“Are you sure Tamsyn’s going to be okay with it?” his mom asked.
“She is,” he said.
“Anna followed through with her threat, showing everyone on the committee the supposed note she got from Elizabeth shortly before she disappeared.” His mom dug into the pocket of her oversized dress. “I managed to get her to print it out, but she’s not aware that your dad made copies.”
“I’m a little lost in this conversation.” Zinny took the note in her hands. Her eyes shifted as she read it. “Elizabeth could be referencing anyone in this note.”
“It might not even be by Elizabeth,” his mom said. “According to your father, he’s not sure that ever made it into the original police file.” She shifted her gaze to Noir. “He’d like to ask Tamsyn if she’s okay with him doing a comparison of her mother’s handwriting for authenticity, along with asking her specifically if she’s seen it.”
“I want to be there for that conversation,” Noir said. “I don’t want Tamsyn to feel cornered or defensive in any way.”
“I totally understand.” His mom nodded.
“What does this have to do with the Holiday Showcase?” Zinny asked.
“Oh, she and Mrs. Cummings were trying to cause problems, removing it from my hands. They got their vote. It’s going to be at the winery. They left quite pissed off and said this wasn’t the end of it. Unfortunately, I believe Anna made a beeline for the cottage.”
“Fucking wonderful,” Noir muttered. That was the last thing that Tamsyn needed before heading to her parents’ for dinner. He rose, making his way into the hallway, and peeked out the window. Sure enough, Anna’s vehicle was next to Tamsyn’s patrol car. He contemplated racing to his new home, but that might be perceived as over the top. Instead, he shot Tamsyn a text, letting her know that he was available if she needed backup. He strolled back into his office, setting his cell on his desk.
“What’s their relationship really like?” his mother asked, holding up her hand. “I’m not asking for any other reason than I care about you and the position that you’re in as her boyfriend.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, contemplating his answer. “She’s closer to Fred. They have more in common.”
“Fred used to stand up to Anna more,” his mom said. “But that changed over the years. Your father and I were talking about that earlier. About how it seemed like the shift happened shortly before Elizabeth disappeared. We wondered if it had to do with the fact that Fred also tried to help Elizabeth and it pissed Anna off.”
“This note indicates that Elizabeth and Anna were friends.” Zinny handed the note back to their mother.
“Can I have a copy of that?” Noir asked.
“You can keep that one.” His mom folded it and set it on the desk. “The thing is, Elizabeth and Anna were never friendly. Not back when we were kids, and not as adults, at least that your dad and I ever saw. Fred’s a different story. He’s a police officer. He has a different temperament, and he needs to not only command respect, but he needs to give it. While he arrested Anna a couple of times, he was lenient and compassionate. He wanted to see her get help so the State didn’t come in and take Tamsyn from her. And let me tell you, that nearly happened a few times.” His mom took his hand. “The rumor mill about who Tamsyn’s father is rearing its ugly head isn’t what concerns me for the two of you. It’s the mystery of Elizabeth’s disappearance that will keep me awake at night. People in this town can be mean. We all know that.”
“Tamsyn is insanely sorry for accusing you of having anything to do with what happened to her mom,” Noir said.
“She’s a young girl who lost her mother. She lashed out at someone who had a fight with her in the middle of town. I don’t blame that poor child for anything. But Anna threw that in my face in front of the entire committee, reminding them of that accusation, putting the thought in their head that I could have killed her, and she’ll keep doing that. I’m lucky that no one else on the committee believed a single word. However, you know how some people in this town can be, and Anna left ranting that she’ll make sure everyone remembers that I had a beef with Elizabeth.” His mother let out a long, exasperated, dramatic sigh. “I cared about Elizabeth, but I was angry at what she did. I wanted her to stop. It was hurting my family. But I could have gone about getting my point across differently. I will regret that argument for the rest of my life.”
Zinny hopped off the desk, tossing her empty drink in the trash. She squeezed their mother’s shoulder. “We don’t know why Elizabeth decided to lie about Daddy. You had a right to be angry. No one can fault you for that.”
“But I didn’t need to get in her face like that,” his mom said. “In front of her daughter or the entire town for that matter. It was a delicate situation and your father warned me about letting my emotions get the better of me, which is exactly what happened.”
It was rare that his mother took ownership of her actions, but when she did, she did it big. Noir appreciated that about his mom. “We’re going in circles,” he said. “Maybe I can find something out when I see Tamsyn before we head to her folks’ tonight, and again at dinner.”
His mom rose, taking his hand. “I’m glad you found someone to share that lovely heart of yours. I’m thrilled it’s Tamsyn because we’ve seen how she makes your eyes light up. I just hope all this doesn’t put the kind of pressure on a new relationship that ends up tearing you apart, because that would break my heart.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He gave her a big hug. They hadn’t always been warm and cuddly. However, in moments like these, he desired that affection. He’d waited a lifetime to feel as though he fit in with his own family, so he wasn’t going to let go.
Tamsyn
Tamsyn wiped the foggy mirror with a dry towel. She snagged her hairbrush and worked it through her thick, tangled strands. She stared at herself, wishing the bags under her eyes weren’t so prominent. She hadn’t slept as well as she would have liked. When she did manage to doze off, she dreamed of her mother and they weren’t good dreams. They were riddled with past pains, worries, and feelings of abandonment.
The story of her life.
She pulled open the medicine cabinet, hoping to find something to put under her eyes. Noir had mentioned he’d brought over everything of hers from his old place. There should be some eye cream. But if he’d missed it, perhaps Zinny had left something behind.
Rummaging around the shelves, she found a small box that looked vaguely familiar. She lifted it, examining it in the light. “Where have I seen this before?” she whispered. Her eyes widened as she lifted the top. “Oh my God. No.” She thumbed her mother’s necklace. The one her mother treated as though it was worth a million dollars.
Tears filled Tamsyn’s eyes as she tentatively touched the feather pendant. Her mom had told her that necklace had been a gift from Tamsyn’s father. Her mother rarely wore it. Only on special occasions, which seldom happened. After her mother had been declared missing, the police had gone through her mom’s things. Fred and Anna had offered a few things of value, but the necklace had never been found.
“No. No. No.” The necklace might have belonged to someone else. It could have been mass produced. She closed the box, yanked open the bathroom door, and raced to the middle of the only room. She did a three-sixty. Where the fuck could she hide it until she could do some old-fashioned police work to find out who it actually belonged to?
