A Fatal Chapter (22 page)

“Ginny, will you be okay for a few minutes?” Angelica asked, her voice calm.

Ginny nodded, wiping tears that cascaded down her cheeks.

Angelica turned back to Tricia, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and led her toward the door. Outside, the sidewalk was filled with
people. Tricia kept her head down as Angelica pushed their way through the crowd and past the police.

“Not now,” Angelica said fiercely when Baker appeared in front of them.

He stepped back.

Tricia heard sirens in the background but didn’t look up, just watched her feet as they crossed the street and approached the Cookery. Angelica opened the door.

“Angelica—Tricia!” Frannie cried. “What on earth is going on over at Booked for Lunch?”

“We’ll talk later,” Angelica said. How could she be so damned calm when the world had just turned upside down?

Angelica led Tricia across the store to the door at the back marked PRIVATE.

She closed it behind them.

After the
events of the previous day, St. Joseph hospital was the last place Tricia wanted to be, but despite the tragedy she’d experienced, life went on. One life had ended, and another had begun.

A pasty-faced Ginny sat propped up in her hospital bed, draped in one of those hideous blue hospital gowns, but thanks to her radiant smile, she had never looked more beautiful. Beside her, Antonio beamed like the proud poppa he was.

“So,” Tricia asked, still finding it difficult to speak after she’d spent so much of the day before crying, “what are you going to name her?”

“After my mother,” Antonio said in his lilting Italian accent.

“Sofia? That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl,” Tricia said.

“That’s not all,” Angelica said from the end of the bed.

“Sofia Angelica,” Antonio clarified.

“Isn’t she the most gorgeous baby you’ve ever seen in your entire life?” Angelica said, nearly bursting with pride.

She was indeed a beautiful little girl, with a full head of red hair, just like her mother.

“Thank you for all the flowers, Angelica,” Ginny said, “but you didn’t have to send quite so many.” On every flat surface stood a vase or a pot filled with colorful blooms, some of them emblazoned with pink ribbons saying
Baby Girl
.

“Well, I didn’t know what your favorites were, so I just told the florist to send one of everything.”

“Perhaps we can share some with the other patients,” Antonio suggested.

“Of course, of course,” Angelica agreed, and laughed. It seemed that nothing could upset her on that beautiful, sunny, late-summer morning. Tricia only hoped she’d tone down her excitement later that afternoon when they went to the Baker Funeral Home to make Christopher’s final arrangements. As he had no close family, Tricia had decided she’d like to have him buried nearby, where she could lay flowers on his grave. Perhaps it would make her feel better. Perhaps.

She looked down at her hand and the two-carat solitaire diamond ring that once again had taken up residence on her left ring finger. She hadn’t been sure she meant what she’d told Christopher in his last moments. Would she really have married him again? But for now, she would honor his last request and wear the ring he had given her so many years ago at a much happier time in their lives. Their wedding had been lavish—ostentatious, really—and Tricia had already made up her mind that the last ceremony she shared with Christopher would be far more simple and dignified.

She found her eyes welling with tears once again and tried to blink them away.

A clatter at the door caught their attention. “Hi,” Nikki called out. She sat in a wheelchair, with Russ manning the grips behind her.

“Don’t tell me you’re here to deliver, too!” Ginny cried, grinning.

“We were just about to check in, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a long day, and I thought we should pop up here to see you first.”

“Pardon me if I don’t get up,” Ginny said, and laughed.

“Can I show her the baby?” Angelica asked. She’d only held little Sofia four times since they’d arrived less than an hour earlier.

“Of course,” Ginny said, and carefully handed the baby over. Angelica cradled Sofia as if she were a soap bubble as she stepped over to the door. Nikki looked down at the sleeping princess and smiled.

“Aw, I can’t wait to hold my little bundle of joy.” Then her face collapsed into a grimace, and she bent over as a contraction seized her.

“Speaking of which,” Russ said. “We’d better get going. Congratulations, Antonio.” He looked at Ginny. “You did great, Mama.”

“Thank you. Good luck, Nikki. You’ve got a tough day ahead of you, but it’ll all be worthwhile,” Ginny said as Angelica handed the baby back to her.

Russ gave them a wave as he pushed the wheelchair away from the door.

