Mother's Day Mayhem

by Lynn Cahoon

  I explained my feelings to Sasha. The shop was still empty so we sat on the couch, talking about my trip to Reedsport and the dead end we’d found there. The bell over the door sounded and Kyle rushed in.

  “You won’t believe what happened.” He sat on a chair opposite the couch. The look on his face was one of joy mixed with shock. “I got a call from another woman who says she’s my mom.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Sasha. “I thought you didn’t tell her about Kyle.”

  “I probably mentioned what he was doing and I might have let slip his name.” Sasha turned toward Kyle. “Look, I’m sorry I got involved. I should have kept out of it. It’s your business, I get it.”

  “No, that’s fine. If this woman really is my mother, then I owe you a big favor. I’ve been spending my time with a woman who must have lied to me at first, then felt bad about the lie. This Rebecca wants to come and meet me. This weekend.”

  “Really?” I glanced at my phone, hoping Greg had some news, but it stayed silent. “Look, maybe we should wait until we know more about her. Maybe just talking for a few weeks would be better. You’ve already had one disappointment. This could be a second one.”

  “Are you kidding? I’ve waited too long.” He glanced at his phone, hesitated, then leaned back. “I am overly excited about this. I do this. Every time she’d send a letter and tell me she’d see me on my birthday, I’d get dressed up that day and wait by the window until it got dark. Every stinking year.”

  “If it is your real mom, she’ll be there next week. Let’s just not get the emotion of the Mother’s Day holiday mixed in.”

  He nodded. “You’re right. You always have such good advice.” He picked up his phone. “I’ll let her know I’m not wiring the money.”

  “Wait, what? She asked you for money?” Sasha’s eyes widened and she grabbed his phone. “Tell me you didn’t send any.”

  “Hold on. Of course I didn’t. I’m not that stupid. Besides, she only needed a little to rent a car to get here.” He reached for his phone, then sighed and leaned back. “No, I am that stupid. You’re thinking she’s just after me for money. That she’s not even my mom.”

  “Greg is checking into her and the woman who lives in Reedsport.”

  He shot up out of his seat. “What? You told the police about this?”

  “I told Greg. He only wants the best for you. It’s not an official police investigation.” Or it wouldn’t be as long as this woman wasn’t scamming Kyle. Which I was afraid was actually happening. “Look, if you’re going to be mad at someone, be mad at me. I’m the one who broke your confidence.”

  “Twice.” He took his phone back from Sasha. “You broke it twice.”

  He walked out the door. The silence of the room seemed to condemn me as well.

  “You were only looking out for him,” Sasha said.

  For some reason, her words didn’t make me feel any better. I still felt like I’d been the one to tell that little boy at the window, time and time again, that his mother wasn’t coming for his birthday.

  My aunt came downstairs a few minutes later. Sasha and I were still sitting on the couch talking about Kyle. “Well, isn’t this cozy. If the two of you were customers, I’d feel a lot better about the state of the business.”

  “Come sit down with us.”

  She slowly made her way to the chair that Kyle had recently vacated. After she was seated, she leaned back in the chair and sighed. “Sasha, would you get me a cup of coffee and one of those sugar cookies with frosting?”

  “You’re feeling your arthritis today, aren’t you? Do you need me to work for you tonight?” I worried about my aunt. The fact she was living in the upstairs apartment over the shop didn’t help the arthritis she was dealing with after years of working in diners and coffee shops.

  “If I needed you to cover my shift I’d tell you.” She took the cup of coffee from Sasha and took a long sip. “I’m out of my stock upstairs. I came down to get a supply, but since you’re still here, I thought we could talk about this Mother’s Day get together.”

  The bell rang over the door and Sasha, having set down Aunt Jackie’s cookie, almost sprinted to the front of the shop. “I’ll handle that.”

  “As well you should since we’re paying you.”

  Sasha either didn’t hear my aunt’s words or she ignored them.

  I shook my head. “Just because you’re in pain doesn’t mean you should take it out on Sasha.” Or me, I thought. I could defend our employees without my aunt’s wrath.

