“Thank you. I hadn’t thought about that,” Penelope said, taking the tea from him. “Please call me Penelope. And I’m not a missus.” She waved a ring-less hand in the air.
Nate’s cheeks reddened and he chuckled. “Will do, Miss...Penelope.” He glanced at Cheri at the other end of the counter. “Cheri, can you get that milk cleaned up please?”
Cheri’s eyes rolled. “Yep.”
“Seems like that would’ve been obvious,” Nate said in a low voice to Penelope after Cheri sauntered away.
“How high up are we?” Tama asked as she placed a few items she’d collected on the counter. A hand basket was draped over one of her forearms.
“Mount Mansfield, which isn’t too far away, is over four thousand feet,” Nate said. “That’s our highest.”
Penelope remembered her ears popping on the ride up and relaxed a little, deciding her slip and fall might be more environmentally related than mentally.
Tama set the basket on the floor by her feet. “Got everything from the lists, Chef.”
Penelope ate the plum and cheese while Nate rang up their items. He carefully placed everything into two cardboard boxes and brought them out to Penelope’s Jeep.
“Come by when you’re feeling better and we can talk in more detail,” Nate said as Penelope got into the passenger seat.
“Will you be here tomorrow?” Penelope asked.
“I’m always here,” Nate said. He put his hand on the hood and held the door open with his other. He leaned in a bit closer. “Well, either here or the farm. Here’s my card.” He pulled a slightly wilted business card from his wallet and handed it to her. “Call my cell first, so you know where to find me.”
Penelope thanked him as he shut her door. Tama backed out of the lot and onto the main road back towards the lake house.
Chapter 18
Penelope and Tama rolled down the two-lane road. Penelope savored the sweetness of the plum she’d eaten at Nate’s, the taste lingering on her tongue.
“You feeling better?” Tama asked.
“I think so,” Penelope said.
Tama cut her a worried glance before quickly pulling her eyes back to the road. Penelope thought about how she felt at the store, how everything seemed to spin out of control all of a sudden. She didn’t believe she’d actually fainted. She hadn’t been unconscious at any point. But she had definitely lost control, and she had never felt like that before. Remembering the feeling of not being able to catch her breath brought another wave of panic, and Penelope willed herself to focus on the road ahead.
Penelope opened the glove compartment and pulled out her phone, relieved to see she had at least limited cell service. A list of notifications scrolled onto her screen. She had several missed calls, texts, and voicemails.
“Let’s pull over somewhere,” Penelope said. “Looks like I need to return some calls.”
Tama nodded and a little over a mile down the road pulled into an abandoned service station, easing to a stop on the sandy gravel next to the boarded-up building.
Penelope got out and walked to a weathered picnic table. She sat down and put the phone to her ear.
“Penny, I need you to call me when you can.” Joey’s first message was from the day before at around three in the afternoon when she’d been making the drive to Vermont. The next two messages were queries about catering services on upcoming projects, something Penelope was grateful to be getting on a regular basis now. She thought briefly about hiring an assistant, someone to answer her business line, take care of administrative things, and manage the schedule. Red Carpet Catering was building a name for itself and Penelope was often too busy to answer calls for new jobs. And in this case, she wasn’t sure when she’d be able to return calls regularly, unless she used the landline at the lake house. Somehow that felt unprofessional.
Her thoughts were interrupted by another message from Joey, this time his voice more urgent. “Penny, call me,” he said simply before hanging up.
The final message from Joey was from early that morning. He sounded tired and ended with, “I need to hear from you. I’m beginning to worry.”
Penelope tapped the button to call him back, and turned to see where Tama was as the phone rang. She saw her wandering around the property, peeking into the windows of the gas station, squinting at the gaps in the plywood covering the glass.
“There you are,” Joey answered, relief clear in his voice.
“I’m here,” Penelope said. “In rural Vermont with little to no cell service. We’re up closer to town at the moment, but I won’t have a phone on location for this job.”
