Gone with the Wool

by Betty Hechtman

  “There has to be more to it than that,” Dane said. Coach Gary was looking around frantically, and I saw his eyes stop on the white strip of paper. He made a grab for it, but this time I was faster.

  “I think if you look at this, everything will become clear,” I said, holding it out. Dane started to take it, but Borgnine got it first. Coach Gary was edging toward the door, and Dane went to block him.

  “He put the laxatives in the bowls of chili for the two star players and then marked them by adding the chips and cheese. When he brought the tray to the table, he knew exactly which bowls to give them.” I gave it a moment to sink in.

  I had never seen Lieutenant Borgnine get so upset. “How could you do that to your own team?”

  Dane was angry, too. “You’re supposed to be an example to the kids.”

  The other man shook his head. “How could you do that to the Monarchs?”

  “He has a gambling problem,” I said. I told them about my trip to the card room and how Sammy’s father had been talking about someone he’d seen the times he played there who had a problem. When I’d seen Sammy’s father nod like he knew somebody at the ball, I’d put it together.

  The other man seemed impressed at my abilities, but Lieutenant Borgnine was clearly annoyed that I’d bested him again. I told them there was a gun somewhere on the floor and started to look for it. “We’ve got it, Ms. Feldstein.” He glared at Coach Gary. “Let me guess—you owed somebody a bunch of money, and you connected with one of the bookies around here and bet against your own team.”

  Coach Gary’s silence said it was true.

  “You’re missing the big picture here,” I said. Lieutenant Borgnine gave me a look, but I continued anyway. “The receipt was stuck with Rosalie’s chili stuff.” I told them about what I’d overheard. “He killed her,” I said, stunned that I was having to spell it out. “All he had to do was stab her before he made his entrance as Lord of the Butterflies.”

  “I did the town a favor. That woman was a monster,” Coach Gary said.

  With that, Borgnine put him under arrest and called a cruiser. They decided it was best to simply take Coach Gary out through the kitchen and not disrupt the ball.

  Lieutenant Borgnine, Dane and the other man, who introduced himself as Arthur Reisling, one of the city council members, huddled in the kitchen. I followed them in, and Arthur took over. “We’ll keep a lid on everything until Monday, when Butterfly Week is over.” He looked at all of us. “Now, we all need to rejoin the ball as if we’ve done nothing more exciting than used the facilities.”

  I still couldn’t believe that Lieutenant Borgnine had actually called it the little boys’ room.

  We started to file back into the entrance hall. Dane held me back and did a mock bow. “I’m in awe of your ability. You did it. You got Chloe off the hook. We’ll see how I can repay you later.” And then he gestured toward my dress and hair, indicating that I was somewhat mussed from all the action.

  I let them all go back to the ball, and I made a detour to the women’s room to repair the damage, which amounted to finger combing my hair, straightening my dress and adding a new coat of lipstick.

  I took a deep breath and went back to the tent. Another no-partner-necessary upbeat song was playing, and the dance floor was packed with people. Bree, Olivia and Scott were dancing near a bunch of the retreaters. Everyone looked like they were having fun, and I didn’t think my absence had even been noticed. Somehow, Sammy had gotten his mother to join him on the dance floor. When the song ended and the dance floor cleared, I saw Sammy and his mother going back to where Bernard was standing. I was on my way over to join them when Kory went up to Sammy. “You dropped this.” He held out Sammy’s magic wand.

  Sammy froze, and Kory continued, not knowing anything was wrong. “Dr. Amazing, how about wowing us with one of your tricks?” Some other people had gathered and also called out for Sammy to do some magic.

  Sammy shrugged, realizing the truth was out. He took the wand and acted like he was going to put it away, but instead he waved it over Kory’s pocket, and suddenly a trail of silk scarfs started to appear. The crowd responded with delight.

  It occurred to me that Sammy’s tuxedo was probably always stocked with props. A moment later, Sammy pulled out a deck of cards and fanned them out, asking a bystander to pick one.

  I thought both of his parents were going to pass out.

  I went over to calm them—as if it was possible. They were battling with each other, each blaming the other for Sammy’s magic “problem.” Bernard had given him the first magic set, but Estelle had applauded when he put on shows when he was a kid, which Bernard said only encouraged him.

  Sammy finished his impromptu show and finally looked at his parents. Seeing that they were in meltdown mode, he brought them outside, and I got carried along.

  “So, now you know. I’m known as the Amazing Doctor Sammy, and I’m a professional magician.” He looked at them both. “That means I get paid for doing magic,” he said. “I have a career here. I have regular weekend gigs doing table magic at Vista Del Mar, and I’m talking to some other of the resorts about doing something on weeknights.”

  “Where does she fit in all this?” his mother said, glaring at me.

  I let Sammy tell them that we weren’t a couple and we didn’t live together and that I wasn’t why he was there.

  “Good,” Bernard said. “Then nothing is really keeping you here, and you can come back to Chicago, where you have a future in urology.” He shook his head. “Who wants a doctor with a magic wand in his pocket?”

  I was so proud of Sammy. Instead of throwing some emotional fit the way I might have, he spoke in a calm voice and told them that the decision of where he lived and what he did was his.

