Arriving home from a long and tiring day at work, Madeleine Belden shrugged off her work persona with her overcoat and resumed being ‘Honey’. She walked through the apartment she shared with her husband, straightening ornaments and picking up misplaced objects as she went. Several minutes later, the twenty-seven-year old sat down at the computer for a little bit of relaxation before it was time to start fixing dinner. Brian was scheduled to come home early enough that they could eat together, if she was prepared to wait for him.

Taking a sip of the cup of coffee she had prepared for herself, she scanned through the incoming emails. One from a fellow Bob-White caught her eye and she opened it at once.

Honey’s hand flew to her mouth as she reached ‘he’d do this to me.’ She snatched up the phone and put a call through to Di. It was answered on the first ring.

“Di! It’s me,” Honey greeted. “What’s wrong?”

The sound of a muffled sob came down the line. “It’s really happening. I can’t believe it, but it is.”

A frown crease Honey’s brow. “What’s happening? I don’t understand.”

“The papers in the box,” Di wailed. “Don’t you remember? Years ago, at your parents’ house, with the little bits of paper and the names on them and the story I made up to fit them all together and it’s coming true! I wish we’d never done it! It was tempting fate and now we’re paying the price and I’ll never be happy, ever, ever again!”

For a moment, Honey was baffled, then a memory surfaced and Di’s words began to make sense. She cast her mind back, trying to remember the details of the long-ago sleepover. She had a vague memory of having a nightmare about that story – something about Jim’s homework and a big, dirty dog, and having a baby. The story itself was even more of a jumble in her mind.

“I still don’t think I understand,” she admitted. “I kind of remember something about me having Dan’s baby and all kinds of unlikely people kissing each other… but what does that have to do with…”

“It’s not the part about you,” Di interrupted. “I meant the part about Nick and… don’t you remember how his name kept coming up over and over again? Him and lots of different girls and… I can’t believe he’d really kiss Jane Morgan.”

“What!” Honey squeaked. “He didn’t!”

“He did. Mart saw it and he called me.”

At that, Honey did not know what to say. A part of her wanted to deny the whole thing on the basis of what had happened in the past. Mart and Diana had parted on bad terms nearly ten years before. For some time, they had both been too hurt by their break-up to be civil to each other and on more than one occasion they had done things to further hurt each other, but that time had long passed. Still, Honey wondered whether Mart was being just a little malicious in relating this news.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Di told her, in a low voice. “We’re past that now; we’re friends. He wouldn’t hurt me on purpose; not any more.”

Honey winced, knowing that she must have paused too long. “I’m sorry. I know that. I just was wondering… well, have you asked Nick?”

Di sounded as if she was crying again. “I can’t. I don’t know where he is. He’s supposed to be here, but he’s not, and that makes it worse than anything. For all I know, he could be with her.”

“I wish I could come to you.” Honey sighed, thinking about the cruel fact that the only two Bob-Whites not married to each other who lived in the same local area were Mart and Di. “I feel so helpless so far away. If there’s anything I can do, anything at all…”

“I know.” A sniffle punctuated the words. “I just needed someone to talk to. I don’t know what I’m going to do, Honey. I don’t want to live a lie.”

“It might not be that bad,” Honey soothed, hoping she wasn’t making things worse. “Tell you what. Brian should be home in an hour, two hours tops. I’ll run it past him and if he thinks it’s okay, I’ll come out and see you for the weekend. Will that help?”

“Thank you, Honey! I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“It’s no trouble,” she answered.

They talked for a little longer, but there seemed little else to say. Di was in no mood to talk about anything else, so they said their goodbyes and hung up. Honey hesitated only a moment, then placed another call, this one to Mart.

“I wondered when I’d be hearing from either you or Trixie – or both of you,” he told her, when they had exchanged greetings. “I’m surprised that you sound so calm, though.”

Honey took a breath. “I’ll admit that it did cross my mind that you might have made it up to get back at her – or that you were exaggerating – but I don’t think you’d do that now. I want to hear straight from you, though. So, what really happened?”

“I deserve that, I guess,” he murmured, apparently in answer to her first comment. “If I’d been a little more grown-up about the whole thing…”

“I’m sorry.” Honey’s voice was warm and gentle. “Can we put that aside, please? I need to hear exactly what you saw.”

