A Stoneybrook Mystery Collection
Page 4
“Get everything?”
Grumbling a little, Hadley shook her head. “Did you hear anything about Luke Fenton coming to town for the weekend?”
“Erm …” Suze chewed on her bottom lip and looked away.
Hadley lowered her voice. “Suzanne Michelle Till.”
“Okay, okay.” She put up her hands in defeat. “Sit down.” Motioning to the empty chair next to her, Suzanne waited.
Reluctantly, Hadley plopped herself down in the seat, setting her bags on the grass next to her. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Cringing, Suze blurted out, “Luke is moving back to Stoneybrook for good according to Hazel Smith, everyone I talked to at Seven Stones, and his sister.”
For the past ten years, Luke had been living four hours south of the Cascade River Valley in Seattle, building his plant-focused tech company, GroWorks. And while she and Luke had been close growing up, they’d had a falling-out when she’d started dating Tyler in high school—namely Luke trying to talk Tyler out of dating Hadley, saying she wasn’t good enough for his best friend.
So, even though Luke hadn’t been in town for the divorce a few months ago, Hadley didn’t need a map to figure out whose side he would be on.
“But …” Hadley wrinkled her nose. “His business.”
“Apparently it’s going so well that he’s decided to come back and put some of the tech to use helping Fenton Farm.”
“Ha!” Hadley let out a wry laugh. “Good luck to him with that. I heard his dad ranting to Hal last week about how sprinklers were technically cheating, and a real farmer should be able to get the job done between the river and rain.”
“Yeah, Jolee told me their parents have already said no to half the gadgets he brought over with him.”
“Where is he staying?” Hadley asked. She couldn’t see the successful Seattle businessman moving back into the farmhouse with his parents. Even his sister lived off-site, in town, and commuted the five minutes to the farm every morning.
“The old tenant quarters, I think,” Suze said. “But don’t quote me on that.”
Hadley pursed her lips to one side as she thought of the old farmhouse down the road from Edith’s. Luke Fenton back in town. She sighed. As if there weren’t already enough people she had to avoid.
“Isn’t it weird that Tyler just moved to the city and Luke moves back home?” Hadley asked. She’d been sure part of the reason Tyler wanted to move to Seattle was to be close to Luke—well, and a few other reasons she’d rather not think about.
Suze remained silent, but raised an eyebrow at Hadley, knowing Seattle had been one of the major reasons she’d gotten divorced, not because Hadley refused to move with Tyler, but because of what he’d been doing there without her.
Hadley shrugged. “Never mind them. Luke and Tyler can do whatever they want. We’re going to focus on ourselves and our businesses.”
Smiling, Suze said, “To the year of Suzely.” She squinted. “Hadlanne?”
Hadley laughed. “We’d make an awful celebrity couple.”
By the end of the market an hour later, Hadley only had a few jars of jam left to pack back to the kitchen.
Normally, she and Suze would linger, chatting with the other vendors and soaking up the sun. But today, all Hadley wanted to do was get out of the spotlight, away from the whispers and prying eyes. The stares today reminded her too much of the attention she’d gotten during her divorce.
Even though she told herself that she was moving past it all, Hadley obviously still had some emotional trauma over the event. The town hadn’t gone so far as to wear colored pins to show their support of either her or Tyler, but it had been close enough.
Months later, the effects were still noticeable. For example, Hadley only got lattes at Cascade River Coffee now because Tyler’s Aunt Sharon owned The Beanery on Main Street. She also didn’t dare set foot in the Stoneybrook Creamery, the ice cream parlor Tyler’s cousin Jeff ran. Coffee and ice cream weren’t the end of the world—goodness knew her waistline benefitted from at least one of those absences—but the grocery store was beginning to pose a problem, as was made evident by today’s events.
Just as she was breaking down her folding table, Hadley spotted Paul walking toward her from the parking lot. After all of the suspicious glances she’d gotten, Hadley couldn’t have been happier to see her twin brother’s face, even grim as it was after the day he’d no doubt had.
