The Rescue Quilt Read online

  Instantly Emma jumped to her feet and shook the sleep from her eyes.

  “What are you doing in my bed?” Sophie demanded, finally realizing the dog had snuck into her bed and wormed her way into her dream.

  Emma stood on the bed next to her and wagged her tail. Sophie reached for her ear and scratched it. “I guess you’re used to sleeping with your human, aren’t you? I’m not sure we’re going to do that here. For now, let me remind you where your bed is.” She stood up and Emma quickly hopped off the bed and looked where she was pointing. “See, that’s your bed right there.”

  Emma crept across the floor and got into the soft fleecy circle, turned three times, and laid down. Without lifting her head, she looked up at Sophie through her eyebrows contritely. “That’s a good dog,” Sophie praised. “Now let’s go get some breakfast.”

  The phone rang just as Sophie filled her mug with coffee and steamed milk. She answered and spoke briefly to her dentist’s office who had called to remind her of her impending appointment. She had just disconnected and returned to the kitchen when it rang again.

  “How’s a person supposed to drink a cup of coffee around here?” she muttered as she searched for the phone. “Where did I put that darn thing?” Emma followed her back into the living room, jumping out of the way when she turned abruptly back toward the kitchen. Emma shadowed Sophie where ever she went in the house and cried mournfully whenever she left the house without her. She was determined not to lose another loved one.

  “Hello?” she finally answered, finding the phone next to the coffee pot.

  “Mom, it’s Tim.”

  “Hello son. I hope you’re calling to tell me you have your ticket and you’ll be here any day now. Am I right?”

  “You’re partly right, Mom.”

  “Only partly? What else?”

  “I’ll be there the day after tomorrow…”

  Sophie squealed before he could finish. “Thursday? Oh Tim, I can hardly wait to see you. Charles has repainted your room and I’ve…”

  “Mom, there’s more.”

  “More?” Sophie responded.

  “I bought two tickets, and…”

  “Two tickets? Timothy Clifton Ward, don’t tell me you’re bringing a girlfriend. That lovely girl is waiting here for you…”

  “Mom, no, I’m not bringing a girlfriend, and when I’m really serious about someone, you’ll be the first to know. Well, at least the second.” he added with a nervous chuckle. He knew his mother was curious about his relationship with Sarah’s daughter, but he and Martha had agreed not to rush into anything.

  “So why two tickets,” Sophie asked with a frown in her voice.

  “I didn’t want to talk to you about this on the phone, but it looks like there’s no other way. Mom, do you remember my old girlfriend, Betsy?”

  “She’s the one that wanted you to move in with her in that isolated cabin out in the Alaskan wilderness, right?”

  “Well, it wasn’t quite that bad. Her parents lived off the grid and she moved to their cabin after they died. And yes, she wanted me to move in with her but, of course, I didn’t.”

  “But that was a long time ago, Timmy. Why are we talking about her now?”

  “Okay, here goes. Betsy called me a couple of months ago and asked me to come out to the cabin. When I got there she introduced me to her fourteen-year old daughter, Penny. Actually, it’s Penelope. She’s named for Betsy’s mother. Anyway, after we visited awhile, Betsy sent Penny outside so we could talk.”

  “Yes?” Sophie responding as she waited for the other shoe to drop.

  “Betsy had terrible news. She had a very advanced form of cancer. The doctors were only giving her a couple of months to live.”

  “Oh my and such a young woman,” Sophie responded. “How is she?”

  “Mom, she died last week.”

  “Oh my, Timmy, I’m so sorry. What about the child?”

  “She’s with me.”

  “I don’t understand. Doesn’t she have family?”

  “Mom, are you sitting down?”

  Sophie dropped down on the couch and responded, “I am now…”

  There was a long silence before Timothy spoke. “She’s my daughter.”

  “What?” Sophie screamed. “I can’t believe you never told me about this.”

  “I didn’t know, Mom. Betsy never told me. She and I broke up years ago and I had no idea she was pregnant at the time.”

