“I saw Josh’s car here so there wasn’t any need for a knock,” my mom said when she walked in and to my surprise went straight to Ian. “I need your help, Ian.”
“Anything, Mrs. Madison,” Ian said without waiting to see what she wanted.
My mom suddenly turned to me. “How are you feeling, Pepper? Your bruises have faded some since yesterday… a good sign.”
“About the same since we talked this morning, Mom. My nose is sore, and I have a few lingering aches. Otherwise, I’m good. Now what is it you need from Ian?”
She turned to him. “I need a good photo taken of myself. Can you help me with that?”
“Definitely. I can set a photo shoot up for you tomorrow morning if you’d like.”
My mom smiled. “That would be wonderful.”
“Mom, what are you up to?” Josh asked.
“I want a photo taken. Is there something wrong with that?” my mom said in a tone that she was not to be questioned further and one she rarely used.
Josh obeyed. I didn’t.
“You want a photo to use on campaign material when you run against Mayor Barrett, don’t you, Mom?” I said, knowing I was right.
“He treated your father badly and if he can do that to our sheriff who was doing his job, then what would he do to any law-abiding citizen of our town he didn’t agree with?” She shook her head. “I have no choice. I have to do this.”
“I think it’s great. I’ll help you campaign,” I said and her smile that had faded when Josh questioned her bloomed again and I was glad to see it.
“Oh, Pepper, that’s wonderful. I could use all the help I can get.”
Josh went to say something, and I raised my brow in warning.
He halted for a moment, then said, “I’ll help as well.”
Our mom went to him and gave him a hug. “That means a lot to me, Josh.”
Josh returned the hug. “Anything for you, Mom, but please talk with Dad about it. The kids don’t like when their parents fight.”
My mom stepped away from him, a look of surprise on her face. “Fight? Your dad and I never fight. We may have a little insignificant tiff every now and then, but never do your dad and I fight. Do you ever recall us fighting?”
Josh shook his head.
My mom patted him on the arm. “Then there is no worry, Josh. Your dad will apologize for using a word with me that he should have never used, and all will be well.”
“Good to know,” Josh said, accepting defeat gracefully. “I’m out of here.”
“Say hi to Kate for us,” Ian said, and realized his mistake too late when he saw me cringe.
“Oh, you’re going to Yesterday’s Treasures. I saw a few things there I wanted to get. I’ll follow you there,” my mom said.
Josh looked at me, his eyes pleading for help.
“I’ll go with you tomorrow, Mom. There are a few things I wanted to talk with you about if you don’t mind,” I said.
“I’ll put the kettle on,” Ian said and scooted off the stool, mouthing, Sorry, mate, to Josh as he did.
“I’d love to talk, and I never refuse a cup of tea,” my mom said with a smile and slipped off her coat.
I owe you, Josh mouthed to me, our mom’s back to him.
I stepped around my mom and took her coat to hang on the coat tree stand by the door and whispered as I saw my brother out the door, “Big time.”
Mom, Ian, and I settled in the living room where it was more comfortable to enjoy the tea and talk.
I didn’t waste time in asking questions. “By any chance did you know Rita Carson’s mom?”
“Betty,” my mom said with a sad shake of her head. “A nice woman. Like so many others in Willow Lake, I took food to her—a lemon pound cake, a bit of sweet always soothes. I think she needed to talk that day or didn’t want to be alone because she asked me to stay and have tea and cake with her.”
Ian and I exchanged glances as if we had struck gold.
I remained silent, knowing my mom would continue.
“Betty told me how she worried about her daughter dating Travis. She feared no good would come of it. She thought Rita was throwing her life away and that she would have no future with Travis. Though, she did admit that Travis was a steady worker and that the garage he worked at part-time spoke highly of him and his work. Still, Betty worried what kind of life her daughter would have with an auto mechanic for a husband. I don’t think she realized that being an auto mechanic was a good profession to get into, but it wasn’t the time to debate such a thing with her. She told me Rita wanted to be a teacher, but her father insisted she take business courses in high school. She also confided in me that she didn’t want Rita going to the football game that night. That Rita seemed upset over something, and she worried that she and Travis may have had a fight, and she feared Rita was in a hurry to make up with him. She really reiterated what she had told your father and Sheriff Barrett, except the part where Rita gave her a big hug and told her all would be well.” My mom sighed. “It broke my heart. Your brother Danny was barely a year old. I couldn’t imagine losing a child.”