“Contrary to popular belief, I do not know everyone in town. I know our friends.” Josie drew a circle with hands. “Our friends, my boys’ friends’ families, Evan’s friends from work. I know a lot of people but not everyone. Oh, and I know you if you want to buy a house. That’s how I met Deanna.”
“So, she bought the house or Cameron bought the house?”
“Cameron, is it?”
“I told you, we played together when we were kids, then he moved away.”
“What did you play? Doctor, I hope!”
I smacked her knee again.
“And now you’re both back. How convenient!”
“I’m just curious about the house, that’s all.”
“Not about Cameron at all?”
“Not like that.”
“I know you don’t want to talk about Simon, but ‘not serious’ must be something special if you’re not interested in him.” Josie tipped her head toward the counter and wiggled her eyebrows.
I gritted my teeth. “Stop.”
“Fine. I know, you don’t want to talk about it.”
“Not now, if that’s okay. So, do you remember who bought the house?”
“Well, if memory serves me…” She tapped her chin. “Deanna bought the house on her own. I would remember seeing him come into the office.”
I stretched my arm over the back of the sofa and surreptitiously turned as if inspecting the stitching in the leather.
A lanky teenage boy with blue-streaked hair cleared tables nearby. He had multiple earrings and black eyeliner. He hummed a melody that matched the warmth of Perk, belying his harsh appearance.
I turned back to Josie and pointed to the name clipped to the waist of her linen pants. “Tell me about your job. When did you start selling real estate?” I would have to beef up my social media surveillance in the future.
“I’m the receptionist. I was really bored all day with all three boys in high school, so I went to Kay Kaplan and asked her for a job. Been three years now.”
“Do you know who bought Nettie’s on Lark? I’ve heard some footsteps upstairs, but I haven’t seen anyone. I don’t know if it’s a guest or the owner.”
“Does it matter?”
“I’m just curious. Plus, it’s a little creepy to think I’m in that big house all by myself.”
“You can stay with me!”
“Next time?” I said it before I realized the implications.
“I’ll hold you to it.”
“You don’t know who bought Nettie’s?”
“Trade secret.”
“Are you kidding me?” I’d had to sign confidentiality agreements with some of my higher-profile clients, but for the most part, publicity was part of their plan.
“So? Did you talk to Miles?”
“No. I decided if there was a problem with Shay he wouldn’t be getting married, and it’s not my place to ask too many questions.” Miles had made that clear. “I’m taking her to the mall this afternoon, so I’ll know if something is wrong. I mean—if she were sick or something he wouldn’t let her go to the mall, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Tell me more about Evan and the boys.”
Josie chugged the last of her latte and glanced at her phone. “Tomorrow. Same time, same place? Or we can meet for lunch at the Fat Chance. Either one, but I won’t take no for an answer. I’ve got to fly. Have fun with Shay today.”
Josie walked over to the cool-dude busboy. I thought she’d hand him a tip, or tell him to get a haircut. Instead, she put her hand on his shoulder, stood on tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek. He shook his head and looked around the room.
“No one cares if I kiss you.” Josie smoothed his hair and looked at me. She pointed to him as he collected more mugs, plates, and newspapers and walked toward the back of Perk.
“Jonathan,” she said. Her smile widened. “My musician.”
And her middle son.
*
I skimmed last week’s Chance Gazette and this morning’s Columbus Dispatch, but my thoughts wandered back to San Francisco and down to San Diego, over to Dallas and then Savannah, and up to Alexandria, the site of the newest Hester property. My heart pounded. I should have gone to Virginia. Maybe the week of training wasn’t enough for the new photographers. Maybe their portfolios were bogus. What if I missed an e-mail? If someone quit? I pulled out my phone. The ringer was at full blast. No missed texts or urgent e-mails.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the tissue-wrapped necklaces. I’d wanted to have them with me, but wasn’t ready to wear them in public. As I laid the chains over my hand, the hearts caught the light and glistened.
“A gift?”
I looked up and saw Cameron, without his apron and with a little bit of hat hair. I dropped the necklaces into the tissue and folded it. “No.”
“Sorry, I just thought…”
“No, I’m sorry. That was rude. Want to sit?”
“Thanks, but no. I’m done for the day and getting out of here.”
“At nine in the morning?”
“I just work the earliest shift, then I have the whole day.”
“For what?” I covered my mouth with my hand and talked through it. “Sorry. None of my business.”
“Not a problem. I’m just meeting my sister before she heads off to teach summer school.”
I placed my hands in my lap. “I heard your sister is a teacher here. Is that why she moved back here? For a job?”
“Why don’t you ask her? She’s outside. I’m sure she’d like to meet you. She’s heard about our Poppy Lane antics. Just don’t give away any of our secret hiding places. I need to maintain my big-brother mystique.”
I lifted my plate and cup and looked around for a place to deliver them.
“Jonathan will get it. It’s his job. Great kid, by the way. That was his mom with the soy latte and blueberry scone, right?”
“Right.” I remembered my apparent blushing and my cheeks grew warm. I ignored it and hoped Cameron would do the same.
With the necklaces back in my pocket I walked to the front of Perk. Cameron pointed out the same window I’d looked in yesterday. I thought I was about to get busted.
“That’s Deanna.”
Sitting on the bench facing Perk was a woman with a long sleek bob and aviator sunglasses. Standing facing her was a tall man with one hand in his jeans pocket. Prickles traveled from my fingertips to my neck.
“I have to go.” I stepped backwards. “Is there another door?”
“The service door in the back. Where are you going?”
I looked Cameron square in the eye and whispered, “That’s Beck Stillman.”
“I know who it is. Wait. You don’t want to see Beck?”
“No, I don’t. Please, Cameron.”
Cameron touched my elbow and led me through the maze of Perk’s storage room to a back door. He pressed the lever, pushed open the door, and I stepped outside into the alley behind the Main Street shops. He stood against the door, keeping it open.
“Thanks,” I said. “You’re a good friend.”
Cameron stepped out into the alley and the door closed with a thud and a click. “Then tell me what the hell is going on.”
*
“So, you’re uncomfortable around him. How are you going to get comfortable if you avoid him the whole time you’re here?”
“Believe me, he would rather I stay far away from him, from here, from everything.”
“You’ve been away for what? Six years? You’re really going to let him dictate where you go and who you see when you come home? What did he do to you?”
“Nothing, it’s not like that. I’m the one who hurt him. And I don’t think I realized how much.”