Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 06 - Magnolia Mansion Mysteries (5 page)

Margaret snorted. “That’s crazy! Where on earth would you find bodies?”  She set the glass on the small table beside her.  “Sounds like something Sally Keane would say.” Sally worked part-time at the Quick Stop grocery on the corner of main street.  She was also dating Officer Joe Nelson.  Of course,
she
would already know about the remains in the dumpster!

Gloria’s eyes narrowed.  She never had been a huge fan of Sally’s.  Every time Gloria stopped in the grocery store, the woman moaned and carried on about something.  Her feet hurt. She wasn’t making enough money. The lights in the store were too bright.  They made her eyes burn…

“Or it could be Patti Palmer.  I heard she’s not very happy with you these days.”

Gloria hadn’t thought about that.  Yeah, Patti probably did hate her.  Of course, it wasn’t Gloria’s fault that her son was a criminal.

Gloria popped out of the chair. She opened the kitchen door and reached inside to grab her cell phone from her purse.  She slipped her glasses on and scrolled through the screen until she came to the picture that Andrea had taken of the painting. 

She handed the phone to Margaret.  “We found this stuck to one of the sheets of paneling that had been in Andrea’s kitchen.”

Margaret squinted at the picture on the screen.  “This looks like an oil painting.”

Gloria nodded.  “You know anyone who might be able to take a look at it?” Margaret and her husband, Don, had an extensive art collection.  “The police took the painting as evidence but Andrea should be getting it back soon.”

Margaret handed the phone back.  “I have a friend who’s an art dealer in Grand Rapids.  Let me know when she gets it back and we’ll take a run down to his gallery.”

Gloria set the phone on the small side table and grabbed her glass.  “Thanks, Margaret.  I had no idea where to even start with this…”

Margaret picked up her glass of lemonade and took a sip. “Aren’t you wondering why I stopped by?”

Gloria nodded. Come to think of it, it
was
more than a little odd for Margaret to just “pop in” unexpectedly.  “I talked to Liz earlier.  She said David had left her a message, telling her that the judge was getting close to a decision on the coins.”

The “coins” were coins that Margaret, Gloria’s sister, Liz, their cousin, David, and she had found at her Aunt Ethel’s farm in the Smoky Mountains.  From everything they’d been told, the coins were worth a lot of money. 

The government had filed a motion to take possession of the coins.  Gloria’s cousin, David, who also happened to be an attorney, was fighting them.  If allowed to keep the coins, they would all become millionaires!

“Why didn’t Liz call me?” she grumbled.

“She tried to,” Margaret pointed out.  “In fact, you probably have a message on your answering machine.”

Gloria sighed. Her shoulders sagged.  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today,” she groaned.

If Gloria was honest with herself, she’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed, so to speak.

Margaret paused.  Gloria was normally upbeat, happy-go-lucky, and ready to take on the world.  “Is everything okay with Paul?”

Gloria shrugged.  “Haven’t heard from him lately.  What with his kids living with him and all.” Maybe that was it.  Maybe she was just aggravated with the world and someone spreading rumors that she was “creating” mysteries was the last straw.

After Margaret left, Gloria wandered around the house aimlessly.  Mally followed her from room-to-room.  She glanced down at her dog.  “Let’s go for a walk!”  Mally’s tail thumped the wall. 
Woof! 
Mally loved walks!

Gloria grabbed her sweater off the hook near the door and stepped out onto the porch.  She and Mally wandered down the sidewalk, past the garden and headed down the path that ran between the farm fields. 

Soon, it would be harvest season and the dull hum of the tractors as they traveled back and forth across the fields would fill the air. 

Fall was a beautiful time to live in Michigan.  The changing color of the trees. The crisp, cool air.  It was a welcome change from the muggy summer heat. 

Her son, Eddie, had called the other night.  He and his wife, Karen, lived in Chicago.  They were planning an October color tour to Michigan and had asked Gloria if they could stay at the farm for a couple days.  It was just the two of them. 

Eddie and his wife had decided years ago that they didn’t want children.  Instead, they wanted to focus on their careers and each other.  Gloria supported them in their decision but secretly wondered if someday they might not regret it.

Gloria’s other son, Ben, lived in Houston with his wife, Kelly, and their twins, Ariel and Oliver.  The family tried to come home every summer to visit, but for the second year in a row, the children were too busy.  Instead, Ben promised they’d be home for the holidays. 

If Gloria had to choose between a summertime visit and the holidays, she’d rather have them around for the holidays.

Last but not least was her daughter, Jill, and Jill’s husband, Greg.  They lived in nearby Green Springs with their two boys, Tyler and Ryan. 

