“I love you.” He patted her on the back.
“I’ll be right back,” she said.
“Hey, before you go, I just remembered Connor telling me that you’re moving into your house this week.”
“Yes. I can hardly believe it. I’ve never in my life heard of a builder delivering early.”
Ben shifted the ice bag. “That Garrett, he’s a hard working son of a gun, just like his pop. Let me know when you’re planning to get started. I’d be glad to help you move.”
“Dad, you just got out of the hospital. I’m thinking helping me move is the last thing you need to be worrying about.”
“Don’t be silly.” He threw a dismissive hand in the air. “I’ll be back at work by Monday. You helped me. I’ll help you. That’s the way it works.”
“Back to work tomorrow? Don’t push your luck.”
“We open the center on Saturday. I’ve got a lot to do.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I know Scott told you what happened during the reception. With all that going on, I’m not even sure if they’ll be allowed to have the grand opening.”
“Don’t say that. Garrett and Jill have worked so hard to keep that timeline on schedule.”
“I know. I don’t wish it on them. I’m just being realistic, but even if they do, Jill will not expect you back at work tomorrow. You know we’ll all pitch in to be sure everything gets done. You need to just plan to take it easy.” She glared at him. “You promise me.”
“I hear you. We’ll play it by ear.”
It was probably the best she’d get out of him. Carolanne started to walk back toward the door but paused at the dining room table. The big family photo album sat on the edge of the table. “I didn’t know you even still had this.”
“What?” Ben couldn’t see her from the couch.
She cleared her throat. “Our big family album. It’s here on the table.” She picked up the book and a bright-yellow-and-white potato chip bag folded like an accordion fluttered to the ground. She knelt to pick it up.
“I haven’t looked through it in years myself.”
“Then why was it on the table?”
He didn’t answer at first. “I was just using it to hold something down.”
“A potato chip bag?”
“No. Don’t be silly. That’s just trash.”
No, it’s not. That’s those bags Gina was collecting. Don’t lie to me, Dad. She placed the photo album back on his bookshelf. “You know…”
“What?”
“Um…”
I can’t. Not now. I’m not even sure I want to know. What if part of Gina’s past is linked to Dad? What if my dad is Gina’s dad? Did he cheat on Mom while she was so ill? Her stomach turned. Impossible. He loved Mom, or maybe that was the crushing blow, that he’d cheated and let me down? She forced her curiosity to the side.
“You know, Doris said she has some new mysteries in. I’ll pick a couple up for you.”
“Thanks. That would be good. Sitting around here isn’t going to be much fun.”
“It won’t kill you to take it easy for at least a couple days,” she said as she pulled the door closed behind her. As she got into her car, she glanced at the tall shrub where she’d hunkered down the other night while Gina used her dad’s phone and drove off in his car.
It’s a wonder Gina hadn’t seen her. That shrub didn’t offer much coverage. Why hadn’t she just confronted Gina? She had more right than that girl to be there in the first place.
She glanced at the note she’d written to herself to call Farm Bureau for her dad. No sense bothering Glenn on Sunday. Besides, if she could stall them on the rental car, Dad wouldn’t have a way to go back to work too soon.
Connor must be rubbing off on me. It might be manipulative, but it sure would be convenient in this case.
She drove around the corner and parked behind the pharmacy, wondering who would take care of her if she was in an accident.
Chapter Sixteen
Early Monday morning, Carolanne stopped by her dad’s house unannounced. It was a dirty trick. There’d been no sign of Gina, but she couldn’t resist the drop-in just to see if she was still hanging around. She called from the driveway. Dad was already awake, and when she went inside he looked like he felt better, and there was no sign of Gina. A relief on both accounts. If he wants to help out an old school friend’s daughter, it really isn’t any business of mine.
She left feeling bad about doubting him, but better just the same. A quick trip to the Walmart to pick up boxes completed the chores on her morning checklist, so she’d gone straight home and started readying for her big move. She’d been at it for nearly an hour—folding in corners, then using her handy-dandy tape gun to secure the bottoms of the cardboard boxes. The room was filling up fast with empty boxes, but she was on a roll.
It was exciting to think that later this week these boxes would be filled with her stuff, and she’d be moving into her new house. And it was a whole lot more house than anything she’d have ever been able to afford up in New York.
Swish-chick. There was something powerful about wielding that tape gun.
She pretended to shoot a bullet from it and blew on the end, then spun around when she heard the front door to her apartment open.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile.
“What’s got you all sunshine and rainbows?” Connor strolled into the room with his crossword puzzle in hand.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Slept great. Feel good. Turning a new leaf. Already went over and checked on my dad. He’s doing good, too.”
“I was going to stop by and see how he’s doing today.”
“Good. He’d probably like the company, and it’ll save me the worry.” She put her tape gun down and folded another box. “He’s already antsy to go back to work.”
“You’re like a little tornado in here this morning. Did you consume my portion of the coffee, too?”
“Real funny, wise guy.” She marched over to the coffeepot, which was now hidden behind a teetering tower of boxes, and poured him a cup.
He was right behind her when she turned to take it to him. She let him sweeten and lighten it himself.
