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Chapter 12

“When you’re done staring at yourself in the window, I could use some help.”

Torr turned to his brother’s girlfriend, who was holding swatches of fabrics in her hand.

“Lawrence is still in his meeting with the Liquor Control Board,” she said by way of explanation.

He turned back to the window, but the old woman he’d been watching had disappeared. Zach wasn’t the only one who was no longer in hiding, it appeared—his grandmother was walking the streets of downtown Stone Haven. He made a split-second decision.

“I have to go.”

“But wait, the decorator—”

“Bring the swatches with you, but hurry.”

Giving him a curious look, Toni nevertheless followed him out of the bar.

“And for the record,” he said as they stepped out onto the sidewalk, “I wasn’t staring at myself.”

“You were.”

“No, I wasn’t.” A flash of purple more than a block ahead of them caught his attention. “At least,” he said, winking at Toni, “not this time.”

“That doesn’t explain where we—”

“Zach’s grandmother,” he said, nodding to the white-haired woman walking in front of a family of four. Tourists were not as common during the week in Stone Haven, but this family was barely keeping up with the elderly woman. They looked up at the colorful Victorian homes and businesses, left and right to the small mom-and-pop shops . . . pretty much everywhere but in front of them.

“Oh wow, I heard she almost never leaves her house—”

“Exactly. Which is why we’re following—”

“Is she going into our shop?”

Indeed, it looked as if her destination was Ye Old Curiosities.

“This should be interesting.”

Fabric swatches still clutched in her hand, Toni rushed ahead of him. Torr followed her, stepping on fallen, brightly colored leaves as they made their way to the shop. All the while, he tuned in to the conversations in the shop, which became crisper as they stepped inside. Toni’s aunt was talking to a young customer, but she soon saw the newcomer and let out an exclamation of surprise.

“Annabel!”

Toni headed for the back of the store, but Torr held out his hand. Placing his finger to his lips, he moved them into a crowded aisle out of sight from the register. With so many knickknacks practically falling off the shelves, it was an easy shop to get lost inside. Standing next to a display of handmade keychains, they waited.

“I can hear them,” he whispered.

“But why not just go—”

“I want to hear what she has to say.”

Toni seemed to understand their presence might change the conversation.

The cash register clicked. The customer thanked Birdie and then left the store. That meant Annabel was the only remaining customer.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” Birdie said.

Torr had met Toni’s aunt twice. He liked her. Although her hair was a muted shade of Toni’s bright red, she was a brasher version of the woman standing beside him. Delightful, but not to be trifled with. And judging from the edge to her voice, he could tell Birdie was anything but pleased to see her former friend.

“It’s been much too long,” her former friend replied.