“You need to keep me in the loop. This is as good as the soap operas I was addicted to in college.” Amy pushed away the almost empty plate. “I guess I’d better head back to the office. My lunch hour was up five minutes ago.”
She pulled out cash for her part of the bill, but I waved it away. “I’ll buy today. I was the one who asked you to come to lunch. See you soon.”
I watched as Amy walked through the crowded diner. I wasn’t the only one watching her. The men in the diner were also watching my friend. Amy was oblivious to her effect on men; she always had been. But they noticed her.
Carrie tapped on the table with the folder that held our bill. “You get stuck with the check?”
Turning my attention back to the table, I shook my head. “Nope, I asked for it. Besides, Amy had to get back to work. I’d like a piece of that blueberry crumble and another iced tea. I’ve got a book I want to finish before I go home and take Emma to the Pet Palace.”
“Sure thing.” Carrie disappeared, and I opened my tote and took out the latest release in a fantasy series I’d been devouring for the last week or two. I had three chapters left, and since I’d given up my full day off tomorrow and now with plans on Saturday, I wanted to finish the book today.
When Carrie brought the dessert, I paused my reading to take a few bites, then went back to the story. When I reached the end, my crumble and my iced tea were also done. I packed up my stuff, left money for the check, and headed home to a list of chores including a shopping trip to Bakerstown.
Greg should be happy. Not one item on my list had anything to do with solving Kacey’s murder.
CHAPTER 7
I’d made three of my four stops in town. Town, being Bakerstown, the county seat and the closest place to actually buy groceries and dog food, and it had a Linens and Loots, the last stop on my list. Well, the last stop before I pulled the car into Wheeler’s, my favorite hamburger place.
Jen McKarn, the store manager, looked up when I entered the shop. “Uh-oh. Did Emma eat the sofa cushions again? I’m not sure I can sell you more without feeling like I’m contributing to her addiction.”
I crossed the gleaming floor and stood next to the counter where Jen had been working on a spreadsheet. “Nope, today I’m here for sheets for the new guest room. I finally found a handmade quilt for the room, and I need something besides the old sheets I’ve been using.”
“Do you have a picture of the quilt? Maybe we can match a color or two so you have coordinating options.” Jen closed the file and tucked it under her arm. “Besides, helping you shop will keep me from messing with this staffing schedule. I swear, the bigger we get, the more problems I have with keeping employees.”
I’d been lucky in the staffing department. My aunt had been my first employee, and she’d hired Toby. Sasha came from an internship we’d participated in for the Work Today program last winter. The program could have been a complete disaster, since the director had been killed less than a week into our project. But the good news was, he had been a complete jerk anyway and we’d gained an excellent employee. I realized Jen was staring at me, a clear sign I’d missed a question as my mind had gone on a walkabout. “Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you had a picture. I know you can’t help me with staffing. You’re perfect in that area.” She actually made air quotes when she said “perfect.”
“Hold on, I’ve got it on my phone. Besides, my shop’s tiny compared to Linens and Loots. I didn’t even think I needed Aunt Jackie’s help.” I thumbed through photos until I found the one of the quilt. I handed her my phone. “Here it is. I’m thinking baby blue and maybe a rose?”
Jen studied the photo. “Very nice. The quilt looks like Sarah’s work. Did you get this from the senior center’s consignment shop over off of Grand?”
I stepped back, stunned. “How did you know that? I looked for months for that quilt. Then one of my regulars at the shop mentioned the store and they had several I wanted to buy.”
“Each quilter has their own style. Even if they use the same pattern, the materials are different, or the stitching. You should have asked me last time you were in the store for pillows. I would have recommended the shop.” Jen handed me back the phone and came around the counter. “Let’s go look at what we’ve got in stock. I might need to special-order a color.”
As we walked toward the back, past the scented candles and cookware, I wondered if my new guest room would ever be done. New sheets, fluffy pillows and shams, and maybe a walnut nightstand with a pewter lamp. Oh, and a dresser. I pulled out my notebook and wrote down the still-to-purchase items. Once that was completed, we were at the linen shelves and Jen had found two sets of sheets in the exact colors I’d asked for.