Chapter 76

“What do you think?” Sarah asked the Fog Ladies as she took another molasses cookie. They gathered in Frances Noonan’s apartment, warmed by tea, fog veiling the view outside. “Do people never change?” That’s what the killer had said. As if there were no hope for any of them.

She bit into the cookie and closed her eyes to take in the taste and aroma. Frances Noonan made these molasses cookies all the time now and they were delicious. This was proof that someone could change right here, in these scrumptious cookies. Mrs. Noonan would be the first to admit it.

“Bill used to say the same thing. People never change. He was wrong,” Mrs. Noonan said. Sarah watched as she unscrewed a jam jar as easily as if she were turning a knob on her old radio.

Mrs. Noonan cocked her head. “Although, personally, I like to think I’ve returned to who I always was. I took some detours this year, and now I’m back.” She sounded pensive. “Maybe that’s not real change.”

“I can’t believe I missed it,” Enid Carmichael burst in. She loomed over Alma Gordon seated next to her on Mrs. Noonan’s flowered sofa. “How could you have gone without me? You got to meet the murderer. A real-life serial killer. Oh, I wish I’d been there.”

“Oh, dear. Oh, dear,” said Alma Gordon. “I wish I had not been there.” She shifted away from Mrs. Carmichael on the couch. “That awful man, killing those innocent people, all because he thought they were unsuitable parents. As if he were God.”

“God would do no such thing.” Harriet Flynn crossed herself.

“It all happened so quickly, Enid,” Frances Noonan said. “Had we known we were setting out to confront the killer, we would definitely have included you in our plans.” She winked at Sarah.

“I should hope so. Hmph.” Mrs. Carmichael munched her cookie loudly. “Serena Evans didn’t even turn out to be a real killer.”

“No, she did not,” said Mrs. Noonan. “And now she will be reunited with her girls. Spencer Tremaine is already back on the case. He said he would return for no fee. I think it’s the publicity he’s after, but no matter. Paul Blackwell will be out soon too. Julia’s giddy with excitement. Evelyn Ringley said Joe wants to move out here when he’s released, make a clean start. So little Joey will stay close to her. There may be more parents, like that businessman in San Antonio Andy found. I hope not, though. I can’t bear to think there are more cases, more tragedies.”

They fell silent. Harriet Flynn crossed herself again.

“Those poor parents have all changed,” Alma Gordon said softly.

“One would hope,” Mrs. Carmichael said.

“A bright spot is that Allen Werble left the resort to Glenda and George, so they can all stay on there if they want,” said Mrs. Noonan. “Marco the chef left as soon as the police were done with him. He went to France to see if he could reunite with his family.”

“Oh, I hope it works out,” Sarah said, remembering his anguish.

“Touching,” Mrs. Carmichael said. “Anything more about the murderer?”

“We’ve finished with that topic,” Mrs. Noonan said.

“I’ve changed,” Olivia Honeycut broke in with her low voice. “I’m old. Look at this walker. Without it I’d topple over like little Owen when he took his first steps.”

“That’s different,” Sarah said. “That’s just aging.” She was sorry as soon as the words left her mouth.

“Just? Just? Only a young person can say ‘just aging,’” huffed Mrs. Honeycut.

“She’s right, Sarah,” Mrs. Noonan chimed in. “We don’t feel old. Our hearts and minds are exactly the same as when we were your age. It’s our hips, our fingers, our teeth.”

“Our hearing,” added Harriet Flynn.

“Speak for yourself,” said Enid Carmichael.

“Yes, I’m sorry. Aging takes its toll.” Sarah smiled at the group, taking in each lady, old and older. “Frankly, I tend to forget that when I’m around all of you.”

“I have come to terms with my life, my abilities,” said Mrs. Honeycut.

“Well, I, for one, am not giving in.” Mrs. Flynn reached up and touched her dark hair.

“I didn’t say ‘giving in,’” snapped Mrs. Honeycut. “I said, ‘come to terms.’ There’s a difference.”

“I can’t see that any of you are giving in,” Sarah laughed. “But it’s those hearts and minds I’m wondering about. Do people’s hearts and minds change?”

Sarah remembered trying to be less emotional in the hospital and how that had not worked for her. Patients touched her emotionally, and that was all right. For now.

