by Eryn Scott
Sitting back on her heels, Hadley couldn’t help but laugh. “You weren’t injured at all,” she said aloud after seeing the cat move with the fluid ease of her healthy felines. “But who do you belong to?” she wondered as she climbed back onto her bike and rode the rest of the way home.
It was a welcome difference to greet her own pets when she opened the front door and set her keys on the entry table. Instead of hisses and growls, she got purrs and head butts from her two.
“A quiet night in with the two of you is just what I need.” Hadley smiled, patting Ansel and Marmalade before heading into her room to change out of her market clothes and into some soft sweatpants and her favorite sweater.
Deciding it was time for a fall color polish, she picked out a fun eggplant shade and spent a few minutes painting it on her now bare nails. Once her nails were dry, she settled onto the couch with a mug of tea and a blanket and pulled out her laptop. She couldn’t get the road cat out of her thoughts. Even though it didn’t seem to be injured, she wondered who it belonged to and why it had been there.
She logged onto her neighborhood’s page on social media and typed up a post:
Hey fellow Marigold Laners,
Anyone know anything about the beige Siamese-looking cat I found in the middle of the road? I almost hit him with my bike and when I tried to see if he was okay, he ran off. Thanks!
Before sending the message, she took a moment to look up Siamese cats online, just to make sure she was right. They had similar coloring, but all of them had brown all across their faces. Typing in Siamese cat with white on face and paws. Pictures of snowshoe Siamese cats came up, confirming the exact breed of the road cat. But Hadley was sure none of her neighbors would mind the distinction and sent her message as it was.
Next, she texted her brother.
Find out anything from the boyfriend?
She was desperately hoping Cassie had indeed gone in and had finally been honest about the fight Miranda seemed to have gotten into with her boyfriend. In Hadley’s mind, it only cemented him as a suspect.
A response from Paul came through right away.
Yeah, but don’t get too excited. He was up front about the fight. Told us they made up and he dropped her off in the same place he always did in the hospital parking lot for Cassie to come get her. We’re still checking into it.
“Darn,” she said aloud, making the cats sleeping at her feet jump.
Hadley sipped her tea, stopping herself when she felt the urge to pick at the new polish, instead wrapping her hands tighter around the warm mug.
So Miranda had gone missing sometime between the time Jaxon had dropped her off and Cassie had called to see where she was. The information wound through Hadley’s mind, and she could tell right away something was off. Going with her gut, she texted Paul.
Something doesn’t feel right about all of this. I think either Jaxon or Cassie has to be lying to us.
Paul’s response sent a chill down her back.
Or both of them are.
8
The next morning, Hadley checked in with Paul first thing to see if they’d made any more headway. When he sent her back a thumbs-down emoji, she chewed on her lip for a moment before opening her email. All seven of her neighbors had replied to her question about the Siamese cat.
This is why I love living in such a small town, she mused as she scrolled through their responses. They care about a stray cat just as much as I do.
Unfortunately, no one seemed to know any more about the cat than they did about where Miranda had gone. And while they all mentioned seeing the cat in various places along their road, no one had been able to get near the cat either, citing its grumpy attitude and menacing growls.
Hadley ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Her own two cats had followed her from the bedroom and were perched next to her on the couch. She glanced outside, catching a glimpse of the mountain range out her window. The higher peaks were already dusted with snow, and it was only a matter of a couple months before Stoneybrook would be as well.
“I’ll touch base with Louise today,” Hadley told her cats. “If I can’t be helpful in finding Miranda, maybe I can help solve a feline mystery.”
They purred and blinked lazily in response.
It was especially difficult to pull herself from the soft comforts of her cats and couch, but Hadley finally managed to pull on jeans, a sweater, and an extra puffy vest before heading out into town to spend the morning at the jam kitchen.
She rode extra slowly down Marigold Lane, searching as she went for any sign of the Siamese. Unsure what she would’ve even done if she had seen him, disappointment tugged down the corners of her mouth as she turned onto Main Street.
