Virginia finished up the book, and then sat back and let out a long breath. Her office was a complete disaster, and she had, more than likely, all her cups in this room and not a one in the kitchen. Picking up four that were still half full, she dumped the cold tea in the plant that looked as thirsty as she was. Making a mental note to water them, she went to the kitchen to find her mom doing dishes.
“How long have I been under?” Mom smiled at her. “That long, huh? Well, I have to work on getting the office back together, then I can start on the next one.”
“No. We have a trip to make…that is, if you still want me to go with you.” She’d hoped that she could get out of it, but told her mom that she did want her to go. “I’m going with you so you won’t have to worry about things so much.”
“I’m going to worry anyway.” Mom nodded and told her to sit down. “I have two deadlines coming up. I have to go there and come back quickly. No playing around with lawyers who only want my money to pay off something Axel did.”
“No, you don’t have to worry about that either. I have it from your attorney that there is nothing you’re going to be responsible for.” Mom handed her a cup of tea, hot and fresh, just the way she normally took it. “And we both know that you’re going to worry no matter how far you are from the deadlines. You’re like that.”
She was too. Sipping her tea, she thought of Axel. He’d been such a shit growing up. And most of the bad guys in her books were based on some of the things that he’d done to her and others. She had hated him since she was little, and it only got worse the older they got.
“Remember my ninth birthday party? The one that Axel came to with his parents?” Mom nodded and told her she was sorry again. “You wouldn’t have known what he was going to do. I don’t think any of us could have prepared for him coming there and making himself puke on my cake. But when he opened all my gifts, that was it for me. I washed my hands of him. I think even back then I knew that he’d be no good.”
“Yes, and his father standing there with his camera laughing at him. I swear to you, that man should never have been able to breed. And his mother. My goodness, the way that she was dressed made me want to go and get the comforter off my bed and wrap her up in it.” They both laughed. “He’s gone now. I can’t hardly believe that either. Never thought I’d say this about another human being, even one related to me, but the world more than likely made a sigh of relief when he passed on.”
“But he killed Norine and left behind a little boy.” Mom nodded and got up to make them some lunch. “What will become of him, you think? The little boy? He has no one to care for him. And as much as it pains me to say it, he’ll be better off without his father there, teaching him how to be a bad person.”
“There is that. I was thinking of all the things the little boy will be missing with both his parents gone. And I have to say, like you I think that he’s going to be better off on his own. If he gets a family that isn’t anything like his blood ones. I don’t blame all of this on Axel. Norine should have known better when she married him, don’t you think?” Virginia said she wasn’t sure that the marriage was all that legal. “Well, whatever happened, it’s over now. Except for Samuel.”
“He’ll be better off anywhere than with me, I’m thinking. I told that man that I spoke to that I don’t know children. But the truth of the matter is, I’m afraid of them. They’re...well, they’re little people, and I don’t care for people at all.” Her mom said nothing, but continued to make them both a sandwich. “Mom, you agree with me, don’t you?”
“Not necessarily. Yes, you do get lost in time when you work, but I’m here so that wouldn’t be a problem. I do keep you from hurting yourself by forgetting to eat and shower and things.” Virginia didn’t agree or disagree with her mom. She had been here when she needed her, but a baby would mean so much more. “And it is your relative. Even though you hated Axel, justifiably so, the baby has nothing to do with who fathered him.”
“I don’t want my life messed up.” Mom told her she was sure that Norine hadn’t either. “Look. I’m going to go out there, settle up on whatever needs to be done, then come home. With you, to this house. No babies. No crap like bags full of baby crap or bottles. Nothing. All right?”
“Of course. You know what’s best.” Virginia growled at her mom, which caused her to laugh. “I’m sure you realize by now that you don’t scare me like you do other people. How many cooks have you gone through this year alone? And I don’t even want to think about housekeepers. My goodness, it’s like a revolving door around here.”
“I like my peace.” Mom pointed out that vacuuming was a necessary evil. “Do they have to do it every day?”
“Yes, they should, and you should want them to. There is no telling what sort of creatures I might find in your carpet this time. How long as it been?” She told her. “Virginia, I’ve known of science projects that take less time than that. Six weeks is too long to go between cleanups. Why, if I didn’t go in that office and gather mugs occasionally, we’d have our own batch of penicillin by now.”
“It’s not that bad.” She’d not even noticed that her mom had been doing that. “What did I do around here before you came to stay with me?”
“I’m sure I don’t want to know. By the way, I’m to tell you that your book signing has been set up in Europe for February of next year. And your agent called three days ago. Something about a model that wants to sit for you.” Virginia dealt with the calls and then ate when her mom sat with her. “Virginia, when you go there, if you are keen on not bringing that child back with you, then I would suggest that you avoid seeing him at all costs. There is nothing that pulls at your heart strings like a small child.”
