“Mm-hmm.” Sydney polished off her first piece of pizza and grabbed a second. “That’s so nice.” She smiled sweetly at Savanna.
“Okay, I’m sure I have no idea what you’re insinuating, but that’s a very creepy smile, Syd. Aidan’s a great guy. He’s a good doctor, and he really cares about Caroline. But there’s nothing going on. The last thing I need is another guy running my life. And he’s all wrapped up in work, and his daughter…” She stopped, cutting herself off. She’d just remembered. “Hey. Do you know about the thing going on this Saturday at the Carson Ballroom?”
“Sure, Fall Fun Fest. It’s every year. You’d know, if you hadn’t abandoned us for the glitz of Chicago.”
Savanna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m here now, so fill me in on this new custom.”
“There will be music, food, and stations set up for kids to get their faces painted and play carnival-type games to win prizes. Violet Lyle runs a bake sale, the library donates a bunch of books that sell for fifty cents each, most of the businesses up and down Main Street donate something for the silent auction, and if it doesn’t rain, they usually have hay rides for an hour or so at dusk.” Syd popped the rest of her second slice in her mouth and went behind the long glass treat display case, hefting a large shrink-wrapped basket with a dog-bone-patterned ribbon around it up onto the countertop. “This is Fancy Tails’ contribution to the auction.”
“That’s seriously awesome, Syd!”
She shrugged. “I’ve had it ready for a week or so. I do the same donation every year.”
“Are you going?”
“I’ll stop in for a while,” Sydney said. “Kate is teaching fifteen-minute yoga sessions, and I promised to relieve her at some point. Why, are you? I’m sure a lot of your students will be there.”
“Yes, it sounds like it. I’ll be there. Maybe I’ll take one of your sessions.”
“Really? You should!”
Savanna checked the time on her phone. “I have to go soon. Syd, are you going to be at Caroline’s at all in the next few days?”
“I don’t think so, why?”
“I volunteered us to make the punch for her birthday party. She remembered Mom always making it for Christmas parties, and I was thinking, we could mix up a couple of small batches to see which flavor she wants.”
“Oh, the punch. I miss that. We haven’t had that in a few years. Let me get the recipe from Mom, and maybe I can stop by. When are you there next to paint?”
“Tonight and Saturday morning. I’ve got to get the mural finished. I’m running out of time.”
“Tonight isn’t good. I’m going out with Brad. Saturday, then,” Sydney said, taking her seat again across from Savanna and biting into another piece of pizza.
“How is Brad?” Savanna said his name in a sing-song voice, and then realized she was just as bad as Syd when it came to talk about boys.
“Brad is adorable, as you know. You met him.” Sydney sighed, smiling. “He’s just…amazing. He treats me so well.”
“That’s awesome, Syd. I’m so happy. You deserve that.”
“Yes, I do!”
“Okay, I’ve got to get back to school.” Savanna stood, gathering her things, just as the bell over the door jingled and Skylar arrived, followed by Jack Carson.
Jack paused, stopping to read the out-to-lunch sign on the door. He stepped half into the shop. “Sorry, are you closed right now?”
Syd waved him in. “No, no, we’re finished. Come on in.” She met him at the door and flipped the sign back around.
“I’m so sorry.” Skylar hurried over to the table, dumping her briefcase, purse, and a stack of folders onto the overstuffed aqua chair behind Savanna. “Sometimes I have no control over my schedule. Looks like I missed lunch.”
Savanna gave her a quick hug. “You’re fine, don’t worry. We saved you some. Sit. Hey, Jack.” He was mulling over choices at the counter.
“Do you know which kind she meant?” Sydney asked him.
Jack shook his head, bending to look closer. “She just said to get the new flavor you have.” He scratched his head. “Hmm. Too many choices.”
“Do you want a package of each? There are no preservatives in them, but they’ll last about two weeks, refrigerated. My three newest flavors are Steak Sticks, Turkey Jerky and Chicken Churros.”
