| |
LATER, THAT AFTERNOON, Dana stopped by Uncle Merv and Aunt Nia’s house to see Aunt Mary, whom was released from the nursing home on a weekend pass visit.
“So how are you feeling today, Aunt Mary?” Dana said at the dinner table.
Aunt Mary was in her wheel chair at the table and had been accommodated by Uncle Merv and Aunt Nia.
Aunt Mary slowly looked up from her plate of mashed potatoes with gravy and sliced chicken, just as she’d always liked it from what Dana could remember or heard about through her grandmother.
Dana immediately felt sorry for her. Her lips were wrinkled and her face looked frail. Her blue grey eyes looked tired and weary.
Dana’s heart squeezed in her chest. She knew she had to help Aunt Mary and Uncle Max by helping to solve the murder.
“I’m fine, thank you, darling,” Aunt Mary said, her voice delicate and frail. “Of course, I’m worried about my dear Max. He wouldn’t harm an ant, you know...a fly, maybe, but not an ant.”
Okay.
“I know. I know, Aunt Mary.”
“It’s sad for me to lose another daughter in law, but now I feel as if I’m going to lose my son, too.” Her voice quivered.
“We’re going to do all that we can do to help him.” Dana’s voice was warm and assertive.
“Thank you, Dana. Please do. Your dear Uncle Max needs our support.” Tears watered her eyes and Dana felt her pulse stop. “You know there was a time that your dear Aunt Mary was up and about and could do things for herself. I used to do some dangerous adventurous work back in my day. Nothing could stop me. But now...look at me? I wish I could do more.”
Dana got up and moved closer to Aunt Mary. She picked up a clean serviette from the table and dabbed her eyes. “It’s okay, Aunt Mary. We’ll get down to the bottom of this. I promise.”
“I don’t for one moment think that Max had anything to do with it.” Aunt Nia dropped her fork on her plate. Her voice was defiant. “This is absolutely absurd.”
“I hear you, princess,” Uncle Merv chimed him. He held Aunt Mary’s hand at the dinner table as he was seated beside her. “It’s going to be all right, Aunt Mary.”
“Aunt Mary, I don’t mean to pry but is there anything you can tell us about...well, Uncle Max’s wife? Did she have any enemies?” Dana asked softly.
“She was a nice girl,” Aunt Mary said. “You know, all the girls he brings home are nice. They are kind to me. Although,” she hesitated for a moment. “I know Max and Karla were having some sort of trouble in the marriage in the beginning.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, you see,” Aunt Mary paused thoughtfully. “Well, I don’t want to say too much.”
“Aunt Mary, we know that Karla was cousins with his first wife, Lucy. It’s all right.”
“You know that?”
“Yes, we do,” Uncle Merv added.
“Well, then, I guess I should tell you everything.” Aunt Mary sighed heavily. “I know Lucy’s friends weren’t too happy about Karla marrying Max—and neither was the family come to think of it. She had a fight with one of them.”
“She did? With who?”
Aunt Mary swallowed hard. “He wouldn’t kill anyone. He’s a good man. Max always takes care of his mother,” Aunt Mary stared off into space. She ventured off into a different direction with the conversation... She sometimes would get off course in conversations. Her age was something she would blame it on when she realized.
Something rose up on the inside of Dana. She believed Aunt Mary. Of course, she didn’t think Uncle Max killed his wife. But Aunt Mary’s words were ringing true—a confirmation of what she’d already believed. It resonated with her like a bell on the inside. He wouldn’t kill anyone. He’s a good man. Max always takes care of his mother....
This gave Dana more ammunition to want to fight to get to the bottom of the truth.
Dana didn’t want to stop her right now. She wanted so desperately to find out who had a fight with Karla. Was that person the murderer? Did the police know this?
But Dana couldn’t probe further right now. Aunt Mary was grieving. The loss of her daughter-in-law and now her son charged with the crime. It must all be too much for her to bear.
Dana just couldn’t imagine how she must be feeling right now?
“He takes such good care of me. He’s always there for me, you know?” Aunt Mary continued, a smile touched her lips. “What a wonderful son. Always there for me...”
She kept repeating it.
Dana felt so sorry for her. She knew what it was like to lose her parents and caregivers. Though this was a different situation. Max was his mother’s caregiver now. The roles had been reversed. And he’d done such a good job of it, too.
The horrible question was, what if Max’s bail got denied tomorrow morning?