“Which of the troubling issues in my life to address first. Care to weigh in?” An older man standing at the counter caught her attention. “Let me take care of him and close up before we have this discussion.”
Addie moved off to do just that, wincing at the overly loud sounds of both aunts entering the store. She rang up her customer’s purchases, walked him to the door and flipped the “Closed” sign. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before joining the small crowd gathered in the seating area. The Aunties, as always, held court.
“Oh the poor dear, bless her heart, looked so old lying in that bed!” Clementine held a hand to her own heart, her face exuding sympathy.
Addie bit her lip. “What did I miss?”
Jonah stood, offering her his seat. “Your aunts were filling us in on Mrs. Henry.”
She sat in his vacated chair, comforted by the weight of his hand on her shoulder. “How
is she? Is she in much pain? What do we know?”
Jonah’s hand tightened briefly on her shoulder. “She suffered a break in her wrist that required surgery. Luckily, despite her age, she was in perfect health prior to the fall. Although this kind of trauma in an, uh, elderly woman can prove tricky, she’s expected to recover fully.”
“That woman is our age,” harrumphed Aunt Clementine. “Who are you calling elderly, young man?”
Addie snuck a glance up at him as his ears glowed red.
“Speaking strictly clinically, Mrs. Henry falls into that age group.”
Hoping to stave off that argument, Addie turned to Jonah. “How do you know this?
He grinned down into her face. “Turns out Mrs. Henry and I share an orthopedic surgeon. I managed to catch Dr. Daniels at the hospital, ask him a few questions.”
“Did he wonder why you were asking?”
“Maybe, but he didn’t let on. I may have let it slip that she was a very dear friend of my girlfriend’s aunts.”
“Well played.” Grey grinned at Jonah, giving him a thumbs up.
“It didn’t hurt that he happens to be a fan of classic cars. Apparently, he’s been eyeing their Caddy for years.”
“Obviously a man of good taste,” cackled Beatrice. “Is he single?” She patted her old lady blue hair helmet.
“Uh, no, he’s a married man. Sorry.”
“Well, never hurts to ask.”
Addie winced at the thought of her aunt trolling for a man thirty plus years her junior. “Maybe we could focus? Did Mrs. Henry say anything to either of you about what happened to her?”
Clementine scooted to the edge of her seat. “Why yes, dear, she did. She complained about hospital food, not having one of your ‘bodice rippers,’ as she put it, to read. Oh, and something about being pushed. But that might have been the drugs talking.”
Shocked silence reigned for a nanosecond before they all started to talk at once.
“Surely, she was wrong,” from Aunt Clementine.
“Way to bury the lede,” quipped Grey.
Jonah put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Loudly. Four pairs of eyes turned to him. “One person at a time, starting with me.” He turned to her aunt. “Now, Clementine, what did she say exactly?”
Clementine beamed, always enjoying her role as the center of attention. “Well, she insists she didn’t fall. Rather irritated about it actually. ‘They’re treating me like a wobbly old woman’ I believe is her direct quote. As she tells it, and to anyone who’ll listen, she was starting down the two or three stairs that lead out to the garden. Won’t take the ramp, that one, always wants everyone to know how independent she is. Anyway, she swears she felt a thump against her back. And then there she was, lying in a pile at the bottom of the stairs.”
“That puts this in a completely different light,” murmured Jonah above her.
“So what is this? An angel of mercy creating his own people to ‘save?’” asked Addie.
Jonah sank onto the edge of her chair. She glanced at his face, shocked at the granite of it. “Let me be clear. Even if Mr. Hamilton’s death is a ‘mercy killing’ so to speak, it’s still murder.”
“Mrs. Henry will be so pleased to hear that,” commented Beatrice.
“I said ‘if,’” Jonah clarified. “We don’t know what’s going on yet. What this does mean is that it’s not to be taken lightly. Which means,” he leaned forward and made eye contact with everyone before continuing, “no more trips to Magnolia Haven. No more amateur hour. No more sleuthing.”
