Aurora 08 - Poppy Done To Death Read Online Free PDF

causing trouble in our new family.
    Another reason was my attempt to live my religion. When I’d dated our priest, Aubrey, he’d commented once or twice on my ardent wish not to cause trouble by speaking up about other people’s behavior. “You have to take a stand for what you believe,” he’d said. Well, that was true. What was the point of having beliefs if you didn’t express them and live them?
    “I don’t have to take a stand by telling other people they’re wrong,” I’d protested. “What business is it of mine?”
    “If you love them, it’s your business,” he’d said firmly. “If their misbehavior is intruding on the happiness and well-being of others, it’s your business.”
    I don’t know what Aubrey would have said about Poppy and John David, because I never asked him. I always felt I had so many weaknesses myself that the last thing I should do was point out other people’s flaws to them. So I never mentioned their infidelities to John David or Poppy, and I didn’t want them to discuss those affairs with me.
    For sure, I didn’t want that.
    When other people would try to tell me what my in-laws were doing, I’d just hurry the subject right past my nose.
    Avery interrupted these unwelcome memories to tell us that Poppy’s parents were on their way to Lawrenceton. John, my mother, Melinda, and I were sitting around the table in the kitchen, coffee mugs in front of us... trying. Trying to think what to do next. Trying not to talk about where John David might be. Trying not to think about what to do with Chase, a baby with a dead mother and a missing father.
    “At least he’s weaned,” Melinda muttered to herself.
    I raised an eyebrow at her.
    “I bet Avery and I end up with him,” she said, then tried to sound happier about it. “He’s a sweet baby, but. . .” She struggled to keep the words “I already have my hands full” locked down in her throat. “Poppy’s parents are too old, Avery’s dad and your mom are too old, and I can’t picture John David raising a kid by himself, can you?”
    No, I couldn’t.
    “Poppy was a good mother,” Melinda said quietly. “You wouldn’t think so, but she was.”
    I nodded. “Poppy had a lot of good qualities.”
    “What—excuse me, Roe, but I need to know—what actually happened to her?” Melinda asked, keeping her voice hushed.
    “I think someone stabbed her,” I said, not meeting Melinda’s dark eyes. I was actually quite sure about that, but I’m no coroner, and I wasn’t going to give any final judgment on Poppy’s death.
    Melinda made a little sound of horror, and I winced in sympathy. How scared Poppy must have been . . . how much it must have hurt. Had she hoped Melinda and I would come to save her, arrive in the nick of time?

    I snatched my mind away from this fruitless conjecture and gave myself a good scolding.
    Poppy must have died very quickly, perhaps within a scant few seconds. Melinda pushed back from the table and left the room. Avery followed her. After a moment, I could hear the murmur of their voices coming from the living room.
    My mother was watching John like a hawk, on the alert for signs of heart trouble. John was staring down at the table, studying a tablet open to a blank page. He’d stated his intention of starting a list of people he needed to contact, like the funeral home and the church, but he’d stalled. I knew that couldn’t wait any longer. I went upstairs, carrying the cordless phone into my old bedroom. I called Aubrey’s house.
    “Hello.” It was the cool, composed voice of Emily, Aubrey’s wife.
    “Emily, this is Aurora.” I sounded just as calm and sweet. We couldn’t stand each other.
    “Hey, how are you?”
    “Well, I’m fine, thanks, but we have a family trouble, and if Aubrey is handy . . .”
    “Roe, he’s over at the country club, playing golf. Jeff Mayo asked him to make up a foursome. You know, Monday’s supposed to be his day off. ...” Her voice trailed away