Jack hesitated, reading the price sheet on the counter top. He pulled out his wallet and thumbed through the cash inside.
“Cash or credit is fine,” Sydney added.
“Um…maybe we could give her a sample size of each one? For now, at least? That should be enough to figure out which one Princess and Duke prefer. Then I can stop back in and get that flavor once we know. How much would that be?”
“Of course. Let’s see.” Sydney nodded, scooping a generous sample of each into three individually marked paper packages and ringing it up. She placed those into a brown box and wrapped it with thin white string, and handed it over the counter to Jack.
Jack smiled gratefully. “Perfect. Thank you, Sydney.” He handed her a few bucks, and Syd gave him change in return.
Savanna stopped at the exit to wait for him. “I’ll walk back with you. Skylar, I need to pick your brain about something. Can you call me when you have a minute?”
Her older sister didn’t look up from what she was working on at the table. “Sure, on my way to Lansing later.” Tonight was her overnight for court tomorrow.
Savanna and Jack walked in companionable silence for the first block. She’d miss this gorgeous weather when the snow fell, but she figured she could still walk into town on lunch, she’d just have to unpack her winter things.
“You three meet up for lunch regularly?”
“We shoot for once a week. It’s nice having Sydney’s place right in the middle. It’s good to be back. And look at you, spoiling the poodles.” Savanna pointed at the box in his hand.
“I’m trying to help a little… Lauren kind of put out a distress call. She wants as many of us as possible to stop in and check on Grandmother when we can, since her accident. Grandmother keeps telling Lauren she doesn’t need her there so much. She’s worried about being a burden. So maybe with a few of us taking turns, it’ll worry Grandmother less.”
“That’s actually a great idea.”
“I saw your mural. It’s beautiful,” Jack said.
Savanna grinned. She loved hearing good things about her work, especially after all this time. “Thank you! I’m so glad you like it. I think she will too. It’s coming along well.”
They parted ways at Jack’s classroom, kids already milling around the hallway after lunch.
“I’m sure Princess and Duke will love those flavors. My dog does,” she told him.
She was somehow heartened that Jack was being included in the “distress call” for family to pitch in and check on Caroline. She knew Lauren’s siblings were each involved in the Carson real estate and investment companies in varying capacities. Lauren’s father ran the Indianapolis branch in addition to the western Michigan branch. She thought Jack’s mother handled the Toledo and Detroit area, but that had been years ago, and there seemed to have been a falling out between Caroline and Jack’s mother Elizabeth. In any case, it seemed to make Jack happy to be included.
Savanna’s phone had dinged and buzzed three times while she and Jack had been walking back from town. She checked it as she walked into her classroom.
Sydney had texted her, several times in a row. Typical for Syd:
How weird was that?
Jack Carson can’t afford dog treats? He seemed so concerned about what those little samples would cost. I felt bad for him.
Is everything okay with him, Savvy?
Savanna had wondered the same thing as she’d witnessed the exchange at the counter in Fancy Tails. It was a bit strange, the thought of a Carson h
aving money troubles. She’d have to get back to Sydney later. She dropped her phone in her purse and put it away in her bottom drawer, picking up a box of rainbow-colored pipe cleaners to distribute.
“You guys won’t even believe the fun project we have today with these!” She smiled down at Zoey. The little girl beamed back up at her, lining her seven pipe cleaners up on her desk in neat rows, legs swinging furiously under the table. Man, she wanted Zoey’s boundless energy.
That evening around six, as Savanna was pulling up to Caroline’s house, Skylar called her. She turned the car off and sat in the driveway while she chatted. She knew her sister probably wouldn’t have time to talk again until tomorrow.
“So, I just wondered, what’s the process with these paintings Caroline’s selling?” Savanna asked.
“What do you mean? Let me switch you to Bluetooth; there, that’s better. Can you hear me okay?”
“Yes, perfect. Be careful—I know traffic can be bad this time of day. I guess I want to make sure she’s being treated fairly, especially since Everett is the one who built their collection, and now he isn’t here to help with thinning it out. Does she get, like, receipts every time her art dealer sells one? How does she know she’s getting fair market value?”
