Scots on the Rocks

1

Judith McMonigle Flynn put a fifty-dollar bill on the table, glared at her husband, Joe, and said, “I’ll take that bet.”

“Sucker,” said Joe, the gold flecks dancing in his green eyes. “Since when has your mother ever called me by name? It’ll be ‘Knucklehead’ or ‘Lunkhead’ or ‘Dumbbell’ before she ever refers to me as Joe. We’ve been married almost fourteen years. If you can remember when she ever used my real name, I’ll give you fifty bucks right now.”

“I can’t. But,” Judith went on, crossing her arms and looking mulish, “Mother’s mellowing. Last night she said your barbecued spareribs were delicious.”

Joe chuckled. “They came from Nicky Napoli’s rib joint.”

“Mother didn’t realize that,” Judith countered.

Joe pocketed his fifty-dollar bill. “Why bet against each other with our own money? Change the stakes. Who gets to choose our next vacation?”

Judith was still glaring at Joe. “Vacation? What’s a vacation?”

Joe pulled out a kitchen chair. “Sit. Look,” he said earnestly as Judith reluctantly eased herself into the chair, “I realize you’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. Except for St. Valentine’s Day, February’s always a slow month at the B&B. March won’t be much better, with Easter not until mid-April. Why not take some time off to go somewhere wonderful?”

Judith grimaced. “My state B&B board review is next week.”

Joe had sat down at the kitchen table opposite his wife. “It’s Tuesday, right? We’ll have the rest of the month for a getaway.”

Judith looked glum. “If I feel like it. For all I know, they’ll yank my innkeeper’s license.”

“Don’t think negative,” Joe admonished. “It’s not your fault you’ve found a few dead bodies in your career. It’s happened to me, too.”

“You were a cop,” Judith pointed out.

“True.” Joe looked down at the green-and-white-striped tablecloth. He seemed to be having trouble finding the right words.

“I’ve never gone out of my way searching for victims,” Judith asserted. “They usually come to me. Furthermore,” she continued, gathering steam, “not that many people have been killed on the premises in the sixteen years since I turned the family home into Hillside Manor. I’d guess that any inn, motel, or hotel would have a similar fatality ratio.”

“You’ve had your share of bad luck.” Joe didn’t sound convinced.

“I could use some good luck.” Judith reached across the table. “I’ll take that bet. I want to go somewhere with sun and a beach and rooms fit for royalty. What about you?”

Joe’s high forehead creased in concentration. “Somewhere I can fish. Fresh-or saltwater. I’ll research possibilities.”

Judith nodded. “Done.”

The Flynns shook hands.

“Done” was probably not a good choice of words for Judith.

I figured,” Cousin Renie said late Tuesday morning, “you needed cheering up before you get the verdict from the B&B board later this afternoon. I’ve made lunch reservations at Queen Bess’s Tea Shop.”

“That sounds nice,” Judith said in a small voice.

“I’m paying.”

“That’s nice, too.”

Renie, formally known as Serena Jones, glanced at Judith. “How’s the bet coming?”

“It’s not,” Judith replied as they crossed the bridge that spanned the city’s ship canal. “Mother hasn’t called Joe anything since we made the bet. She’s so quiet lately. It worries me.”

Renie turned right off the bridge. “Face it,” she said, “our mothers are old. They can’t live forever.” She frowned as she braked for a five-way stop. “Or can they?”

“They may outlast us,” Judith responded with a wan smile. “When my artificial hip bothers me, I get so worn out going back and forth to the toolshed with Mother’s meals and medications and whatever else, not to mention my job at the B&B and keeping track of Mike and his family and going up and down, down and up all those stairs in a four-story house—”

“Tell me about it,” Renie broke in. “At least your mother is on the premises. Mine’s almost a mile away and you know how she phones me six times during my waking hours and expects me to jump whenever she needs a spool of thread or has a twinge in her neck. I average one trip a day to her apartment—and still work as a graphic designer.”

“You sound as if you need a vacation, too,” Judith noted.

