Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
O livia searched for any movement. Had the limping stranger come this way? She could’ve sworn he had.
Or had he somehow given them the slip?
Ahead stood a modest courtyard with a bubbling fountain at its center, and a clock tower. Empty shops, some with second-story apartments, backed onto the space. Flower boxes dotted windowsills bursting with spring blossoms, filling the air with a sweet scent. Cascading fuchsia rhododendrons spilled over the edges, their velvety petals brushing against the rough stone, while daffodils remained tall in a golden salute to the sun. Meanwhile, a tabby cat dozed on a precariously narrow window ledge, its soft fur ruffling in the breeze.
Theodore ambled to the fountain, squinting into its clear waters. “No lurking figures here. Only a little oasis tucked away from the world.”
“Quite lovely,” Nora agreed. “However, our trail has gone cold, so I’m heading home.”
Olivia stopped short. A fountain. Lillian had etched vivid descriptions of this very fountain in her cherished diary. It was where she often met her mysterious guy.
Her gaze stayed on the intricate details—the meticulously sculpted figures suspended in their own moments.
“This is the place Lillian described, isn’t it?” Daniel asked. “I’ve never been back here.”
“Neither have I. It’s like stepping into the pages of her diary.” Olivia circled the fountain, her fingers trailing across the smooth, cool stone, relishing the fine mist of water on her skin.
Connect the dots, she told herself. Connect the dots.
A door flew open, and out limped a slender, sharp-featured man with a beaked nose and wearing a fedora. Recognition dawned, along with unease.
“That’s him!” Olivia began to follow him, but Nora held up a hand.
The man bypassed Olivia and limped straight to Nora. He pulled off his fedora and shook a mass of wavy, dark hair, like a wolverine shaking droplets from its fur.
After furtive, hushed, and uneasy murmurs, Nora pocketed an envelope he passed to her before returning to the door of his presumed apartment.
Olivia felt as if an icy deluge of water had been thrown over her, requiring her utmost focus to be sure her mouth hadn’t dropped.
Daniel appraised Nora; a silent question etched on his face. “What was that about?” he asked.
“Umm, merely an old family friend passing through town.” Nora glanced around the square as her laughter escaped too forcefully.
“I thought you didn’t know the guy.” Olivia’s razor-sharp stare was glued to Nora. “Now he’s a family friend?”
“Ah.” A flush crept up Nora’s neck. “I … must’ve been mistaken. When I got a closer look, I recognized him as a long-time friend from my mother’s family.”
Her attempt to brush off the incident fell woefully short.
“What’s his name?”
“Victor Steele.”
“Where does he live?”
“Somewhere out of town. Why?” Nora fairly growled, her voice cutting through the air.
“An old family friend who slips you envelopes near back alleys? Curious.” The lines around Theodore’s eyes deepened. “Come now, Nora. Do you honestly expect us to believe you?”
“Odd doesn’t begin to describe what just happened.” Daniel’s hand made a quizzical motion as he spoke. “What’s going on?”
What was going on, indeed? A thousand frozen pinpricks covered Olivia’s forearms with an ominous chill. First, Nora was wary, and now she was friendly with the fedora guy?
Nora lifted her chin, a defiant glint in her eyes. “You all have overactive imaginations. Sweetwater Springs is a sleepy town, and there are no mysteries or intrigues here. Can’t two old friends acknowledge each other?” She pivoted; her steps purposeful, as she vanished into the alley.
Perhaps he was a distant relative who had gotten mixed up in something illegal. Nora was the loyal type who protected family members, even if it meant keeping mum.
Olivia mentally flagged the need for a private chat with Nora, determined to untangle the threads of this strange encounter. This man might hold the missing pieces. In the meantime, Nora was committed to keeping her role shrouded in mystery.
James McAllister emerged from a shop, interrupting their speculation. Despite being in his mid-40s, he wore the years lightly. His hair, a contrast between auburn and darker tones, brought a touch of maturity to his overall appearance.
“Olivia! Is that you?”
His voice stopped her cold.
“James!” Olivia’s arms crossed loosely over her chest, her heart sinking as the tall man approached her. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“I’m relocating my business to this part of town.” His steely, blue-eyed gaze sparkled. “I didn’t expect to run into you like this.”
