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Beulah abruptly stood up. “I won’t be treated like a child, Hank Crawford! I may be from the older generation, but I still have my full faculties about me. After twenty-five years I have the right to discuss Lily’s disappearance however I see fit.” She stomped her foot. “This has been a terrible day, full of reminders of everything my family has lost. Twenty-five years later and I’m still expected to walk on eggshells. It’s no wonder poor Jennings stays cooped up in the house and refuses to be a part of the world.”
Hank’s heart sank. He had never seen Beulah so upset. She was clearly unraveling, and it was all his fault. He had crossed a line by chiding her. Although his intentions were honorable, his delivery had been terrible.
“Beulah, forgive me,” Hank said, his voice filled with remorse. “I’m so sorry for upsetting you.”
Beulah ignored him and looked directly at Sage. “I’m sorry, my dear, to leave so abruptly, but it seems as if everything is catching up to me all at once. I’m feeling terribly tired at the moment and all I want to do is go home and lie down.”
Sage reached out and enveloped Beulah in a tight embrace. As Hank watched, the two woman clung to each other for dear life. Sage was murmuring something to Beulah that he couldn’t quite hear. When they pulled apart, Beulah had tears glistening in her eyes. “I’ll be in touch about your tour of the chocolate factory,” she told Sage, who nodded enthusiastically.
“Can I walk you to your car?” Hank asked, wincing at the fierce look Beulah shot him in response.
“I managed to get myself here. Surely I can see myself out,” Beulah answered before walking away from the table with her head held high. Her body language radiated a fiery anger.
Hank shook his head. “Open mouth, insert foot,” he muttered. He was disappointed at himself for sending Beulah into a downward spiral. She was his dear friend and his best friend’s grandmother, not to mention the grand dame of Owl Creek. He should have understood how raw her nerves were regarding the topic of her missing granddaughter.
Hank looked over at Sage. “So, do you want to unload on me too? Go ahead, Sage. I can take it. Tell me what a colossal idiot I am.”
Chapter Five
Sage shook her head at Hank. She had only been in Owl Creek for a few days and somehow she’d landed smack-dab in the middle of a squabble between the town sheriff and her paternal grandmother. So much for keeping her head down and staying away from controversy. It felt like she was right in the thick of it.
Although she felt a great deal of sympathy for Beulah, she couldn’t place the blame squarely on Hank. It was fairly obvious to her that Beulah had been sitting on an emotional powder keg. No doubt it had been years in the making. Sadly, it had all blown up due to the tremendous stress she was under and the pressure of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Lily’s abduction.
“I don’t think you’re an idiot at all,” Sage said. “I think Beulah is hurting and what you said rubbed her the wrong way. I can’t imagine how painful it would be to go through an ordeal like the one the North family has endured.”
Hank’s expression was somber. “It’s like a gaping hole that never gets filled. That’s how Connor explained it to me once.”
“Does he remember his sister?” Sage asked. She tried to keep her tone neutral, although she was eager to hear his response. Growing up as an only child, she had longed for siblings. It would have made the feelings of loneliness more bearable. Knowing she had two brothers was an amazing feeling, even though in all likelihood she would never connect with them in any meaningful way. She was still determined to protect her father at all costs and the only way to do so was to retain her anonymity.
Hank nodded. “Connor was five years old when Lily was taken. He has vivid memories of his baby sister. Matter of fact, Connor was the one who came up with her name. He still feels a deep connection to her.”
Suddenly her throat felt as if it was clogged with cotton balls. “That’s really sweet.”
“I wouldn’t describe Connor that way,” Hank said with a throaty laugh. “He’s a good guy, but he isn’t always warm and fuzzy. I couldn’t ask for a more loyal friend though.” His voice softened. “I think the tragedy caused him to grow a hard outer shell. It’s difficult for him to trust folks.”
“That’s understandable. He’s grown up in the shadow of an inexplicable tragedy,” she responded, her mind whirling at the ripple effect the kidnapping had set in motion. So many lives had been altered by her mother’s heinous crime. She’d hurt so many people with her twisted actions. Ultimately, Jane Duncan had gone to the grave without having to make amends for all the harm she’d caused. Although she loved her mother, it still seemed very unfair to Sage.
The kidnapping explained so much about her mother’s lack of faith. How could a person be a believer and justify stealing another woman’s child? Had she repented on her deathbed? Had her mother found Jesus in her final days? Perhaps she had written the letter as a way to make amends and reassure the North family that Lily was still alive.
“Are you heading back to the inn?” Hank asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Sage glanced over at the clock on the wall. “Actually I have another hour to kill before Trudy picks me up. I really need to get a rental car so I can explore Owl Creek without bothering your mom. She’s been so gracious, but I don’t want to impose on her.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t mind, but I can quickly swing you over there if you like. It will give me an opportunity to pop in on Addie.”
“That would be great if you can spare the time,” Sage answered.
He dug into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “Sure thing. Let me call my mom and let her know.” Sage waited while Hank made the phone call. It was nice to hear the sweet way he spoke to Trudy on the phone. They clearly shared a close, loving relationship. Although she had known her own mother loved her, their relationship had always been strained. Jane Duncan’s mercurial moods had cast a pall over Sage’s childhood, and she had never known from one moment to the next which way the wind would blow with regard to her mother’s temperament.
Iris walked toward them and said in a hushed tone, “Beulah said to put everything on her tab right before she stormed out of here.”
Hank grimaced. “As usual, Beulah is one step ahead of me. I was planning to pay today. She loves having the last word, doesn’t she?”
“Don’t take her mood personally, Hank. She’s going through a tough time. The two of you have such a wonderful friendship. This is just a little bump in the road.” She patted him on the arm. “She needs you more than ever now.”
Hank’s jaw tightened. “She can lean on me. I’ll always have her back.” Sage shivered at the intensity in the sheriff’s voice. She pitied the person who tried to mess with Beulah.
“It was so nice to meet you, Sage,” Iris said, clasping Sage’s hand in her own.