Heading east, Renie steered the Joneses’ Toyota Camry—affectionately known to its owners as “Cammy”—above the city’s main freeway. “I probably do. January and February are always hectic with annual reports. But once my concepts are ready to be filled with useless, boring copy, things slow down. Did you choose your spot yet?”

Judith nodded. “Dana Point. Why don’t you two come with us?”

Renie made a face as she headed past the tree-lined streets north of the University. “I may not be a sun-and-sand person, but Bill, as a native Midwesterner, gets glum when the days are still gloomy. I’ll think on it.”

“It’d be fun,” Judith asserted as Renie started down a narrow street on a steep hill. “Dana Point has a whale watch during March. The beaches are wonderful and we could go over to Catalina.”

“It’s still California,” Renie said, and yawned. “I prefer a swanky mountain resort at Bugler in British Columbia.”

“At Dana Point, Joe and Bill could charter a boat,” Judith argued as Renie made a quick turn to park on the verge of the cemetery that was located by the tea shop. “The deep-sea fishing there is excellent.”

Renie parked across from the tea shop on the edge of the Catholic cemetery where both of the cousins’ fathers and several other Grover family members were buried. “We’ll toast them with an Earl Grey,” Renie said. “Let’s eat.”

The tea shop was busy, but Judith and Renie were seated almost immediately. The cozy comfort lifted Judith’s spirits only a trifle. Her dark eyes scanned the surroundings—flowered draperies, framed photos of English royalty, past and present, sketches of famous castles, stuffed animals, and live doves in a cage by the front window. Dana Point seemed a world away.

“Tea,” Renie said. “A brisk cup of tea will do you wonders. Stop acting like you’re on a permanent trip to the cemetery.”

Judith smiled weakly. “Sorry. I’m kind of tired.”

Renie glanced up at the white-aproned waitress. “A pot of Earl Grey with steak and kidney pie,” she said, closing the menu.

“Uh…the same,” Judith said, not having studied the selections.

“Okay,” Renie said, after their server left. “Pay attention, heed my advice. Cheat.”

Judith was aghast. “Coz! Our parents taught us never to cheat!”

The waitress returned with a bone china teapot that had a pattern of purple flowers. “Get your mother in on it,” Renie said, pouring tea through an antique strainer. “Cut a deal.”

“How?”

Renie stirred cream and sugar into her Royal Worcester cup. “It’s March, baseball spring training. Bet Joe he can’t hit a ball over the Rankerses’ hedge.”

Judith was puzzled. “So?”

“Have your mother watch. When he hits the ball—doesn’t matter where—have her cued to say, ‘Good one, Joe.’ For DiMaggio, get it? Aunt Gert can remember that. It’s from her good old days.”

Judith shook her head. “It sounds complicated. Before I can set it up, she’s bound to call him some awful name. If she does, I lose.”

“Then act fast. Right after we finish lunch.” Renie paused to sip her tea. “Have you chosen a place to stay at Dana Point?”

“One of my weekend guests from San Diego suggested the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort,” Judith replied. “It’s pricey, but worth it.”

Renie gave a nod. “Maybe we could come along. Bill loves to walk the ocean beaches. Now eat, sip, and relax. Victory’s in the bag.”

Judith, however, had her doubts.

An hour and a half later, Renie pulled into the Flynns’ driveway. She insisted on staying until Judith heard from Ingrid Heffelman. “Bring the cordless phone,” Renie said. “Joe’s MG is gone, so he’s not home. Let’s tell your mother about our plan so you can win the bet.”

Somewhat reluctantly, Judith picked up the receiver and headed out the back door. “I tell you, Mother’s not herself lately. Last Friday night, she wouldn’t even play bridge with those retired schoolteachers.”

“Yes,” Renie said. “My mom had to get a sub for her—Nora Plebuck, who can’t drive and lives out north. I got stuck picking up my mom, collecting Nora, and taking them home. I felt like a damned taxi.”

Judith nodded in sympathy. “I figured you’d end up being the patsy. But I couldn’t talk Mother into going.” She tapped once on the door to the converted toolshed, then turned the knob.