“Nikki’s having a boy,” Angelica said. “Wouldn’t it be fun if Sofia and he got married one day?”

Tricia winced at the mention of a wedding, and Angelica instantly seemed to realize her faux pas. “Oh, Trish, honey, I’m so sorry,” she said.

“It’s okay.”

“Would you have remarried Christopher?” Ginny asked.

“I don’t know,” Tricia said truthfully. “I’ll never know.”

“What will happen to Bob Kelly?” Antonio asked.

“I hope they throw him in jail for the rest of his worthless life,” Angelica said bitterly. “And to think I once loved that despicable man.”

“He’s certainly got a lot to answer for,” Tricia said. “Two murder charges, attempted murder, and assault, not to mention the trouble he was in before all this happened.”

“And don’t forget desecration of a cemetery,” Angelica said.

Tricia nodded, appalled that anyone would have the temerity to disturb the dead for their own selfish gain.

“How did Bob ever think he would get away with it?” Ginny asked.

“His enormous ego wouldn’t let him believe he could fail,” Angelica said simply. “But let’s not ruin this happy day with talk of Bob.” She looked adoringly down at the baby in Ginny’s arms.

Happy day? Tricia wasn’t sure she would ever celebrate Sofia’s birthday without sad thoughts of Christopher. He had sacrificed his own life to save Angelica’s. Had he saved Tricia and died, her life would have forever been shadowed with survivor’s guilt. That he’d saved Angelica—the one person who meant the most to Tricia—she would be forever grateful. Even so, it was all such a waste.

But they’d had one piece of happy news an hour before when they’d entered the hospital to visit Ginny and the baby. They’d stopped at the reception desk to get the room number, and Tricia thought to ask about Janet Koch.

“She’s doing much better. She’s now receiving visitors if you’d like to see her.”

“I would.”

The receptionist had given Tricia the room number, and she intended to stop in after their visit with the baby was over.

Tricia had one more piece of good news to share. “Looks like I owe you five dollars, Ginny.”

Ginny looked up at her, confused.

“You were right. I heard from the insurance company before Sofia was born.”

Ginny laughed. “We’ll put it toward her college fund.” She looked at the baby with adoring eyes. “You
are
going to college, young lady.” Sofia yawned, rubbing her little mitten-covered hands over her closed eyes.

“Awwww,” the three women chorused.

“We should go and let Ginny and the baby get some rest,” Tricia said.

“I don’t want to,” Angelica declared, “but I will. But only if you promise I can come back later and say good night to my”—she stopped, looked around to make sure no one else was listening, and lowered her voice to a bare whisper—“sweet granddaughter.”

“Of course you can,” Ginny said.

Angelica lavished kisses on her new family before turning to leave.

“Take some flowers,” Antonio suggested, and grabbed a large vase filled with pink daisies and baby’s breath.

“Good idea,” Angelica said, accepting them. “Off we go. We have a very busy day ahead of us.”

Yes, they did.

“If you need anything, feel free to call us, dear Tricia,” Antonio said sincerely.

“I will,” she said, and braved a smile, knowing she wouldn’t.

She stepped out into the hall as Angelica made another round of good-byes.

All around Tricia nurses, aides, and technicians scurried. All around were the sounds of new life—of hope and promise.

Her life was about to start another chapter, too, and it would not include Christopher. She hadn’t wanted him to be a strong presence in her future, but she had at least expected him to be part of the landscape. That he wouldn’t brought her great sadness.

Angelica appeared, all smiles, and wrapped her free arm around Tricia’s. “Ready to go see Janet?”

Tricia nodded. “Although I haven’t any idea of what I’m going to tell her.”

“I’ll tell her, if you like.”

“Thank you. I don’t think I’m quite yet ready to be able to talk about it, but I do want her to know that she’s now safe—all of Stoneham is.”

“Yes, we are, but at a terrible cost. For what it’s worth, I think Christopher is the bravest man I’ve ever known. He gave me my life, and I’m going to make sure every day counts for something. To honor him, you should, too.”

“I will.”

They paused at the elevators. “I’d like to do something else to honor Christopher. What do you think about a scholarship? Or maybe Nigela Ricita Associates could buy a piece of land and make another park for the citizens of Stoneham?”

