Murder with Orange Pekoe Tea

by Karen Rose Smith

  “How much time?”

  “The doctor wasn’t specific about that because everyone’s different and stun guns have different voltages. It depends on the circumstances. I’m more worried about your emotional health than your physical health.”

  Daisy shifted in her seat toward him. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Do you feel safe? Like you can walk anywhere . . . be anywhere . . . do anything and not look over your shoulder?”

  “That’s not a fair question,” she murmured.

  “It’s fair enough,” he gently insisted. “You were attacked. Is your mind saying that will never happen again? Or is it saying it might happen again and you’d better be careful?”

  “I’d better be careful,” Daisy whispered.

  They were both quiet for the rest of the drive. When they drove up to the garage, Daisy sighed. “That’s Mom and Dad’s car.”

  “You can tell them you’re still feeling shaky and go to your room,” Jonas suggested.

  When she shook her head, a headache pounded in her temples. “That doesn’t work with them. They’d be in my room . . . sitting on my bed . . . holding my hand.”

  “You’re going to have a lot of people around and I don’t want to add to the noise.”

  Panicking a bit, she reached out and gripped his arm. “I like you being there.”

  Obviously reading her expression and her dismay, he smiled. “I’ll go in with you and help you get settled. Your parents haven’t met Felix yet so that should take some of the attention off of you. I’d like to leave him with you overnight. He’s a good protector. Jazzi can let him go out into your yard or take him for a walk while you rest.”

  She would definitely like to ask Jonas to stay, but she didn’t want him to get the wrong message . . . that she couldn’t handle what had happened to her. And she didn’t want him to feel as if she were using him as a bodyguard. Still, she’d accept his offer of letting Felix stay. She would feel protected when he was around, and Jazzi would be with her too. She had a security system. She wasn’t going to be weak about this whole situation.

  “I’d love to have Felix stay with me. I’ll even let him share my bed. That way he doesn’t need one of his own.”

  Jonas had stopped the SUV now and he turned to look at her. She wondered what he was thinking. His green eyes were bright and dark with many emotions sliding under the surface.

  “I think that’s a good idea unless Marjoram and Pepper decide to join you on the bed too. You might have to sleep on the floor.”

  He was trying to make her laugh, and she did manage a small smile.

  As soon as Daisy walked into the house, she realized her parents had brought along her Aunt Iris. She could see they were all terribly concerned.

  Her mother and her aunt rushed to her first. They studied her for a long minute as if they were afraid to touch her.

  “I won’t shock you back,” she told them. “I’m going to be fine.”

  Her dad came to her and put his arms around her, giving her a big hug. “We’re not going to stay. Your mom and Iris brought food. We just want to make sure you have everything you need.”

  Jonas and Felix walked in behind her. Felix came to her side and put his nose into her palm.

  “Who’s this?” her dad asked.

  “This is Felix. Jonas adopted him. Jonas is going to leave him with me tonight to help me feel more secure.”

  “Are you afraid someone will break in?” Rose asked, often saying her thoughts before she filtered them.

  “Rose, don’t even suggest such a thing,” Iris scolded. “No one can break in here. The security system is tied into the police department. And Daisy won’t open the door until she sees who is outside either on her phone monitor or through the peephole. Right, Daisy?”

  Daisy was still feeling a little shaky. As if Jonas could see that, he wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her over to the sofa. “Why don’t you get comfy there?”

  “I’ll bring you iced tea, Mom,” Jazzi offered. “Vi’s going to come over in a little bit.” She shifted her attention to Jonas. “Do you think that’s okay? She’ll leave Sammy with Foster.”

  Daisy raised her hand. “Of course, Vi can come. I just need to catch my breath and let everything go back to normal.”

  “We’re going to go,” her father said.

  “But, Sean . . .” Rose protested.

  “I think it’s best for Daisy if fewer people are here.”

  Felix was at the arm of the sofa by Daisy’s head. He looked as if he’d stationed himself there and he wasn’t budging.

