Finally deciding that maybe she should just take a little time for herself, Holly strolled back toward her room. She could hear Linc talking on the phone in the office as she walked by, so she gently closed her bedroom door. She started by making her bed and tossing her dirty clothes in her clothes hamper before walking over to her bookshelf. She’d finished a book the night before about a girl who lived in a small town and discovered she was psychic. Now she needed to decide what she was going to read next.
Sometimes working at a bookstore was great, but it seemed as though she’d really started to get quite a collection of books. She’d read some and was planning on holding onto them in case she ever wanted to read them again. But for the most part, she’d read them, and then resell them back to the bookstore. Unfortunately, she had one whole bookshelf now dedicated to books she needed to read.
Finally deciding on one about a teenage boy who finds out he’s from a long line of witches, Holly carried it over to her bed and stretched out in a comfortable position. It seemed like the perfect morning for a bit of reading. She had nothing to do, the dappled sunlight was shining through her window, and she was ready to start a new book. Leaning back against the pile of pillows on her bed, she began to read.
CHAPTER 2
Lola Hammond looked in the kitchen cabinets to see what she could find to feed her little boy. She’d lost her job due to layoffs and now her unemployment benefit was about to run out. It probably didn’t help any that she no longer had a functional car, but she hadn’t been able to find a job to replace the one she’d lost. Her single wide trailer was far from luxurious, but it was the best she could do.
Once her boyfriend had taken off for California to be with some girl he’d met online, things seemed to have gone downhill. If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was cursed. It was as if anything that could go wrong, had. But in the end, she was just grateful she and Kane, her son, had a roof over their heads, no matter how leaky it was.
Lola pulled the last box of macaroni and cheese from the cabinet and grabbed a pan to cook it in. It wasn’t much, but it would tide little Kane over for tonight. He didn’t know any better. He thought it was great when he got to have macaroni and cheese for supper. He was currently running around the house pretending he was whatever superhero he was obsessed with today.
She was so grateful when Missy suggested she go to the library and rent movies for him. She’d never even thought about looking there for something to entertain Kane. When she’d had to turn off the cable because she couldn’t afford it, he’d been disappointed he wouldn’t have any cartoons to watch. Missy had been a lifesaver with that and so much more.
As Lola started boiling the water, she thought about how much Missy had helped them. Just a few weeks ago she’d noticed that Kane’s clothes looked a little small. She’d given Lola a few things that she’d collected that would fit him, with the promise of collecting more for them. Lola had told her she didn’t need to worry about it, but Missy had brushed her off. She’d insisted it was fine and no trouble at all.
She’d even asked Lola what sizes she wore, because she was sure that she could dig a few things up for her, too. Lola would be very grateful if she could, since she was small and when she bought things at the second-hand store, they were usually too big for her. The shirt she had on right now felt as though she was swimming in it.
When Missy had called her this morning to say she had a few things for them, it had taken some of the pressure off her. Lola was glad she’d called when she had, because she wasn’t sure how many more days she had left on her phone before it got shut off for non-payment.
When the macaroni and cheese was cooked, she called Kane to the table. He came running, making noises that told her he was imagining he was flying through the house.
“Try not to get too dirty,” Lola said. “We need to go over to the church when you’re done.”
“Did she get me some new clothes?” he asked excitedly. He’d been asking regularly ever since Missy had told them she’d try to find him some new clothes. Apparently, he was really looking forward to it.
“She said she did,” Lola said with a smile. “Now remember, no matter what you get, you say thank you to her,” she reminded him.
“I will,” he said nodding. His little feet were swinging beneath his chair as he carefully tried to keep the macaroni on his spoon. “But I really hope there’s a Batman shirt. That would be the best!” He smiled so big it made Lola’s heart hurt. She wished more than anything she could take him to the store and let him pick out whatever he wanted. If only she hadn’t made her parents upset by moving in with her ex-boyfriend and keeping Kane.
They’d said at nineteen she was too young to have a baby, and maybe they were right. But Lola had made up her mind and moved to this trailer with Patrick, her ex. They’d saved all their money and bought the place outright. Not that it had been much, but it was a start. It was where they had planned on beginning their life and their family together. It had gone very well at first. It wasn’t a glamorous life, but Lola had been happy. At least for a little while.
“You done, little man?” she asked as she noticed he was scraping the bottom of the bowl.
“Yes, Mommy,” he said nodding eagerly.
“You want some more?” she asked.
“Nope. I’m too excited,” he said with another big grin.
“Okay, then. Go get your shoes so we can head over there,” she said as she picked up his bowl and carried it to the sink. Once he was out of the room, she quickly finished off the little bit of macaroni and cheese left in the bottom of the pan. She hadn’t eaten much all day and wanted something in her belly so it wouldn’t growl and embarrass her in front of Missy.
Lola may have been down on her luck for now, but she was no charity case. The guilt she already felt from getting help with their clothes was enough to make her feel badly about herself. She couldn’t stand it if Missy knew just how bad things had gotten. Maybe it was foolish pride, but she couldn’t help it.
