Part 22 (1/2)

”I left him alone for an hour; he told me to go. He said that he was going to sleep. That I didn't need to keep tabs on him,” Karen said.

”Uh huh,” I said.

”He told me that he really didn't need twenty-four-hour care. His doctor even said I needn't be here all the time. I just, I have been a part of the family for so long. I raised all his children. I was with him when his wife died. I, he, I mean...” Karen looked at me with pleading eyes.

”You had a special relations.h.i.+p?” I offered.

”Yes. Yes. I loved him.” A tear spilled down Karen's cheek.

I put an arm around her shoulder. ”I am so sorry.”

”I don't understand. He was fine when I left. We had gotten out for a walk around the park. We'd even stopped for lunch. It was really one of his better days,” Karen said between sobs.

Karen continued, ”It doesn't make sense. I had to run to the grocery store before it closed. He likes their organic dates and their peaches. It's just right around the corner by the park.”

”The Suns.h.i.+ne Market?”

”Why, yes, you know the store?”

”My folks own it,” I said.

”He just loves your store.” Karen sucked in a breath. ”I mean loved. It seems surreal that I am talking about him in the past tense.”

”After my dad was killed, I still caught myself talking about him in present tense.”

”I just don't know how I'm going to make it through this.”

”It'd be great if there were a pill or a spell of some sort that could wipe away all the pain and grief. Right?”

Karen nodded as she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

”I can't tell you how many times I catch myself wanting to talk to him, or entering the store thinking that I'd see him in his yellow ap.r.o.n stocking produce.” I felt the tug at my heart.

”Can I be frank with you?”

”Sure.”

”Losing the one you love, well, it sucks.”

I let out a giggle. ”Yes, it does.”

The doorbell rang.

Karen reached for my hand. ”Thank you, Catherine, for listening to me. I am sorry I spilled my sorry sob story on you.”

I held her hand for a second. ”No problem.”

”Please, excuse me.” Karen left to answer the door. ”You are welcome to stay. There are food and beverages in the kitchen. Please help yourself.”

”Thanks.”

Deciding it was time to leave, I retrieved the sympathy card from my purse and set it on top of the pile of papers on the sideboard.

As I turned, my purse knocked down the stack, scattering it to the ground. I knelt down to pick up the sprawling mess.

I gathered cards, letters, newspapers, and magazines addressed to Micky Zwick or resident. One part of yesterday's newspaper was folded over. Opening the fold, I saw it was the crossword puzzle.

My breath caught in my chest as I read the purple inked squares that said, ”Got You.”

THE END.

Afterword.

Thank you so much for reading DYING FOR DINNER ROLLS. If you enjoyed this story, please do me a huge favor. Go back to Amazon.com and please leave an honest review. It only takes a couple of minutes and will help me a great deal.

Thank you again!

Lois.

Additional Works by Lois Lavrisa.

LIQUID LIES (Mystery, Thriller, Suspense).

Kindle Top 100 Bestseller.

One dead body, two girls with a secret in the Kindle Bestselling mystery thriller LIQUID LIES. What happens when a night of celebration turns deadly?