Page 38 of Sugar Plum Serenade

CHAPTER 15

Old folks’ homes were creepy, in Olive’s opinion. Not that anyone here called this place or others like it an old folks’ home. They were retirement villages, or senior apartments, or something along those lines.

She steeled her spine and walked into the dining room, which was filled with, well, old folks.

When she’d texted Tuck last night, he’d blown her off. She could do the same here; she could refuse to do what Anna and Colt had asked her to do and move on with her life.

If she’d refused, Anna probably would’ve given it a shot. Anna, or Colt, or both. But they had to live here, after the deed was done. Their involvement, the questions they would ask, might stir up too many questions. Since Olive wouldn’t be here long, since she and Tuck were dating, or something like that, they thought her involvement was more logical. Maybe it was. Maybe they were cowards.

She’d be in town for another week, maybe a day or two longer. She didn’t need a man; she wasn’t looking for romance. Her sister would help her pass the time. Nieces and a new nephew needed to be cuddled. Her parents would be here in two days. She could easily get lost in what remained of the holiday season and forget what had happened with Tuck.

He’d been a bump in the road, not much more than a one-night stand.

But she liked him, he’d helped her find a way to enjoy Christmas again, and whether or not she ever saw him again… this was important. At least, Colt seemed to think so. No, Maude seemed to think so.

Once she took care of this, she’d have an excuse to call Tuck or stop by his house. If she got anywhere with this chore. If Maude was right.

Holy cow, she’d been sent on an errand by a ghost.

The dining room was small, which made sense. Seawolf Beach wasn’t a big town; they didn’t need a huge retirement home. Olive moved to the center of the room and raised her voice to ask, “Is Betty here?”

Two women looked her way. She didn’t have a last name, and she hadn’t expected there to be more than one Betty. “I’m looking for the Betty who was friends with Maude Reeves. Wait, Reeves was her maiden name, not her married name, if that helps.”

One Betty returned to her meal; the other stood. “Maude and I were great friends.”

“I hate to disturb your lunch,” Olive said as she walked toward the woman, “but I only have a little bit of time before I have to get back to work.” She didn’t like taking a long break when the boutique was so busy, but this had to be done.

It had taken her hours to come up with an excuse other than a ghost sent me… “A letter was recently found in Maude’s belongings.”

“Did her son find it? The eldest, I expect. He certainly took his time going through her things.” She gave a huff of disapproval.

“Yes, her son,” Olive said. It was simpler to just agree and move on. “There was a mention of pearl earrings Maude wanted to go to… her grandson. She seemed to think you might have them.”

Betty visibly paled. Her eyes darted to the side and one hand trembled. “I’m finished with my lunch. Walk to my room with me.”

She nodded to her companions and stepped away from the table. Olive wanted to run but she had to let Betty, who did not run, set the pace as they walked into the lobby and to the elevator. The woman didn’t say a word until they were in the elevator with the door closed.

“I borrowed the earrings just a week or so before Maude passed. I had a date with Joseph, and I didn’t think Maude would miss the earrings so quickly. Naturally she missed them right away. I didn’t realize she held those pearls in her hands every night before she went to bed, that she cherished them so much. She was so upset, I was afraid to tell her I’d borrowed them. I did plan to return them, when an opportunity arose, but then she was gone.”

The slow elevator took them to the second floor. Betty walked to the second door on the right and opened it wide.

“I’m sure she’d understand,” Olive said. Her palms were sweating, she was so nervous. And, well, the apartment felt like the heat was set to eighty degrees.

Betty laughed. “I loved Maude, I did, but she wasn’t always understanding. I couldn’t tell her the truth, and I was afraid to tell anyone what I’d done after she was gone because I was afraid they’d blame me. Did I bring on Maude’s heart attack because I upset her?”

“Oh no. I’m sure that’s not the case.” She wasn’t sure, but it seemed like the thing to say.

The apartment was simply laid out. A main room with a couch and television; a kitchenette which looked to be rarely used; a bathroom and bedroom. Betty walked into the bedroom and to her dresser. She opened a small jewelry box and there they were, the infamous earrings that kept a ghost earthbound, if Colt was to be believed. The pearl earrings were simple, small, and were what her own grandmother had always called ear clips. When these had been made, pierced ears weren’t at all common so when worn they were attacked to the earlobes with sturdy clips. Betty removed the earrings from the box and placed them in Olive’s hands.

“These are your responsibility now. My heart feels lighter already. I’ve worried about these so, but I was also afraid to say anything. Afraid her family would brand me a thief, or worse, accuse me of killing Maude, of bringing on her heart attack. I don’t want to be kicked out of my home.” She looked Olive in the eye. “Did you know about Phillip? I admit, I wondered if her family even knew about these earrings.”

Phillip. Tuck’s grandfather. Maude’s secret love, all these years. “I know a little. Did Maude talk about him?”

“Not often, but on Taco Tuesday, when they served margaritas, she opened up quite a bit.” Betty laughed at the memory. “Maude had a family who loved her, she had a great life, but she always carried Phillip and their daughter in her heart.”

Olive grasped the earrings in one hand, placing the other hand on Betty’s arm. “These earrings will go to that daughter’s son.”

Tears bloomed in Betty’s eyes. “Oh, I’m so glad. It’s right, isn’t it?”