thirty-seven

Although I’d seen some of our regular croppers at my “Welcome Home” party, that seemed like a lifetime ago. For that event, Clancy had only invited a select few. Tonight our customers showed up in droves, which proved to be a bit of a problem because we’d taken reservations for only twenty-two. Rather than turn down the business, Laurel and Anya worked feverishly to put together more kits.

After fielding individual questions about the shooting, I realized we wouldn’t get anything done if I kept answering the same queries over and over. It started to become tedious. Finally I tapped a spoon against a glass bottle of green tea and quieted the group down. “If I might say a few words …”

They hushed in eager anticipation. I looked out over three tables of women, many of whom I’d met years ago at crops I’d attended as Dodie Goldfader’s best customer. A lump formed in my throat as I considered the changes ahead. What would we do when Dodie died? Would the store close its doors?

I gave myself a hard mental shake. This wasn’t the time to think about the road ahead. Instead, I needed to clear the air so we could get down to having serious fun.

“Yes, I was involved in a shooting. No, I never expected something like that to happen. Yes, there was a plan in place to entrap Bill Ballard. No, I didn’t make the plan, the police here in St. Louis did because they feared his bad behavior was escalating and more people might get hurt. Yes, I shot Bill. No, I didn’t have a choice. Yes, he was going to kill my mother-in-law, Sheila, and Mert Chambers’s brother was bleeding to death. Yes, I feel horrible about it. I never willingly would hurt a fly. All of you know that, but I couldn’t stand there and watch someone I love—”

And my voice turned so husky I had to grab a swallow of tea. “Be tortured like that. For the rest of my life, I’ll have to live with what I did, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

I swallowed and pressed my fingertips to my eye sockets so I wouldn’t cry. “Yes, I’m pregnant. Yes, it’s Detective Chad Detweiler’s baby. No, he didn’t kill his wife, Brenda. Of that I’m certain. Yes, I intend to marry him, but not until after the baby is born,” and here I shot a glance toward Anya. She struggled not to smile and dropped her gaze to examine her shoes very carefully.

“My due date is mid-January. I have an appointment with an ob-gyn next week.”

I steepled my fingertips and stared out at the rapt faces. “Does that cover everything? I hope so, because if it does, I’d like to show you this cool project.”

“One more question,” said Bonnie Gossage. “When can I host a baby shower?”

Laurel stepped up and wagged a finger. “Ah-ah-ah. I already called dibs. But you can be my co-host. How’s that?”

Everyone broke into giggles. When they quieted down, I showed them the project.

Anya took a seat next to Bonnie. Light and dark, their heads bent over their paper and supplies. A portion of me rejoiced, seeing how my child fit in. Hillary Clinton was right. It takes a village to raise a child. But in a pinch, a scrapbook store will do.

Anya and Laurel helped me pick up after the event. Clancy would have stuck around, but she was meeting movers the next day to pack up a few of her mother’s more valuable, personal items so that my mother and sister could move into Mrs. Clancy’s brick home. “If they like it, I plan to convert the half-bath on the first floor to a full bath so your mother can have her own apartment. Your sister isn’t much of a cook, and she could share the foyer with your mom so I wouldn’t need to add more stairs. I think the house will work well for them.”

“You have my eternal gratitude,” I said. “The house will be perfect for them. Amanda loves U City already. Mom will be close to a senior center where she can attend ‘day care.’ They’re both close enough to my place that I can visit easily, but far enough that I can have a life.”

“Works for me, too. I was able to truthfully tell my mother that I hadn’t sold her precious house. That she could move back in, although that was highly, highly unlikely. I told her I hired live-in help to take care of her flowers. She bought it! She’s been bragging to all her friends that I’m the best daughter ever. I went from you-know-what on her shoes to an angel overnight. What a promotion.” With that, Clancy laughingly bid us goodbye.

Laurel walked Anya and me to our car. More accurately, Gracie walked all three of us to the parking lot. “It was nice to see you, Anya. How exciting! You’re going to be a big sister!”

“I know. I can’t wait. I hope Mom has a boy.”

“Really?” I asked. “Why is that?”

“Because I like being the only girl in our family. And boys get to do cool stuff like catch frogs.”

Oh-kay, I thought. Whatever! As long as she was happy, I was, too.