the UK is 999, rather than 911, as used in the US.
Hospitals in the UK have “Accident and Emergency” departments (A&E) rather than Emergency Rooms.
Coronation Chicken is a cold chicken salad made with curry powder in a mayonnaise base. It was originally served at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation banquet.
Toast soldiers are simply slices of toast cut lengthwise so they can easily be dipped into the runny yokes of soft-boiled eggs.
Coming July 15, 2015
Aunt Bessie Finds
An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery
By Diana Xarissa
Aunt Bessie finds herself in need of a change of scenery.
Bessie Cubbon, Laxey Village’s “Aunt Bessie” is feeling overwhelmed by the twists and turns her life has taken recently. When a friend suggests that she look at a flat in Douglas, Bessie is seriously tempted to try relocating to the Island’s beautiful capital city.
Aunt Bessie finds another body.
This one is still breathing at least, but no one seems to know anything about the man. Could he be tied to the strange things that are happening in Bessie’s friend’s building?
Aunt Bessie finds that doing a friend a favour isn’t as easy as it appears.
Moving to Douglas turns out to be the easy part. Figuring out what’s going on in the building on Seaside Terrace is far more complicated. With John and Hugh both on their summer holidays and Doona working hard in Laxey, Bessie finds herself calling on other acquaintances for help this time around. The question is, can she trust them the way she knows she can rely on her friends from Laxey?
Have you read all of the
Aunt Bessie Cozy Mysteries?
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Believes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
Aunt Bessie Finds (Release date: July 15, 2015)
By the same author
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
About the Author
Diana Xarissa lived on the Isle of Man for more than ten years before returning to the United States with her family. Now living near Buffalo, New York, she enjoys having the opportunity to write about the island that she loves so much. It truly is a special place.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future under the pen name “Diana X. Dunn” and fantasy/adventure books for middle grade readers under the pen name “D.X. Dunn.”
She would be delighted to know what you think of her work and can be contacted through snail mail at:
Diana Xarissa Dunn
PO Box 72
Clarence, NY 14031.
Or find her on Facebook, Goodreads or on her website at www.dianaxarissa.com.
You can sign up for her monthly newsletter on the website and be among the first to know about new releases, as well as find out about contests and giveaways and see the answers to the questions she gets asked the most.
Aunt Bessie Enjoys (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 5) Page 23