  To my surprise, she nodded. “You’re right. I’ll apologize for being short with the girl before I go back upstairs. I am feeling my bones today. But I’ve taken my pills and I’ll do my yoga poses before lunch so I’ll be ready for my shift. Now, let’s talk about you. Did you know Greg’s mother was even coming this weekend?”

  “Not until a few weeks ago.” I explained how Greg had softened the shock by setting up an out of town trip just before. “I knew meeting the parents was coming, but I didn’t think it would be this weekend. Tell me you and Harrold are available that day. I don’t want to go alone.”

  “Of course we’ll go with you. Harrold’s so excited. He has a breakfast with his kids and some friends but he’ll be here right at eleven to take us to the restaurant.” Aunt Jackie broke off a small part of the cookie and considered it before she popped it into her mouth. “I like Sadie’s new sugar cookie recipe. It’s less crisp than the one she used to use.”

  “I’ll need to make sure Toby and Sasha are available to cover the shop that day.” I hadn’t even looked at this week’s schedule. My aunt had long since made that her domain and since I typically only worked morning shifts, I had stopped reviewing it.

  “Already done. In fact, Toby’s closing by himself so Sasha can spend most of the day with her grandmother and Olivia.” She sipped her coffee, watching me. “You haven’t said if you’re happy about this meeting.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m feeling like it’s more of an obligation than a get together. What if she doesn’t like me? I’m not like Sherry at all.” My fears spilled out as I talked to my aunt.

  “Greg seems to think that’s a good thing. I like Sherry, but for all of her glitz and glamour, there’s not much substance there. You’re a better fit for our Greg. You remember that.” She finished her coffee and wrapped her cookie up in a napkin. “I need to grab a bag of coffee and get upstairs. My shows are about to start.”

  “Thanks for coming with me.” I watched my aunt as she paused at the coffee bar and chatted with Sasha. Then she disappeared into the back to get the coffee and take the inside stairs to her apartment. My aunt could be frustrating and exasperating, but in the end, she was family. And family stuck together. If Kyle didn’t have a blood relation family anymore, he was stuck with the South Cove family he’d built. And he was just going to have to get used to it.

  I’d give him a day before I took over a batch of cookies to make up. Maybe by that time, Greg would have some answers on this new possible mother. Having someone who could run background checks for you was a definite advantage. And Kyle would reap the benefits of having someone to watch his back.

  As I walked home, I wondered if we could have someone come and talk to the Business-to-Business group on being safe in today’s internet world. It was scary how fast this woman had figured out who Kyle was from just the few breadcrumbs that Sasha had unwittingly let slip. What else did people know about us just from our Facebook pages or other social media?

  When I got home, I sent an email to Bill Sullivan about the topic to see if he had any suggestions, then I went online to find a speaker. Maybe it was South Cove’s location next to Silicon Valley, but it didn’t take long for me to have several options. I sent those as an addition to my email and then went to make a late lunch.

  CHAPTER 7

  The week seemed to rush by and Sun
day lunch just kept getting closer. Thursday, Amy and I were sitting at Diamond Lille’s and I was telling her that Greg hadn’t responded to my calls except for a quick text once a day to tell me he was still working on it. “When I stopped by after my shift on Wednesday, he was out of the office. Or at least that’s what Esmeralda told me. Do you think he’s dodging me?”

  “Actually, I know he’s been busy with Bill and Marvin. They went to Bakerstown to a meeting on Wednesday. I think Marvin is trying to strike a deal to pay Bakerstown to take over our police duties.”

  “You’re kidding?” I wondered if Greg had known about the mayor’s latest attempt to put him out of a job last weekend when we were on our mini vacation. “How long has this been in the works?”

  “Bill and Greg just found out on Monday. Marvin’s been meeting with the Bakerstown crew for weeks.” Amy shook her head. “That guy doesn’t know the meaning of the word loyalty. The good news is from the notes Bill’s giving me to put together for the council meeting next week, the numbers aren’t in Marvin’s favor. He thought it would be cheaper to merge, but for what they’re charging, it would be twice as much as just raising Greg’s budget to make one more officer full time. Which is more than what we need right now.”

