Mamma Rossi
Tuesday Evening, October 14th, 2014
Crane Family Farm, Morelville
“Terry was a tough nut to crack. Some liked him, some didn’t,” Jesse stated as he toyed with the food on his plate.
Faye shot me a look that told me the subject of Terry was off limits so I tried to change it. “Your message said you wanted to know what I’d bought at Sharpe’s. You’ll never believe the deal she gave me on a...”
Not normally so talkative, Jesse interrupted and just kept going, “I figure there’ll be a funeral Friday or Saturday. That Sheila, she’s just too distraught to decide anything right now. The arrangements probably won’t be made until morning.” He hung his head down and stared through the table.
I traded glances with Faye. We continued with dinner in an uneasy silence until Jesse abruptly pushed his plate away and stood.
“There’s chores to finish and I’m wasting daylight.” With that, he was out the door and headed toward the barn.
“He’s sure taking this hard. Were he and Terry close?”
“Jesse was a year behind Terry and two years behind his brother Steven in school but they all played football on the same high school team. Jesse was tight with him and with Terry’s best friend Chuck Knox; even dated Chuck’s sister for a while before we started going out.”
“You two were high school sweethearts?”
Faye nodded, “Yes; married right after we graduated. By then Chuck and Terry were both married too. Steven went off to the Army – Vietnam - so he wasn’t around much in those early days.”
“The other men weren’t drafted?”
“My Jesse is a sole surviving son. The Army wouldn’t take him. Chuck eventually went but Terry had some sort of medical deferral.” Faye cupped a hand beside her mouth, “Just between you and me, everybody always said Terry wasn’t quite right in the head.”
Faye slapped her own cheek, “Listen to me, speaking ill of the dead.” She stood, “How about a little cake Chloe and some coffee to wash it down with?”
“Some of that amazing wedding cake that Hannah girl made?”
“Of course. I froze the top tiers for the kids for their first anniversaries but there’s still a little of each cake left too.”
“That was divine. Count me in.”
While Faye poured coffee and dished up cake, I wondered aloud, “Why would Terry just leave the store the other day without a word? I mean, he was working. He goes to the back to fetch something and suddenly he forgets everything and goes fishing? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Oh, I agree. Terry was a little eccentric, granted, but the whole thing is just too odd of a situation, even for him.”
“You’ve said that twice now, that he’s odd and eccentric. How so?”
Faye set a slice of cake down in front of me then returned to her own seat. “Well, let’s see, it’s just the sorts of things he does and the way he does them. He’s been known to hunt a little out of season. That’s against the law but he never seemed to care. He’s been caught trespassing on the private property of older folks when he was out mushroom and ginseng hunting without getting their permission to do it. He’d just sweet talk them into taking a little of his mushroom haul or splitting the cash for the ginseng since they were no longer able to go out and get it for themselves. Who knows how much he’s gathered that he’s never been caught for. He always had plenty of money for those smelly Sweets he liked to smoke and for poker, I’ll tell you that!”
“It seems like he had little regard for the law but that doesn’t make him odd.”
“Around here, folks would tend to disagree with you on that but there’s more. He’s something of a player, what I’ve heard called a serial monogamist.”
“I thought he got married right after high school?”
“He did, but not to Sheila. She’s his fourth wife. They’ve only been together a half dozen years or so. I’m not entirely sure he’s been faithful this last year or so. Rumors have been flying.”
From what she’d told me, I took Terry for a low level criminal and a cad. ‘Odd’ and ‘eccentric’ really didn’t ring true for me and I was prepared to write the whole subject of him off when Faye interrupted my train of though.
“Jesse and Steven are convinced Terry was murdered.”
I was shocked, “What?”
“They think someone killed Terry.”
“I heard you the first time; what I want to know is why they think that?”
“Jesse and I talked a bit on the way back from the store this morning after the search. Him and Steven are dead set about it.” She outlined the things the two men felt were unusual at the scene.
“It certainly does sound like there could be more there than meets the eye but don’t you think Mel’s men can figure all of that out?”
“According to Jesse, her crew was convinced to a man that it was a drowning case.”
“They are professionals, Faye.”
“Maybe so but if my Mel were here, things would be different. She’d listen to her father and look into it.”
“Have you called Mel and let her know about Terry?”
“I’ve been debating that. He’s known my girls all their lives...she’d probably be upset if I didn’t at least tell her he’s gone.”
“You should probably call her, Faye.”
