I do know that for once Kylie and I are on the same page!! She’s as anxious to have him come home as I am. Perhaps he’s napping right now in their new cozy bedroom and she is hiding in the kitchen, reading my little letter. I’m almost positive that, by now, two out of three of us know their little affair is over. Only my poor husband is in the dark.

Speaking of dark, I search: What can kill me in my courtyard?

Well, I learn that there are six common garden plants that can kill you, including the oleander I have lining the edge of the fence. Who knew these fragrant flowers as well as each part of the plant is poisonous? Even a small amount of the leaves can be lethal. Sprinkle a little oleander leaf and flowers in your spring mix salad, perhaps? Edible flowers are all the rage these days, adding color and texture to formerly boring salads. If someone put an oleander in my salad, I’d probably swallow it down without question. I love lantana, and it’s on the list, too. Adorable orange-and-yellow flowers. I have some in the backyard. Ingesting the tiny green berries can kill you, too. I’m surprised more dogs don’t die from accidentally eating these toxic pretties but I know some do. One has.

It seems like I could concoct quite a toxic appetizer from my yard. Of course, killing someone by feeding them poisonous flowers and leaves and berries wouldn’t be an accidental death. But it would be surprisingly easy. The rest of the search results deal with snakes, rats, frogs, toads and even the pocket gopher, whatever that is. All are a bother, but not deadly. I’m safe for now as long as someone doesn’t offer me a courtyard salad made of local leaves and berries.

I hear Betsy’s car arrive outside and pull the blanket up to my chin. I could pretend to be asleep, but why not try to have a conversation with the daughter I’ve discovered I don’t really know at all.

My daughter the murderer. It just doesn’t sound right. My daughter the accidental murderer. Better.

“Mom?” Betsy spots me the moment she steps through the gate. She looks wary, like a small dog cornered by a pit bull. She looks like she thinks I’m going to tear into her. But I’m not the one she should fear. Josh is the one with all the information, keeper of her secrets. The one scorned.

“Good evening. How was your night?” I smile and stretch. She doesn’t know how to take my pleasant tone.

She closes the gate. Feeling safe. Welcomed. “It was great. All the AP art kids stayed and helped finish decorating for the grad party. I mean, it’s still going to be lame but it looks good.”