  Rose sat on the edge of the sofa. “I brought left over roast beef that you can use for sandwiches or a main course and mashed potatoes. There’s fruit salad, too. Your aunt made some of that tapioca pudding you like so much.”

  “What did you two do, start cooking as soon as you got the call about me?” Daisy asked with a bit of amusement.

  Her aunt and her mother exchanged glances.

  “You did.” Daisy actually laughed. “I promise I’ll use the food and I won’t starve.”

  “I can cook too,” Jazzi said, bringing Daisy a glass of iced tea. “I put a little sugar in it,” she said. “I thought that might help.”

  Daisy smiled again. They were all going to take care of her in their own ways.

  Her mother moved her attention from Daisy to Felix. She reached out her hand to him and he sniffed it. After another sniff of her fingers and her wrist, he took a step away from Daisy toward Rose and lowered his head.

  “Does that mean he wants me to pet him?” Rose asked, looking up at Jonas.

  “You read him right,” Jonas said. “It does. I hadn’t even brought him home yet when I got a call from his previous owner. She had to go into assisted living and it was obvious she loved Felix a great deal. So had her husband. Her son trained him. I’m just learning what commands he knows. The best part is he’s very intuitive and understands my tone of voice and gestures.”

  By now Rose was scratching behind the dog’s ears and down his flank. “He really is beautiful. Such gold and cream fur.” She looked up at Jonas. “I think the two of you are going to fit together well.”

  “But what about the cats when he’s here?” Daisy’s dad asked.

  Jazzi answered, “They’re going to get along. After everybody leaves, I’m sure Marjoram and Pepper will come down and sit on the back of the sofa with Mom. They met Felix the other night and after the initial shenanigans were over, they got along. It must be the good vibes in this house,” she joked.

  “I think that’s very true,” Daisy said. “There are good vibes in this house. It’s filled with care and love, and we all keep it that way.”

  Sean took Rose’s elbow and helped her up. “Come on. Let’s leave Daisy in peace so she can get some rest.”

  Aunt Iris came over to her, bent down and kissed her cheek. “You stay safe. Keep a low profile. Just bake and serve tea and spend time with Jonas, the girls, and Felix. The police will take care of this murder.”

  Daisy hoped that was so, but she wasn’t sure about it. When Detective Rappaport had taken her statement at the hospital, she couldn’t tell him much at all. Her back had been to her assailant. The assailant’s voice had been gravelly and low. It could have been a man whispering. It could have been a woman lowering her voice. There was no way to know. The thrift shop didn’t have security cameras. The detective would be checking with the other businesses to see if they had cameras that could have caught something. But Daisy had a feeling that this person had been very careful.

  Once everyone but Jonas, Jazzi, and Felix had left, Daisy propped pillows on the arm of the sofa and slid down, resting her head against them. Felix sat on the floor right beside her and she could put her hand down into his soft buff fur and feel his comfort. Jazzi bustled about making sure Daisy had iced tea, water, a cookie, and anything else she might want. The truth was, Daisy’s stomach was queasy and she didn’t want to think about eati
ng.

  She said to Jazzi, “Can you turn the air conditioning down. I think it’s cold in here.”

  “You’re having a reaction to the adrenaline crash after the event.” Jonas stood, took the afghan from the back of the sofa, and spread it out over Daisy. As he folded it down under her neck, he said, “You just have to relax. Think of Jazzi and the college she wants to go to . . . think about Felix and playing ball with him out in the backyard. Remember how much fun it is to play with Sammy. Good thoughts, Daisy. Your body just needs time to recover from the shock. The best way for it to do that is for you to relax.”

  Sitting on the edge of the sofa, he took her hand. He stroked her palm and then the top of her hand.

  “That feels good,” she said, letting her eyes drift closed.

  He continued to stroke her wrist and palm. “It would be better if you don’t go into work tomorrow.”

  Her eyes opened and she almost sat up. But he pushed on her shoulders so she tilted back again.