“I’m ready,” Kane exclaimed as he ran back into the front room and over to the door. “Come on, Mom. Let’s go!”
“I’m coming,” she said, slightly amused by his enthusiasm. “Remember, don’t be disappointed if there isn’t a Batman shirt,” she reminded him. The last thing she wanted was for him to seem ungrateful because he didn’t get what he wanted.
“There will be. I just know it,” he said as she pulled the front door open and then locked it behind them.
“Oh, do you now?” she asked as they began the walk to the church. It wasn’t so far away that it would be an uncomfortable walk on the way over, but she was slightly worried about the walk back. She told herself that Missy probably hadn’t gotten so much that she couldn’t carry it on the walk back. There was no way she’d ever tell Missy she didn’t have a car anymore.
Eventually, they made it to the church and entered through the front doors. Lola always loved the feeling she got when she walked into the chapel area. Even when times were as tough as they were now, she was sure there was someone up above watching over her. Showing her the way to make it through her hardships in the best way possible.
He wouldn’t have her suffer unnecessarily, and she trusted that all of this was somehow a lesson for her. In all honesty, thinking that was one of the few ways she could even sleep at night.
“Well, hello,” Jordan said as he stood up from the first pew and turned to see who had come in. “It’s Lola, right?” he asked as she drew closer.
“Yes, Father,” she said. “And this is Kane.”
“Hello, Kane,” he said kneeling down to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Kane said, sounding far more grown up than his four years.
“Missy told me you were coming. She’s in the back, through that door,” he said pointing. “Third door on the left,” he instructed with a gentle smile.
“Thank you,” Lola said with a nod. She took Kane�
��s hand and led him to the door she’d been directed to and pushed it open.
“I’ll find her, Mommy,” Kane said confidently as he pulled his hand from his mother’s. The long hall was quiet and had doors evenly spaced on both sides of it. Lola had never imagined there were this many rooms in the rear area of the church. She’d always assumed there were just a few and then the section where Missy and Jordan lived.
“One, two, three,” Kane counted and then lunged for the door knob on the right. “In here!” he said happily as he twisted the doorknob.
“No, Kane. That’s the right side,” she began, but he’d already pushed the door open. Rushing to stop him, she followed him inside and almost bumped into him. He was standing absolutely still, almost as if he was in awe.
“Is this the church grocery store?” he asked, his voice full of wonder.
Lola was ashamed to admit that she, too, was in awe, just as he was, seeing all the food lining the shelves. Seeing different types of food she hadn’t had for months made her stomach growl, despite the meager amount of macaroni and cheese she’d placed in it.
“No, punkin’. This is where they keep their food,” she said as she took his hand. “Come on. You were supposed to go in the third door on the left, not the right.” She tugged him back out into the hallway and shut the door behind them.
“Oh,” he said softly. “Am I going to get in trouble?” he asked.
“Of course not,” Missy said, appearing as she opened the door they were supposed to go through. “Accidents happen. Come in here, you two. I have a few things for you.” She waved them into the room and Kane happily did as he was told, his mistake forgotten.
But Lola couldn’t stop thinking about all that food. She’d seen potatoes and apples. Even packs of cookies. How long had it been since she’d had a cookie? Too long. And too long for Kane, too.
“I’ve put the clothes into piles for you,” Missy began. “This table over here is for you, Kane,” she said as she pointed at it. “And the one over here is for you, Lola. Take whatever you want. You can take it all if you like. I don’t mind.”
Lola pushed the thought of the food from her mind as she looked at the piles of clothes before them. This was far more than she’d hoped for.
“Thank you so much,” she said as she took Kane over to his table. “Truly. This will help me out quite a bit.”
“It’s no problem,” Missy said. “I completely understand. Kids grow so fast it’s hard to keep them in clothes that fit. Then mamas spend all their money on their babies and forget to get things for themselves.” She shrugged. “No reason for you not to get new clothes, too.”
“Mom, look! A Batman shirt!” Kane said excitedly. “I told you! I just knew it!”
Missy chuckled. “I’ll let you two go through them on your own. There are empty bags in the box over in the corner. If you need me for anything, I’ll be next door in my office,” she said. Lola nodded and watched as Missy left the room. As soon as Missy had left, her stomach began to growl.
“Mom, if you’re hungry, I bet she’d give you some food from her room,” Kane said, clutching the Batman shirt.
“I’m okay, kiddo,” she said reassuringly. “Why don’t you start going through your pile, and I’ll go through mine? Make sure you get plenty, but don’t be greedy.” He nodded and began going through the pieces of clothing one by one.
Lola headed to her pile and started sorting through it. There were a number of things that would fit her tiny frame. A few of the pairs of jeans she was even excited about, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the food across the hall. Maybe when she got home, she’d be able to find something to tide over her growling belly. More than anything, though, she knew she was envious of the food stash. If only she could take just a few of those things home. They’d be able to eat for a week, and no one would notice they were gone.
