Page 41 of Peach Cobbler Confessions

She taps a pen to her chin. “Let’s see, the biker, the home invasion, the disappearance of Alison Beamer, the disappearance of Jenika Tate, the school bus driver with the temper, the couple that went camping, the missing landlord. I guess I can’t decide.”

“Wow,” I say. “You named them all. I guess you really are obsessed.”

She laughs. “And youknewthat I named them all. I guess you really are a junkie. I knew I liked you.”

I laugh along with her. “Hey, they’re filming an episode this Saturday at my mother’s B&B in Honey Hollow—theonlyB&B in Honey Hollow. Why don’t you come out if you get a chance? I’m sure it’ll be an all-day event.”

“Ooh! I think I will.”

Noah gives a sly wink my way before looking to her. “Jade, where do you think I could find Kent Noble to speak to him? I have a project I’m working on and I’d love to pitch it.”

“He lives out in Fallbrook. His house acts as his office. But since Dane died, he’s been at the Caper Productions studio out in Leeds. It’s where they do all the prep for the show and edits. They shoot the voice-overs there and some of the shots. I guess they’ll be doing a remote shoot at your mom’s B&B.” She crimps a smile my way. “They usually do that when they’re trying to jazz things up.” She looks back to Noah. “Oh, and just so you know, Kent is a night owl. They all are. So if you want to catch him, your best bet is in the evening. No one arrives at the studio before two or three, and they stay until well after midnight.”

“Good to know. Thank you for that.” Noah nods to Everett and me.

I guess we know what we’re doing tomorrow night.

We wrap it up and Carlotta drives off in her Green Greased Lightning, her words not mine. And Noah and I hop into my shiny new minivan, metallic crimson. Carlotta thought it was fitting and in the end so did I.

Everett drove us all over in his sedan, so he’s following me home. And Carlotta is just a blip on the highway in front of me. I guess she got the guts she wanted in that machine.

Noah leans back as I take us home to Honey Hollow.

“This is a great car, Lot. I’m thrilled for you.”

“I agree. But you and Everett are ridiculous. I can’t believe you went in on halves.” I scoff. “And Everett paid for Carlotta’s at the last second. I won’t ever forget that.”

Noah grunts, “I have a feeling he won’t ever let either of us forget it.” He looks my way and I can feel the weight of his stare heating up the right side of my body. “Lottie, I just want you to know I love you. I’m never going to stop, and I’m going to be there for you and the baby for as long as I’m drawing breath in my body.”

My lips invert as my chest bucks with emotion. I can’t take this anymore.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he whispers. “But I do have to tell you. I have a hunch that baby is mine and my hunches are rarely wrong.”

My heart breaks just hearing it.

I’m sorry, Noah. But your hunch is very wrong this time. This baby isn’t yours. Because there isn’t a baby.

“Noah,” I press his name out with sadness as I prepare to tell him everything.

“Nope.” He perks up. “I don’t want to upset you. Let’s shift gears. What do you think about Jade Archibald? Do you think she’s our killer?”

“I don’t know. But I have an uneasy feeling about this whole case, and I can’t put my finger on why.”

“It’s probably those creepy unsolved mysteries.”

“I bet you’re right.”

“How about pizza at my place sometime and we’ll take a crack at the cases and see what we come up with. I bet we solve them all. We’re a good team, Lottie.”

I bite down over a smile as I glance his way.

“You bet we are. But first, we’re going to crack Dane Gannon’s case wide open.”

And then I’ll crack open both Noah’s and Everett’s hearts when I tell them the truth about this fictious baby.

And I’ll have this minivan around forever to remind me of this debacle.

At least it’s comfortable.