“Hey,” she called to him. Then, worrying he might be there to take Ansel from her, she said, “The cat’s in my office back at the kitchen. What’s up?”
Running his palm across his thick beard, he said, “I don’t need Ansel yet. It’s just been a long day. Thought I’d check in and see how you’re doing.” The way her brother’s eyes flicked around the park made Hadley sure that wasn’t the whole truth.
She knew every possible sign that Paul was lying or hiding something, just like she knew every single one of his laughs. If he wouldn’t meet her gaze, he was keeping something from her. His left eye twitching meant he was full-on lying. And if he rubbed his left arm with his right hand, she knew he was going to tell her something, but just wasn’t ready yet.
Looking past Hadley, toward the produce stands, Paul rubbed his left arm. Hadley’s shoulders settled and she sighed, knowing she’d just have to wait for the information, whatever it was. When he raised a hand in a wave, Hadley turned to see who he was saying hi to.
Her stomach dropped as she recognized Luke Fenton heading their way.
“Pa-ul,” she hissed between clenched teeth.
Her brother shrugged.
“The fact that you are still friends with him is my least favorite part of you,” she whispered as Luke approached.
“We’re not friends, exactly,” Paul said. “But I’m not going to shun the guy over something he did when he was a stupid teenager.”
Hadley sighed, wishing she felt the same way, wishing she could let it go.
Suze must’ve seen Luke approaching because she abandoned her packing up and was standing by Hadley’s side just as Luke stopped in front of them.
“Suzanne. Paul,” Luke said, with a dip of his head. “Babe,” he added, a smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Hadley’s cheeks grew hot despite the cool air coming off the river. She hated that nickname. Unable to remember who’d come up with it in high school, it had the same effect on her mood now as it had over a decade earlier. It had all stemmed from the fact that she and Paul didn’t look like twins.
They’d been much “twinnier” growing up. But once Paul hit a growth spurt in high school, everything had changed.
And then senior year had brought the beard, and her brother began to resemble the mythical Paul Bunyan—or at least their classmates had thought so. Because they were always together, everyone started calling Hadley Babe, after the blue ox who acted as the lumberjack’s sidekick.
“It’s a compliment,” Luke said, bumping his shoulder into hers.
Suze and Hadley scoffed at the same time.
“Right. I’ve always wanted to be referred to as a giant, blue, glorified cow.” She rolled her eyes.
“Oxen, actually.” Luke crossed his arms over his chest.
Hadley placed her hands on either side of a box of jam. “Sorry, but we were just about to leave.”
“So is it true? About Edith?” he asked. Annoying as he was, Luke wasn’t stupid. He looked to Suze and Hadley for an answer, knowing Paul would have to be tight-lipped about anything official.
Hadley sighed, but nodded. Even Luke deserved to know the truth. Especially since he and Mrs. Butler had technically been neighbors for the few days he’d been back in town.
“I hate to say it, but I’m almost glad she’s gone.” Luke grimaced at his statement, putting up his hands in a gesture of defense. “I mean, not that I wanted her to die, it’s just that maybe now Dirk Croft will stop blocking the driveway easement with his BMW. I was getting to the point where I was se
riously considering running right over it with my truck.”
Her forehead crinkling together, Suze asked, “What was Dirk doing over at Edith’s place?”
“I’m guessing he was trying to convince her to sell her property so they can go forward with the golf course,” Luke answered.
Hadley remembered seeing the anti-golf course flyers sitting on Mrs. Butler’s counter that morning.
“I didn’t know Dirk was behind the plans for the golf course,” Suze said.
Luke shrugged. “He must’ve been. I swear he was at her house every day, harassing her. I could hear them yelling through the trees a few days ago.”
“Yikes,” Hadley said, looking at the grass, then up at Paul. “How’d the rest of it go with M&M?”
Paul’s jaw tightened for a moment. “So well I don’t want to talk about it.” It was amazing anything could drip from his dry words, but sarcasm definitely did.
