“It’s fine. I was just doing too much. Air fryer was on, plus I was fixing a table leg for Judy and was using tools.” Mike motioned toward the basement.
Judy was Mike’s neighbor, a nice older woman he often did little maintenance tasks for.
Maybe Jane was reading too much into this. With the book club mysteries, Mr. Smith, and her ring suspicions, she really was probably overreacting. A weekend away with Andie would help to clear her head.
She relaxed and smiled as Mike took the bag of Cooper’s gear and gave her a kiss. Cooper had made his way to his toy basket and was snuffling inside for a toy.
“Are you excited about your trip?” Mike asked.
“Yeah. A bit.” She was excited, but also a bit apprehensive. “I’m going to miss you.”
Mike smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Miss you too. But you know they say absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
Cooper selected a stuffed octopus from the basket and dropped it at Jane’s feet.
“Looks like someone wants to play,” Mike said.
“Woof!”
“Why don’t you take Coop outside, and I’ll make us a few cups of coffee, and we can toss the toy around in the backyard.”
Mike had recently fenced in the yard, and they’d spent several weekend mornings and evenings outside with Cooper.
“Sounds good.” Jane picked up the toy. Cooper knew the drill and rushed to the back door before she’d even straightened up. It was a familiar routine. Perfectly normal.
“Girl, you gotta get a grip on your overactive imagination,” Jane muttered to herself as she tossed the octopus toward the back corner of the yard.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
The Lobster Bay Library was housed in a big stone building with a giant oak door that had side iron hinges and looked like it belonged on an old castle. Bunny thought the door was so interesting that she’d even made a painting of it once.
A cement path lined with colorful flowers led to the door. The pink and white impatiens were still blooming even this late in the season, and there were gorgeous pots of mums in bright yellow and deep purple.
Inside, the space was cloaked in hushed silence. The walls were painted the palest shade of blue, and the royal-blue carpeting muted Bunny’s footsteps.
Evelyn Carson was seated behind the round desk opposite the door. She looked up over her red-framed half-moon glasses and smiled at Bunny. Evelyn had been town librarian for decades and always had a kind word for everyone who entered. Unless people talked too loudly, then she would shush them sternly.
“Pssst…” Bunny turned toward the sound to see Sam sitting in one of the wingback chairs over by the fireplace.
She waved, and he stood and walked over to her.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” Bunny hated being late, so she had shown up five minutes early. Sam must not like being late either, she surmised. Another thing they had in common.
“Not at all. I was returning a book anyway and figured I’d catch you when you came in and we could walk down to the computer area together.”
The computers were kept in the back of the library, in a small room with utilitarian wooden desks and uncomfortable plastic chairs. They were older models, and back when no one had home computers, the room was used often. But these days, everyone had a laptop, and Bunny had actually brought hers. The room was a bit dusty and seemed like no one had been in it for a while, but it was a good place to meet. They’d also be able to discuss the investigation in privacy without risking Evelyn’s shushing or anyone spying on their activities.
Bunny put her laptop on one of the desks, and they pulled two chairs over.
“I guess we can start by searching Google?” Bunny raised a brow at Sam.
“Yep. Good a place as any.” Now that Sam was sitting closer to her than at Sandcastles, she noticed the crinkles around his eyes from laughing and also that his eyes were blue. He smelled good, too, clean like soap.
“Oh!” Sam pulled something out of his jacket pocket. “Almost forgot. I brought you this crossword puzzle book. These are quite difficult.”
Bunny slid her reading glasses on, feeling almost a bit self-conscious because she noticed Sam didn’t have reading glasses. Maybe his eyes were still good. Well, that was okay. She was happy for him.
“I don’t think I’ve tried these. Thanks.” She put the book in her bag, confident she could solve the puzzles in record time.
