"Yeah, but it would make sense,” Ben said. “Dad obviously loved kids, I mean, he had all of us, didn't he? And Mom said his other wife looks younger than her."

"That's a big leap, from liking kids to having more and younger,” James said. “Dad seemed kind of relieved when we got big enough to drive ourselves."

"Speak for yourself,” Harry said. “He left before I got my license."

How sad, Harriet thought. The boys measured their dad's absence by their milestones he'd missed.

"I'll let you know if I learn anything, but your brother's right. We don't have nearly enough information to jump to any conclusions."

She heard a rhythmic tapping on the outer door to her quilt studio. She went through and let a very tired-looking Aiden in. He was once again dressed in scrubs, and his hair had the flattened ridge that was a result of wearing a scrub cap.

She led him into the kitchen, where he sat beside Gerry at the island.

"Tough night, huh?” Gerry said and clapped him on the back.

"Yeah, something like that."

"I was just leaving.” Gerry got up and put his empty cup in the sink. “Are you ready?” he asked James.

"Where are you guys going?” Ben asked.

"Relax, tag-along, I'm just dropping James at Mom's-he's sleeping on her couch tonight. And then I'm going home."

"We could go have a beer on your way home,” Ben suggested.

"I'm tired,” Gerry said. “When you two get married and have real jobs you'll understand. The only thing I'm doing tonight is sleeping."

"Come on, Ben” Harry said. “Harriet has cable. We can watch old sci-fi movies in her TV room.” He headed for the stairs.

Ben glanced at Aiden and Harriet, and his face turned pink under his freckles.

"Good idea,” he said and followed his brother.

"Rough night?” Harriet asked when she and Aiden were alone.

"Dog fight,” he said. “Multiple victims. I hate seeing young, irresponsible pet owners getting unaltered male pit bulls."

"Were they purposely fighting them?"

"No, it was actually a group of friends meeting on a street corner. The dogs got into it, and the kids couldn't control them. A couple of the kids ended up in the emergency room with bites, too."

"That's too bad,” Harriet said. She massaged his neck with her good hand. “Sorry I can't give you a decent massage."

He turned and pulled her into his arms. She ran her hand through his silky hair, and he tilted his head down and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Can I sleep over?” he asked.

She pulled away.

"No, you can't sleep over,” she said. “We aren't that kind of friends."

"Yet,” he said. “We aren't that kind of friends yet. Say it."

"Even if we were that kind of friends, you can't stay over when there are children in the house."

"Children?” he said loudly, and she hushed him immediately. “They're all older than me,” he finished in a loud whisper.

"I rest my case,” she said.

"You're killing me here,” he said. He pulled her back toward him and wrapped his arms around her again. “They do seem younger, though, don't they."

"I think Harry is in graduate school, and Ben works as a research assistant for a save the some-kind-of-crustacean group. They both spend a lot of time with college students."

"Did you learn anything from the guys?” Aiden smoothed her hair away from her face with both hands.

"Not really. James says he's sure his mom wasn't getting insurance money. And the police are sure Gerard, or Gerald or whatever we're supposed to call him, was murdered, but they're not sure how."

"I guess that's good for Mavis,” he said. “The insurance part, I mean."

"Someone said the cousins from the Netherlands are coming for the funeral, which is apparently going to happen whether the body has been released or not."

"So, what's on tap for the great detective?” he asked.

"Not much. I'm going to ask Carlton about who works at his company at night and also if he knows who is around from twenty years ago who might have known what was going on back then. Other than that, I'm at a loss."

Aiden slid his hands under the back of her shirt and rubbed the knotted muscles of her back as she leaned into him.

"I'm sure you'll think of something,” he said.

"I've been thinking," Aunt Beth said as she poured hot water over her orange spice tea bag. She dunked the bag up and down several times in the blue hand-thrown mug she had selected from the shelf then let it fall back into the liquid.

"This must be serious,” said Harriet.

Aunt Beth had arrived early with a bag of doughnuts clutched in her hand along with her purse. Something big must be on her mind for her to bring something other than fruit to Harriet. She'd bake cookies until the end of time for the Willis boys; Harriet always got the fruit.

She got up from the island, sipping her own tea, and got a plate from the cupboard and a handful of napkins from the drawer next to the dishwasher.

"I'm trying to figure out what the right thing to do is,” Beth said, leaving Harriet to scramble for a topic. “Having two wives makes things complicated."

"Throw me a bone here. What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I'm thinking out loud,” Aunt Beth said and unbagged the pastries. She'd brought a large apple fritter, two raspberry-filled raised doughnuts and a pair of cinnamon twists. Judging by the quantity of sweets, she was very troubled. “Hand me a sharp knife."

Harriet complied, then came back around the bar and sat on her stool. Beth cut the apple fritter into bite-sized pieces.

"You know how we always make blocks for a person when someone dear to them dies? I was thinking we should be making blocks for Mavis."

It all became clear.

"And you don't know what to do about Ilsa."

"That, and the fact I'm not sure how Mavis is feeling about Gerald right now."

Harriet had a thought about that, but didn't want to throw it out there too soon for fear Aunt Beth would pack up her doughnuts and go.

"It seems like Ilsa should be included. I mean, she is a quilter. I realize we aren't her friends, but she's alone here and far from her home. And no matter what the final explanation is for Gerald/Gerard's actions, both women are grieving.” Harriet popped a piece of fritter in her mouth and put a doughnut on her napkin. She took a sip of her tea. “Mavis may be at the anger stage of grief, but she's still grieving."

"I don't want to add to her burden,” Aunt Beth said. “And I don't want Mavis mad if we make something for Ilsa.” She picked up a cinnamon twist, tore the end off and ate it.

Harriet bit her raised doughnut, marking it as her own. “I think we should make blocks for Mavis, but not have a theme related to Gerald/Gerard. You know, maybe make something purely for comfort and as feminine as Mavis could stand."

"That's not a bad idea,” Aunt Beth said and took another bite of her twist.

"As for Ilsa, let's ask Mavis what she thinks. If she absolutely hates the idea, then we'll find something else to do for her.” Harriet took another bite of fritter, and as she put it to her mouth, Aunt Beth slid the plate just out of her reach. “My guess is Mavis will say we should make blocks. You can figure out whether we should let her know we're making blocks for her or not."

"Probably not,” Aunt Beth said. “She's going to be busy today anyway. Gerald's cousins from the Netherlands are arriving."

"Won't they be with Ilsa?"

"I think Mavis and Ilsa are going to pick them up from the airport together."

"Are they coming in to Sea-Tac?” Harriet asked, referring to the Seattle/Tacoma airport…

"Yes. I think Mavis volunteered to drive."