Free Murder at the Tremont House (A Blue Plate Cafe Mystery) by Judy Alter

within ten minutes both were sound asleep. I gently closed the door to their room and went back to the kitchen, where Ava had devoured her sandwich and was eating an apple.
    “ I’m in big trouble, aren’t I?”
    “ Well, yes and no. We’re all so relieved that you’re safe, but at the same time, you acted thoughtlessly. Didn’t it occur to you that we’d worry—a lot?”
    “ That wasn’t what I was thinking then,” she said simply. “I have to do my homework. I left my backpack in the living room.” She rose to get it, but I put out a hand.
    “ You get a pass on homework tonight. But your mom and dad will be here any minute, and we’ll all have to talk. And tomorrow I think you owe Chief Samuels an apology for causing him so much trouble.”
    “ How did I cause him trouble?”
    “ Ava, he alerted police all over the state to look for you.”
    “ Really?” Her eyes were wide. “Gosh, I didn’t know.”
    To me, still wearing her jeans and long-sleeved T-shirt, she looked small and pitiful, as though she felt she was one child against the world. I got up and hugged her, and she returned the hug fiercely.
    When Tom and Donna arrived, they wrapped her in their arms and told her over and over how relieved they were that she was home. Ava began to squirm just a bit, and Donna ’s mood suddenly changed.
    “ Now, young lady, explain yourself.”
    She sat back down at the table, and while I poured coffee, she said simply, “I just didn’t want to go home.”
    “ How could you not want to go home?” her mother demanded.
    “ Mom, you were honking to get my attention. That’s rude. None of the other mothers do that…I mean, Mom, I’m in high school now. You can’t treat me like a baby. I was embarrassed, so I ran.”
    The gentle bear in Tom was back. “Why did you come here?”
    “ Because I always felt safe at Gram’s…and loved. And Aunt Kate makes me feel the same way.”
    “ You don’t feel safe at home?” Donna demanded.
    “ I don’t always feel loved. You’re so busy with the B&B and talking to Sara Jo, and Dad’s not home much. I know, Dad, you have a store to run and the town besides, but somehow….” She flung her hands out to either side of her. “Somehow, I just feel lost.”
    Donna began, “Well, young lady, there will be consequences to your actions.”
    But with a gentle hand on his wife ’s arm, Tom stopped her. “I think it will take a lot of talking to get to the bottom of this. But it’s late now, and we’re all worn out with worry. We’ll work it out tomorrow. Ava, do you want to go home or do you want to stay here?”
    “ Stay here.” She seemed to shrink as she said it in the softest voice possible.
    Donna opened her mouth, but again Tom stopped her. ” “That’s fine. Kate, I’ll come by in the morning and get them. You go on to the café. Just lock the door. I have a key, and I’ll come early enough to bring them for buns before school.”
    I nodded, while Donna cast an angry look at him, but Tom was unflustered. “Come on, Donna. We’re going home. You and I have to talk.”
    I expected protests, but she followed him quietly. I wouldn ’t have wanted to be in Donna’s shoes right then.

     
     
    Chapt er Seven
     
     
    Ava sat at the kitchen table, looking utterly miserable. “I guess I’m just an awful person for causing so much trouble,” she said softly.
    “ Ava, you’re not an awful person. You’re young, and maybe confused, and a bit lonely. But you have so much ahead of you, so much to give. And you are so loved by so many people.”
    She looked down at the hands clasped in her lap. “Mom doesn’t love me. She thinks I’m a bother. I liked it better before Irv got murdered. I know Mom shouldn’t have spent so much time with him, but he paid attention to me and bought me things and acted like I was a real person. So did Mom when he was around.”
    Children know so much more about adults’ lives than we suspect. I was momentarily stunned