“Well, that explains a lot,” I told her and she gave a short laugh.
“Yeah.”
“Bitsy, darling,” I said, “you should feel free to feel how you want and don’t think of what people think.”
“No one liked him anyway, he died and his mistress phoned the police. It’s hard not to think of what people think since everyone’s thinkin’ somethin’.”
“Well, try. Anyone who truly cares about you will let you have your feelings, whatever they may be.”
She was silent a moment, letting this sink in then she said, “Yeah.”
“Do you want me to come and visit with you? My Mom’s here and she loves coffee. She’d really like one of your lattes. She’s also a really good listener.”
“Your Mom’s here?”
“Well my Dad came and he was being, well, my Dad, which means he was being a jerk to me and to Max. I told my Mom and Mom, being a Mom and in particular, my Mom, who’s a little nutty, decided to bring her husband and have him help Max take care of Dad. So she’s here, my stepdad Steve’s here and Max and Steve are in town probably threatening Dad and maybe earning themselves a lawsuit.”
“Good thing you’re a lawyer,” she said, again sounding like she was smiling.
Well, there it was again, news travelled fast.
“Hey, speaking of that, would you help me draw up my will?” she asked. “George is covered in work but he’s reading Curtis’s tomorrow and he said I should have one drawn up straight away after Curt’s is read. He wants to do it for me but says it may take awhile because he has some big case pending so he referred me to a guy next town over but I know him and he’s a weasel. I’d rather you help me do it.”
“Bitsy –”
“I’ll pay you.”
“It isn’t that.”
“What is it?”
“Um…” I tried to think of what it was then when I couldn’t I said, “nothing. Sure, I’ll be glad to help.”
“It’ll be easy. Just wanna make sure Shauna never gets her hands on any of it.”
“Bitsy –”
Bitsy’s voice got low and I realized Brody really shared when she said, “The kid’s Curt’s, I’ll put some money aside for him to get when he comes of age. ‘Til then she can blow.”
And there it was. Bitsy was a good woman, through and through. She was also a woman scorned.
“Okay, darling, we’ll tie it up tight,” I assured her.
“I want a DNA test, though.”
“Okay.”
“Maybe three, who knows who she’d f**k to get the test results back that she wants. We may need to go out of state.”
It was my turn to talk through a smile. “Might be a good idea.”
“Maybe you know someone in England, she’s never been to England, would better our chances, seein’ she’s been outta state.”
I laughed and heard Bitsy laugh too.
I also heard the front door open and Mom call, “Neenee Bean, let’s go hiking!”
“Be down in a sec!” I called back.