Murder by Yew (An Edna Davies Mystery #1)(31)

She arrived in Boston shortly after five-thirty, and Starling greeted her with a bright smile, a warm hug, and a change of plans. “Couldn’t get reservations for tonight,” she said, taking the overnight bag from Edna’s grasp. Tall and lanky with straight, shoulder-length auburn hair, Starling had her father’s physique and her mother’s coloring. This evening, she wore faded jeans and an oversized yellow tee-shirt. Ushering Edna into the apartment, she said. “I figured I might as well not waste a good cleaning job, so I went to the market for fillets of sole and fresh vegetables. Do you mind if we eat here?”

Stephanie Davies (dubbed “Starling” from birth by her older brother) was a graduate of Boston University. As a freshman, she had fallen in love with the city, confiding to her mother that she couldn’t think of any place she would rather live. Her condominium, the second floor of an old brownstone, was in Boston’s Back Bay, not far from the Charles River.

“Dinner here sounds wonderful.” At that moment, Edna felt the strain of the last couple of days and two restless nights and wanted only peace and quiet in which to forget, though she knew that would be impossible. When Starling took her coat and tote bag and headed for the spare bedroom, Edna moved to the living room and sank into a pillow-soft sofa. She leaned back, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the warmth emanating from the glass-fronted fireplace. The next thing she knew, Starling was shaking her by the shoulder.

“Mom. Mother?”

Edna woke slowly, feeling groggy and disoriented, and it took her a few minutes to realize where she was. As the world around her came into focus, she looked up into large brown eyes, very like her own. Starling was securing a lock of hair behind her ear, her brow furrowed with concern.

Edna cleared her throat and struggled to sit straighter. “I must have fallen asleep.”

“You must have needed it. I let you sleep for an hour, but you should probably wake up now or you won’t be able to sleep later.” Then, she sat on the edge of the sofa, facing Edna. “What’s going on, Mom? It’s not like you to fall asleep in the afternoon. I know you’re upset over your handyman dying, but it seems to me to be more than that.”

Edna studied her daughter’s face for a minute, trying to decide how much to divulge. She didn’t want to alarm Starling unduly, but she needed to talk to someone. “You’re right. A number of things have been going on, as you put it, but it’s all rather confusing. Would you be a dear and fix a drink for me while I try to clear my head? Then we’ll talk.”

Starling’s frown deepened, but all she said was, “How about a glass of wine? I have a bottle of Riesling cooling in the fridge.”

“Sounds like just what the doctor ordered.” Edna’s attempt at an old family joke brought only a weak smile from her daughter.

Before long, Starling was back with two glasses of wine and a plate of cheese and crackers that she set on the coffee table in front of Edna. “Speaking of doctors,” she said, hooking a cushioned stool with one foot and dragging it over beside the couch, “How are you enjoying Dad’s retirement and your new house?” She lowered her slender frame onto the small seat and handed a golden goblet to Edna.

“To tell the truth, it’s not turning out to be what I expected.”

Leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees and cupping her wine glass in both hands, Starling studied her mother’s face. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, it’s not the house. The house is fine. It’s your father. Between golf and then this conference he’s gone off to, I feel I haven’t seen much of him lately.” When they were out, her words surprised Edna. She hadn’t realized how agitated she’d grown over Albert’s being away. Or maybe Dee’s remarks were beginning to get to her.

Starling fidgeted. “It sounds like a temporary thing to me. Maybe he just wants to stay out of your way. You know, let you settle into the house and all.”

“He told me months ago that once we found our retirement home, we’d celebrate with a cruise to the Caribbean. He hasn’t mentioned that trip since before the closing, and every time I try to bring it up, he changes the subject.” Edna realized she sounded petulant.

“Maybe he’s planning to surprise you and doesn’t want you to ruin his fun. You know how he loves springing things on you. Remember when he bought you that new car and wrapped up the keys in a jewelry box?”

Edna thought for a minute, then laughed. “Yes, and wrapped the small box into a bigger box, then wrapped that box inside an even bigger box.”

It was Starling’s turn to laugh. “When you first unwrapped it, you thought he’d gotten you a new TV.”

“Inside the TV box was a microwave carton. I was certain he’d bought me a new microwave, something I really didn’t want at the time.” Edna wrinkled her nose in a grimace of mock displeasure.

“What was the next one?” Starling giggled. “A radio, wasn’t it?”

“No, it was the packaging for a set of wine glasses, then the radio box, and finally the keys were inside the necklace case. By that time, I was absolutely certain he’d bought me the strand of pearls I’d been hinting for.”

Edna laughed along with Starling. She felt happier and more relaxed than she had in a long time. She’d been right in deciding on a change of scene, and Starling almost always cheered her up. This weekend, she would forget her worries for a while. “I’m starving,” she said, realizing with some surprise that it was true. “What about that dinner you promised me?”