“Oh, goodness! I didn’t hear you drive up. Come on in. What did you bring?” She took the box, her face lighting up. “You didn’t have to do that, but boy, we will enjoy these.”
“I know. Don’t they look delicious?”
“I bet my friend Nelle made these. She bakes on the side for the market up the road. That woman. She’s got amazing baking and cooking skills. The nicest woman you ever met andthe biggest faith! Lord, girl, she’s had some heaping trials in her life. Doesn’t matter. She just keeps looking up and moving on.”
“She sounds wonderful.”
“You’ll love her. How about you come over around lunchtime tomorrow. I’ll introduce the two of you.”
“That sounds nice. What can I bring?”
“Not a thing. Nelle’s cooking.”
“Don’t you think we should at least ask her first?”
“No. She’s open for lunch three days a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
“How does someone stay in business with such limited hours?” Natalie asked.
“Once you taste Nelle’s cooking, you’ll know the answer to that.”
“I have an appointment at two thirty to take Paul to the market. Can we do lunch early?”
“Sure. Come on over tomorrow whenever you’re ready.”
An hour had passed with the two gabbing before they sat down for tea.
“How are things going at the cabin, Natalie?” Orene pressed her fingers against the teapot lid as she poured for both of them.
“Great. I’m getting my ducks in a row. I’ve been doing a lot of painting. This town inspires me.”
“Chestnut Ridge is a special place. No crime to speak of, and there’s just something freeing here that you don’t feel other places.”
“Most of the time. I had something strange happen yesterday, though.”
“How so?”
“Tucker showed up out of the blue.”
“Really? At the cabin? Well, he must’ve been checking on things. I’m sure old habits die hard.”
“Probably.” It still bothered her. “It was more than that, though.”
“What happened? You seem bothered by it.”
“I’m sure Tucker didn’t mean anything by it, but he was rather rude with my friend who was here for the day.”
“A friend?”
“Yes. The detective I told you about.”
“Detective Fellowes. Randy,” Orene recited from memory. “Yes. How nice that he came to see you.”
“Tucker acted all out of sorts about him being there with me. It was very awkward.”
“I’m sure he was just worried about you. Knowing you’ve never lived in the mountains. Kind of showing up out of the blue and all.”
“It just kind of caught me off guard.”
