C. Michael Davies was the son of Thomas Davies, MD. Conflicting records showed him born in Atlanta and Meriwether County, Georgia.
Meriwether.
“They must have just landed at DIA.” Nolan stepped into her office with a grilled sandwich made with three kinds of cheese and avocado slices. “Suddenly all three phones are on the move again.”
“Dad, look.” Jillian put a finger on her screen, moving it from left to right under the information.
“I knew you’d find something.”
“He’d be old enough to be in the last census that’s public information.”
“You’d better hurry. They’re probably getting a rental car at DIA.”
“There’s certainly no other way to get to Canyon Mines.”
“Eat,” Nolan said. “You’ll need fortification when we go over there.”
Her eyes darted up at him. “You don’t mean today.”
“Of course.” His phone sounded an alert, and he scanned it. “Yep, definitely leaving DIA. Phones on the move and heading west. We’ll want to be at the Inn no later than ninety minutes from now. Sooner is better.”
Jillian picked up one piece of her sandwich, which her father had cut into quarter triangles just as he had all her life, and bit into it. Thomas Davies should be in the 1940 census. An address would make it easier to find the right enumeration district to be sure she was on the correct trail, but she didn’t have that tidbit of information. She kept poking around.
Jillian’s sandwich had gone cold, but she ate it anyway. Cold food was an occupational hazard—at least the way she practiced her occupation.
“Jilly, we have to go.”
She looked up at her father. “I just have a few more things I want to check out in the 1940 census.”
“I wish you had time, but you don’t. My phone is blowing up with messages from Meri. And Nia. And Leo. She’s a mess, and they’re afraid she’s going to decide she can’t be there when her family arrives.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t be,” Jillian said.
“She should be.” Nolan left no room for discussion. “She just shouldn’t be alone. And Nia. Well.”
“It’s all right, Dad. She’s my friend and I love her, but she’s Nia.”
He waved his hand in four quick, tight circles. “So do that thing where you spiff up in three minutes flat and let’s get out of here.”
Meri was pacing the back patio when they arrived. “Is there some way I can be unconscious while this transpires?”
“Five percent.” Nolan pointed to himself. “Five percent more.” Then to Jillian. “Five percent more. Inside is another ten percent in your corner. You’re up to twenty-five percent strong and fighting. And that’s simple addition. I happen to think it works by multiplication. Five times five times five times five times five.”
Meri squeezed her head between her hands. “I’ll bet you played college sports. You know all the pep talks. But I am in serious trouble here, Nolan. I flunked out of med school and ran away.”
“And within a week you got yourself an interview with a top-notch graduate program in public administration.”
“By the way,” Jillian said, “I want to see that essay one of these days. It must have been incredibly persuasive.”
Meri’s phone pinged.
“Is it them?” Nolan asked.
“Pru,” Meri said, reading the screen. “‘You can do this. I’m here for you.’”
“Sounds like another five percent to multiply by,” Nolan said. “The math is getting astronomical in your favor.”
The back door of the Inn opened, and Leo stepped out. “I think they’re pulling up now.”
Jillian fixed her eyes on Meri, wondering if she had her car keys in her pocket and if somebody should shift position to be between Meri and her car.
Meri’s hand went to her jeans pocket.
Jillian took a step toward the car.
“I’m just going to text my sister,” Meri said. “She still prays. This seems like a good time to ask her to do it, if she’s not in the middle of surgery or something.”
“Good call,” Jillian said.
Meri’s steps were unhurried but direct. Flanked by Jillian and Nolan, she walked through the Inn and waited on the wide, welcoming porch while the engine of a black Lexus SUV shut off and three doors opened simultaneously.
“That’s Canny who was driving?” Jillian whispered.
Meri nodded.
Canny made no bones about who was in charge, beading his eyes on his sister while coming around the car and waiting for his parents to emerge from the passenger side.
Meri took a few steps forward as her family ascended the steps. “Welcome to the Inn at Hidden Run.”
Canny laughed. “An ironic name, don’t you think?”
“There’s some local history to it.” Meri kept her cool. “There was an old ski run near here years ago. The exact location was lost for a long time, but documents in the local heritage museum revealed it.”
“Thanks for the tourism lesson,” Canny said. “You can run, but you can’t hide.”
“These are my friends, Jillian and her father, Nolan.”
Good job. Don’t let him rattle you.
“My brother, Canny,” Meri said, “and my parents, Michael and Juliette.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jillian made a point to shake all three hands firmly and look into three sets of eyes without inhibition or intimidation.
“We’re so pleased to meet you,” Nolan said when it was his turn to shake hands. “Come on inside and meet the owners of the Inn.”
Nia and Leo were in the parlor and offered the same gracious welcome they extended to every guest who came through their doors.
“I’ll show you the ground level,” Meri said. “Dad, I think you’ll really like the library in particular.”
Nia, Leo, Jillian, and Nolan looked at each other with wide eyes while Meri took her family into the broad hall and across to the library and dining room before ducking into the kitchen and circling back to the parlor.
