Sins of the Mother

by Megan Mollson

  “You don’t know what happened between us, do you?” Daniel asked with a smirk.

  “She was murdered in her kitchen,” Zasha said suddenly, causing everyone to look at her in surprise.

  She felt vulnerable in her thin lacy black dress, and she touched her arm awkwardly. Ivy nodded at her encouragingly, and she took a step forward. If Ivy could be brave, then so could she.

  “Mary was minding her own business, and someone came into her kitchen. They killed her and her daughter in cold blood. Then they went through the house looking for something. They made a mess of everything. You know how Mary felt about a mess.”

  Her words seemed to have a calming effect on Daniel, and he watched her with glassy eyes. He hiccupped lightly and took a step toward her. This time, it was Sebastian who stepped forward to protect her, but she stopped him with a sharp glance.

  “She was very tidy,” Daniel said, his voice pained. “She hated it when things were a mess.”

  “Yes,” Zasha said with a quick nod. “She hated it. Her murderer didn’t care. They just stepped over her body and went ahead anyway. They disrespected her in the worst possible way. Do you want to disrespect her further? I heard you loved her.”

  “She picked someone else,” Daniel said with a frown. “She didn’t want me.”

  “That doesn’t mean that you stopped loving her,” Zasha said, her voice was soft and gentle. “Things didn’t work out between the two of you, but that doesn’t mean that you should disrespect her. Give her what she deserves. Let her husband grieve in peace. You can get what’s yours on a different day.”

  “I don’t have anything left to remember her by,” Daniel said pathetically, his shoulders drooping.

  “That’s a lie, and you know it,” Zasha said firmly, keeping her gaze trained on Daniel. “You have many memories. You were her first love. You get to remember her that way. Don’t ruin that by getting into a fight with her husband. It’s not what Mary wanted. You would’ve given anything to make her happy once, well, do that one last time. Do what her murderer didn’t do and show her some respect. Isn’t that what she deserves?”

  Daniel hesitated. His eyes flickered toward the house and Sebastian braced himself for a fight. Zasha held up her hand to stop him, keeping her gaze on Daniel. He couldn’t seem to look away from her too long, and he looked back at her, hanging his head in shame.

  “I never wanted to hurt her,” Daniel said sadly.

  “Did you hurt her?” Ivy asked, moving so that she was standing next to Zasha. “What did you do, Daniel?”

  “I…” he shook his head and looked away quickly.

  “Did he just confess to murder?” Sebastian asked Tom.

  Tom shrugged his shoulders and kept his eyes on Zasha. He looked as though he was contemplating snatching her up and running away. Sebastian looked at him in amusement and shook his head.

  “You never meant to hurt her,” Zasha repeated. “What happened, Daniel? Tell us your side of the story.”

  “I don’t…”

  “You can do it, Daniel,” Ivy said, giving him a soft smile. “Tell us what happened, and you can make this all go away. It must be torture, carrying the awful truth around with you like that.”

  “It’s not what you think,” Daniel said with a pained expression. He looked toward the house and frowned. “Let me get what I came to get, and I can show you. I won’t let James see me. He won in the end. She chose him. I won’t cause a scene.”

  “We’re not stupid,” Sebastian said sternly. “You’re not going in that house, no matter what you say to us. If you’re going to confess, then do it now.”

  “Daniel, listen to me,” Zasha said kindly. “We need to know what you’re talking about. Tell us the truth. We can’t let you in the house, but maybe you could tell me what you’re looking for and I can go get it.”

  “No,” Daniel said, shaking his head firmly. “You wouldn’t know where to get it. I don’t know myself. She would’ve hidden them.”

  “Hidden what?” Ivy asked, tilting her head slightly.

  “No,” Daniel shook his head. “I can’t tell you, I should show you.”

  “How many times are you going to make us say it?” Sebastian asked in annoyance. “You’re not going into that house. You’re making a fool of yourself. Leave.”

  “Daniel,” Zasha said quickly, before he could retaliate. “What are you looking for?”

