Secret Sisters - an LDS cozy mystery

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight  

The older I get, the crankier I am," Rose Hunter said, reaching for another cookie off the fresh plate Ida Mae had brought in. "I'm getting to where I can hardly stand myself." 

"I think we all go through that from time to time," Ida Mae said, knowing exactly what Rose meant. She didn't know what she would have done if Ren hadn't moved back in-he kept her from spending too much time alone with herself. He also kept involving her in illegal covert activity, but she'd overlook that for the sake of the good company he provided. He also got free movie rentals at work, and she'd finally gotten her hands on "Becoming Jane." There were definitely advantages. 

"I just hate to think what I'm putting Heidi through," Rose said, interrupting one of Ida Mae's typical imaginative lapses-that James McAvoy was a good actor. "I think Reed's hair is getting thinner, too." 

"I'm sure we can get it all worked out," Ida Mae said, pulling herself by force back into the conversation. "I'll go talk to Heidi and see how things are over there." 

"Well, when they release me tomorrow, I don't think she'll be excited to have me back," Rose said, taking another cookie. "What kind is this, anyway? I've eaten four now." 

"That's a sour cream coconut chocolate chip. My mother's recipe." 

"Well, if my mother cooked like this, I think my father would have eaten out a little less," Rose said. "Are you trying to fatten me up?" 

"You certainly could use it. I bet a sneeze would blow you over." 

"I wouldn't try it if I were you." Rose wiped her mouth with a tissue. "If you would go talk to Heidi, I'd appreciate it. I've tried, but she still acts skittish around me." 

"Consider it done." Ida Mae had two more plates of cookies out in the car, and she knew she'd find a place for them to go. Tansy and Arlette had a full two dozen keeping them company out at the Dunns' this afternoon. Good thing that recipe made so many. 

An hour later, she strode briskly up the walk to the Hunters' door, noting the peeling paint on the eaves. Heaven knew Reed was a busy man, but if he wanted to keep his property value up-she bit the inside of her lip. She'd try again. My, how nice the evergreen bushes on either side of the door look. They're so . . . green. She winced at her sad attempt to be positive, but it was the best she could do at that moment. 

Heidi opened the door, her eyes going wide at the sight of the plate in Ida Mae's hands. "Come in, Sister Babbitt. You didn't have to bring me anything, although I won't turn them down." 

Ida Mae relinquished the plate and stepped into the spacious foyer. "I've just come from the hospital," she said, shucking off her coat. "Rose's terribly worried right now." 

"What about?" Heidi grabbed Ida Mae's coat with her free hand, not-Ida Mae noticed-loosening her grip on that plate. 

"She feels she's a burden to you. She knows she's added to your plate." Ida Mae winced at her unconscious choice of words, but Heidi didn't seem to notice. 

"To be honest, Sister Babbitt, I'm not the caregiving type. I fall apart if any of the kids get sick. Reed gets a hang nail and I'm in tears. I don't know how to nurture. And now, with Mother Hunter needing a little extra care, I'm so stressed just thinking about it, I don't know what to do." 

"You can start by sitting down and having a cookie," Ida Mae said, motioning toward the couch. Heidi sat down, her very carriage indicating the stress she was under. With her mouth full of cookie, a tear rolled down her cheek, and Ida Mae pulled a new package of pocketsized Kleenex out of her purse.