Gertrude was in her chair behind the cluttered card table. The TV was turned off. It struck Judith that the old lady had been sitting and staring. Or perhaps catching one of her many catnaps.

“Hi,” Judith said cheerily. “Renie’s here.”

Gertrude’s faded old eyes focused briefly on her niece. “So?”

“So,” Renie said, kissing her aunt’s cheek, “you should be agog.”

Gertrude snorted. “I should be a dog? Louder, Serena. I’m deaf.”

“Never mind,” Renie said. “How do you feel?”

“With my fingers,” Gertrude said. “When I can bend ’em.”

“Is that why you didn’t play cards the other night?” Renie inquired.

Gertrude’s expression was glum. “Maybe.”

Renie and Judith exchanged anxious glances. Gertrude’s lethargy was upsetting. “Want to come for dinner tomorrow night at our house?”

“Why? You can’t cook.”

“I actually can,” Renie said. “Lamb steaks and greenie noodles?”

Gertrude shook her head.

“Pot roast?”

Gertrude again shook her head.

“Fried chicken?”

Gertrude didn’t bother to respond.

“We could play cribbage after dinner,” Renie suggested.

Gertrude’s head jerked up. “Never!”

“Oh, come on, Aunt Gert,” Renie said, putting a hand on the old lady’s shoulder. “You know you’ll beat me. I haven’t played crib for so long that I’ll have to relearn the game.”

Gertrude pulled away from her niece’s touch. She was so upset that her head began to shake and she clamped her lips shut.

“Mother,” Judith said with concern, “what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

There was a long pause before Gertrude spoke. “Sick at heart.”

Judith leaned down closer to her mother. “About what?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“Okay,” Renie said, moving away from her aunt. “Don’t. But we’ve got something to tell you.”

Gertrude’s face brightened. “You’re both getting a divorce?”

“No, Mother.” Judith sighed. “It has to do with…” She frowned and glanced at Renie. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

“Shouldn’t what?” Gertrude demanded, looking more like her usual prickly self.

Renie gave her cousin a warning look. “Make a bet. Judith against Joe.”

“I like that part,” Gertrude said.

“Good,” Renie said. “Here’s the deal and what we want you to do.”

The old lady listened attentively, but didn’t comment until Renie had finished relating her plan to have Gertrude refer to Joe DiMaggio’s hitting prowess. When she did speak, she sounded confused. “I don’t get it. I always liked Lou Gehrig better. You know his nickname?”

Renie nodded. “The Iron Horse, because he never missed a game.”

“Oh, that’s so,” Gertrude agreed. “But he had another nickname—Biscuit Pants. I forget why, but I like it.”

“Interesting,” Renie remarked. “I didn’t know that. Remember—all you do is say, ‘Way to go, Joe,’ when he hits the ball.”

“Sounds screwy to me,” Gertrude muttered. “Do I win a prize?”

Renie nodded. “You don’t have to eat dinner at our house.”

“Sounds good to me,” Gertrude said.

The cordless phone rang, making Judith jump. Swiftly, she picked the receiver up from the card table and answered.

“You got a reprieve,” Ingrid Heffelman announced. “Not that I agree with it.”

“What do you mean?” Judith asked, moving away from her mother and Renie to hear more clearly.

“The board deadlocked, with one abstention,” Ingrid said in disgust. “They’ll have to vote again next month. Consider yourself on probation. Meanwhile, if you find another damned corpse, your innkeeping goose is cooked.”

“I won’t,” Judith asserted. “I promise.”

What a relief!” Judith exclaimed after the cousins left the toolshed. “I was sure that Ingrid would convince the board that I’m a blight on the profession.”

“Now you can focus on your vacation,” Renie pointed out.

“I will,” Judith promised. She looked through the window over the kitchen sink. “Darn. It’s starting to rain. I won’t be able to coax Joe out to the backyard to hit baseballs until tomorrow.”

“That’s okay,” Renie said, picking up her big black handbag from the counter. “It’ll give you time to remind your mother what to say.”