  Sophie, rarely one to find herself speechless, sat with her mouth open. Timothy waited, giving his mother a chance to digest the news. He finally spoke up, saying, “Mom? Are you still there?”

  The words came out so softly that Timothy could barely hear them. “I’m a grandmother?”

  * * *

  Sophie drove to the airport alone despite Sarah’s insistence that she and Charles drive her there. She wanted to be alone when she met her son and her new granddaughter. She had intended to arrive as the plane landed and wait in the short-term parking lot, but in the end she decided to arrive early and meet them as close to their gate as Security would allow. As she got out of the car, she reached for her cane but tossed it back in the car muttering, “That’s not the way I want to meet my granddaughter.” She turned and attached the Pup Mobile magnetic sign to the side of the van. “There,” she said with a self-assured smile. “That should make her see that I’m one cool grandma.”

  As it turned out, the plane was late. Sophie found a seat and called Sarah.

  “I told you we should have gone with you,” Sarah responded when Sophie told her about the delay.

  “And that would have gotten the plane here sooner?”

  “Of course not, but we’d be there to keep you company…”

  “Exactly why I called,” Sophie responded. “Keep me company. In fact, start by telling me what Martha is going to think about this turn of events.”

  “I have no idea,” Sarah responded. “She’s turning forty-five this year and certainly isn’t too old to be a mother, especially of a teenager, but she’s never talked about children and I truly have no idea how she’ll respond. It’s been torture having to keep this to myself. She knew right away I was keeping something from her.”

  “You didn’t tell her, did you? You know Timmy wants to tell her in person. I think he’s worried about it too.”

  “I can’t blame him. This is really big.”

  “I know. It’s been hard for him too. He’s in his fifties and certainly didn’t have plans to start a family, but he’s a good man. He’s gentle and thoughtful and I think he’ll make a good father.”

  “I have no doubt about that, Sophie. I was telling Andy about Penny and we were wondering whether his daughter, Caitlyn, might want to help her get adjusted…”

  “Oops, gotta go, Sarah. They just announced the plane’s arrival. I’m going to make my way over to Baggage Pickup so I don’t miss them.”

  “Okay, Sophie. Call me when you can and let me know how it goes.”

  As Sophie made her way to the baggage kiosk her heart was fluttering. Never in her seventy-some years had she ever thought of having a grandchild. Timothy had shown no interest in marriage until he met Martha and she knew they wouldn’t be starting a family at their age. She found herself thinking in terms of an adorable little girl and had to remind herself that Penny was practically grown. She herself was married when she was just two years older than Penny.

  She sat down near the kiosk where she had a clear vision of passengers entering from Alaskan Airline flights and found her mind wondering back to those early years of her marriage. “At that age I thought I was a grown up,” she told herself almost aloud. And by the time she lost three babies, she probably was a grown up despite her young years. In her late twenties Timothy arrived – a healthy, robust boy who brought with him all the happiness she and his father could imagine. It nearly broke her heart when he announced at the young age of seventeen that he was going to Alaska to work on the pipeline. She thought he woul
d get it out of his system, but here he was returning nearly forty years later.

  At that moment she spotted her burly son towering over most of the other passengers. He was tall and broad and still bearded, although he had told her the previous week he was thinking about shaving it off for his new life. She stood and waved and his eyes twinkled with excitement when he saw her.

  As he approached, Sophie spotted the frail looking child leaning into him as if she were trying to disappear. She had limp blond hair and appeared pale by comparison to her son’s suntanned and weathered look.

  “Mama,” Timothy cried as he reached out to hold her. “We didn’t expect you to come inside but I’m so glad you did.”

  They both turned to the young girl by his side. Tim reached down and placed his hand under her chin and gently lifted her head. “This is my mother, Penny. Your grandmother.”

  A quiver of a smile passed the child’s lips but didn’t reach her eyes. She dropped her head again but softly muttered, “I’m very glad to meet you, ma’am.”