  They still seemed to blame me for everything, but the fuss got cut short. Their flight was leaving from San Jose, and they had to drive to the airport. I stood with Sammy as they left.

  “You did the right thing,” I said.

  Sammy smiled at me and took my arm. “Case, you’re the only one who gets me.”

  The ball was winding down by then, and I found my group outside by the curb, waiting for the ride back. Tag walked Lucinda over to join the group and reluctantly let go of her arm. It seemed they had worked things out.

  She looked at me. “Anything interesting happen?”

  28

  Sunday morning came too soon. For me, anyway. Julius was already up and waiting in the kitchen for his stink fish when I walked in, trying to will my eyes to stay open.

  The retreaters had all been too wired to sleep when we got back from the ball, and they’d sat around knitting and talking until all hours. Lucinda and I had stayed off to the side, and I’d told her about what she’d missed and made her promise not even to tell Tag until Monday.

  “All these secrets,” she said with a shake of her head. She was much less concerned about the football game and more about the bad mark against my baking being removed forever.

  Sammy could have gone back to his spot at the Butterfly B and B now that his parents were gone, but he’d wanted to spend a last night in the guest house.

  I passed on calling Frank and was relieved that my mother didn’t call me. I dressed quickly and went across the street to Vista Del Mar for the last day of the retreat and the final day of Butterfly Week.

  Generally, Sunday mornings were quiet at Vista Del Mar. People slept a little later and were getting ready to leave. But today there was a buzz of activity as I walked to the Lodge. I saw a bunch of people around the float. The tarps were back on, and it was being hooked up to an SUV. I watched as it was carefully pulled off the grounds and taken into position for the parade. After the ball, the committee had gotten together and tallied their votes for queen, but no one would know the results until the grand finale of the parade.

  I went to cut through the Lodge
and was surprised to see Liz Buckley standing near the registration counter. She looked like she hadn’t slept. Obviously, she knew what had happened.

  “I just wanted to apologize for the problems. I know the powers that be are keeping everything quiet. Nobody even told me where Gary had gone until after the ball. I know you know what happened.” She shook her head sadly. “I had no idea that Gary had such a problem and was taking money out of my business account. That’s why the checks bounced.” She seemed so distraught; I put my hand on her arm in a supportive manner. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Will everybody blame me for what Gary did?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “And in all the weird twists of fate, Hank Hardcastle called me yesterday. He was working his way through their properties, trying to find out who Rosalie had put the screws on. Last night at the ball, he told me again that everything she’d done had died with her, but I had to keep it to myself. I was so relieved.” Now I understood why she’d almost had her head on his shoulder when they were dancing. “The poor man really is trying to protect her memory. And he doesn’t even know about the fall of the bear.”

  When I seemed surprised, Liz said she had already seen Gary in jail, and he’d told her about who had taken him down and how. I thought she might blame me for what happened, but she said that things hadn’t been good between them for a while, and he had brought it all on himself. She seemed more concerned with how she was going to keep afloat financially.

  “I can only speak for myself, but I certainly won’t blame you for what he did,” I said. “The Danish ladies seemed to have enjoyed the retreat. I’d be happy if you could send more people my way.”

  She looked like she really needed some support, and I gave her a hug. She thanked me again and then left.

  When I went out the other side of the Lodge, people were coming down the path toward the Sea Foam dining hall. The smells of breakfast food and fresh coffee wafted my way, and I went toward them, almost in a trance. The air had its usual bracing chill, and the sky was thick with clouds that seemed almost gloomy.

  Inside there was a clatter of dishes and a din of conversation. Lucinda was up and perfectly done up as usual. She was at our usual table and was filling her cup from the coffee carafe. The rest of the group came in and found seats. I noticed they all had the usual vibe of the last morning of a retreat—everybody always felt nostalgic now that that their time together was ending. A number of them were wearing hats and cowls they’d made during the retreat, but the most treasured of their projects seemed to be the crocheted butterflies, since they were what the week had been all about.

  We had our last workshop after breakfast. After everyone sat down, Wanda pulled me aside.

  “I see you don’t have your looms. It’s really not good form when the leader of the retreat isn’t prepared,” she said. I had to force myself to take the rebuke without saying where I had left them.

  At the end, everyone packed up their supplies and gave hugs and thank-yous to Wanda and Crystal. I was glad to see that while Wanda and Crystal still had their different opinions, they were learning to appreciate what each of them brought to the workshops. They were already discussing ideas for next time.

  When the group came out for lunch, they all had their luggage with them. Kevin St. John for once had been agreeable about something and had arranged a place for them to stow their bags for the rest of the day.

  By afternoon, the clouds had melted and the sky was a pale blue. I always felt like the sky was smiling when the sun came out. The bus picked up the group and deposited us on Grand Street. There was some time before the parade, and most of the group wanted to take a last look around town. I had a stop I wanted to make as well. I went past the drugstore as Larry Benson came outside.

  He nodded a greeting at me and glanced toward the street. “It won’t be long now until we find out who the Butterfly Queen is. I’ve known all along my daughter didn’t have much of a chance since we’re so new to town, but I can still hope.”

