“Well, you know that she’s always wanted to have kids and we’ve never been able to?”

Skye nodded, remembering Darleen’s desperation to have a baby. It had almost been Darleen’s downfall last autumn during a murder investigation.

“She met a guy in her Bible study group whose wife died in childbirth. He already had two small children and now a newborn…”

“So she’s in love?” Skye sighed. “The maternal instinct is a tough one to overcome.”

“Yes.” Wally reached across the table and took Skye’s hands. “I feel so helpless.”

Looking down at their intertwined hands, Skye searched for the right words. “I don’t know what to say. Did you just find out?”

He squeezed her fingers. “Everything was gone when I got home from work today.”

“How devastating.” Skye felt a weight on her chest as she gazed into his pain-filled eyes.

“She took everything but my clothes-all the furniture, appliances, kitchen stuff, even the shower curtain. I’ll be sleeping on the floor tonight. Why would she be so vicious?” he asked.

“People do strange things in the heat of the moment. Could be she just wanted you to know she was serious about this. Maybe, after things cool down a little, you two can talk and work something out.”

They were silent again. Skye hesitated. She never talked about her broken engagement, but she finally said, “I know how much it hurts. The day I got the notice that I had been fired, I got home and found my fiancé had moved out.”

“The bastard.”

Skye got up. “You do get over it, although there is always a small pain. A reminder.”

He followed her. “It’d be a hard thing to forget.”

They deposited their trash in the bin and walked outside. Skye unlocked her car door and slid inside.

Wally stood at the window. “Are you sure it gets better?”

She nodded.

“I’m trusting you on this.” He stared into her eyes.

Skye caught her breath and struggled to keep her voice even. “I’ve been there. Call me if you need to talk.”

“I might take you up on that.” Wally leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers.

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away.

Skye raised fingers to her tingling lips. She felt confused. Wally was all wrong for her. He’d never leave Scumble River. If she were with him, she’d be stuck here forever. Simon was closer to her own age, single, well-off, and more urbane. Everything a woman could ask for. Then why did her heart flutter whenever Wally was around?

Sunday afternoon, one of Skye’s favorite times of the week. All the obligations taken care of and still not near Monday morning. She smiled and stretched, snuggling into her chaise lounge, and enjoying the sensation of being back in her own cottage. Everything was perfect. Simon was sitting in the matching chair and the weather was exactly right for being out on the deck. Brunch had been great. He always found the best new restaurants to try. They had gone for a drive through Kankakee State Park, and when they got back they’d found that her windows had all been repaired.

The late afternoon sun had lulled them both into a dreamlike state. Skye gazed at the lush green trees almost obscuring her vision of the river. She spotted a squirrel dragging an ear of corn that was almost twice its size.

“Shall I put some music on?” Simon asked.

“Something mellow. Do you want a drink?” Skye extracted herself from the deep cushions.

“Sure. A soda sounds good.” Simon followed her through the sliding glass doors into the living room.

This was one of the things she liked about Simon. He wasn’t much of a drinker. Except for the occasional glass of wine at a fine restaurant, he seemed to prefer soft drinks. Skye poured a can of Diet Coke into two glasses filled with ice. She picked them up and went back outside. Simon was already there, listening to the CD he had selected.

She handed him his drink and said, “Have you identified the poison that killed Grandma and Mrs. Jankowski?”

He put his glass down on the little round table that separated their chairs. “Yes, but I can’t tell you what it was.”

“I see. You don’t trust me.” Skye sat on the foot of the lounger rather than stretching out. The police chief has more faith in me than my own boyfriend. Something to think about.

“It’s not that. I just don’t want you to get any more involved in this whole mess than you have to. Finding out who killed her will not bring your grandmother back.”

Skye felt a brief flare of anger. “Maybe. Can you at least tell me when you’re going to release Mrs. J’s body?”

“I called the agency she worked for and asked them to make the arrangements. Didn’t they call your family?” Simon looked tired of this subject.

“No, why would they?”

“The woman in charge seemed to feel it was your family’s responsibility to bury Mrs. Jankowski. She didn’t have any relatives here and no one in Poland has the money for a funeral.”

“Uh-oh. I’d better call Mom.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Simon leaned back in his chaise.

By the time Skye returned to the deck he was asleep.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Skye watched as the first drop of rain hit Simon squarely in the face. He bolted upright, but quickly regained his composure. She had been reading a new mystery with Bingo stretched down the length of her thigh.

The music had stopped an hour ago, but Skye had been too engrossed in the adventures of the amateur sleuth to put on another CD. Bingo was purring in his sleep, his sides vibrating in time to a rhythm that only he could hear.

Simon wiped the moisture off his face with his handkerchief and looked at his watch. “How long have I been asleep?”

Skye closed the book after marking her place. “A little over an hour.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” He stretched and straightened his clothing.

“We didn’t have any plans, and I figured you must be tired.” Skye swept up the sleeping cat, and put him inside the cottage before he could protest.

Moving to her side, Simon put his arms around her. “You’re very understanding. I got called out late last night to pick up a body. I didn’t get to bed until after three then; I had to be at church at nine.”

“You couldn’t have skipped services this one time?” Skye asked.

“No, I was playing the organ for the choir.” Simon tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

“I forgot you sometimes play for them.” Skye linked her hands behind his neck and leaned back slightly. “Why did you have to go out so late?”

“One of those guys in the survivalist group was cleaning his gun, and it went off.” A shadow passed over Simon’s features. “He was only twenty-two.”

“Oh, how awful.” Skye gave Simon a hug. “No question it was an accident?”

“We don’t know yet. Witnesses say so.” Simon peeked at his watch.

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked.

Shrugging apologetically, Simon said, “Well, I did agree to talk to that boy’s parents this evening.” Before she could respond, he added, “I have a meeting with your family tomorrow to go over your grandmother’s arrangements, and I didn’t want them to feel rushed.”

“That was very thoughtful of you.” Skye pecked him on the cheek and slipped out of his arms. “We were rather surprised that Grandma had made all those prearrange ments without our knowledge.”

“More and more people are doing that. I feel it’s a good idea. One less thing for the family to worry about.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“Well, it’s a matter of confidentiality.”

She arched an eyebrow.

“Your grandmother asked that I not mention it to anybody.”

“Surely she didn’t mean me.” Skye turned and walked into the house.

“She didn’t make any exceptions.”

“This whole thing has been quite an eye-opener. I never realized how many secrets Grandma kept from us. And I’m learning a lot about my family.” Skye paused. “Maybe, in some cases, more than I wanted to know.”