A Moonlit Murder Read online

  “Listen to her being humble. The Bauernhaus is Ames’s busiest family restaurant. You’d love the place. Over two dozen beef meals and eighteen ways to cook corn. Two US Presidents have eaten there.”

  “A long time ago,” Millie said, patting her husband’s knee. “I’m afraid this isn’t very interesting to Melanie, Dear.”

  “Actually, it is. I’ve never been to the Midwest, other than Texas where I trained in the Air Force and Wyoming where my husband is from. We keep talking about going on a road trip, but I have my doubts about that these days. I’d love to see some of the big national parks, the prairie, cross the Mississippi River. I heard about all those places in school but never have seen any of them.”

  “Well, about all you’d see in Iowa is rolling hills and cornfields. Emphasis on cornfields,” Millie said. “We should leave you alone to your baby. It was nice to meet you.”

  “Say, I hate to say this, but everything here is so expensive. Are there any restaurants where we can get a nice dinner without breaking the budget?” Allen asked when the couple stood to leave.

  Melanie knew the perfect place, ideal for honeymooners, but expensive.

  “There is. Maybe you’ve seen the retail area at the resort? There’s a place called the Island Breeze Café.”

  The husband and wife looked at each other, a silent message passing between them. “That Michelin two-star rated place? That’s a little too rich for our pocketbooks.”

  “Actually, it won’t be. My family owns it. Just go in and tell them Melanie sent you.”

  “They’ll give us a discount?”

  “Any evening you’re here.”

  Melanie was thanked profusely before the honeymooners left for the short walk to the beach. She watched as they went to a small rowboat that was stranded on the beach, tied to a palm tree. She tried remembering if she’d ever seen the little boat there before, something too small to take to sea and something the resort didn’t rent out. From what she could see, it was better suited for a lake or pond than the ocean.

  Since they were out of earshot, she got out her phone to make a call.

  “Jennifer? This is Melanie. You’re hostess each evening this week, right?”

  “Sure am. Want me to save you guys a table?”

  “No, we won’t be in, but a couple named Steinhoefler or something like that might show up. They’re honeymooners staying at the resort. I told them I’d give them a discount whenever they came in.”

  “Ten percent?” Jennifer asked.

  “Make it free.”

  “Wine, too?”

  “One bottle per meal, and not the expensive stuff. They might be expecting beef or fish, so they might be disappointed with the menu. But they’re on their honeymoon and I want them to have a nice time. Just assign their tab to me. Can you do that for me?”

  “You’re so generous, Melanie. You’re never going to make much of a profit doing things like that.”

  Melanie laughed. “Who’s making a profit in the restaurant business?”

  With a look at the time, she had less than two hours before she needed to be in the OR for her first of four cases that day.

  “Well, Bignose, this is where we part ways.” She straightened his bowtie one last time. “Just sit there and look cute and I’m sure someone will adopt you before too long.”

  Collecting the baby, she went home to face the music with her husband and his parents, surely stewing in hurt feelings over being fired by her as the family nannies once again.

  ***

  They looked even more unhappy than what Melanie had been expecting when she got home. Her parents-in-law wore sneers and Josh looked constipated. Even her almost four-year-old daughter seemed bored with sitting on the couch sandwiched between her grandparents, holding her latest toy.

  “Where are the torches and pitchforks?” she asked as she went by with the baby. She didn’t stop until she got to the bassinet in the master bedroom. She did, however, leave the door open.

  It didn’t take long before she was joined.

  “Hi, Pop. Sorry I went off on you guys like that earlier.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Melanie. It’s Dottie you need to be concerned about. She’s ready to climb on a plane for home.”

  “No offense meant, but I’m not stopping her.”

  Pop shut the door. “What’s the issue between the two of you? At first, you got along. But ever since the kids came, the two of you can’t seem to stop fighting.”