“You have a lovely inn,” Juliette said. “You’ve taken great care with the restorations.”
“We remember this building before the renovations, of course,” Michael said. “We had only ever seen it from the outside, and it was in disrepair in those days, but even then we couldn’t help wondering what it could become with the right attention. Quite impressive.”
“Yes, it was lovely to see,” Juliette said, “especially since our visit will be so short. Whatever Meri owes for her stay here, of course we will settle up before she leaves.”
“Mom, you misunderstand,” Meri said.
“Meri has been an exceptional employee,” Nia said. “I was at a loss on my own, and she turned up at just the right time and jumped right in.”
“Employee?”
“That’s right,” Meri said. “I have a job.”
Juliette’s gaze remained on Nia. “In that case, I’m sorry that my daughter’s shortsighted actions will leave you shorthanded.”
“There was no need for you to come.” Meri set her timbre sedate and tight.
“You weren’t taking our calls,” Canny said. “What choice did we have?”
“I would have talked to you when I was ready.”
Nia pushed herself upright on the arm of her chair. Leo jumped to assist.
“Why don’t I bring us all some refreshments?” Nia said. “Jillian?”
“Coming to help.”
Nolan said nothing but also stood. Jillian looked back to see him flashing five fingers at Meri, then closing his fist and repeating the gesture four more times. Five times five times five times five times five. Jillian flashed another five fingers on behalf of Pru, the latest member of Team Meri.
Leo put a fresh pot of coffee on to brew. Nia pointed Jillian to a tub of freshly baked scones and strawberry jam.
“Well, there you have it,” Nia said.
“I know it’s a big house,” Jillian sa
id, “but is it my imagination or are their voices already rising?”
“Not your imagination,” Leo said.
“What do you think is going to happen out there?” Nia asked.
“They’re either going to talk it out or duke it out,” Leo said. “Surely now that they’re face-to-face, they can figure things out.”
“I don’t know,” Nia said, “considering this is exactly the scenario Meri drove halfway across the country to avoid.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Nolan said. “Whether she chose this place when she left Memphis or somewhere in the middle of Kansas, she didn’t just get off the highway randomly in Canyon Mines. Given some time, her family might figure that out.”
“Might,” Jillian said.
“We have to keep working all the angles,” Nolan said. “And we can’t leave Meri on her own, especially now.”
The door from the dining room swung open, and Meri entered. “They’re going to find someplace to stay.”
Reprieve rode out on Jillian’s breath. At least they weren’t snatching Meri this afternoon.
“How long are they planning to be in town?” Nia asked.
Meri sighed. “I’m not sure.”
“We came in here to get refreshments,” Nia said, “so let’s take some refreshments. Meri, take the coffee. Leo, the plates. Nolan, matching cups. Jillian, you have the scones.”
In the parlor, the Davieses had their genteel party faces on again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Nolan made sure to select a seat close to Meri’s parents and within reach of the refreshment.
“I explained that the Inn is fully booked tonight.” Meri set the carafe on the coffee table. Her relief devoured the empty spaces of the room.
In the absence of her movement to pour coffee, Nolan filled a cup and offered it to Meri’s father. “Do you require accoutrements?”
“Straight-up black is the only way to drink coffee,” Michael said.
“A man after my own heart.” Nolan looked at Juliette and wagged one eyebrow.
“None for me, thank you,” she said.
“My mother has a strict rule about no caffeine after two o’clock.” Meri placed a scone on a plate and handed it to Juliette. As an apparent afterthought, she offered a napkin.
“I’m a surgeon,” Juliette said, “with a habit of early-morning calls. I can’t afford caffeine-induced insomnia when people’s lives are in my hands.”
“Just the surgeon I’d want to have,” Nolan said.
Nolan pegged Canny as someone who would pour his own coffee and help himself to two scones, which is just what happened in under sixty seconds.
“I’m sorry about not being able to offer you rooms,” Nia said, once Leo settled her in a chair. “There are two chain motels at the east end of town and another to the west. They have many more rooms than we do.”
“And they don’t usually fill up except during high ski season,” Nolan said.
“I’d be happy to call around for you,” Nia said.
“I don’t think so,” Meri said.
Nolan poured his own coffee and considered Meri’s agitation as he settled in his chair. She hadn’t even chosen a seat in a pretense of manners, instead moving around to position herself behind the sofa her parents occupied, where she wouldn’t have to look them in the eye.
“What I mean is,” Meri said, “I don’t think my parents—or my brother—would be comfortable in those motels.”
“They’re not fancy,” Nia said, “but they’re clean and well kept. And very convenient.”
“I think they’d be happier in the long run if they drove a little farther to find something with more amenities.”
“I could call my friend in Genesee,” Nia said. “She has a nice lodge-style bed-and-breakfast. Maybe she has space.”
“It’s only a half an hour to Denver,” Meri said, “and they’d have their choice of hotels they’re used to. Canny likes things just so.”