Shaking her head, she forced the thought out of her head. She couldn’t steal food from a church. That wouldn’t be right. Especially after everything Missy was already doing for them. She did her best to focus on the clothes and tried to forget about the food, despite her growling stomach.
CHAPTER 3
“I swear this little guy gets cuter every day,” Holly said as she carried Aiden around the bookstore on her hip. She was showing him everything, letting him take in the various colors and textures around the store. She let him touch each chair, the curtains framing the main window, and anything else that wasn’t for sale. He giggled and cooed at all of the marvels she showed him, even though he’d seen them many times before. It was as if each time it was a new discovery.
“He definitely seems to be growing every day,” Fiona sighed. “I swear he just grew into most of the things I bought him to wear and now they’re already getting too small.”
“His shirt does seem to be riding up a bit,” Holly said as she tugged it down again. His round little belly could barely be contained by it. “He almost looks like he’s wearing a crop top,” she chuckled.
“Oh, well,” Fiona said as she stood up from the chair behind the register. “Maybe I can find some more clothes for him at yard sales or something. I’ve learned my lesson buying stuff new. All it does is waste my money and make me feel frustrated when he outgrows them.”
“I’ll bet,” Holly said as she began to tickle his feet. “But I’m sure that smile makes it all worth it.”
“Yeah, it does,” Fiona said as she smiled at her son. “Even on his cranky days I still wouldn’t trade him for the world. But I think I got lucky. He’s really been fairly calm and relaxed. Plus, I’ve discovered that he loves to watch the weather on television. He gets excited every time the radar comes on with all the colors and movement.”
“That’s adorable,” Holly said as she bounced him. He squealed with delight, a little drool dropping from his lip. “Maybe he’ll be a meteorologist when he grows up?”
“Maybe,” Fiona said softly. She seemed slightly distracted today, like her heart wasn’t totally into things. Holly didn’t know what the problem was. After watching Fiona for a moment or two, she finally spoke up.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Ever since she’d gotten to the bookstore, Fiona hadn’t seemed like herself. If it had been anyone else, Holly would have minded her own business. But she knew Fiona well enough to know that something was going on with her. And the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like for the past few months Fiona had slowly become less and less like the woman Holly knew and loved.
“Yeah,” Fiona said softly. “I’m fine.” Her words said one thing, but her body language and tone said something else altogether. They seemed hollow and lifeless compared to the Fiona Holly knew.
“Seriously, if anything’s wrong, you can tell me,” Holly insisted. “I know I may still be a kid, but I can listen.”
“No, it’s not that,” Fiona said shaking her head. “It’s hard to explain. I’ve just been in a mood or something. Seriously, don’t worry about it.” She tried to give Holly a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Holly could tell she was putting on a show, but for now she’d let it be. Maybe she was stressed or something. Holly was sure things had probably changed when Aiden came along. Maybe Fiona was still adjusting to motherhood.
“Okay, but I’m here if you need me,” Holly continued. “Or call Brigid. She’s always got some sage piece of advice for any sort of situation you can come up with.”
“That she does,” Fiona said as she turned away. She began straightening books on the shelf that didn’t need straightening, so Holly decided she should ease up. Maybe Fiona had a lot on her mind and just needed to have a good cry. After all, she was a new mother, and she was probably a little overwhelmed.
“So, how has Wade been doing out at the ski resort?” Holly asked, changing the subject. Maybe if she helped Fiona take her mind off of whatever was bothering her, she’d brighten up and be more like the person she’d been before.
Not that Holly didn’t still love her, but it was pain
ful to see her like this. It was as though she was a painting and her colors had dulled. The vibrant and full-of-life woman she once knew seemed to have dimmed and was now somewhat distracted and almost sad.
“Brandon said he was really impressed with him. Wade works hard and does whatever is asked of him. He actually told me the other day that he was really glad he’d hired Wade.” Fiona wasn’t facing her, but her voice sounded clearer, as if the distraction was working.
“That’s great,” Holly said. “I’m so glad. Wade said he thought he was doing well out there, but since it’s his first job, he’s been worried that maybe he wasn’t doing good enough.”
“Well, you can let him know that he’s doing just fine,” she said as she finally turned around. Her eyes looked slightly watery, but she didn’t seem to be crying. Holly felt relieved, even though she was still concerned. “I should probably get out of here,” Fiona said. “I need to stop by the store and pick up something for dinner.”
“Okay,” Holly said as she took Aiden over to Fiona. When she handed him to her, he seemed excited to see his mom. She smiled faintly at him, still looking distracted and tired. “If you ever need a break from him, let me know. I’d love to babysit him if you and Brandon want to go out some evening or need to get away.”
“Thanks,” Fiona said as she carried him to his car seat in the corner. “We may take you up on that sometime. For now, I think I just need some rest or something.”
“I can always watch him for that too. Really. Please let me know if you need anything at all,” Holly insisted.
Fiona finished strapping Aiden in his car seat and lifted him up. She turned and gave Holly the first sincere smile she’d seen all day.
Holly Lewis Mystery series Box Set Page 27
