Page 161 of Passions in Death
“That’s my personal opinion, to which I’m entitled.”
“Sure you are. But what if both parents are men, or both are women? Who’s the mom who stays home then?”
“The fact there’s that question only demonstrates why such arrangements only foster confusion and difficult family dynamics. I want to speak to Shauna. Now!”
“But this conversation’s so interesting. Aren’t you interested, Peabody?”
“Fascinated. You know, my aunts Gracie and Lottie have been married for… golly, I think it’s forty-odd years. Three kids—grown now—I think it’s six grandkids and counting. Gracie’s a large animal vet—you know, horses, cows, like that. Lottie’s a teacher—history, high school level. They’re a pretty strong family.”
“In your opinion,” Barney commented.
“Yeah.” Peabody just smiled. “Everybody’s got opinions. Of course, I come from a Free-Ager background.” Peabody caught the smirk and only smiled more brightly. “And we’re big on tolerance and inclusion.”
“And from my scan of your background, yours isn’t in the Free-Ager area.”
“Decidedly not. No offense,” he said to Peabody.
“Oh, absolutely none taken.”
“Given your background and stated opinions,” Eve began, “what did you think when Shauna became involved with Erin?”
“That she was, again, acting on impulse and the emotion of the moment. She’d dated men who’d disappointed her, or didn’t suit her, so she experimented. Unwisely.”
“How unwisely?”
He let out an impatient breath. “Aren’t we sitting here right now due to that? Aren’t I being interrogated and humiliated because of that? You’ve arrested the woman responsible for this upheaval in our lives. A person Shauna would never, ever have associated with prior to her involvement with a woman like Erin Albright.”
“A woman like Erin?”
“A lesbian, for God’s sake. A street artist, basically living hand to mouth, who counted strippers, trans people, gay people, people who constantly engaged in indiscriminate sex among her so-called friends. Freaks and losers.”
“Clearly you didn’t approve of the relationship.”
Fury lived in his eyes as he leaned forward.
“I’ve known Shauna since we were ten. She comes from a strong, traditional family. She may have pushed some limits in college, that’s almost expected. But she maintained her basic values.”
“Which, you feel, mirror yours. Until Erin.”
He spread his hands. “What happened to Erin is tragic. It’s horrible, and only more so since she was killed by someone she believed was a friend.”
“I completely agree.”
Bolstered, he nodded. “How it affects Shauna is heartbreaking. As someone who basically grew up with her, who cares deeply about her, it breaks mine. In time, she’ll move past it, and find herself again.”
“Pick up those old values,” Eve said, “and put away the lifestyle that was more…”
“Bohemian?” Peabody suggested.
“Bohemian. Good one. Is that accurate, Greg?”
“Yes.”
“So as tragic, horrible, heartbreaking as it is, Erin’s death cleared the way for Shauna to get back to where she belongs.”
“I don’t forgive ChiChi Lopez for what she did, but it does. Yes.”
“Well.” Eve looked at Peabody, nodded, looked at Barney, nodded again. “No wonder you had to kill her.”