Joey blew out a sigh. “That’s okay. I’m happy you’re there safe. The trip go well?”
Penelope told him about the drive, which was mostly uneventful, and a quick rundown of where they were staying. “There’s a phone there. Maybe you can look it up. Next time I’m there I’ll jot it down and text it to you.”
“Good. Listen, there’s something else I need to ask you,” Joey said.
“What’s up?” Penelope asked. She pulled off her hoodie and laid it on the table, letting the sun warm her shoulders.
“Can you remember what the man looked like that you saw through the windows in Sonya’s place the other morning?”
Penelope put her forehead in her hand and rubbed her temples. “I couldn’t see him really well. Why do you ask?”
“Because it wasn’t one of our people at the crime scene,” Joey said. “Someone went through and looted the place. We’re thinking maybe you saw the guy.”
“Oh no,” Penelope said, sitting up straight on the bench. She thought back to the other morning. “He was wearing a jacket with some kind of reflection strip across the shoulders. He turned his head toward me once or twice, but I looked away so he wouldn’t think I was staring at him.”
Joey sighed into the phone. “So he was tall, short, thin? Anything?”
“He looked big to me,” Penelope said.
“Bigger than me?” Joey asked.
“Yeah, taller and wider. Sonya’s got robbed, Joey?”
“Yeah,” Joey said. “Whoever this guy was went through the place and took whatever he could get his hands on. Appliances, liquor bottles, you name it. You sure you didn’t see the guy’s face, Penny? Think for a minute.”
Penelope sighed and closed her eyes, trying to picture the man she saw behind the darkened glass. “I’m going to say he was blond, broad shouldered, with a windbreaker kind of jacket. I wish I hadn’t looked away.”
“Do you think he saw you?” Joey asked, a tinge of concern in his voice.
“Yes,” Penelope said. “But I can’t be sure. Wait, there were letters on his jacket too. I thought they were initials for the police or a crime scene unit.”
“Can you remember the letters?”
Penelope closed her eyes and thought back to the other morning. “Sorry, no.”
“Okay,” Joey said. He hid his disappointment well, but Penelope knew he was hoping for a better lead from her. “The robbery and the attack on the restaurant might be related, or it could be the work of an opportunist that knew the place would be closed. An easy target once he got past the police tape.”
“I can’t believe this,” Penelope said. “It’s the last thing Sonya’s family needs right now.”
“We’re doing what we can to figure it out,” Joey said.
“Have you found out anything new on Nadia’s case?” Penelope asked.
“Not really. My partner is running down a few leads,” Joey said quickly
“I’m glad you’re up there where it’s safe, away from all of this,” Joey said before hanging up. They finished up their conversation with Penelope promising to call him the next day.
Chapter 19
When they arrived back at the Truegood property, Penelope saw a circle of people sitting o
n the lawn, their legs crossed and their eyes closed.
“Looks like a meditation circle,” Tama said, her voice tipping up at the end with interest.
In the circle were Arlena and Nadia, Jeremiah and Thomas, and to Penelope’s surprise, her chefs Francis and Lewis. Jeremiah held Nadia’s hand lightly, their knuckles intertwined. Penelope thought she heard the sound of humming coming from the group, then realized it was from the line of trees farther away on the property.
“Hear the bees?” Tama said as they walked up toward the house, boxes of food in their arms. “They like the basswood trees.”
Penelope saw a couple of what looked like large brown birdhouses dotting the grass between the trees. “Are those bee houses?”
Tama shielded her eyes from the sun. “I think so. They must collect their own honey.”
“If they do, maybe we can use it,” Penelope said.
As they passed the group on the grass, Jeremiah’s eyes opened and he smiled at Penelope and Tama.
“Join us,” he said, hopping up. He had on his cargo shorts from the previous day, and his long hair tied in a ponytail. “We’re preparing for our first day by pulling in positive energy.”
