Sins of the Mother

by Megan Mollson

  “Shut up, Sebastian,” Zasha hissed.

  “You know what, I think most of the town would thank me if those men were stuck in a coma for a while,” Ivy decided as she got up.

  The trio reluctantly made their way down the ladder, ending up in front of Mr. Hyde who looked like he was about to throw a fit.

  “What is the meaning of this?” he asked angrily.

  “I just proved my worth,” Ivy announced triumphantly.

  Her antics had drawn the attention of most of the people on the property. They milled around, about ten men in total, waiting to see what would happen.

  Ivy lifted a small cloth bundle up for them to see, then using her deft fingers, she undid the wrapping to reveal the silver barrel of a gun.

  Chapter Five

  It was decided that Ivy would stay with the Ross family since Zasha had assumed responsibility for the strange investigator. Zasha, of course, had no part in making that decision but had the uncomfortable task of relaying the information to her parents.

  “And she is your friend?” Yelena Ross asked incredulously, staring in shock at the brightly clad young woman standing next to her daughter.

  When Yelena had discovered that her eldest daughter wasn’t in her room taking a nap as she’d claimed, Yelena was furious but not surprised. She’d spent the rest of the afternoon thinking of a suitable punishment to get her wayward daughter back in line. As the hours had passed, her fury had turned into nagging worry and she’d amended her lecture to include the dangers of staying out after dark without getting permission first. When the news about the murder at the Turner farm had arrived, Yelena’s worry had turned into full blown panic. She started imagining all the things that must’ve happened to her dear, darling daughter.

  Her husband, Andrew, was just as worried and was about to go out looking for their daughter when she showed up at their doorstep with a sheepish expression and an outrageously dressed young woman. Yelena choked back all her recriminations and offered their guest a drink, since the worst sin in Yelena’s book was being rude to a houseguest. She had to content herself with the knowledge that once the guest was gone, they’d make sure their eldest daughter would never be so thoughtless again.

  Now, she was faced with the prospect of opening her home to the mysterious woman for an indefinite amount of time. Yelena could think of nothing worse. She wasn’t a woman who sought the company of strangers and who didn’t need a lot of friends. Her whole world revolved around the family she never thought she’d be lucky enough to have. Their little family unit was all the association that she needed, and it drained her when there were more people around than necessary.

  Outside her home, Yelena was constantly on her guard. This was the habit of an immigrant living in a foreign land. No matter how hard she tried, she always stood out as different. And even though the residents of New Hope had gotten used to her, they still looked at her strangely whenever she did or said certain things. Her house was her home and she didn’t need to worry about being an object of curiosity.

  She looked at Andrew with this unspoken fear plain in her eyes, and he looked at her in concern. There was no one on earth who knew Yelena better than Andrew. He was the reason she gave up the chance to go home, and he never forgot the weight of that decision. He carried it around like a burden on his shoulders, always blaming himself whenever Yelena’s eyes became dull with homesickness or when she flinched because of a neighbor’s insensitive remark. He had made it his life’s mission to make her happy. He wanted nothing more than to be enough for Yelena, and to prove to her endlessly that she had made the right decision by staying behind in America with him.

  The decision should have been easy. No, the strange flapper could not stay with them. She would intrude on their family’s flimsy semblance of peace and would be a bad influence on a daughter who was already showing signs of rebellion. And yet, it wasn’t an easy decision. How could they, in good conscience, toss the stranger out of their home in the middle of the night knowing that she had nowhere to go? The decision was especially delicate since the whole town was watching them. If they said no, the family would be called heartless. If they said yes, then they would be labelled as irresponsible.

  “I think she should stay,” the youngest Ross girl said excitedly, clapping her hands together.

  Tatyana Ross was Zasha’s opposite in every way. Where Zasha had inherited her mother’s dark, thick hair and disconcertingly clear grey eyes, Tatyana had somehow come out the all-American girl-next-door. She had a halo of blonde curls, wide blue eyes, and worst of all, adorable dimples. Zasha was willowy and aloof but Tatyana was petite and lovable.

