“It’s not easy,” Estelle said.
The woman shook her head and tears welled to the surface once again. “Oh, boy,” she said and reached behind her to the box of tissues on the kitchen counter. Mindi rested her head back against her grandmother’s shoulder and regarded Estelle solemnly. Both hands remained locked on the plastic cup. Estelle smiled at the child but saw no response behind the brown eyes. Ryan picked up a spoon and began a methodical thumping on the edge of his plastic cereal bowl. Sugar-coated cereal pellets about the size and shape of rabbit droppings scattered across the table. He seemed in no hurry to drench the mound with milk.
“Mrs. Parker, who is Richard Kenderman?” Estelle asked.
“That’s my dad,” Ryan said loudly, spoon heaped with cereal. He shoved the sugar bombs into his mouth. More scattered on the table. Estelle watched him with interest. Barbara Parker dabbed her eyes, then reached across the small table, opened the milk carton again, and poured a flood over Ryan’s cereal. “Rick and Colette lived together for a few months some time ago,” she said, and shrugged helplessly.
“He’s Perry’s brother?”
She nodded. “Rick’s the younger of the two. And they’re as different as night and day, let me tell you,” Barbara Parker said. “Come on,” she said to Ryan. “Don’t make such a mess. You’re showing off.”
The boy made a face and tossed the spoon on the table. One of the cereal droppings flicked across the table onto Estelle’s lap. Ryan watched it go, then slipped down out of his chair.
“You want to see my new car?”
“Sure.”
“Ryan, you go drive it into the living room, and we’ll be right in,” his grandmother said. “One of those remote things,” she added as Ryan scampered off. She sighed. “We’ve got about thirty seconds of peace and quiet now.”
Estelle smiled in sympathy. “Tell me about Richard Kenderman.”
“He’s a heller, and I just hate it when he shows up, Sheriff,” Barbara said. “He and Colette lived together up until she started to show with Mindi. Then we didn’t see much of him for quite a while-a couple years or so. And then, a few weeks ago, he started coming by again.” She nuzzled the side of the little girl’s head. The child didn’t respond. “She’s got more than her share of developmental troubles, too.” Estelle saw that Mindi’s facial expression was more slack than uninterested.
“And Ryan is…”
“Ryan is from their first go-around, when C…Colette was still in high school.” She grimaced and glanced at Estelle, a flush rising on her cheeks. “I think.”
“And Perry?”
“Perry has a heart of gold, Sheriff. He and his brother don’t see eye to eye on much of anything, but Perry’s got a soft spot for Colette. Nothing pushy…just tries to be around when there’s trouble. And…” she shuddered a deep sigh. “Lord, I hate to say it, but Colette treats him like dirt. Borrows money from him, doesn’t pay it back, gets him to sit the kids…oh, you name it.” She leaned forward toward Estelle. “He’s just a decent, good guy. And you know…” she hesitated and dabbed her eyes again. “There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Ryan and Mindi. I think he loves ’em like they were his own. That’s more than I can say for their father.”
“What happened last night, Mrs. Parker?”
The woman didn’t reply immediately. She helped Mindi manage the cup, and the child’s eyes closed as she sucked on the plastic rim. “For the past six months or so…” and Barbara stopped. She shook her head, refusing to meet Estelle’s gaze. “Colette was doing so well. She’d moved in here, getting herself out of that little hole-in-the-wall apartment she had over behind the school. I didn’t mind.” She shrugged. “I was happy for the company.” Mindi’s face wrinkled up, and her grandmother removed the cup. “She started working at the deli, regular hours. The kids are even enjoying day care.”
“Which one?”
“Tiny Tots, over on Grande.”
“And then what happened?” Estelle asked.
“And then…and then I guess you could say that Rick happened again. He wants Colette to move to Las Cruces to live with him. Last time he was here, I heard them talking about that.”
“Colette didn’t want to go?”
Barbara Parker sighed. “I certainly didn’t want her to go. Uproot the kids and all. But she wanted to, depending on which day you asked her. You know how kids are, Sheriff. And Rick’s a charmer. There’s no doubt about that. He walks into the room, and Colette just melts. I don’t know what it is. Ryan thinks he’s Mister Wonderful, too.”
“Chemistry,” Estelle said.
“I suppose. I don’t see it. And Perry doesn’t see it, either. He knows what kind of thug Rick is. He knew what would happen if Colette went back to Cruces with his brother.”
“What do you think was going to happen?”
Barbara leaned her head to the left until her hair just touched Mindi’s. “Do you know what FAS is, Sheriff?”
“Fetal alcohol syndrome? Yes, I do, Mrs. Parker.”
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, that’s Rick Kenderman’s gift to Mindi. I know, I know. Nobody held the bottle to Colette’s lips and forced her to drink while she was pregnant, but you know what I mean.” She shook her head helplessly. “She was doing so well, Sheriff. And now all of a sudden he’s back into her life.”
“That’s what the argument between Perry and Colette was about last night?”
Barbara nodded. “Perfect timing, I suppose. Colette’s been at the deli now for almost six months. The newness has worn off. She’s looking for something, although what I don’t know. The kids are doing well, but I guess that’s not enough for Colette. Rick comes back into her life, and off she goes. She’s supposed to pack everything in that awful little truck he brought up. Rick took her old Chevy back over to Las Cruces. It needs all kinds of work that he promises to do…and never will.”
“Perry tried to talk her out of going?”
“Yes. He came over, still on duty, I guess. They were arguing out in the front yard, putting on a good show for the neighbors. Something about the truck set him off-I haven’t seen him so angry in a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him raise his voice until last night. I tell you, long suffering is the term invented especially for Perry Kenderman. But he got angry this time, and I think it was the sight of his worthless brother’s truck. Then she got angry. You know how it goes. She got on her bike, with Perry trying to talk some reason. She kicked him, actually kicked him. I was watching from the window. Then she slammed her boot into the taillight of his patrol car. Oh, boy.”
“And then they took off?”
“Yes.” She reached over and stroked a strand of hair from Mindi’s eyes. “It was just one thing leading to another,” she said. “Just so stupid.” She ran a finger lightly down Mindi’s cheek. “And I just know that if they hadn’t had a fight, you know what Perry would have done? Eventually, I mean? Colette would have talked him into helping her pack that stupid truck. And he would have done it.”
“When was Rick here, Mrs. Parker? The last time.”
“Friday night. He brought the truck up Friday night.”
“Did you talk with him at that time? Did he say what his intentions were?”
“No. And if I never talk to him again, it’s too soon. I’m sure he’ll figure out a way to come over and get his truck.” She wrapped her arms around Mindi. “That’s all he’s going to get, Sheriff. I’m fifty-one years old. However many good years I’m blessed with are going to these two. I don’t care what it takes.”
Estelle drew a business card out of her pocket and slid it across the table. “Will you call me, Mrs. Parker?”
“I don’t know what you can do.”
“Sometimes it’s nice to have another voice when you’re dealing with custody issues.”
“Richard Kenderman has no custody, Sheriff. Let me tell you that right now.”