| |
Wynona gasped, turning white. “What? But—that’s impossible. I just talked to her yesterday.”
Beatrice nodded. “I knew it would be a shock to you. I’m sorry. I know the two of you were good friends.”
Tears flowed down Wynona’s cheeks. “Friends, yes. But I didn’t have enough time with her. She’d just recently moved back home to make up with her father. Why would somebody do something like this?”
Beatrice shook her head. “No one knows. I can only guess that maybe she knew something about her father’s killer—something that the murderer didn’t want to get out. Maybe she was silenced.” She paused. “There’s something I want to ask you about. We found Miss Sissy’s cat, Maisie. While we were returning it to her, she said that she’d seen you at the Nelms estate last night.”
Wynona turned even whiter. “Miss Sissy must have been confused,” she stammered.
“I’m afraid not,” said Beatrice gently. “Despite Miss Sissy’s somewhat erratic mental state, she seemed very certain.”
Wynona looked down at the ground, blindly staring at the two dogs, happily playing. She said slowly, “She was right. I was there last night.”
Beatrice waited for a moment, not wanting to push her. Finally, Wynona continued, “I was there with Watson, actually. I was walking him.” She gave a short, harsh laugh. “Actually, I was just walking him for pretense. I was hoping that maybe Hawkins would see me and come out of the house to talk. Or that maybe he’d be walking around on the grounds and I could see him. After all the rejections, I guess that maybe I’m too gun-shy to ring the doorbell, even if Caspian is gone.”
“Did he come out?” asked Beatrice.
Wynona made a face. “He didn’t. Which made me sad, because I’d actually paid special attention to my hair and makeup before going on my walk.”
Beatrice said, “Did you see anyone?”
Wynona nodded slowly. “I sure did. I saw Malcolm.”
Beatrice frowned. “Just making sure again—this was last night? And it was getting dark?”
Wynona nodded again.
Beatrice said, “That’s very interesting, since Malcolm said that he was in bed, asleep, right after an early dinner.”
“He certainly wasn’t,” said Wynona with a snort. “Not unless he was walking in his sleep.”
“And yet Della gave him an alibi,” said Beatrice thoughtfully, watching as Noo-noo rolled over on her back as Watson licked her face.
“Well, of course she did. He’s her ticket to a better life, isn’t he? She’s going to stand by him no matter what. But if you ask me, I think Malcolm must know something,” said Wynona.
“What makes you so sure?” asked Beatrice.
“He looked very stressed out. He was frowning and his face was simply thunderous. I figured that Barkis had done something stupid and he was irritated about that. Malcolm is pretty protective over the estate and he can be a real perfectionist,” said Wynona.
Beatrice asked, “Did you say anything to him?”
Wynona laughed. “Are you kidding? I didn’t want to attract any attention at all. I wasn’t supposed to be there, remember? I didn’t want to give Malcolm an excuse to throw me off the estate. Watson and I slipped into the woods.”
They both sat quietly for a few minutes, watching the dogs —Wynona seemingly trying to wrap her head around Sadie’s death and Beatrice absorbing the fact that Malcolm had lied to her about where he was the night before.
Wynona finally broke the silence. “I wanted to ask you something and please tell me your real opinion.”
Beatrice nodded.
“Do you think it’s appropriate for me to go to Caspian’s funeral tomorrow? Or not? I know everybody realizes I wasn’t exactly Caspian’s biggest fan, but I want to show my support for the family ... well, Hawkins in particular.” Wynona flushed becomingly. “Do you think that my presence there would be completely inappropriate under the circumstances?”
Beatrice said gently, “I think the family would appreciate the gesture. Especially Hawkins.”
“I’ll just make sure to wear something unobtrusive and stand near the back,” said Wynona. “I feel so sorry for them. First their father, then their sister.”