Canny polished off his first scone. “There must be a nice place around here to go to an early dinner. We’ll get things settled, and there’s a good chance all four of us can still head back to Denver for a late flight.”
“Canny.” Meri barely opened her teeth to speak. “We had an agreement, and this wasn’t it.”
“Meri is right.” Juliette held her scone politely but didn’t actually bite into it. “We agreed to sleep on things and talk again tomorrow in a reasonable manner when we haven’t been traveling all day.”
Nolan set his coffee cup down on the table, planted his hands on his knees, and leaned forward.
“Then I know just the thing to do,” he said. “Jillian and I have lots of space at our house. Plenty of bedrooms and baths, and I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself, and Jillian is a masterful barista no matter what time of day you like your caffeine.”
He avoided Jillian’s eyes, which would be full of shock. And scolding. And more shock. You can’t be serious, they would say. But he was.
“It’s not officially a bed-and-breakfast,” he continued, “but it’s another old Victorian, and if you like this place, I think you’d enjoy seeing the way ours is restored as well—with some tasteful upgrades for modern living. Isn’t that right, Jillian?”
Her mother would have kicked him under the table for laying a trap like this. He turned and met his mirror green eyes in his daughter’s face, which otherwise looked so much like her mother’s. A stunned flicker gave way to assent.
“Of course,” Jillian said. “There’s no point in doing all that driving back and forth when we have the space.”
That’s my girl. We can’t abandon Meri now that events have come to this.
“Give us a quick head start,” Nolan said, “to knock the cobwebs out of a couple of spare rooms. It’s been a while since we had overnight guests. Meri knows the way. She can bring you over later and stay for dinner—if Nia can spare her.”
“That sounds perfect!” Nia said. “You’re welcome to enjoy the parlor as long as you like, or wander across the hall to the library or the dining room. Leo will keep the coffee coming—or herbal tea, if you prefer, Juliette.”
Over her parents’ heads, Meri eyed Nolan with wide, dark, confused orbs.
“Let me just clear away some of these things before I go.” Nolan picked up the empty scones plate and his own drained coffee cup.
“I’ll make Mom’s tea,” Meri said.
Nolan followed her into the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” Meri filled the kettle and rummaged in a canister for herbal tea options. “All this coffee and tea and pastry and dinner business. Do you spend day and night thinking about eating?”
“It’s going to be okay,” Nolan said. “Team Meri, remember?”
“I almost had them out of here. Three doctors practicing in specialized fields. The odds are good that one of them would get a call that required getting back to Tennessee. That would at least break down this united front they have going on.”
“But you haven’t settled anything.” Nolan gently set down the dishes beside the sink. “You were just chasing them away. What happened to five times five times five times five times five?”
“Canny makes me crazy, that’s what.”
“I can see that.”
“You didn’t hear what he said as soon as you all left the room.”
“At my house, he’ll be on my turf.”
“He thinks the world is his turf.”
“I’ve met a few people like your brother in my career. I can handle Canny.”
“My mother will want honey. Two spoonfuls.” Meri opened a cabinet and removed a honey jar.
“At a fancy hotel in Denver, she won’t have a daughter who knows just how she likes her tea.”
Meri braced herself against the counter and tilted her head up toward the ceiling. “I told them I don’t want to go home. As far as I’m concerned, my brother can go back to DIA for his precious red-eye.”
“Your moth
er seems to think you had a different agreement.”
Meri blew out heavy breath. “Can’t I just go with you now? I can make up their beds or something.”
Nolan covered Meri’s hand on the counter. “Ninety-five percent of me wants to say yes.”
“But that stupid five percent makes you determined that I’m going to talk to my parents.”
“It’s the right five percent.”
“What if I decided I don’t want to?”
“You’re strong, Meri. They’re here, and so are you. That in itself is an accomplishment.”
“It feels like a punishment.”
“But you’re coming to my house for dinner!”
“Plying me with food again. Are you going to sing?”
“Would you like me to?”
“I haven’t decided.”
“Text me! I’ll review my repertoire.”
Meri’s phone sounded an alert. “Pru. She says call if I want to talk. She’s off tonight.”
“Then take her up on it,” Nolan said.
The kitchen door swung open, and Leo carried in the empty coffee carafe. “Everything okay in here?”
Nolan shook a finger at him. “You, my friend, must be on your very best behavior. None of this business where you start in on one of those stories that trap people with their own manners and then bore everyone to death.”
“Who, me?”
“Quintessential innkeeper, Leo. This is important. And Nia can’t have a bad afternoon either. Not today. She cannot let the Davieses get under her skin.”
Leo saluted. “I think she’s doing rather well.”
The kettle whistled. Meri snatched it off the stove and filled the mug.
“It’s a nice afternoon for a walk,” Leo said. “Maybe your family would like to wander downtown to stretch their legs after traveling so long.”
The Inn at Hidden Run Page 19
