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Chapter 48
THE RAIN WASpouring down outside now. It beat on the Mitchells’ roof as the combined families and a few others gathered at the house after the funeral.
Decker had arrived in time to help Jamison and her sisters set things up. Food and drinks were laid out and chairs from the kitchen and other rooms distributed around.Decker had also passed on to Amber the lawyer’s card that Ted Ross had given him. She said she would call him later in the week.
Zoe was in a chair cuddling with both her blanket and her cat, Felix, while Amber sat with her in-laws quietly talking.
Alice Martin had come over with a boxed pie. She was now holding court in a corner of the room with Jamison and one of the schoolmothers. Ted Ross and the people with him from Maxus had said their goodbyes at the gravesite and skipped this event. Decker thought that wise, because Frank’s father’s jaw had tightened back at the cemetery when Ross had come by and offered his condolences to Amber.
The knock on the door caused Decker to flick a gaze at Jamison to let her know that he would answer it. She respondedwith a smile.
Decker opened the door and gazed dully at the pair standing there.
John Baron and Cindi Riley, both holding umbrellas, stared back at him.
“I take it you’re positively stunned at our presence here,” commented Baron.
Decker noted that he had on crisply pressed dress slacks, a white button-down shirt, and a faded corduroy sport coat with patchesat the elbows.
Under her raincoat, Riley wore a loose-fitting black dress that settled right at her knee and matching pumps. Her hair was done up in a French braid. She held a package in her other hand.
“I am,” said Decker.
“We came by to pay our respects,” said Baron.
Riley handed Decker the package. “And to bring this. It’s a bottle of single malt whisky.”
“Okay,” said Decker. He just stood there holding it until Jamison appeared at his elbow.
“Hello,” she said to the pair.
Baron held out his hand. “We met before. John Baron. This is Cindi Riley.”
Jamison shook their hands.
Baron said, “As I told your colleague here, we came by to pay our respects.”
Decker said, “And they brought a bottleof single malt scotch.” He handed it to her.
Riley said, “I’m Irish. It’s what we bring to wakes. I hope it’s okay.”
“That was very thoughtful of you. Please come in out of the rain,” said Jamison.
She led them in and Decker closed the door behind the group.
All eyes in the room turned to the new arrivals.
No one seemed to recognize Baron otherthan Alice Martin. Decker saw her eyes widen slightly at the sight of the man, and then she returned to her conversation with one of the young mothers from Zoe’s school.
Baron and Riley spoke briefly to Amber, offering their condolences.
Then Jamison led the pair over to Zoe and introduced them.
His eyes twinkling, Baron got down on his knees in front of Zoe. “Youstrike me as a person who doesn’t believe in magic.”
Zoe had her thumb stuffed in her mouth and didn’t answer.
“Do I take that as a yes, that youdon’tbelieve in magic?” said Baron.
