threw themselves at Ginger, screaming at the top of their lungs.
Skye was astounded when her cousin failed to respond. She neither scolded them for the commotion, nor checked to see if there really was a problem. Instead Ginger sat still while they swarmed over her, grabbing bits of food from various dishes.
The little girls scrambled up on chairs, their short party dresses exposing their thighs and underpants. They too were talking so loudly Skye thought her ears would start bleeding.
Finally, carrying the food they had liberated from their parents’ plates, the children ran off, scattering adults as they went.
Skye sat silently, amazed that neither parent had intervened. Ginger took a sip of coffee as if nothing had happened.
“What were we talking about?” Gillian broke off a piece of cookie and popped it into her mouth.
“Ah . . . Ah, your mom’s health. Do you know what’s wrong with her?”
“Well, part of it is she’s going through the change, so she’s embarrassed to talk about it.” Gillian drew circles on the white paper tablecloth with her damp cup.
“But menopause isn’t that big a deal anymore, is it? I thought they had a pretty safe and effective hormone therapy now.”
Ginger shrugged. “Mom doesn’t want to take drugs, so she’s having a rough time.”
“You girls can’t talk her into it?”
They both shook their heads.
Skye got up. “I’m going to get some water. You all want anything?”
“More coffee would be great. Cream and two sugars. Thanks.” Ginger handed Skye her cup.
When Skye returned, her cousins’ husbands had joined them. Both looked uncomfortable in their funeral clothes. Flip Allen, Ginger’s husband, was a big, hulking guy whose suit appeared to have been borrowed from his little brother. His wrists and ankles showed from their respective cuffs.
He was speaking as Skye slipped into her seat. “Geez, honey, me and the boys have been going fishing up north since before we got married. I can’t let them down. They count on my paying my part of the freight.”
Irvin Tubb, Gillian’s husband, joined in. He was short and round, as his name suggested. “Yah, we been doin’ this since high school. What’s the fuss this time?”
Gillian lowered her voice. “Money. We could use that money for other things. I need a new washer and dryer, Kristin has outgrown all her clothes, and I’m still waiting for you to pave the driveway.”
Ginger nodded. “Yeah, our kids need clothes too, and my van has just about had it. We can’t afford for you to go this year.”
Flip wrinkled his forehead. “Well, all right, but I thought you were getting a bunch of money when the old lady died.”
Irvin added, “Yeah, you two were always talkin’ about the expensive jewelry she had, and how you’d get a good price for it when she finally kicked off.”
“Why doncha say it a little louder?” Gillian sneered. “You idiot. Now Miss Smarty Pants over here will think we killed Grandma.”
The two men turned a dull shade of red and got up from the table.
Flip mumbled, “What the Christ. We can’t never do nothing right. Let’s get outta here.”
Irvin followed. “Yeah, okeydokey.”
Skye sat on a swing in the church playground and dangled her legs. Tears ran down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them off; after all, she had come outside to cry.
Laughter and loud voices could be heard from inside the hall. No one seemed to be mourning her grandmother.
Suddenly she was swept into a bear hug. “Honey, what are you doing out here all by yourself?”
Strong arms held her away so that intense blue eyes could stare into hers. Charlie didn’t give her a chance to reply. “I know how close you and Antonia were. But she lived a long life, and she wouldn’t want you to cry for her.”
“It’s not only Grandma’s death, it’s everything. As usual my life’s a mess. I thought as I got older, my life would settle down.” Skye sat back down on the swing.
“What’s the problem?” Charlie leaned forward, taking the chains in either hand. “If someone is giving you a hard time, why didn’t you come to me?”
“Oh, Uncle Charlie, it’s not always something you can fix.”
“Tell me anyway.” Charlie released the links, crossed his arms, and planted his feet firmly in the gravel.
“I don’t know where to start.” Skye swung back and forth, hoping Charlie would drop the subject.
He gazed at her steadily. “The beginning is always a good place.”
“Okay. Overlooking the fact that my grandmother was murdered, and I’m pretty sure a family member did it, I’m also having trouble with my job, my love life, and someone who’s playing pranks on me.”
“Well, Antonia’s murderer will be found and if it’s a relative, it’s better to know about that person rather than have them in the bosom of your family ready to strike at any time.”
“Maybe, but Uncle Dante is in such a state he sort of scares me.”
“Why?” Charlie leaned forward, his forehead lined.
After Skye told him about being dragged into the classroom and forced to remain against her will, a stream of obscenities erupted from Charlie. He ended his tirade with, “Don’t you worry about Dante. He’s just a moron studying to be an idiot.”
Skye giggled. “Yeah, and those are pretty much his good points.” She felt better, having told Charlie. At least if someone hurt her, Charlie knew that Dante had threatened her.
“Now, what’s up with your job?” Charlie moved on to her next dilemma.
She cursed herself. Skye hadn’t intended to tell Charlie about that. She didn’t want him pulling any more strings on her behalf. “Oh, that’s not much of anything. A few angry parents at the end of the school year, that’s all. It’s taken care of.”
“I heard about your tires and windows. Has there been anything else?”
“Someone stole something from my car while it was parked in my own driveway.”
“I was talking to Jed and we think you need an alarm at your house and on your car. You’re isolated. It’s an invitation for trouble.” Charlie took a toothpick from his pocket and stuck it in his mouth. “I talked to a security company, and they’re going to come out day after tomorrow.”
She didn’t bother to remind him that her tires had been slit while she was at her grandmother’s, surrounded by people. Instead she said, “I can’t afford it and you are not paying for it. Besides, I’d have to check with my land- lords before installing something like that on their property.”
“But—”
“No buts; case closed.” Skye gave him a stern look.
He finally broke eye contact. “Maybe later then. Now, what’s wrong with your love life?” Charlie drew himself up to his full height. “If Simon is pressuring you, I can take care of that.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.” Skye debated whether to confide in Charlie. “The thing is, he’s a lot more certain about his feelings than I am about mine. He wants our relationship to be more intimate and committed. I’m just not sure what I want yet.”
To her surprise, Charlie didn’t yell at her for blowing her chance at an eligible bachelor. Instead he said, “Is there someone else?”
Skye shrugged, her cheeks reddened. “Maybe. No. I don’t know.”
“Keep seeing Simon as long as he’s willing to stick to your terms. When he’s not willing anymore, then you’ll have to decide.”
“Skye, yoo-hoo Skye, over here.” A loud, demanding voice rang out when Skye reentered the parish hall looking for her parents.
Mona was sitting with her husband and Father Burns.
“Yes, Aunt Mona?” Skye presented herself at their table.
“Sit down, dear. Neal and Father want to talk to you.” Mona gestured to a chair opposite them.