  “I’m not going to let whoever did this win,” she protested. “I’ll be fine in the morning and—”

  Jonas cut her off. “Maybe you will be. Maybe you won’t be.”

  “Jonas, I’m not someone who curls up into a ball after a scare.”

  “I know that better than anyone,” he assured her.

  Her eyes grew moist with determination. Then she let out a sigh. “I can take the day off tomorrow. But I’m not going to just sit around.”

  “Of course, you’re not. But I’m going to check in often.”

  “You’re a good man.” All of the feelings she had for Jonas made her voice wobbly.

  Jazzi had been making another pitcher of iced tea in the kitchen but now she came into the living room area and eyed the three of them. “I just got a text from Vi. She’s on her way.”

  “That’s fine,” Daisy assured her.

  Jazzi returned to the kitchen and in the few minutes it took until Vi arrived, Jonas leaned down and kissed Daisy. She knew when he straightened and gazed at her, her cheeks definitely had more color.

  The doorbell rang and Jazzi went to open the door.

  * * *

  The next day Daisy rested as the doctor and Jonas suggested. However, late morning she called Vi and asked her to come over for lunch. Sammy would have a chance to play with Felix and they could get to know each other.

  Vi arrived around noon.

  After a kiss and a hug from Daisy, Sammy wanted to be put down. “How do you think we should do this?” Daisy asked Vi.

  “Let’s let Felix smell him first. That might get them used to each other.”

  “You sound like you know how to coax a dog and a kid into a friendly situation,” Daisy said.

  “I’ve heard talk about it in the mommy group. And the truth is, I looked it up on the Internet too. I read what vets suggested. Someday Foster and I might want to adopt a dog for Sammy. This will be good practice.”

  “Felix is pretty mellow. That’s good when you have kids. I did some reading too. English cream golden retrievers are supposed to have sweet dispositions. He certainly does.”

  Vi, who was holding Sammy, set him on the sofa. Daisy knew she had to watch him continuously to make sure he didn’t get up on his knees and hands and fall off wherever she put him. Right now, however, he was staring at Felix who had been lying on the other side of the coffee table. Daisy and Vi both watched as Sammy squealed and giggled.

  As if taking that as a signal, Felix got to his feet, rounded the coffee table and sat at the sofa, his nose at Sammy’s feet.

  Sammy immediately tried to reach for the dog. He couldn’t.

  “He’s going to cry,” Vi warned. “He gets frustrated when he can’t get to where he wants to go.”

  Instead of crying though, Sammy used the back of the sofa to squiggle around and end up on his knees and hands. Vi was ready to swoop in if he moved toward the edge.

  Felix put his nose toward Sammy and positioned his head in such a way as to prevent Sammy from falling off.

  “Does Felix know what he’s doing?” Vi asked with surprise. “He looks as if he’s protecting him.”

  “That’s possible.”

  Vi went over to the sofa, lifted Sammy and put him on the floor between her legs. Felix nudged the little boy’s arm and Sammy giggled. Moving fast, Sammy curled around on Vi’s foot. In a second, he was on his hands and knees again.

  Felix hunkered down so he was face to face with Sammy.

  After Vi swooped Sammy up again, she sat him on her lap. Felix was tall enough that he could put his head beside Vi’s legs. Taking Sammy’s hand, Vi helped him touch one of the dog’s ears.

  Felix stood absolutely still.

  As Sammy laughed, a big smile crossed his face.

  “I think they’re making friends,” Vi said.

  Relaxing, Daisy sank down on the armchair. “Ready for lunch? I’m going to make grilled cheese.”

  “Sammy will like that.”

  Daisy knew that Vi tore the sandwich into little pieces for Sammy to tuck into his mouth.

  “I have homemade applesauce too.”

  “That sounds good. This was a nice idea. It will break up my day. Foster won’t be home for supper.”

  “Does he have a class?”

  “No, he’s taking Ben out for a burger. They haven’t had much time at all together lately. A couple of times, Ben called Foster to get together and Foster was either working at the tea garden, doing website business, or attending a class. I like Ben to come over to our place too, but I know they need some guy time. The older Ben gets, the less he’s going to want to hang out with me and Sammy.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Daisy protested. “Ben seems comfortable around you.”

