Sally nodded.
“I’d like you to tell me your observations of Kiki, but if you feel at any time pressured or uncomfortable, we’ll stop. You come first.”
Sally related all she could, and as the two women worked through Sally’s observations, Sally became calmer and decided she liked Audrey Stavros.
Audrey finished writing down a few notes and then smiled. “Now the business is finished, do you have any questions? I mean any questions, personal, professional, personal…”
“Aha! I knew you were checking me out.”
“But of course. I’m so happy that I’m the first PEEP to meet you.”
“You’re not. Stephen Murphy came to see me last night.”
“That dog!”
“He was very sweet but scared the crap out of me.”
“I don’t think he knew that by scaring you he could give you an attack.”
“He didn’t though… Oh, he frightened me at first, and then he opened up and I felt as if I’ve known him all my life.”
“He’s a prankster, a hero, and besotted. I’m not going to say anything more. My husband - who is Mia’s grandfather by the way - would scold me that I’ve said this much.”
“You’re married to Mia’s grandfather?”
“We have two children, Luke and Brede. I met him working with PEEPs. I have my own business. I assess properties that have been donated to charities to see if they can either be used by the charity, for example a halfway house, or should be sold so the charity can build something more suitable. Recently, I’ve taken on a partner, and this has freed up my time. So I’m a business owner, a wife, a mother, and a PEEP.”
“My parents died in a car crash when I was a teen. I was fortunate to be placed in Mama’s Lee’s foster home.” Sally went on to tell Audrey the rest of her story.
“A cookbook?”
Sally grinned.
“I may know a guy who knows a guy who publishes cookbooks,” Audrey said. “When you’re ready, let me know, and I’ll get you an introduction. No guarantee of a book deal, but you’ll at least get to speak to a human.”
“I’d appreciate that, Audrey.”
“Your turn to ask me questions.”
“Ah, gee, any advice you can give me in regard to Cid?”
“His friendship with Ted is very important to him. They are boyhood friends and love to work and play together. Wait… play, like video games. They aren’t…”
“Dating?” Sally helped out.
“Yes. People in this town gossip about the possibility that Mia is the glue that binds them. Mia likes Cid but not in a… dating way,” Audrey finished, proud of herself.
“What if they don’t like me?” Sally worried.
“If Cid likes you, they will like you, and Cid loves you already, so be prepared they will treat you like one of the family. I was family even before I married into the family, and I used to date Mia’s former lover.”
“This is getting juicy,” Sally said.
Audrey grinned. “We’re already on common ground. There are lots of juicy things going on. Most of them are misunderstanding driven, but there are a lot of jaw-dropping moments when it comes to the Martins.”
“Alright, give me some.”
“They have a sixteen-year-old adopted son from Nigeria named Dieter. Mia loves to just show up at parent teacher conferences and let the teacher wonder who the pale-as-snow woman, too young to have given birth to a teenager, is. She’ll introduce herself and tell the teacher Dieter gets his height from his Dad. Ted drifts in on cue. He’s a tall auburn-haired white guy. They do this for every new teacher.”
“More.”
“When the Martins had their first child, Susan Braverman, the sheriff’s mother, babysat him and used to take Brian everywhere, especially to Chicago Bear family events. There are some people in the town who still think Brian is the sheriff’s kid.”
“He’s not though…”
“One look at his face, adorned with a Ted lookalike nose, will tell you his parentage. Plus, the kid’s a genius. He’s Cid’s godson. Cid shares his godfather duties with Stephen Murphy.”
“Well, there’s spiritual and then there’s spiritual,” Sally said. “Okay, I’m feeling braver. Any old girlfriends I should be aware of?”
“I’ve only known Cid to have one relationship that didn’t fizzle in the first few dates. He’s a very slow mover.” Audrey narrowed her eyes and said, “Although, I bet not with you.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“No. You were blushing.”
“Damn, I have a tell.”
“The one who we thought stood a chance was Rand Templeton. Ted called her and Cid, Rancid.”
“Not a great couple name.”
“She was a very good teacher. Although, her students called her Old Lady Templeton. Cid and Rand had a lot in common, but he was too slow moving for her. She wanted him to commit, and he didn’t. She dumped him and then returned to ask him to move to the east coast with her. He didn’t want to move. She left. She wasn’t the one.”
“I had a near miss too,” Sally said.
“I have had a few myself,” Audrey said. “My first husband physically abused me. It took me a long time to trust anyone after that.”
“Mine let his parents convince him that he didn’t want a mixed-race child.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with Cid. He makes up his own mind.”
“I’ve seen that. He’s stubborn.”
“Yes he is. He’ll correct your grammar without thinking it will piss you off. What is the other thing? Oh yes, he’s a pisser when he’s sick. Mia almost walled him up after three days of nursing him with the other stomach virus victims. Here ends my dish on Cid,” Audrey said.
Sally impulsively hugged her. “Thank you for being honest.”
“Thanks for the hug. I love huggers.” Audrey put her notebook away and stood up.
