Grave Missteps

by Lily Harper Hart

  “That’s good.” Nick meant it. “I kind of figured that out myself, though. I was worried that you hadn’t figured it out yet. You’re ahead of the game.”

  “So, what do I do?” John leaned forward, plaintive. “She wouldn’t even allow me into her house last night. I need to fix this. I was up all night, sick to my stomach. I didn’t even want to drink.”

  “Oh, well, then it’s definitely bad.” Nick cracked a smile. “First off, you need to pick out a ring. You can’t propose to someone without a ring.”

  “I don’t even know what she likes, though.”

  “Luckily for you, I happen to know a blonde who does.”

  John stilled. “Oh. Do you think Maddie will help?”

  “Of course I will,” Maddie squealed from the staircase, her hair a mess of flaxen bedhead as she hurried down the stairs.

  Nick smirked when he saw her, thankful she thought to put on a robe so her tiny pajamas weren’t on display. “How long have you been listening? I tried not to wake you.”

  “I think it was your absence in bed that woke me,” Maddie admitted, planting herself on Nick’s lap so she could give John her full attention. She was beyond excited. “I’ll go ring shopping with you. Wait … let me feel out Christy first. She might actually tell me what her dream ring is and make this easy on us.”

  “Or you could just poke in her head,” Nick suggested. “I’m going to bet, given what happened, everything you need to see is right there on the surface.”

  Maddie balked. “I already told you I can’t do that at will.”

  “And yet I watched you do it last night,” Nick argued. “Heck, I watched you do it twice in five minutes. I also think you’ve been doing it with Angel. I saw how you were with her the day of the fire. You were picking things out from her head.”

  “Emotions,” Maddie corrected. “I didn’t see anything that happened to her or anything. I just felt her emotions, what she was feeling, and it was overwhelming.”

  “Well, it seems to me that you should probably be able to direct that power if you really want to do it.” Nick was pragmatic. “All it would take is some practice.”

  “I don’t know.” Maddie shifted on his lap. “I’ll think about it.”

  “You do that.” Nick smoothed her hair and turned back to John. “Maddie will help with the ring. That means all you have to do is come up with a romantic way to pop the question … and I’m going to guess sooner will be better than later.”

  “Definitely.” Maddie enthusiastically bobbed her head. “Almost all of Christy’s fear is stemming from uncertainty and the biggest question mark in her life is you. She’s afraid you don’t really love her.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” John muttered. “How can she think that?”

  “Have you ever told her you love her?” Nick asked.

  “I … well … .”

  “That’s what I thought.” Nick made a face. “How would she possibly know that you love her if you haven’t told her?”

  “Fine.” John was exasperated. “I’ll plan a romantic evening. I’ll take her for a nice picnic, bring a bottle of wine along for the ride, and let nature take its course.”

  Maddie’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “She’s pregnant.”

  “I know.”

  “That means she can’t drink.”

  John faltered. “Right. Crap. Maybe I should put together a plan and run it past you guys before enacting it, huh?”

  “It couldn’t hurt,” Nick agreed, smirking. “I happen to think I’m a romantic soul so I won’t steer you wrong.”

  “Nick is definitely a romantic soul,” Maddie agreed. “Make sure he okays every step of your plan before you do something to make things worse.”

  “Way to prop up my ego, Maddie.” John sent her a sarcastic thumbs-up.

  Maddie was unbothered by his tone. “You should take her to that restaurant out on the lake, the one that is closed over winter. It’s opening this week and she absolutely loves it. They have dancing, too, and Christy loves to dance.”

  John turned ashen. “Dance? I don’t want to dance.”

  “It’s not about you,” Nick reminded him. “This is about Christy. Forget what you want and focus on her.”

  Maddie’s gaze was keen as she shifted her eyes to Nick. “Is that why you haven’t told me you would prefer I shut down the store so we can make a living room out of this space?”

  Nick’s mouth dropped open. “Were you just inside my head? If so, we’re going to have to talk about that. Digging for a few things is fine. Constantly doing it is invasive.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t in your head.”

  “Oh.”

  “I was eavesdropping at the top of the stairs.”

  Nick barked out a laugh. “I’m not sure that’s better.”

  “You’ll live.” Maddie licked her lips as she glanced around. “I think you’re right about the store, though. I don’t think it belongs here. I loved my childhood and visiting my mother here was part of that, but I don’t want our children to think of this place as anything but a home. If I want to have a store, it needs to move someplace else.”

  Nick was stunned how easy it was to convince her. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I’ve been thinking it myself. I just need to talk to Mom first.”

  Nick rubbed her back. “I’m with you whatever you need.”

  John stared at them both, dumbfounded. “You guys are so good at this. I’m not sure I’ll ever be as good at the love thing as you are.”

  “Give yourself time,” Nick said. “You might be better than you think.”

  “Definitely.” Maddie bobbed her head. “Now, who wants breakfast?”

  Nick and John raised their hands in unison.

  “I definitely saw that coming.” Maddie hopped to her feet. “I’m thinking blueberry pancakes.”