  “I hadn’t even considered he had something else going on. Now I feel like a bad girlfriend.” I sipped my vanilla milkshake as I considered Greg’s situation.

  “You take on too much of other people’s problems. Greg can handle this. He has Bill fighting for him. And like I said, the numbers aren’t going in Marvin’s direction. I can’t believe he didn’t do his homework before taking a stick to this hornets’ nest. He’s going to get burned on this one.” Amy finished the last of her fries. “Anyway, before I have to get back, tell me what you’re wearing to this lunch? Did you buy something new?”

  Fear gripped me. “No. Do you think I needed to? I was just going to wear my white sundress with the eyelet. I like that one.”

  “And you’ll be so nervous, you’ll spill on it with the first bite of food you take. No, nothing white.” She stared at me and I could see her dressing me with her mind. “You have a cobalt blue maxi. Wear that with your hair up in a messy bun. Silver jewelry. Not too much. Maybe a couple of chains and some post earrings. Put on some makeup and you’ll be perfect.”

  “You think that’s enough? Sherry probably would buy designer for this and have a hair and nail appointment before lunch.” I dragged a French fry in Lille’s special sauce. Maybe I should have ordered a salad. I could lose five, maybe ten pounds by Sunday if I didn’t eat until then. Amy reached over and squeezed my hand.

  “You’re not Sherry. And that’s what we’ve got to show her. Sherry hurt her little boy. Now, she has to see you as the woman he always needed. An anti-Sherry.” Amy looked at her watch. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. Bill’s bringing back the notes so we can make a report for the council. Marvin’s out for the weekend with Tina celebrating Mother’s Day in the city.”

  “I didn’t think he and Tina had any kids.”

  Amy stood and put bills on the table for her meal. “They don’t. Tina just doesn’t like to miss out on any possible holidays that could be all about her.”

  I thought about the anti-Sherry comment and grinned. That role I could totally play. Tomorrow, I’d take those cookies to Kyle, even if I hadn’t heard from Greg, and show him that he had friends who cared about him. Even if they screwed up sometimes.

  * * * *

  Friday morning, Greg showed up in the shop right after the commuters left. And with him came Kyle and Josh.

  “I have to strongly voice my disapproval of your manhandling of my employee,” Josh said, following Greg closely. “I’m sure he’s entitled to legal representation before being questioned by the police.”

  “For the last time, I’m not questioning him. I’m giving him information.” Greg shook his head. “Jill, will you bring over four cups and a carafe of coffee? And come and sit with us. We need to talk.”

  “And bring some of those brownies you have,” Josh added. “If I have to close up my shop for this meeting, it might as well be worth my time.”

  I didn’t point out that Josh didn’t open until eleven on Fridays and it was only nine. Because he was protecting Kyle, I’d give him some slack. Kyle was the only one who hadn’t said anything since entering the shop.

  As I poured the coffee, I watched him. His arms were crossed and his eyes dark. The bad boy who’d turned good had turned back into his angry self. This might not be a productive meeting. Setting the plate of brownies in the middle of the table, I paused before I sat. “Kyle, do you want something besides coffee?”

  The look he gave me could have singed my hair. “No. Thank. You.”

  Greg smiled and patted the empty spot at the table. “Sit down, Jill. We’ve got things to talk about.”

  “I don’t. So if you don’t mind, I’ll go back to work.” Kyle started to stand, but the look that passed between him and Greg made him sink back into his seat. “Whatever. Talk.”

  Greg opened a file. “Kyle, Jill told me she was looking into these women who claim to be your mother. When we accidently met the one who lived in Reedsport, I was concerned so I did some digging.”

  “Accidently met? Seriously? You’re going to play that line?” Kyle rolled his eyes.

  “Let me get through what I found out. It’s not pretty.” Greg’s voice turned soft.

