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CHAPTERTWELVE
The small kitchen area at Curlz, the hair salon across the street from Andie’s antique store and apartment, had become almost as familiar to Andie as her own kitchen. She often popped over to chat with Mary when business was slow for them both and she wanted to take break.
Andie settled back in the chair, sipping a peppermint tea while Mary relaxed in between clients.
“So, you have no idea who the Civil War papers belong to?” Mary was always interested in the antiques that Andie bought. “No one in town has that last name?”
“The person I got it from said it was left in their attic. They bought the house as a foreclosure and don’t know who owned it before. I tried the bank, but they weren’t very helpful.”
Mary dipped her teabag into her mug. She had a variety of mugs, and this one was black with white scissors dancing across the rim. “Maybe the family doesn’t want them?”
The thought had never occurred to Andie. She couldn’t imagine someone not wanting their family history. “Maybe, but I don’t feel right just selling them or throwing them away. I think it’s more likely that the family didn’t know they were up there. The box was probably put there by some ancestor generations ago.”
“Yeah, probably.” Mary thought for a few minutes. “Lucky for you, I might be able to help. Agnes Crosby works down at the town hall. She comes in every month for a cut and color. Maybe she knows of a way you can find out.”
Mary grabbed her phone off the counter and dialed a number. “Agnes? It’s Mary over at Curlz. I have a question. If someone wanted to find out who owned a house that had been foreclosed on, could you help them?”
Andie watched as Mary nodded and said “uh-huh” a few times. Then she hung up the phone. “Agnes says that sometimes that information is sealed. She doesn’t want to dig in and get into trouble, but she did have another idea. You could trace the family tree.”
Andie frowned. “What do you mean?”
“The town library has a huge genealogy section. You can put in your guy’s name and see the family tree.”
“Really? That will be great. Thanks so much.”
“No need to thank me. After all, we’re practically family.” Mary got a mischievous glint in her gray eyes. “Speaking of which? Is my favorite nephew coming today?”
Andie’s cheeks heated, and she felt silly. She was a grown woman, but somehow, thoughts of Shane always made her feel like the teenager she’d been when she’d first met him. It was downright embarrassing. “I’m waiting for him to come and pick me up for dinner, actually.”
“Just killing time here with me, then?” Mary feigned being insulted.
Andie laughed. “Oh no. I’m killing time with Shane. Just using a date with him as an excuse to talk to you.”
The door opened, and Shane walked in. Andie’s heart did a little skip, as it always did when he came into the room. He was tall with dark, slightly graying hair and kind gray eyes. And when he smiled at her, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes didn’t make him look aged—they made him look magical.
“Hey, how are my favorite girls?” Shane came over and kissed Mary on the cheek and Andie on the lips.
“Great and you? How are things over at the Brown house?” Andie asked. Shane was a general contractor in town and had been renovating a house for the Brown family. He must’ve gone home to change and shave because he smelled slightly spicy and looked fresh in a crisp, clean shirt and jeans.
“Pretty good. Got the kitchen in, and the tile guys are coming tomorrow for the bathrooms. I was thinking maybe we could head on over to Splash and watch the sunset. Maybe split some appetizers?”
“Sounds delicious.”
Shane turned to Mary. “Would you like to join us?”
Mary waved her hand. “No, you two go along. I don’t want to be a third wheel. Besides, I have a client coming in half an hour.”
