Here We Go Again

By Mardy Wheeler

Here We Go Again continues from the book A New Groom Sleeps Clean: A Likely Story. It has been written at the request of a number of people who seemed to like the first book but wanted to know more about Margot and her relationship with Sam. What happens to themtogether or apart?

In this book, Margot has a great deal to do, even more than before. She must decide where to live, what to do with her fathers house, and perhaps most important of all, how or if to manage her relationship with Sam. Apparently, Sam loves her a great deal but not enough to always tell her the truth. Margot also has Sams family with whom to deal. His brothers are a particular problem.

Margot also must always consider her two sisters who seem determined to leave no stone unturned in ruining her life, perhaps even killing her. Once they are in a safe facility, it doesnt necessarily mean they stay there. Fortunately, Detective Stein becomes someone on whom Margot can rely.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543439205

Mardy Wheeler

Mardy Wheeler has already published three books; this one is certainly a change! The book is mysterious and not particularly amusing. It is the story of a very unhappy woman who finds love along the way. At the same time she is not only successful in her job but also successful in getting rid of a family who has always been a problem for her. The book may be difficult to put down, one you find yourself reading again, but also one you may hesitate to recommend to someone else.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

This time, Margot was able to soak in a pool without worrying about having to get out before she was ready. Neither did she have to worry about what she was going to wear when she did get out. She relaxed, thinking happily how easy it was to do so and not feel guilty about it.

This was her second week in Maine. She thought vaguely about the possibility of extending her much-needed vacation from everything and then remembered she did have a job to consider as well as friends and—oh yes—her cat. Maine seemed the safest way to stay away from problems of any kind. She wanted to avoid anyone in her family. She chuckled at the thought of being safe because most of them were incarcerated by the police as well as under psychiatric care. She also sighed as she thought it best to be safe from Sam. She needed time to think—think hard—about him. This was something she simply couldn’t do if she were in close proximity.

She knew she should very carefully spend some time thinking about Sam. In spite of the time they spent together during her absolutely dreadful, if not barely believable, family situation, she truly did not know very much about him. Well, of course, he told her about himself. He told her he had a good job—hmm, was it in advertising? She really couldn’t remember. But, apparently, it was a steady job and he was successful. He was the only one of the three family boys who had not been in trouble while in high school, college, and beyond. She had met his two brothers and thought both of them to be not-very-successful hoodlums.

Sam was attentive, concerned about her welfare (as far as she could tell), and a truly enthusiastic and a pretty fabulous lover.

Aside from all that, she knew very little about him and couldn’t think what more she needed to know. He had called her every night she had been in Maine, pretty much begging her to come home and get settled with him. She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant but was pretty sure she would end up going along with whatever it was without giving it enough thought.

She didn’t have time to think any further, as she was interrupted, quite suddenly, by a siren. She opened her eyes and noticed everyone else rapidly climbing out of the pool. Following their example, she stood up at the shallow end and looked around. To her horror, everyone seemed to be racing to the pool’s exit, most not bothering to use a towel or to put on their pool shoes.

Refusing to rush, since whatever was happening certainly had nothing to do with her, she slowly toweled off, put on her clogs, and walked calmly (she proudly thought) to the exit.

There she found complete disorder and confusion. People, and not just those from the pool, were ganged up at the edge of the parking lot. Margot could hear sirens as well as cries and screams. She stopped for a moment and then realized she could probably find out what was going on by going up to her room looking out over the parking lot. She could size up the situation from there.

As Margot walked into the side door of the hotel and started to the elevator, she was more than taken aback to notice there was nobody there, not even behind the hotel’s front desk. The sound of sirens, screams, and even gunshots sounded louder—louder than ever. Well, here we go again! she said out loud as she got on the elevator to the third floor. She began to wonder if there were anywhere in the country where she could spend some quiet time without being in the middle of a disaster of some kind.

Once in her room, she looked out her window down on the furor below. As soon as she stood there, she remembered having to do so recently at her own home while she tried to discover what was going on.

The scene was very different, however. There were three cars in very bad condition, one looking as though it were crawling up the back of two that had apparently slammed into each other. There were two sheets covering what she assumed to be two bodies lying in the middle of the circular drive before the entrance to the hotel. There were medics seeming to work on a number of distraught people—mostly of whom were scantily dressed guests who had been using the pool.

Humph! thought Margot. They were perfectly OK until they heard the siren. She turned to back away from the window and start packing. Certainly, she didn’t want to stay where she was, considering the apparent mess. Unfortunately, one of the policemen looked up and saw her at the window and started toward the door.

Margot quickly dressed and waited for the inevitable knock on the door. The knock came, and the door opened without waiting for her to answer. A young policeman along with an older man dressed in a casual suit entered. Both carried guns, but neither pointed them at her.

Margot gave her name and her home address. She also suggested they contact a Detective Stein in Massachusetts to vouch for her. They seemed taken aback by that suggestion but at the same time interested in the view she enjoyed from her room. The older man, Detective Lowell, asked if she were friendly with anyone in the hotel. She pointed out she had come for rest, relaxation, and privacy and purposely did not know anyone.