“Good thing you saved me some.” His tone was gruff and playful at the same time.
She picked up the tape gun again. “You better be nice to me, or I’ll wrap you up in tape with this gizmo.”
“That sounds like it could be fun.”
“Don’t tease me. I seriously think I’m in love with this thing. I might quit my job and become a full-time box taper.”
“That would solve the working-together problem you’re so worried about.”
“And that is the kind of statement,” she said, pointing the tape gun at him, “that’ll get your mouth taped shut.”
“You’re full of yourself today.”
“I must have gotten that from you. Oh, and I’m taking the day off work today, too.”
“You’re what? I’ve never known you to take a day off work”—he shook his head—“like ever.”
As their eyes met, she felt a shock run through her. “Well, I am today. I’m going to pack up and get ready for my big move.”
“Want me to help?”
She placed an open box on the kitchen counter. “Not with packing. But I could use your help getting all this furniture moved.”
“It took three of us to get that couch up these stairs.”
She remembered that day. It hadn’t been too pretty. Maneuvering up the narrow and steep stairs had been a real challenge. “Hopefully, going down will be easier.”
“I better solicit some help. When do you want to move the furniture?”
“Will Wednesday or Thursday work for you?”
“Wednesday’s good.”
“Great.” She pulled off the cap on a thick black marker and sniffed. Then she waved it under his nose. “Doesn’t that smell yummy?”
“If you like black licorice.”
“I d
o.” She wrote KITCHEN in big capital letters, then capped the marker and looked across the stacks of boxes. “I thought I’d get all the boxes packed today and moved tomorrow. Then if y’all can move the big stuff on Wednesday, it’ll be mostly done.”
“That’ll work. I’ll borrow Garrett’s trailer,” Connor said.
“Excellent. Let me see what you’ve done on the crossword today.” She took the newspaper from him and sat down.
He flipped his pen to her, and she snagged it midair.
“Nice catch,” he said.
“I’ve got skills.” She started filling in blanks without hesitation.
“You could make it look a little more challenging.”
“I would—if it were,” she said, holding back a smile. Sometimes she wrote over words he already had just to torture him.
“You always put me to shame on that thing. Why do I bother?”
“Because it makes me feel smart, and you like letting me have my way.” Carolanne set the paper back down. “You only left me a couple slots today.”
“I must’ve had a feeling you were too busy for me.”
She knew he was teasing, but the truth was, she’d been too busy for way too many things lately. That was about to change. “Aw, I’m never too busy for you.”
“Well, one of us has to get downstairs to the office and keep the legal wheels spinning here in Adams Grove. Just holler if you need me to lift anything heavy for you.” He flexed a muscle and gave her a flirty grin.
She put her hand on his muscle as a joke, but he squeezed her hand into a hostage position between his bicep and forearm.
“I think I like you in this mood,” he said.
“Thanks. I think I like me in this mood.” She pulled away as he moved closer. Were you going to kiss me? Slow down, lawyer boy. I’m not sure I’m in that good of a mood. “Get, or I won’t get anything done.” She tugged her hand free.
“I wish,” he said as he walked out the door.
Connor sat in his office, unable to focus on anything but the clomping around upstairs. She hadn’t even moved out yet, and he knew it was going to be far too quiet once she was gone. He enjoyed morning coffee and word games together.
The front door creaked.
Connor added WD-40 to the list on his desk pad. One more thing to fix. Upkeep on the bank building was an ongoing job, but he enjoyed being owner, resident lawyer, and handyman. He walked out of his office to greet the client. Only, it wasn’t a client; it was Doris Huckaby.
“Doris, good to see you. How are things down at the library?”
The short librarian scurried through the door and walked in with a big smile. “I’m fine, and so is the library. I just got another grant to get some e-readers. I’m getting good at that grant stuff.”
“That’s terrific.”
“I was just heading over to the library, but I wanted to chat with Carolanne. Is she not in this morning?”
“She’s packing for her big move later this week.”
Doris’s eyes went wide. “She’s got to be so excited. Chaz took me over to Bridle Path Estates the other day. The house is gorgeous.”
“It’s very nice.” I’ll miss having her here, though.
The librarian’s smile faded. “Would you ask her to give me a call later? I want to ask her about something that occurred to me this morning, and it’s driving me crazy.”
“Like a song that gets in your mind and won’t let go?”
“Something like that,” Doris said, though she looked more serious than that. “Only, not in a pleasant way,” she mumbled. “Well, I need to scoot if I’m going to open the library on time. You take care, now.”
“I’ll do that.”
Just as Doris went to grab the door, Carolanne walked through it.
“Oh. Hi, Doris.”
“I was just looking for you,” Doris said.
“Here I am. What’s up?” She leaned in and gave Doris a hug. “You look worried. You OK? Would you like to sit down?”
Doris turned and went back inside, taking a seat near the window. “I wanted to talk to you about that girl. The one that…you know, the one in the pond.”
Connor and Carolanne sat down across from her.
“I know. It’s just awful,” Carolanne said.
“It was so upsetting. I’m sure it was even worse for Jill and Garrett. When I saw the picture, I was quite certain I didn’t know her—but this morning it struck me.”
