Chapter 48
Jane slipped out the back of Kildare House and found the garden bench she’d come to love. It offered a great view of the backyard and her home, the sweet little carriage house.
She dialed her daughter. She was beginning to miss her so much that it was becoming a raw ache in her stomach.
“Hi, Mommy,” London said.
Jane took a moment to let that sweet voice sink in. “Hey there. How are you doing?”
“Fine.”
“Are you having fun?”
“I am. We went horseback riding. I rode a horse named Butterscotch. And do you know what? She ate a sugar cube right out of my hand.”
Torn between feeling left out and happy for her daughter, Jane exhaled. “Well, I’m glad you’re having fun.” Horses? They were dangerous, weren’t they?
“How are you, Mommy?”
“I’m good, and the retreat is going well,” Jane said. “I’ve made some pretty beads and learned a lot.”
“I can’t wait to see them!”
“How was your swim?”
“Good. The pool is nice. Can we get a pool?”
“Where would we put it?”
“In the garden, silly.”
“We’d have to get rid of all those pretty flowers and trees,” Jane said, knowing how much London loved them. She tagged along with her or Ruby when they worked in the garden.
“Maybe that’s not such a good idea,” London said. “Maybe I can find another place to swim.”
“Have you had a chance to finish reading your book?”
“I tried,” London said. “But at night I can only read a little bit, and then I fall asleep.”
They were wearing out London. Jane didn’t think it was possible. She found herself grinning. “Well, it’s good that you’re trying.”
“I miss you, Mommy. I’m having fun. But everything is more fun when you are here,” she said.
Jane caught her breath as a sharp pang moved through her. “I feel the same way, London.”
“I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you more,” she said.
Jane remained on the bench, looked out over the garden and the carriage house, and soaked in the fresh autumn air, thinking of London, motherhood, and all the weird events of this weekend. A group of mothers. Who would have thought?
Then again, just because you became a mother, the rest of your life and personality didn’t get shut off, did it? Jane liked to think mothering made her a better person. She still was the same person, only better. She also recognized the complexities of motherhood. Some women were unprepared. How could you prepare for the landslide of emotions that came when you first held your baby? Or the first time they got sick or fell?
“There you are,” Ruby said as she walked up to her. “You okay?”
“I just wanted to speak with London,” Jane said.
“Ah,” Ruby said. “Is she having fun?”
“She is,” Jane said.
“But you hate being away from her,” Ruby said.
“I do,” Jane said. “It’s weird because there are times, you know, when I feel like I could get more done if she weren’t around. Or I could at least get some real rest. I guess if the truth were known, none of it matters. I’d rather be with her, tired, haggard, with dirty dishes piling in the sink, than left to my own devices.”
“I get it,” Ruby said.
Jane was aware that she did.
“What are you two doing out here?” Cora came rambling toward them.
“Just getting some fresh air,” Ruby said.
“Did you talk to Brodsky?” Jane asked.
“I did, and I uploaded some photos and replied to a few comments on the blog,” Cora said.
“Brodsky?” Ruby said. “What’s going on?”
Cora relayed what they had found out about Jo.
“Jo is a Stillwell?” Ruby said.
“Know them?” Jane asked.
“Sort of. I didn’t run in those circles.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, back in the day, I was a single mom, working here, very busy. I didn’t have time for much of a social life,” Ruby said.
“I hear ya,” Jane said.
“There was this group of people. Moneyed. Educated. Artsy-fartsy. The Stillwells were a part of that. So was Zee, for that matter,” she said.
“Really?” Cora said.
“So hard to believe. It doesn’t seem like her kind of thing to hang out with a bunch of socialites,” Jane said.
“I don’t know if it was her thing,” Ruby said. “She was married to Mancini then, and it was his thing.”
“I wonder if Zee and Jo knew each other?” Cora said.
“Your guess is as good as mine. As I said, I didn’t run in those circles. The few friends I had were single moms, like myself. Am I to understand that Jo is now a suspect?” Ruby asked.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Cora said. “She is a person of interest. Who knows?”
“She’s certainly big enough to hurt a man if she put her mind to it,” Jane said.
“What does that have to do with it?” Ruby said. “Look at how tiny Cora is. She can kick some ass.”
Cora and Jane giggled. But it was true.
“She’s been trained,” Jane said. “But stabbing takes strength, right?”
“Pshaw,” Ruby said. “I’d not think it takes more strength than cutting a turkey.”
The three women stood in silence a moment.
Jane breathed in the scent of lilacs, vowing to not think of Stan the next time she sliced a turkey.