The dogs came trotting back to them, panting, their tongues hanging out of their mouths. Wynona laughed as they fished in their bags for water and a collapsible bowl. “Thanks for letting Watson play with Noo-noo, Beatrice. I have the feeling that he’s going to be sleeping very well tonight.”
Beatrice smiled back, but wasn’t so sure that she was going to be sleeping very well. There was too much going on in her head. For the rest of the hour, she and Wynona talked about the wedding and small talk. But the whole time, Beatrice felt like half of her mind was thinking about Sadie’s death.
After Beatrice returned home, she called June Bug. It went right to her voice mail, which wasn’t surprising—when June Bug was working, she was working.
After five o’clock rolled around, Beatrice’s phone rang.
June Bug asked in her worried tone, “Would now be all right to run by and meet your dog? I told the sitter that I’d be home a little later.”
“Now is perfect. Come on by.”
When June Bug knocked on the door, Noo-noo was up and greeting her immediately ... and so was Scooter. The dog grinned at June Bug and nuzzled her hand when she stretched it out to him. Beatrice watched as the stress and worry on June Bug’s face melted away and she smiled at Scooter. Scooter responded by immediately flopping over onto his back for a tummy rub.
June Bug’s eyes lit up. “Beatrice, I think he’s perfect. Katy said she’d always wanted a dog, but her mother wouldn’t let her have one. I didn’t tell her about Scooter in case it didn’t work out. But he’s great.”
Beatrice said warmly, “He’s all yours, if you want him. The owner said he’d had all his shots and was fixed. I think he’ll make a wonderful pet for Katy.”
June Bug nodded. “Think maybe she’ll talk to him? Maybe he’ll give her a little comfort. Katy and I are still trying to get to know each other and she could use a dog who just—loves her.”
Beatrice chuckled. “I bet whenever Katy comes home from school that Scooter will be there wagging his tail like crazy.”
June Bug said, “I’ve got it all figured out, too. I’ve got a back room that’s an office that Scooter can hang out in. I can’t keep him in the bakery part because of Health Department rules, but he can stay in the office and I can visit with him. Then Katy can come play with him when she’s out of school.” She looked at her watch and said sadly, “And now I’ve got to go, Beatrice. Sorry.”
Beatrice had the feeling that June Bug really wanted to spend some time with another adult. She must have been under a lot of stress lately with her sister’s death and Katy’s arrival. “Why don’t I run by tomorrow morning for a visit? We can catch up a little and I can see how things with Scooter went overnight. And I’ve had a craving for your pastries lately, too.
June Bug beamed at her and nodded shyly. And she kept on smiling as she and Scooter hurried off home.
The next morning, Beatrice woke up very early. She gave up trying to sleep and got dressed. June Bug’s bakery in downtown Dappled Hills opened very early, she knew. She only hoped it was this early. She decided to walk down there.
Beatrice was so engrossed in her thoughts that she was surprised when she got to June Bug’s shop—she didn’t even remember her walk over. She glanced at her watch. What’s more, she’d gotten here in record time and wasn’t really even out of breath.
Beatrice saw with relief that there was an open sign on June Bug’s door. She walked in and June Bug scurried out from the back of the store, beaming when she saw Beatrice.
“Good morning!” she said with a shy smile. “You’re up early.”
“Not as early as you, I’m thinking,” said Beatrice with a wry smile. “You’ll make me feel better about my lack of sleep last night if you tell me when you got up this morning.”
“Four o’clock,” said June Bug, her eyes dancing.
“Thank you,” said Beatrice. “I now feel better rested. Although I still need a strong coffee. And something very sugary to eat. Maybe that pastry there.”
June Bug gave her a bright smile and quickly poured Beatrice a full cup of coffee. She carefully put the pastry on a plate and checked Beatrice out.
“Thanks, June Bug,” said Beatrice, sitting down at a table. She pulled out several napkins, having the feeling that she was going to need them, considering the lack of sleep. “Let me know if you need to get back to your baking—I know mornings are your busy time.”