“You can’t possibly mean…” Beatrice stopped when his stare hardened.
“I say this with love. Stop.”
Addie had to keep her chin from hitting the ground. In all her more-than-she-cared-to-think-about years no one had ever managed to shut up either of her aunts. No one. Another reason to keep him. The list was taller than she was.
11
Addie stood outside the door. The numbers ‘144’ glowed in the dark, as though the actual numbers were on fire. Silence so thick, it threatened to choke her, permeated the area. And though the temperature soared, she shivered. The only sound was her own heart, thundering in her ears. She gathered her courage around her like an old, beloved blanket and turned to peek into the room. Immediately, she met Mrs. Henry’s gaze, her rheumy blue eyes pleading with her. The elderly woman’s mouth opened and closed, as though trying to speak with her, but no sound came out. The shadowy figure was nowhere to be seen. Where was he?
“Looking for me?” came a disembodied voice from behind her. Addie shrieked in fear as the cold metal of a needle pierced her neck. The scene around her faded to black as her knees buckled beneath her.
“Addie, honey, wake up.” Jonah’s worried tone came to her as though miles away.
She mopped damp curls from her eyes and focused on slowing her labored breathing. Before even opening her eyes, Addie reached out to touch him. The solid warmth of his bicep grounded her, allowed her to break from the nightmare’s lingering, icy grip.
“I’m awake,” she groaned. “Sort of.” The alternative meant she was still trapped in that shadowy hallway. No, thanks!
Jonah leaned down, kissing her. He then scooped her into his arms, saying, “Tell me.”
And so she did. They discussed the progress of the dreams, focusing on how the mystery person was able to sneak up on her this time.
“Because you know you’re not going to be alone anywhere, right?”
“Yes, sir.” She snapped off a mock salute to him.
He put on what she’d come to think of as his solemn face; brows knitted together, eyes dark and staring. “I’m serious, Addie. Deadly serious.”
She stroked one hand down over his heavily stubbled jaw. “I know you are, and I promise to be careful.” She crossed her fingers across her heart.
Jonah heaved a sigh before smiling into her eyes. “You always say that. And then you always end up in trouble.”
“In my defense, I do try to avoid it.”
“’Try’ being the operative word.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
He swallowed hard before answering. “Of course you can. Although, I'm a bit terrified at what it might be that you don’t know about me already.”
She reached up to trace a finger across the eyebrow with the scar dissecting it. “How did you get this? Were you chasing a perp? Did he use a knife? Or maybe a broken bottle?” She shuddered at the thought of someone hurting him.
“Are you sure you want to know? It’s not a pretty story.” His low, gravelly voice rumbled between them.
Addie gulped and grabbed his hands. “I can take it.” She hoped her words were true.
“It was a long time ago, but the…uh…trauma of it remains with me, even today.”
“Oh, poor Jonah.” She hugged him tightly to her, hoping to ward off bad memories. “Maybe if you tell me, it won’t hurt as much anymore.”
“Maybe.” He drew in a ragged breath. “My sister Maggie burned me with a pan from her toy
oven.”
Addie pulled back from him, searching his face for the truth, only to have him burst out laughing. “Oh, you bad, bad person. I was so scared!” She pulled the pillow from behind her and smacked him with it.
Jonah, laughing too hard to care, slumped over on the bed. “In my defense, that light bulb was very hot. Singed the hair right off my face. It never grew back.”
“I pictured some huge, scary man wielding a weapon. And worse.” Although her tone remained strident, she couldn’t stop the relief that poured through her.
“What would have been worse than a broken bottle or knife?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I’ll think of it.” Tears rolled down her face, and she angrily brushed them away.
“Hey, hey. Don’t cry. You know I can’t take it when you cry.”
That made her laugh, as she knew he’d hoped. He really couldn’t handle her tears. Probably the by-product of growing up the only boy in a flock of sisters.
