by Lisa Prysock
One thing was clear, Bradley Fielding had the nicest friends and family from what she could tell, and he’d been very thoughtful in enlisting their help. Patricia had immensely enjoyed meeting them, even though she’d had to hobble around quite a bit on her sore ankle to direct all that was going on. She’d be settled in no time at all, thanks to his thoughtfulness and consideration. She couldn’t picture any of them behind the disappearance of the antique watch or the necklaces, a thought which made her even more baffled about the situation.
Before the evening was over, she had two dates to add to her calendar. The first date, a girl’s night out on next Monday; they’d have their nails done, peruse a bookstore, and dinner at a Mexican restaurant with Brandy, Briar, and Bridget. Noticing her vast collection of books had led to the idea. They’d all agreed she should invite her best friend, Cara Miller. The second date for Saturday night, an invitation from Brad for a picnic. They’d tackle the walking trails and take a boat ride on the pond at Edgewater Coventry B & B. She could hardly believe she had a date with heart throbbing Mr. Good Looking, Brad. Plus, he’d driven the truck back to the rental place so she could pick up her car. So far, the guy was a dream come true.
Chapter 5
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
PEPPER GAZED OUT THE window above her writing desk in her private quarters, the Pomegranate Suite, at the guest house, content her assistant now resided there. She sipped some of the coffee from the mug, glad to take a break from her writing. She’d been delighted to see such a large crew helping Patricia move yesterday, and even more so to learn they were all family and friends of Mr. Fielding. He’d even paused from unloading the moving truck to introduce her to them. She’d enjoyed meeting three of his sisters and the two other members from his band called Eternity.
Over the weekend, she’d been asking around the property to see if anyone had noticed anything unusual, still wondering how, exactly when, and who could’ve breached security to steal his antique watch and return it on a Friday. They still weren’t sure of when exactly it had gone missing. And what of those necklaces Bradley told her about on Saturday afternoon? Obviously someone had borrowed the key to the safe deposit box to take those necklaces. The bank had confirmed that much.
Whoever it was, they’d apparently had no interest in the antique pocket watch, which led her to believe it might’ve been a woman who’d taken the watch. Maybe this particular woman hadn’t much interest in keeping a man’s pocket watch, so she’d decided to return it. Or, perhaps she had specifically only wanted the necklaces because of some reason unbeknownst to anyone. Perhaps the pocket watch, although an antique, appraised at an insignificant value.
A man would reason with himself that it was too dangerous to return the watch. Out of practical reasoning, he would’ve kept it rather than risk being caught returning it. A woman might have felt the necklaces were the only objects of her desire and not the watch, for instance. She might also have felt strongly about wanting Mr. Fielding to have the watch, so she would’ve gone out of her way to return it.
Yes indeed, Pepper believed whoever took Mr. Fielding’s watch and stole those necklaces was a woman. The bank had also said a woman signed for the opening of the safe deposit box, but their video camera surveillance system hadn’t been working that day, according to Bradley.
She’d asked each of her guests if they’d noticed anything at all. Lorna Carstairs, staying in #2, the Magnolia Suite, in Atlanta for an enormous job fair as a busy temp agency recruiting executive, had said, “To be honest Miss Pepper, I’m swamped with running back and forth from this job fair. Haven’t seen a thing.” The busy redhead ran out the door.
Sidney and Janet Holstein, newlyweds on their honeymoon after a lovely ceremony in the Edgewater’s music room, were staying in #4, the Peach Suite, formerly her daughter Krista’s room. They rarely left their room until late afternoon. Sidney had turned to his new wife and said, “I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary. Have you honeybuns?”
“Not a single thing, stud muffin,” Janet gushed as she flipped some of her bleach blond hair over one shoulder. Turning to Miss Pepper, the new Mrs. Holstein had added, “I know we’ve been here almost a full two weeks, but can you tell us what time breakfast and lunch are served again? We seem to be missing it, but you never know when we might give those meals a try.”
Myra Baldwin was in #5, the Rose Suite. She was visiting Atlanta to attend a travel agent convention, but Pepper had only seen her at breakfast twice. She left at the crack of dawn every day and returned late at night, so it was fairly useless to track her down to pester her with questions.
Hannah Mae Turner was in #3, the Marigold Suite. A sales rep for the cosmetics giant, a corporation named Glamor, she’d won a vacation for her outstanding track record. She spent all of her time taking in the sights and history Atlanta had to offer. She also had family in the area, so she was hardly ever at any meals, and she usually returned to her room long after the other guests. Pepper had asked her if she’d noticed anything, only because she’d run into her in the main hall on the first floor, but Hannah had replied, “Everything seems normal to me, Ms. Barrington. I’m enjoying my stay.”
“Thank you, Hannah. I’m glad to hear it,” Pepper had responded.
Timothy and Violet Grinstead, a nice couple in their late fifties, were visiting relations in the area for a family reunion and a wedding. They were in #6, the Indigo Suite. “We’ll let you know if we see anything unusual, won’t we Tim?” Violet had said as her husband nodded. Obviously they hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. They attended most of the meals and the conversation had turned to how much they loved Esther’s cooking and how efficient Annette’s housekeeping skills were.
