NOT What I Was Expecting Read Online Free PDF Page A

announcement.  We muted the TV but still sat in
silence for a while.
    “I can’t believe
it,” I said, stunned.
    “I know,” CeCe
agreed.  “My future husband was on TV, and I didn’t get to record it.  Do you
think someone will put it on YouTube?”
    “CeCe, snap out of
it,” I insisted.  “Did you hear what he just said?  Our mothers’ friend Eliza
didn’t just die, she was murdered.  She was strangled in her own home.”  All of
a sudden I started taking a mental inventory of all the locks on the doors and
windows of the sisters’ house.  I was pretty sure they all worked.
    “You’re right,”
CeCe said as she returned to reality.  “It’s just that the image of Deputy Ben
on TV was so overwhelming.  Sorry.  That’s really scary, huh?”
    “They haven’t
caught the killer yet.  That’s what scares me,” I mumbled to myself, as much as
CeCe.
    “You don’t think
we should be worried, do you?  About anyone,  I mean?” CeCe asked using
her calm voice, but I could see the worry in her eyes.
    “They don’t live in
Eliza’s neighborhood, so probably not,” I said encouragingly.
    “You’re worried
anyway,” CeCe observed.  “Me too.”
    “Do you think they
heard the . . . .”
    Before I could
finish my sentence, the phone rang.  We both jumped, but I got there first, so
I answered it.
    “Hi, Mother,” I
greeted her.  “Yes, we heard.”  I listened while Pearl shared her concerns
about the criminal element taking over our fair town.  “I know,” I agreed since
it’s just easier.  “I know,” I agreed again, in case she didn’t hear me the first
time.  “Neighborhood watch?  That’s a good idea,” I agreed, because it was a very
good idea.  “Uh-huh, it really was quite a shock.”  This was going to be one of
those marathon phone conversations, so I sipped my diet soda in order to stay
hydrated.
     
     
    Tuesday morning,
CeCe went off to open the shop while I headed for the Build-N-Fix-It.    I had
agreed to meet my mother and shop for the new faucet and light fixtures for her
bathroom renovations, so I was ready to get on with it.  Don’t misunderstand, because
I love my mother and was genuinely touched that she wanted my opinion.  She has
spent years polishing her skills as a strong, independent single mother.  I had
no delusions that my suggestions for fixtures would carry any more weight than
last night’s suggestions for the renovation.
    I caught up with
Mother just as she was entering the huge automatic double door entrance to the
Build-N-Fix-It, and we agreed to start with the plumbing section first.  As
Mother and I stood and pondered the faucets, I heard a familiar voice.  Fry was
speaking to someone as they entered the plumbing supplies one aisle over from
us.
    “Man, you have got to lighten up,” Fry advised whoever.  “The negativity oozing from you is
bringing me down.  It doesn’t agree with this tie-wearing thing you have going
on.  Why is it that you’re all decked out, anyway?”
     “Remember, I told
you I had to meet with the expansion committee from the library board this
morning, and this stop was on my way home to change,” some smooth, deep voice I
didn’t recognize answered.  “I appreciate that you’re grabbing a cup of coffee
with me before I head to the job site, but I have to pick up a few things here
before we do that.  Sorry, if I’m sounding negative,” Great Voice Guy added
with a slight chuckle.  “I really don’t know what to do about Uncle Barney.  I
mean, I’ve known for a while now that he has good days and bad days.  Sometimes
he’s talking like his old self, but other times making sense of what he’s
saying is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle blindfolded.  When you heard
him talking about his accountant the other day it wasn’t nearly as bad as
yesterday when he came back from one of his lady-admirers, and he . . . .”
     “Wait, wait,
wait,” Fry interrupted.  “You know I