Pulling her bike up next to the knitting shop, Hadley hopped off and poked her head inside the quiet of Main Street Skeins.
Louise Stanton, the new owner, looked up as the bell on the front door rang out.
“Morning, Hadley. I met your lovely grandmother yesterday.”
Beaming, Hadley nodded. “She’s quite the accomplished knitter, unlike me.” Heat crept into her cheeks as she remembered her failed attempt at knitting a pair of socks for her mother a few months ago.
Louise laughed. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes on their first few projects. People like your grandmother get so good at it because they stick with it; they don’t give up after one lumpy sock.”
Hadley smiled. “True. I guess my persistence is all used up in the kitchen, though.”
“Quite right.” Louise’s eyes lit up. “I bought some of your new apple rosemary jam yesterday, and I think I need to buy five more jars.”
“I’d better get canning, then. Gran sold all of my stock.” Hadley paused. “Hey, I did want to ask you something. It’s about a cat.”
The older woman leaned forward. “Ansel?”
Hadley gulped. Ansel had belonged to Edith, the previous owner of the knitting store, before she was killed by a jealous rival from her past. Louise had always wanted Ansel and didn’t seem to have let go of it yet.
“No,” Hadley said firmly. “It’s a stray I’ve seen on Marigold Lane. Are you still helping out with that kind of thing?”
Because it was such a small town, Stoneybrook didn’t have its own animal shelter, but they did have Louise. The woman often took in any strays, got them appointments with the local veterinarian, and then used her connections around town to find homes for the animals.
Louise nodded. “Is the cat hurt?”
“I don’t think so.” Hadley wrinkled her forehead. “It wouldn’t let me get close enough to check, but it didn’t move like there was anything wrong. Mostly I’m just worried about the upcoming winter.”
Louise waved a hand dismissively. “They can usually survive, but I’m sure it would be much more comfortable inside. On Marigold, you say? I can go look for it later today and ask around.” Louise jotted down a note when Hadley confirmed the street.
“Thank you. I’ll let you know if I see it again.” Hadley waved as she left.
From the knitting shop, her kitchen was only a few blocks down the road. Once inside, she quickly settled into her routine, plugging in some earbuds and listening to her favorite workout mix to keep her motivated. It was because of the music she didn’t hear someone enter through the back door of the jam kitchen, creep up behind her, and reach out.
A hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump and fling berries across the room.
“Gran!” Hadley scolded as she whirled around.
She wiped a bit of berry off her cheek, grateful she hadn’t been to the boiling phase yet or the flying berries would’ve been much more painful.
Gran grimaced. “Oh, dear. I’m sorry. I didn’t even see those things in your ears; they’re so small. I thought you were just absorbed in your work and that’s why you didn’t answer me when I called out.”
Hadley picked up a paper towel and went to wipe up the berry bits that had landed yards away
on the floor. “No worries. What’s up?” She swiped her hair out of her face, wishing she’d pulled it into a tighter bun before starting her work.
“I thought I would come by and see if I could help you out.” Gran took in the shelves of ingredients in the kitchen.
Pride fluttered in Hadley’s chest as she looked at her space, seeing it through her grandmother’s eyes. She knew she was going to love having Gran close by, but never dreamed she would want to help her so much with the jam business.
“Of course! The more the merrier.” She bustled over to one of her drawers and pulled out an extra apron, then set aside her music, knowing she would have company.
While Gran may not have been the one to teach Hadley how to make jam—that had been her mother’s mom, Granny Viv—she was skilled in the kitchen. Before Hadley knew it, they’d whipped out a full day’s supply of jam in half the time it took when she worked alone.
She beamed at the lines of sparkling, ready-to-sell jars and then pulled Gran into a hug. “You’re a miracle worker.”
