Tessa Live
“Hello, you darling ones, it’s nine fifteen in Denver, where I just finished a fantastic event at the wonderful Mile High Books, and I know it’s late for some of you on the East Coast, but I am still floating from all your enthusiasm, and I wanted to make sure I thanked you all.
And tonight, I have another mystery for you to solve. It’s about these earrings.”
Would anyone be watching? The comments began instantly. Which was wonderful. Or worrisome. Or both.
We love you.
I was there!
What happened? Tell us!
She paused as the earrings caught the soft light from the nightstand, wondering if this was about to create a problem more than solve one.
People had used the hashtag “sales ploy” after she posted about the locket, their snarky and cynical suggestion that she was faking a mystery to get audience participation, and playing off her own book title.
She had found the locket. But those earrings—someone had put them there. On purpose.
“I know it seems unlikely, and I’m almost laughing as I tell you, but I found these in my”—should she say suitcase?
—“hotel room. No, we still have not found Locket Mom, but I’m not giving up on that.
Look at my other posts for more on Locket Mom if you don’t already know.
But so—these earrings. Are these from you? ”
So pretty!
Ha ha pitiful. Told you #sales ploy
I was there tonight! #awesome #annabelle
“Have you ever found anything in your hotel room?” Tessa went on, seeming to be amused by her own coincidences. “But this time is different. Unlike the locket, I know these were left specifically for me.”
She was finessing a bit, but after all, she had “found” them in her hotel. Whoever planted them knew exactly what happened, and that was the only person she was really talking to. She dangled the blue earrings, their tiny hearts swaying.
“So—are these from you? I love our periwinkle earrings, you all, this symbol of Annabelle’s confidence and power, the symbol of all of our dreams coming true. Just like you have made mine come true. But my mother always told me—”
Tessa caught her breath. She hadn’t meant to mention her mother. But too late to turn back now. She was broadcasting live.
“My mother always taught me to thank people properly for their gifts, and I’ll feel her admonishments from heaven if I don’t know who to thank.”
Awww, love your mother, Tessa!
Mine, too!
Was your mother like you, Tessa?
Ignore that, Annabelle said.
“Of course I love surprises, and this was such a treat. But could you please let me know if you left these for me? I know they’re meaningful to you, and I want to understand why.
I’m eager to know the story behind them.
” Their backstory , she thought. A backstory someone was weaponizing to torment her. Maybe.
She held them closer to the screen, and the light from the nightstand glinted on their shiny surface. “Just send me a direct message,” she said.
Where did you find them?
Have you worn them yet?
Had she worn them. Huh. Tessa did not have pierced ears, and only wore clip-on earrings. Which these were. How would someone know that? Although it was the safer choice.
“I know it’s late, and I don’t want to keep you up any longer…
so thank you, Denver, and I’m off to a new city tomorrow, hurray, San Diego!
Check my events page for details, and I hope to see you in person.
Now all of you, moms with dreams, you get some sleep, and wake up to a wonderful tomorrow.
All this could be yours. One life, you all! ”
One life!
One life!
One life!
“Good night, dear ones, and let me know about these earrings. I cannot wait to thank you.”
Tessa paused, watching the streams of emojis, hearts and flowers and stars. Then clicked her computer off.
She’d poked the bear now, that was certain. Sent a message. And she was unsettlingly aware that her message would be received. Someone, somewhere, had started this.
What terrified her—was how they planned to finish it.
You’re Tessa Calloway now, Annabelle reminded her.