“True.” Judith followed Renie as she headed for the back door. “I thought you’d mention why we were making the bet—like asking Mother why she hasn’t called Joe by any of her more insulting names lately.”

Renie shrugged. “I assume that’s part of her recent lack of pep. But she perked up after she heard our plan.”

“You didn’t specify what the bet was for,” Judith pointed out.

“Of course not.” Renie slung the handbag over her shoulder and opened the back door. “Then I would’ve had to explain about the usual names she calls Joe and she might’ve turned ornery.”

“Oh.” Judith nodded. “And just as well you didn’t mention the vacation part. Mother might have balked. She hates it when I go away.”

“So does my mom,” Renie said. “Like to my own house instead of her apartment. See you.”

When Joe arrived at five-thirty, Judith was preparing appetizers for the guests’ social hour. “Where’ve you been all afternoon?” she asked.

“Research,” he told her, hanging his jacket on a peg in the hallway between the kitchen and the back door.

“I thought you turned down your last two cases.”

“I did,” Joe said, kissing Judith’s cheek. “Defend me against the infidel. As in ‘infidelity.’ I’m sick of following husbands and wives who stray. Why don’t suspicious spouses just ask?”

Judith mixed hard-boiled egg yolks with mayonnaise and tiny shrimp. “So what kind of research were you doing?”

“For our vacation,” Joe replied. “Sporting goods stores, the travel agent on top of Heraldsgate Hill, checking with Bill and his resources.”

“Have you made a choice?”

Joe took a bottle of Harp lager out of the fridge. “I’ve narrowed it down to three places. Bill says he’ll go along with any of them.”

“The Joneses will definitely come with us?” Judith asked.

“So it seems.” Joe removed the lid from the lager and eyed the deviled eggs Judith was sprinkling with paprika. “May I?”

“Just one.” From overhead, Judith could hear some of the guests stirring. Four of the six rooms were occupied—not a bad number for a Tuesday in early March. “What about dates?”

Washing down a bite of egg with the beer, Joe strolled over to the calendar on the bulletin board. “That’s tricky, since we don’t know our destination. The third week of March would work. But,” he added, “the bet’s still on, so nothing can be firmed up.”

Judith shrugged. “We can’t force Mother to say what each of us wants to hear. Maybe,” Judith said, avoiding Joe’s gaze, “we should have made a different kind of bet.”

Joe chuckled. “You’re waffling. You know I’m going to win.”

“Well…given Mother’s history, the odds are in your favor.”

“You bet they are,” said Joe.

But, Judith thought smugly, Joe didn’t know the deck was stacked against him.

The rain stopped during the night. Wednesday, the third of March, dawned with mostly blue skies and only a thirty percent chance of rain. Of course the local forecast changed approximately every half hour. As a native, Judith trusted her instincts, not the meteorologists.

When her cleaning woman, Phyliss Rackley, arrived, Judith informed her that the plan for the day would be slightly altered.

“I’ve asked Joe to help clean out some stuff from the garage,” Judith explained, “so I won’t have time to fold the laundry when you get done. Leave it in the pantry and I’ll get to it later.”

“Later?” Phyliss’s beady eyes scrutinized Judith. “It’s later than you think. Saint Peter’s going tick-a-lock with those pearly gates for me even as we speak. I’m poorly. Very poorly.”

Judith feigned sympathy. “Really? That’s a shame. Maybe you should take the day off to see a doctor.”

Phyliss’s eyes practically bugged out. “Are you serious? You think I’m…terminal?”

Judith shrugged. “You know your own body. You’ve had so many close calls that I’m hardly surprised if The End Is Near.”

“Well.” Phyliss swallowed so hard Judith could see her Adam’s apple move on her scrawny neck. “I might be able to last the day if I take my tonic.”

“Good idea.” Having dismissed her cleaning woman’s latest bout of hypochondria, Judith headed outside to find Joe in the backyard, swinging a golf club.

“Where’d you find that?” Judith asked.

“In the cupboard on the side of the garage,” Joe replied. He took another swing. “There’s almost a complete set. They aren’t mine.”