“It’s me who’s so impressed by you. Look at this life you’ve made for yourself,” Gran said. Her piercing blue eyes caught Hadley’s in the way only a grandparent could, conveying so much joy and pride it seemed almost impossible.
The look brought tears to Hadley’s eyes, and she swiped at them before Gran could see them. Gran hadn’t added, since the divorce to her statement, but it hung in the air between them.
“I’m just so glad to see you happy again.” Gran reached out and squeezed Hadley’s hand. “Your mother said Tyler was back in town for a bit a few months ago.”
Pulling in a deep breath, Hadley nodded.
“How’d that go?”
Hadley exhaled. “About as well as you would expect. Gran … people in town don’t exactly know why Ty and I called it quits.”
Her grandmother’s face softened as understanding dawned on her. “I see, dear.”
Growing up and living in a small town was wonderful in many ways, but when Hadley’s husband—the man she’d been with since high school—had cheated on her, she’d kept the reason for their split to herself. In a place where everyone seemed to know everyone else’s secrets, it made her feel like she had a small bit of control over an otherwise helpless-feeling situation.
“I honestly don’t know when I’ll be ready to talk. At first it was mostly about simply not needing people in my business. Now … I don’t know. The thought of them pitying me seems so much worse than them thinking I’m fickle or mean.” She let one shoulder rise and fall.
Gran settled on the stool next to Hadley and rubbed her back. “You don’t need to justify your decision to me. It was your marriage, it’s your divorce, and no one else gets to tell you how to feel about it or how to deal with it.”
“Thanks, Gran.” She puffed out her cheeks in an exhale, the weight lifting off her chest. “I appreciate your help. It’s so fun having you in town.”
“My pleasure.”
“I’m just sorry you had to leave your house behind. I know you loved it there.”
Gran’s face twitched into a sad smile. “I loved when it was full of children and laughter and life. I loved sharing it with your grandfather. But when he passed, the house was a shell of what it used to be. I’m so much happier here. I’ve done my years staring out at the ocean. Now I’m ready to gaze up at mountains.” She gave Hadley a reassuring wink.
“Well, I’m an expert at that.” Hadley chuckled, taking off her apron before putting away the last clean pot. “You’ve helped me so much today. Is there anything I can do for you?”
The old woman stood and shook her head, but Hadley couldn’t help but notice how she winced slightly as she did so. Her right hand moved to press onto her hip protectively. Guilt swept through Hadley. Her grandmother had had a hip replacement only months earlier and here she was, on her feet, helping make jam for hours. Hadley wanted to kick herself.
“Is your hip bothering you?” She stepped forward to offer a steadying hand.
Gran swatted her away. “I’m just fine, young lady.” She shot her a sly grin. “I was almost done with my physical therapy when we left; I think the cold mountain air is reminding me I didn’t quite graduate.”
“Can I do anything?”
Squinting one eye as she stretched to her left, Gran said, “Now that you mention it, your mother said she had the doctors transfer my records over to the hospital up in Cascade Ridge. I should probably check in with them and see if I can start my physical therapy again.”
Hadley grabbed her keys. “I can take you up there today if you have time.”
“I think that would be lovely.” Gran dipped her chin.
They headed out to the Jam Van, neither of them having a different option—Hadley’s mother had dropped off Gran, and Hadley’s only other choice was her bike. She couldn’t help but linger on the Missing sign with Miranda’s picture on it that she’d hung in every shop window. If Jaxon, her boyfriend, was to be believed, the Cascade Ridge General Hospital parking lot was the last place Miranda was seen on Thursday night.
It wasn’t as if she expected to find her still hanging out there, but who knew—maybe Hadley could dig up a few other answers while she waited for Gran.
9
As the Jam Van wound up the highway to Cascade Ridge, Hadley and Gran settled into pleasant conversation.
“I’ve always wanted to live in a small town,” Gran said, glancing back at the shrinking buildings behind them. “Stoneybrook reminds me a lot of the little place just south of us along the coast.”
