“I’m no kind of homemaker,” Melvin said, “but I know enough not to eat a dead squirrel.”
“Will you get discharged today?” I asked Andy.
“Not today,” he said. “Probably tomorrow.”
I stopped at the nurses’ station on the way out and told them I would be taking Andy home and needed to be notified when he was ready to leave. This was a small fib because I would actually be taking him to the courthouse to get a new court date. And probably he would remain in jail until he went before the judge. He secured his bail bond with a watch the first time around. I doubted he had anything valuable enough to secure a second bail bond.
* * *
My mom goes to Mass Friday night and Sunday morning. Grandma goes to bingo Friday night and the bakery on Sunday morning. This seems like the perfect arrangement to me because my mom’s devotion to God is rewarded by fresh baked jelly doughnuts when she comes home from church. This morning was no exception. Three white bakery boxes were open on the counter when I brought Melvin into the kitchen. I knew the contents without looking inside. One box contained assorted doughnuts. The second box was filled with Italian cookies. The third box held cannoli.
My mom and Grandma were huddled at the small kitchen table. The church and bakery partnership also worked from the point of view that multiple sources of gossip were superior to one.
“We were wondering if you would stop around this morning,” Grandma said to me. “I got an extra chocolate chip cannoli just in case. And we have enough for your guest.”
“This is Melvin Schwartz,” I said. “He’s helping me find an FTA.”
My mother was on her feet, getting two plates and napkins. “Help yourself,” she said to Melvin and me. “Would you like coffee?”
“What FTA is this?” Grandma wanted to know. “Is it Oswald Wednesday? I know you’ve been stumped by him.”
Melvin looked overwhelmed, not sure if he wanted a doughnut or a cannoli. I put one of each on his plate, added a couple cookies, and sat him at the table.
“I saw Joseph’s mother at church this morning,” my mother said to me. “She said you were going to Sergio’s party. Did you get a card?”
“No,” I said. “Do I need one?”
“I have a box of them. I’ll get one for you before you leave.”
“I think there’s more than meets the eye with Oswald Wednesday,” Grandma said. “He broke into a cop’s apartment. Who does that? And he’s from out of town.”
Melvin still had his computer case hung on his shoulder. He slipped it off and put it on the floor by his backpack.
“Is that your computer?” Grandma asked.
“One of them,” Melvin said. “I have another computer in my backpack.”
“Are you one of those IT people?”
“More or less,” Melvin said.
“Is that how you’re helping Stephanie?”
“More or less.”
“I’m pretty good at a computer,” Grandma said. “I’m good at tracking down criminals. I’ve had some experiences.”
“Melvin is looking for a place to stay while he helps me,” I said to my mom. “I was wondering if he could use my room for a day or two. He needs a quiet place to work.”
“I should discuss it first with your father,” my mom said. “He’s at the lodge. They’re having a pancake breakfast for one of their charities.”
“What lodge does he belong to?” Melvin asked. “My father belongs to a lodge and they’re always having pancake breakfasts. His name is Philip Schwartz. He’s a pharmacist.”
“A pharmacist!” Grandma said. “That’s a wonderful profession. And I bet you’re a college graduate.”
“More or less,” Melvin said.
“It would help if I could leave Melvin here temporarily,” I said. “I can come back to check on how things are going after the party.”
“I don’t see any harm in it,” Grandma said to my mom. “His father is a pharmacist, and Melvin is more or less a college graduate.”
“I suppose it would be all right,” my mom said.
“I’ll get you all set up,” Grandma said to Melvin. “There’s even a little desk in Stephanie’s room.”
“I have to go,” I said. “Things to do.”
I took a couple Italian cookies, my mom gave me a birthday card for Uncle Sergio, and I drove off. I parked in front of the bail bonds office and called Diesel.