“I’ll stop,” she promised, then sniffed a few more times, trying to stop. But the thought of anything happening to him, even years before, set her off. She sobbed against his T-shirt covered-chest.
“So, now you get it,” he murmured into her hair. “Now you understand why I beg you to be careful. I can’t lose you either.”
No words were needed. So, she hugged him a tiny bit harder instead.
Later that morning, while there was the slightest lull in shoppers, Detective Blackwell popped into Smiling Dog Books. Addie schooled her features into her patented you-annoy-me-but-you’re-a-customer look. The smile was there but didn’t reach her eyes. “Detective Blackwell, what can I do for you? Looking for an early Christmas gift or maybe the latest spy thriller for yourself?”
The detective sidled up to the front counter, and Addie was glad for the barrier in between them. She’d tried to like him; really, she had. He was Jonah’s partner after all, but she just couldn’t. There was something about him—actually several something—that set her teeth on edge. It may have been his lack of sincerity or innate laziness. Or the way he’d pretty much hit on Erin last month when questioning her about a man who’d come in looking for Addie and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Either way, she put up with him. Much like one did with people who wore socks with sandals. Gracey growled low in her throat at Addie’s feet. Smart dog!
“Now, how many times have I asked you to call me Dan? After all, we’re practically family.”
His overly bright smile was meant to put her at ease, she figured, when really it had the opposite effect. She stood as still as a statue, resisting the urge to shudder.
“Okay.” Not brilliant, and not what he expected for sure, but all she could manage. “Jonah isn’t here. He had something to do instead of lunch.”
“Oh, I know. After all, Jonah and I are tight.” He flashed her his patented smile once again. “I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d check up on you. Since he’s ‘busy’ and all. Anything new happen to upset you?”
“Upset me? You call receiving a death threat ‘upsetting’?”
“Now, don’t get your panties in a twist. All I meant to do was see if you were okay.”
“The state of my panties is none of your concern.” You creepy son of a sailor, she added in her mind. She felt her cheeks burn but didn’t care. “Now, if there’s nothing I can help you with, please excuse me. As you can see, I have customers to attend to.” It didn’t matter that only two single patrons roamed the store. They were getting her very best assistance today.
The fake smile vanished from Dan’s face, replaced with the next thing to a snarl. “There’s no reason to get snippy.” His eyes lingered lower than her face. “See you around. Wouldn’t want to keep you from your slew of customers.” The detective left the store, slamming the door so hard, the windows rattled.
Addie shuddered before turning to the nearest customer who shot her an uneasy glance. “Guess he didn’t like my selection,” Addie joked in an effort to put him at ease. “Now, what can I help you find?”
Luckily, the man took the bait and asked her about some pregnancy books for his wife. She guided him to that section, throwing in which ones her customers preferred. The man, preparing to be a father for the first time, bought all three of her suggestions. Addie rang him up, reminding him that she held story times for toddlers and infants. He left smiling.
Putting the unpleasant experience with Detective Blackwell behind her, Addie turned her attention to helping other customers. She and Jonah had agreed either Grey or Erin would be in the store with her at all times. But, surely running out for a few minutes to grab food didn’t count. At least she hadn’t thought it did. Now, she wasn’t so sure. Grey retuned with their lunches shortly after her run-in. He wasn’t at all happy when she told him about it.
“I hope you’re going to tell your boyfriend about this,” he huffed after listening to her.
“Of course I will. I just hate to do it. They have to work together.”
“I get it, but Jonah needs to know. And keep that man on a shorter leash. The nerve of him.”
“Agreed. But I’ll tell him tonight, in person. I don’t want to cause a problem while he’s working.” She walked away, headed to the reading area to tidy up. Naturally, Grey was right on her tail.
“Maybe we need to add Detective Dumbass to the list.”
His words stopped Addie in her tracks, causing Grey to bump into her back. She whirled around.
“Please tell me you’re kidding.” But the glint in his eye told her he wasn’t.