She and Mally headed in the direction of the woods and the creek that ran along the edge of the property.  She shoved her hands in the pocket of her sweater as she walked.  “What do you think about having Tyler and Ryan come spend the night?”

She reached down and patted Mally’s head before she continued walking.  She liked that idea.  The last time the boys had stayed over had been right after Ruth’s crisis and the yard sale.  School would be starting soon and then they’d be too busy to spend time with her. 

She decided to call her daughter when she got back in the house.

The two of them stepped into the woods and wandered over to the creek.  There had been a lot of rain the last few weeks and the creek was overflowing.  Mally didn’t seem to mind.  She wandered over to the water’s edge and dipped her head to take a drink.

Gloria settled in on the log near the bank and reached down to pick up a leaf that had fallen. She twirled it between her fingers and studied the pattern.  God’s creation always left her in awe.   

She wondered how Andrea was faring with her parents.  She didn’t want to judge them, but had to admit to herself they were a couple of odd ducks.  At least Andrea had Pierce.  He seemed like a nice guy.  More like what Gloria had envisioned Andrea’s father to be like.

Her mind wandered to the remains.  She wondered whose they were.  The investigator had put the body in the bag rather quickly, but from what she could see, it looked as if there was some kind of clothing still on the body. 

She pushed herself off the fallen tree and brushed the dirt off her backside.  She wandered over to the stream. 

Had Andrea or Pierce noticed the clothing?
she wondered. 

Mally was back from her wanderings.  Gloria reached over and tickled her ears. “You ready to walk back?”

She let Mally in the kitchen first, and then followed her inside.  She found Puddles curled up on a kitchen chair.  He lifted his head when he heard them come in.  Gloria reached down and stroked his back.  “I’d take you on our walks but I’m afraid you’d run off and I’d never be able to find you.”

She hung her sweater on the hook and glanced over at the counter.  The light on her answering machine was blinking.  She pressed the button. 

“Hi Gloria.  It’s Liz.  I wanted to let you know David called.  The court is getting close to making a decision.  He said we should hear something in the next couple weeks.”

She heard a muffled noise.  Like Liz was covering the phone.  “Look, I gotta go.  Al’s here.”  The message ended abruptly. 

Gloria hit the “erase” button.  Al.  She must mean Al Dickerson.  Gloria had played a bit of a matchmaker at her last get-together.  A cookout.  Liz and Al had hit it off.  She was happy for Liz and happy for Al, whose wife had passed away a little over a year ago.

She frowned.  Her own love life was in the tank.  She remembered Margaret’s words.  Maybe she was cranky.  And lonely. 

She grabbed her cell phone.  Before she could change her mind, she sent Paul a text message.  “Lonely girlfriend, looking for a date.  Please call if interested in helping.”

She hit the “send” button before she changed her mind. 

She set the phone on the table and headed to the living room. She made it as far as the dining room when the cell phone chirped. 
Maybe it was Paul! 

She ran back into the kitchen and squinted at the screen.  Her heart sank. It was Andrea.  “Hello, dear.”

“They’re driving me crazy!” Andrea whispered.  “Hang on.” Gloria heard a commotion, as if Andrea was moving. 

“Can I come over?” she begged.

Gloria grinned into the phone.  “Yes, of course.  I’m home.”

“Great!  I’ll be right over.” Gloria set the phone back on the table and shook her head.  It made her wonder if maybe she didn’t drive her own daughter, Jill, crazy!

Andrea’s sleek sports car pulled in the drive a few minutes later.  Gloria chuckled under her breath. 
Poor thing
, she muttered under her breath.

Gloria stepped onto the porch and waited for her young friend to emerge from the car. The look on Andrea’s face said it all.  She flopped down in the rocking chair, closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back.  “I don’t know if I’m going to survive this visit,” she moaned.

Gloria settled into the chair next to her.  She reached over and patted her hand.  “Of course you are, dear.” She paused.  “At least they’re not moving in with you. Permanently.”

Andrea’s head jerked up. Her eyes widened in horror.  “Bite your tongue!”

Gloria laughed.  “Are they really that bad?”

Andrea rubbed her chin.  “You have no idea. My mother is looking for local exterminators to come fumigate the house.  My dad is insisting I move back to New York.”

She wrinkled her nose.  “No daughter of mine is living in this little hick town.  They probably don’t even have a proper police force.” She mimicked her father and did a pretty good job, at that.

Gloria pushed her foot on the floor and gave the rocker a gentle nudge.  “What does Pierce think?”

Andrea let out a long sigh.  “He thinks he should move in with me to protect me.”