“Presumably, Caroline trusts the gallerists she uses…the one gentleman you met is a longtime friend of Everett’s, isn’t he?”
“He is. And I know of him. I’m not disparaging him at all. He’s got an impeccable reputation. But the value of these pieces she’s liquidating is pretty…extreme. I know the provenances go with each piece, so that verifies authenticity, but then does Caroline receive documentation in return on the buyer and the actual selling price? She does have certificates for everything Everett bought, doesn’t she?”
“She should,” Skylar said. “She keeps the originals at the house, and I have copies in my office. Everett was smart—he wouldn’t have purchased anything without the provenance. I doubt a gallerist would have assisted with that kind of sketchy sale, so that’s not a concern.”
“True,” Savanna agreed.
“With private sales of any kind of high-value piece, art or otherwise, detailed receipts are the norm. I’m sure her current dealer— What’s his name again?”
“Thiebold.”
“I’m sure Mr. Thiebold takes a standard fee. You’d know better than I what that might be, and Caroline reaps the rest of the profit from the sale.”
“So she’d have all that documentation at the house too, or has she given that to you?”
“No, this is all pretty recent,” Skylar said. “She started renovating and decided she didn’t want the abundance of some of those paintings anymore. She’s keeping her own sale records, at least so far. I’m sure she’ll bring it all in at tax time. I’ll see it then.”
“Okay.” Savanna felt a little better. “Just wanted to check. And I know she’s still sharp. I don’t think anything would get past her anyway.”
“Agreed,” Skylar said. “But let me know if you have reason to worry about anything. As you said, a lot of money is changing hands. I can always double check the copies Everett sent to me over the years.”
“Okay,” she said again. She was sure it was all fine. “Last thing, Skylar. Would you and Nolan like to come with me Saturday night to the Fall Fest thing in town? I just found out about it. Or if you’re busy, I could take Nolan.”
“Oooh,” Skylar said. “That sounds so great. Travis and I haven’t had any face time in forever. Are you sure you wouldn’t mind if it was just Nolan?”
“Absolutely! I’ll pick him up on my way. Syd and I will keep him overnight. You and Travis can have the whole night off.” She smiled, already mentally planning a late-night Disney movie slumber party in Sydney’s living room for after Fall Fun Fest.
“You’re the best, Savvy,” Skylar said.
“Oh, I’ve got to go. Another car just pulled up.” There was a small beige sedan beside her. Getting out, she saw it was the Happy Family delivery woman—Amber. She was wearing her standard apron and cap. Maybe Lauren had reinstated delivery service?
“Hello,” the woman said uncertainly to Savanna. She stood beside her car, no grocery bags in hand, only a bouquet of flowers and a long, slim box of chocolates.
Savanna came around her car to greet her. “Hi, I’m Savanna. I think we passed each other here a while back. Are the flowers for Caroline?”
“Yes. My boss said Mrs. Carson doesn’t want the delivery service anymore, and I just kind of…feel bad, I suppose. For her accident. I heard she fell down the stairs? Is she doing okay? I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
Savanna was suddenly on guard. This was strange. Why would Amber feel bad? Did she worry she’d done a poor job? Or did she feel bad for something else?
“She’s hanging in there. Would you like me to give those to her?” Savanna wasn’t sure if she wanted to offer Amber the opportunity to see Caroline. That missing bottle of claret was on her mind.
“Yes, would you? That would be great.” She handed the flowers and candy to Savanna.
“Amber,” Savanna said, and when the woman looked surprised, Savanna pointed to the embroidered yellow name on the front of Amber’s green apron. “A few weeks ago you brought a fancy bottle of wine with the groceries. Do you remember bringing it?”
“No, Mrs. Carson never orders wine.”
“Oh. Well, there was a really pretty bottle of wine left on the counter with the grocery delivery that day. We thought it was from the store, maybe, or you.” She braced herself for Amber’s defensive response, or false cluelessness. She got neither.
