Chapter 2
Chapter Two
My usual parking space was full when I got back to my shop, and I grumbled as I found one further down. Millie had been quiet the whole way home and was now curled in a tiny ball on the passenger seat. I stroked her fur gently.
“Are you okay? Do you want me to take you upstairs?”
I wanted what was best for her, but the thought of being separated right now was just too much to bear. If she wanted to go in, I’d have to beg off from breakfast with my friends.
“No, it’s fine. I’m just tired. That really drained me.”
I turned off the car and studied the steering wheel. Millie was a guardian cat, but she didn’t like to talk about her abilities. I’d seen her glow before, but I’d never seen her do something like what she’d done with that dog. I still couldn’t believe it.
“About that...”
Millie reached a paw for my hand. It grazed my hand as if she were attempting to comfort me.
“I was never in any danger. I was worried he would attack you. I had to do something. I don’t... I don’t do that often. There’s a cost, and it means I’m going to need a nice long nap. But I’m fine going to Meg’s. A little piece of bacon might be just the ticket.”
There was a sparkle in her eyes at that, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You do love your bacon. If I didn’t think it would make you sick, I’d have Meg fry you up an entire rasher.”
That made both eyes open, and a hungry gleam came into them.
“Well...”
“Don’t push it, little one,” I said, chucking her under the chin. “Two pieces. Tops.”
“Deal.”
I lifted her into my arms and squeezed her gently. It had been nearly a year since this wonderful cat had come into my life, changing it in ways I still couldn’t quite fathom. I’d be lost without her.
“I love you too, Olivia,” she said, before yawning and blasting me with a face full of salmon-tinged kitty breath.
“Never change, Millie,” I said as I got out of the car.
Emma’s sedan pulled up, and my friends piled out, a dazzling scene of neons as they argued back and forth over something.
“I’m just saying he sounded nice,” Naomi said, her finely boned face tightened into a stern look.
“And I’m saying he’s no good,” Jo said, glowering down at her. “You saw the way he treated that dog. No wonder it’s vicious. Hi, Olivia.”
I waggled my fingers at her and ushered them into the cafe, while they bickered back and forth. Emma sighed and headed straight for our favorite booth, tucked in the back. Sandy leaned close.
“You okay, Olivia? That was quite a scare. I thought I saw... Well, I don’t know what I thought...”
I nodded and shifted Millie in my arms so that I could wave to Meg. She gave me a grin and motioned me toward the booth where Emma sat, listening patiently as Jo and Naomi continued their argument.
“I’m fine, Sandy. It was scary, though. Nothing a good breakfast can’t cure.”
I tried to sound cheerful. From the look Sandy gave me, it didn’t land like I’d intended, but she nodded and led the way back to the booth. I slid in, and Millie took up her usual spot next to the window. She loved to watch the townsfolk as they bustled past on their errands.
“Morning, ladies,” Meg sang out as she approached the booth. “What’ll it be today?”
Her freckled face was creased into a friendly smile as she grabbed her order pad. Not that she needed it. Meg had one of those minds that just retained everyone’s order, even down to the special requests.
“Coffee, and make it strong,” Jo boomed. “We’ve had quite the scare this morning.”
More than one table in the cafe went quiet after this declaration, and I was pretty sure I could feel eyes boring into the back of my head. I resisted the urge to turn around. Meg frowned and sank down into the booth next to Sandy.
“Oh no! What happened?”
“A vicious dog attacked this poor sweet cat in the park,” Jo said, as gasps echoed through the cafe. “You keep an eye out for a trickster named Declan Fair-something and his monster of a dog, Fang. I plan to file a report, and so should you, Olivia.”
Meg’s freckles stood out starkly on her face as she leaned forward, eyes raking Millie.
“Is she okay? Oh my gosh, I... Oh, Olivia...”
“She’s fine,” I said, putting a hand on Millie’s back. “The dog rushed at us, but stopped a few feet away. It wasn’t that bad.”
Meg gave me a look that meant we’d be talking about this later. I nodded and changed the subject.
“I’d love some tea and maybe one of your chocolate croissants. Oh, and some bacon for Millie, please.”
“I’ll do one better. I’m trying out a recipe for chocolate stuffed French toast I think will be just what the doctor ordered. Ladies?”
Four enthusiastic nods later, Meg promised to return with our drinks. I gave Jo an exasperated look.
“Jo...”
“I mean it, Olivia. You need to tell that boyfriend of yours about this no-goodnik. For all we know, he’s here to case the town and rob us all.”
Rob Hansen, my boyfriend, a fact that still gave me little rushes of amazement, was the police chief of Timber Falls.
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“If you don’t tell him, I will,” Jo said, raising her chin as her bun listed to the left. “I’m serious, Olivia.”
“I’ll... talk to him.”
“Hmph. Well, I’ll hold you to that.”
Meg picked the perfect moment to arrive with our drinks, neatly distracting Jo. I took my tea and wrapped my hands around the mug, more for comfort than warmth. I looked up to see Meg watching me, a little frown etching lines across her forehead.
