Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
M illie followed Linda all the way to Seashells and Such, complaining the entire way. “You’ve got to let this go, Linda. I don’t think the book club is your real motivation for pursuing this woman.”
“Millie, I don’t know why you keep saying that. All I want is a book club filled with the most interesting women I can find. How can you find fault with that?”
“Because Kristin has already told you she wasn’t interested. When she said that to you, that should have been the end of it. Instead, you now are officially stalking her.”
“Not true. I just thought it would be nice to stop over to her place and buy a few things, that’s all. For instance, I heard she has the prettiest beach coverups on the island. I thought I’d take a look for myself.”
The closer they got to the store, the more nervous Millie became. There was no doubt in her mind that what Linda was really after was as much information about Kristin’s ex-husband as she could get.
She paid no mind to Linda’s insistence that she was shopping for beachwear. It was only a ruse to get in front of Kristin again.
Seashells and Such had changed ownership several times in the last few years. The shop had t-shirts, sweatshirts, flips flops and lotions, and several high scale handbags and beach bags with an assortment of tropical designs.
“I love the smells in here,” Millie whispered. “Oh, I’m going over there to slather some of that body lotion on my dry skin,” Millie whispered.
Millie couldn’t tell whether Linda wanted her by her side, or to leave her to snoop uninterrupted. She assumed the latter and headed for the hand lotion display. Linda, looking every bit the private investigator, gingerly moved closer to Kristin, who was folding t-shirts.
“Hello, Linda,” Kristin said.
“Kristin!” Linda blurted, “I didn’t see you there.”
Millie rolled her eyes but kept out of sight behind the beach coverups.
“Can I help you find something?” Kristin asked.
“I’d love to look at some of your jewelry behind the case,” Linda lied.
“Of course. Let me get the key to that cabinet.”
Linda looked over at Millie and motioned for her to join them. Millie came out from behind the beach coverup display and walked toward the front of the store.
“Hey Millie, look at this jewelry. Aren’t those earrings gorgeous?”
Millie nodded and smiled at Kristin.
“I made them,” Kristin said.
“Are you kidding? My goodness, they are beautiful. What a talent you have. I had no idea.”
“Thank you, I love making jewelry. It’s very therapeutic, I think.”
“You are so lucky to have something to relax you when life gets too stressful.”
Millie felt Linda was fishing and hoped Kristin didn’t catch on.
“It’s true. It’s like meditation.”
“Oh? Do you meditate?” Linda asked.
“I do, but not as much as I used to. This shop keeps me so busy, it’s hard to find time to do other things. That’s why I hope you weren’t upset with me when I said I didn’t have time to join your book club.”
Linda laughed, and Millie was familiar with the fake sound.
“Not at all. I completely understand. It’s just…well, we’re having a hard time getting women to join our little group. It’s not easy to find people when so many are only here for a short time. I think it might be easier if we invite residents only. That way, we could contact people from the list.”
Kristin smiled but didn’t add more. Millie could tell that she was less willing to divulge personal information than the last time Linda inquired about joining the book club.
“I think I’m going to buy these,” Linda said, holding up an earring to her earlobe.
“Really? I am so glad. Those are my favorites. When I created those, I was having a bad day, but by the time I finished, the world looked better and I could breathe again.”
Millie’s eyes grew wide as Linda reached across the glass counter and put her hand on Kristin’s arm.
“I’m sorry to hear you had a bad day. We all have them. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m a good listener.”
It was a daring tactic, but since they were almost done at the register, there wasn’t much opportunity left for Linda to make her move. Kristin, however, ate it up, letting Linda slowly creep her way into her life in the most subtle way.
“Thank you, Linda. I appreciate that,” Kristin said as she stapled the receipt to the small peach-colored bag. “Enjoy your earrings.”
Linda nodded. “I will. Thanks again.”
Millie could tell Linda wanted to stay longer, but there wasn’t anything else to do but leave the store.
“Well, that was awkward,” Millie said when they got outside.
Linda smiled. “I think it went perfectly.”
“And now you have a pair of earrings,” Millie added.