  “No one asked you, Tatyana,” Zasha said, frowning at her sister. “But yes, I think she should stay. She has nowhere to go.”

  “Don’t talk to your sister that way,” Yelena said sharply, her eyes promising that Zasha still had her punishment to look forward to.

  “How long do you plan on staying in New Hope, Ivy?” Andrew asked diplomatically, ignoring his family’s minor squabble.

  “Until the case is solved,” Ivy said simply, looking bored with the proceedings. She looked around curiously, as if she were fascinated by their neat home. “But I’d only stay here for one night. I’ll find a hotel or inn tomorrow morning.”

  “We don’t have one of those,” Tatyana said gleefully. “You’ll just have to stay with us then. Can I take your case? You will have to share with Zasha. She’s not so bad, but my room is better.”

  Tatyana, unlike her family, craved company. She was always thrilled when people came to visit and was constantly trying to convince her mother to invite more people over. Tatyana impulsively invited people over all the time in the hopes that they’d come visit. Thankfully, Yelena’s unease around unexpected visitors was well-known and Tatyana’s invitations were rarely accepted, much to Tatyana’s chagrin.

  “How bizarre,” Ivy said, looking surprised. “Are there truly no inns in town?”

  “Dorothy might take her in,” Andrew told Yelena earnestly. “She often takes in visitors. I suppose she’s the closest thing to an inn in this town. She’d be very comfortable there.”

  “Nyet,” Yelena said firmly, getting to her feet. She glanced over Ivy, making the guest feel as though Yelena was looking through her. “Zasha has brought this woman home, and we must make her comfortable. We would not be good Christians otherwise. Zasha, you will be responsible for your friend.”

  “She’s not my…” Zasha started, but her mother cut her off with a stern glance.

  “Make sure that she’s cared for and that she stays out of trouble. Do not disturb your father, he has much work.”

  “A lot of work, Mama,” Tatyana said in a bored tone.

  “Dishes, Tatyana,” Yelena said, ignoring her daughter’s correction.

  “But I want to talk to the guest,” Tatyana said pouting and widening her eyes pleadingly.

  “I will not ask twice,” Yelena snapped, causing Tatyana to hop off her chair and hurry to the kitchen. “I’ll make your food,” she gestured at Zasha and Ivy. “But first, come. I show you where you stay.”

  Yelena walked out of the room briskly, causing Ivy to scurry after her in surprise. Zasha realized that she was left alone with her father, and that it probably wasn’t an accident, when he cleared his throat and gestured for her to sit down.

  “I’m sorry, Papa,” Zasha said, sitting down and folding her hands on her lap. “I found her next to the road, and then…”

  “Zasha,” Andrew cut her off, “I don’t want to hear any excuses. I understand that some things are beyond our control, but lately, you’ve been disrupting the peace. I understand that you’re growing up, but you must understand that if you want people to see you as an adult then you will face the consequences of an adult.”

  “Yes, Papa,” Zasha lowered her head in shame.

  Zasha wished that she could explain the restlessness inside of her. If she was able to figure it out for herself, then maybe
she’d be able to make others understand. Lately, life had become dull and she was going through the motions. How could she tell her father about the empty pit in her heart that called for something more? It wasn’t that she was unhappy with New Hope. Not really. It was just that she couldn’t imagine taking the final steps that would cement her life in New Hope forever. Somehow, Zasha knew that if she told her parents what she was feeling, she might break their hearts. The best thing to do was push it down and hope it would go away. Unfortunately, she kept finding herself in the midst of inappropriate situations. She had a feeling she wouldn’t stop landing herself in trouble until she got rid of that nagging voice at the back of her head that was telling her to run away and never stop.

  “Show me you’re ready to be an adult, my girl, and I will trust the decisions you make.”

  Those words echoed in Zasha’s mind as she lay in the camp bed on the other side of her room, listening to Ivy unpack her bag. Zasha kept seeing the slack-jawed expressions of shock on the men’s faces as Ivy revealed the gun. She had to focus on that, otherwise her thoughts went back to the sight of Evelyn being carried away on that awful stretcher.