They also asked if she had been expecting visitors. She quickly asked if they were wondering if she knew who the two under the sheets were. And indeed, she did not, as she was neither friendly with anyone nor expecting anyone. To her horror, the detective said, "You may not know who is under the sheets—as you put it—however, one of them know—or rather knew—you. His hand is holding flowers and a poem addressed to you."

Sam! Margot mumbled and fainted.

CHAPTER 2

Margot lay on her hotel bed and began to regain consciousness. Sam, she cried as she pushed herself up from the pillows and the comforter thrown over her. A nurse was with her, as was the detective.

Ms. White, please excuse me for leading you astray. I assure you the person in question is not—er—someone named Sam. He was delivering flowers for you and, sadly, was killed in the process.

Margot began to sob with relief and picked up the phone; she intended to call Sam and assure herself he was all in one piece. The detective stopped her. You must answer a few questions first. Let me assure you, we have called Detective Stein and know you are, apparently once again, caught up in a—er—terrible situation. We will only take a few moments of your time right now and then allow you to be on your way. We will, of course, want to know where we can reach you.

Feeling a headache coming on and wondering how she managed to get into yet another mess, Margot answered every question, mainly to assure the police she knew nothing and nobody. Once they left her on her own, she tried again to call Sam, who was, unfortunately, not answering his phone. She packed her bags, paid her bill, and left in her little Miata, driving toward her home in Waterbury.

Every so often, she tried Sam again but then gave up. The drive was long and tedious. But she kept going, and after nearly seven hours, she arrived home to her comfortable apartment and her beloved cat. Ralph, her landlord, had again not only taken care of Cat but had also taken in her mail and watered her plants.

She didn’t even bother unpacking but had a strong drink and fell into bed. She found it difficult to fall asleep. Where was Sam? Why did he stop calling? Where could he be? Was he still in love with her? Why did she doubt him? What in the world could be bothering her about Sam? She considered getting up and writing down Problems with Sam. Instead, she fell finally into a deep sleep.

She woke to a ringing phone. She answered to hear Sam’s voice.

Margot! Are you OK?

"Yes, where are you? I’ve tried to call you for what seems like days. Actually, it is just one full day. Are you OK?"

Dammit, Margot. I am here in Maine in the midst of what looks like a very bad—ah, I dunno, I guess a bad movie. I am here with a lot of policemen and hysterical nearly nude men and women. And you won’t believe this! Detective Stein. It was my very special hope never to have to see him again for any reason whatsoever. Not that he isn’t a perfectly nice and successful member of a police force—er, he happens to be standing beside me and wants to talk to you—

Margot slammed the phone down and screamed. She did not remember ever feeling in such a rage. There was a knock on her door. Ralph, her landlord and special friend, called her name, obviously worried by the scream.

She let him in and tried to tell him about the last two days. She realized almost immediately after she started her saga she was hardly making any sense. Well, none of it made any sense anyway. All she wanted was to start living a normal life. She was beginning to wonder what normal was.

The phone rang again. Ralph picked it up in spite of her frantically signaling him not to do so. He listened and said, Let me check with her. Well, Margot, a policeman named Stein wants badly to talk with you. Ralph stood, holding out the phone and raising his eyebrows at her.

Margot marched over and snatched the phone. Waving Ralph away, she asked into the phone, What in heaven’s name can you possibly want with me?

Margot, or Ms. White if you prefer, I must talk with you as soon as possible. I am driving down to Waterbury. Mr. O’Claire has given me your address. I expect to be there in about seven hours. That should be around four o’clock. Wait for me in your apartment. Do not go out, and do not answer the phone or the door. You should be safe, and I attend to keep you that way.

Margot wanted to continue the conversation, especially to find out whatever could be the matter. Why should she stay safe in her apartment? What in the world was going on? But Stein had hung up.

She took the time to tell Ralph what she knew and what she had to do and then ushered him out. She looked at the phone, expecting Sam to call. When it didn’t happen after fifteen minutes or so, she went into her bathroom and took a scalding shower.

CHAPTER 3

Margot spent most of the rest of her day pacing up and down her living room, occasionally going into the kitchen for a glass of water. She decided it would be best if she stopped drinking liquor of any kind for the foreseeable future. God only knew what was going to happen next.

She realized she didn’t have anything or anybody to think about unless she thought about Sam. She truly didn’t want to think about anybody else and couldn’t begin to identify what possible reason Stein had for meeting with her. By about three o’clock, she didn’t want to think about Sam anymore either and wanted to talk to somebody. She started to the door, planning to slip out and chat with Ralph and perhaps make friends again with her cat.

She opened the door in time to find Detective Stein and Sam coming down the hall toward her door. Give me a break. I truly have nothing against either one of you, but right now, I don’t want to talk to either of you either. She started to close her door, but Stein stopped it with his hand and looked grimly at her. Wha— she started.

Margot, I must talk with you briefly. I have asked Sam to stand by to be with you when I am finished with what I have to say. Sam? He nodded.

I will go down to chat with my buddy, Ralph, Sam replied. Call me when you are through, if you please. He winked at Margot and walked down the hall to Ralph’s apartment.

Detective Stein held the door for Margot and followed her into the living room. After gesturing Margot to a chair, he pulled up a stool and sat down. Margot—Miss, if you prefer—we have some unpleasant news for you.

Daddy, she cried.

"No, your father is fine, if a bit concerned. You see, both your