  I agreed and started to walk on, but he called after me. “I’m sorry if I was difficult when you came in the store. I had a lot on my mind, but it’s all good now.”

  “Believe me, I understand completely.”

  I turned on the side street and walked down to Cadbury Yarn. Gwen looked up when I came in. “We’re just closing,” she said. “I want to watch the parade. It would be wonderful if Marcy is the queen.”

  “There’s something I need to show you,” I said. I pulled the worn manila envelope out of my bag and extracted the old photograph of the baby and a teddy bear. I laid it on the counter in front of her.

  “That’s the bear my mother made for me,” she said. She looked at the infant next to it. “Is that me?”

  “She’s Edmund Delacorte’s love child,” I said, then I swallowed, waiting for her reaction.

  “Me?” she said in a whisper.

  “I have a sample of Edmund’s hair roots and all. A paternity test would prove it was true.”

  What she said next totally surprised me. Her expression grew harsh. “I don’t like the Delacortes. Why would I want to be one of them?” She pushed the photo back to me. “I have to go now.”

  I took the envelope back and prepared to leave. “Think about it. Not just for yourself, but for Crystal, Marcy and Kory. You must know how he feels about Vista Del Mar.” And then I left.

  When I got back to Grand Street, the sidewalk was thick with people in anticipation of the parade. The retreaters had stuck together, and I joined them. Sammy came out of the crowd and stood with me. The sun had stayed out, warming the air, and people started shedding their fleece jackets as a voice over the loudspeaker announced the beginning of the parade with the Lord of the Butterflies.

  The figure with the giant wings made his way down the street, waving to the crowd. With the black hood, I’m sure no one realized it wasn’t Coach Gary. No one had told me, but I was pretty sure it was Hank Hardcastle. Fishermen had strong shoulders, too. The rest of the parade was definitely small town all the way. The high school band came along, playing a few squeaky notes, while a bunch of young girls in short skirts twirled batons with a few missteps. The fire trucks came by with the firefighters waving at the crowd. Dane hadn’t told me about his part in the parade. He and the kids who hung out at his place came by all dressed in white karate outfits, doing karate stances as they walked. The town council members rode by in butterfly-festooned golf carts. Arthur Reisling caught my eye and gave me a thank-you nod.

  Next, a police cruiser drove by slowly, with a couple of uniformed officers walking alongside. I did a double take when I saw Lieutenant Borgnine taking up the rear. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him smile before, and he was waving at the crowd, too. I checked the sky again for flying pigs.

  “And now, for what we’ve all been waiting for,” the voice over the microphone said. Crystal and Wanda appeared next to me as two decorated golf carts went by with the Butterfly Queen committee. Not only did the Delacorte sisters hold their handbags Queen Elizabeth–style, they had her wave down, too. Kevin St. John was in the backseat. No waving from him, just very straight posture.

  There was a break when nothing went by, and then some royal-sounding music began. The float turned onto the main street and started its slow procession toward the crowd. All I could see was a giant monarch on the front. A canopy with side panels covered the float. Just when it reached the beginning of the crowd, the covering was pulled back. I heard a gasp go through the crowd, and then Wanda and Crystal both started talking about how something was off. The court was always in the front of the float with the queen on a throne at the end. But the front of the float was empty, and there seemed to be a crowd at the other end, and no throne.

  The voice over the loudspeaker finally explained. “The committee decided that it was too much work for one person, and so they have elevated all of the princesses to Butterfly Queens. They will be
sharing the duties and honors. May they reign well.” I heard a squeal of delight. I thought it was probably coming from Crystal, seeing that her daughter was one of the queens, but it was Wanda. She jumped up and down, yelling, “Yee-ha,” while waving at her sister, who was another of the queens.

  I felt someone step up next to me. It was Dane, in his karate outfit. “Have they announced the queen yet?” he said. He seemed ready for bad news, but I pointed to the float, which was just arriving in front of us.

  I heard him make a surprised noise—Chloe was with the others. Somebody must have given her a dress to wear. I couldn’t imagine her picking anything as plain and modest as the yellow dress that went to just above her knees. All the princesses had new crowns on now. Chloe was waving at the crowd, and then she saw Dane, and her face lit up as she gave him a double thumbs-up. I couldn’t be sure with all the noise, but it sounded like she yelled, “Nailed it.”

  As the parade ended, shimmers of clouds were coming across the sky and blotting out the sun, and the air felt colder. The group loaded up on the bus, and we went back to Vista Del Mar.

  I always felt a tug when it got to be time to say good-bye. This week I hadn’t spent as much time with the retreaters as before, but I still felt an attachment. The Danish ladies were the first to say good-bye. They said they wanted to come again and bring some friends. Bree Meyers was next. She had a bag full of things about the monarchs that she was taking back to her sons.

  “It’s been great,” she said, giving me a hug. “Having this time away really helps me to be a better mother. And I made these.” She pulled out two small hats and one large one, explaining they were for her boys and their father.

  Olivia had a huge bag of squares. “I love the idea of using the looms to make them. It’s been another wonderful retreat, though I wish I’d seen more of you. You’ll have to let me know what kept you so busy.”