A Justified Murder (Medlar Mystery #2)(40)

“Let’s go in the house. You have to see the kitchen Jack made for me.”

The inside of Charlene’s house was beautiful. Artwork was everywhere. There were framed pictures of her two sons’ drawings, along with photos of them, as well as weavings and pottery.

“Did you do this?” She was touching a tall weaving hanging from the ceiling to the floor. It was done in shades of red and it was extraordinarily beautiful.

“I did. Majored in art in college. I was going to set the world on fire with my fiber art. The next Lenore Tawney.” Charlene waved her hand. “Great weaver. But anyway, I met Leland and never looked back.”

Kate picked up a photo of a very good-looking man, older than Charlene. He was sitting in a lawn chair, drink in hand. He seemed to be relaxing but he had on a shirt and tie. “Is this your husband?”

“Yes. He’s a lawyer.”

There was love and pride in her voice. Charlene pulled two cans of thawed pink lemonade out of the fridge.

The kitchen was indeed beautiful. Tall white cabinets in an L-shape, with beautiful stainless appliances, pure white countertops. But the big, stand-alone island had a breathtaking piece of granite that was reddish-orange swirled with cream. Only a true artist would have chosen it. Kate loved it! “Do you like to cook?”

“I do. I’ve certainly had a lot of experience at it. I used to cook for Aunt Tayla and Uncle Walter.”

“Can I help?”

“Sure,” Charlene said. “Sit there and talk to me. I live with two little boys and a husband who reads briefs all evening. I am starved for old-fashioned talk.”

Kate sat down at the counter. “When did you cook for Tayla and her husband?”

“I moved in with them when I was sixteen. I think I was too much for my parents to handle. Besides, looking after me gave Tayla an excuse to stop being a slave to her domineering husband. He sure loved to give orders.” Charlene poured the lemonade into two big glass pitchers.

“You two returned to Lachlan.”

“Yes.” Charlene smiled. “Aunt Tayla hadn’t been back here in years so she was shocked. The cute little town she remembered was gone. It was like a badly repaired war site.”

“But Tayla fixed it.” There was pride in Kate’s voice. “It’s why I came here. To work with her.”

“I figured it was to meet your aunt.”

“That too.” Kate ran her hand along the porch of a birdhouse that was at the far end of the counter. It was a Victorian with two towers. “What I really wanted was to hear about my father. You wouldn’t remember him, would you? No, of course not. You’re too young.”

Charlene had her back to Kate. “I guess you mean Randal.”

“You did know him?”

When Charlene turned around, she was smiling. “He was a lovely man.”

“Really? I got the idea he was a bit of a...scoundrel.”

“He was. But that made him exciting. He was so good-looking...” She stirred the lemonade. “You know how some men have all the confidence in the world? They just seem to know that they’re going to be wanted. Accepted.”

“Not really,” Kate said, “but I can imagine it.”

“That’s how Randal was. He believed people were going to like him so they did.” She smiled in memory. “Every teenage girl in Lachlan had a crush on him.”

“He wasn’t in school with you, was he?” Kate wondered if Charlene was older than she looked.

“Heavens no! When I was in high school, Randal was...” She thought for a moment. “Thirty-eight, thirty-nine. Somewhere in there. But charisma doesn’t age, does it?”

“Tom Selleck.”

Charlene laughed. “You and me both. My husband is twelve years older than I am. I tend to like a man with some experience in the world. What about you?”

“Haven’t decided yet. I do like a man who can do things.” Charlene was opening packages of cookies and arranging them on a tray. “Can you tell me more about my father? Every time I ask Aunt Sara, she clams up. And speaking of that, do you know why our aunts hate each other?”

“I’ve asked about that but I got no answer.” Charlene lowered her voice in secrecy. “However, I did hear Aunt Tayla in one of her many arguments with Walter. I think that back in high school he did something awful to Sara and Tayla took his side.”

“What was it?”

“No idea.” She sighed. “Walter was a crass and rude man. The exact opposite of Randal.”

“Tell me,” Kate said eagerly.

“Randal wore a tuxedo like he’d been born in it. Champagne was his favorite drink.”

“But I heard that he and Jack’s father were friends. Roy wasn’t exactly the tux and champagne type.”

“Yes and no. Jack’s dad wore leather and rode a giant Harley, while Randal was invited to the poshest parties in town. They were kings in their own societies. I think they respected each other.”

“I heard—” Kate started to say that Aunt Sara had hinted that he stole diamonds but she stopped. “What made them friends?”

“Well...” Charlene hesitated. “Neither of them...uh, paid much attention to rules, and that included the law. Randal was the brains and Roy was the muscle.”