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She releases me, does this strange dance, and claps her hands. Shaking off the scene, I go back to my task. I begin the counting and when I hit four, the first question is slung my way.
“Are you in love?”
“Uh, no.”
“Like? Being in like is good too.”
I stack the towels in two piles and pin her with a look. “I’m notinanything. We’re friends and enjoy spending time together. That’s all. Don’t make this something it’s not. Hopefully I’ll be going home soon. I don’t know what his plans are. We’re in the moment.”
Sighing, she frowns and says, “Fine. I can see you aren’t going to humor me. You’re no fun, Sophia. What are you up to today?”
“A little laundry and then going to work some more on Bobbi’s books. I think I’m organized enough to show her how to start using the accounting program.”
“I know she’s grateful for your help. Well, you being here saved me a trip over to Gage’s. I’m going to be out of town for a few days.”
How can she leave her business? It’s a bed and breakfast. “Umm... you’re closing The Bluebird?”
“Closing? It’s just you, honey. I may have exaggerated my business a little. Okay, a lot.”
Coming around the island, I pull out a stool and sit next to her. “Explain.”
“My husband, Frank, and I bought this place with the plans to raise a litter of kids here. That’s what we always said we’d have, a litter. Unfortunately, kids weren’t meant to be. Instead, we poured ourselves into The Bluebird. Frank was a brilliant carpenter and did most of the work himself. I convinced him to make my dream of owning a small hotel a dream by creating a bed and breakfast. At the time, he was still working as a miner. But we thought he’d be able to leave his job when The Bluebird started making money.”
Dread for the direction this story is headed settles in my gut. Joan is such a vibrant woman, thinking of her suffering a major loss makes me unbelievably sad. I reach out and take her hand, hoping to give her a little comfort as she continues.
“Years passed and we realized that Starlight Ridge wasn’t exactly a tourist destination. Especially when people have to pass Serenity to get here. That’s great, but it’s also my home. Anyway, I still woke every day, ready to greet guests while Frank went to work. One year he got sick. He insisted it was just a cold. Damn fool.”
“It wasn’t a cold?” I ask.
“No. It was. At first anyway. But he was a stubborn mule and didn’t slow down. A cold turned into bronchitis and then pneumonia. When he finally went to the doctor they ran tests and more tests. A dozen scans later, they told him it was lung cancer. He gave it a good fight but in the end, I lost him.”
My heart shatters for her. I can’t imagine that loss. Standing, I pull her into a hug and hold her while she sniffles.
“Gosh it’s been ten years. You’d think I’d have cried all my tears by now. Once Frank was gone, I stopped living. There were about six weeks that I’m not even sure I left the property. Bobbi came to see me every day. She made sure I drank water and ate something. We cried together and eventually laughed. The Bluebird is here for anyone who wants to stay but I don’t advertise or really do anything to call it a business.”
“Oh Joan. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks, Sophia. Anyway, I’m going to see my sister in Montana for a few days so I won’t be here. If you could water my flowers, I would owe you one. Normally I ask one of the teens in town, but since you’re here, you’d save me a phone call.”
Smiling, I say, “Of course.” Another thought occurs to me. Detective Randel grew up in this town with Joan. He’d know her story and that The Bluebird isn’t an actual bed and breakfast. “Joan, do you know why I’m here in Starlight Ridge?”
She stands and moves to the cupboard and moves things around until she finds a travel mug. When she turns back to face me she nods. “I do. Bruce called me a few days before you arrived. He wanted to make sure I had space for you. Don’t be angry with me for not saying anything. There was no need, and I figured when you were ready to talk about it, you would.”
“Thank you, Joan. You have no idea how much being here has helped me. I’m eternally grateful for everything. I just wish we knew when I will be able to get out of here. I feel like I’m intruding.”
Joan waves me off and secures the lid to her cup. “Nonsense. Now, I’ve left my sister’s number on the fridge. I can usually only tolerate her for two nights but my nephew and his kids are going to be there so I may tolerate a third.”
Laughing, I follow her to the door. “Will you be okay? I can stay if you need me to.”
“No ma’am. Go and spend time with your family. I’ll see you in a few days.”
When I hear the gravel crunch beneath her tires, I close the door and turn the lock. Then move to the other doors and do the same. Looking up the stairs to the top floor, I ignore the nervous tension building in my muscles.
• • •
Yawning, I stretch my arms over my head and twist my neck. Bobbi is a quick learner, but I haven’t sat in front of a computer in so long my eyes feel like sandpaper. Gage called me here an hour ago and promised to stay at The Bluebird tonight, a big relief. As always, he knew what I needed before I did.
“I’m heading out, Bobbi. Do you have any questions?”