  “Letters,” Daniel said, his shoulders drooping. “We wrote to each other a few times after she was married, and she never replied to my last letter. I know that if anyone finds those letters then I’ll look guilty. I only want to be able to explain myself. Everyone already thinks I murdered her.”

  “This doesn’t help your case,” Tom pointed out. “What were you going to do? Start a fight and run away with the letters? You obviously haven’t thought this through.”

  A sound of alarm distracted them all and they turned around to see someone standing in the doorway.

  “We need to leave,” Zasha decided. She walked up to Daniel and pushed him toward the car. “Can you still drive?”

  “I’m not leaving,” Daniel decided, folding his arms over his chest. As he spoke, Zasha could smell the scent of liquor and wrinkled her nose.

  “He’s too drunk to drive,” she announced. “Ivy, can you drive?”

  “Let’s go,” Ivy said, hurrying toward the car.

  “There’s no way you’re leaving without me,” Sebastian decided. He grabbed Daniel’s shirt and pulled him toward the car.

  “I’ll go with you,” Daniel said, smacking Sebastian’s hand away. “But I’m only talking to her.” He pointed at Zasha, his mouth set in a firm line.

  “No,” Tom said, shaking his head and grabbing Zasha’s hand. “You’re not going anywhere near her.”

  “Tom,” Zasha protested. “You can’t make that decision for me.”

  “You’re not thinking clearly,” Tom insisted. “You can’t get into a car with these people. He might be a murderer.”

  “If you’re that worried about me, then get in the car too. You can come with,” Zasha compromised, pulling her hand away from him.

  “You know I can’t do that. What would my parents say? They need my support.”

  “Your parents are adults,” Zasha said, walking toward the car.

  Sebastian was watching their interaction with great interest as he pushed Daniel toward the car. Daniel shook his head in irritation but got into the car without much fuss.

  “You’re allowed to do things on your own,” Zasha said earnestly. “You’re allowed to make your own decisions.”

  More people were gathering at the doorway, and Zasha knew that they had to leave soon. She appealed to Tom with her eyes, but he hesitated and looked back at the house.

  “Come on, Zasha!” Ivy called, starting the car with a roar.

  Zasha looked back at Tom again, but he was firmly rooted in his place. His expression was conflicted, and she knew in her heart what his choice was.

  “I always knew if you had to choose between us, you’d choose them,” Zasha said sadly. She sighed in disappointment and hurried toward the car.

  Zasha didn’t dare look back as they drove away. She knew that she would be in trouble for getting into a car with a murder suspect, but she knew she’d regret it if she didn’t. And Zasha was tired of having regrets.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I think we can stop here,” Zasha said as they drove past an empty field.

  “What’s the matter, honey?” Ivy asked in amusement. “Don’t want any of the prim and proper citizens of New Hope to see you?”

  “It’s not that,” Zasha said in embarrassment. “I thought we wanted to go to a private place to talk. This seems private.”

  “Don’t mind, Zasha,” Sebastian said in amusement. “She always cares too much about what people think.”

  “That’s not true,” Zasha said with a frown. “If anything, you care too little about what people think about you
. Your whole future is ahead of you. Why would you want to ruin that now?”

  “There’s a whole wide world out there,” Daniel said, slurring his words slightly. “You still have so many people you have to meet. I wouldn’t worry about the opinions of the people in one little town in the middle of nowhere. Your future isn’t tied up here.”

  “You came back here, didn’t you?” Zasha pointed out. “And look how that worked out. Maybe I shouldn’t be listening to anything you have to say. I’m not overly concerned about what people have to say about me, but I don’t want to be quick to burn any bridges.”

  “It’s too late for that, darling,” Sebastian said with a chuckle. “Didn’t you set fire to all your bridges when you left Tom?”

  “I didn’t burn anything,” Zasha said, her cheeks started burning and she was struck with sudden fear, “I’ll go back eventually. It’s just a fight. We’ll make up.”

  Even as she said the words, she doubted if they were true. What if Tom assumed that they had broken up and told his mother? Her heart sank when she imagined him telling Mrs. Grey what she had said. If her words got back to her future mother-in-law, then there would be no future.