  “When we come to your home to visit, I go by the house rules. I say nothing when dead animals are served at every meal, and allow my daughter to go to church with the rest of you. Even here, I let Thérèse go to church with Dottie and Josh, and go to Synagogue with you and Josh, on the rare occasions you guys go anymore. I keep my big trap shut about it, too. But when I insist on no meat in my house because of my religious beliefs, I get all kinds of grief about it. All Dottie has to do is go across the highway to any of the restaurants, or drive into town for a burger or steak or set of ribs. Using the car I bought her, by the way.”

  “I’m not sure she should be driving right now,” Pop said.

  “I’ve seen her driving skills, and I’d prefer she didn’t drive the kids around alone. She still gets lost, and we don’t have all that many roads here.” Melanie stopped herself, not because she was getting agitated again, but because something was breaking through her tunnel vision about her mother-in-law. “What did you mean you think she shouldn’t be driving right now?”

  Pop sat in the rocker in the corner. “These last couple of years, she hasn’t been quite right. She goes through the motions okay, but when she started messing up meals and forgetting things, I chalked it up to her wanting to retire also.”

  “Forgetting what kinds of things?” Melanie asked.

  He shrugged. “At first, it was little stuff. She wouldn’t get everything on her shopping list, or forget where she parked the car, or even what car she took into town. I have to admit, the same happens to me sometimes. But then it became a little more important, like turning on the oven to cook a meal but not putting anything in. I came in one day and found the vacuum cleaner sitting in the middle of the living room.”

  “So, she forgot to put it away,” Melanie said. “Maybe she was distracted by the phone?”

  “It was running.”

  “Where was she?”

  “Just around the corner in the kitchen. When I pointed it out to her, she seemed embarrassed but tried to cover with an excuse. So, we hired a housekeeper to come in a couple times a week, to do the grocery shopping, that sort of thing. When she came here to watch the kids, I forgot all about that.”

  “It sounds like there’s a but coming,” she said.

  “When I got here a while back, I could see how much she’s changed, just in the few months she’s been here. Maybe her being negligent isn’t because she doesn’t care,” he said, making it sound like a question.

  “She’s in her seventies now. Many people begin to slow down much earlier than that, or later. Tell me, when was the last time she had a checkup?”

  “We don’t go to doctors much. If we break something, sure. But the one doctor we have in Willow Springs is even older than us, as is most of his equipment. Otherwise, we have an hour drive before we get to a real hospital.”

  “When was the last time she was in?” Melanie asked.

  “Not really sure. Let’s see. Josh is forty now, so it’s been that long, I guess. Yes, since he was born.”

  “Dottie hasn’t been seen by a doctor in forty years? What about you?”

  “About the same. Like I said, unless we break something, we just don’t go.”

  Melanie went to her desk and dug through a set of business cards. “This is the name of my family practitioner. You need to call and schedule appointments for yourselves at the next possible time. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  By the time she was home from work that evening, the rest of the family had gone to
bed, the lights off, the house quiet. She took a moment to sit in the dark kitchen and eat a peanut butter sandwich, her dinner that evening.

  Going through the living room, it had been tidied up. The door to Dottie and Pop’s room was closed and no light came from under the door. Peeking in on Thérèse, she was awake, playing with a stuffed animal.

  “You’re still awake?” Melanie asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “Hi, Momma.” The girl winced, something that belied troubled thoughts. “Sorta thinky.”

  “Thinky about what?”

  “Stuff.”

  “Big stuff or little stuff?”

  The girl shrugged.

  “About the big fight today?” Melanie asked.

  “Guess so.”

  “Yep. Grandma and I really made some big noise, huh? But guess what? That shouldn’t happen anymore. I think I figured out what the problem is.”

  “Big kind problem or little kind?”

  “I hope it’s a little problem that can be fixed super easy. But from now on, we’ll have some new rules around here. The best one is you don’t have to ride around in the car when Grandma is driving.”

  “She’s not so good at driving.”

