Chapter 15
15
E mily unlocked the front door of Doug’s Hardware Store early that morning, the winter air nipping at her cheeks. The snow had started again overnight, blanketing the cobblestone streets and rooftops in a fresh, sparkling layer. The bell above the door jingled as she stepped inside, its familiar chime echoing in the quiet shop.
She hung her coat on the rack and started the coffee pot in the back office before heading to the counter to organize the previous day’s receipts. It wasn’t until she began tallying the numbers that she noticed something odd.
The cash box for the community garden fund, which she kept in the locked drawer under the register, was missing some money. Not a lot—just enough that it could be brushed off as an oversight. But Emily knew every cent that had been donated. She had meticulously recorded each contribution, and this didn’t add up.
Emily frowned, flipping through the ledger again. Grace had been the one to close the shop last night, and Grace never made mistakes.
A sharp rap on the glass door startled her, and Emily looked up to see her mother, Sarah, standing outside, waving cheerfully. ‘Two days in a row?’ Emily thought to herself, ‘ What’s going on?’
“Great,” Emily muttered under her breath. She forced a polite smile and unlocked the door.
Sarah swept in. “Good morning, Emily. I forgot to mention something yesterday when I stopped by.”
“All of this attention,” Emily said lightly, though her tone had a sharp edge. “It’s really unlike you.”
Sarah laughed, oblivious—or perhaps willfully ignoring—Emily’s cool demeanor. “ Well, I thought perhaps we could do something together, just the two of us. What do you think, darling? We could have a spa day or grab some dinner.”
Emily fought the urge to scream. How many times as a little girl had she wished her mother would have uttered those very words. But hearing them now felt shallow and insincere.
“I’m really busy right now,” Emily replied, closing the ledger and tucking it under the counter. “Let’s talk about this another time.”
Sarah’s gaze lingered on the cash drawer, though she quickly shifted her attention back to Emily. “You know, I’m really quite good with numbers. Maybe I could oversee the garden fund for a while, take one thing off your mind.”
Emily’s stomach twisted. Her grandmother had always said, Sarah was a wiz at math. Was she being too harsh as her mother was trying to extend the olive branch? She wanted to believe Sarah’s intentions were genuine, but something about the offer didn’t sit right. “Thanks, but I’ve got it covered,” she said, her voice firm.
Sarah’s smile faltered, but only for a second. “If you insist,” she said with a breezy laugh. “But you really should think about delegating.”
Emily nodded stiffly, watching as her mother sauntered out of the store. As the door closed behind her, Emily’s unease deepened.
By late morning, the shop had picked up with its usual flow of customers—farmers stocking up on tools, kids dragging their parents in to buy sleds, and a handful of locals picking up last-minute holiday decorations. Emily was ringing up a box of nails when Lila burst through the door, her face flushed from the cold.
“Emily!” Lila called, practically bouncing as she made her way to the counter.
Emily grinned. “You’re practically glowing. What’s going on?”
Lila leaned across the counter, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “I told Jack.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “You mean about the baby?”
Lila nodded, her smile so wide it looked like it might split her face. “And he’s thrilled! Well, shocked at first, but then thrilled. He kept saying he couldn’t believe it and that he couldn’t wait to be a dad. ”
Emily felt a swell of happiness for her friend. “See? I told you he’d be over the moon. You’re going to be amazing parents.”
Lila’s smile softened. “Thanks, Em. I was so nervous, but now it just feels... right.”
“Well,” Emily said, rounding the counter to hug her friend. “If Jack starts acting like a typical clueless dad-to-be, you know where to find me.”
Lila laughed, the sound light and unburdened.
That afternoon, Emily and Lila escorted Doug to his follow-up appointment, despite his half-hearted protests. The clinic was warm and bright, a stark contrast to the snowy streets outside.
Nancy, the nurse from Doug’s previous visit, greeted them with a cheerful smile. “Doug Perkins, back so soon? You must’ve missed me,” she teased, flipping through his chart.
Doug huffed, though his ears turned noticeably red. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m only here because they dragged me. ”
Nancy chuckled, her tone turning softer. “Well, I’m glad they did. Let’s make sure you’re on the right track.”
As Nancy checked Doug’s blood pressure and listened to his lungs, Emily couldn’t help but notice how her father’s normally gruff demeanor seemed to soften under Nancy’s care.
“You’ve been taking your medication, right?” Nancy asked, her gaze steady.
Doug nodded, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
“Good,” Nancy said, scribbling a note on his chart. “Keep it up. We need you healthy and strong—this town wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Doug mumbled something about being fine, but Emily caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
As they left the clinic, Lila nudged Emily. “Did you see that? She’s totally into him.”
Emily grinned. “And I think the feeling’s mutual. Who knew Dad had a soft spot?”
Lila laughed, linking arms with her sister as Doug trudged ahead, muttering under his breath about “ nosy daughters .”
That evening, Emily stayed late at the store, determined to figure out the discrepancies in the garden fund. The more she combed through the records, the clearer the pattern became. Small, irregular withdrawals—just enough to fly under the radar—had been made over the past few weeks.
A hard lump developed in her throat as she pieced it together. Sarah’s sudden interest in “helping,” her frequent visits, her casual questions about the fund... It all made sense now.
Emily stared at the ledger, her heart pounding. Her own mother had stolen from her—and not just from her, but from the community.
The confrontation was inevitable. Driving to Sarah’s cottage, Emily couldn’t shake the mixture of anger and disbelief weighing on her chest.
“Did you take money from the garden fund?” Emily demanded the moment Sarah opened the door.
Sarah’s defense crumbled quickly, her guilt evident. Though she promised to pay it back, Emily made it clear this wasn’t something she could ignore.
“You need to fix this,” Emily said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. “Or I will.”