  “Right,” Sebastian said, staring out the window with a frown. His exuberance left him, and he seemed depressed about something.

  “The girl was right, let’s stop here,” Daniel said, sounding bored. “I don’t feel like driving anymore.”

  Ivy dutifully stopped the car and they all got out. After their dramatic exit, they all felt somewhat sheepish and awkward. Zasha wondered if it was like that in the novels she read. The heroines always did something dramatic and heroic, but how did they feel about their actions once the heat of the moment had cooled down?

  “Daniel, we’ve heard the rumors about you and Mary,” Ivy said, leaning against the hood of the car. “I’d like to hear your side of the story.”

  “How come she’s so polite to actual suspects but when it comes to grieving family members, she pulls out all the stops?” Zasha asked incredulously.

  “I don’t know,” Sebastian said sullenly, staring at the floor. When he realized that Zasha was staring at him curiously, he perked up and shrugged. “I guess it’s her method. Although, I don’t know if my brother will ever fully recover from her interrogation.”

  “Poor Jeremy,” Zasha winced. “How’s he doing?”

  “I told you,” Daniel said, stretching his arms. “I’ll only talk to her.” He pointed at Zasha who looked at him in surprise.

  “Me?” Zasha asked in shock. “Why? I thought you only wanted me to come with.”

  “No,” Daniel said, kicking the dirt. “I’ll only talk to you.”

  “You’re joking,” Ivy said incredulously. “Why?”

  “You punched me in the face!” Daniel reminded her, gesturing at his nose where the blood had already dried.

  “You grabbed my hand!” Ivy retorted, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Daniel said stubbornly. “I’ll only talk to her. She’s the nicest one among you and I’m tired of this stupid town hating me.”

  Zasha looked at Ivy nervously and shrugged. She didn’t know what to do or say. When she had spoken to him earlier, her goal had been clear. What if she messed up the interrogation and he got away? What if she asked the wrong questions and a crucial clue slipped away?

  “Don’t doubt yourself,” Ivy said with a sigh and gestured at Daniel. “I’ll help you along the way.”

  “Okay,” Zasha said, scratching her head nervously. “Daniel. What happened between you and Mary?”

  “Didn’t someone already tell you that?” Daniel asked in amusement.

  “There are two sides to every story,” Zasha said simply. “Don’t you want to use this chance to tell us yours? I don’t think we can rely on gossip to get us the truth.”

  “I suppose not,” Daniel said softly. “Are you sure you grew up in this town? You don’t seem like the rest of them.”

  “She’s different,” Sebastian said, giving Zasha a sidelong glance. “It’s almost as if she’s immune to this place.”

  “I see that,” Daniel said, nodding seriously.

  “We’re not here to talk about me,” Zasha said, blushing a bright red. “We’re here to talk about you. Are you going to tell us what happened, or not?”

  “Alright, alright,” Daniel said, lifting his hands in surrender. “Mary was a bit of a wild child back in the day. She was tired of this town and its judgment, and I guess she liked that I didn’t do what everyone expected me to. I was still new in town, and apparently, I was big city enough for her tastes. We started a relationship.”

  “Was it serious?” Zasha asked.

  “As serious as your relationship with the dopey looking kid,” Daniel said, taking a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it. “In that he’s more serious about you than you are about him.”

  “That’s not true,” Zasha said with a frown. “I love him.”

  “Is that so?” Daniel asked, sauntering toward her. She took a step back, but he studied her face carefully. “Tell me, if he asked you to marry him tomorrow, would you do it?”

  Zasha became aware of the fact that everyone was staring at her and she looked down at her shoes.

  “We’re not here to talk about me,” she repeated. “How serious were things between the two of you?”

  “I would’ve married her,” Daniel said with a shrug. “But she broke up with me a month before the ceremony. I bet her folks were over the moon when she did that. Her daddy always hated me. And her mommy couldn’t keep her eyes off me.”

  Zasha looked away distastefully and he chuckled in amusement.