“You sure you’re okay?”
I nodded and inhaled the steam from the tea.
“Nothing this cup of tea can’t fix. Thanks, Meg.”
She didn’t seem convinced, but the place was rapidly filling, and she left to take care of her customers. I sighed and put the mug down.
“Well, at least nothing bad happened,” Emma said. “I decided to close the quilt shop today so we can attend your event, dear. I’m so looking forward to it.”
“Oh no. No forced classes on stitching. Whatever will I do?” Jo asked.
Emma rolled her eyes and reached across Naomi to swat at Jo.
“Hush, you. And you’re improving leaps and bounds. You should be proud.”
“I wonder who he was and why he’s here?” Sandy asked, shifting next to me in the booth. “I don’t want to appear unfriendly, and of course the town always welcomes tourists, but there was just something odd about him.”
I thought back to what Millie said, and a chill went down my spine. I turned to look at her, and she was watching Sandy a little too keenly. I stroked her fur to distract her.
“Probably just passing through on his way to somewhere else,” I said, hoping it was true. “I hope he keeps his dog on a leash from now on, though.”
Sandy nodded and refilled her cup of coffee.
“Me too. Anything we can help you with at the store before your honored guest arrives?”
“No, but thank you. I’ve accepted that I’m ready as I’m going to be, and that’s that. Well, sort of. I think Rob was so sick of rearranging the furniture that I finally reached that decision last night.”
“So, how are things with you two lovebirds?” Naomi asked, her eyes bright. “Anything we should be aware of?”
It was my turn to shift uncomfortably in place.
“Oh, don’t tease her,” Emma said. “She’s had a rough morning as it is. I’m sure they’re proceeding at a normal pace and we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon enough.”
I choked on my tea. Sandy handed me a napkin and patted my back.
“Well, now you’ve really scared her. Let them be. Marriage isn’t for everyone.”
Twenty-some years ago, I wouldn’t have agreed with her. Now, after a failed marriage and an ex-husband, I couldn’t deny she had a point. I wiped my mouth and shrugged.
“Rob is great. We’re taking things slowly.”
Jo muttered something about glaciers and molasses, but Meg saved the day yet again by delivering our breakfasts. My eyes went round as Sandy passed me my plate.
Two perfectly fluffy pieces of brioche French toast were in the center, topped with strawberries and a perfect drizzle of chocolate sauce.
“I hope you like it!” Meg said. “I’ll be right back with Millie’s bacon.”
“I already love it and I haven’t even taken my first bite,” I said, reaching for my fork. “It’s a shame to cut into this masterpiece.”
Jo already had her knife in hand and split the first piece on her plate. Naomi oohed while the filling oozed out.
“I’m going to need to go for an extra walk,” Naomi said. “But that won’t stop me from eating this. Thank you, Meg.”
Meg nodded and headed back to the kitchen.
I forked up the first bite and closed my eyes in bliss as the flavors of hazelnut, chocolate, and the tangy strawberries blended on my tongue.
“She is a national treasure,” I said once I was done chewing. “How did this town luck out to have her?”
The other ladies moaned in agreement, and our breakfasts were nearly demolished by the time she came back with the bacon.
I broke it into tiny pieces for my cat, and watched, a smile on my face, while she devoured it.
That smile faded a bit when I thought about how wrong the morning could have gone.
I just wanted to pick her up and squeeze her as tightly as I could.
A low whistle from Jo caught my attention. She pointed with her fork toward a car cruising by slowly. It was a shiny black Mercedes sedan.
“Would you look at that? Who on earth is driving that thing?”
She had a point. Most of the vehicles in our town were pickups or SUVs. This car stood out like a sore thumb. We watched, craning our necks as the car turned onto the street and cruised to a stop in front of the bookstore. I yelped in recognition as a man got out.
“Oh, shoot! That’s Jackson Moorhead. I’ve gotta go!”
I dug in my purse for some cash while Sandy slid out of the booth. Millie was already moving, sensing my urgency. I gave Sandy a quick hug before scooping up my cat.
“Tell Meg it was amazing and I wish I could have finished it. I’ll be thinking about that French toast all day.”
“We’ve got you, dear,” Emma said. “We’ll have her box it up, and we’ll bring it to you later. Go! He looks annoyed.”
I clutched my cat to my chest and hurried next door, where Jackson Moorhead stood, definitely annoyed if his frown was any indication. He checked his watch as I approached. It was big, dark grey, and looked like it cost more than my store.
“I’m so sorry! I’m running a little behind today,” I said, as I fumbled in my purse for my keys, trying to keep a grip on Millie.
“So this is Timber Falls,” Moorhead said with a sniff. “Smaller than I thought it would be.”
On that winning endorsement, I got the door opened and welcomed him in. His aftershave wafted past, a scent that made my nose wrinkle, and I followed him into the store, feeling as though we’d definitely gotten off on the wrong foot.