Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(54)

Monica said, “And he did. And you are.”

“Yes.” Helen smiled at Monica. “He did and I was. I didn’t care much about the big house or the money, but I didn’t want to shame my parents. They were good, honest people. They’d been well-off before the Depression, and I cared about their reputation. And Gordon took care of me and my family. My daddy didn’t have to work again after that, except a little in Gordon’s offices for appearance’s sake. And my momma had new dresses and didn’t have to take in clothes anymore. To his credit, Gordon never once mentioned it after the day I agreed to marry him. Not when Raymond was born. Not ever.”

But you never loved him. Not even a bit.

And what was love when you were a desperate young woman? Robin reached for her grandmother’s hand. “You really do have the best view in town.”

“But I know why no one wants to live here,” Helen said. “It wasn’t a happy home.” She squeezed Robin’s hand. “You made a happy home for your children. Be proud of that, Robin. That is a tremendous thing.” She looked at Val and Monica. “And both you ladies did too. I know it. What girls are doing now is just amazing to me. I’m so pleased I’ve lived long enough to see everything you’re doing in the world.” Helen raised Robin’s hand and shook it. “Girl power! That’s what they say, right?”

Val and Monica smiled.

“Yep,” Monica said. “That’s what they say.”

Robin watched her grandmother with new eyes. She’d always wondered what had led Helen to marry Gordon Russell. He wasn’t a nice man, but maybe he’d been an honorable one. He’d married a woman pregnant with another man’s child, and he’d never thrown that back in her face. That wasn’t nothing.

“Grandma, do you want to know what happened to Billy?”

Helen’s eyes didn’t leave the sunset. “What difference would that make now?” She closed her eyes as the sunset reached the edge of the horizon.

“He might have had a reason—”

“What happened, happened. It was a lifetime ago.” The sun slipped below the mountains, and the temperature dropped immediately. “Robin, can you help me back in the house?”

“We brought enchiladas, Grandma Helen.”

“Oh, that sounds nice.”

Monica got on Helen’s other side while Val gathered the extra chairs on the lawn. They helped Helen back into the house through the side door and turned on the lights in the kitchen.

“It’s cold in here,” Robin said. “Is your space heater not working?”

“I might have forgotten to turn it on.” Helen waved a hand. “It’s not that cold.”

“I’m going to check it, and I’ll turn on the heat on the first floor, okay?”

“Don’t fuss.” Helen used her cane to walk to her favorite chair in the breakfast nook. “I’ll be fine.”

While Val and Monica were heating the enchiladas, Robin walked out to the entryway and turned on the heat for the first floor. She’d felt a gust of cold sitting at the bottom of the stairs, as if winter were creeping down from the top of the house to the bottom.

She finally had answers, but just as many questions remained.

Who killed Billy Grimmer?

What was the cabin Helen was talking about?

If the past was in the past, why was Billy still hanging around?

Robin got her phone out and tapped Mark’s number, walking out to the front porch to watch the sky turn from deep blue to black.

“Robin?”

“Hey. I’m at Grandma Helen’s. Monica, Val, and I brought her some enchiladas. I made a chicken casserole and put it in the oven before I left. Just turn it to 350 for like an hour or so,” she said quickly.

“Is she feeling okay?”

“Yeah. I think something is wrong with her space heater though.”

“I’ll go by in the morning and take a look at it,” he said. “It might need the filter cleaned.”

“Thanks.” She felt a wave of gratitude for her husband. He might not be perfect, but neither was she. When anyone needed help, Mark was always the first to volunteer. How many people could you say that about? He didn’t always say the right things, but he did the right things. Most of the time.

She’d married him because she loved him. And he loved her. Did he still?

“Robin, you okay?”

She sniffed. “Just thinking about Grandma and Grandpa Russell.”

“Is it wrong that I’m relieved I never met him? Your dad’s stories would scare anyone.”

“I know. It’s kind of amazing he had the guts to marry Mom.”

“Well, men do stupid things for love.”

“Oh yeah?” Robin smiled. “What stupid thing did you do for love?”

“Moved to this little bitty town in the middle of nowhere.”

“Oof,” Robin said. “That’s rough. No airport?”

“Nope.”

“Movie theater? Major league baseball?”

“Nada,” he said. “But it does have its attractions.”

“Oh yeah?”

“The scenery is pretty great. Schools are good. And there’s this woman.”