He paused for a moment, then spoke in a stronger voice. “I was walking down the street when I saw a face that was somehow familiar approaching in the opposite direction. I slowed down somewhat, in order to think who the woman was before we actually met up and that’s when I remembered who it was: Jane Morgan. So, instead of keeping going the way I was headed, I decided to take the coward’s way out and I ducked into one of the stores I was passing.”

“Go on,” she urged, suppressing a smile at the mental image of Mart running away from Jane. “What happened next?”

“Well, I watched her from not far inside the door and then the next thing I know, she’s coming in, which I had thought would be unlikely, since it was a menswear store.” He made an exasperated sound. “Just my luck. So, I moved away from the door and turned my back to her. She walked right past me without saying anything and went right to the rear of the store, where they have changing rooms.”

“Then what happened?”

He groaned. “This is the bad part. I kind of looked back to see what she was doing, to see if I could get away, you know, then I saw her walk up to Nick – whom I had not previously noticed – and he said her name, kind of like he was surprised to see her, and she said his name, kind of like she was delighted to see him, then they kissed.”

“And?” Honey prompted.

“And I left! You think I wanted to hang around and watch Di’s husband kissing that harlot?” He made a disgusted noise. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so disgusting in my whole life.”

Honey raised a sceptical eyebrow. “More disgusting than that time you walked in on your sister in bed with–”

“No!” he interrupted. “On reflection, it was probably the seventh or eighth most disgusting thing I’ve seen in my life. So? I was exaggerating a little.”

“Just a little.” She sighed. “I’d still like to know what happened next. That would tell me a whole lot more than just that little bit that you saw.”

“It was enough,” he snapped. “Di deserves better than that lying, cheating–”

“I think I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for the moment,” Honey interrupted, torn between amusement and exasperation.

“Benefit of the doubt? What doubt? He kissed her. Right on the mouth. And not just a quick smack, either.”

Honey frowned. “Did he really kiss her, or did she kiss him?”

“What difference does that make?” he scoffed. “Either way, they were kissing.”

Seeing that he was set on this attitude, Honey gave up the argument. “Well, thank you for telling me about it, Mart. I might see you on the weekend, if I can make it there.”

“You’re coming to Sleepyside?” he asked, sounding surprised.

“I might be. I still have to run it past Brian and see if I can get flights, but I’m seriously thinking of it.”

“Let me know if you need somewhere to stay,” he offered. “And even if you don’t, let me know so we can meet up. I don’t suppose Brian will come with you.”

“No,” she answered. “He’s working all weekend, which is why I don’t think he’ll mind.”

“Well, I’ll talk to you sometime soon,” he answered, and they ended their conversation.

Honey stared at the phone for a long moment, then turned away. She had work to do.

The following evening, a Friday, marked Honey’s departure for Sleepyside. Brian had urged her to go and offer Di what comfort she could. Honey had also taken up Mart’s offer of somewhere to stay. Her father’s jet was unavailable, so she had booked flights. Another tearful telephone conversation with Di during the day had cemented her feelings on the matter: she needed to be in Sleepyside.

It was late when Mart picked her up from the train station. He had offered her a lift direct from the airport, but Honey had declined. They talked of inconsequential things during the trip back to Crabapple Farm. A couple of years before, his parents had retired and now often went on extended trips, entrusting the farm to Mart’s care when they were away. They were on one of these trips now, leaving Mart as the only Belden in Sleepyside.

As they got close to the farm, Mart turned the conversation to the object of her visit.

“By the way, Di is staying with me, too.” He paused, seeming unable to decide just what to say. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea, but her parents are away, and since yours are, too, there didn’t really seem to be anywhere else for her to go.”

“Maybe it’s all for the best then,” she answered. It had been a blow to find out that her parents would not be there when she visited. “How is she?”

He sighed. “Not good. She won’t talk to that son of–”

“His name,” Honey corrected, “is Nick. He may not be as guilty as you think him.”

Mart grunted. “Sorry. She won’t talk to Nick. He keeps trying to call, send flowers, write her notes… I think he’d try just about anything, but I’ve kept him at bay so far.”