Instead, the woman looked mildly confused. “I don’t think so. I didn’t bring wine. I never do. I pack my own orders, and she never orders wine or cocktail fixings like some of our customers. Sometimes Mr. Frank will send a gift to our regular customers, like, as a thank you, but never alcohol. He says that would be inappropriate. He usually just sends flowers.” Amber tapped the box of chocolates now in Savanna’s hand. “Those are from me, but the flowers are actually from him. I should have said that,” she added.
“Ah. Okay. Well…that was very nice. Thank you, for both.” Now Savanna didn’t know what to think about the wine. Unless, of course, Amber was lying. “I’ll give them to Caroline.”
Amber nodded. “Thank you. Oh, here.” She handed a small white envelope to Savanna. “A get-well note.”
Savanna watched Amber leave. As she turned to go in the house, she caught sight of Maggie Lyle at the far side of Caroline’s property, standing on the easement. Staring. Frowning and staring right at Savanna.
Savanna turned quickly and glanced behind her; the woman was staring so intently in her direction. Nothing was there. She looked back at Maggie and tentatively raised a hand in greeting.
Maggie Lyle crossed her arms over her chest and turned abruptly, heading back toward her own house.
What on earth was that about?
Savanna carried the flowers and chocolates up the front steps, pausing to type in the four-digit code on the brand-new front door lock. Harlan had struck again yesterday, this time installing new polished brass handles with digital locks on the front, back, and kitchen doors. Harlan had written down the code for Caroline and told her to put it in her purse, and with permission, he’d given his girls the code. Savanna assumed Lauren had shared it with the other grandkids who were checking on her. At least the new locks would eliminate unlimited access for all, Savanna thought. She was so glad her dad had made some room in his schedule to step up and take care of Caroline this week.
She opened the box of chocolates and dumped them all into the sink, running water and hitting the garbage disposal switch. No way was she taking the chance of giving Caroline more tampered-with items from Happy Family. It seemed a shame to waste good candy, but it was better than the alternative.
She cut t
he stems of the flowers and arranged them in a vase she found at the top of a cupboard, and carried them in to Caroline. “Look what your grocery delivery lady brought.” She smiled.
“Amber? Oh, my! They’re beautiful! And a card, too?” Caroline opened it, two kittens with the message Get Well Soon! adorning the front. She read aloud, “‘Mrs. Carson, I heard about your accident and hope you are feeling better soon! I’m sorry I won’t be delivering anymore, but any time you need something, I’m happy to bring it, just call. I know there were some hard feelings after your husband bought our diner, but I want you to know I understand it was just business. Roy is doing better. We are both doing better lately. He’ll be home in a month if everything goes well. Please know that you’re in my prayers. Take care, Amber.’”
That was certainly a change from how Amber had sounded that day in the grocery store. Maybe the woman had just been blowing off steam? Or maybe she’d had a change of heart, hearing about Caroline’s accident? Things seemed encouraging as far as her husband was concerned, in any case.
“How sweet.” Caroline set the card on the side table next to her. “I still don’t know why Lauren felt it necessary to cancel grocery delivery.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Did you get the sherbet?” Savanna called out the open kitchen window to her sister.
“No, I thought you would!” Syd shouted from the rear deck.
Sydney burst through the kitchen door at Caroline’s for the second time that morning, dropping three more heavy grocery bags on the counter. “I got the sherbet.” She smiled at Savanna.
“Ugh, you’re such a pain,” Savanna groaned. “I thought you’d forgotten it.”
“No, you’re just fun to mess with.” She stopped to kiss Savanna’s cheek on her way to the freezer, and Savanna gave her wavy braid-and bead-filled ponytail a light tug.
“Cranberry juice, orange juice, 7-Up, red Faygo, rainbow sherbet, French vanilla ice cream, frozen Lime-aid, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi. Man, I’m hungry.” Savanna popped a raspberry in her mouth.
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