Alex Harris 00 - Poisoned

her plate aside as well. “I should have dinner with Michael more often. Then maybe I could lose some weight,” she whispered to me and we both giggled.
    “Alex, how much longer does John think it’ll be before they catch Bradley’s killer?” my dad asked trying to change the subject to murder—a more welcome topic than dental hygiene.
    “I don’t know, Dad. Now that we know May put the jequirity mush into the liquor, that should free up his time somewhat. But so far he’s no closer to whoever put the cyanide in the macaroons.”
    “I wonder if her admitting to the one poison takes her off the suspect list?” Dad asked.
    “Maybe she did it so she could confess later and get suspicion off of her for the cyanide,” Sam said, finally full and setting her plate aside.
    “Dreadful, just dreadful. My heart goes out to Mrs. Brissart and her son and daughter-in-law. If anything happened to one of you girls, or one of you,” Mom said, leaning over and planting a kiss on top of Henry’s head, “I don’t know what I would do.”
    “Well, just don’t go trying to sell the family home and a large plot of land, and we should be okay.”
    “Samantha, that was not funny.” I gave my sister a disgusted expression.
    “Well, I think we ought to get this show on the road or we’re going to miss our plane!” Dad stood up and reached for the bill.
    “Harry, give that to me. This is our treat. You save your money for Harrods,” Michael said, taking the bill from my father’s hand.
    “Grandma, what’s Harrods?” asked Henry.
    “It’s the place I’m going to so I can buy you something special.”
    “Me, too, Grandma?” asked Kendall.
    “I wouldn’t forget either one of you for a minute!” Mom took a hand of each child and they walked out to the parking lot. Both grandchildren were growing so fast, but Henry had surpassed Kendall a year ago. Sam had put Kendall’s blonde hair into French braids and Henry’s dark hair was slicked back in front. He loved when his mother put gel in his hair.
    “Grandma?” Henry asked. “You’re going to miss Halloween. Do you know what I’m going to be?”
    “I’m sorry about missing Halloween, Henry, but our vacation couldn’t be changed.” Both kids started off trick-or-treating each year by going to their grandparent’s for picture taking and an assortment of goodies. The second stop was my house, where the ritual got repeated, and then home to finish off in their neighborhood. “So tell me, what are you going to be? And what about you Kendall?” Kendall ran ahead to unlock the doors of the van.
    “I’m a Power Ranger and Kendall’s going to be Pocahontas!”
    “Mom’s making our costumes. Mine’s neat.” Kendall said as she chased her brother around my mother’s legs. He suddenly turned on his sister and gave her a taekwondo kick.
    I came alongside the others. “I forgot to ask, Sam. How are the costumes coming?”
    “They’ll be ready tomorrow. I had a bit of a problem with the feathers but Millie’s grandmother has been a big help.” She opened the rear door and the kids piled in. “That woman’s amazing. She’s doing some costumes for a school play at the kids’ school. I can see where Millie gets her creativity.”
    “Okay, everybody in. London here we come!” Dad climbed into the front seat next to Michael.
    Two hours later my parent’s had been checked in and we all stood around talking by the security check-in point. All the members of the seniors group stood together along with their families who had come to give them a happy send-off.
    “Well, I guess we had better be going in,” Dorothy, who was my mom’s best friend, said, “It’s just about time.”
    I took both my parents in my arms. “Have a wonderful time! And don’t worry about your plants or anything. Sam and I will take care of everything.”
    “Harry! I forgot to unplug the coffee maker.”
    “I know, but I did.” Dad said, taking Mom’s hand. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
    “And don’t forget to visit your grandfather,” Mom shouted as Dad led her along. Lawrence Harris, my grandfather, had been living at Mills Pond retirement home for over a year and with my parents gone on vacation, the twice-weekly visits would now rest with Sam and me. “And keep an eye on Meme. Don’t let her get into any more trouble.”
    “I’m right here, Mabel. I can hear you. Alex and I are going to heat up this town now that my keeper is going to be on vacation.