Loco Motive: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery - By Mary Daheim Page 0,15
You really need to get out of town. It’s too bad we can’t leave now.”
“Can Bill take us to the train a bit later?” Judith asked. “It’s a ten-minute drive to the station, and on a Sunday there shouldn’t be much downtown traffic.”
Renie didn’t answer right away. “Well…Bill’s gone to bed, so I can’t mention it tonight. He’s like his brother, Bub. They insist on leaving an hour earlier than any normal person would because they want to make sure they have a seat, a pew, a parking place, a…whatever. It’s got to be a Midwestern thing. I don’t think either of them changed their watches after they moved here forty-odd years ago. Or,” she added musingly, “do I mean daylight savings time? I hate the idea so much that I try not to think about it. What’s the point?” Her voice grew angry—and loud. “What the hell are we saving the daylight for?”
Judith never understood her cousin’s opposition to the concept, except as an example of Renie’s contrary nature. “Relax,” she urged. “We change back in the wee small hours Sunday.”
“Hmm. That gives me an idea.”
“What?”
“Never mind,” Renie said. “It involves math. I’ll figure it out by Sunday.”
“I need answers now,” Judith insisted. “What do I tell the kids?”
“Nothing. Don’t expend energy making up one of your convoluted lies.”
“Fibs,” Judith snapped. “I don’t lie. I only tell fibs in a good cause.”
“You just told another one.” Renie sounded impatient with her cousin’s attitude toward deception. “Don’t say anything. Yet.”
There was no choice but to reluctantly agree. Renie might be older, but that didn’t mean she was wiser. Besides, Judith admitted to herself as she slowly climbed the stairs, keeping quiet was easier than blurting out the truth.
When she reached the third-floor family quarters, she paused as she often did to rest her hip and take a deep breath. All was quiet in Mike’s old room and the den. Joe, however, was still awake and reading a book by one of his favorite crime caper authors. He paused as Judith entered the bedroom. “I should never have tried to watch that Weevil movie,” he said. “It’s a good cure for insomnia. I must’ve dozed off for almost an hour, so now I don’t feel sleepy.”
“I do,” Judith replied. “I’m suffering from a moral dilemma. Have you mentioned our Boston trip to Mike or Kristin?”
“Only that I’m heading back there next week,” Joe said. “I knew you were in a pickle, so I didn’t mention your plans.” His green eyes twinkled. “I’m anxious to hear how you plan to wiggle off the hook on this one.”
“Oh God!” Joe flung an arm across his forehead. “That’s worse than your mega-lies!”
“Don’t you start in on me,” Judith warned. “Renie’s already done that. It’s not my fault Mike and Kristin showed up for the weekend without notice. Mother should’ve mentioned it sooner, but if I’d had the courage to tell her about the trip, she might’ve told them their timing was bad.”
Joe snorted. “It’d be like her not to tell them just to be ornery.” Judith glared at her husband from over the neck of the sweater she was pulling off. “Mother isn’t always mean.”
Joe feigned bewilderment. “Maybe it’s just me.”
“Maybe it is.” She placed her sweater on top of the dresser. “I’ve given up on either of you making peace.”
“You might as well,” Joe said. “I figure contention is one of the things that keeps the old girl going.”
“Could be.” Judith stepped out of her slacks. “Feistiness has its benefits.”
“I think she’s lived so long because God doesn’t want her.” Joe closed his book and set it on the nightstand. “Are you really tired?”
“Yes,” Judith snapped. “It’s been a long and…” She paused, staring at Joe’s mischievous expression. “Maybe I’m not that tired.”
He reached out to take her hand and draw her closer to the bed. “Let’s see if I can perk you up.”
Moving into the circle of his arms, Judith smiled. “You always could.” She sighed softly. “You always will.”
“Good,” Joe said, burying his face in the curve of her neck and shoulder. “After all, we’re still making up for lost time.”
During the night the rain and wind stopped, but by morning, fog had settled in over the hill. The little boys were sleeping in, having been worn out by the previous day’s activities. Mike and Kristin came down to the kitchen shortly before eight. Judith had just returned from taking her mother’s breakfast to the