Read Online Miz Scarlet and the Vanishing Visitor (A Scarlet Wilson Mystery) by Sara M. Barton - Free Book Online Page A

would
be healing to know the truth. At least I hoped it would.
    “That’s when Steve came along.” Oh, is there anything
sadder than a soldier getting a “Dear John” letter while stationed
overseas, I thought to myself. And then I decided there was.
Marrying Steve after saying farewell to a good man who loved her.
What might have happened if Jenny’s mother had been honest with her
doctor boyfriend? Would Jenny have had a decent stepfather to look
after her? The decisions we make in life so often have
ramifications and rewards. All the more reason to choose wisely, I
reminded myself.
    We headed back down on the yellow trail, winding up
at the back of the property. As I led her through the woods and
into the yard, I pointed out the blueberry bushes, raspberry canes,
and vegetable garden.
    “Is it organic?” she wanted to know. “Pesticides can
kill you. That’s probably how my mother got cancer.”
    “Cancer is over two hundred different diseases, Jen.
Many of them have roots in your genes, and those genes get passed
down through the generations. The environment can have an impact,
but it’s not really likely that the cancer only happened because
your mother didn’t eat organic fruits and vegetables.”
    “Does that mean I’m going to get
cancer?” Nice going, Miz Scarlet. Now
you’ve really done it.
    “That’s not at all what it means. Your mom got sick
because she got sick. Sometimes there’s a predisposition to a
particular disease in your family, so you take steps to make sure
you’re not encouraging problems. For example, my dad had heart
disease. We didn’t know it until after he died. Later, we found out
his father had a massive heart attack when he was 58. This allowed
us to tell our family doctor we’re at risk, so he keeps an eye on
us, for signs that we might be getting symptoms of heart
disease.”
    “Don’t you worry that you’ll just keel over
someday?”
    “Once in a blue moon. But then I remind myself that I
am careful to eat healthy foods, I get plenty of exercise, and I
watch my weight.”
    “Oh.”
    “And to answer your question on organics, there are
some things I do in the garden to keep the fruits and veggies
healthier to eat. I don’t normally use pesticides or insecticides
unless I have no other choice, and when I do spray, I’m very
careful not to do it when I will be harvesting any produce.”
    “Does that mean I can eat the blueberries off the
bush?”
    “Knock yourself out, kiddo.”
    “Awesome. Can I pick some and make a fruit
smoothie?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “My mom loved smoothies. They were her favorite
treat.”
    We walked back to the house along the winding garden
path, Jenny nibbling on the handful of berries she grabbed as we
passed the bushes. January caught the scent of something under the
garden bench and wanted to dig.
    “What’s she doing?” the teen wanted to know.
    “Best guess? Chipmunk or mouse.” Huckleberry caught
the same scent and scooted into the bushes in pursuit. “He’s a
trained ratter. Yorkies were bred to go into tunnels for
rodents.”
    “No way! That cute little puppy?”
    “It’s in his genes,” I laughed.
    Hilda Blevins was in the living room, watching Dr. Oz
discuss the intricacies of the bowels in great detail, when we
passed by. She hailed us with a request.
    “Any chance I could get something to drink? Water,
soda....”
    “Ice tea?”
    “That would be lovely. And if you could put it in a
plastic cup, rather than a glass, I would appreciate it.” I saw
that trembling hand and knew exactly what she meant.
    “Jen will be right back with it.”
    In the kitchen, I grabbed a tall blue tumbler and
filled it with ice and tea, added a lemon wedge, and popped on a
lid with a built-in straw. The girl took it from me and smiled.
    “That’s a good idea, Scarlet. She doesn’t have to
worry about spilling anything.”
    “No, she doesn’t. Would you like a glass of
something?” I got down a matching tumbler.
    “I get it.