excursion—gossip. Something else occurred to me as well. If it was common knowledge that David would be joining my group, that could explain why I’d had so many volunteers. Some of them might have been there looking for new gossip—a small town’s favorite activity, or at least this small town’s. My heart sank a little. Hopefully they wouldn’t leave when nothing eventful happened.
Susan wandered over to join us.
Kate continued her tale, bubbling with excitement. “I was there when it happened,” she gushed. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought he was going to kill Jeremy. If I hadn’t stepped in, I swear he might have.”
“Oh, come on, Kate. I was there too, remember? All he did was grab Jeremy by his shirt collar. And you didn’t exactly save Jeremy either.”
I laughed. “And to think that I moved here believing Briar Hollow was a sleepy little town.”
Kate’s eyes lit up again. “Don’t you believe that for one second. If you heard the stories about a few of the folks around here, your hair would stand on end. Why, even the chief of police was saying that—”
“Don’t you have an appointment in a few minutes, Kate?” Susan asked. “We’d better go. You don’t want to be late.” They were halfway out the door when Susan called over her shoulder. “I’ll be back to pick up the towels. If I don’t make it today, I’ll be by tomorrow.”
“I’m open from one to six on weekdays,” I reminded her. A moment later, the doorbell tinkled behind them. Through the window, I noticed Kate turning to say something to Susan Wood. From the look on the assistant’s face, I guessed she was getting a tongue-lashing. I chuckled. Jenny was right about one thing. Gossip was a popular pastime in Briar Hollow. If not for her office assistant’s interruption, I suspected Kate would have regaled me with juicy stories about every Briar Hollow resident and his uncle.
I became aware that my stomach was growling, and when I looked at the time I saw that it was already one thirty. Yikes! Matthew was due to arrive in a few hours, and I hadn’t even started moving my things out of the main bedroom. There were sheets to change and my new room to set up. I had to get going, but first—food. I hurried to the kitchen and, keeping an open ear for the doorbell, made myself a hero sandwich—salami, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and jalapeños with a side of potato chips. I carried it to the desk. All at once, a sleepy Winston became alert. He stumbled to his feet and lumbered over, licking his chops.
“Sorry, Winnie, this is people food.” Other than his ears flickering, he didn’t budge. “What is this, a staring contest?” I took a bite, trying to ignore his soulful gaze. “Go away, Winston. Shoo.” He stood rooted to the floor, ogling my food.
“Oh, all right—but just a little piece.” He raised himself on his hind legs, trembling with anticipation as he watched me tear off a piece of Monterey Jack.
I held it over his head, ordering, “Sit.” His butt hit the floor with a thump. “Good boy.” I released the cheese and Winston snagged it in midair. A dog after my own heart—he liked food just as much as I did. I ate the rest of my sandwich, sharing the occasional bit with my buddy, who strolled away the minute it was time to clean up.
“Just like a man,” I called after him. “As long as there’s a possibility of food, you hang around. But when it’s time to clean up, you’re nowhere in sight.”
Ch apter 7
T h e afternoon flew by in a frenzy of moving, organizing and cleaning—unfortunately without a single client coming to the door. I was looking forward to seeing Matthew again and for the occasion had changed into my favorite outfit—a short red linen dress, dangly gold earrings and my hottest shoes—red high-heeled Kate Spades.
This proves it
, I thought.
The city side of me is not entirely gone
. I posed in front of the mirror behind my bedroom door and sighed. Designer shoes were
Susan wandered over to join us.
Kate continued her tale, bubbling with excitement. “I was there when it happened,” she gushed. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought he was going to kill Jeremy. If I hadn’t stepped in, I swear he might have.”
“Oh, come on, Kate. I was there too, remember? All he did was grab Jeremy by his shirt collar. And you didn’t exactly save Jeremy either.”
I laughed. “And to think that I moved here believing Briar Hollow was a sleepy little town.”
Kate’s eyes lit up again. “Don’t you believe that for one second. If you heard the stories about a few of the folks around here, your hair would stand on end. Why, even the chief of police was saying that—”
“Don’t you have an appointment in a few minutes, Kate?” Susan asked. “We’d better go. You don’t want to be late.” They were halfway out the door when Susan called over her shoulder. “I’ll be back to pick up the towels. If I don’t make it today, I’ll be by tomorrow.”
“I’m open from one to six on weekdays,” I reminded her. A moment later, the doorbell tinkled behind them. Through the window, I noticed Kate turning to say something to Susan Wood. From the look on the assistant’s face, I guessed she was getting a tongue-lashing. I chuckled. Jenny was right about one thing. Gossip was a popular pastime in Briar Hollow. If not for her office assistant’s interruption, I suspected Kate would have regaled me with juicy stories about every Briar Hollow resident and his uncle.
I became aware that my stomach was growling, and when I looked at the time I saw that it was already one thirty. Yikes! Matthew was due to arrive in a few hours, and I hadn’t even started moving my things out of the main bedroom. There were sheets to change and my new room to set up. I had to get going, but first—food. I hurried to the kitchen and, keeping an open ear for the doorbell, made myself a hero sandwich—salami, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and jalapeños with a side of potato chips. I carried it to the desk. All at once, a sleepy Winston became alert. He stumbled to his feet and lumbered over, licking his chops.
“Sorry, Winnie, this is people food.” Other than his ears flickering, he didn’t budge. “What is this, a staring contest?” I took a bite, trying to ignore his soulful gaze. “Go away, Winston. Shoo.” He stood rooted to the floor, ogling my food.
“Oh, all right—but just a little piece.” He raised himself on his hind legs, trembling with anticipation as he watched me tear off a piece of Monterey Jack.
I held it over his head, ordering, “Sit.” His butt hit the floor with a thump. “Good boy.” I released the cheese and Winston snagged it in midair. A dog after my own heart—he liked food just as much as I did. I ate the rest of my sandwich, sharing the occasional bit with my buddy, who strolled away the minute it was time to clean up.
“Just like a man,” I called after him. “As long as there’s a possibility of food, you hang around. But when it’s time to clean up, you’re nowhere in sight.”
Ch apter 7
T h e afternoon flew by in a frenzy of moving, organizing and cleaning—unfortunately without a single client coming to the door. I was looking forward to seeing Matthew again and for the occasion had changed into my favorite outfit—a short red linen dress, dangly gold earrings and my hottest shoes—red high-heeled Kate Spades.
This proves it
, I thought.
The city side of me is not entirely gone
. I posed in front of the mirror behind my bedroom door and sighed. Designer shoes were
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