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“So she can stay.” Sonya nodded as it played out in her head. “In some twisted way hold the manor. Hold it by causing the death of a Poole bride, one every generation.”

“Taking their rings to bind it. It’s good. I guess it’s good to have what feels like a logical explanation.”

“Collin, in his grief, hanged himself. His brother inherited the manor, lived here with his wife, his children.

“Until his daughter Catherine—here, on her wedding night. Lured outside in a blizzard, where Dobbs waited. And froze to death. Dobbs took her ring. I saw that, too.”

“And down the line,” Trey finished.

“Except for Patricia Poole. My great-grandmother. She refused to live here, closed the manor. Her son Charles opened it again againsther wishes, married Lilian Crest—Clover—against her wishes, no doubt. Clover dies giving birth to my father and his twin, and Charles hangs himself—like Collin did.”

“She separates the twins, puts your father up for adoption and passes your uncle Collin off as her daughter’s son.”

Down the line, Sonya thought.

“I need to know more about Patricia Poole. More about Gretta, the daughter. I know she’s in Ogunquit, that she has dementia. I need to know more.”

“I’ll help as much as I can there.”

He took her mug over to the coffee station, made her a second cup.

“I know Gretta Poole never lived here,” he continued. “I don’t remember her ever coming here. Patricia Poole either.”

“I should talk to your father. I should talk to Deuce. He and Collin were close friends. If anyone can fill in some blanks, he could.”

Trey pulled out his phone. “I’ll text him. Let me set this up, have him come here. He’d want to come here for something like this.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. And I’ve got to go.” He took her shoulders. “You’re okay.”

“I like that you make that a statement of fact and not a question.”

“Because it is a fact. I’m going to have things to clear up with Marlo—my client. She’s being discharged from the hospital sometime today or tomorrow. And if she’s up to it, there’s paperwork I have to have her sign so I can file. I don’t know if I can get back. And…”

“I’m okay,” she reminded him. “Don’t forget the leftovers.”

“Not likely. Look, if something’s not okay—”

“I’ll call you.”

“Expect Deuce around two.” He kissed her, lingered over it.

He got the tub, kissed her again. “Any chance you can put all this away awhile?”

“A very big chance. I’ve got stuff to do.”

“Good. We’ll talk later.”

When he went out the back, she held the door open to let Yoda in.

“I know, you’ll miss your pals.” On his whine, she bent down togive him a good rub. “But I’m here. Right here. And that’s where I’m going to stay.”

She decided apple pie for breakfast was an excellent idea. With it and her second cup of coffee, she sat down to check her email and line up her day of work.

Chapter Four

Sonya knew Cleo’s morning routine as well as her own, so when Cleo passed the library shortly after ten, Sonya answered the grunt with a wave.