June Bug perched on a chair across from Beatrice and smiled at her. “I have some time,” she said. “Thanks again for Scooter.”
“What did Katy think?” asked Beatrice.
“She was so excited. She absolutely loved him. And, for the first time since she’s been with me, she really started talking,” said June Bug, her eyes bright.
“That’s wonderful! That’s exactly what we hoped would happen,” said Beatrice.
June Bug nodded. “Katy talked to Scooter and then talked to me about Scooter. Then, after a while, she talked with me a little about her mom.” June Bug looked more somber now. “She’s been really missing her.”
“Of course! She was Mom. That’s only natural. But the important thing is, June Bug, that Katy knows you love her and are making a home for her,” said Beatrice. “Scooter will be the first of what will be a lot of new friends for her, I’m sure.”
June Bug said, “I hope so. But tell me what’s happening with you, Beatrice. You seemed worried when you walked in.”
Beatrice sighed. “My mind has been spinning. There’s been so much going on. Did you hear about Sadie yesterday?”
June Bug nodded, her large, protruding eyes troubled. She said, “There’s a funeral today?”
“There’s Caspian’s funeral today. Early this afternoon. I’m not sure when Sadie’s is.”
June Bug said sadly, “It’s a mess. But you have a wedding coming up. You need to remember to be happy.”
Beatrice thought about this for a few moments as she took a satisfying sip of the French roast coffee June Bug had made for her. June Bug was right. There was a lot of wisdom in the little woman, although frequently Beatrice suspected that she was just too shy to deliver it. Beatrice had been allowing the stress of wedding planning and the activities surrounding the wedding to stress her out. Not only that, but she’d allowed her sadness over the events at the Nelms estate to overwhelm her more positive emotions. And when she thought of her married life with Wyatt, the first thing that came to mind was the moving and combining of two households.
Beatrice made a face. “June Bug, you’re right. I think I’ll relax a lot more if I can focus on what’s coming down the line. Wyatt and I are getting married! And everything else will work out. It will definitely be busy. And I’m determined to help Ramsay figure out what’s happening at the Nelms estate. But ultimately, I need to just look ahead to the future.”
June Bug said gently, “You and Wyatt make such a nice couple. It makes me happy to see the two of you together.” She glanced up as the door opened and then smiled and swiftly got up, bustling away without another word.
Beatrice took a bite of her pastry and then turned to see who’d come in.
It was Wyatt, whose eyes brightened as he saw her. “Beatrice! But it’s so early.”
Beatrice nodded. “I couldn’t sleep. Could you?”
He shook his head. “No. And then I was thinking about Caspian’s service today and just decided to get up. But do you know what’s helping me this morning, with the stress?”
Beatrice shook her head.
“Thinking of you,” he said, eyes crinkling.
“Me too,” said Beatrice, a bit nonsensically. And then, “Is it too early for cupcakes? I’m thinking we should both have a white cupcake. A preview for the wedding cake,” she added with a smile.
And they did.
That afternoon, Beatrice rode with Meadow to Caspian’s funeral since Wyatt was going very early.
“Are we going to be able to see Wyatt after the funeral at all?” asked Meadow on the way over.
“I’m afraid not. He’s got hospital visits right afterward, so he’ll be leaving very soon after the service is over,” said Beatrice.
Meadow glanced across at Beatrice. “How are you doing? It seemed like Sadie’s death hit you like it did me. You know, I felt a real connection with her and it wasn’t just the quilting. It was as if she was finally living her life and really doing what she wanted to do—she was a social worker and came back home to make up with her father.”
Beatrice nodded. “Her father, who was disappointed in her and in Hawkins, too. Yes, her death did hit me hard. But I’m getting a little distanced from it now, I think.”
Meadow raised her eyebrows. “How are you managing that?”
“June Bug reminded me that I have something very life-affirming coming up soon. I’m joining my life with Wyatt’s. And so, even though I was distressed by Sadie’s death, I’m trying to put everything in perspective. Instead of being upset, I’m channeling my feelings into being focused on finding out who did it,” said Beatrice. She surprised herself by her steely voice.
