Murder in the Marigolds by Dale Mayer (good books to read for 12 year olds txt) 📗

it wasn’t that she necessarily wanted to do it, but she was still in a bit of a funky mood. Feeling a little bit better after some sleep and a snuggle with the animals, she got up, wincing at the stiff soreness in her shoulder. She headed to the shower and loosened it up in the heat. Once dressed and downstairs, she opened up the back door to the bright sunshine of the day and propped it open, so the animals could come in and out. She put on coffee, noting she needed to buy some more soon, and walked down to the creek with a cup in her hand.

“Look at this,” she said to Mugs. “It’s way lower now.”

It reminded her of the way it had been when she had first moved in. They could even walk and play along the riverbank. She shook her head. “It’s absolutely amazing how fast that can change.”

She had to admit it was a little bit scary too. As long as she had a warning that it would rise as it had, it wasn’t too bad, but, when it happened so fast with no warning, it became a scary thing. Still, bigger problems were in her world than the river rising again, and that was all about Robin. And what would Doreen do about her former lawyer who’d somehow managed to complicate Doreen’s life even more?

“Of course she did,” Doreen muttered. She shook her head, wondering what she should do about it. Just then her phone rang. Expecting it to be Mack, she looked down and frowned at the Unknown Number noted on her screen. She decided to answer it anyway. “Hello?”

“Nice,” said a man, whose voice she recognized from her past. “At least you answered.”

Her ex. She sagged down on a big rock, suddenly feeling unsteady. “Mathew?”

“Well, at least you still recognize your husband’s voice,” he said in a sardonic tone.

“Ex,” she said instinctively.

“Not yet. Besides, it doesn’t have to be ex,” he said.

She frowned into the phone. “What are you talking about?”

“I want to see you,” he said.

“Well, I don’t want to see you,” she said. “Don’t call me again.” And, with that, she quickly hung up the phone and put it down.

She stared at it, as if it were a viper or something. She didn’t know where he’d gotten her number from or why he was calling, but this was a turn of events she did not see coming. Even as she thought about it, she had to wonder why he would contact her. And what was that bizarre comment about him not having to be her ex? No way he actually wanted her; he’d made that abundantly clear when he had tossed her out.

Not that she’d ever go back anyway. Not in a million years. That would be like returning to a life sentence in purgatory. But why had he called now, and what significance did it have? Particularly considering Robin’s death. Hating to do it, but knowing she needed to at least let him know, she sent Mack a quick text. Mathew called.

When she got just a question mark back again, she answered, with a simple My ex and left it at that. If he wanted more information, he’d call her. She didn’t have long to wait, as the phone call was instant.

“I know it’s your ex. Did you think I wouldn’t have figured out his name by now? What did he want, Doreen?” Mack asked, with both curiosity and an edge of something else she didn’t quite understand.

“I’m not sure what he wanted,” she said. “I was so shocked that he called me, and I was a bit stunned. I don’t even know how he got my number,” she wailed. “I didn’t even—” Then she stopped herself. “Why didn’t I ask him more questions?” she cried out.

“Hang on,” Mack said. “Just stay calm.”

“Easy for you to say,” she muttered.

“What did he say?”

“I’m not even sure,” she said, her mind drawing a blank. “Something about not having to be my ex.”

An odd silence came from the other end. “Did he ask you to go back to him?” he asked in surprise.

For some reason, the surprise in his voice rankled. “Well, it’s not that I’m so ugly that somebody wouldn’t want me,” she said.

He groaned. “I didn’t mean it that way, and you know it. Come on. It’s just odd that, after all this time, all the hard feelings, today he calls you up to ask you to come back.”

“No, you’re right. I get it,” she said, sighing heavily. “Honestly I don’t know what he’s up to.” She got up and started walking around. “He just really surprised me, shocked me even, and then I hung up on him.”

“Interesting,” he said, with a note of humor. “Good to know you don’t just do that to me.”

“Nope, I don’t do it just to you,” she said, with a half smile. “But I have more fun doing it to you. In his case, I just wanted to get away.”

“Also good to know,” he said, his voice suddenly more cheerful. “Did he say where he was?”

“No, he didn’t, but it would have been good to know, wouldn’t it?” she said. “I’m so sorry. I really messed that up. See? If I would have played it right, we could have gotten all kinds of information from him.”

“Maybe,” he said, “but maybe you did play it right because that was certainly in true character, wasn’t it?”

She nodded, but he couldn’t see her head movement, and added, “Yes. Actually, well, it is in line with the me who I am now,” she said, trying for clarity. “But he may not have seen that person before.”

“Still, you’ve been through a lot, so he shouldn’t expect you to come back with open arms.”

“Well, I would hope not,” she said in disgust. “But it is him, after all, and he does have a massive ego.” Staring at the river, she blew out a long breath. “It’s because of