“That sad excuse for a sheriff is still around?” Luke shook his head. “I was hoping you guys would’ve gotten rid of him while I was gone.”
The three of them sighed and answered all at once.
“No luck.”
“Still here.”
“Yup.”
“Some things never change, I suppose,” Luke said, then grinned at Hadley. “Speaking of … where are your folks?” He looked between Paul and Hadley. “Haven’t seen them around since I’ve been back.”
Hadley felt her heart ache as a wave of missing her mom and dad washed over her. She knew they’d be back as soon as Gran was in a more stable condition, but she still couldn’t help the emotion that seemed to clog her throat.
Thankfully, Paul answered for the both of them. “Our grandpa passed away last month, and they’ve gone to stay with Gran in Oregon until she’s got her feet under her again. The house was in bad shape since Grandpa had been sick for so long, and Gran had her hands full taking care of him. Dad’s doing a lot of the work around the place. Mom took a leave from school until further notice.”
Hadley tried to smile one of those encouraging smiles she always saw people put on when they were trying to be strong. She was proud of her parents for being there for Gran. It was just harder than she thought it would be to have them so far away.
Luke seemed to recognize Hadley’s feelings, because his eyes held on to her, and it looked like he wanted to give her a hug. Instead, he said, “Well, I’d better get back to pack up.”
Before Hadley could even begin to ponder what that was all about, he turned to leave.
The confusion Hadley felt quickly dissipated as she lost herself in packing up as well. Then she, Suze, and Paul walked the supplies back to the Jam Van. She was ready to go home and curl up with a glass of wine on her cozy couch. It had been a long day.
“Wait.” Hadley stopped steps away from the van. “What am I doing with Ansel?”
Paul stopped as well. “I spoke with Edith’s sister this morning and asked if she wanted to take him. She told me she’s extremely allergic to cats and that’s why Edith always came to visit her, not ever the other way around.”
“Allergic?” Hadley asked, perking up. “So …?”
Paul smiled. “So … if you wouldn’t mind hanging on to him until we can figure out what else to do, I would really appreciate it.”
Suze scoffed. “I think you’ll have to twist her arm to get her to agree to that,” she said dryly.
Hadley’s shoulders tugged up in excitement. And while she knew she shouldn’t get attached to the little cat, Hadley couldn’t help the flutter of hope in her stomach.
It was such a welcome feeling on what had been such a taxing, terrible day.
6
After dropping her market supplies back at the kitchen and picking up Ansel, Hadley headed home. From the first moment he set paws inside, that cat walked around her home as if he’d lived there his whole life. Granted, she and Edith had a similar taste for soft furniture adorned with bright, fuzzy pillows and blankets, but Hadley had still expected him to need a tad more time to adjust.
As it was, she wasn’t about to complain.
“I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without having a pet.” Hadley smiled as she gently touched the tip of her pointer finger to his pink nose from where he was curled up in her lap.
The cat blinked his amber eyes at her contentedly. But a second later, those same eyes went wide with terror as a heavy knock sounded at the front door. Ansel darted off Hadley’s lap and crouched under her end table as she stood and went to see who was knocking.
Hadley was delighted to see a bottle of local wine, a bag of lemons, and a pint of her favorite ice cream from the Stoneybrook Creamery: Peanut Butter Cup Blast. Suzanne’s rosy face peeked out from behind them.
“Hey, what’s this for?” Hadley asked, stepping back to let her inside.
Suze wrinkled her face into a frown. “I feel awful about not telling you about Luke being in town.” She tromped into the kitchen, setting down the items to grab a couple of wine glasses. She wasted no time opening the bottle and pouring a good amount of wine in each glass. “I seriously was going to tell you this morning at the jam kitchen, but then you had Ansel and told me all about Edith and … I decided the news could wait. I had no idea he would decide to show up at the farmers market—honestly.”
Hadley nodded. Luke famously—or more like infamously, if you asked her—disliked the market, and before his move to Seattle could only be found there on threat of death.