Not knowing whether this was a good or a bad thing, Honey did not answer. They travelled the last few minutes in silence. The farmhouse was well-lit when they got there, a bright point in the surrounding darkness. Honey felt a familiar warmth at the sight; this place would always hold a special place in her heart. She got out, grabbed her small overnight bag and went inside.

“You’re here! I’m so glad!” Di announced, before throwing herself into Honey’s arms and bursting into tears.

Honey patted her back and murmured soothing phrases. Mart took the bag from her hand and took it upstairs, saying something about putting it on her bed as he went. Honey did not know when she had ever seen him look so helpless.

“What am I going to do?” Di whispered when he was out of earshot. “I can’t stay here, can I? People will get the wrong idea.”

Honey pulled back enough to look at her. “Don’t worry about that for now. You’ve got me for the next couple of nights, then maybe we’ll be able to sort everything out.”

“I’m not going back to him,” she answered, looking stubborn. “No matter how much he begs.”

“I didn’t say that you should,” Honey assured her. “But let’s not worry about that now. First, I think we both need something warm to drink and maybe a snack – or, at least, I do – and we can talk and maybe, then we can both get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see what I can do to help you in the morning.”

For the first time since Honey arrived, a slight smile crossed Di’s lips. “That sounds like a good idea. Let’s see what Mart has in the kitchen.”

They followed this plan, spending the next hour talking and, in Di’s case, crying. Mart did not make an appearance at all in this time. Eventually, they decided that it was time for bed and went their separate ways, Di to the guest room and Honey upstairs, in search of what Mart had done with her things. She found them, as she had hoped, in Trixie’s old room. Very weary by this time, she made short work of getting ready for bed and was just about to turn out the light when something hard rattled against the window. Looking out, she could see the silhouette of a man and deduced it to be Nick.

“You’ve got the wrong room,” she called in a low voice, after throwing open the window.

“No, I haven’t,” he answered, sounding much more weary than even Honey felt. “I just wanted anyone other than Mart or Di. It’s good to see you, Honey, but I wish the circumstances were better.”

“Me too,” she replied, then hesitated. “Uh, is there something I can do for you?”

“Yes.” His voice was firm and positive. “You can give Di a message for me. Tell her it was a mistake and I didn’t mean for it to happen and I’m so, so sorry that it did happen and that I love her and I want to tell her that face to face. Can you do that for me, please?”

Honey thought for a moment. “I don’t think that’s what she wants to hear, but I’ll tell her.”

“Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “There’s one other thing I wanted to ask you. Uh… can you find out for me who it was who told Di about the… incident. It must have been a pretty inaccurate account, judging by the way she’s reacted and I kind of wondered… well, who had it in for me that much.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Honey answered, though her heart clenched at the thought. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to excuse me, now. It’s been a long day.”

She could just make out his nod in reply. “Good night, Honey.”

“Good night, Nick.”

The next morning, Honey dragged herself out of bed, ate a hasty breakfast and set off to do a little investigation. She managed to pull a few further details out of Mart about the place where the relevant events had occurred, so she gave the place a visit. On entering the store, she noticed that the woman working there was someone who looked a little familiar.

“Ah, it’s one of the detectives,” the woman greeted. “I was wondering when I would be getting a visit.”

“I’m sorry,” Honey began, “but I’m not sure…”

The other woman waved the matter away. “I don’t suppose you’d remember me, but everyone knew who your crowd were – and I was sure that that guy was attached to one of your friends. I’m Sandra.”

“I’m Honey. It’s nice to meet you,” Honey murmured, feeling a little off balance. “So, were you working here on Thursday?”

Sandra shook her head. “No, I’m sorry to say I wasn’t – but I did see him when he came in yesterday. I wish I’d been here. It’s pretty bad when the most exciting thing that ever happened in here is on one of the days I don’t work. It might be years before anything interesting happens again.”

“Was it that interesting?”

Sandra shrugged. “It’s relative. Most days, I try to help men not to choose unflattering clothes. It’s pretty difficult, let me tell you, but it’s not exciting. And since our clientele tends towards people who look like my Dad…” She screwed up her nose. “Well, I’d rather see dishy young men get accosted by the town tramp, than convince portly gentlemen that pink is not really their colour.”

Honey nodded. “So, the way you heard it, Jane was the one doing the kissing?”

The other woman nodded. “I heard she threw herself at him and she wasn’t pleased when he shoved her off.”