That didn’t sound like such a bad idea.  The fact that someone had been inside her house not long ago.  And now discovering a dead body in her dumpster?  That would give any parent reason to be concerned.

Gloria had an idea.  “Have you thought about getting a roommate? After all, that is a big house.”

Andrea stared blankly at the field and barn across the street.  She had tossed the idea around a few times.  But it would almost be like admitting defeat.  Like she couldn’t handle living on her own. 

“Pierce mentioned that Alice is thinking about retiring.  She’s sick of living in the city,” Andrea said.

Gloria nodded.  Andrea had mentioned her parents’ housekeeper, Alice, more than once.  How she was like a second mother and had been with the family as long as Andrea could remember. 

“What if Alice came here to live with you?”

Andrea’s long, red fingernails tapped the armrest.  She nodded.  It was a thought.  It would appease her parents.  Pierce would be happy.  Gloria would be happy.  She loved Alice dearly.  It was an idea!

“I think I’ll give her a call.  Run it by her.” Andrea’s voice grew excited.  “I know Alice would just love this place,” she gushed.  “She hates the city but stayed for my parents – and me.”

The only problem Gloria could see was that even though Alice
said
she hated living in the city, moving to such a small town would be a big change.  There were no malls, no coffee shops, only one restaurant…

Andrea answered the question before Gloria could form the words.  “She hates the traffic.  Hates the noise.” She giggled.  “I remember one time when she and I tried to grow a garden on the outdoor terrace.” She shook her head.  “I don’t even remember what it was but it never did turn into anything.  There wasn’t enough light or maybe it was too much smog and it choked the plants.”

Gloria could hear the excitement in Andrea’s voice.  “You mentioned Alice has been around since you were young.  Do you have any idea how old she is?”  Gloria wondered. Maybe it would be too much for Alice.  Change could be hard for people who were older and set in their ways…

Mally wandered over to Andrea’s chair and flopped down on top of her feet.  Andrea reached down and patted her head.  “I’d have to say she’s probably about your age.  Maybe a little older.”

Gloria nodded thoughtfully.  The woman might jump at the chance.  Gloria knew she would.  She shuddered at the thought of living in New York City.  She’d never even been there. Never had a desire to go. 

The biggest city she’d ever been to was Chicago to see her son, Eddie.  Even that was too much.  After a few days, Gloria was ready to pack up and head back to her peaceful little town. 

“Would you like some tea or lemonade?” Gloria asked.

Andrea shook her head. “I should go back.” She ran her fingers through her golden locks.  “I fibbed and told them I had to make a quick trip to the post office.”

Gloria walked Andrea out to her car.  “Have you heard anything from the police on the body or the painting?”

Andrea shook her head.  “Nope. Not yet.” She grabbed the door handle.  “What do you think?”

Gloria wished she’d had a chance to get a better look at the body and the clothing.  “The fact that the bones were intact makes me suspect that the body had been planted there.  I doubt it was inside your kitchen walls. After all, the construction workers would’ve noticed it.”

Andrea nodded.  “That’s what I thought.” She opened the car door and slid inside.  “What about the locked room in the basement?”

“I’m going make a run to the hardware store.  Brian might have some ideas on how to pick the lock.”

Andrea started her car and rolled the window down. 

Gloria leaned in.  “Have you ever been in the attic, Andrea?”

Andrea shivered, as if just the thought of the attic gave her the chills.  “Nope.  I almost went up there once but chickened out.”

“Hmm…” The wheels were spinning in Gloria’s head. 

Andrea slipped on her sunglasses. “I can tell by the look on your face you’re dying to check it out.”

She put the car in reverse but kept her foot on the brake.  “If you
really
want to see it…Why don’t you come by the house tomorrow?”

Gloria grinned.  “I’ll be there in the morning,” she promised.  Before Andrea could back up, Gloria reached her hand through the open window and touched Andrea’s arm.  “I know your parents are driving you nuts.  Just remember - it’s only temporary.” She paused.  “I like the idea of Alice coming to live with you.  You should really think about it.”

Andrea promised she’d give it serious thought.  Gloria watched as her young friend pulled out of the drive and disappeared down the road. She sent up another small prayer for Andrea and patience as Mally and she wandered inside.

Back inside the house, she picked up her cell phone that was lying on the table.  There was a text message.  It was from Paul.  “I thought you’d never ask!  When do you want me?  I’m free tonight.”

Her heart skipped a beat.  It wouldn’t give her a lot of time to plan but that was beside the point.  Paul was coming over!

With an improved mood, Gloria texted him to come by at 6:00 sharp and that she was making dinner. 

She grabbed her purse from the chair, her keys from the rack and headed to the car.  The day was shaping up, after all!