Gladly accepting the glass of wine, Hadley clinked hers with Suzanne’s in cheers. “Honestly, it’s okay. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about it. Sorry, I’ve been super off today with everything.”
“I have to admit, this isn’t just an apology. It’s also just me trying to take care of my best friend. I saw your list. You needed lemons, but didn’t get them because of Luke. And, well, when doesn’t a person need ice cream?” Suze looked down at the container and then blinked up at Hadley innocently.
“Thanks.” Hadley sighed. “I appreciate it. But I’m seriously okay.” She crossed her arms as her friend settled into a chair on the other side of the kitchen island.
“My best friend breaks it off with her husband and hasn’t told more than four people the actual reason? I’m sorry, but that’s not okay. And then his best buddy moves back to town on top of you finding a dead body? Hadley, we’ve known each other since we were four; get used to the fact that I can read you like one of those raggedy old recipes you have from Granny Viv.”
While she smiled at her friend’s bluntness, it faded quickly as she realized her friend was right. “Okay, I may be a little overwhelmed.”
Suze chuckled. “A little?”
“Or a lot.” Hadley snorted. “It’s stupid, I know, but having to deal with Tara today threw me off more than I want to admit. I feel like my town, the town I’ve grown up in, that I love, isn’t mine anymore. It isn’t as happy, or safe, or kind now that I ‘ran off’ their golden boy.” Hadley used air quotes around “ran off,” highlighting the biggest problem with keeping the real reason for their divorce a secret; everyone blamed her for the end of their marriage since she’d been the one to file.
They’d been Tyler and Hadley, after all. High school sweethearts, student-body president and star quarterback, homecoming king and queen—the perfect couple. Or so they appeared.
“Don’t you think it would be so much easier if you just told people why you left him?” Suze asked.
“If Tyler decides he wants to, that’s his decision, but I’ve been the butt of too much gossip lately to willingly put someone else through it,” Hadley said, taking a sip of her wine. “Plus, if I came out with it now, you know the story would get twisted up worse than Barry’s old oak tree.”
Suze scooted onto one of the bar stools sitting around the island and rested her head on her fists. “Yeah.”
“It’s okay. I’m fine—or I’m getting there.”
It hadn’t taken Hadley asking for a divorc
e to realize she’d been unhappy—she’d known that for years, maybe since they’d gotten together, if she was being honest—but their divorce had helped her identify what had kept her in an unhappy relationship for so long. And ever since, Hadley had been working on her tendency to put herself second in an effort to keep everyone around her happy. She picked at the nail polish left on her fingernails as she thought.
Suze glanced at Hadley’s polish. “Days or hours?” she asked.
Wrinkling her nose, Hadley answered. “Last night, so technically a day.”
“Doesn’t count.” Suze shook her head. “Why do you even paint them when you know you’re going to chip it off?”
Hadley shrugged. “Gives me something to do. I also think it looks better.”
Leaning forward, Suze grabbed Hadley’s hand and showed her the chipped disasters that were her fingernails. “Better? That does not look better.”
“I had a stressful day,” Hadley answered pulling her hand back and setting it in her lap.
Suze groaned. “At least you didn’t have to deal with Dirk. He came by my booth while you were out, wanting a new logo for Croft Development. Said he was making some changes to the company.”
“He hasn’t changed that logo since we were kids.” Hadley’s forehead wrinkled. “I wonder what’s spurred that on?”
Suze simply shrugged and began dishing up the ice cream.
Ansel slipped out from his hiding spot under the end table, having decided Suzanne was not a threat, and he threaded his body around the legs of her chair.
“It’ll get better,” Suze said. “People will forget, and get over it. Even with Luke back in town …” Suze paused and then tipped her head to one side. “Do you think Luke knows what Tyler did?”
“He has to. Those two have been inseparable since forever.”
Thinking of Luke made Hadley’s chest clench tight with anger. At one point, she would’ve said he was just as much her friend as he was Tyler’s, but that had all changed in high school. And now they were grown up. Completely different people.