“Mrs. Hoover called me early this morning and she was out of it.”
“Grandma, I don’t understand. Mrs. Hoover? Who is Mrs. Hoover?”
“Yes, Mrs. Hoover, the pastor’s wife.”
“Sure, Mrs. Hoover.” I don’t have a clue who she is because I never go to church.
“I called her about going over to work on the garden at the church.”
“Okay and what?”
“I had to tell her there was no way I can make it,” She says in between sniffles. “I’ve been crying because I found a dead body in our pool.”
“What did you say?”
“A dead body is in the pool. Hold on a minute, dear, another call coming in.”
“What was that? No, I can’t hold on a minute. Don’t answer it, Grandma. Hello, Grandma? Are you there? Please don’t hang up, Grandma.”
“I’m back. Let me tell you, Aleta, she found a naked dead man in our pool.
“WHAT?!”
“Yes, it is quite shocking.”
“She saw the body?”
“Yes, dear, I don’t think she knows him, she didn’t say too much. She was quite upset and she is such a nice lady. It will be hard to deal with the police in our house, and all.”
“Wow, grandma, I would have never guessed something like this would happen around here. She lives right beside us, right?”
“Yes, on the exact opposite side of the path.”
“That’s super close, Grandma.”
“You know, she lives in one of those pretty houses with a nice view of the bay across the way. I was hoping you could go and comfort her until we get back. So, we can get you out of the house, too. It’s the least I can do for all of the help she has done for me since we moved here with the gardening.”
“You’ve made some nice friends in West Palm Beach,” I say with a heavy sigh picking up my clutch. “When did she find the body, Grandma?”
“It was early this morning I believe. She didn’t call Mrs. Hoover when it happened. I heard about it over an hour ago. You know I was up with your grandfather helping him to get ready for his physical therapy session. So, I didn’t mind the early morning call.”
“You’re a trooper, Grandma. Well, I’ll see what I can do for Mrs. Villery. I was on my way to a much needed hair appointment, but I’ll reschedule it and make a visit to her house. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yes, we’ll be back as soon as possible. Thank you, dear.”
I have to call Katelyn.
“Hey Kate, my grandma told me about one of her gardening club friends finding a dead body in our backyard pool.”
“Get the fuck out of here.”
“No, I’m serious. It changed my perspective for this Saturday. I was heading to a hair appointment, but my split ends can wait.”
“When did this happen?”
“Early this morning, behind our house, if you can believe it. I don’t want to go over there alone. Can you meet me there in about twenty minutes to talk to the poor lady?”
“Not right now, Aleta. We’re at an art museum in Miami checking out the exhibit for my mom.”
Katelyn’s mother is a successful abstract artist. She creates amazing pieces out of thin air.
“Damn, I forgot you were going to your mother’s art exhibit today. How is it?”
“She has some cool pieces and they are very unique. I think she’s talented.”
“Cool, I will let you enjoy your family outing. We’ll talk later after I get more details about this situation.”
“Aleta, I know have to be scared shitless, but hang in there. I’ll be ready to dive in to help you later.”
“Okay, I’m going to change and get out of these yoga pants and make myself more presentable for my grandmother’s friend. She’s already a nervous mess I don’t want to fluster her even more.”
“Put on your overcoat and take your magnifying glass, I’m sure she will be more at ease with your professional uniform,” says Katelyn in between chuckles.
“Yeah, that should make the old lady feel much better.”
Katelyn laughed. “Maybe, I can meet you over there later.”
“No, problem, if you can’t make it over there.”
“I will see what I can do, we’ll be finished with this exhibit soon.”
“Don’t rush it. Stay there and enjoy for art’s sake.”
“Of course, anything I can do for the arts. Talk to you soon, girlie.”
“Bye, Katelyn.”
I hang up the phone and slipped it into my clutch. I run outside to the waiting courtesy driver sitting in the SUV now parked in the driveway.
“Hey, I have a change of plans and need to go next door.”
“I can handle that, Ms. Saunders. Are you ready now?”
“No, sir. I have to make a quick of change of clothes and I will be right out, okay?”
“Gotcha, Ms. Saunders,” says the driver as he settled back in the seat.
I run back to the house, grab my cell phone from my clutch and dash upstairs into my bedroom. I fling open the closet doors and stare at my clothes hanging from hangers and some folded in columns on the shelf above. I made a pact with myself to keep my closet neat after moving in over a month ago.
I decided to call my grandmother. “Grandma, what should I wear to visit your friend. I don’t want to come off as a nonchalant teenager.”
“You haven’t left yet, Kaye?” asks my grandmother in high pitched voice.
“Not yet, but I’m leaving very soon.”
“She’s pretty upset and I don’t want you to fluster her even more, you know how to handle yourself as a cordial young lady.”
“Cordial, Grandma?” Kaye asked pulling out some pieces. “What does that word even mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, not, anyway, I could wear my navy blue pants suit and look professional, but not overdone. A nice young lady giving her condolences, who knows what she’s doing when a naked body ends up in a suburban pool.”
“Yes, I forgot to tell you he had on a pair of sunglasses too.”
“Sunglasses? Now