  “Let’s just say that I loved her more than she loved me,” Daniel said with a sigh. “They say rejection is good for the soul, so I guess it ended well.”

  “What happened when she rejected you?” Zasha asked. “Or rather, how did you react?”

  “Badly,” Daniel said with a shrug. “I’d never been rejected before. And I loved her. I begged her not to leave, I got mad and shouted. I tried to make her stay. In the end, I had to let her go. I wrote her a few letters. She replied once or twice, but in the meantime, I got over her.”

  “Yeah right,” Sebastian said, raising his eyebrows. “You got over her? Then why did you come to her funeral to try and cause trouble?”

  “I told you, I only came for the letters,” Daniel said with a shrug. “I knew it would make me look suspicious, and I don’t need any more heat on my back. If James wanted to fight me, then that’s his own prerogative.”

  “I think you’re lying,” Sebastian challenged. “I think you still held a flame for her, and you came back to get her. When she rejected you, you couldn’t handle it and you snapped. You killed her in her kitchen and then you killed her daughters because they saw what happened.”

  “Nice theory, champ,” Daniel said sarcastically, “if only it weren’t for the fact that I have a rock-solid alibi.”

  “What is it?” Ivy asked curiously.

  “I was at the farmers’ association meeting all afternoon,” Daniel said with a sigh. “Although he’d hate to admit it, James can confirm my story. Oh, and about a dozen farmers saw me too. I’m innocent. I didn’t kill Mary.”

  “I see,” Zasha said with a frown. “Okay. Well, did you see Mary after you got back? Someone said they saw you arguing with her after church one day.”

  “Is that so?” Daniel asked curiously. “Well, they must’ve drawn the wrong conclusion. I never go to church, never have. If they saw me arguing with someone close to the church, then they saw the wrong person. Ask the reverend, he’s been trying to save my soul for decades.”

  “So, you didn’t see her once in all the time that you got back?” Zasha asked incredulously. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s possible. New Hope isn’t a big town.”

  “Yeah, I saw her,” Daniels said with a shrug. “I saw her at the general store one morning. She looked at me, greeted me
, and walked away. That was it. Like I said, what happened between us happened a long time ago. It was over, and we both moved on. I’m not stupid. I knew there was no chance for us. Come on, she had two kids. Sure, I still think about her from time to time. But that’s as far as it ever goes. You’ll see, kid,” he nodded at Sebastian. “You’ll never forget her.” He looked quickly at Zasha who was staring thoughtfully in the distance.

  “Do you know who might have wanted to hurt her?” Zasha asked with a frown. “You said she used to be a wild child. Maybe someone from her past came back and decided to kill her.”

  “Look, she was a wild child by New Hope standards. That doesn’t mean much. People thought she was out of control because she stayed out past curfew a couple of times and dated me. It was minor rebellion, and that was it. But you know how people in this town are starved for entertainment. They consistently make mountains out of molehills.”

  “So, you don’t think anyone would want to hurt her?” Zasha asked. She felt discouraged. How were they ever going to find out who killed Mary Turner?

  “I never said that,” Daniel said, holding up his finger to stop her. “I said she wasn’t much of a wild child. That doesn’t mean that no one wanted to hurt her. You see, around the time Mary and I were seeing each other, James was also seeing someone.”

  “What?” Zasha asked in surprise. “You’re kidding. Mary would never take another girl’s guy.”

  “Well, James was very hush hush about it. Nothing was official, but all the signs were there. Mary was the prettiest girl in town, though. No one compared to her. So, when Mary crooked her finger, good ol’ James came running. He probably dumped his secret love for her. I don’t know who it was, but I can bet that she didn’t have any love for Mary.”

  “So, that’s all you’ve got?” Ivy asked in annoyance. “A half-baked story about some mysterious girl who might or might not exist?”

  “It’s more than you had,” Daniel said in annoyance. “And no, that’s not all that I have. Remember how I said that James could corroborate my story, but that he probably wouldn’t?”

  “Yes,” Zasha said quickly, giving Ivy a warning look.