  “Sure isn’t. Does she get lost sometimes with you in the car?”

  The girl nodded.

  “Like when?”

  “Coming home from preschool. I gotta tell her where to turn.”

  Maybe it was worse than what Melanie had thought. “Okay, thanks for telling me. Everything is going to be okay again, really soon. You and your friend get some sleep.” Melanie took the stuffed animal, not even sure what it was supposed to be. “What’s her name?”

  “Him. Rocket.”

  “Hello, Rocket. Nice to meet you. Your job is to make sure Thérèse sleeps all night.”

  She gave the toy back and left. Her next stop was at the bassinet to check on the baby.

  “Bath, powder, diaper, meal,” Josh said.

  “That’s about all he really cares about,” she said, going for a shower. Once she was out, she slipped into a T-shirt and shorts before getting into bed. “Everybody survive around here once I left you alone?”

  “Barely. How were your cases? Seemed like you were gone longer than usual.”

  “Great, until the last one. That took as long as the first three put together.”

  “Did it have to take so long? My parents were hoping to spend time with you this evening. Mom is thinking you stayed away to avoid her.”

  She looked at him. “Seriously? Today, I took out two bad gall bladders and fixed an aorta. Those were the easy cases. After that, I replaced four blood vessels on some guy’s heart, when I had been planning to work on only two. Sorry I wasted so much of your mother’s time by preventing the guy from doing something stupid like dying.” She reached up and turned off her lamp.

  “We don’t know what your schedule is, Melanie.”

  “After almost five years of marriage, you should know my surgical schedule can be rather fluid. Sometimes there are cancellations and I finish early. Sometimes cases are added on or go longer than expected and I get home late. I’m not swapping out radiators, Josh. Human tissue doesn’t always behave optimally. I wish it did. It would make my job a lot easier.”

  “Do you really need to work six days a week?” he asked.

  “Since Dr. Morris retired, yes. The rest of us in the group have to pick up the slack. I’ve just hired two new surgeons to join the practice, but they won’t get here until the summer. Until then, I’m going to be very busy, whether anybody likes it or not. Welcome to being married to Maui’s only cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon.”

  “How long will it take to find a replacement?”

  “About as long as finding a decent nanny.”

  “Let’s not start World War Three again.”

  “Look, I’m the head of a busy surgical practice that includes six surgeons, four nurses, two techs, and a receptionist, not to mention two budgets to run that practice. On top of that is the fact that I’m county mayor, responsible for a hundred thousand residents and one heck of a lot of visitors. Plus, I seem to be the only one interested in running our restaurant, and I got to tell you, I’m getting pretty sick of you flirting with the seating hostess while I’m sitting at the dang table! But I’m supposed to come home every day and run this household, and then get squawked at when something isn’t up to someone else’s standards, all while changing dirty diapers.”

  “I’m busy teaching three college classes, Melanie. I have papers to grade and students to deal with.”

  “Are you responsible for your program budget? Any of those students need their diapers changed, or dying of injuries?”

  “Oh, here we go again. Pity me because my patient died today.”

  “Your parents have the time to interview nanny applicants, but whenever someone does apply, they get chased off. Now, I don’t mind your parents being here with us, even if a nanny moved in and took over those responsibilities. But somewhere along the way, they need to realize they’re not on some perma-vacation. Somebody needs to start doing some of the work around here.”

  “Mom’s ready to go home.”

  “Say goodbye to her at the airport for me.”

  “Come on. Show some kindness.”

  “Kindness? I show them kindness once a month when I cut them paychecks and let them live for free. In exchange for that, all they have to do is feed Chance and change his diapers while I’m at work, and take Thérèse to and from preschool. I’ve given up thinking grandparents might want to play or read to them. Or even their own father.”

  “That’s pretty low. You know none of us have been feeling well lately.”

