You do not dislike physical contact with me. Nicolae deliberately teased her, knowing she would react, but she would laugh, too, and the exchange would leave her amused and relaxed.
I still want to kick you, Destiny said, shutting him out firmly. Inez was already attempting to teach her a dance step she’d just learned from a video.
“Come, dear.” Inez took her hand, attempting to force Destiny’s hips into swaying appropriately to the metallic music screeching from the boom box beside their chairs.
“Sister, she should learn the tango, not that step. It isn’t romantic enough,” Velda objected. “Your young man is quite fond of you, Destiny. He’s learning the ways of true courtship, very rare in this day and age.”
“I can’t thank you enough for giving him pointers,” Destiny said. “He admitted you were the ones who thought of the roses. They were lovely.” She moved carefully away from Inez, smiling as she did so. “I’m not much of a dancer, Inez, but you move so beautifully.”
The sisters twittered, pleased that Nicolae had taken their advice to heart. “Did you get your chocolates, dear?” Inez asked slyly.
“I’m looking forward to that pleasure,” Destiny lied, blushing for no other reason than that the two women had such wicked thoughts in their heads.
Inez looked dreamy. “It will be a memory to treasure,” she advised.
“What I really came by for was to get more information about these strange incidents. Nicolae is helping me look into them, and I thought you might have some more information for us,” Destiny said hastily. “Do either of you remember similar events happening in the past?” Destiny asked. She seated herself in the chair between the two elderly ladies. “Something weird? Someone acting completely out of character?”
Inez made clucking sounds as she thought it over. “Why, yes, dear, now that you ask. Sister, you remember poor Blythe Madison. She’s in the mental institution now. What a sweet girl she was.”
“Oh, yes, Inez, I had forgotten that poor girl. We visited her a few times, but she was unresponsive and her husband told us our visits only seemed to upset her. We should have continued to make inquiries, though.”
“Sister, how awful we are.” Inez’s hands fluttered to her throat. She looked distressed. “We haven’t even asked about her lately. Poor Harry, he probably thinks everyone’s forgotten about her. Poor, dear man, carrying such a burden alone.”
“Blythe had no other family,” Velda continued. “Just poor Harry. He was so bewildered when she cracked up.”
“Blythe was a meek little thing,” Inez added. “She would hardly speak without permission. That’s why it was so difficult to believe it when she began doing bizarre things. Wasn’t it awful, Sister? Why, she ran down this very street waving a butcher knife, threatening everyone.”
Velda nodded. “It wasn’t the first incident, but it was the one that finally convinced Harry she was dangerous to herself and others. I must go visit her.”
Destiny patted her arm. “I’m certain Blythe would appreciate that, Velda, but could you give me a little more detail? What was the first odd thing she did?”
“It was right after they made such a success of The Tavern,” Velda said. “Blythe had the idea of making it a deli-bar, hoping to bring in the neighborhood after work and in the evening as a visiting place. It was a wonderful idea. Everyone loved it, and we all gravitated toward The Tavern in the evenings. Her idea turned the entire business around.”
“You liked her,” Destiny guessed.
“Very much,” Velda admitted, while Inez bobbed her head with enthusiasm. “A dear, sweet girl—she’d give you the shirt off her back. She was always rescuing animals and bringing soup to anyone who was sick.”
“A lovely girl,” Inez reiterated wistfully. “Perfectly sensible. Everyone liked her. We should have continued to visit her, Sister.”
Destiny hung on to her patience. “Do you remember what started it all?”
“We were in The Tavern to celebrate Inez’s birthday,” Velda said. “I remember because we were wearing party hats.”
“It was my sixty-fifth birthday, a true milestone,” Inez put in.
Velda rolled her eyes. “It was your seventieth birthday, Inez. You’re five years older than you tell people.”