“Are you spying on me?”
“No. Why would I do that?”
“Oh, I dunno. Some cop thing, maybe.”
“I’m off duty,” Rosa said with a smile. She wasn’t actually on the force there, so she was as much of a civilian as Nancy was.
“Well, come in, why doncha? You’re making me nervous.”
Nancy stood on her front steps and watched Rosa park her bike in the driveway.
“Don’t tell me you brought that cat again?”
Rosa was just about to lift the satchel holding Diego out of the basket. “Oh, I forgot about Eddie’s allergies. Should I come back later?”
Nancy flicked a palm dismissively. “Nah. He’s at work. Bring the critter inside. But I must warn you; the boys are home.”
Evidence of that statement was clear. Forts made from sheets filled the living room with the boys crawling rambunctiously between them. One of the sheets covered a lamp, and Nancy got there just in time to save the ornamental piece before it crashed to the floor. “That’s enough! Outside with you! It’s a nice day. You should be outside.”
“Aw, Mom!”
Nancy pointed to the back door. “Go. I have company.”
Chugging like a train out of coal, the three boys slumped out of the room with droopy shoulders.
Nancy wiped her brow. “It’s the summer holidays. I, for one, can’t wait for school to start again.”
“I should’ve rung first.”
“Rang what?’
“I mean, I should’ve called first.”
“Oh well, you’re here now.” Nancy placed a hand on the hip over her full skirt. “Why?”
Rosa blinked at her bluntness. “I’ve come to apologize.”
Nancy hummed. “That calls for a drink, I suppose. There’s iced tea in the fridge.”
Rosa followed Nancy to the kitchen, and just like the last time, Nancy provided a little bowl of milk for Diego. Rosa somehow missed Nancy’s sleight of hand as she poured the iced tea, because her first sip was a shock.
Nancy chuckled. “It’s a Long Island iced tea. The boys know not to touch Mommy’s tea.”
Knowing what she was in for now, Rosa took another sip. “Thank you.”
Nancy simply nodded and waited for Rosa to do what she’d come for.
“I’m sorry I stopped writing to you, Nancy.”
Nancy’s shoulders slumped, and her hand went to the lace collar at her neck. “You were my best pen pal. I thought we’d be writing to each other forever.”
“Me too, but . . .”
“What happened?” Nancy took a sip of her drink
“It’s going to sound selfish and stupid.”
Nancy smirked. “Hey, I’m married to Eddie Kline!”
“Point taken. The last letter I wrote to Miguel came back return to sender.” She glanced up at Nancy and held her gaze. “You know how much I loved him, and my heart was broken so terribly when I thought he’d given up. Like I said, I was young and stupid and assumed the worst. The army probably had relocated him, and my mail didn’t get properly redirected.” Rosa paused and took another fortifying sip of tea.
“Did you ask him about it?” Nancy asked.
Rosa nearly choked on her tea. “No way. Water under the bridge, as they say. He’s got a new love.”
“Why should that stop you?”
“Nancy!”
“I’m just saying. If this were an episode of As the World Turns, you’d be marching up to his door and confessing your unfailing love.”
Rosa wasn’t the sort who’d knowingly break up the relationship of another couple, and this was her real life, not scripted entertainment!
“If I marched up to his door to do anything, it would be to apologize, just like I’m trying to do now with you.”
“Oh, right. Get on with it, then.”
Outside, Rosa could hear one of the boys shouting, “Bang, bang, you’re dead!”
Nancy rose and closed the window.
“What I’m trying to say,” Rosa started, “was that when I stopped writing to Miguel, I found it hard to pen a normal letter to you. I had a wastebasket full of my attempts, believe me, but everything I wrote . . . well, the truth was so maudlin, and truthfully, my life was a bore. You were writing about your wedding and your new baby, and I was just pathetic.”
“Oh, Rosa,” Nancy said. Her blue eyes flashed with sympathy. “Men—you can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them.”
Rosa inhaled deeply and forced a smile. “Anyway, I’m here now and ready to move forward.”
“Are you going to tell me about Lord Winston Eveleigh?”
The way she emphasized the word “Lord” made Rosa laugh. “Let’s save that for another day.”
Nancy raised her glass.
“And another glass of Mommy’s tea.”
They tapped their glasses together in a small toast.
Rosa broached the next item on her list. “How is Marjorie?”
Tom and Pauline Van Peridon had been released on bail for charges of obstruction of justice and would likely pay a fine or serve a few days of community service.
Henry Van Peridon, on the other hand, remained locked up in the local jail awaiting trial. The rubber sheath Rosa had discovered was covered with Victor’s prints, which confirmed it had come from the scene of the crime. The forensics team had found a partial print belonging to Henry on the control panel of the roller coaster as he’d done a poor job, with his limited time, of trying to rub them out. There were also prints on the rubber sheath, however, Henry hadn’t guessed that would be found.
Shortly after Pauline’s encounter with Victor, she’d told Henry what she’d learned. Waiting until Pauline went home, Henry obtained tools he had stored in his car, and after waiting for a moment of opportunity, sabotaged the roller coaster, ensuring Victor Boyd’s electrocution and death.
“She’s furious,” Nancy replied. “At Henry for being a murderer and not being able to marry her and make her the wife of someone with money and esteem, and at herself for being gullible. I can’t believe she didn’t tell me what she was thinking.”
“Better she learn the truth about him now,” Rosa said.
“That’s what I told her and it got me a pillow in the
