I hurried home in my VW van. I had been gone most of the day when I expected to be absent for only a few hours. I wondered if Asa was going to be home when I got back. I never could tell with that kid.
Baby met me at the front door with his tail wagging, which cheered me. I smiled hearing the refrigerator door slam shut in the kitchen.
“Asa, you’re up?” I called out, entering the kitchen.
Asa was in her hospital gown with a sheet draped about her hips and dragging on the floor. “Where were you?”
“I left a note.”
“Did you?”
“I went to get my van. What are you rooting for?”
“I’m hungry. I want something to eat.”
“That’s a good sign. I have a nice leek soup in the freezer. It will be gentle to your stomach.”
“Yuck!”
“It’s a really good soup, and I can toast some garlic bread to go along with it. Maybe you would prefer a bone broth.”
Asa pouted, just like she did when a kid. “That doesn’t sound too bad. Got anything sweet?”
“I can rustle up some chocolate cake or homemade strawberry ice cream.”
“I’ll take the ice cream while the soup is heating.”
“Sounds like a fair trade. I’ll get it for you right now. Sit down before you bust something open.”
Asa sat at my Nakashima dining table. “Can you change my dressing after I eat?”
I teased, “Hmm, what yummy conversation for a meal. Sure, I can change your weeping funky dressing for a clean one later.”
Asa gave a bitter smirk. “You just gotta stick that knife in and twist it, don’t ya?”
“What do you think mothers are for, Asa? We love to torment our children.”
Asa blew me a raspberry while I spooned a bowl of strawberry ice cream. I let it soften on the kitchen island while heating her soup and toasting the bread.
“Here you go,” I said, placing the ice cream before her. “The soup will be ready in a moment.”
Asa dove into the ice cream with relish. “Nobody makes homemade ice cream like you, Mom.”
“This weekend will be the last for the peaches. I can make you some peach ice cream.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be here then. I think I need to leave town.”
“That may be wise, but not for a while. You need to heal.”
“Heard any whispering about me?”
“I ran into Kelly at the police station. He said there was a rumor that Micah Kilkorn got ill after eating chili with a brunette woman.”
Asa put down her spoon. “It’s only a matter of time before Kelly shows Micah my photo.”
“Why? Neither Micah nor Logan Kilkorn have filed a report yet. You know how the police like listening to gossip. It’s how they pick up tips, but until a report is filed, the police are not going to ask about you or anyone else. They have too much to do rather than chase phantom crimes.”
“Kelly will. You know he will.”
I sighed. “You’re probably right. Wait a couple of days until you feel better and then get out of town.”
“I’ll rest today and then leave tomorrow afternoon.”
Why did Asa never listen to me? I guess all daughters are like that with their mothers. “Are you sure resting today is enough to get you back on your feet?”
“I’ll make do, Mom. Like always.”
“I fear for you, Asa. You are taking too many risks.”
“I always play it safe.”
“Really? I don’t think so. I saw your body after they brought you back in from surgery. You have scars everywhere, and the doctor told me they found a metal fragment in your wound. Now that sounds like a bullet.”
“She wasn’t supposed to tell you my medical issues.”
“Well, she did, little missy. You’re not denying it, I see.”
Asa remained silent.
“You make me so mad. Who are you, Asa? What are you? Who do you really work for?”
“I am an art insurance investigator.”
“You’re full of crap, is what you are. Be that way, Asa. You make me so angry.”
“You’ve said that you’re mad twice now. I get that you are angry, Mom. I really do.”
There was nothing more to say. I got her soup with garlic bread, and another bowl of strawberry ice cream. After eating, Asa went back to bed.
I remained up half the night worrying about what was to become of my daughter.