Joe Smeed, staying in the room which had formerly belonged to her sons, Wesley and Wyatt, #7, the Hydrangea room, went into a long spiel on how he could install added security at her request. Pepper had actually regretted asking him, having a hard time escaping the conversation having forgotten he was the small business owner of a technology security company. He was only in town to canvas Atlanta businesses with proposals. He never did mention if he’d seen anything, which actually made Miss Pepper somewhat suspicious of him, except for the fact he wasn’t a woman.
Nonetheless, once she’d managed to leave Joe standing at the breakfast buffet in the dining room, she mentally conceded he might have a point. She only had one security camera at the front gates, and if someone had approached on foot and parked far away, there wasn’t any fencing to keep them off her property. The gates and limited video surveillance only helped as deterrence to crime more than anything else. She’d already gone over every inch of the video from several days of the preceding week and hadn’t found anything unusual.
That left Bradley himself in #8, the Gardenia Suite. A knock at the door moved her away from her desk. Spying Annette outside on the veranda with the vacuum cleaner, she was glad to finally have a chance to ask the last person on her list about unusual activity at Edgewater Coventry B & B.
“Now that you mention it, Ms. Barrington, I did see something. When Creepy Critters Pest Control came out last Monday, I thought it was a little odd when they sent a lady to spray chemicals. However, she did have a company uniform on, but the really odd thing was when she ran out of the interior chemical spray. The lady informed me she’d return on Friday, and she did. However, she didn’t leave a bill as most vendors do, but I know they do things electronically. But usually we get some kind of statement when vendors come out, just to note what was done. As I considered it later on, I remembered that Theodore and Raymond usually take care of our pest control.”
“Now that is most unusual. We’ve
never ordered Creepy Critters Pest Control before. You’re right, Annette. Our handyman, Raymond Bridge, has been caring for the interior for us for years, and Theo has been doing the exterior.” Pepper became lost in thought almost at once.
Annette continued unwinding the cord to the vacuum in order to vacuum the Pomegranate Suite. “I thought you might think it a little odd. I didn’t remember them being out here before, either. At first I thought maybe you’d just added a new vendor for that sort of thing and didn’t even think to question it. I’d never dream of overstepping my boundaries by questioning who you’d have come out to the house for anything.” Annette sighed. “I guess I’ve been a little preoccupied lately with my sister’s latest health issues.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Pepper replied, leaning against her desk and crossing her arms as she considered the matter of a vendor sneaking into the plantation. At the same time, she thought about Annette’s sister. It was true. Her housekeeper’s sister always seemed to be coming down with something. “What’s happening now?” She’d never met Maureen, but from everything Annette had told her, Pepper felt like she knew her quite well.
“Maureen thinks she might have fibromyalgia, which would explain a lot of the symptoms she’s always complaining about. If it turns out to be true, I really feel bad about not being more sympathetic to her plight. It’s had me on an emotional roller coaster of going back and forth from feeling added guilt to praying she doesn’t have it.”
“When will you know if she has it?” Pepper asked. Her mind was already calculating. The Creepy Critters Pest Control alleged employee could’ve easily stolen the antique watch on Monday and returned it on Friday.
“Her doctor visit is later this week. I think she said Thursday. I’ll let you know when we find out the results.” Annette plugged the vacuum into the electrical outlet near the door.
“Thank you, please do keep me updated. I’ll add her to my prayer list right now.” Pepper reached for the notebook on the edge of her desk underneath her Bible as her housekeeper turned on the machine. She slid it out and opened it to her most recent prayer list. Then she added Annette’s sister, Maureen, to the long list of names and situations. Her pastor would be proud at how she’d improved at actually praying for those names on the list along with those in each Sunday’s bulletin. It had been one of her new year’s resolutions, to be more diligent about her prayers for others.
From what Bradley had shared with her, she had for the most part ruled out employees of Edgewater Coventry B & B from her suspicions. She didn’t know who might have known about those necklaces other than close family and friends of Mr. Fielding’s, but she was now one step closer to understanding how it had likely happened. She’d known all along it couldn’t have been Patricia Johnston. She’d met her at the Hillcrest Baptist Church since the Johnston family had been members there for as long as she could remember. Pepper had gotten to know Trisha more as fellow members of the church book club run by Ada Morgan—book snob extraordinaire in her opinion—another matter altogether.
Chapter 6
“I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.”—John D. Rockefeller.
IN THE DAYS LEADING up to her date with Brad, Trisha finished hanging pictures and curtains, carefully because her ankle was still a little sore. She enjoyed putting her things away in the guest house Ms. Barrington had named Brook Cottage. It was especially refreshing to be able to walk to work and enjoy some of the meals at the B & B. She’d actually encountered Brad three times, once for breakfast and twice for dinner. They’d discussed Miss Pepper’s theory about the vendor sneaking into the house from Creepy Critters Pest Control numerous times.
When she was completely unpacked and her ankle had healed for the most part, she spent time after work on Friday evening choosing an outfit for the picnic after a visit to the manicurist around the corner. She’d settled on a flowy, spring and summer combo with a pastel floral pattern consisting of a maxi sundress and long jacket. The dress was a shade of mint green with pink and cream flowers.
