CHAPTER 21
“ Y ou’re doing wonderful,” Beau says, nodding approvingly at my work right here in the heart of Memories and More. “I’m so glad you’re picking it up. Honestly, I wish Blythe was here to help you do it. She loved scrapbooking. She was always a natural at these things.”
“I’m sure she was,” I say softly. “Would you want to take a seat? Maybe take a break? I’d love to ask a few questions about her if you don’t mind.”
Questions? His brows furrow for a moment. What kind of questions could she possibly ask? Oh well, maybe she’ll be the one who buys the store. Heck, I’d sell it to her at a steep discount. I just need to get this place off my hands.
Sell the place? And to me? I muse to myself at the thought of this cute shop landing in my lap.
Not that I would buy it. As much as I’m having fun here, my hands are full with the inn. And I’m hoping to have my hands full with Emmie’s sweet new baby, too.
I offer a forlorn smile to the man. “How are you doing?”
“Best as I can.” He takes a seat and his shoulders droop. “I haven’t really been sleeping all that well. You know, it’s funny. I never knew that I couldn’t sleep without her until she was gone.” He glances out the window and muses to himself, I’m quickly learning that I can’t do a lot of things without her. And here she’s just been gone for a few days. But then, I do have other options when it comes to the bedroom. His lips curl at the tips with the thought and I can’t help but scoff.
I guess Georgie is right. A cheater never changes his spots. But then again, at this point, it’s not necessarily cheating, is it? I mean, it’s not like he cheated on Blythe while she was still alive.
He nods to himself. At least now I won’t have to worry about sneaking around. I can even have my little sweet pea over tonight if I want to.
His little sweet pea? I stand corrected.
I can’t help but frown over at the man.
It sounds like he’s had someone in the wings while Blythe still had God’s breath in her lungs.
“I hear the sheriff’s department is looking into her case,” I say with a touch too much attitude. But still. He deserves it.
“I’m aware.” He blows out a breath. “But as far as I understand, it’s all procedural. I spoke with the detective and he assured me as much. Not sure if you know this but, well, it seems she took her own life.” He shakes his head at the thought. “Wish I knew what went wrong.” I know exactly what went wrong, he thinks to himself.
My entire body straightens at the thought.
He knows what went wrong? Here’s hoping he shares the wealth.
“I’m so sorry,” I say. “It must be very difficult. Was she having a tough time? I heard she thought someone was watching her, and that she had her tires slashed.”
He gives a dark chuckle. “Yeah, yeah, I heard it all. She did get her tires slashed, but I think it was just a couple of kids goofing off. I didn’t think anything of it. That probably explains why she was a touch paranoid as of late. But I don’t claim to know what she was thinking, taking her own life.” He glances out the window. I know exactly what she was thinking. And she had every reason to be paranoid.
Wow, Beau is the key to this whole case. And a part of me wonders if he’s the killer, too.
I clear my throat. “May I ask if the two of you were having any difficulties? I mean, I’m a wife. And I certainly know that when my husband and I aren’t getting along, it takes a toll on me.”
“Everything was great,” he says a little too quickly. “She kept herself plenty busy here.” He waves around at the store.
That’s true, Chestnut says . She called this her safe haven.
I inch back.
Safe haven?
That’s a strange way to put it. It almost implies she wasn’t safe elsewhere. As in, she wasn’t safe at home? With him?
“And I kept busy tooling around in the yard,” he continues. “I’ve been retired for a few years now.” He looks out the window again and glowers.
Sure, I hit the Marino Casino a few times as well , he muses to himself. Blythe hated that place. She never did want me wasting my money there. A part of me wishes I had listened to her. Sure, those endless debts were bitter. But those stolen nights as Mr. and Mrs. Marino were sweeter than sugarplums. But then, forbidden fruit always is.
Forbidden fruit? He’s thinking about his affair!
Fish leans my way. Whatever he’s thinking, it must be juicy. You should see the look on your face!
I try my best to lose the look in an effort to keep his thoughts moving, no matter how rotten they are.
What’s he saying? Acorn yips.
It can’t be anything good, Chestnut muses. Mama always said the man was rotten through and through.
I have a feeling Mama was right.
Beau sighs hard as he lifts his chin. And then when the debts came rolling, and they always did, I had to borrow against this place. He gives a wry look around with his internal musings. Then Blythe found out about it and it’s been a disaster ever since. Or at least up until the new disaster hit.
I nod his way as if acknowledging his dark thoughts. I bet the newest disaster is Blythe’s death.
Nope, the debts weren’t my finest hour, he continues with his thoughts. But then, with one blast of a bullet, all of my problems were erased. When Blythe died, she took all of my problems right along with her. And once this so-called investigation goes away, I’ll be home free.
I gasp without meaning to, the dogs bark, and Fish belts out a yowl as every last hair on her body stands on end.
Beau thinks he’ll be home free, but I’m wondering if that home should be prison.