Purrfectly Hidden by Nic Saint

Author:Nic Saint [Saint, Nic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781671631991
Google: mXFXzAEACAAJ
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 2019-12-04T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“You see, we were a loving and a warm family, as I’ve already said, but of course, like in any family, there were tensions,” Rita said as she got up. “Do you want some tea? I don’t know if you remember this, but I’m an expert on weird herbal concoctions.”

“Yes, thank you,” said Odelia, who did remember. And as Rita disappeared into the kitchen, she threw her mind back to the time Rita Baker had been her neighbor. She distinctly remembered Rita as a cool neighbor, who never failed to say hi, or to babysit when Mom and Dad went out on the weekends. Rita had quickly become a friend of the family, and Odelia had been in and out of her house often, spending many a night on the couch watching TV together. She remembered her as warm-hearted and fun. Happy to babysit because she didn’t have kids herself, even though she always wanted them. She never married, though, and the family she’d hoped to have never materialized. She had boyfriends, though, which Odelia would see sitting out on the deck having breakfast in the morning. Whenever Rita babysat she would never have a boyfriend over, though. She was strict that way, which is why Marge and Tex entrusted her with their kid so much.

“So I have the usual, rosehip and linden and chamomile,” said Rita, offering her a selection of teas. “And then I have my special blends,” she added with a smile, and spirited a second box into her hands. “This is the stuff I keep for special occasions.”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t,” said Odelia.

“Nonsense. We’re old friends, you and I, and if I can’t share my special blend with you, who can I share it with? Besides, Tom, bless his heart, hates tea with a vengeance. Devil’s brew, he calls it. He only drinks coffee, and especially all of that horrible Starbucks stuff. I’m afraid Wall Street has seduced him to the dark side.” She laughed.

“Does he have kids?” asked Odelia, vaguely remembering Tom.

“No kids. Staunch bachelor, that one. And I don’t think he’ll change now. My little brother is seventy-one, if you can believe it. I can hardly believe it myself. Or the fact that I’m seventy-six now.”

Odelia smiled, and selected one of the oriental blends she hoped she’d like.

“Excellent choice, young lady,” said Rita primly, and disappeared into the kitchen again. Soon Odelia could hear the kettle boiling, and Rita called out “So how is your grandmother?”

“She’s fine. Acting a little weird from time to time, but nothing we can’t handle.”

“You mean she hasn’t changed? Why doesn’t that surprise me? Do you remember she used to read you ghost stories? And when you couldn’t sleep afterward you had to go and sleep with your mom and dad because you were afraid of all the monsters?”

Odelia laughed. She hadn’t remembered but did now. “Gran always loved stirring up trouble,” she said as Rita returned, carrying a teapot and cups and saucers on a platter.

She placed them on the coffee table along with a box of cookies.

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