  “I’m glad to meet you too, Penny,” Sophie responded. She placed her arm gently across the child’s shoulder but didn’t insist on a hug. Her own mother used to say, “Hug your Aunt Alma, kiss your Uncle Fred,” and she had always hated it. She swore as a young child she would never do that to her own children and she never did.

  “Let’s grab our bags and head on out of here,” Timothy announced cheerfully. He hurried toward the kiosk with Penny hanging onto the tail of his jacket. Sophie sat back down fighting to keep the tears at bay. The child has lost her mother, gained a father and a grandmother she didn’t ask for, has left her home and everything familiar, and yet she could find the words, ‘I’m very glad to meet you, ma’am.’ It’s going to be an uphill battle, but that young girl is going to make it just fine.

  Timothy took the wheel on the way home and Sophie sat in the back with Penny. She told them both about the Pup Mobile and what she had been doing. Penny eyes got big as she listened to the stories about the dogs and timidly asked a few questions. “You could ride along with me sometime if you’d like,” Sophie told her. “Oh, and I have a surprise that neither one of you knows about.”

  “What’s that, Mom?” Timothy called back to her without turning his head. “I haven’t seen traffic like this since…well, since the last time I was here,” he added. “It doesn’t get like this back home.”

  Back home? She wondered if he would ever think of Middletown as home again.

  “Mom? The surprise?”

  “Oh. I have a dog. Well, I don’t exactly have a dog, but there’s a dog living at my house.”

  “What does that mean?” Timothy asked.

  She told them the story of Emma but leaving out the part about the dead body. She told him she has been certified as a foster home for dogs and Emma is with her at least temporarily.

  “What does it mean to be a foster home, and what do you mean by temporarily?” Timothy called back with a frown she couldn’t see, but heard in his voice.

  “Timothy, this is a good thing.” She went on to explain about foster care and that she probably wouldn’t be taking in more than one dog at a time. “Right now I’m just taking care of Emma until a permanent home can be found for her.” She didn’t add that she had just about decided that she would be that permanent home.

  “It just seems like a lot for you to be taking on at your age, that and the driving...”

  She wanted to tell him not to treat her like an old lady, but she didn’t want to argue with him tonight and certainly not in front of Penny. Actually, she had surprised herself over the past months as she learned she could do much more than she realized. I wonder what he’d say if he knew I was thinking about learning to quilt.

  Chapter 11

  “And what do you suggest we do with this information?” Charles sat across the desk from Officer Reilly trying to behave like the concerned citizen that he was rather than the detective that outranked this police officer, which he was no longer.

  “Officer Reilly, I’m simply bringing you some new information that I feel puts a different light on the conclusions the department seems to have reached. Charles knew that the case had been closed in light of the Medical Examiner’s results. “The victim, Earl Hawkins,” he continued, “was the only holdout in Timberlake Village. This Kirkland guy bought up all the other lots and the Hawkins’ lot was critical to his plans.”

  “What’s so special about the Hawkins’ lot?” Reilly asked without much interest.

  “It overlooked the lake. The Hawkins’ lot was the planned location for the hotel and convention center.”

  “So the guy wouldn’t sell. What’s your point?”

  If this is what our police department has come to, I’m glad I retired when I did. Charles attempted to smile and went on to explain. “It gives several people motive to kill the guy.”

  “Several?” Reilly repeated, looking up but remaining skeptical.

  “Yes, several. Joseph Kirkland, the developer, for one. Hawkins’ grandson for another. Any number of investors yet unknown. The list goes on.” Charles sat quietly and watched the officer as he digested what Charles had said.

  The officer finally spoke. “I’ll talk it over with the lieutenant and see what he wants to do, but as far as I’m concerned, the case is closed and what you’re suggesting is a huge waste of valuable time.”