On Saturday at about noon, Esther had knocked on the door carrying a picnic basket. Trisha, expecting her, answered the door to let her inside. She was wearing a bath robe and her hair was wrapped in a towel since she’d just stepped out of the shower.
Esther looked around the cottage approvingly from the foyer. “Hello Patricia. I won’t stay long, dear. I’m off the clock now and running behind to get to a birthday party for my granddaughter, Marisol. She just turned eleven and I’ve got to get home to wrap her gift before my husband Reed texts me to remind me again not to be late. I just wanted to drop off the picnic basket for your date with Mr. Fielding.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Parnell. You can set it right there on the bench by the door. Please tell Marisol I said happy birthday. I hope you have a nice evening.” Trisha held Norman in her arms so he wouldn’t try to escape out the door. He’d been curious lately about everything in their new environment. Normally a strictly indoor cat, he’d given her a scare a few times by investigating the area by the front door.
“Certainly, I will be glad to pass that along. I can’t tell you how hard it is to find a gift for the child that seems to have everything. I finally settled on an art set. She likes to draw, and this set has one-hundred pieces to it.” Esther prattled on about the gift, talking rapidly so she wouldn’t be too late. “My, you’ve really done up the place nicely. I’m surprised you’re completely unpacked already. I see you have already hung the pictures and curtains. Everything looks so nice. I like the bright accents in your colors.”
Trisha grinned sheepishly. Esther was referring to all of her lime green, pink, and orange accessories. Her throw pillows and many of her other décor items were generally in those colors. They seemed to work well since nearly everything else she’d acquired was chocolate brown or sandy beige. “Thank you so much. I do find it a cheerful combination.”
“Well, I’d best be going. There’s a cluster of freshly washed grapes, a small selection of gourmet cheese cubes in a variety of flavors, fried chicken, a foil packet with green beans and new potatoes, dipping sauces, and two romaine lettuce salads with hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Oh, and a bottle of pomegranate walnut vinaigrette and another with creamy buttermilk ranch dressing. You’ll find plates, linen napkins, and silverware, too. I almost forgot to tell you about the spice cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert. Funny thing, Bradley requested two waters and two cans of root beer, so I put those in there. Remember to bring a blanket, oh I see you’ve got one sitting right here on the bench.” Esther chuckled and then waved good-bye as she stepped outside the door, with Trisha thanking her profusely.
As she stared at it with an upturned brow, Norman jumped down from her arms to sniff the basket Bradley had ordered since the picnic date had been his idea. He must’ve paid a pretty penny for all of the items they’d be feasting on in a few short hours. He’d even thought to ask the cook to deliver it to her in advance. This guy was turning out to be quite the romantic.
Later that afternoon, she slipped into the outfit she’d laid out and then slid into a pair of Christian Louboutin cream wedge sandals. As she buckled the ankle strap, she reminded herself they’d been worth every penny of damage to her credit card as she admired the way the embellishments glimmered. Hopefully her ankle was healed enough to handle walking gracefully in them. She’d dressed early because Cara Miller and her five-year-old daughter, Dixie, were stopping by to check out her new place.
When her best friend arrived, Trisha opened the door to welcome her as Cara thrust a huge, potted plant with beautiful bright pink blooms into her arms. “Thank you! What is it?”
Cara grinned, pulling her designer sunglasses off, and swept past her with Dixie in tow to have a better look around. “It’s a fuchsia orchid, or so the nursery by my house said. Oh my goodness, I love it! Your new place is amazing
.” She walked directly through the living room, past the kitchen, and stepped outside into the lanai. “Wow, look at the view out here.”
Trisha glanced at the plant again, and then down at blond little Dixie, a perfect miniature version of her mother. She held her favorite doll in her arms named Belinda. “How are you and Belinda today, Dixie?”
“We’re fine,” Dixie replied as she looked around with wide eyes. “Is this your new home?”
“Yes, it is. Would you like to have a look around?” Trisha carried the plant to the counter and set it to one side of the breakfast bar dividing the living room area from the kitchen.
Dixie nodded.
“Go ahead and explore,” she encouraged.
The sweet little girl hesitated, and Patricia couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking until she asked, “Is Norman here?”
“He’s here somewhere. Maybe you can find him.” Trisha smiled as Dixie ran off to find him with contentment on her face. Then she joined her friend on the lanai.
“I can’t get over how beautiful this property is. The gazebo, the walking trails along the wooded area, the pond, the rose garden...” Cara continued to admire the view. Turning to her, she asked, “Do you like it so far?”
“I do. It’s nice not to drive to work. Would you like a tour of the rest of the place?” she offered.
After she’d shown Cara the rest of Brook Cottage, they walked back through the living room to make tea in the kitchen. Trisha noticed Dixie had settled into playing with Norman in the foyer. She’d found his stuffed mouse and some of his balls with the little bells that jingled when she rolled them. Norman’s tail swished on the floor as his eyes darted around, trying to follow where each one of the balls rolled.
