Page 19

Sadie showed up at the shop first thing Wednesday morning with another order of treats. My regulars were almost gone when I saw her van pull up. She brought in the first tray and I glanced at the three people still in line. “Sorry, I’ll be out to help as soon as I can.”

“No worries, you have customers. Besides, I need to burn off some energy.” Sadie paused at the door to the back room. “Tell me that being married is worth the hassle. Because right now, I’m ready to give him this engagem ent ring back.”

I laughed as Sadie disappeared into the back and handed the coffee I’d just created to my customer. “She’s getting married soon.”

“Heaven help her.” The woman at the front of the line ran her card through the machine. When she finished, she turned to follow Sadie out of the shop as she went to get more treats from the van. “Honey, marriage isn’t all roses and bonbons. You probably should expect the worst, and if you think you can deal with that, you’ll be golden when he’s charming.”

I smiled at the wisdom Sadie was getting from a stranger. I’d been a divorce attorney for years before I decided to sell coffee instead. I had been in family law, but most of my work was divorces and child custody cases after the breakup. The jo b was grueling.

By the time I’d served the last few customers in line, Sadie had finished bringing in the extra pastry order. She left the last tray out front and started to refill my dessert case as she waited for me.

“Thank you for this. The news vans swarmed in here yesterday for the funeral. You would have thought Kane Matthews was a celebrity.” I held up an empty to-go cup. “You need some caffeine?”

“Please. My women’s group at church is talking about the evils of caffeine this month. I only have two vices, coffee and sweets. I don’t think I should have to give up either.” She finished plating the last of the cookies and put them in the display case. “So, did you go t o the funeral?”

I poured Sadie’s favorite, then refilled my cup. “I did. Do you want to sit and chat?”

“No time. I’m supposed to be giving a talk at noon to a Bakerstown women’s group about my life as a self-employed woman. They want to hear all the dirt on how I had to start my business to raise my child when I became a widow. Now, after almost twenty years, I’m a success.” She held out her arms. “I think I need to warn them about how much work it is to raise a child on your own and build a business. I don’t think I slept a full eight hours until Nick got into high school and didn’t need me to drive him somewhere after school.”

“Maybe one of your helpful hints could be to live on a community bus route instead of out in the boonies like South Cove.” I leaned on the counter . “How’s Bill?”

“Stubborn. He has an actual alibi, but he won’t tell Greg the name of the person he was meeting with that Sunday morning. He feels like he’d be betraying a confidence.” Sadie rubbed her forehead. “The man would go to jail for something he didn’t do rather than break trust. I asked him where his convictions left me? What am I supposed to do, wait for him to get out of prison so we can have a life together? He thinks I’m being selfish.”

“He does not.” I knew Pastor Bill. He took his job seriously and didn’t think the church deacons were his boss as much as the big guy upstairs. “Di d he say that?”

Sadie sipped her coffee, then set the cup on the counter. “No. I’m just feeling that way. I’m finally at a point where I can enjoy my life a little. Nick’s out of the house and working in London. He’s fine. Now, I fall in love and he’s going to take the blame for killing someone because he got in a fight with the guy at the diner? It’s not fair.”

“And it’s not going to happen. You know Greg. He never takes the easy way out when he’s investigating. But Bill needs to help. Isn’t that in the Bible too—God helps those who he lp themselves?”

“I think it’s more implied than an actual commandment.” Sadie smiled. “You always know how to make me feel better. Thank you. Now I need to get out of these baker scrubs and into something that doesn’t have flou r all over it.”

I hugged Sadie, wished her well with her talk, then started cleaning up the dining room after she left. Kane Matthews had made an impact on South Cove during his short time as a resident. I wondered how long New Hope would continue after losing their charismatic leader. Roger just didn’t have his brother’s pizzazz when speaking. I could see the restlessness of the flock even duri ng the funeral.

What happens when the leader is taken too soon? And—the thought chilled me—what if the reason Kane was murdered was to break up the New Hope family? If that was the motive, there were several possible suspects, includi ng Pastor Bill.

A few minutes later, Greg brought Amanda, Jim, and Beth into the coffee shop. I had wondered when the group would be leaving for the airport. I’d sent text messages to Amanda and Beth before leaving for work but hadn’t heard back. “This is a welcome surprise. I figured you all were on the wa y home by now.”

“We had to stop by and grab Greg from the station, then come to say goodbye.” Amanda pulled me into a hug. “Family doesn’t just leave. I wanted to thank you for spending so much time with me before the wedding. It was so nice getting to kn ow you better.”