“They belonged to my father,” Judith said. “He golfed. The clubs must be seventy years old.”

“They’re not exactly the latest graphite type,” Joe noted, looking up at the gray clouds that were gathering overhead. “It’s going to rain. We should put off this job until afternoon. Or tomorrow.”

“No.” Judith’s tone was unusually sharp. “I mean, it could rain until the end of June. We’ll be in the garage most of the time anyway.”

Joe looked resigned. “So what should I do with these clubs?”

“Get rid of them, I guess. Bill used to golf once in a while but he hasn’t done that in years.” She paused. “Let me show them to Mother. Did you find Mike’s Louisville Slugger yet?”

“I saw it in there,” Joe replied. “Does he want it back?”

“He might—for the boys,” Judith said. “Our grandsons are getting old enough to play ball.”

“Okay.” Joe handed Judith what looked to her like a club that might be some kind of iron. He went back to the garage; she hurried to the toolshed.

“Mother,” she said, “it’s time to strut your stuff.”

“What stuff?” Gertrude retorted, looking glum. “My stuff lost its stuffing a long time ago. What’s with the golf club? Are you going to beat me with it if I don’t do whatever I’m supposed to do?”

“It’s part of the set that belonged to my father,” Judith said, showing the club to her mother. “Remember?”

With a tentative hand, the old lady reached out to touch the club’s shaft. “Oh yes. I remember,” she said softly. “He was no Bobby Jones, but he tried. And he never cheated like some golfers do.”

“Ah…that’s true. My father was the soul of integrity.”

Gertrude nodded. “More than you can say for some.” She shot her daughter a sharp glance. “Well? What do I say when Lunk—”

“You say,” Judith interrupted quickly before Gertrude could finish the derogatory nickname, “‘Way to go, Joe.’”

“Huh. Okay, help me to the door. I can do it from there, can’t I?”

“Sure.”

After getting Gertrude positioned in the doorway, Judith went back outside and retrieved the baseball she’d found in the garage and hidden under a fuchsia bush by the toolshed. Joe was coming from the garage with the baseball bat, an infielder’s mitt, and a pair of badminton rackets that needed to be restrung.

“I assume,” Joe called to his wife, “you’ve given up smacking the birdie around.”

“Yes,” Judith replied. “Toss those rackets. My hip has benched me. See if you can hit this.” She cocked her arm to throw the baseball.

“Whoa!” Joe cried. “Let me put this other stuff down.” He noticed Gertrude watching from the toolshed door. She had been joined by Sweetums, whose big orange and white body was curled up at the old lady’s feet. “Hi there, pussycats,” he said.

Gertrude didn’t say anything. Sweetums yawned.

Judith lobbed the ball to Joe. He swung and missed. “Oh, come on,” she said with a smile, “you can do better. How do you expect to coach Joe-Joe and Mac when they start Little League?”

“That was too low,” Joe complained, picking up the ball and tossing it to his wife. “It was so far out of the strike zone that it practically grazed my ankles.”

Judith tried to put more oomph on the second throw. Joe connected. The ball sailed off to the left, narrowly missing the statue of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Gertrude leaned forward, watching the ball land under a rhododendron bush. “Way to go!” she cried as Judith held her breath. “Way to go,” she repeated. “Good swing…Biscuit Pants!”

Joe stared at Gertrude. “What did you just call me?”

“Biscuit Pants,” Gertrude repeated. “Lou Gehrig’s nickname.” She looked at Judith. “What are you staring at? Lunkhead’s foul ball?” The old lady tottered precariously as she turned to go back to the toolshed.

“Mother!” Judith shouted. “Wait!”

Joe raised his hands, making a Churchillian victory sign. “I win!”

Judith barely glanced at him as she hurried to steady Gertrude. “What’s wrong with you?” she hissed. “You ruined everything!”

Gertrude took a couple of deep breaths and glared at her daughter. “I ruined you, that’s for sure!”

“That’s what I…how do you mean?”

With Judith’s help, Gertrude hobbled to her armchair. “By not raising you right,” Gertrude said in disgust. “For setting a bad example.”