“Well,” said Mrs. Honeycut, “I come here now. We used to have all the card games, the quilting, everything, at my house. Now I’m here. That’s change.”

“I think she had something a little more substantial in mind, Olivia,” said Mrs. Carmichael.

“Olivia, you are absolutely right, and we all thank you for your graciousness,” Mrs. Noonan said quickly.

“Frances has better treats anyway.” Mrs. Carmichael reached for another cookie.

Mrs. Honeycut opened her mouth, but Alma Gordon, thank goodness, spoke first.

“Look at Lionel. He’s changed. I remember that boy, sullen and ill-mannered. Look at him now. He seems to be as lovely a man as Mr. Glenn could hope for in a son.”

“The jury’s still out on that one,” Enid Carmichael said.

“Teenagers don’t count,” rasped Olivia Honeycut. “They’re not real people yet.”

Sarah smiled at this, and Mrs. Noonan winked at her again.

“Dylan, too, another teenager,” Sarah added. “From what Glenda said, he has had a true transformation.”

“Sounds like Glenda and George can take much of the credit for that,” Mrs. Honeycut said.

“Maybe there is something to this killer’s idea.” Enid Carmichael bobbed her head up and down, enthusiastically chewing her molasses cookie.

“Enid!” Mrs. Noonan leaped from her chair so fast Sarah thought she might fall over. “That is absolute nonsense. That poor young man had abuse in his childhood. Now he has love and kindness. Abuse is a far different situation from parents who bicker and squabble. None of those families, none of those children, are better off without their parents.”

“Amen to that,” said Mrs. Flynn.

“Okay, okay,” said Mrs. Carmichael, mouth full of cookie.

“Chantrelle has changed.” Mrs. Gordon set down her teacup. “She got a job in a clothing store, something she swore she would never do because her despised sister works in one. But she’s paying her rent and had money left over for an excursion to Disneyland. She hasn’t had a boyfriend since Zach. Says it’s her time now. She even mentioned the GED. She says she’ll come see Owen soon.”

“Ha! I’ll believe that when I see it,” said Mrs. Carmichael. “And when was it not her time?”

Mrs. Honeycut said, “Enough talk about teenagers. Has anyone old changed?”

“All right, then, look at me,” said Alma Gordon. “In a year, my heart has opened twice, for Baby Owen and for Mr. Glenn. Me. I’ve changed. My brain sometimes can’t believe it. But it happened.”

She had indeed changed. Sarah remembered how timid and anxious Mrs. Gordon used to be. And now she’d attacked a presumed murderer without hesitation.

“Look at me,” Harriet Flynn said. “My whole outlook has changed. The Lord put me here for a reason, and I intend to fulfill his will.”

Sarah had to agree, she had changed. No one would believe this was the same woman who refused to help at the hospital if unwed mothers or unruly children were involved. Now she was poised to take on any cause.

“Speaking of God’s will,” Harriet Flynn added, “we need to help that young couple. Marriage is sacred. God has joined them together, and we are all responsible for keeping them from being pulled apart. Sarah, what can we do?”

“We may not have to do much,” Sarah told her.

Sarah had ridden with Helen and Scott on the way home. Scott drove the whole way with Helen’s hand on his knee, twisty roads or not.

“I almost lost you,” Scott said over and over.

When they opened the door, Andy was sprawled on the floor with a baby on either side, their heads on his chest as he sang and they cooed. Sarah pulled him out the door as first Helen, then Scott burst into tears, hugging each other so hard they looked like one person.

“They’re going to marriage counseling,” Sarah said. “They truly love each other. They just got off track. With the right tools, they know they can change. And they both are ecstatic to have the Fog Ladies’ babysitting services. Scott says he’s far from the finish line, but he thinks he can do it with your help.”

Frances Noonan beamed. Harriet Flynn and Olivia Honeycut beamed.

“Hmph,” said Enid Carmichael. “I’m not going. I haven’t changed my mind about babysitting. I haven’t changed my mind about anything. I don’t see that I need to. Why should I change? The world has changed enough.”

Sarah looked around at each of the Fog Ladies. Did people ever change? Maybe, maybe not. The Fog Ladies had changed, in their own ways, large and small, save one. That sounded right to Sarah.