  “I want to help you,” Zasha said suddenly, sitting up and looking at Ivy.

  “Well, you’re a bit late,” Ivy gestured at her nearly empty case. “I’m just about done.”

  “No,” Zasha shook her head. “I meant with the case. I think I can help you find the murderer. I could be your assistant.”

  “Pardon me?” Ivy asked incredulously, looking at Zasha strangely. “What do you mean? Where is this coming from? Only this afternoon you were trying to get rid of me.”

  “Think about it,” Zasha insisted. “We made a good team.”

  “No,” Ivy said, pursing her lips together. “Absolutely not. I don’t play well with others, kid. And I’m not about to take on a babysitting job in the middle of a murder case.”

  “I held my own today,” Zasha said, jutting her chin out. “I helped you find that gun and got you to the farm. Without me, you’d still be on the side of the road waiting for help. How are you going to find your way around this town without a guide? Besides, there’s no one in town who’s going to be stupid enough to talk to you. There is one way, though. And that’s if you’ve got someone they trust, that’s me, at your side.”

  Ivy hesitated for a moment and fixed Zasha with a thoughtful stare.

  “Okay, hot shot. And let’s say I let you work for me. How do I know you aren’t going to flake at the first sign of danger? You’re a proper little girl, I bet you’ve never gotten your hands dirty in your life.”

  “I’ve probably gotten my hands dirtier than you, city slicker.”

  They stared at each other in silence for a moment, both sizing the other up. To Zasha’s surprise, Ivy was the one who acted first by chuckling in amusement.

  “You know what? What do I have to lose? Welcome to the team, little bumpkin. Try not to get in my way.”

  Ivy turned back to her case and continued unpacking her things into the chest of drawers Zasha had vacated for her. Zasha watched her for a little while before laying back down and staring at the ceiling. A strange sort of hope spread in her chest and she had to fight the urge to smile. Finally, something was happening.

  Zasha knew instinctively that things would be different now. While she had once feared change, now that it was on her doorstep, she found that she felt confident enough to meet it head on.

  “Be brave enough to see this through,” Zasha told herself, clenching her eyes shut. She tried not to think about the fact that her future and her father’s respect were all riding on her success.

  Chapter Six

  “I don’t think this is such a good idea,” Zasha said uneasily as they walked into the hospital.

  Evelyn had been rushed to the nearest hospital in the town over. While it was expected that Zasha would visit her, of course Zasha would want to go visit her best friend in the hospital, but Zasha felt strange about going with Ivy.

  “Calm down,” Ivy said, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m just here to find a mechanic and make some headway on this case. There’s no need to be so fidgety. My goodness, you look as though you’re about to commit treason.”

  “Mr. Turner is a private man, and I can’t imagine that he’ll be too friendly under the present circumstances, Ivy. This is a bad idea.”

  “How many murder investigations have you worked on?” Ivy asked with a frown.

  “About as many as you have, I reckon,” Zasha pointed out. “You can’t have worked on all that many since you were in the army. Besides, I don’t think many people have hired a woman private investigator.”

  “This might surprise you, little bumpkin, but not everyone in the world is as sexist as the boors in your town. Where I’m from, people are willing to give a broad a chance, as long she’s up to the task.”

  “You’re delusional,” Zasha scoffed, rolling her eyes.

  She jumped out of the way of a nurse who was hurrying down the hall. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and the bouquet she was carrying was quivering because she couldn’t keep her hands from shaking.

  “Calm down,” Ivy chided. “You’re not doing anything wrong.”

  “Can’t you go find a mechanic and meet me here when you’re done?”

  “No way,” Ivy said, lifting her perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Evelyn is the only one who knows who the killer is. I need to know when she’ll wake up because I intend to be the first one to talk to her.”

  “Besides her father, you mean,” Zasha pointed out, looking out for Evelyn’s room number.

