*The next day, over morning tea in the gazebo, Bobbie’s mother suggested she take some cuttings from her perennials over to Fern.
“Many of these flowers came from Odette’s garden,” Riko said. “It’s only fitting that they should return now that another gardener is in residence.”
“Thanks Mom. I’ve been meaning to do that, I just keep putting it off.”
Riko placed an affectionate hand on the side of Bobbie’s face. “You can also check on her. Make sure the conversation last night wasn’t too upsetting.”
Bobbie was hit with a powerful bolt of gratitude for her mother. For her quiet wisdom and innate kindness. Riko wouldn’t live forever, and Bobbie dreaded the day she left them. Riko was, and always had been, the centrifugal force of their family. She got up from her chair to give her mom a hug.
“What’s this?” her mother laughed.
“A ‘just because’ hug.”
“The best kind. The world would be a better place if everyone started their day with a hug like that.”
Bobbie was bringing her perennial spade around the side of the house when she noticed Hadley sitting outside with her morning coffee. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she was wearing plaid shorts and a frayed tank top. Bobbie waved and when Hadley waved back, she decided this might be her opportunity to talk to the young woman alone. Bobbie sunk the spade into the earth next to the bee balm and crossed the street.
“Morning Hadley. Where’s Madison?”
Hadley gestured to the open front door. “Inside getting her daily dose of screen time. What’s up?”
“Can I talk to you about Dean?”
Hadley waved for her to take the spare seat. “Have you heard anything new about the investigation, Mrs. G?”
Bobbie still wasn’t sure how much of what Jesse had told her was public information. So she didn’t mention Dean’s tire iron or the fact that the police thought it had been the murder weapon. “I think the investigation is progressing. The RCMP have been talking to Jesse and Rene and also George.”
“George?” Hadley sounded surprised.
“I believe they want to talk to anyone who spoke to Dean in the days before he died. And it turns out Dean helped George change a flat tire one day earlier.”
“Bad luck for George. Maybe I’m lucky Dean didn’t answer any of my text messages then, or they’d be wanting to interview me as well.”
“You two were in touch?” Bobbie had been given the impression by Denise that all of Hadley’s Tangle Falls friends had cut ties with her.
“We texted occasionally, just casual stuff. Still, I was glad at least one of my old friends didn’t hate me. But that changed when I told him I was going to move back to Tangle Falls. For some reason Dean was strongly against the idea.” Hadley shrugged, as if she didn’t care, but Bobbie could see the hurt in her eyes.
“Did he say why?”
“Nope. Just said it was a bad idea. When I told him I was packed and hitting the road, he started ghosting me.” Hadley sipped her coffee. “Guess I’ll never find out now.”
*
An hour later, as Bobbie drove toward the old Singleton farm, she was still thinking about her conversation with Hadley, and wondering if it could have any bearing on Dean’s murder. Ever since she’d had her morning chat with Rene it seemed the tide of the homicide investigation had been turning against George. She wished she could find a new angle. Something or someone the RCMP hadn’t yet considered. It was just so unfortunate, that Dean would be killed with a tool that George had borrowed just one day earlier.
But it had to be a coincidence.
Unless it had been a setup?
Could Rene have deliberately flattened George’s tire, stolen his tire iron, and then arranged for Dean and him to drive by at just the time George would normally be heading home after work?
Bobbie groaned. Here she was building a case against her best friend’s son, when Rene had an alibi for the murder and absolutely no motive for wanting Dean dead.
She had better rein in her imagination and stick to the facts.
*
Fern was out in the vegetable plot when Bobbie pulled into her driveway. She was wearing a tattered and faded green bucket hat, worn jeans, and a large white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She paused, resting her hands on the handle of her spade as she watched Bobbie get out of her vehicle. The moment Fern recognized her, she set down the spade and came to greet her.
“Bobbie, this is a surprise.” Dark circles under her eyes spoke of a restless night.
“I divided some plants this morning so I could bring some for your garden.” Bobbie opened the hatchback and pulled out four plastic tubs. “Delphinium, bee balm, echinacea, and rudbeckia. Mom said these were all originally from Odette.”
“Oh, that’s awfully good of you.” Fern’s eyes brightened when she saw the plants.
“Where would you like them?”
“Let’s put them in the shade on the porch. I’ll transplant them later in the day when the sun is lower.”
“No rush. They’ve been well watered. They should be fine for a few days.”
The tubs were large enough that they could only carry one at a time. After they’d made two trips, Bobbie asked, “What are you planting in the vegetable patch today?”
Fern looked uncomfortable. “Oh, just preparing the soil. I might put in some more peas and beans later in the week.”
Bobbie glanced at the stakes George had put in for the new fence. The area where Fern had been digging was going to be beyond the fenced-in area. “There’s almost nothing you can plant that the deer won’t eat.”
“I guess I have a lot to learn about gardening in the country.”
There followed an awkward silence.
If someone came to her house with a gift, Bobbie would have invited them inside for a cup of tea or coffee. But it seemed Fern was not going to do that. Was it social awkwardness? Or did Fern just want her to leave?
“I hope you had a good time last night? We got into some pretty heavy topics.”
“Like I said, I’m used to heavy topics. One thing you learn from working with seniors, is to keep your problems in perspective. And of course, gardening is always good for the soul.”
“So true.” Bobbie took a closer look at the picket fence enclosed flower garden. “You’ve made a lot of progress with the perennials. It no longer looks like a wild jungle in there.”
“Still a lot of work to do.”
Then why had she been out digging in soil beyond her fenced area? Preparing it for next year? There would be plenty of time for that in the fall.
“Mind if I take a closer look?”
“Actually, I was just about to go inside to shower. I’m sorry. Maybe when I’ve got everything in better shape you and your mother can stop by for a proper tour.”
Bobbie could tell when she was being given the brush-off. What she didn’t understand was why.