Penelope looked down at the box of groceries in her arms as Tama set hers on the grass and quickly sat in the circle.
“I’ll just take these inside first,” Penelope said. Tama’s box was mostly canned and dried goods, so she figured it could wait. Penelope climbed the porch steps with hers, and set them on the wide kitchen counter in the main house.
She took a peek toward the front door and decided she’d give herself a tour of the kitchen instead of joining the positivity circle, thinking that might be a better way to get prepared for opening day.
She stood in the middle of a large country kitchen, which looked like it hadn’t been updated in the past decade, but was still in keeping with the esthetic of the house. The appliances were of good quality, but not flashy. The countertops were tile, rimmed with solid wood in muted colors. The windows over the sink looked out onto the lake dock and boat house. Penelope ran her hands along the grouted tiles as she walked to the refrigerator. She pulled it open and her eyes fell on a glass bottle of milk, with a green label and trademark black cow. Tears pricked her eyes and she took a deep breath, recalling the helpless feeling she’d had at Nate’s market.
Penelope shook her head from side to side, attempting to fend off a sudden feeling of sadness. She pulled her phone from her pocket and opened the browser. She typed “panic attacks” and watched a circle whirl on the screen, then clicked her phone off in frustration when nothing appeared.
Penelope put the groceries away, then slipped out the back door to the boat house. Once inside she sat in one of the club chairs in the living room, pulling a blanket around her shoulders and tucking her feet under her as she gazed out at the lake, trying to see across to the distant shoreline.
Chapter 20
Penelope’s team returned a little while later, rousing her from where she dozed on the chair. She stood up and stretched, her legs aching from being tucked under her for so long.
“How was meditation?” Penelope asked.
They were unusually quiet, and no one seemed to acknowledge her question.
“Guys?” Penelope asked. “What’s going on?”
Francis walked over to her as Lewis and Tama went onto the dock and sat down.
“We’re supposed to remain quiet for at least twenty minutes for it to work,” Francis whispered.
Penelope cracked a smile. “For what to work?”
“The positive attraction,” Francis whispered again.
Penelope laughed aloud. “Okay, I’ll talk to you guys when you’re done attracting positivity, I guess.”
Francis nodded and joined his coworkers on the dock. The three of them closed their eyes and faced the water. Penelope shook her head and headed to the kitchen, pulling open the refrigerator.
“Ah,” she cried, jumping back quickly. That morning there had been eggs, juice, and a package of bacon on the shelf along with some water. Now three whole fish were laying on a tray, their frosted over eyeballs staring up at her. “Looks like we’re having trout for dinner.”
Someone knocked softly on the front door and Penelope went to open it. She was surprised to see Nevan, the set historian, on the other side.
“Professor Hughes?” Penelope said.
“Please, call me Nevan. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to borrow a book Jeremiah said might be here.” He wore a tweed jacket with elbow patches and tan pants, looking every inch a New England academic.
“You’re not interrupting,” Penelope said, showing him inside. “Well,” she said, glancing at the French doors, “they’re doing some meditation, but still. It’s fine. Come in.”
“I appreciate it,” Nevan said, looking around the room.
“What’s the book you’re looking for?” Penelope asked. “Maybe I’ve seen it.”
“It’s a history of the area. Micklesburg, more specifically,” he said as he began to peruse the bookshelves in the living room. “A rare edition, I’m told.”
“I haven’t seen anything like that,” Penelope said. “But we’ve only been here a little while. Feel free to look.”
Nevan nodded and went back to studying the shelves. “So, how are you finding things here? Much different from New Jersey, I imagine.”
Penelope paused and looked at him. “Do I have an accent? How did you know we’re from Jersey?”
“Not your accent, although I do detect a slight one,” Nevan laughed. “I noticed your vehicles have New Jersey license plates.”
“Right,” Penelope said. “So far the people here seem nice. It’s definitely quieter as a whole up here, much less traffic and people rushing around.”