“I enjoyed hitting the tourist spots and spending time with you as well. It’s funny, we live within driving distance of these places and we never take advantage of all the fun around us.” I turned and Beth hugged me as well. “It was nice of you to com e along, Beth.”

“I loved every moment. The wedding was beautiful. And living here, you’re so lucky. I’d be on the beach every day.” Beth repeated her words from the Santa Barbara visit.

I smiled, remembering my own introduction to the magic that was South Cove. “I need to do that. Emma and I run most days, but I need to just go and s it more often.”

“Sitting there, listening to the waves, I feel like I’m hearing God’s voice.” Beth smiled at Jim, who s tood near Greg.

“God talks everywhere,” Jim reminded her. “ Even Nebraska.”

Beth laughed and shook her head. “He’s got more of a surfer dude vibe here on the coast.”

“Beth,” Jim started, but then he smiled too. “You always see things through your own filters. One of the reaso ns I love you.”

Greg slapped Jim on the back. “Maybe Beth should have caught the bouquet at the wedding, then.”

Jim’s face turned beet red, and we all laughed. For a second, I felt like maybe I could be friends with this new Jim, who was softer when he was with Beth. He was so different than the one I’d met years ago when Greg and I had started dating.

“Hey, can I get you guys some coffee and treats for the drive?” I pointed to the display case. “Or maybe a book for the flight? There’s got to be some perks I bring to the family.”

Beth’s face brightened. “I’d love to look around. And just a plain coffee. I need to get back on the no-sugar plan.”

“That sounds horrible.” Amanda walked with her to the shelves. “Jill, dear, I’ll have a mocha with whipped cream, hot. I’m on the live-life-to-the -fullest plan.”

I giggled as I went over to start the coffee. “Jim? Greg? I might as well make two more.”

“I’ll take a large black coffee. I think I’m going to be working late tonight.” Greg walked toward the counter. Jim followed, keeping hi s gaze on Beth.

“I’ll just have a black coffee.” He glanced at Greg. “Thanks, Jill.”

I wondered how hard it had been for him to even say my name. But I let it go. “Sadie confirmed that Bill was counseling someone on S unday morning.”

“Yes, I know that, Jill.” Greg glanced at the treat display. “The only problem with that is he won’t tell me who.”

“If he was acting as a representative of the church, you can’t ask.” Jim stared at his brother. “ You know that.”

“It’s not an alibi without someone verifying it. Besides his fiancée. Or a receipt from a coffee shop miles away from the mission. God should give his subordinates a better travel plan, so he’d have something to prove where he was if he won’t tell me who he was with.” Greg held up his hand when he saw Jim ready to speak. “Stop, I was just kidding about the travel plan. And I don’t want to talk about an open investigation.”

The last sentence was aimed at me. I put three of the cups into a carrying tray, then boxed up several cookies and tucked a plastic bag into the box as well, in case there were cookies left over when they arrived at the airport. “Okay, noted. You won’t be home for dinner. I guess I’ll just have to find a boyfriend t o eat with me.”

Jim’s eyes widened and Greg laughed. “She’s talking about a book boyfriend. She’ll be reading on the couch wh en I get home.”

“They’re very good company, and they don’t mind if I’m in my sweats without makeup.” I smiled at Beth and Amanda as they came up with their books. “Oh, these are both really good. I read them a couple of months ago.”

“You’re so lucky. Owning a bookstore would be like owning a candy store, but it wouldn’t make me fat.” Beth grinned as I rang up the books and charged them off to my account. “Oh, I sent you my dissertation. You’ll probably want to skip a few sections, but I did a chapter on New Hope and have several citations in my research. I think you’ll find i t interesting.”

“I also tucked in the book Maryanne gave me that Kane wrote on New Hope. It’s a lot of woo-woo and rah-rah stuff, but you might get something out of it.” I liked Beth. “I’m looking forward to reading your dissertation.”

Greg and Jim stared at each other. Greg finally said, “They’re two of a kind.”

“You boys always did think alike. And you always wanted the same toy.” Amanda came around and gave me another hug. “We better get out of here and let you two get on with your lives together. I’m so glad you’re my new daughter.”

I hugged her back and didn’t think about the letter from Sherry to Greg in my new mother-in-law’s purse. Maybe she’d decided not to give it to him. Either way, it wasn’t my business. I just wished I didn’t know about it.

* * * *

When I got home, I felt the absence of people in the house. It felt weird. Amanda, Beth, and even Jim hadn’t been here long, but they’d carved a spot into my idea of home. I looked at Emma and realized she also was feeling the lack of the buzz we’d gotten from the wedding preparations and then the actual ceremony. We’d already run this morning before I’d gone to work, but I grabbed her leash anyway. “Let’s go sit on the beach. We can send your new almost–Aunt Beth some pictures.”

