Motherhood Is Murder

Hank? This was Mom?s other boyfriend. What was he doing calling me?

?Yeah. Hi, Hank.?

?Sorry to bother you, Kate. It?s just that I was concerned about your mom. I haven?t heard from her in a couple days and, well, we?re leaving tonight on our Mexican cruise. I wanted to be sure she had all the information . . . and . . . well, at our age you can?t be too careful, right? Just wanted to know that she was okay.?

What could I say? She?s wine tasting with another fellow?

?Oh, Hank, that is so sweet. Yes, Mom is fine. Just busy. But she?s totally fine. I?m sure she?ll be there tonight. She?s really looking forward to the trip. Shall I have her call you??

?I don?t want to be a bother . . .?

?I?m sure it?s not a bother . . . let me take down your number.?

What did I know? Maybe Mom was giving him the brush-off. Still, I didn?t have to be the one to break the bad news, right?

I rummaged frantically through my diaper purse, but couldn?t come up with a pen in time. I double-checked the number he gave me against the one my phone had picked up. We said good-bye and hung up. I contemplated dialing Mom right then, but decided against it. Bruce would be back any minute.

I studied Laurie, still snoozing in her bucket. I reached over and felt her tummy extend and deflate. Good.

I finished the salmon and grilled corn on my plate and waited.

What was taking Bruce so long?

Maybe he was checking on Celia.

Bored, I decided to dial Mom.

She picked up on the third ring. ?Kate? Is everything all right??

I smiled to myself. Now that Mom had a cell phone, she seemed proud to be ?on call? 24/7. ?Everything?s fine, except your boyfriend called me looking for you.?

?My who??

?Hank called me, Mom.?

?Oh dear! Well, yes, yes, thank you for the message, Kate.?

I imagined her trying to act coy with Galigani at her side. A wicked impulse struck me. ?You owe me, Mom. I lied for you! Kept your fish on the line, so to speak.?

?Yes, dear. Well, thank you very much for that. I appreciate it. Oh! Look at this?we?re at Cakebread Cellars!?

?It?s okay, you can try and act busy, but I need you to work on Galigani for me. If he?s well enough to gallivant through Napa with you, then he?s well enough to supervise me or whatever. Besides, I really don?t need any supervision.?

?I have to go, honey. Kiss little Laurie for me. Thanks for calling.?

?Will you do it??

?Mmm-hmm,? Mom answered in a singsong fashion and disconnected.

I pulled out my notebook and rummaged deeper into my backpack. I had to have something to write with. I?d never make it as a PI without a pen!

I finally found a pencil with a very dull tip in one of the pack?s side pockets. Still enough to jot some ideas down:

1. Why would Helene lie to Margaret about Bruce not wanting kids?

2. What did Helene?s death mean to Bruce? Another chance at marriage and having kids? What about the impending adoption?

Finally, I heard Bruce?s footsteps on the staircase. He was carrying a mixed drink in one hand and a beer in the other. He resumed his seat across from me and set both drinks in front of himself.

?Bruce, are you planning any construction projects??

He sighed. ?Yeah. Helene and I wanted to put an extension on the condo. Because of the baby.?

?Did you decide to cancel the project??

He shook his head. ?Well, I?m not sure yet what I?m going to do.?

?Do you know if Helene canceled the project??

?No. She wouldn?t have canceled the project. Why would she cancel? No.?

So maybe Sara was right and Helene hadn?t canceled the construction, but why would Evelyn lie?

Bruce took a sip of the mixed drink. ?I?d love to have children. But hell, I?m not around much. How am I going to raise a kid all by myself??

I watched as his face contorted. Anger flashed across his eyes and was replaced by a distant look. He gripped the mixed drink, then made a satisfied sound as he drained the glass. ?I work all the time. I have very demanding clients. Even this.? He waved his hand around. ?My being out this week. Sure the firm will send out a letter to my clients, but it?s very hard to be away.?