“Yeah? Was it the one with the quirky little restaurants right on the beach you took us to that one summer? What was it called?”
“Pebble Cove.” A smile creased the edges of Gran’s eyes.
Hadley snapped her fingers. “That’s it. I think it might’ve even been smaller than Stoneybrook, if I remember correctly.”
Gran laughed. “You might be right. Your grandfather just loved going there for breakfast. We’d stuff ourselves and then walk around the boutiques until we felt like humans again.”
“Suze and I do that sometimes on Saturdays after the market,” Hadley said. She was sure her face pulled tight with discomfort at the reminder of how things had been different between them lately, but luckily the hospital came into view that moment, stealing Gran’s attention away.
The medical building complex was on the outskirts of the town, sitting along a mostly undeveloped, wooded hillside. It was still a farther drive to get there from Stoneybrook than Cascade Ridge, but it helped that people from the south end of the valley didn’t have to get caught up in the crowded boulevards and traffic of the larger city.
“Oh! This is new.” Gran gasped, taking in the large comprehensive complex.
“Yeah?” Hadley asked, her forehead wrinkling. Had it really been that long since Gran had visited? “They built it about fifteen years ago. You’ve been up since then.”
“I guess I haven’t strayed up north in my recent visits.” Gran shook her head, blinking. “When your mother mentioned the hospital, I was still picturing the old one.” Gran motioned to the road winding off to the left that led to the old, boarded-up building.
“Yeah, that place was falling apart.” Hadley clicked her blinker on and got into the right turn lane. She couldn’t help herself as she pulled into the large, mostly empty parking lot, and scanned the place as if Miranda might just be standing there, waiting. She wasn’t, and silly as it was, it made the situation seem all the more impossible.
They parked and went inside. It was even colder up there in the slightly higher elevation. And even though Hadley had finally dug her winter coats out from her moving boxes, her face and hands were just about frozen by the time they hurried inside the clinic, next to the larger emergency and surgery wings.
A receptionist with a smile as wide as the Cascade River checked them in and let Gran know that they’d received her files, and one of the local doctors would check in w
ith her soon. With some clicking and a scrutinizing look at her computer screen, the nurse reported she might have an opening in twenty minutes if they didn’t mind waiting. She gave Gran a small stack of paperwork for new patients.
Hadley and Gran had just settled into the uncomfortable waiting room chairs when a disturbance back by the reception desk caught their attention. The pleasant woman they’d just been talking with was now wearing a frown in place of her friendly smile. She scowled up at a middle-aged woman.
“You don’t understand,” the woman told the nurse in a measured way that made Hadley sure she was clenching her teeth together. “I need to see him now.” Her voice rose in volume at the addition of each new word.
And that’s when Hadley recognized her. Brenda Walters. Miranda’s mother.
“Ma’am, I’m very sorry, but you are not allowed to see him after last time.” The receptionist was obviously trying to keep her voice down, but her need for her words to be forceful made them much louder than a whisper.
A nurse stepped up behind the receptionist. This woman wore a flat, humorless expression as comfortably as she wore her light-purple scrubs.
“Are you trying to test us today?” she asked, so loudly it was obvious she wasn’t worried one bit about confrontation.
Brenda leaned forward. “You don’t understand. My daughter is missing and I’m in so much pain. If I could—”
“Look, lady. I’m going to give you five seconds to get out of my face or I will be calling security. And they won’t be as nice to you as they were last time.”
Hadley realized she’d been staring rudely at the scene. The others occupying the waiting room seemed to be as well, though. Even a few nurses had stopped along the hallway to watch.
Brenda moved as if she might swipe the papers, clipboards, and pens right off the countertop in front of her, but the no-nonsense nurse held up a finger.
“Don’t you even think about it. If you want to argue, go over to the ER and talk with them.” She wagged the finger back and forth in Brenda’s direction.