“Your parents mentioned you were moving. What happened to your old location?”
“Maintenance has never been my strong suit. If things need updating, it’s my cue to move on. Besides, this is an up-and-coming area that’s been neglected for years. Plus, the rent is cheaper.”
Olivia shifted under his prolonged stare.
“How’s everything?” He leaned against a doorframe and produced a set of keys.
She looked away, tempted to ask, ‘Do I have something on my face?’ Aloud, she said, “Good. How’s business for McAllister’s Game Haven these days?”
“Same old. As I said, it was time for a change. Roll dice and share laughs over a board game.” James offered a nonchalant lift of his shoulders, oblivious to her cues to stop staring.
“Is there another way to get to your place besides the alley?” Olivia gestured behind her. “We came through there, and it might hurt your business.”
“The main street in town leads right to it.”
She nodded. “Good to know.”
“You always had exceptional foresight for displays and decor.” He closed the distance between them with a measured stride. “If you’re free the next few days, I’d appreciate your input on my new place.”
Daniel moved to her side, stealing a protective arm around her shoulders.
James’ gaze slid to Daniel, and his smile faltered. “Who’s this guy?”
Daniel extended his hand, his expression guarded. “Daniel Whitfield. Olivia and I are good friends.”
“Good friends, huh?” James shook Daniel’s hand. “Funny, she never mentioned you before.”
“We grew up together. You were a few years older, so you probably don’t remember him.” Olivia spoke quickly, eager to diffuse the situation. “He moved away after high school and has recently returned.”
James nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on Daniel. “And what brings you back after all this time? Business or pleasure?”
“A little of both,” Daniel replied, his tone even. “I’m working at the historical society, but I’m also here to reconnect with old friends … and hope to make some new discoveries along the way.”
Olivia’s pulse quickened at the hidden meaning behind his words. She realized he was referring to their investigation into Lillian’s past, although she couldn’t dismiss the inkling that his statement hinted at something more personal.
James, oblivious to the subtext, clapped Daniel on the shoulder. “Good luck with that, buddy. And Olivia …” He turned to her. “I’ve missed you.”
She swallowed; her throat was dry. “Thanks. Sorry, but we really should be going.”
“By the way, James, Olivia is busy doing research at the library,” Daniel said, adding a decided sharpness to his tone. “Plus, with her full-time business, I doubt she’ll have time for you.”
“What kind of research?” James’ gaze bounced between Olivia and Daniel. It didn’t take much to register Daniel’s presence and body language, and James finally got the cue and stepped back.
“A letter addressed to Lillian Beaumont arrived at my bookshop on Saturday,” Olivia said. “We’re trying to find out who sent it because there is no return name on the envelope. We suspect a man she dated many years ago. Some guy wearing a fedora sailed into town, and we thought it might be him.”
James gave a deliberate, unhurried nod.
“Do you know him?” Daniel asked.
“A fedora? I’ve seen him once or twice.” James’ gaze darted around the square. “Does he have a name?”
“According to Nora Winters, his name is Victor Steele.” Olivia caught a glimpse of an elderly gentleman sitting on a bench, feeding pigeons. “What if we ask people who live around here?”
James shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”
She paused, wedged in a moment of uncertainty. “I suspected Victor of writing the letter to Lillian, but after seeing him closely, I realize he’s too young. Perhaps Victor is related to Lillian’s guy in some other way.”
“Maybe Victor Steele is Lillian’s love child,” James said.
“You’re referring to a secret baby? Don’t be ridiculous.” Olivia’s immediate reaction was a dismissive shake of her head. “Lillian is a well-respected and prestigious citizen. Nothing like that could’ve ever occurred.”
Still, according to Mrs. McAllister, Lillian had left town before she graduated from high school, and she had dated several men in town.
“My parents mention Lillian often, especially when they reminisce.” James lifted the keys in his hand. “Anyway, it’s always a pleasure to see you, Olivia. If you and Daniel get a chance to stop by my new shop, it’s opening soon, and my offer still stands.”
The eager note in his voice had diminished considerably.
Theodore reentered the courtyard, having come from a walk between the shops. “Oh, James! You’re precisely the person I was hoping to run into.”