  “Josh, do you know the last time your parents were in to see a doctor? Forty years ago. I think something is going on with your mom beyond being simply forgetful. Did they make appointments with Doctor Reyes today?”

  “Were they supposed to?”

  “I gave Reyes’s card to your father to call and make appointments for them. By the way, when was the last time you were in?”

  “To have my cast off last month.”

  “I mean for a complete physical.”

  “It’s been a few years, I guess.”

  “On Monday morning, when you make appointments for your parents, make one for yourself. Unless you want me to do your physical for you? And believe me, the moment with the rubber glove on my hand wouldn’t be fun.”

  “Physicals aren’t much fun anyway. Poking and prodding, taking blood, only to say I’m healthy as a horse. I don’t see the point. More of a scam, if you ask me.”

  “Getting a yearly physical is a scam?” Melanie got out of bed and took her pillow with her. “I’ll be on the couch. Let me know when you’ve been given the rubber glove exam. Maybe they’ll find your head in there.”

  Chapter Two

  Sunday morning started with Melanie being the first one up. By the time she was home from making rounds on her patients at the hospital, the others were up but still in pajamas. It didn’t take long to see no one was going to church, everyone opting to spend Valentine’s Day together with a trip to the beach. Melanie and Josh decided to take the kids to the beach first, leaving Dottie and Pop to some privacy at home. They found a shady spot on the beach and laid out their blanket, and arranged the cooler and toys to keep the corners from being blown up by the steady breeze.

  “We can go for swim, Momma?”

  “You and Daddy go first. When you guys are done, Chance and I will go in.”

  “Brother knows how to swim?”

  “This is his first time ever, so no, he doesn’t know how yet. But I’ll be there with him the whole time.”

  “He won’t sink in the water?”

  “Nope. I promise. And that was the perfect way to ask the question, Sweetie.”

  Spreading another layer of sunscreen on the baby, she watched as Josh and Thérèse played in the tiny waves. That part of the coast was protected f
rom the heavy surf Maui had in other areas, the waves rarely stronger than what might be found on a lake. Once they were out of the water, Melanie took Chance to the edge of the Pacific Ocean, within feet of where her mother first put Melanie in.

  “Okay, little guy. This is called the ocean.” She held him in her arms as she walked slowly deeper into the water. She stopped when the water came to her waist. “This is where it starts getting wet, and maybe even scary, but I’ll hold onto you.”

  After a few more steps deeper, she lowered him into the water up to his shoulders, keeping a close eye on the gentle waves that washed in. She was happy when he giggled.

  “Oh, you like that? You like being in the big bathtub? Is this just like taking a bath?”

  He continued to giggle, burped once, and farted a single bubble.

  “Wow, you really like the ocean, huh? Just don’t make poo in it.”

  Melanie took a couple more steps until her feet could no longer touch bottom. Kicking her legs like eggbeaters beneath her, she held Chance out in front of her.

  “Okay, time to be submarines. Ready? Here we go!”

  She stopped kicking her legs and allowed herself to sink, taking the baby with her. They were barely wet before panic set in and she bobbed up again.

  “How was that? Did you survive?”

  Chance was still smiling and waved his arms for a moment.

  “Okay, you asked for it. We’re going deeper this time.”

  This second time, they went a foot down before coming back up. On the third submersion, they went down and she let go for a moment, keeping her hands right next to his body. Nature took over and he kicked his legs and thrashed with his arms. Once again, panic jabbed at Melanie’s heart and she lifted him out of the water. When the water drained from his face, Chance wasn’t as happy as the first two submersions.

  “Okay, you win. That’s enough swimming for today.” She held him close as she went up the beach, knowing he was close to pitching a fit.

  “Another champion swimmer?” Josh asked, handing her a towel and bottle of water.

  She began rinsing the salt water from the baby’s body, careful to rinse his eyes. “Sure seemed to enjoy kicking his legs underwater.” Once he was rinsed, he got a new layer of sunscreen.