Chapter Fifty-Nine Raine #2
“I appreciate that. But remember, you had a rent-free house to live in.”
Edith’s shoulders stiffened. She handed me the bag. “These are Molly’s clothes. I cleaned what I had at the house.”
“Thank you.”
I followed her into the kitchen, to find Molly spooning sugar into a cup of coffee. The spoon clinked against the side of a stoneware mug as the girl stirred.
“Molly,” Edith said. She kissed the girl on top of her head. “I’ve missed you.”
Molly smiled. “I’m drawing.”
Edith glanced at the cereal bowl. “Are you eating?”
“Yes,” Molly said.
“What did you have for breakfast?”
I tamped down the urge to answer for the child.
“Cereal.”
Judson sipped his coffee, clearly curious about Molly’s one-word answers. Finally he said, “I better get going. Raine, walk me out?”
I glanced at Edith standing by Molly. At some point, we’d have to come to an understanding. I had to hope I could trust her with Molly.
“Sure.” I followed him to the front door.
He reached for the knob and paused. “She’s not a threat to you,” he said. “She’s Gabe’s mother.”
“I know. But she’s had it in for me since I got back.”
“She’s afraid. And grieving.”
“You’re right. But she enabled Gabe to take Molly.”
“Do you think she expected it to go so far?”
“No.” I shook my head. I wanted to find pity, but I had none in reserve. “Maria was not fond of her.”
“Mothers-in-law don’t always get along with the women their sons marry.”
Ken’s mother had left the area about a decade ago and moved to Florida. Just as well. We hadn’t been each other’s superfans. “Point taken. I need to work it out with her.”
“I’ll update you on the exhumation,” he said.
“Great.” I found traces of a smile.
When he left, I closed the door and moved back toward the kitchen. Molly was eating more cereal, and Edith had poured herself a cup of coffee. She’d been in this house so much, and it made sense that she still knew her way around the kitchen.
“It’s a sketch of this house,” Molly said.
“Oh, who are these people?” Edith asked.
“That’s Mommy, Daddy, and me. That’s Raine. She’s in the house.”
“Why are you and your parents outside the house?” Edith asked.
“Because we are,” she said.
“Eat your cereal,” Edith said.
The girl took a bite, swiped a drizzle of milk from her lips, and then jumped down and hurried into the living room.
“This isn’t the place for a child,” Edith said.
“I grew up here,” I said. “Maria and Gabe spent many hours here.”
“This place is past its prime. It’s too old.”
“I’m talking to a contractor.”
“Renovation brings chaos.”
This conversation wasn’t steering toward steady waters. “The medical examiner will release Maria’s body to my custody. I’m having her cremated and her ashes buried in the Hale cemetery. What would you like to do with Gabe? He’s welcome to rest by Maria in the family plot.”
Her eyes watered and then hardened. “Gabe on Hale land. You’ll have them all with you then, won’t you?”
“I was thinking about Molly. She might want her parents together.”
Her expression shifted, subtle but noticeable. “You barely know the child.”
Impatience gnawed at me. “None of it’s what I want. I miss Gabe and Maria. But I’m making the best of it. Including raising Molly.” Silence pressed. “I’ve contacted the funeral home. As soon as they call me back, I’ll work out the logistics. Let me know if you want Gabe here or not.”
“He never wanted to be buried. Hated the idea of being trapped underground.”
“Their ashes can be spread together in the cemetery.”
A hint of warmth. “I’ll think about it. I’m not sure. I might want my son buried.”
“Let me know soon so I can tell the funeral home what to do. Either way, a service will help Molly with closure.”
Edith set her coffee down. Her gaze scanned the room. “I wish I had a nickel for all the hours I’ve spent in this room.”
Thousands of hours when Mom was alive and after. I wished Edith and I had gotten along better. She was one of my last connections to Mom and the good parts of my past. “Do you remember Amy Stocker?”
“Sure. She was always lurking about once you let her into the house. Why are you asking about her?”
“You saw the police lights?”
“Yes.”
“The police found Amy’s body on Hale land.”
Her frown deepened. “No one would tell me why they were here.”
“Did you ever talk to Amy when she worked here?”
“Our paths didn’t cross often. But I was polite. She asked me a lot of questions about the house and you. She was very curious.”
“I never realized how obsessed she was with Hale House.”
Edith released a breath. “You shouldn’t have hired her. It gave her ideas.”
“About what?”
“Being a part of this family. Girls like her will do anything to feel like they belong.”
I’d never made any promises to Amy beyond a small paycheck and room and board. But maybe just allowing her into the house had hinted at a relationship that wouldn’t happen.
“Did Amy date anyone?”
“I have no way of knowing,” Edith said. “We were coworkers. Not friends.”
“No one visited her while she was here?”
“I didn’t see anyone. But I went home most evenings by six p.m.”
“How was she with Mom?”
“As good as she could be. You know how agitated your mother could be in the evenings.”
“I remember.”
Edith glanced toward Molly in the living room. “I want to come back. I’d like to see Molly weekly.”
“Of course. But call before you come.”
“Of course, Miss Hale.”