Miranda James - Murder Past Due

“I’m tired, but Ezra’s doing better, thank the Lord. They’re keeping him one more night, and he should be able to come home tomorrow.”

“That’s good,” I said. “Why don’t you come on in the kitchen and sit down. Let me get you something to drink, and I’ll go get Justin for you, if he’s here. I just got home myself, and I haven’t seen him yet.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Julia said as she followed me. “Right now I don’t feel up to climbing those stairs, I have to say.”

Diesel came to greet our visitor, and Julia petted and talked to him while I poured her a glass of the sweet tea Azalea had made.

As I climbed the stairs I thought, not for the first time, about having an intercom system installed. But then I reflected that I could always use the exercise.

Puffing slightly by the time I reached Justin’s door, I knocked.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and took a step inside. Justin sat at his desk, working at his computer. He tapped the keys a moment longer before he turned to greet me. “Hello, sir.”

“Hello,” I said. “Your mother is downstairs. She’d like to talk to you.”

“Thank you,” he said. “I’ll be right down. I need to do one more thing to this”—he indicated the computer with a quick nod—“but that won’t take two minutes.”

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll tell her.” I backed out and shut the door. Justin seemed a bit more animated today. All day yesterday he had appeared depressed, occasionally almost catatonic in his lack of response. A good night’s rest had helped, I supposed, along with a little distance from the events of yesterday.

Julia had finished her tea by the time I got back to the kitchen, and I offered her more after I relayed Justin’s message. She declined.

“You’re welcome to visit with Justin in here,” I said, “but you might be more comfortable in the living room.”

“This is fine,” Julia said. “As long as you don’t mind. This is such a lovely, comforting room.”

I glanced around it with affection. Yes, it was comforting. When Aunt Dottie was alive, it was usually the center of the house, the room where she spent so much of her time. I liked to think her warmth and generosity lingered here.

“It is that,” I said. “Why don’t you stay and have dinner with me, you and Justin both? Azalea left more than enough for the three of us, and I can guarantee it will be delicious. That woman is a wonderful cook.”

Julia smiled. “I really shouldn’t impose on you after all you’ve done already. But I can’t face the thought of going home to cook for myself. Thank you. I’d love to have dinner with you.”

“Hi, Mama.” Justin came clattering into the kitchen. Yes, he was definitely more animated tonight. He bent to kiss his mother on the cheek. She touched his head as he did so, and he didn’t move for a moment.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just run upstairs for a few minutes,” I said. “Then if you’re both ready to eat, we’ll have dinner.”

Julia smiled her thanks, and as I headed for the stairs I heard her relaying my invitation to her son.

I dawdled in my bedroom, wanting to give Julia and Justin enough time to talk. I wondered whether Julia was going to tell her son about Ezra’s health problems. She ought to do it soon. Postponing it wouldn’t be doing Justin any favors in the long run.

Diesel did not appear, and I figured he was downstairs with Justin. He was really fond of the boy, and Justin certainly seemed attached to the cat. Diesel always seemed to have the ability to sense when someone needed comfort, and right now Justin did. If Diesel could help Justin through the difficult times ahead, I was delighted and very thankful that such a special four-legged friend had come into my life.

Almost half an hour passed by the time I went back downstairs. Julia and Justin were quiet when I entered the kitchen. It looked as though Justin had been crying, but now he appeared calm. Diesel jumped down from the boy’s lap and came to greet me.

“I told Justin about his father,” Julia said simply.

I nodded. “I can’t tell you both how sorry I am.” I reached down to rub the cat’s head.

“Thank you,” mother and son said in unison.

Julia stood. “If you’ll excuse me a moment, I’d like to freshen up a bit. Justin, why don’t you help Charlie set the table?”

“Yes, Mama,” Justin said. He got up from the table and went to the cabinet. Diesel padded after him.

I started to point Julia toward the downstairs bathroom, but she waved me away with a smile. “No need for directions.”

Justin brought three plates out and set them on the table, Diesel matching him step for step. “Thank you for inviting my mother to dinner.”

“You’re both very welcome,” I said. “If you’ll finish setting the table, I’ll get the food there.”

Justin nodded and worked in silence for a moment. As I was putting on oven mitts, he spoke again.

“Um, sir, I guess there’s something I need to tell you.” He stood, utensils in hand, his head slightly down. He appeared embarrassed. Diesel rubbed himself against the boy’s legs, but Justin didn’t seem to notice.

“What’s that?” I asked as I reached into the oven for the casserole dish. I thought it might be easier for him to talk if I wasn’t looking at him.

“It’s about what I told you yesterday,” Justin said. “About my dad—Ezra—hitting me.”

I set the casserole dish on top of the stove, realizing I needed to put a trivet on the table first.

“Go on,” I said, my voice neutral.

“I guess I kind of lied about it,” Justin said. His face colored. “Yesterday was the only time he ever hit me like that.”

“Why did you lie about it, then?”

Justin shrugged. “He was being so weird about the whole thing, about Godfrey Priest being my dad, too. He kind of freaked out, maybe, and I guess I wanted to get back at him by making him sound bad.”

“I can understand that,” I said. “What he did yesterday is inexcusable. He never should have struck you like that.”

“No, sir.” Justin began to lay the utensils at each place.

“I can’t blame you for being angry with him. No one could. But I’m glad to know that yesterday was the only time something like that happened.”

“Yes, sir.” Justin smiled briefly. “And he promised me at the hospital that he’d never ever hit me again, no matter what.” His face crumpled. “And now he’s going to die, too.” Diesel rubbed against his legs again.

Julia came back in time to hear that last sentence, and she gathered her son into her arms. Diesel moved away from them but sat nearby, watching. Justin wept for a moment, and Julia regarded me with a question in her eyes.

“Justin told me he lied to me about Ezra beating him,” I said, my voice soft.

“Good,” Julia said. “I told him he had to.”

Justin pulled away from his mother. “I’m sorry, Mama.”

“I know, sweetie.” Julia patted his cheek. “Why don’t you go wash your face and blow your nose?”

Justin nodded and headed for the bathroom in the hall. Diesel went with him.

“He really is a good boy most of the time,” Julia said when Justin was out of earshot.

“I know,” I said with a smile. “Diesel wouldn’t be so fond of him if he weren’t.”

Julia laughed. “That cat is such a little character.”

I politely refused Julia’s offer of help, and by the time Justin returned to the kitchen everything was ready.

We all sat, Julia to one side and Justin across from me. I asked Justin to say grace.

He bent his head over his plate. “Bless this food, oh Lord, to the nourishment of our bodies. We thank you for our many gifts, and we pray that you will watch over us and over the loved ones who are not with us. Amen.”