do a bit more snooping than that, but no need to worry Mom.
“The killer might get suspicious, you eavesdropping like that. You could get hurt.”
I straightened in the chair. “You want to help Esther, and I’m in a position to do so. The faster the police solve the murder, the sooner Esther can get back to business.” The more I talked, the more I was warming to the idea that I could really help the police. And Esther.
So far, I knew little about Maxwell other than his Hollywood background, but both Logan and Tiffany knew him. They’d be first on my suspect list, along with Heather since she’d conned me into changing the towels. And I’d seen enough Castle episodes that I’d recognize a clue when I found one. Probably.
“Dana’s right, Mom. Let her help.” Ashlee leaned toward me. “Now tell me about the murder.”
“Lay off, would you?”
A hint of color tinged Ashlee’s cheeks. “I know finding him must have been awful. But everyone at the vet clinic will be pestering me for information tomorrow.”
“Tell them you don’t know anything.”
“Are you kidding? When my own sister found the guy?”
“Can’t help you.” Technically, I could, but rehashing the details again about finding Maxwell’s body had about as much appeal as eating one of Zennia’s faux fish sticks.
Mom patted Ashlee’s head like one of the dogs at the vet clinic where Ashlee worked. “Let’s go easy on Dana. She’s had a rough day.”
“All right,” Ashlee said. “But tomorrow morning, I want a full report.”
My stomach growled and I clapped a hand over my belly. “Need any help with dinner?” I asked Mom. Anything to get away from all this talk about a murdered man.
“No, but I’m glad you mentioned eating.” She sat down on the couch next to Ashlee, the cushion sagging from years of use, and smoothed her cotton slacks.
The fake Tiffany lamp on the end table cast light on Mom’s face, accentuating the now permanent frown lines.
“Ever since your father’s heart attack,” she said, her voice soft, “I’ve been thinking about how we could have saved him.”
This was the first time in a year that Mom had even mentioned the cause of his passing.
“Mom, don’t,” I said, wanting to reach out and touch her. Ashlee must have read my mind because she stroked Mom’s hand with her own. “The doctors said it was one of those things. You couldn’t have changed what happened.”
“Nonsense,” Mom said. “We ate fried foods and sweets for years. That must have contributed to his death.” She choked out the last word and covered her mouth with her hand.
Ashlee put an arm around her, while I rose from the chair and bent down to give her a hug before returning to my seat.
Mom grabbed a Kleenex from the box on the coffee table and dabbed at her tears. “I’ve made a decision. Starting today, we improve our eating habits.”
My stomach dropped, most likely from sheer disappointment. More healthy food? That’s all I ate at the spa. Mom’s home dinners of fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy had been my oasis in a desert of quinoa and tofu.
“Great idea, Mom,” Ashlee said as she pinched a bit of skin on her thigh. “I’ve been meaning to drop a few pounds.”
I glanced at her size 0 frame and rolled my eyes.
“Wouldn’t hurt Dana to slim down either,” she added.
“Hey, keep an eye on your own weight.” Just that morning I’d noticed a bit of flab hanging over my jeans, but I certainly didn’t need to hear it from ol’ stick figure over there.
“I’m trying to help you get a man, Dana. You haven’t dated since you moved back.”
“You’re dating enough for the both of us,” I said.
Ashlee stuck her tongue out at me.
“Girls, could we focus on what I’m saying?” Mom asked.
I felt myself blush. When would I grow up—and Ashlee, too, for that matter?
“No more fatty foods. No more hot fudge sundaes,” Mom said. “I want to be around to see at least one of
“The killer might get suspicious, you eavesdropping like that. You could get hurt.”
I straightened in the chair. “You want to help Esther, and I’m in a position to do so. The faster the police solve the murder, the sooner Esther can get back to business.” The more I talked, the more I was warming to the idea that I could really help the police. And Esther.
So far, I knew little about Maxwell other than his Hollywood background, but both Logan and Tiffany knew him. They’d be first on my suspect list, along with Heather since she’d conned me into changing the towels. And I’d seen enough Castle episodes that I’d recognize a clue when I found one. Probably.
“Dana’s right, Mom. Let her help.” Ashlee leaned toward me. “Now tell me about the murder.”
“Lay off, would you?”
A hint of color tinged Ashlee’s cheeks. “I know finding him must have been awful. But everyone at the vet clinic will be pestering me for information tomorrow.”
“Tell them you don’t know anything.”
“Are you kidding? When my own sister found the guy?”
“Can’t help you.” Technically, I could, but rehashing the details again about finding Maxwell’s body had about as much appeal as eating one of Zennia’s faux fish sticks.
Mom patted Ashlee’s head like one of the dogs at the vet clinic where Ashlee worked. “Let’s go easy on Dana. She’s had a rough day.”
“All right,” Ashlee said. “But tomorrow morning, I want a full report.”
My stomach growled and I clapped a hand over my belly. “Need any help with dinner?” I asked Mom. Anything to get away from all this talk about a murdered man.
“No, but I’m glad you mentioned eating.” She sat down on the couch next to Ashlee, the cushion sagging from years of use, and smoothed her cotton slacks.
The fake Tiffany lamp on the end table cast light on Mom’s face, accentuating the now permanent frown lines.
“Ever since your father’s heart attack,” she said, her voice soft, “I’ve been thinking about how we could have saved him.”
This was the first time in a year that Mom had even mentioned the cause of his passing.
“Mom, don’t,” I said, wanting to reach out and touch her. Ashlee must have read my mind because she stroked Mom’s hand with her own. “The doctors said it was one of those things. You couldn’t have changed what happened.”
“Nonsense,” Mom said. “We ate fried foods and sweets for years. That must have contributed to his death.” She choked out the last word and covered her mouth with her hand.
Ashlee put an arm around her, while I rose from the chair and bent down to give her a hug before returning to my seat.
Mom grabbed a Kleenex from the box on the coffee table and dabbed at her tears. “I’ve made a decision. Starting today, we improve our eating habits.”
My stomach dropped, most likely from sheer disappointment. More healthy food? That’s all I ate at the spa. Mom’s home dinners of fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy had been my oasis in a desert of quinoa and tofu.
“Great idea, Mom,” Ashlee said as she pinched a bit of skin on her thigh. “I’ve been meaning to drop a few pounds.”
I glanced at her size 0 frame and rolled my eyes.
“Wouldn’t hurt Dana to slim down either,” she added.
“Hey, keep an eye on your own weight.” Just that morning I’d noticed a bit of flab hanging over my jeans, but I certainly didn’t need to hear it from ol’ stick figure over there.
“I’m trying to help you get a man, Dana. You haven’t dated since you moved back.”
“You’re dating enough for the both of us,” I said.
Ashlee stuck her tongue out at me.
“Girls, could we focus on what I’m saying?” Mom asked.
I felt myself blush. When would I grow up—and Ashlee, too, for that matter?
“No more fatty foods. No more hot fudge sundaes,” Mom said. “I want to be around to see at least one of
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