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“What’s your mother’s name?”
Mike put his giant hand up to his mouth and sputtered, sobbing, and Bridget had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. It was so him; Big Mike was so emotional. She moved her legs over the seat so she could hug him.
“It’s okay, Pop,” she said, using the endearment for the first time. “We want to honor our baby, and what better way?”
She looked out the window and saw Tony walking toward the van. “Pop, pull it together, please. Here comes Antonio and he’ll know I told you.”
“Okay, I’m sorry,” he said, fishing for a handkerchief.
“What’s going on in here?” Tony asked, concerned about seeing his father red-faced and teary-eyed.
“Aw, Big Mike’s upset about the house.”
“I’ll help you get it ready, son,” he said, blubbering again.
Bridget patted his back and winked at Tony.
“Is he okay?” he mouthed, and she nodded her head.
“Just an emotional kind of day.”
They were interrupted by one of the investigators, who waved Tony to come back to the house. Bridget and Big Mike watched as a crowd gathered around the man. After a lot of gesturing, Tony returned to the camper van.
“Well, I guess that’s that!”
“What?”
“They found a tiara buried in the fire debris on the front porch.”
Breaking the news to Roberta had the result they predicted, she was just devastated. “Why? She’s the one who was unfaithful to him! She’s said repeatedly, and don’t repeat this to Tony, that he was too easygoing for her, too boring. She wanted someone more exciting, who had more ambition.”
“What’s going to happen to her now?” Bridget asked.
“She’ll be charged with arson,” Big Mike said. “In California an arson conviction can have a three-year prison sentence.”
Bridget was angry with Patty, but not enough to have her go to jail for three years. She was obviously crazy, and that was scary. What if she went after the family? Those were fears better left unspoken.
Big Mike’s phone beeped. “It’s Charlie. They picked Patty up. She denies any knowledge of the fire, so that’s that.”
“What does that mean?” Roberta asked.
“It means it will have to go to trial if they have enough evidence. She’s not the only girl in San Diego County who wears a tiara.”
“What kind of Christmas is this?” Roberta cried. “Honest to God, you work your whole life to do everything right, and the one day you look forward to all year, this garbage has to happen.”
A phone beep interrupted her tirade.
“Oh Lord,” Big Mike said, looking down at his phone again.
“What now?”
“It’s George. They’re coming over.”
“Ugh, I wonder if they know their daughter tried to burn our son’s house down.”
“Did you invite them for dinner this year?”
“No! Maybe they just assumed they were invited.”