“Why don’t we talk about it some other day?” Tricia suggested.

“Of course. I’m sorry I bought it up now,” Angelica apologized.

Tricia managed a smile. “I’m glad you were fond of him. He had his failings, but overall he really was a great guy.”

“Of course he was, and you brought out the best in him.”

Tricia didn’t believe that for a moment, but she didn’t see any point in arguing.

They took the elevator to the fourth floor, but as they approached Janet’s room, Tricia halted. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“You don’t have to, sweetie. Why don’t you go down to the lobby and wait for me. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Tell Janet . . .” But Tricia couldn’t think of a thing to say.

“I will,” Angelica promised, squeezed her hand and then forged ahead.

Tricia turned, but instead of heading for the elevator, she took the stairs and made her way back to the lobby. Never had she felt so alone. She supposed her parents had at one time liked Christopher—after all, he’d taken her off their hands. That must have made her mother feel infinitely grateful. But even if her parents had never really been there for her, she counted Angelica as her staunchest ally. And now she had a new connection to Antonio, Ginny, and sweet baby Sofia.

As Tricia was about to take a seat, she noticed the automatic doors slide open and Grace and Mr. Everett enter the hospital’s lobby.

“Tricia, darling girl,” Grace said as she approached with her arms held wide. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am to hear about . . .” But she didn’t say his name.

“Thank you,” Tricia said, and embraced her friend. Grace was older than Tricia’s mother. She’d had her share of tragedies, but she had bounced back and found a new zest for life. Tricia hoped she would one day find that same resolve. She looked over Grace’s shoulder and saw dear Mr. Everett, her employee and, if truth be told, someone she’d come to think of as her surrogate father. His eyes were shiny with unshed tears. She pulled back away from Grace and practically fell into Mr. Everett’s waiting arms. And then the tears came once again.

Eventually, Tricia realized she was sitting on a couch, her head still buried in Mr. Everett’s shoulder, sobbing as he patted her back murmuring, “Dear girl, dear girl.”

Grace pressed a tissue into Tricia’s hand, and she wiped her eyes
and eventually managed to get her emotions under control enough to sit up straight. “I’m so embarrassed,” she murmured, and didn’t dare look at her friends.

“But why?” Grace asked, patting Tricia’s hand. “We’re family. We love you. You, Angelica, Ginny, Antonio, and now baby Sofia.”

“Family?” Tricia asked, her throat so tight she felt like choking.

“Not by blood, but by circumstance,” Mr. Everett said.

Tricia stared into the elderly man’s wrinkled face as a wellspring of love gushed through her.

“And don’t forget Miss Marple, too,” he added, and smiled.

Tricia felt new tears spring to her eyes. “Yes, we are family.”

“We were thinking,” Grace began, “that we’d like to host a picnic for our little family. Maybe a potluck next weekend. And maybe we’ll invite a few friends, too. Like Pixie and her new gentleman friend, Frannie Armstrong, and Michele Fowler.”

“I think that would be lovely,” Tricia said, wondering what she could contribute. Then she remembered the deviled eggs Angelica had made for Pete’s wake. They seemed simple enough. Maybe she could bring something like that, and she would enjoy making them to share with her friends—her family.

“There you are,” Angelica said, arriving on the scene. Her smile wavered, however, when she took in Tricia’s tear-streaked face. “Is everything okay?”

“We were just talking about hosting a picnic next weekend for our little Stoneham family. You, included,” Grace said.

“That sounds wonderful. What can I bring?” Angelica said, taking a seat next to Tricia.

Grace grinned. “Your wonderful carrot cake.”

Angelica’s smile was wide. “You got it.”

“I’ll mention it to Ginny and Antonio when we go upstairs,” Grace said. “We can’t wait to see baby Sofia.”

“You already know her name?” Angelica asked.

“Ginny called us from the delivery room early this morning. She couldn’t wait to share the news.”

“Isn’t she a dear?” Angelica asked with a sappy look that could only be described as motherly pride—despite the fact that she had no claim on Ginny in that respect.

“She’s as special to us as our darling Tricia—and you, too,” Mr. Everett said.

“Aw, thank you,” Angelica said, her smile wavering as her eyes welled.

“We’re family,” Tricia offered, unsure what Angelica’s reaction would be.