  “I’m comfortable around him. I always wished I had a brother. Now Ben feels like my little brother too. It’s a nice feeling.”

  “I’m sure it is,” Daisy said. “I always wanted a brother too. The truth is, when I met Cade Bankert in high school, he seemed like that brother.” Cade was a real estate agent now. He had sold Daisy the barn property and the Victorian.

  “How is Cade?” Vi asked.

  “He’s still selling real estate. I’ve heard he’s doing well. I haven’t seen him lately.”

  “Not since you and Jonas got serious?”

  “I guess you could say that.” He had asked Daisy on a couple of dates, but then her relationship with Jonas had deepened. “I think Cade and I never took off romantically because we always did seem like brother and sister. Even though he asked me to prom in high school, I never thought about him the way I think about Jonas.” Daisy felt her cheeks redden as she admitted it.

  “You shouldn’t lose touch with him,” Vi said.

  “He doesn’t agree when I get curious about a murder investigation, though he did give me some information on the last one that helped.”

  “See? Like a big brother. Maybe he and Jonas can be friends.”

  “I’ll have to ask Jonas how he feels about that.”

  “I haven’t really stayed friends with anybody from high school. My life changed so much so fast. But you”—Vi gave her a wistful smile—you and Tessa are still best friends. So you shouldn’t lose Cade’s friendship.”

  “I’ll give it some thought,” Daisy said, watching Sammy as he cuddled in Vi’s arms with Felix’s nose on his leg.

  “You know, we do talk a lot about brothers and sisters in the mommy group.”

  “How important they are?”

  “Yes. It’s good to learn how other moms juggle more than one child. They admit some brothers and sisters get along, and some kids constantly squabble. I haven’t said so there, but I think that depends a lot on the parents, don’t you think?”

  “A certain amount of squabbling is natural,” Daisy said. “You and Jazzi sure got into it now and then. But I let you work it out unless the argument got too loud or went on too long. How do moms in your group handle the discussion of it?”

 
“No one wants to call anyone a bad parent,” Vi explained. “We’re careful as to how we communicate there. You know, we always try to stay positive, and then add advice if somebody wants it.”

  “I get that.”

  “Ramona has said on the side that she wants a brother or sister for Petey, so he has somebody to depend upon other than his parents. I think that’s what I’d want for Sammy too.”

  “A brother or sister who’s a friend.”

  “For sure,” Vi said with a nod, bringing her head down to Sammy’s and giving him a kiss on his forehead. “I think Ramona wants it so badly for Petey because she has a stepbrother and she doesn’t get along with him at all. That’s such a shame.”

  “Camellia and I didn’t squabble that much as kids, but there was always a tension between us.”

  “Why do you think that was, Mom?”

  “Maybe because I gravitated toward Dad and Camellia gravitated toward your grandmother. As we grew older, we didn’t stay close. We have very different ideas of what we want our lives to be.”

  “I hope that never happens to me and Jazzi.”

  “If the two of you make a point of talking to each other and sharing, not judging, then you can probably stay close.”

  “That’s a tall order.” Vi had teasing in her voice. “Maybe Jazzi and I’ll have a talk about it before she goes to college. I don’t want her to forget about me.”

  “I don’t think she will.”

  Daisy hoped her two daughters could depend on each other for the rest of their lives.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Canoeing on the creek should have been just what

  Daisy needed.

  Jonas had suggested going canoeing on Willow Creek that evening and she’d thought the outing would be a good idea. But ever since she’d gotten into the canoe at a docking ramp outside of town, she’d felt anxious. She’d felt as if someone was spying on her. Although the sky was still cerulean blue and the puffy white clouds were floating, forming pictures like she and Rachel imagined when they were young girls lying on their backs in the grass, Daisy felt exposed. The willows lazily dipped along the creek as she and Jonas floated along.