  John’s smile was so wide it overshadowed his face. “This is definitely the part of a relationship I could get used to.”

  “The part where the woman does the cooking?” Maddie challenged.

  “The part where I get pancakes in the morning … and a happy woman to eat them with.”

  Maddie grinned. “You’re definitely getting better at this.”

  “That is the goal.”

  “I’M ABOUT TO BE your favorite grandmother,” Maude announced as she joined Nick and John at the table and expectantly looked at Maddie as her granddaughter toiled in front of the stove. “I want three pancakes this morning instead of two as my reward.”

  Maddie made enough pancakes to feed a small army so she wasn’t particularly annoyed with her grandmother’s demeanor as she carried a platter of pancakes to the table. “I only have one grandmother. I think you claimed that title a very long time ago.”

  “So cute.” Maude grabbed Maddie’s cheek and gave it a jiggle. “I guess that’s why you’re my favorite granddaughter, huh?”

  “That must be it.” Maddie whipped off her apron and sat in the chair between Nick and Maude. “Why are you my favorite grandmother today?”

  “Because I have information about Mildred that is going to blow your investigation right out of the water.”

  “And how did you get that?” Nick asked.

  “Beatrice Blythe.”

  Nick furrowed his brow. “Should I know that name?”

  “She’s a former Pink Lady who moved two towns over eight years ago and now only participates in special events on occasion.”

  “Oh, right. Beatrice Potter. She married some old guy and came into money, right?”

  “You’re so young.” Maude made a tsking sound with her tongue. “That guy isn’t all that old and he still has all his own teeth.”

  Nick grinned at Maddie. “Something to look forward to, huh, love?”

  Maddie chuckled. “Yes. It’s a lovely thing to endeavor toward. What’s your gossip, Granny?”

  “Well, it seems Beatrice got drunk with Mildred about ten years ago at one of the festiva
ls,” Maude explained. “Apparently it didn’t take much. She said Mildred was a real lightweight.”

  “She should’ve joined the Pink Ladies and you would’ve taken care of that problem,” John teased as he heaped syrup on his pancakes.

  “You’ve got that right,” Maude agreed. “When Mildred got drunk, though, she also got a case of loose lips and told Beatrice a rather fascinating story.”

  Even though Maude was prone to fits of exaggeration at times, Maddie felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. It was as if she knew she was about to learn something important.

  “Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” Nick prodded. “What story did you hear?”

  “It seems Mildred had a falling out with her brother.”

  Maddie’s spirits sank. “We already know that, Granny. Her nephew told us the story.”

  “Did he tell you why they had a falling out?”

  “I … .” Nick broke off and searched his memory. “He didn’t get into specifics. He said he couldn’t remember why his father and aunt hated each other so much. It was just something that happened.”

  “Oh, it was definitely something that happened, but I have a hard time believing his father never told him the story.” Maude rubbed her hands together, clearly relishing the story and her place in the spotlight. “It seems that Mildred’s brother married her best friend shortly after Mildred and this woman – all I know is her name was Penny – graduated from high school.”

  Nick wrinkled his nose. “That can’t be right. Steven said his father was a decent amount older than Mildred.”

  “No, that’s part of the story,” Maude said. “Apparently he started messing around with her when she was still illegal, but he didn’t get into trouble because they got married right away.”

  “That’s sick.” Maddie put down her fork. “That’s so wrong.”

  “Times were different back then and people got away with things,” Maude supplied. “Anyway, she got pregnant right away and they had a child. It was a boy.”

  Nick did the math in his head. “No. Steven is in his forties. That math doesn’t work.”

  Maude shot him a withering look. “Am I done yet?”

  Nick held up his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Maude rolled her eyes but continued. “They had a son who took off the minute he turned eighteen. His name was Edgar or something I think, although I can’t really remember.”

  Nick filed away the tidbit for further research. “Okay.”

  “Apparently Mildred’s brother was a real jerk and he mistreated Edgar and Penny a great deal. She was planning on leaving him when she got knocked up again. This was long after Edgar was already an adult.”

  “A late-in-life baby,” Nick mused.

  “Pretty much,” Maude confirmed. “She was apparently pregnant – maybe very pregnant, although I’m not quite sure – when she approached Mildred for help to get away from the brother. Remember, this was forty years ago and domestic violence charges weren’t taken as seriously.”

  Something niggled at the back of Maddie’s brain, but she let it go.

  “Mildred and Penny had a falling out when Penny married her brother,” Maude volunteered. “Mildred warned her he was a jerk. Penny married him anyway. Blah, blah, blah. When Penny told Mildred what was happening, though, Mildred sprang into action and agreed to help.”

  “How did she help?” John was completely engaged in the story as he sipped his coffee.

  “She helped Penny disappear.”

  “But … how?” Nick asked.

  Maude shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t get all the nitty-gritty details. All I know is that Mildred helped Penny disappear while pregnant with her second child and that the brother showed up and threatened to kill her if she didn’t tell him where they were. Mildred refused to tell him and the cops were called, although no charges were filed.”

