Chapter 17

The doorbell rang about fifteen minutes after I'd hung up with Mr. Chalmers, while I was staring into my newly semi-filled fridge trying to decide what I was going to have for dinner.

"That was fast," I said as I opened the door, but rather than the male figure of Mr. Chalmers that I'd been expecting, it was a small, plump 40-something woman.

"Oh excuse me, Mr. James," she said in a familiar voice. "I know I shouldn't have dropped in unexpectedly."

"Not at all ... Mrs. Ibarra?" I ended in a question, though I had little doubt of her identity.

"Please, its Edwina," she reminded me.

"Of course, please come in!" I stepped aside and waived her in. "I was expecting the technician for the internet company to be coming by. When the doorbell rang, I thought you were him."

"Well, I won't stay long," she said, which was when I noticed the foil-wrapped object in her hands. "I thought to drop something by for you, in case you hadn't gotten yourself situated."

"Thank you, that's very kind," I offered sincerely. So much for my dinner plans. "I've put a few things in the fridge, but had just been staring at it trying to decide what to do for dinner tonight."

"Ah, well this is just a simple bean and rice casserole, but I think you'll like it, and it should refrigerate well if you decide on something else. Let me put it in the fridge for you for now."

I watched her nod to herself, as she put the casserole dish away. "Well, at least you haven't filled it with beer," she laughed. "Your parents said you weren't much of a drinker, but their information was a few years out of date."

"Yeah," I said, wondering what had happened to keep Cooper and his parents apart so long.

"Did you find the bar yet?" she asked. When I said no, she took me into the living room and showed me how a very nice looking piece of furniture I had though was a display case for some small decorative items pulled out to reveal a small bar with a small sampling of bottles, glasses and various other associated odds and ends. I was examining the labels on the bottle when the doorbell rang again.

"That will be the internet guy," I told Edwina.

"I'll leave you then," she offered, "I just wanted to stop by with with the casserole and say hello."

We walked to the door and I opened it to find a balding man somewhere past middle-age with dark hair peppered with gray and large glasses that rendered him somewhat owlish-looking. The mustache that connected to bushy mutton chop sideburns completed what I thought was a rather unique look.

"Mr. Chalmers?" I asked.

"Mr. James, a pleasure to meet you," he reached out a hand and we shook. "Edwina, a pleasure seeing you again."

"You too, Bobby. How's Julie?"

"Due to pop any minute. I'm glad to get away from the mad house for a little bit today."

Mrs. Ibarra raised her arms up looking for a hug, so I bent down and let her give me one. She held it a moment, patting my back before easing back a bit to kiss my cheek before letting me go. "Once again Mr. James, I'm so sorry about your parents. I hope you can find some happiness here, and I'll see you Tuesday."

With that and a smile for the both of us, she left. I closed the door behind Mr. Chalmers who had been standing the whole time with his arms full.

"What a nice lady," I said as we walked into the living room.

"That she is," he agreed. "The whole family is just the salt of the earth."

"Where do you want to start?" I asked.

"Basement first," he said, setting the bigger of the two boxes down beside the coffee table.