Page 105 of Trouble Comes in Threes

I closed my eyes and focused on the woman in my vision, not even asking a question. I came up with nothing, so I asked if Neely Kate knew the woman who had been murdered.

I opened my eyes. “Nothing.” Then I relayed what I’d searched for.

“I’m sorry,” she said, giving me a hug. “Now why don’t you try to see if we get into trouble when we see Darlene?”

Still hugging her, I asked the same question of the universe. This time, an image of Darlene standing in the Piggly Wiggly appeared. Vision Rose was standing next to her, but the vision quickly faded.

“Darlene showed up,” I said as I opened my eyes, the church foyer coming into view.

“Did she say anything?” Neely Kate asked, pulling back to look at me.

“No, but at least we know she’ll come.”

“Okay,” she said. “Now we really need to find Maeve and see if she’ll watch the kids.”

Maeve was sitting in a pew with some of her friends. Neely Kate and I approached her and asked if she was busy after the service.

“Joe has to work this afternoon,” I said, “and I usually grocery shop on the weekends. Neely Kate and Jed are busy, so I was wondering if you could watch the kids for about an hour? I’d take them all with me, but the last time I tried it, I nearly got banned from the Piggly Wiggly again.”

Maeve laughed. “How many times would that be? Four or five?”

“Five,” I said with a sheepish look, “but the last time wasn’t my fault. Liam accidently pulled the toupee off of that poor man at the deli counter, and I tried to catch it before he tossed it into the slicing machine.”

Neely Kate burst out laughing. “They were pulling plastic hair out of deli meat for weeks. Once the health department got involved, they had to shut down the deli for days.”

“If they’d done a better job of cleaning it, it would have been contained,” I protested. “In any case, I really hope to avoid a situation like that again, so if you’re not busy, is there any way you could watch them, say around two?” I gave her a hopeful look.

She sighed. “Oh Rose, I would love to watch them, but the women’s group is volunteering at Piney Rest this afternoon, and I’m in charge of the gift baskets.” She paused, then her face brightened. “But I could take the older kids with me, and even Hope if you think Ashley and Mikey can help me corral her.” She gave me an apologetic look. “I think Liam would be too much.”

Some of the kids were better than none, and Liam wouldn’t have any idea what was going on. Besides, he loved going to the store and riding in the cart. I’d just keep him away from older men’s heads. I was meeting Darlene at the grocery store for heaven’s sake. It wasn’t like I was doing anything dangerous.

I glanced at Neely Kate, realizing I’d told Maeve that Neely Kate had other plans, so we couldn’t very well ask her to watch Daisy. Not to mention, two three-year-olds would probably be too much.

Neely Kate patted my arm. “It’s too bad Witt couldn’t watch the other kids with Daisy too.”

I wasn’t sure if Witt was really watching my niece, but I was grateful Neely Kate was trying to relieve my concerns.

“We’re meeting at the nursing home at 1:30,” Maeve said. “Will that work with your schedule?”

“It works perfectly,” I said. “I might come a little early so Mikey and Ashley can visit with Miss Mildred. She’s a resident there now, and she doesn’t seem to be adjusting well. I think she could use a visit from them.”

“I gather that means she’s meaner than ever,” Maeve said. “Your heart has always been more forgiving than most people’s.”

“I definitely wouldn’t say that,” I assured her with a laugh. “I would still rather avoid her, but she and Violet had a special bond, and I know Miss Mildred loves her kids. If it helps the other residents tolerate her…” I shrugged.

“Don’t worry about getting there early,” Maeve said. “I’ll make sure they drop in on Miss Mildred, and then you won’t have to spend time with her.”

“Maeve, you’re the best,” I said, giving her a hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Good thing you don’t need to find out,” she said with a chuckle, then turned back to her friends.

Neely Kate dragged me to the back of the church, and I asked, “Is Witt really watching Daisy?”

“As strange as it sounds, yes. He’s been asking to babysit, and I figured this was as good a time as any to try it out.” She shrugged. “She’s a bright girl, and she’s bossy?—”

“Like her momma,” I interjected.

“Okay, she comes by it naturally, but there’s no harm in that. Especially since she’ll likely tell Witt exactly how to take care of her.” She slid into a pew, and I followed. “Part of me wants to say, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’, but I don’t want to press my luck.”

---