Eine Kleine Murder by Kaye George

kids and grandkids left just before you came and it’s suddenly too quiet over there.”
    â€œBesides,” Grace gave me a wink. “Al’s looking forward to telling his stories to someone who hasn’t heard them yet. Just come around to the back.”
    I found myself looking forward to it, too. And I needed to ask someone what was going on with Rachel and Rebecca.
    As soon as I was inside the cabin my cell phone rang.
    â€œWell?” It was Neek. “What about the lunch?”
    â€œI didn’t have to dial you, did I? At least not from the lunch. The lunch was weird, but that’s not all that happened.”
    I told her about going to the bowling alley for hamburgers and about Mo’s rude ducking, trying to make light of my terror. My stupid problem of inhaling water was embarrassing and Neek hadn’t known anything about it. In retrospect, I had probably overreacted to being pulled underwater. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been dunked before. I didn’t mention Daryl being there for lunch. I don’t know why.
    â€œCressa, you’re going to have to start picking men some other way. Your track record isn’t good.”
    â€œWell, it wasn’t a date or anything.” But I knew what she meant. My boyfriend history was bleak. After being on exactly three dates in high school, I guess I hadn’t known how to handle myself in college. My first serious guy there, a fellow music student, dropped me just as I was falling for him. I thought my heart would break like a shattered violin. He was my first love and I thought it would last forever. I lost all sense of direction. After that, I dated two druggies, one philanderer, and a couple of guys who wouldn’t let me go. Len, right after Gramps died, was the latest of those.
    â€œSo what are you doing tonight?” Neek asked.
    â€œThe neighbors invited me to dinner.” I just realized I was starving; I’d left most of my hamburger on the plate at lunch. “They drove me to the funeral home and the lawyer’s office. I’m so glad they’re here. They’re much better company than Mo’s family.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with them?”
    â€œMo’s father is an abuser if I ever saw one. I don’t know about actually beating on his wife, but she is scared to death of him.”
    â€œPoor thing.”
    I related the details of the will to her and we talked about the irony of my ending up owning the cabin.
    â€œI’m still not sure Len isn’t around here somewhere.” I told her about finding evidence of a Peeping Tom.
    â€œHe’s not there now,” she said. “He might have been a couple days ago, but I caught him trying to sneak another note under your door this morning. He gave me a dirty look and left when he saw me. How long are you going to stay there?”
    That was good news about Len. Maybe he hadn’t been here at all.
    â€œAt least until Gram’s funeral. We’ve set it up for next week, five days from now. I want to give my cousins a chance to get here. That’s as far ahead as I can think. Do you think you can come down?”
    â€œI’ll be there for the funeral, you bet. Glad your lunch date was okay. No danger, right? I knew you’d be fine—remember that penny?”
    I had to laugh. “Yes, I suppose your prediction was good today. For a change.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, a change? Is that a pun?”
    â€œNo. Well, maybe.” I laughed again.
    â€œYou know I’m always right. It’s just that sometimes you have to reinterpret events a little.”
    â€œOr a lot. Love you, Neek. Talk to you later.”

    After my dud lunch with Mo, I was ready for dinner with the Harmons. I warmed toward them for offering me their easy friendship. As I walked around the corner of their cabin to the back, cheery light spilled into the night through the screen door. After knowing me only a few days,