James paused his exit and turned. “What’s up?”
“We had a run-in with an enigmatic gentleman in a fedora. Slender build, beaked nose, a prominent limp. I don’t suppose you’ve seen him?”
“Only for a brief moment.” His eyes flickered to Olivia. “Why don’t you ask Delilah Fitzwater to help you?”
Initially startled, Olivia widened her eyes without blinking. “The ukulele player?”
“For years, she played the role of the town’s matchmaker,” James replied. “In fact, Delilah was instrumental in bringing my parents together.”
“Is it possible she might be able to identify who Lillian dated when she was a teen?”
“Who knows? She might’ve been the cupid.”
“Delilah “Harmony” Fitzwater,” Daniel stated. “We saw her the other day.”
The official free spirit of Sweetwater Springs, Delilah, had an oversized personality and a zest for life.
“Harmony is her middle name?” Olivia inquired.
“Yes. She earned the nickname because of the tunes she plays on the ukulele,” James replied. “She once told my parents that every time two potential partners meet, it’s like a love song waiting to be composed.”
“I never knew much about her,” Olivia said. “Thank you, James.”
“Always happy to help, especially if it means I get to see you—I mean, happy to help solve your mystery.” He flushed slightly and headed off, keys jangling in his fist.
As he walked away, Olivia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She pivoted and faced Daniel. “I'm sorry. James and I … we’re history."
“Right. So, you’ve said.”
A pause punctuated Olivia’s steps as she and Daniel veered toward the town, heading the opposite from the alley. “In all this excitement the past few days, I forgot to lock up a rare first edition book I purchased at a thrift store the other day. Can we swing by my bookshop?”
“Sure.” Daniel’s stride adjusted to their new destination. “What’s the name of the book?”
“Ephemeral Shadows , a long-lost novel by the bestselling author Elara Whitewood.”
“I never heard of it.”
The book had become a sought-after gem among bibliophiles and collectors. Olivia had stumbled upon it at a tucked-away used goods store, hidden beneath layers of forgotten novels, and felt an immediate connection to its haunting narrative.
As they entered the back door of her shop a half hour later, Olivia groaned. One of the supports on the storage shelf had split, causing the entire structure to tilt dangerously. A few novels had slid off, and she gathered them into her arms before more tumbled free.
“What happened here?” Daniel asked.
Olivia transferred the novels to a table. “The old shelf finally gave out. Of all days!”
He crouched, inspecting the split wood support. “I can patch this up for you really quick, no problem.”
“How? No store is open this late, and I don’t have any tools.”
“I stocked up at the 24-hour corner mart yesterday. I’ll go to my house and get the supplies.”
“Such a long walk?”
“Luckily, this is a walkable town. I’ll be back in a jif.”
Olivia smoothed out a loose curl. “That would be amazing, but only if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all. Be right back.”
Time passed before he returned, the low hum of a car engine announcing his arrival. As he reappeared, he carried an assortment of tools and a bundle of fresh lumber, the scent of cut wood hanging in the air.
“I drove back,” he confessed with a sheepish grin. “To save time.
“I heard your car pull up.”
She flashed back to their youth, a time when he showcased his knack for repairing things. He once had fixed the creaky back gate of her home with an improvised latch made from an old coat hanger. Another time, he’d crafted a makeshift birdhouse from scraps of wood, their shared laughter filling the air at the number of birds it attracted.
His was a skill that had charmed her then, and here it was, coming to her rescue once more.
Daniel set to work, his movements deliberate and efficient. The tools resonated through the room; the sound of repairs was underway. With adroit precision, he reinforced the weakened areas and secured the shelf.
“There, good as new.” He brushed his hands together, leaving behind the residue of sawdust, and stepped back to admire his handiwork. The once-fragile shelf stood secure and resilient, a testament to his dedication to the task at hand.
“I can’t thank you enough.” Olivia graced him with a brilliant smile. “How can I repay you?”
“By being here. By being you.” He kissed her, long and hard. “I’m happy to help you anytime, Ollie.”
Her chest brimmed with affection, fueled by his heartening smile and untiring assistance. She was thankful his choices had led him back into her life at precisely the right moment.