Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“What about Peter Carson, Rita’s dad? Did you know much about him?” I asked.
“Not really,” my mom said. “He worked for the local insurance agency at the time. He was a good salesman, congenial, and from what people said, a good family man. But I couldn’t say since I only knew him to wave or say the casual hello.”
“I know it’s difficult for Dad not to bring work home since Willow Lake is a hub of gossip and you would hear about anything that was happening anyway. I also know Dad talked to you about some cases—”
“Only truly troubling cases that hung heavy on him, Rita Carson’s being the worst. Though, I must admit, your dad spoke with Aunt Effie about this case more than me.”
Ian’s and my eyes shot wide.
“He did?” I asked to make sure I heard her right.
“He did,” she confirmed.
“Why do you think he did that?” Ian asked.
“I think with our first child being barely one he didn’t want to upset me anymore than he knew the case already had. And he probably thought he could get a different perspective on the case from someone who had traveled extensively, seen how others lived, and lived far from the restraints of a small town,” my mom said. “Besides, your aunt Effie was as much as a mystery movie and book buff as you and Ian. She advised your dad to think as a teenager, and a female one at that, but that he shouldn’t discount love. Love, she had advised, made people do strange and unexpected things.” My mom set her empty mug on the coaster on the coffee table. “I must be going.”
Ian got up and went to get her coat.
“I have a hairdresser’s appointment,” my mom said.
I looked at her oddly. Why would she go with Josh if she knew it wasn’t that long before her appointment? She would want the time to roam the store.
She smiled and as if she knew my thought, said, “I purposely invited myself to go with Josh and waited to see if you would come to his rescue and get him out of the situation without hurting my feelings. Which meant he was going to Yesterday’s Treasure’s with the purpose of meeting Kate.”
“How did you suspect that?” I asked.
She laughed. “Really, Pepper? Your single brother who loves to ski and there’s snow on the ski slopes has a day off and he’s going to a secondhand shop?”
“You are quite preceptive, Mrs. Madison,” Ian said, holding her coat open for her.
“Awareness and common sense, that’s all it is, Ian,” she said, buttoning her coat. “Text me what time I should be at the lodge tomorrow morning. And thank you so much for taking such good care of my daughter. Now I must hurry, or I’ll be late. Toodles.”
My cell rang. It was Amy and I heard the tears in her voice with just her hello. “What’s wrong?”
“My dad can’t make supper tomorrow night. He’s not sure when he can. He has to go out of town for a time and he’ll be in touch when he returns. He’s leaving me again, Pepper, just like the last time.”
12
There was going to be another murder in Willow Lake if Amy’s father returned. Two days since he’d left, and he hadn’t even bothered to text her. He hadn’t even offered an explanation for his sudden departure. I really hated the man.
I looked at my computer screen for the third time this morning. It looked the same as when I opened the file an hour ago. I had accomplished nothing. I had spent as much time with Amy as her busy schedule would allow, listening to her chatter on about her dad and how she felt. I held my tongue, though there was plenty I had wanted to say, but she needed someone to listen, and that’s what I had done.
Last night, I insisted that she and Beau come for supper. I was going to suggest we go out but between Amy tearing up frequently and me looking like I went a few rounds in a boxing match, and not emerging the victor, I decided having supper here was a better choice. And it had been, Amy leaving with a smile on her face last night.
I shook my head. I needed to get some work done.
Multi-vest… not just for a Prepper.
The title of a future blog post and one that should be easy to write. I love my various multi-vests. Of course, one vest won’t suffice. I don’t want to be changing it for different occasions. I have one for gardening and one for fishing, because you can’t live by a lake and not fish. Actually, you can’t have three older brothers and not fish or know how to fish. When gardening, all the extra pockets come in handy to hold any number of necessary items, including an extra pair of gardening gloves when you have the habit of forgetting where you left the pair you’re using and no amount of searching helps. Also, garden tape, tags, string, garden tools—small ones—sunglasses when not in use, a small container of rooting powder when planting, and more.