Puzzled, Judith eased her mother into the chair. “I don’t understand.”

Gertrude let out a big sigh. “Didn’t I teach you never to cheat?”

“Ah…yes.” Judith grimaced.

Sadly, Gertrude shook her head. “But you cheated today. You pulled a shenanigan. No matter what I’ve done, I won’t have it.”

Still not sure what her mother was talking about, Judith sat down on the arm of the small sofa. “You didn’t do anything. I mean, you called Joe by the wrong name and then referred to him as—”

Gertrude waved a hand. “Hush! I…” She started to cry.

“Mother!” Judith got up and put an arm around the old lady’s shoulders. “You what? You haven’t been yourself lately. What is it?”

Tears slipped down Gertrude’s wrinkled cheeks. She took a handkerchief from her housecoat’s sleeve. “You better hear the worst.”

Judith hugged her mother gently. “Tell me.”

Clearing her throat, Gertrude made a swipe with the handkerchief. “Two weeks ago at SOTS bridge club.”

Judith recalled helping Gertrude get into Angie Mazzoni’s car for the card game with Our Lady, Star of the Sea—or SOTS, as the parishioners were more familiarly known. Afterwards, Gertrude had seemed glum even though she’d won the quarters.

“Go on,” Judith urged when her mother fell silent.

“You know what a blowhard Mary Clare O’Malley can be,” Gertrude finally said. “Bossy, too. On the last hand, she bid a small slam. I was pretty sure I could set her—if I knew if she was finessing on the second trick. She was bragging, and I hate showing off. Anyway…” Gertrude made a wretched face. “I peeked at her hand. She was finessing, so I played my high card and she went set, doubled and redoubled.”

“That’s it?” Judith said in obvious relief.

Gertrude scowled. “Isn’t that enough? I’ve never cheated in my life! Granted, she was waving her cards around along with her big mouth, but even so, I had to lean a little to see them all. I don’t know why I did it. I’ve been sick inside ever since. I’m probably going to hell.”

“Oh, Mother,” Judith said with a laugh and another hug, “don’t be so hard on yourself. Mary Clare is a pill.”

“That’s no excuse for what I did,” Gertrude insisted. “I feel like I should give back the quarters. They came to three dollars.”

Judith patted her mother and stood up. “You probably sensed she was finessing. I’ll bet you’d have played that high card regardless.”

“Don’t mention ‘bet’ to me,” Gertrude snapped. “And then you do the same thing—cheat. I couldn’t believe it, even if it meant you’d lose to Knucklehead. I couldn’t go along. What was that all about anyway?”

Judith sighed. “It was a silly wager about the names you call Joe.”

Gertrude stuffed the handkerchief back into her sleeve. “So? He should be used to it.”

“He is,” Judith said. “It’s not a big deal. The winner gets to pick where we go on vacation.”

Gertrude looked worried. “You’re going away? Where?”

“I don’t know yet,” Judith said. “Not too far. Joe wants to fish.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“We haven’t decided,” Judith replied. “A week or so.”

Gertrude grew thoughtful. “The Rankerses are coming back from California in a couple of days, right?”

Judith nodded. “I’m sure Carl and Arlene will take wonderful care of you. They always do.”

“You bet,” said Gertrude, and bit her lip. “Forget I said that. No more bets. Arlene and Carl are fun. They treat me right.”

“I know,” Judith said, grateful as ever for her next-door neighbors. “Are you feeling any better?” she asked as Sweetums seemed to appear from nowhere and jumped up onto the back of Gertrude’s chair.

“Well…maybe.” She smiled faintly at Judith. “I guess it’s true. Confession’s good for the soul.”

Judith had no intention of admitting to Joe that she’d attempted to sway the wagering odds in her favor. But her husband had seldom been fooled by liars and cheats during his career as a police detective.

“Nice try,” he remarked as Judith entered the garage.

“It was…sort of a…joke,” Judith said lamely. “Besides, Mother’s been down in the dumps lately. I thought it might cheer her up.”

