It didn’t explain everything though. The dates and the necklace were another matter. Reminders of the past, but were they threats? Were they indications that someone, likely Brother Jim, wanted to hurt me? I couldn’t be sure, but it seemed doubtful. If entering my house and store was so easy, they could have already inflicted harm. But the question of why now still haunted me every time I analyzed the situation. Years had passed since my time at Listening Lark, and how could someone have found me here? There’d been no marriage announcement, I had a different last name now, why now and how? Why not just be direct and confront me, especially if it was Brother Jim, which was my best guess. Why do all of these cloak and dagger scenarios by leaving me reminders of the past? Sure, it was creepy, but what did it accomplish, other than making me uncomfortable? The more I thought about it, the more certain I became that this individual wanted more than that from me. But what?
Robin pulled off the road and drove along a stone lane. A man wearing a neon orange vest directed her to park in the grass beside a gigantic blue truck with dual wheels and large headlights on the top.
“Oh, great,” she remarked, parking the car.
“What?” I asked.
She pointed to the truck. “That’s John’s truck.”
“Oh,” I said. “Yeah, I could see him driving something like that. A bit over the top?”
“Ridiculous,” she replied. “And it’s so loud. He thinks it’s cool.”
I laughed. “Funny what some people think is cool.”
We got out of her car and rounded the truck. John was a few feet ahead of us, so we hung back, taking our time, except Archie.
“I’m going to catch up with John,” he said. “I want to ask him something.”
We waved him away and continued to walk very slowly, as it was obvious Robin wanted to avoid any conversation with him. I wasn’t particularly interested in talking to him either. Now fair food, that was another story.
“Hey, let’s go get funnel cake,” I suggested. We made a beeline for the funnel cake stand. A few minutes later, funnel cake in one hand, fresh squeezed lemonade in the other, we searched for a place to sit down. A row of picnic tables under a shady maple tree was our choice.
I scooped up a piece of powdered sugar delight and shoved it in my mouth. Mmmm… it had been a long time since I ate fair food. It was so good.
“You’re eating sugar today,” Robin remarked; powdered sugar clung to her lips.
“Oh, yeah, the food is the main objective of any fair,” I replied. “I mean, what else do you do at a fair?”
“Right on,” she agreed. “Hey, look.” She pointed to the center of the picnic table where a flyer had been stapled. A picture of our realtor, Angela, smiling, wearing a dark blue dress, her hair neatly done, a friendly smile directed at the camera, was in the center of the flyer. Twenty-five-thousand-dollar reward for any information leading to the arrest of her killer.
“Wow.” I stared at the paper. “I wonder if they have any leads.”
Robin nodded. “I heard they are looking for a white Honda, four doors. Someone noticed it driving back along the lane of the property she was showing the day she was murdered. Didn’t think it was odd at the time, but called the police after hearing about the murder.”
“Where was the property again?” I asked.
“Jasmine Road, just past the feed mill. It’s very secluded. Long lane, and a lot of trees, no neighbors for a mile or two.”
“That’s right. Archie was telling me it was past the school and down much farther.”
“Right.” Robin took a drink of lemonade. “I hope they find who did this. Still, no real leads, or motive, that we know of, at least.”
“She was obviously targeted. Maybe someone from her past?” I suggested. I knew all too well how the past continued to follow some people.
“Maybe she had dark secrets that nobody knew about,” Robin said cryptically.
I nodded. “Maybe those secrets caught up with her.”
The hot summer night passed as we played some carnival games, coin toss and balloon darts, ate all kinds of junk food, fresh cut fries, juicy cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes. I drew the line when Archie walked over to the fried Oreo booth. No thanks.
We even took a ride on the rickety Ferris wheel, barely moving as we traveled to the top. I don’t know why I even got on the contraption. I hated heights and gripped Archie’s hand tightly until we reached the ground again. My wonderful husband held me gently, his presence calming me better than any drug. Part of my issue was the person I saw at the cotton candy stand while we were waiting in line for the ride. The man who stood with his back to us, long flowing dark hair and a loose white shirt, seemed too familiar to me. Brother Jim? Then he turned and I didn’t recognize him. I was getting paranoid.
Now we sat on a large blanket in an open field, a wide black sky above us dotted with white twinkling stars. We sipped milkshakes, our second ones of the night.
“Perfect night for fireworks,” Archie remarked. “Endless stars.”
“So much different than the city skyline,” I replied.
Archie grew up in the Old Kensington area of Philly. He was a city kid. Living in a rural area like Poplin was much different than he was used to, but he loved it. All the space, the wildlife—two deer walked through our yard this morning—everything here appealed to him. I was so glad. I knew country life was for me, but I didn’t know until now if it was for him. Thankfully, he was willing to give it a try for me and enjoyed living this lifestyle together.
“Room for one more?” a voice asked. We look up to John’s smiling face.
“Sure, buddy,” Archie said, moving closer to me. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” John sat next to him. Robin sat next to me and nudged my arm. I raised my eyebrows.
The field was a sea of bright colored blankets, children running around, parents trying to quiet them, and couples cuddling close under the moonlight.
“Fields looked good,” Archie said to John. “When will you do the rest?”
“Probably finish the alfalfa fields on Monday after work,” John replied. “The cornfields will be beginning of September. They had a late start this year.”
Archie nodded. “Sounds good. I love looking at the farmland when everything is cut. It’s so vast.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” John agreed, sneaking a glance at Robin. “This is the place where I’ll marry and have kids. I love it here.”
I nudged Robin, but she didn’t look my way, avoiding John’s remark. Fireworks popped in the sky, taking my attention away from her and John’s words, obviously directed at her. A brilliant display of red, blue, and white lighting up the dark humid night.