“Some would say that I don’t have a heart.” Her mother told her to distance herself from those people. “I don’t know. They might be right. I haven’t had a date in...Christ, I don’t know, at least since college. I don’t do well with people. I hate going to the store for things because I hate crowds.”
“I know you hate crowds, but there is hope for you.” She asked her how. “I’m not sure, but I’m thinking that it’s out there. Eat your lunch, Virginia. We have a mess to tackle.”
It took them both four hours to get her office back to rights. And then another two to take all the empty dishes to the kitchen and loaded in the dishwasher. Laundry was also done, things she wore to write then discarded as the day grew warmer or colder. Virginia sent her book to the editor and got out her notes on the next book. Tomorrow she would start fresh, as she did after each book she wrote.
Her cell was ringing as she made her way to the living room. Unknown wasn’t a call that she ever took, and she let it go to voicemail. By the time she was settled in front of the television to watch it with Mom, there were four more calls, as well as messages from each one. She asked her mom what she should do.
“Why are you asking me such a thing? Answer it or listen to the messages. It might just be a sales call or something.” Her mom stuck her tongue out at her, surprising her by the move. “Sometimes you act like such a child.”
“Mom, you just stuck your tongue out at me. I think that alone would qualify you as a child.” They were both laughing when she brought up the messages. “If this is an emergency, I’m going to be so pissed off.” She put the phone on speaker so her mom could listen too.
“Miss Jacobson, my name is Joe Windfall. I’m the police officer that is handling your cousin’s death, and that of his wife. If you could give me a call, I’d appreciate it. Nothing bad, I assure you, but I have one or two questions for you.” He gave his number, then laughed. “By the way, if you don’t call me back, I’m going to keep leaving messages.”
“What an impertinent man.” She had to agree with her mom on that. “Call him back, answer his questions, then give him a piece of your mind. Or I will. It might be fun to use a few of those curse words that I read in your books.”
“You read my books?” Mom nodded and laughed. “Don’t. I swear if you quote them to me, I’m going to lose my shit. And I’ll take care of him. And even if you haven’t read them, don’t start. That is something that will give me nightmares for the rest of my life.”
“You’re no fun, have I told you that lately? Anyway, my favorite line you’ve written so far is, ‘get to it, chip dip.’ I have no idea why I find that to be so funny.” Neither did she. “Oh, and I wrote the number down for you. Just in case you deleted it before I could call him. Do you suppose he’s cute? He sounds cute, doesn’t he? I wonder if he has a big dick. All your men do, it seems. Your father had average, I guess you could call it in your books. Or a pencil one. I had to think on that for a while.”
“Mom, you are forbidden to read my books again. And you’re especially not allowed to talk to me about them.” She just laughed and said she was going for more drinks. Virginia dialed the number and mumbled to herself about her mother. “I’m going to have her committed. Or put in a nursing home. I wonder if she’ll read my books out loud to the others. Christ, that’d be so embarrassing when I went to see her.”
“My mom said that most of the people in the home where she hangs out are more sexually active than she was as a newly married bride.” Virginia started to end the call when Officer Windfall laughed. “Don’t hang up, Miss Jacobson. I really do need to ask you a couple of things.”
“You shouldn’t comment on other people’s embarrassing moments, sir.” He said he was sorry. “I don’t think you are. There is a touch of humor in your voice that belies your comment. What is it you want to know?”
“First of all, let me tell you one thing. Your cousin had a long line of people that are going to be expecting someone to pay up. I want you to direct any and all calls you get to me. I’ll make sure they don’t bother you.” She asked if they were dangerous. “A few might be. That’s why I’m telling you to send them my way. I don’t know if that’ll work, but we have kept your name and relationship out of the papers here. And when you come to town, you can just use your pen name. I don’t think that’ll get you into trouble.”
“You know I have a pen name?” He said that he had a friend who could find out about anything she set her mind to. “I see. Is this legal? I mean, what would she need to do that for?”
“To make sure that when you come to town, you’re nothing like your cousin was.” Virginia didn’t comment. “Miss Jacobson, the couple of things I’d like to know are, did you know if Axel was involved with anyone? Not like a girlfriend or his wife, but others. The unsavory type.”
“No. I mean, I knew that he was trouble…he has been since we were kids. And if he was, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit. He did some prison time when he was younger. Even juvie house before that. His parents are gone, thankfully, because they didn’t help him one bit when he got into trouble. And Axel was forever in trouble with something.” He thanked her for her honesty. “I know that he did some jail time for beating a man over a pool game, but I don’t know all of that. Not prison, but then I didn’t keep up with him.”