Carolanne leaned in. “What?”
Doris pressed her lips in a tight line. “Did you recognize her?”
“I haven’t seen the pictures yet,” Carolanne said.
Connor interjected. “We left before Carolanne got to talk to Scott. Ben was in an accident.”
“That’s right, Carolanne. I’m so sorry. I heard about that. Chaz was talking to a couple people from the hospital at church Sunday morning. He’s OK, right?”
“He’s home recuperating.”
“Good.” Doris pulled her purse up tighter on her lap. “Remember when you came to the library and you had that young girl with you the other day?”
“Yes.” Carolanne’s fingers tensed in her lap. “Gina.”
Doris nodded. “Lindsey Dixon’s daughter.”
Connor leaned forward. “Doris, are you saying the girl in the pond was the Dixon girl?”
“I think so.”
Connor’s mood dropped. That family has been through so much. “Wow. Can you imagine? Another tragedy for the Dixon family involving a drowning? I hope you’re wrong. That somehow seems like just too much bad luck for one family.”
Carolanne stammered. “I sure hope it wasn’t her.”
Doris wrung her hands. “Not that it’s any better if it were a stranger, but you’re right, Connor. It would be so sad. I was going to talk to Scott about it, but then I thought I’d check with you, Carolanne, to be sure I wasn’t just plain crazy.”
Carolanne leaned back in her chair. Her voice was soft. “She was so sad. Her mom committed suicide recently, you know.”
“That family has had so much tragedy over the years,” Connor said.
Carolanne said, “I told her she needed to come talk to you about the trust. I wasn’t sure what the details were, but I figured it was worth looking into.”
Doris looked at her watch and got up. “I’ve got to open the library. Would you mind grabbing Scott and bringing him over to the library so we can talk to him about it?”
“I can do that. I was supposed to go talk to him today anyway. No problem.”
Carolanne’s mood had deflated. Connor watched the dark cloud wash over her movements and even her voice. He wanted to hold her and promise her that things would always be OK.
Doris tugged on the bottom of her shirt and started toward the door. “Tell Scott that I’d sent that little girl down to Mac’s Bakery that morning, too. He might want to stop there and talk to Mac on his way down.”
“I’ll tell him.” Carolanne walked Doris to the door.
Connor watched Carolanne stand there processing what she’d just heard. He wondered if it was dawning on her that her new house was only a football field away from where that girl had died. He wasn’t about to be the one to mention it. Although, if it kept her here, under his roof, that would suit him just fine.
Carolanne’s eyes had lost the sparkle they’d held just a little while ago.
“I’d made you breakfast. It’s why I came downstairs,” she said over her shoulder. “I was going to surprise you.”
“Really?” He smiled, but at the same time his stomach twisted. The last time he’d eaten her cooking, he’d eaten half a bottle of antacids and still couldn’t get relief.
Chapter Seventeen
Connor watched Carolanne walk down the block. Her step was quick. It seemed to have hit her hard that the girl in the pond may have been someone she’d known, even if briefly.
He went back and checked his calendar for the day. He owed that write-up to Mac, but that could
wait. He didn’t know if his stomach was ready for what Carolanne was dishing up for breakfast, but he remembered his mom’s words. It’s the thought that counts.
When he walked into Carolanne’s apartment, the boxes made his heart sink.
On the table, there were two plates of pancakes and chocolate milk. My favorite.
This was a big step for Carolanne Baxter. He wasn’t sure what had broken the ice for her, but something had changed. The chair groaned as he slid it across the solid-oak floor to sit down.
He took a bite of the pancakes and almost choked. Thank goodness she’s not here. He spit the doughy, grainy mess out on the plate and drank the whole glass of milk just to get the taste out of his mouth. How do you mess up pancakes? He didn’t know how she’d done it, but she had.
Mom had always made the best pancakes. So light you felt like you had to hurry and top them with sticky syrup to keep them from floating away. I miss you, Mom. Wish you could’ve shared some of your cooking skills with Carolanne before you left this earth.
Since Mom died, cooking had become like therapy. He’d made his way to the middle of her favorite cookbook—Pass the Plate. If Carolanne would just follow a recipe, maybe her cooking would be edible.
Heading to the kitchen, he stopped mid-scrape by the trash can. Instead, he grabbed a plastic bag from the counter and scraped both plates of food, if you could call it that, into the bag. He washed the dishes and stacked them in the drainer. He’d throw the evidence away in his apartment, and she’d never be the wiser. No sense hurting her feelings. It had been a nice gesture, after all.
He stopped at the door of her apartment and turned back. It was going to be odd with this place empty, but he couldn’t imagine renting it out to anyone else.
In his apartment, he opened the cabinets under the sink to throw away the plastic bag with the disaster of a breakfast in it. When he spotted the hammer and screwdriver he stored there, a thought struck him about the Dixon farm trust.
Carolanne walked into the sheriff station praying Doris was wrong. Gina seemed like a nice girl, although Carolanne would admit that ever since she’d seen her coming out of her dad’s house, she’d had less-than-amicable feelings toward her—for no real good reason. That just made it worse if something had happened to her.
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