Mila finally staggered up the final flight of stairs and stepped onto the floor. She looked at the large open space. If she hadn’t just walked up three flights, she would have sworn she was in hell. It was hot and humid and the only light came from two small windows on either side of the long room. From where she stood in the middle of the attic, she could see a massive antique bed placed against a newly constructed wall, which ran the length of the attic. The bed, while lovely, balanced on spindle legs that looked as if they could break in half at any second. A chest was opposite the bed against another freshly constructed wall.
A pretty sky-blue curtain hung on the small square window.An antique rug filled the space under the bed all the way to the chest. A matching runner led from the stairs in the middle of the room to the other rug. Mila turned and took at the other half of the attic. The room really was massive. It ran the length of the entire house. On the other side was a bathroom. She knew that since there were no walls. A toilet and a white claw-foot tub positioned under the window with a sink were the only items on the other side of the attic.
“I know it’s hot, but with the windows up and the fans running…” Poppy hurried over and turned on a box fan in the bathroom and then three box fans in various locations surrounding the bedroom. “It’s really very lovely. We were hoping to put two bedrooms up here for my sister and me. That way we could open up the downstairs rooms to guests.”
The woman was so sweet and obviously worried that Mila might freak out at any minute. “It’s wonderful. It will be a grand suite when it’s done.”
Poppy beamed as she looked lovingly at the space. “I think so, too. Well, my cell number is on the chest. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call. Oh, and to get to the café, just turn left out the door and head to Main Street, then turn left again. We’re having BLTs and country-fried steak tonight. You won’t be able to miss us.”
Poppy took a couple of steps down and looked up at the open hole in the floor. “This is how you close it. You can use your key to lock it.” Poppy’s smiling face disappeared as she pulled a wooden slat across the top of the stairs. Sure enough, a deadbolt was now on the floor that Mila could turn.
Mila headed for the bed and dropped her purse at the side of the bed before falling across the surprisingly comfortable mattress. She looked up at the exposed beams of the ceiling and sighed. This was not how she envisioned her first time interpreting for the chancellor. Stuck in an attic, probably with ghosts, and no change of clothes.
Determined to make the best of things, Mila rolled over onto her stomach and looked out the window at an enormous tree and a pretty house beyond that. Mila pushed herself off the bed and opened the window. The tree branches were thick and old and came right up to her window. They also provided much-needed shade. The air that blew in smelled of the countryside and was cooler than she expected.
With a sigh, Mila headed for the bathroom to open that window and to freshen up before heading to the café. Some field research for the chancellor was in order, along with trying to find some clothes.
CHAPTER FOUR
Zain shook his head as Abby got out of the Aston Martin before reaching in to pull out her rifle. When she was just a toddler, she had broken into the security office and from that day on had been full of so much mischief her father used to send out a drone to watch over her. He probably still did.
“You took your gun. To an airport. To pick up a guest of mine,” Zain said rather than asked. “Did you hotwire my car?”
Abby shrugged. “When have I ever needed keys? Don’t worry. You’ll never be able to tell. Is Syd back from work yet? The interpreter’s luggage was lost and I told her I would hook her up.”
Zain shook his head, again. “How am I supposed to know?”
“Well, Deacon is working for you this week. I figured if her husband were still here, that means she’s still at work.”
“Why would you figure that?” Zain asked.
Abby looked at him as if he were stupid. “You know they’re newlyweds, right? They’ve been sneaking off together every second they get. If I didn’t know Syd was on birth control, I would be placing bets at the café that a baby would be here by spring. They’re like rabbits.”
Zain thought for a moment. “Good point. Deacon left fifteen minutes ago,” he said of the private investigator. “Hey, do you think Syd’s the owner of the mystery panties being left around town?”
“Syd? I don’t think so. I told Mila that I would meet her at the café. Is that okay? I know we were supposed to meet for dinner. Mila's pretty uptight and a little skittish, but she’s nice enough and I feel bad about her rough start here.”
Zain groaned. “Now I have to watch how I behave. Tell me again why I thought this summit was a good idea.”
“World peace,” Abby said as she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Sydney.
“That’s right,” Zain sighed.
*
Mila headed out of the bed and breakfast and looked around the tree-lined street. The houses were large, the lawns perfect, and the smells coming from their kitchens had her stomach rumbling. While she had gone to college in Boston and lived in D.C., there wasn’t anything really like this in those places. Unless you had a lot of money, which she didn’t, you’d never be able to afford a nice place in D.C. In fact, her apartment was about the size of the living room at the bed and breakfast.
“Hi, dear. Are you here for the summit or are you just lost?” Mila spun around and felt foolish. She had somehow walked past the three ancient ladies sitting on the porch. One sat on the porch swing as the other two rocked back and forth in their chairs. A plate of brownies sat in front of them as they sipped iced tea.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Mila smiled kindly at the three little ladies with white tufts of hair and thick orthopedic shoes. “Yes, I am the interpreter for the German chancellor. My name is Mila Thiessen.”
The three women shared a smiling look before the one who had asked her the question patted the empty seat next to her on the swing. “Have a seat, dear. You must be the one Abby picked up from the airport. If you had to ride with Abby, then you need one of these.”
The woman picked up the plate of brownies and held it out for her to take one. Mila took a brownie and thanked the woman. “I’m Lily Rae. And these are my sisters, Daisy Mae and Violet Fae.”
“Miss Lily? You’re the owner, right?”
“That’s right, dear. And Daisy and Violet own the café. But like me, they have turned over the operation to our much-younger cousins.”
Mila took a bite of the brownie and groaned before remembering why those three names stuck out. “You’re the ones who threw pots and pans . . .”
Miss Daisy waved her hand dismissively. “That was a lifetime ago, dear.”
The plump Miss Violet sighed longingly. “At least we saw some action when we helped rescue Sienna before the house exploded. Even if they made us stay in the van.”
“Explode? Rescue?” Mila muttered with the chocolate gooey goodness of the homemade brownie in her mouth. “I asked if Keeneston was safe . . .”
“Oh, phooey. It’s the safest place you could be. Except if you speak French. Do you speak French?” Miss Violet asked as she handed another brownie to her.
“I do,” Mila said worriedly. “Is that bad?”
Miss Violet just smiled kindly. “No, dear. Just don’t let my husband know. He’s from France, you see, and has already sent the French interpreter running with his desire to speak his native language again . . . constantly.”
“So, tell us about yourself, Mila. What a lovely name. Are you from Germany? Is your husband there?” Miss Lily asked before taking a sip of tea.
Mila looked longingly at the plate of brownies. They were the best she’d ever eaten, and in fact, the only thing she’d had to eat all day. “Thank you. I’m from Nuremberg originally but moved around the world as I grew up. My travel schedule makes it pretty hard to have a boyfriend, never mind a husband.”
“That’s a shame. Brownie?” Miss Daisy said as she handed her the plate. Mila was many things, but a woman who turned down chocolate, she was not.
“Thank you. I’m supposed to meet Abby at the Blossom Café. Is it far?”
“Not at all. Just down the street. I’m sure we will meet you there. Vi, why don’t you call Dani and see if she can pick us up on her way to the café,” Miss Lily smiled serenely.