Faye put down the coffee cup she was about to raise to her lips, “You’re right.” She rose and picked up a handset off the counter. A house phone still seemed to be commonplace out here I noted, while she dialed.
“Mel, it’s mom. I’m so sorry to bother you on your honeymoon, but I have some news I think you should hear.” She paused and listened very briefly.
“Honey, Terry Ford went missing on Sunday and they found him...your father and Steven found him...today, drowned in Chuck’s pond.”
I could hear Mel exclaim but I couldn’t make out what she said. Faye spoke to her for a few moments and then put her on speaker phone.
“Mel, baby, I hate to say this but your dad and Steven both don’t believe it was an accident. They both say somebody that had it in for Terry might have seen to it that he drown. Your officers aren’t pursuing any kind of investigation.”
Mel’s voice came across the phone. I could tell she was in a car. “Did the coroner take his body mom?”
“Yes dear; your dad said he did.”
“Okay then, Luke will do his thing and determine if there’s any reason to investigate further. If he does think so, my men will handle. If not, there’s not much I can do if my deputies didn’t find anything at the scene to implicate anything other than an accident.”
Without thinking that the girls didn’t even know I was still in Morelville, I spoke up to put my two cents in, “Mel, just how much do you trust your Coroner?”
“Chloe? Is that you?”
Oops! “Err, yes?”
“What are you doing there?”
“It’s a long story...I, uh...”
“Hang on Mom, Chloe.” There was a brief pause at the other end of the line then Mel came back on, “Now you two are on speaker phone. We’re in the car. Dana’s driving.”
“Hi baby! Are you having a good time?” I attempted to coo at her and distract her.
“Mama,” Dana questioned, “What’s going on? Why are you still there?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise dear but I guess I blew it.”
Dana sounded leery, “A surprise, how?”
“I stayed on and I’ve scrubbed down your house for the two of you and organized your cupboards and closets.”
Mel spoke, “Wow, Chloe that’s awesome. Thank you!” Apparently speaking to Dana, she asked, “Isn’t that awesome?”
“Yeah, it’s awesome alright,” Dana’s voice dripped with suspicion. “What else Mama?”
I let out a breath slowly. I was found out and I knew it. I went for a flattering approach, “You two have such pretty woodwork in this house, it just begs for some nice things to go along with it is all.”
“Oh my God, what did you buy Mama?”
Cringing at the fear in Dana’s voice, I recoiled a bit but then I mustered a little confidence and I told her, throwing Faye under the bus too, “Faye recommended a lovely antique shop to me and the owner made me a wonderful deal on a gorgeous bedroom set that looks to die for in your guest room.” Faye slapped my shoulder lightly.
Dana and Mel both spoke at once; Dana asking what else I’d purchased and Mel chastising her own mother for her role. I addressed Mel first, “Now, don’t go getting mad at your mama Mel! I told her what I intended to do no matter what and she gave me advice to steer more toward things that would appeal to your tastes too and not just Dana’s”
“What else did you buy, Mama?” Dana’s tone was more forceful this time.
“Nothing yet dear, I swear.”
“Yet?”
“Whoops, did I say that?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve only been gone two days. I spent all of Monday cleaning and organizing. I got the set this morning and a mattress set and had it all delivered this afternoon; that’s all.”
“Chloe, that sounds expensive. You shouldn’t be spending your money on us.”
“I’m not poor dear.”
“Melissa!” Faye cautioned.
Mel was immediately contrite, “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“No offense taken.”
“What else do you intend to do Mother?” Dana was being formal now.
“Honestly, I planned to stay the week and surprise you with it all when you got home. Other than that poor, poor man’s death, it’s been a nice break away from the city, for me.”
Mel’s voice came across the line, “If you two will hang on just a minute, I need to ask Dana something.” With that, there was silence. Faye and I just looked at each other. I sipped on the dregs of my coffee.
Finally sound came from the open line and Dana started talking, “Mama, we’d like for you to go ahead and stay for as long as you want to. We don’t mind you continuing to do some shopping for our home but on our dime now, not yours.” She told me where I could find the keys to the lock box where she kept a spare bank card.
“Okay, honey. I agree to that.”
“Wait Mama Rossi,” Mel said, “There’s more. Mom? Are you still there?”
Faye’s eyes grew wide, “Um...yes...”
“What are you doing this week?”
“Well, now that Terry’s been found, just working around the house...at least until funeral arrangements are set.”
“I want you to keep me posted on those but, in the meantime, we want you to go with Chloe.”