  “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” Kyle leaned back, then came forward again. “Actually, no, let me tell the bad news. You found my mom and she doesn’t want anything to do with me. Case closed. I shouldn’t reach out again or she’ll get a restraining order. I get it. I’m just a bad memory.”

  “Kyle, no. That’s not what I’m going to say. Like I said, I did some research on both of these women. Neither one is your mother. It appears the one who said she was from Santa Maria really is named Rebecca Nabors but she’s a con artist and has a long rap sheet of getting money from people who fall for her stories. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, and married a guy with the last name Nabors.”

  “Actually, after I thought about what she’d said that time she called, she didn’t give me any information about herself. I’d asked where she’d been, but she just blew me off. After I talked to Sasha and Jill, I knew she was lying to me.” He met my gaze. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to apologize for being such a jerk that day.”

  “No need.” My eyes were filling with tears so I grabbed a napkin. Kyle was too sweet to have to go through this. I turned to Greg. “So what about the woman we met in Reedsport? Accidentally.”

  Kyle snorted, but this time there was actual humor in his tone.

  “She’s Jodi Adaur. Legal name Josephine. I guess our pool player really did know her. She grew up just north of Reedsport but when she got out of prison, she moved there and started a new life, with a new name.” Greg looked at Kyle. “She was your mother’s cell mate for over six years. I guess the women were close.”

  “Not my mom, but a loser, like my mom. Great.” Kyle looked like a balloon with the air slowly releasing.

  Josh put his hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “Let Detective King tell the story and then we can figure out what it means to you now.”

  I was stunned by the simple act of kindness. Josh had moved the plate of brownies nearer to Kyle, but the kid was ignoring them.

  “Kyle, there’s no good way to say this. Your mother died in prison. She had cancer and before they could treat it, she was gone. From what I can gather, Jodi took her name when she left prison a year later. She says she was hiding from an ex-husband and being Becky was just easier. Especially since she wanted to go home to Oregon.”

  “She’s dead? How long ago?” Now I could see the tears in Kyle’s eyes.

  “Six years. The warden said he talked to your grandmother and they made arrangements for the body to be buried
in a small graveyard north of Bakerstown.” Greg handed Kyle a sheet of paper. “Your grandmother never told you?”

  Kyle shook his head. “I guess she thought me knowing would totally destroy me. I was deep into drugs by then. The only thing I was holding onto was the hope that my mother would someday show up.”

  “And now, how do you feel now?” Greg’s question shook me. Did he think that Kyle might slip?

  “Dude, I’m okay. Hurt. Shocked. Stunned.” Kyle lifted his head and met our gazes one at a time. “But thankful. Thankful I know and thankful for all of you. I’m not the guy I was three years ago when Mr. Thomas took a chance on me. I have a life here. I have friends. I have someone special.”

  “You have family here. Sometimes, the family you make is just as strong or stronger than blood.” Josh’s words were the last straw for Kyle and now the tears fell. Josh reached over and hugged him. It was the kindest act I’d ever seen the antique dealer do. And I could have hugged him myself.

  Kyle wiped his eyes and finally took a sip of coffee. “Thank you all for sticking your noses into my business.”

  “Anytime.” I wiped my own eyes. “Eat a brownie. They’re good for you.”

  Greg laughed. “Just don’t take healthy eating tips from Jill. She only knows comfort food.”

  CHAPTER 8

  Sunday morning, I was a pile of nerves. And to make things worse, the shop was slower than a migrating turtle. I’d stocked the new books, ordered more, gone over sales numbers from Sasha’s book club yesterday, and it was only nine o’clock. Next up on the busy list was cleaning and organizing the cabinets over the counter. I’d taken out all the cups when I heard the bell over the door chime.

  Turning to greet my customer, I climbed down from the stool when I saw Kyle had entered the shop. “Hey, want some coffee and a piece of chocolate on chocolate cheesecake? Sadie went crazy on this recipe and it’s freaking amazing.”

  “Sounds great.” He walked up and sat at the counter. He sat a worn blue journal next to him. “I wanted to tell you thanks.”