“I expect that’s a quite different experience for you,” Nevan said. “Busy woman like yourself, a business owner, one who travels all over the states for work.”
“Now I know you didn’t find those things out by looking at my license plates,” Penelope said.
Nevan laughed. “No, I admit, I did a bit of background research on the crew before I came. I like to know who I’m working with.” He pulled a book from one of the shelves and flipped it open.
“Even the catering crew?” Penelope asked.
“I’m nothing if not thorough,” Nevan said.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Penelope asked.
“Do you have tea?” Nevan asked as he bent at the waist to look at another shelf in the living room.
“I think so,” Penelope said as she made her way to the kitchen. She pulled open a few cabinets searching for tea bags.
“You know, I’m well-versed in Vermont culture and history. If you have any questions about ingredients from the area, or popular dishes from the past, please let me know.”
Penelope glanced over her shoulder. “I appreciate that. It sounds like something Jeremiah would like, too.” She pulled out a dusty box of English Breakfast and put it on the counter. She filled the empty tea kettle from the stove and ran the tap.
“Eureka!” Nevan said, pulling a nondescript brown book from one of the lower shelves.
“You found it?” Penelope asked.
“I did,” Nevan said, rubbing the spine with his palm. “Glorious.”
“Okay, great,” Penelope said. “The kettle is heating up so—”
“You know, I just remembered, I must be going. I promised Thomas I’d look over his pages for tomorrow. We don’t want to kick off a shoot with a historical inaccuracy, however small, now do we?”
“Um, I guess not,” Penelope said.
“Sorry to have bothered you,” Nevan said as he headed toward the door.
“It’s no bother, really,” Penelope said as she flipped off the burner. “I’m glad you found what you were
looking for. You sure I can’t offer you something?”
“You’re very kind,” Nevan said. “See you in the morning, yes?”
“Bright and early, in the breakfast line,” Penelope said. “I’ll be the one making the eggs.”
A few minutes after Nevan left, Penelope’s team came in from the porch.
“Feeling enlightened?” Penelope teased.
“Yes,” Tama said. “Namaste.”
“Good. I see the light in you, too,” Penelope said. “Let’s make lunch. I’m starved.”
Tama and Lewis took the trout onto the deck to scale and gut the fish, while Penelope and Francis pulled together a salad and grated cabbage for some fresh coleslaw. Penelope watched her crew members move together in harmony while they worked, like a choreographed dance, smooth and flowing.
“Maybe there is something to this meditation thing,” Penelope mumbled to herself. She tasted the coleslaw they’d made from a cabbage picked from the Truegood garden and decided it was the best she’d had in a very long time.
Chapter 21
The next morning after a pared down breakfast service for the crew they prepared in the main house’s kitchen, they all set off for the first day of filming. Penelope and Lewis followed the Truegood brothers in the Jeep, and a convoy of vehicles followed them up the windy road to the principal location. Arlena and Nadia rode together in a black SUV driven by one of the Teamsters. Their location was several miles away, down a road Penelope hadn’t noticed the few times she’d passed it. They wound up the side of a rocky mountain, and when they reached the top, they could see the lake far down below.
Penelope had barely slept at all during the night. She had dozed off several times but woke suddenly, feeling disoriented, covered in sweat and her heart pounding. As Penelope drifted off the second time, she had a vivid dream. She was out front of Sonya’s cafe, watching the man move behind the glass, the reflective stripe on his jacket overlaid with oddly shaped letters. She tried calling out to Joey, who was nearby on the sidewalk, close enough to hear her but somehow didn’t. Then suddenly she was alone, and then standing in a crowd, who blocked her view of the windows. When she could finally see the cafe again, Sonya was standing behind the fence on the patio, reaching out to her, beckoning Penelope to join her. When Penelope turned to call for Joey again, he was gone, and only the crowd of faceless strangers came toward her. She was rooted to the spot, unable to turn and run from them.
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