“You’ve seen how he acts around you. Way too interested, considering you’re practically living with his partner.”
“I’d never picked up on that.”
“Until today.”
Addie squirmed under his stare. “You’re right. He always struck me as lazy and a bit slimy.”
“Kind of like a used car salesman.”
“Exactly. It wasn’t even so much his words today as the way he kept looking at me. Yuck.”
“Jonah is not going to be pleased,” Grey gloated.
Addie shook a finger at him. “You don’t have to sound so gleeful at the thought.”
“Sorry, but now that I'm single, again, I have to live vicariously through you. I can picture it now. That gorgeous hunk of brooding male is going to lose his stuff over this. Ooh, can’t wait.”
“Well, since I ‘ll be telling him at home, you don’t get a front row seat.” Addie stuck out her tongue at him and continued on toward the grouped couches and chairs. She gathered several abandoned books, placing them in a pile, then straightened and fluffed the throw pillows.
“What? How can you be so cruel?” Grey stopped right in front of her. “You know I love a good scene.”
“Which is exactly why I won’t be telling him in front of you.”
“Party pooper,” he grumbled like a petulant four-year-old.
“You can stick your bottom lip out as far as it stretches. I'm still not telling him in front of you.”
“Fine.”
Addie threw back her head and laughed. “Did you remember to order the pies for Thursday?”
“Does a bear know what to do in the woods? I’m not an amateur. I ordered one pumpkin, one mince, one caramel surprise, and turkey-shaped cookies for the girls.”
Addie pulled out her phone and opened her notes page. “Great! One more thing checked off for Thanksgiving. What did we ever do before notes pages?”
“Wrote lists on paper?” Grey suggested, tongue firmly in cheek.
“Very funny. You know my brain is Swiss cheese these days. If I don’t write it down, forget it.”
“And at your advanced age.”
“Hey! You’re a few months older than me, might I remind you.”
“And yet you’re the one depending on electronic notes. Although, in your defense, you have a lot on your plate at the moment.”
“Yes, thank you, I do.” She picked up the stack of books, handing them to h
im. “Now, earn your keep and put these back where they belong, please.”
“Did you forget you don’t actually pay me?” Grey asked, moving off toward the shelves.
“I would if you’d accept pay.”
“Never. I enjoy my life of leisure.”
Addie laughed, shaking her head. It was true. Grey never had to work a day in his life. Although he did do a lot for his family’s charitable foundation. But he did spend a lot of time in her store, especially now that she was being threatened by a stalker and had started having the nightmares again. And, as always, she was thankful for his presence in her life. And not just during this, Thanksgiving week.
She looked up as the bells chimed over the door. And nothing could prepare her for the sight of Jonah striding in, anger coming off him in waves. And a stark white bandage across his forehead.
12
Addie flew to him, her eyes searching frantically for other signs of injury. “What happened to you?” she sobbed before pulling him into her arms.
“A well-aimed rock and some flying glass happened to me. Are you okay?”
“Me? I'm not the one sporting a bandage. Here, sit down. Tell me everything.” She led him to the low sofa, all but pushing him into it without ever releasing his hand. “Tell me.”
“I was in traffic on the other side of town, stopped at a light actually, when my front passenger window exploded. I was lucky. It’s only a small scratch. The medic on scene cleaned me up and used a butterfly to close it.”
Addie closed her eyes for a minute. A thousand worse scenarios whipped through her mind like a bad horror movie. And then the realization hit her, the weight of it dragging her down. “It’s because of me,” she whispered.
She felt his fingers on her chin. “Look at me.” He didn’t say another word until she opened her eyes. “What happened is not your fault, Addie. Someone doesn’t like me very much in this town.”
“Someone who likes me a bit too much. It is my fault, Jonah. You can’t keep getting hurt because of me. I can’t live with that.”
“And I can’t live without you. We will figure this out. I will stop this madness. I promise.”
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