Meadow definitely approved. “That’s it! Let’s get him. For Sadie. A quilting sister!”
“Did Ramsay say anything else yesterday? Any more information about Sadie’s death or any evidence at all?”
Meadow made a face. “Not really. He came home really exhausted last night. The only thing I could get out of him was that everybody’s footprints were out near Sadie. The entire household. There wasn’t anything that pointed to any one person. She was definitely hit over the head and then pushed into the water. They found a paving brick that was the weapon.”
Meadow pulled into the cemetery and parked. She frowned. “What time is it? I thought we were here early.”
“We are here early,” said Beatrice, staring at the crowd already gathered at the graveside. “But apparently most of the town decided to come to Caspian’s funeral.”
“What on earth!” said Meadow indignantly. “I wouldn’t have said he had this many close friends. Do you think they’re just curious?”
“Unfortunately, his death does make quite an interesting story. A wealthy, irascible old man in a mansion, who is murdered by someone in his own home, and right before a party. And now his daughter has died under mysterious circumstances. I’m sure people are curious,” said Beatrice.
“Well, people are morbid,” said Meadow, glaring at the assembled group. Then she paused, right before opening her door. “Wait. Is that Wynona there? I’m surprised to see her here. She didn’t think this was Sadie’s funeral, did she?”
“Of course not! She asked me if I thought it was appropriate for her to be here and I told her yes. After all, she’s showing support for the family, especially Hawkins,” said Beatrice.
“People will probably talk,” said Meadow thoughtfully. “But then, they’re going to talk anyway. And Hawkins keeps glancing over at her—look.”
It did seem as though Hawkins’ eyes were drawn to Wynona. Wynona was definitely not trying to stand out and was dressed in somber attire and standing off to the side. Still, Hawkins couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.
“It’s probably good to have something to distract him,” said Beatrice.
“True. His eyes are totally bloodshot. I wonder if he’s remembered to have anything to eat. And we brought all that good food over! If that doesn’t tempt him, nothing will,” said Meadow.
They joined the group by the graveside, standing somewhat to the side. Wyatt spotted Beatrice and gave her a small nod and smile.
The service was exactly the compromise that Sadie and Hawkins settled on: a mix of traditional and contemporary. Malcolm gave the eulogy, and it was full of both wry humor and sad memories. Della, wearing a black suit, watched him with a proud smile. Wyatt, as usual, did a wonderful job balancing the tragic nature of a funeral with the uplifting nature of eternal life.
Meadow touched her eyes with a tissue. “He did a good job,” she whispered.
After a closing hymn, the service was over. Hawkins and Malcolm were swarmed by the gathered mourners.
“Let’s go stand with Wynona. She’s looking like she feels out of place,” said Beatrice.
Wynona smiled at them as they walked up.
“I’m glad you made it,” said Beatrice.
“I am, too,” said Wynona, “although it was tough to convince myself this morning to come. Still, I feel like I’m giving Hawkins a show of support.” She shook her head. “He looks terrible, doesn’t he?”
“It’s all really hit him hard,” said Meadow. “But he sure looked glad to see you here, Wynona.”
Wynona colored a bit. “I guess we should head off now?”
“Certainly not! We should stay and talk to the family for a minute,” said Meadow stoutly. “There’s no reason to run off and hide.”
They took a seat on a bench nearby and waited for the line to recede. “There are quite a lot of stragglers at this funeral,” said Beatrice with a frown at all the groups of people still talking with each other instead of leaving the cemetery.
Meadow shrugged. “Sometimes, the only way to catch up with people is at weddings and funerals, it seems like.”
“At least it finally looks like the family has spoken to everyone,” said Beatrice. “Should we walk over?”
Wynona gave a startled gasp. “Oh! It looks like ... is Hawkins coming this way?”