  Nick was dumbfounded. “I don’t understand what you’re saying,” he said finally. “Are you saying that Angel is somehow tied to Penny?”

  “I’m saying there was a lot more going on with that family than anyone realized,” Maude corrected. “I don’t know how it all sorts out – and Beatrice didn’t either – but Mildred told her about it one day and said she didn’t feel even a little bit sorry about it.”

  “I wouldn’t feel sorry about it either,” Maddie said. “If I were Mildred, I would’ve been proud. In fact, I’m kind of sad I didn’t know about it before she died. I might have liked her a little better.”

  “I don’t think she wanted anyone to like her because it made things easier when it came to keeping secrets,” Maude supplied. “As for the girl Maddie found, I don’t know how she plays into this. I’m going to guess that there’s a convoluted story that needs unraveling at the center of it, though.”

  Nick was convinced she was right. “Well, at least I have somewhere to look when it comes to finding answers. I wonder why Steven didn’t mention any of this to me?”

  “Maybe he didn’t know,” John suggested.

  “If Penny took him with her, though, how did he end up back with his father?” Maddie asked.

  “That’s a very good question, love.” Nick forked a huge bite of pancakes into his mouth, swallowing before he continued. “I’m going to find out. I can promise you that.”

  15

  Fifteen

  Nick knew exactly what Maddie was going to do with her day, although he didn’t press her about it until he was dressed and they were standing in front of the main floor door.

  “How are you going to find this woman if she’s hidden?”

  Maddie pursed her lips and shrugged. “What makes you think I’m going to do that?” She averted her eyes in an effort to be purposely evasive.

  Nick snorted. “Because I know you. You’re dying to know the true story behind Penny and Edgar. You also want to know how Steven fits into all this. You won’t be able to stay away from it because your curiosity factor is off the charts.”

  Maddie thought about arguing, but it seemed like a waste of time. “I’m not sure how I’m going to find her,” she conceded after a beat. “I have a few ideas, though. The question is, why aren’t you trying to find her?”

  “I am going to try and find her. Something tells me you’re going to get to her first, though.”

  Maddie recognized his tone. “Do you not want me to find her?”

  “I want you to remain safe,” Nick clarified. “I know I can’t stop you from looking.”

  “You really can’t.”

  “Then be as safe as possible and message me throughout the day.” Nick leaned forward and gave a quick kiss. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Maddie straightened his shirt collar. “I promise I’ll be safe. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “I will always worry about you. I can’t help myself.”

  “I know.”

  Nick opened the door. “Stay away from Mildred’s house. I don’t care how you find this woman but stay away from the house. You’re exposed up there and I don’t want to risk it.”

  “I have no intention of going to the house.”

  Nick was honestly curious how Maddie expected to track down a woman with no last name, but he decided to press Maddie on her efforts later. “I’ll keep in touch, too. If I have any information, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  MADDIE WAVED FROM THE front window until Nick was clear of the driveway and then immediately headed toward her grandmother’s apartment. She didn’t bother to knock and Maude’s annoyance was evident when Maddie strolled in and caught her with a fresh batch of toilet paper.

  “I believe you’ve been taught proper etiquette,” Maude chirped. “You’re supposed to knock when entering someone’s home.”

  “You’ll live.” Maddie was blasé. “Tell me what you were holding back over breakfast.”

  Maude furrowed her brow. “What are you talking abou
t?”

  “You know more than you were saying.” Maddie refused to back down. “I saw the way you were shifting on your chair when John and Nick asked a few rather pointed questions. I think you know where Penny is.”

  “Well, I don’t.”

  Maddie wasn’t about to be shut down. “Then I think you know where she was … at least at one time,” she said. “If Mildred had loose lips, I’m going to assume that included a location.”

  Maude sighed, annoyance evident. “I might have an idea.”

  “Well, I need you to share that idea.” Maddie was firm. “I need to track down Penny if she’s still alive.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Angel has to belong to someone. Mildred couldn’t have been the only one who knew who she was. If Mildred helped Penny once before, maybe Angel is actually tied to Penny and Mildred was trying to help a second time.”

  Maude’s eyes gleamed. “I didn’t even think about that.”

  “So, where is she?”

  “Not far.” Maude brightened considerably. “She’s a lot closer than I would’ve expected but maybe that’s for the best. She was essentially hiding in plain sight.”

  “Give me what you’ve got.”

  PENNY WILKINS WAS NOW going by the name of Priscilla Grimes. She lived one town over in a pretty ranch house with gorgeous gardens and she seemed resigned more than surprised when she found Maddie on her front porch.

  “I knew this would happen.” She pushed open the door so Maddie could enter. “What took you so long?”

  Maddie tried not to take the comment as an insult. “Do you know who I am?”

  “I saw you on the television,” Priscilla replied, pointing toward the kitchen and prodding Maddie to walk in that direction. She was older – Maude’s age – but she was surprisingly spry. “I recognized Mildred’s house. The police tried to shield you from the cameras – or maybe they were trying to shield the girl, I don’t know – but your face isn’t easy to forget.”