“He did a five year stretch in the state pen here, plus, he had a trial coming up that would have put him away for more. Too bad that it wasn’t sooner rather than later. Norine, his wife, she seemed to have her stuff together until she met him. We’re trying to piece that relationship together now.” Virginia told him that she had only seen the woman a couple of times. “She didn’t know that her brother is gone. I’m not sure why she wasn’t notified, but as I said, we’re looking into all matter of things here.”
“She told me once that he knocked her up, and she wasn’t sure that they were married legally. But she lost the baby not long later. I think she fell or something. At least that’s what she told me. I don’t believe that now or then. Like I said, Axel wasn’t a good person.” Joe told her that they were married, as far as he could find. “This baby, is he all right? I mean, I know that he knocked her around quite a bit.”
“He’s going to be fine. The hospital here has given him a clean bill of health. And he’s with very good people.” She asked if they were going to adopt him. “Doubtful. Mr. and Mrs. McCullough have six boys that are grown up and some married. The youngest is in his late twenties, I think.”
“Wow, that poor woman.” She laughed when he did, not sure what he found to be funny. “I’m leaving in two days. My mom and I will be flying out. Like I said before to the doctor, I can’t stay long. I have a deadline to keep. Any other questions for me?”
“Yes, ma’am. My wife, she’d like to know if you’d sign a couple of her books. She’s promised not to tell anyone that you’re coming, but she really would be happy if you’d do that for her. She doesn’t get out much, what with her being in a chair and all. If you don’t have time—”
“No, I’d love to do that for her. Tell her that I appreciate her keeping it quiet, but that I’d be honored to sign whatever books she has.” He told her that on a cop’s salary, she didn’t have many but she would love that. “Good. All right then, if there is nothing else, I’ll see you in a few days.”
“All right then. Thank you very much. And like I said, you just tell them, if they call, that they should call me.” Virginia assured him that she would. “Safe travels.”
When her mom returned, she told her what was going on. She also told her about the books she was going to sign. Mom told her about the shipment that had come in a few days ago, and that she could take her that book.
“That’s a wonderful idea. I’m sure that I can look around here and find a few more too. I love it.” The movie was forgotten as they made a search of the office, which was much easier since it was cleaned up. “I’ll have to send her more too. I have no idea, but I think I might like her. Her husband is a nice guy.”
For the first time since she’d gotten the call, she was feeling excited. Virginia hated to travel. Actually, she hated leaving home at all. But this trip, it might be what she needed. And she’d get some more characters’ traits for future stories. Lord knew her mom gave her enough.
~~~
Mackenzie was making rounds when she heard Erwin shouting her name. She knew that he was coming around today—they were going to have lunch—but she hadn’t expected him to be so loud. Finding him with Dustin was a nice treat too.
“You have to keep your voice down, buddy. There are people resting here.” Erwin told him he’d try, but he was so excited. “Yeah, me too. But I don’t want us to get kicked out, do you?”
“No sir, I surely don’t.” He’d been hanging around with Rich, and it was showing in his language. “Do you suppose we can go fishing again? Grandpa said that he’d take me again, but he has to have help. I’m too... I can’t remember what he called me. He said it wasn’t a bad thing.”
“Too energetic. And he’s right about that.” She heard Erwin’s laughter and then Dustin’s. “There she is. Be careful now.”
Erwin ran to her, but he was careful to stop running before he got all the way to her. His hugs could be too strong at times, but he was gentle with her today. Mackenzie told him he’d done a good job. “You two going to join me for lunch? My goodness, what’s a girl to do with two handsome men to eat with?” Erwin giggled again and held her hand. “What have you been up to? I heard you went fishing.”
As he went on about his time on the water, she watched him. To see him so happy was something that she wasn’t used to. He still had some bad days where he’d be upset for no apparent reason, but those were few and far between now. They went to the cafeteria in the lower levels, and she watched him pick out his meal. Dustin kissed her neck when she was seated with them.
Dustin told her about Larson’s house and what they were working on now. She told him about her day so far. Erwin just enjoyed his meal. When he was finished, he asked if he could have his tablet and Dustin handed it to him.
“I told him no electronics at the table while eating. They must do that at the home he’s at too.” She said that it was a rule. “I’ve got some news about our house too. It’ll be done next week. Like completely done. I cannot wait. This is why I like working on empty homes instead of ones with people in them. Less rules.”
Her beeper went off about the time her name was being called over the PA system. Standing up, she told them that she’d see them both later and headed to the ER. Doctoring was always a crapshoot about getting to finish a meal, but she loved her job and wouldn’t trade it for the world now.