Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Yep, I know.” Sarah deflates. “What do we do now?”
“I’ll start digging around online, make some calls, and do some research. Then, if I have to, I go out and investigate. I’ll keep you posted whenever I find anything useful.”
“Awesome.” Sarah grins at Belle and claps her hands. “I feel like we’re finally doing something.”
“We are,” I agree. “Thanks, Belle.”
“My pleasure. Really. I love a puzzle, and we’re going to put this one together. Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”
When we’re back on the sidewalk, headed toward the gallery where the car is parked, Sarah does a little skip.
“That went very well,” she says. “I have a really good feeling about it. Also, how pretty is Belle Lovejoy? She’s absolutely gorgeous, with that long hair and blue eyes, and I swear her skin is made out of porcelain. I wonder what her skin care regime is. How did she get into that line of work?”
“She was a cop in the Navy,” I reply, then laugh when Sarah’s jaw drops, and she stares at me. “It’s true.”
“Holy shit, that’s badass.”
“That’s what I thought, too.”
“Wow, so the Lovejoys all did well. Amaryllis is a doctor, Indigo is a killer real estate agent, and Bluebelle kicks ass for a living.”
“Just don’t call her Bluebelle, or she’ll kick your ass.”
“I like their names,” she says with a sigh. “I like them. Okay, what’s next on the list of things?”
“Why don’t we pop into The Grind and grab a coffee? Take a load off for a minute?”
“I am totally game for that.”
It’s mid-morning, so the coffee shop isn’t too busy when we walk in. We place our order and find a table by the windows to sit and enjoy ourselves.
“I don’t remember the last time I sat in a coffee shop,” Sarah says as she takes a sip from her huge mug of mocha. “Drinking out of a real mug rather than paper and having my pastry warmed up on a real plate.”
“We have to stop and smell the roses sometimes.” I watch her as she glances around the room and smiles at someone to her left. “Who do you see?”
“Montana, from Huckleberry Delight. She’s really nice, too.”
I look back and nod at Montana, then turn back to Sarah.
“There aren’t many here who aren’t nice, you know.”
“Yeah, it seems I was blessed to be born to the only assholes in town.” The smile doesn’t waver as she takes a bite of her cranberry muffin, and I can’t help but laugh.
“There might be one or two others.”
“Name them.”
I narrow my eyes and think it over.
“See? You can’t. Because, for the most part, the people in this town are good. And I like it that way. Hell, if it had been any different, Scott and I might not have survived it. So, I’m grateful that we had kind people surrounding us.”
“You have a good point.” I reach over and take her hand. “When is your next shift at Gordy’s?”
“Not for a few days. Sunny’s just using me to fill in now in case someone needs vacation or calls in sick. I told her I’d try to come in on a moment’s notice if something like that happened. So, basically, I’m just helping out here and there now.”
“And how does that feel?”
“Good and bittersweet,” she replies. “I really like my job there. That’s why I haven’t quit altogether. But it also feels good to make my own hours and do my own thing. I’ve painted five pieces this week already. I know I won’t always produce that much so fast, but I’m excited.”
“You should be excited. I’m proud of you. And you don’t have to completely quit Gordy’s. I’m sure they appreciate you working in the capacity you are, in case they’re ever in a jam.”
“Exactly,” she says with a nod. “Also, I never ended up needing to press charges against Angela. She came in and gave the money to Gordy, then tried to grovel to get her job back, but he turned her down. She’s not happy about it, but I heard she’s moving back down to Newport, anyway.”
“I’m glad that worked out as well as it could have,” I reply as her phone pings with a text.
“Oh, it’s June. She wants me to meet her at the chapel. She wants to show Luna and me something. She actually mentioned that to us the other night. She must have a break in her work day.”
“Should we head out?” I ask.
“Let’s finish our coffee, and then we can head out. If you’ll take me back to your place, I’ll grab my car from there.”
“Sounds good.”
Sarah’s been gone for about twenty minutes, headed to the chapel, when Belle calls.
“Hey, Belle. You’re fast.”
“Listen, I found something. Tell me Sarah’s with you.”
“Actually, she’s not.”
“Fuck. She’s in trouble, Tanner.”
Chapter Nineteen
Sarah
I park at the curb in front of the chapel and discover that I must have beat Luna, since mine is the only car here.