Claire smiled. “I may have an update, but I’ll fill you guys in at our usual coffee meetup at Sandcastles. Tonight is about you and Olga. I don’t want to detract from that.”
Just as everyone nodded in agreement, Olga’s children came rushing over. Their faces were etched with frowns, sending a ripple of unease through Bunny’s stomach.
“Mom, you did all this?” Kristen’s eyes widened as she took in the room, her gaze tinged with awe.
Olga smiled warmly. “I made the pieces, but Maxi arranged them into this beautiful gallery. We’re a team.”
Richard’s brows furrowed, concern etched on his face. “But, Mom, this is a lot of work.”
“Oh, it is,” Olga agreed, her eyes twinkling. “But when have you ever known me to sit idle? Keeping busy keeps the mind and body young.”
Finally, the tension on Kristen and Richard’s faces eased into smiles. They moved in to hug their mother. “Well, you must be on to something,” Kristen said, “because you’re acting years younger than your age.”
“We’re sorry for trying to push you into assisted living,” Richard added. “Clearly, you don’t need it.”
“Thank you.” Olga looked at her children fondly. “I understand you were only looking out for my well-being, but I’m fine in the house. I still garden and rake the leaves and can take care of most everything I did years ago.”
“You’re right, Mom. I guess we got a little overprotective.” Richard chuckled before adding, “So does this mean you’re coming over to rake my lawn next week?”
Olga laughed. “Oh, don’t push your luck!”
Olga’s arms wrapped around Kristen and Richard’s shoulders as they moved away from the group, their path taking them toward a display featuring intricately crafted dala horses.
“Remember when Grandma Johnson used to put these in all of her windows?” Olga said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
Kristen and Richard looked at each other then back at the dala horses, their expressions softening. “I’d forgotten about that,” Kristen admitted.
Sally joined the group. Her hair wasn’t in its usual braid and flowed freely past her shoulders for once, and her outfit was a colorful departure from her usual work clothes, with a red skirt and colorful top.
“Bunny, you look wonderful tonight,” Sally said, her smile as bright as her skirt.
“So do you,” Bunny returned the compliment.
Sally nodded toward Olga. “Looks like Olga finally got her kids to see the light.”
“It seems that way,” Maxi said. “I’m delighted for her.”
“Me too. I hope my kids don’t try to put me in a home before my time,” Sally added with a wink.
Laughter rippled through the group. Everyone knew that if there was one person in town who could manage a home all on her own, it was Sally.
Sally turned to Bunny. “So how is it going with that mystery you were trying to solve?”
Bunny filled Sally in on their latest disappointment.
“Intriguing,” Sally said, visibly interested. “And you found it in an old trunk? Was it a big gift?”
Andie held her hands apart, forming a small rectangle. “No, just a little box, about this big,” she said, indicating a size of roughly three inches.
“And you have no clues?” Sally asked, her eyes narrowing.
“None, really.” Andie sighed. “The tag just had a nickname—Urchin.”
At the mention of the name, Sally’s eyes widened, her posture straightening. “Urchin, you say? Now, that’s a name I haven’t heard in years, but I think I know who that might be. Even better, she’s in town right now!”
Andie and Bunny exchanged astounded glances.
“In town? Where?” Andie stammered, hardly able to contain her surprise.