  “Naturally,” Ivy said in a tone of voice that informed Zasha that Ivy still intended to be the first one Evelyn spoke to. “First, we need to ascertain if the girl’s going to make it, of course. Her injuries looked severe.”

  Zasha stopped in the middle of the hallway and looked at Ivy in shock. Ivy was oblivious to Zasha’s reaction and walked a few steps before realizing that her companion wasn’t with her.

  “What on earth are you doing back there?” Ivy asked with a crease between her delicate brows. “Keep up, will you? We’ve got a lot to do today.”

  “It’s occurring to me, Ivy, that you’re not used to speaking to the victims of the crimes you investigate.”

  Ivy blinked in surprise, taken aback by Zasha’s frosty tone. Up until now, Zasha had been a sweet, if naïve, presence that Ivy didn’t think much about. Now, faced with Zasha’s obvious anger, Ivy felt a chill past her. There was power in this girl, hidden at first, but quickly becoming apparent.

  “Are you a victim?” Ivy asked, putting her hands in her pockets.

  In an effort to appease the residents of New Hope, Ivy had opted to wear a skirt. Unfortunately, even her skirts were seen as risqué. Her white pleated skirt stopped just below her knees and the sash she wore as a belt at her hips ensured the ensemble was more fashionable than anyone in New Hope had worn in a long time. It meant that the outfit was immediately deemed inappropriate and Mrs. Grey would say that it pushed the very limits of modest attire.

  “My best friend is fighting for her life, and yet you talk callously about her chances of survival as though the outcome were nothing more than the results of a tennis match. If you had any tact, you would’ve understood that while something like that might be true, it wasn’t necessary for you say it out loud.”

  “Would you prefer it if I lied to you? Do you want me to treat you with kid gloves like your parents do? Or would you like me to treat you as a grown woman?”

  “I would appreciate it if you showed some respect during this difficult time,” Zasha hissed, stepping closer to Ivy. “You’re going to be a poor investigator if you don’t improve your bedside manner”

  “People want results,” Ivy said with a shrug, “it’s what I get paid for. If I catch the culprit, what does it matter if I was a little brusque?”

  “How will you catch the culprit if the victim is too distraught to speak to you?” Zas
ha said, unwilling to back down.

  Although she’d never set foot in New York, or fought in a war, or stood up to a room full of disapproving men, it didn’t mean that she had any less worth than Ivy. Her opinion mattered just as much, and she was going to make sure that she was heard.

  “I suppose you make a fair point,” Ivy grumbled, looking away.

  “Kindness is simple,” Zasha said, deciding that her point had been made and that they could continue walking. “Just pretend you’re going through what the other person is experiencing then treat them the way you’d like to be treated.”

  “You’re very preachy,” Ivy complained, matching Zasha’s pace. “Are all you small town folks the same? Preaching about morality and righteousness?”

  “Are all you city folk so insensitive and boorish?” Zasha quipped, raising her eyebrow at Ivy.

  Ivy blinked in surprise and burst out laughing. She shook her head at Zasha, who looked as though she wasn’t sure what she should do.

  “Why, you’re full of surprises aren’t you?” Ivy asked with a small smile.

  Zasha blushed and looked away. Her mother had always complained that Zasha’s tongue was quicker than her brain. Over the years, Zasha had tried harder to filter her words, but sometimes something sarcastic slipped out and she’d immediately be flooded by a barrage of disapproval. In New Hope, everyone firmly believed that it took a village to raise a child, and actively involved themselves in the rearing of every single child.

  “We’re here,” Zasha said, looking nervously at the door. What condition would they find Evelyn in? The thought of seeing her best friend lying small and helpless in the hospital bed seemed more than Zasha could bear, and she had to take a deep breath to steady herself.

  “Be determined to be strong,” Ivy said, looking at Zasha carefully. “And you will be. The only way to make it through is if you’ve decided beforehand. Don’t let yourself be weak. Your friend needs you now.”

  Zasha looked down at her shoes and nodded slowly. Ivy’s words gave her strength, and she felt steely resolve settle in her stomach. She opened the door before she could overthink it, and stepped in.