Sanctuary Lost WITSEC Town Series Book 1

by Lisa Phillips

  Frannie shook her head, already moving toward him. Thankfully he got out of the way for her to push through the swinging door to the storefront. She stopped so abruptly that Matthias…Tias slammed into the back of her with an, “oof.” Frannie took in the scene. Dishware she had painstakingly unpacked was strewn across tables, and there was even a mug on the floor. Crumbs littered the scene. Coffee stains marked surfaces along with other liquids.

  Frannie weaved between tables. Cupcake casings had been crumpled and tossed on the floor. Fabric that she’d stretched on the seats herself was damp with spills.

  The fire in Frannie’s stomach ignited, flaring hot all the way to her toes and the tips of her fingers. Even her hair felt like it was on fire. Boiling tears burned her eyes.

  She lifted a plate and pitched it at the wall. It shattered. Frannie bent double and set her hands on the table in front of her. The inferno rushed in her ears and she didn’t hear the sob when her body bucked, but she knew she was crying.

  “I can help you clean up.”

  She spun around. He was so close the heat from his body warmed her further, so that the fire was excruciating. She moved back, clipped a chair with her foot and stumbled. Tias reached out.

  “No.” Her voice was high and shrill, and she wanted to wince. “Just go.”

  “What? I can help you clean up, or go get Sheriff Mason. He’ll want you to make a report about the break in.”

  A report? She had to clean this up and get ready to open the store, not face the Sheriff’s uncomfortable questions. He’d already moved toward the front door. The door they’d left unlocked, leaving their livelihood in jeopardy. “No. I’m not making a report.”

  “The sheriff can find out who did this.”

  But she already knew who did this. “I don’t need your help.”

  His eyes softened and she hated the sight of it. “Frannie.”

  She didn’t need his pity. This was embarrassing enough as it was. “Please, just go.”

  “At least let me help clean up.”

  “Matthias, just go.”

  “Fran—”

  “GET OUT!”

  She grasped the hair on either side of her head, hard. They didn’t care about her or her life at all. They went where they pleased, when they pleased, and did whatever they wanted. Broke in to her store in the middle of the night and trashed the place like this was their house too and she really was Cinderella, cleaning up after them all the time.

  The front door shut and she was blessedly alone. Terribly alone.

  If only.

  Frannie cleaned up the dishes and swept up. It was almost calming, having to do it, since the work helped bank the fire. What was she going to say to them? Nothing ever helped. It was almost not worth the energy it took to yell at them when they never listened anyway.

  Half an hour later Olympia knocked on the glass front door. Her wide frame was enveloped by a floral dress that accentuated her Greek features, which she’d passed on to Matthias. Frannie gave her a small smile and opened the door to admit Matthias’ mother.

  “Hi.”

  Olympia didn’t reply, she simply eased into Frannie’s space and surrounded her with comfort and love. Until that point, Frannie wouldn’t have admitted that was what she needed. She stepped back from the hug, sure her warm face was now pink.

  Frannie reached up and tucked the loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Was there something you—” That was when she remembered.

  Frannie surveyed the tables, looking for any sign that the cupcakes her mom and sister—and goodness knew who else—had consumed last night. Blue paper casings and smudges of blue and red frosting.

  Her heart dipped into her stomach. She raced to the kitchen and hauled open the fridge door.

  All gone.

  The two dozen cupcakes Frannie had baked for Olympia’s twin grandsons’ fifth birthdays were all gone.

  Rage burned hot in her eyes, blurring her vision with unshed tears. Her grip on the fridge door handle was so tight it made her hand spasm in a cramp. She slammed it shut and turned to Olympia, now standing in the kitchen doorway. Frannie didn’t know how she was going to break the news. That was probably why Matthias had come, to pick up the cupcakes before the party later this morning.

  Frannie would close the bakery for the morning before she disappointed Olympia.

  The older woman’s gaze softened. “Precious.”

  Frannie had no idea why Olympia always called her that. The Greek matron did most of the cooking for community dinners, so when Frannie provided the desserts they worked side by side, getting ready. Olympia only ever called her, “Precious.”

  Frannie sucked in a breath. “I’ll have them ready in time. The boys won’t be without cake on their birthday, I’ll make sure of it.”

  “I know you will.” She rubbed her hands together. “And you’ll stay for the party, too?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t.” Mostly just because Matt—Tias would be there. No. Thinking of him, using his nickname, she would let it slip and then everyone would think there was something between them.

  “Very well, precious.” But Olympia’s look didn’t make it seem like she acquiesced. “I’ll see you later, when you drop off the cupcakes.”

  Frannie watched her go, wondering what on earth was going to happen later.

  Coming October 2014