“Emma’s too big to miss many meals.” I swiped my debit card and punched in my code. “Let me guess, you have a cat.”
“Sorry to burst the single-woman-cat-lady stereotype, but I’m more into the amphibian creatures. Snakes mostly and a few frogs. I know, not what you were expecting. See you in South Cove.” Anne headed toward the back.
The clerk handed me my receipt. “Thanks for visiting Pampered Pet Palace. Come back soon.”
I loaded up the dog food in the back of the Jeep and headed to the grocery store. Was it a coincidence that Kent’s spurned lover owned frogs? She didn’t say she owned the type that secreted poison, but then again, she didn’t say she didn’t. I couldn’t even mention it to Greg without admitting I’d read the report from Doc Ames.
Deeper and deeper, my investigation addiction was causing me to question my ability to be honest with the one person who mattered. I threw a package of steak into the cart. No, this time I’d ’fess up sooner rather than later. I’d tell him what I’d seen at dinner. Greg wouldn’t leave a half-eaten dinner just because I snuck a peek at an official report. Except, knowing Greg, I could see him doing just that.
Too late to change the path. Time to bite the bullet. After shopping, I pulled into my favorite drive-in, grabbed a fish sandwich, fries, and a vanilla shake, and headed home. The Bluetooth in the car buzzed over the radio and a familiar number popped on the screen.
“Hey, Aunt Jackie, I was planning on coming to see you today. You’re not in jail again, are you?”
The silence went so long, I worried I’d lost connection. “Aunt Jackie?”
“I’m here. Just not appreciating the gallows humor today. Where are you? I’ve been knocking forever.” Even over the phone line, I could tell when my aunt was steamed. And her anger seemed to be directed at me.
“I’m turning off the highway now. Had to make a run into Bakerstown.” Again, I added silently. Of course, the first trip I’d made yesterday had nothing to do with my aunt, so I guess I couldn’t blame her for that one.
“I’m on your porch. Don’t park behind my car. I’m not staying long.” And then she hung up. No “good-bye,” no “see you soon.” Yep, I was in trouble for something.
I pulled into the driveway next to Aunt Jackie’s car and climbed out. I grabbed the sacks with items that needed to be put into the fridge or freezer and left the back open. Climbing the steps to the porch, I held out my keys to my aunt. “Open the door for me.”
She took them and did as I asked. “You could have said please.”
I trudged through the living room and set the bags on the table. “Sorry, please and thank you. I have one more load I have to bring in, can you put these away?”
Aunt Jackie set her purse on the table and dug into the first bag. “You really shouldn’t buy frozen French fries. You don’t need the calories.”
“My kitchen, my food,” I grumbled as I headed back outside to get the rest of the food. I’d have to bring in Emma’s forty-pound bag last. With my aunt in a snit, I might just take the one more trip to grab it.
By the time I got the dog food settled into the mudroom by the washer, Aunt Jackie had put away all my groceries and started a pot of coffee. I glanced at the clock: 2 p.m. If I drank more than a cup, I’d be up past my workday bedtime. I sank into one of the kitchen chairs, exhausted from the trip. Shopping took its toll, even though it was just walking around and putting stuff in a cart.
“So, why are you so invested in Mary’s problem?” I grabbed a cookie off the plate I’d set on the table that morning. “I’ve already heard your excuses. And I get it, the guy is a scammer, but why are you acting as the avenging superhero in this story?”
Aunt Jackie sat across from me. “I know I stepped over the line on this one. You don’t have to rub it in. Did Greg say when they’d be charging me?”
“The DA’s out of town, so I guess you’re on hold.” I bit into the cookie. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, it’s unattractive.” She leaned back in her chair. “Mary bought an all-inclusive Mexican cruise package for her anniversary as a surprise to Bill. When she told me what she paid for it, I was suspicious, but I figured she just got in on a good deal.”
I took another bite of the snickerdoodle and waited. Sometimes Aunt Jackie’s stories took a while.