“Is there any way I can get in touch with whoever was working here that day? I’m only here through tomorrow, and then I need to get back home.”

Sandra nodded and pulled a sheet of paper out from under the counter. “She’s dying to be interviewed, so she left this for you. Enjoy!”

Honey took the paper, glanced at it and thanked her. Outside the shop, she pulled out her phone and dialled the number she had been given. Her explanation of who she was and the reason for her call was interrupted by a delighted shriek.

“Can we meet?” the other woman – called Casey – demanded. “I’m just near that new place on Main Street, do you know it? Can we meet there?”

Honey agreed and they made some arrangements. Less than ten minutes later, they were seated together with a cup of coffee each and a notebook in front of Honey.

“This is so exciting!” Casey exclaimed. “I’ve never been interviewed by a real detective before.”

Honey felt a pang of regret for a dream that had not worked out. “I’m not exactly a real detective. It’s not what I do for a living, or anything. I just have some… well, experience, I guess, in that direction.”

Casey was unconcerned by the distinction. “It’s still exciting. So, what do you want to ask me first? The guy? The girl? The sinister character who was hanging around near the window?”

“Sinister character?” Honey repeated, suppressing a smile. She was certain that must have been Mart.

“Yeah, he came in while the guy was trying on shirts and I could just tell that he was up to no good. He had a real shifty look in his eyes. He hung around the display area where we have shades of purple – which would be horrible on him – and I was trying to see what he was up to when the girl came in.” Casey pursed her lips. “I know her kind. Anyway, I glanced back and saw my customer had come out of the change room and he told me which shirt he wanted, so I was about to ring it up when the girl came right up to him and I could tell that they knew each other.”

“They spoke to each other?” Honey prompted.

Casey nodded. “They called each other by name. He sounded cold. She sounded… predatory. If my cat could talk, that’s what he’d sound like when he said, ‘Hello, mouse.’”

Honey jotted down a note or two. “So, what happened next?”

“She grabbed his face and kissed him! He looked so surprised, he didn’t do anything for a moment, and then he started pushing her away. She didn’t take the hint, so he pushed harder – until she fell backwards and landed on her ass.” There was a gleam of malice in the sales assistant’s eyes. “She glared up at him and demanded to know what he’d done that for. Then, he started yelling at her to leave him alone and that he was married and couldn’t she tell he wasn’t interested?”

“I see.” Honey made another note. “So, it was absolutely clear that the man did not want to be kissed?”

Casey’s nod was emphatic. “While she hauled herself off the floor and back onto her hooker shoes, he was wiping his mouth like he was disgusted with the taste. And he left without buying the shirt.”

“What about your sinister character? What did he do?”

“I don’t know what happened to him,” Casey admitted, frowning. “The next time I looked, he was gone. I sure hope he didn’t steal anything while I wasn’t looking.”

“I’m sure he didn’t,” Honey soothed. “Is there anything more you can tell me?”

“There was just one other thing.” The other woman looked thoughtful. “You’d think that landing on her ass would make her unhappy, but after he left, she had this triumphant smirk on her face. She looked like she was really pleased with how it had gone. It didn’t make sense at all.”

Honey made one last note and closed the book. “Well, thank you so much for your time. You’ve been really helpful.”

“I’m just so glad I could help,” Casey gushed. “Ever since I moved here, I’ve heard all about the town detectives and it’s so great to finally meet you.”

The words brought a slight blush to Honey’s cheeks, but she thanked her and they parted ways. She was quite pleased with her work so far. There was only one more thing that she wanted to discover and then she thought she would be ready to speak to Di. With that end in mind, she went in search of another source of information. Over the years, many of the people she had known had left Sleepyside, but Honey felt sure that some things had not changed. What she needed now was a gossip – and she thought she knew where to find one.

It did not take long to drive the distance to her target area. Honey parked the car Mart had lent her and set off on foot at a leisurely pace. The houses around this district had yards of generous size, most with lovely gardens. In a few of them, someone was hard at work. She slowed her steps as she came up to one of those. In spite of her current activity, the woman was well-dressed, fully made up and wearing understated gold jewellery. Her gardening gloves coordinated with her outfit. On top of this, Honey had noted that she was keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings as she worked.