Linda shook her head. “I got more than that, I gained her trust, and that’s exactly what I wanted.”
As they walked back to Andy Rosse Lane, Millie chewed the last of her short fingernails. It was a habit she’d never been able to quit.
Now that Linda was only beginning her investigation of Kristin and her ex-husband’s crimes, Millie wondered how far Linda would go to get what she wanted.
Linda would probably have her head for even suggesting it, but the time had come to involve Chelsea Marsden. Chelsea was the only person Linda couldn’t control.
If that didn’t work, she’d have no choice but to report Linda’s covert behavior to Maggie’s mother. For all of Linda’s grandstanding, it was Sarah Garrison who could shut her down with just one look.
I’m going to need someone to get through to Linda. Heaven knows, I can’t do it alone.
Maggie closed the registration book after saying goodbye to her guest. There wouldn’t be another booking until after Thanksgiving, when the inn was completely booked for the Christmas Parade.
She was glad to not have anything more to focus on but Thanksgiving. The only good thing about having so much time on her hands was plenty of time to get ready for the holiday, but she hated that each day her guest list dwindled.
“Well, I guess that’s that,” Maggie said, looking at the list.
Riley closed the dishwasher and then turned to look at Maggie. “How many do you have?”
“Paolo and I, Sarah and her family, my mother, Chelsea and Steven, and Ciara and Crawford only because Finn, Luke and Joshua have other plans. I think Joshua is going to meet Jacqui’s parents.”
“That should be interesting,” Riley said.
“Interesting? Eliza and Devon aren’t so bad, at least Sarah says her in-laws aren’t so bad.”
Riley sat across from Maggie.
“Interesting because she isn’t the only one bringing the boyfriend home to meet the parents,” she said, a twinkle in her eye.
Maggie suddenly understood Riley’s meaning. “No way! You’re bringing Andrew to your parents’ place for Thanksgiving?”
Riley nodded. “Yup. It’s a pretty big deal.”
“I’ll say. I guess things are getting serious between you and Mr. Andrew Hansen?”
Riley nodded. “I think so. He’s the one who said he wanted to meet my parents, which of course made me excited and terrified…but…I’m so happy, Maggie…I could burst.”
Maggie got up from her chair and hugged Riley. “I’m so happy for you. Andrew is a great guy. Hmm, Riley Hansen…It has a nice ring to it.”
“What are we talking about?” Chelsea asked as she came into the kitchen and went directly to the refrigerator.
“Hey Chelsea, Riley has news,” Maggie said.
“You’re engaged?” Cheslea asked, leaving the lemonade on the kitchen counter and rushing to hug Riley.
Riley laughed, “No…no, nothing like that. Andrew’s going to meet my parents at Thanksgiving.”
“That’s the first step. Wait. Who suggested this, you or Andrew?”
“Andrew, why?” Riley asked.
Chelsea smiled. “He’s going to ask your father for your hand. Mark my words, I know these things.”
Maggie chuckled. “Since when are you an expert on affairs of the heart?”
Chelsea got a glass from the cabinet and poured herself some lemonade. “I didn’t say I was an expert, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that when a guy wants to meet your parents, he’s probably going to propose soon.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to her, Riley. I don’t want you to be disappointed if it doesn’t happen at Thanksgiving, but Chelsea’s right, Andrew is definitely thinking about it.”
“Oh, I know. I’m so happy that they’re going to finally meet him. I know they’ll love him as much as I do. Anyway, I’ve got to get back to work. Thank you both for celebrating this news with me.”
Chelsea sat at the table and sipped her lemonade. “What have you got there?” she asked, pointing to Maggie’s notebook.
“My Thanksgiving list. You and Steven are joining us, right?”
“I’ll be here, but Steven has two back-to-back travel conflicts, so it doesn’t make sense to come to Captiva for a few hours and then back to New York. He’ll be here for the Christmas Parade though.”
“Well, I guess that means we’ve got nine people and a Chihuahua.”
“I hope Lexi likes Turkey,” Chelsea teased.
Maggie laughed. “That little one loves everything.”