Joe chuckled. “You’re a wonderful liar, but I’m not buying it. I’m going to call Bill after I finish this corner of the garage. We need to firm up our plans ASAP.”

“So where are we going?” Judith asked, wondering why they’d kept a rusty old lawn mower that must have belonged to Grandpa Grover.

“It’s a secret,” Joe replied. “We want to surprise you and Renie.”

“Can I have a hint?”

Joe wiped his grease-stained hands on a rag. “No.”

“Oh, come on!” Judith begged. “Renie and I have to know something about our destination or we can’t pack the right clothes.”

Joe thought for a moment. “You get three questions.”

“Is there a beach?”

Joe nodded.

“Good. Ocean view?”

He nodded again.

“Quaint shops and restaurants close by?”

A third nod confirmed Judith’s hopes. “Great!” she exclaimed, and kissed her husband’s cheek. “How soon do we leave?”

Joe frowned slightly. “I’m not sure. A week, maybe two.” He shook a finger at her. “No more questions.”

“That’s fine,” Judith agreed. “I’m going inside to make sure all the guests have left and to check on Phyliss. I’ll be right back.”

But the first thing Judith did was to call Renie. It was well after ten o’clock, and her antimorning cousin should be up and fairly alert.

“It’s not a sinus infection,” Renie shouted into the phone. “It’s my damned pollen allergies. Stop fussing, Mom. I’m naked.”

“I hope you’re inside the house,” Judith said calmly.

“Of course…Coz? Oh,” Renie said with relief, “I thought you were Mom calling me for the third time already this morning to make sure I don’t have a terminal sinus infection. She woke me up the first time at nine. I wanted to sleep in longer than usual because I went to the opera with Madge Navarre last night. It was Verdi’s Don Carlo—the uncut version. It was great, but I was really tired by the final curtain call.”

“Sorry I bothered you. Do you want to get dressed?”

“I didn’t want to get undressed,” Renie responded. “I was cozy in bed in my nightgown, but when Mom called—and you know Bill, he never takes calls—I had to answer it because I’m always sure that one of our three children who live in far-flung places is hanging by his or her thumbs from a steep cliff over shark-infested waters.”

“I’ll make this quick,” Judith said, hearing someone on the main stairs. “I lost the bet, but I’m almost certain I know where we’re going.”

“Going? Oh—the supposed trip. Where?”

“Dana Point! Just what I wanted! You will come, won’t you?”

“Well—if Bill wants to. I assume he does if he and Joe have been hatching plans. But I’m not sure we can afford any big expenditures. If only Bill wouldn’t have such hard luck with his inventions. If he could ever sell one, we wouldn’t be semi-broke.”

A month earlier Renie revealed that Bill had been spending part of his retirement not just counseling a few of his longtime mental patients, but also dreaming up inventions. He was embarrassed about the activity, especially since every time he tried to find a backer for ideas such as his circulating hospital mattress and lightweight collapsible Rollo-Bag for shoppers, he discovered they were already patented.

“Excuse me. I just heard the postman.” Renie hung up.

Judith smiled as she set the receiver on the dining room table. She hoped Renie would remember to put on some clothes before she went out to the mailbox.

After bidding farewell to her departing guests, Judith found Phyliss in the living room about to turn on the vacuum. “Moses and I are ready to roar,” the cleaning woman said with an eager expression.

“Wonderful,” Judith remarked, smiling slightly. Phyliss referred to the vacuum as Moses, and pretended she was parting the Red Sea or leading the Israelites out of captivity. “If you need me, I’m in the garage.”

“All I need right now is Moses,” Phyliss declared, turning on the vacuum. “On to Mount Horeb! We want to see that burning bush!”

Judith went back outside. As she helped Joe finish cleaning the garage and then attended to her other routine chores, she dreamed of California’s warm sun, sandy beaches, and fine cuisine.

The dream kept her going all through the busy day and into the evening. During the night she woke up once, thinking she could hear the soft surf caressing the pristine sands. The sound was only the rain pattering on the windows. She smiled, rolled over closer to Joe, and went back to sleep.