“What beautiful flowers,” Honey commented. “This must be one of the loveliest gardens I’ve passed so far.”

The woman thanked her, seeming flattered. “I like to think it’s one of the best in the street. Do you garden?”

Honey shook her head, trying to look regretful. “I live in a city apartment. I’m just visiting for the weekend.” She glanced around for a moment. “Sleepyside has changed quite a bit since I lived here.”

“How long ago was that, dear?” the woman asked.

For a few minutes, Honey outlined her life over the past ten years. To her delight, a light of interest awakened in her listener’s eyes. She dropped one or two harmless snippets of information into the conversation, in the hope that some would be offered in return. She finished off with a little hint that she would like to know what had happened to some of her former classmates. After one or two suggestions about people that Honey did not know, the woman offered the exact information that was sought.

“You must be about the same age as David Samet’s niece… Jane, I think her name is. She’s recently returned to town.”

“Jane Morgan?” Honey supplied. “Yes, I remember her from school. I don’t suppose you know what she’s doing now?”

The woman’s expression became more serious. “Poor girl. Her marriage has broken up and she’s come to get a little comfort from home. I hear that she actually found her husband with someone else. Such a pity. Men can be so cruel, don’t you think?”

Honey made a solemn agreement. “I wonder if Jane is intending to live here, now. I might have to see if I can get in touch with her.”

“It’s so hard for a young woman on her own,” the unknown lady proclaimed. “There are only so many jobs to be had and when those who don’t even need to work take some of them… well, I don’t suppose that poor Jane will stay. Not if she can’t find a way to support herself.”

A light went on in Honey’s mind. “It must be very difficult,” she agreed. “I really must be going now.”

She continued on her way, strolling to the end of the block and then increasing her pace once she was out of sight. She circled around the block and then drove back to the farm. She thought that she now had all of the clues needed to solve the difficulty.

Her first task was to confront Mart. She was not looking forward to this, but felt that it needed to be done. She found him in the garden, weeding some of his mother’s flower beds, which were looking rather neglected.

“We need to talk,” she announced.

He looked up in puzzlement. “What?”

“I’ve spoken to another witness to Thursday’s events and her account does not tally all that well with yours.” She paused. “So, Mart, did you really not notice what really happened, or were you stretching the truth for some purpose of your own?”

“What? No! I told you what happened. He kissed her. End of story.”

Honey shook her head. “The way I hear it, she kissed him and that was only the beginning of the story. The middle of the story has him shoving her away so hard she fell over. The end of the story has Jane with a self-satisfied smirk on her face.”

Mart was staring at her, aghast. “What have I done?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I think that you played into Jane’s hands. I think that she saw you avoiding her, then she saw Nick and thought she’d play a dirty trick. You leaving without seeing how he reacted and then telling Di what you saw was exactly what she wanted.”

He scowled. “Why would she do something like that? It doesn’t make sense.”

Honey hesitated a moment. “I have a guess as to why. You remember when we were in school and Jane was jealous of Di? Well, I think it’s the same thing all over again. I went out looking for one of those gossipy ladies from your mother’s gardening club and the one I found told me about Jane’s marriage break-up and job-hunting woes–”

“You think she was in competition with Di for that job,” he finished for her. “Di got the job and she still had a man and Jane had neither and she wanted to take one of them away from Di.”

After a moment, Honey nodded. “That’s my guess.”

His eloquent and extended cursing caused Honey to raise an eyebrow. “Are you quite finished?”

Mart shook his head. “Let me go and apologise to Di. Then I’ll be finished.”

Honey caught his arm. “I think… maybe… you should apologise to Nick, too.”

He froze for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

He went inside the house and Honey settled to wait. Idly, she pulled out a few of the weeds and dead-headed a nearby plant. A short time later, a shriek sounded from inside the house and Di came running out.

“Is it true?” she demanded, her eyes wide. “Was it really not his fault?”

“Yes, I’m sure it wasn’t his fault,” Honey assured her.

A wide smile broke across Di’s face. “I’ve got to go find Nick. I have an idea of how to make it up to him and I think he’s going to like it.”

“That’s great, Di,” Honey told her, even as her friend was leaving at a run. “Just so long as I don’t need to hear the details.”

Continue to the third part of the trilogy.