I glanced at the office, filled with wedding gifts, as we walked by. “And when we get home, we’ll open ten gifts, take pictures, and write thank you notes. The way Greg’s investigation is going, I might have to d o all of them.”

Emma looked up at me and barked. I’d forgotten how many conversations I’d had with my dog, since at times she was the only one around. I was sure this was normal, but I decided I’d look it up on the internet when we got back from our beach time. The web would tell me I wasn’t crazy. Or, if I was, it would give me a name f or my disorder.

I texted Amy. Lunch tomorrow?

I watched as the bubbles bounced on my phone. Please have lunch with me since I’m lonely now. I didn’t text that since it looked a little needy.

I blew out my breath when I read her response . Sure, eleven?

Perfect.

At least I had one appointment that wasn’t just work. Now that my degree was finished, the wedding was over, and I’d figured out what was happening with the coffee shop, my to-do list looked a little bare. Maybe I needed to get a hobby or take some classes. Amy was busy remodeling her house with Justin, but maybe Darla or Esmeralda would take something with me. I’d put it on my list to see what was available, then throw out an invite to e veryone I knew.

Okay, maybe not everyone. Like not Josh Thomas, but I might see if his new wife, Mandy, was ready to do something witho ut her husband.

Or maybe I’d find new friends when I figured out what my new hobby was going to be. As we went down the stairs to the beach, I saw Molly walking with a young woman. As she flipped her hair out of her eyes, I realized it was Carlie. Molly had reunited wit h her daughter.

I didn’t want to interrupt their conversation, but Molly waved me over to where they had sat down on a blanket on the beach. Emma and I joined them. We were the only ones on the beach. Emma watched the seagulls playing in the waves. I unfastened her leash and she ran to the edge. “Don’t go far,” I ca lled after her.

The girl laughed as Molly hugged her. “Jill, this is Carlie. We’re hanging out in the area until she goes back to sch ool next week.”

Carlie stood and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m a recovering member of the New Hope cult. I read a lot of books that came from your store in the last few months. You have quite t he collection.”

“I don’t remember seeing you in the store.” I shook her hand. “And we’re all recovering from som ething, right?”

“I like your attitude.” Carlie grinned at her mom. “Mom and I went to your store last night. It was my first time there. Maryanne used to bring me the books I wanted. Kane didn’t like me to leave the compound. He knew Mom was looking for me. A fact he never s hared with me.”

Molly grimaced at the mention of Kane. “Well, I was out there. Crying in t he wilderness.”

Carlie squeezed her mom’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I wrote you letters, but I guess they never left the compound. Kane used them to get deeper into my head.”

I felt horrible for her. “I’m so sorry for what you went through.”

Carlie shrugged. “Mostly, it was fine. I just missed my mom at times. I got swept into Kane’s world and didn’t even realize what was going on. I’d make a horrible interviewee for one of those talk shows. They kept me in the dark, but it wasn’t a bad life . I’m ready to get back to school, though, and figure out what I want to do with my life.”

Emma barked at a stubborn seagull that wasn’t moving. I started to get up, but Carlie reached for the leash. “I’ll get her, if you don’t mind. We weren’t allowed to have pets at the compound.”

I handed her the leash and watched as she went up to play with Emma and distract her from the seagulls. “S he seems good.”

“She’s a lot better since she spent some time with the local minister, Pastor Bill.” Molly watched her daughter carefully. “She thought leaving the compound meant she was turning her back on God. Kane had convinced her that New Hope was the only way. And that the end of the world wa s coming soon.”

“She talked to Bill Doyle?” Now my spidey senses were tingling.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re still here. If I had my way, we’d be in Maine or somewhere farther away from New Hope. Bill seems to calm her. I guess you must know that about him, since he performed your wedding ceremony. He’s also been helping me talk through my jumbled thoughts since I came to town. About Carlie, and then the entire Vince thing. I wish I co uld thank him.”

“Did you meet with him Sunday morning before last? Before you came to see Kane a t the mission?”

Molly nodded. “I wasn’t sure if I should go. I was worried about putting Carlie in danger. He convinced me to go and at least see what he wanted to talk about.”

“Molly, did you tell Gr eg about this?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I was so upset after finding Kane like that. I think it just slipped my mind. And no one asked. They just wanted to know when I got there and why I agreed to m eet Kane. Why?”

“I think I have a way for you to thank Bill. Can you tell Greg what you just told me? About meeting with Bill?” I dialed Greg’s number and after he answered, I asked him to hold on while I handed her the phone.