  Reilly stood and walked out of the room. Charles assumed he had been dismissed and stood to leave as well. On his way through the lobby, Reilly yelled to him, “The lieutenant wants to see you.” He had a cocky look on his face giving the impression he had won this round.

  “Charlie, good to see you,” the lieutenant said, standing and stretching his arm across the desk to shake Charles’ hand. Everyone in the department had always called him Charlie despite his preference for his given name. Matthew Stokely had been Charles’ immediate supervisor and was promoted to lieutenant just as Charles was retiring. Because of their special working relationship, Stokely had arranged for Charles to work for the department as a contractor from time to time when he was needed. Stokely had tremendous respect for Charles, both as a friend and as a detective.

  “Reilly tells me you have some questions about the Hawkins case. Sit down and let’s look at it. Coffee?” Charles said he’d take his chances on a cup and that he hoped it had improved over the years. “Not much,” Stokely responded with a chuckle as he filled a mug and passed it to Charles. Sitting back down at his desk, Stokely opened the file folder Reilly had tossed on his desk and quickly reviewed the reports. “Tell me about your concerns,” he said as he finished and closed the file.

  Charles told him about his visit to the zoning commissioner and about the resort and convention center, which Joseph Kirkland was planning. He explained that Kirkland had managed to purchase all the homes in Timberlake Village with the exception of the Hawkins property.

  And you think Hawkins might have been murdered by this Kirkland guy?”

  “I never said that, Matt. I don’t know if he was murdered or not and there’s a good chance the guy actually did die of natural causes. What I’m saying is that there’s been no investigation. There are people with motives, yet the case was closed without looking at possible scenarios. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “People with motives…” Matt reflected thoughtfully.

  “Yes, for example the Kirkland guy. Or the grandson who will probably become a very rich man as a result of his grandfather’s death. Or any number of other players we don’t even know about because this case hasn’t been investigated as a possible homicide,” he added beginning to raise his voice slightly.

  “Take it easy there, pal. Remember that ticker of yours.” Not only had Stokely been his superior, but he and Charles had become close friends over the years. Stokely had seen Charles through the dark days after his wife’s death and later spent hours with him in the hospital and the rehab facility following Charles’ massive stroke.

  S
tokely pulled out a yellow pad and began taking notes. He asked for more details regarding the resort and the people Charles had spoken with. He laid his pen down and sat quietly for a while staring out the window, something Charles had learned over the years meant that the mental wheels were spinning. He picked up the case record again and reread Reilly’s notes.

  Matthew Stokely sighed and shook his head looking defeated. He had more cases on his desk than he could assign. Two men were out following injuries on the job and the mayor was on his back about two unsolved cases that had hit the newspapers.

  “I can’t assign this case right now, Charlie. Reilly and his team are working full time on the south side case and I don’t have anyone else I can assign. I’m sorry. I agree it could use a closer look, but I just don’t have the manpower.”

  The two men sat silently and finished off their now cold coffee. Stokely looked up at Charles and asked, “Do you have the time to take on a case?”

  “You mean this one?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sure, Matt. I can look into it.”

  “I wish I could give you an officer at least part time to help out, but it’s not in the cards.”

  “Sarah can be my sidekick. She loves this sort of thing.”

  “Well, you two be careful and keep me in the loop, okay?”

  “It’s a deal,” Charles responded as he stood and again shook hands with his old friend.

  * * *

  Sarah and Barney, both covered with snow, were just coming home from the park. She pulled off her boots and reached for a towel to dry the snow off Barney who was still leaping around with excitement. The phone rang while she was hanging up her coat. She reached for it with one hand still holding Barney’s leash in an attempt to keep his wet feet off the rug. “Hello?”

  “So Mother, you knew about all this?” Martha’s voice was trembling with anger.

  “I assume you mean about Penny,” Sarah responded. “Martha, I’ve only known for a few days, and I wanted to tell you, but I promised Sophie I wouldn’t.”

  “You promised Sophie?” her daughter said sarcastically. “Surely your alliance is to me, your daughter, before Sophie.”