His serious eyes with their frame of dark lashes met hers. She could disappear into those eyes like Alice down the rabbit hole. The quick, searching look he gave her held tenderness. Communication passed between them.How are you?he asked.
I’m doing well, she assured him.You?
I’m doing well, too.
Natasha asked him friendly questions while Genevieve got lost in memories of their kisses and the sweep and swirl of her emotions.
“Anyone need more coffee?” he asked.
“I’d love another latte,” Genevieve said.
“I’m still working on my tea,” Natasha told him.
He moved toward the coffee bar.
“As I was saying,” Natasha said. “Russell’s family moved to Atlanta after his death. His father died there in 1986. As far as I can tell, his mother and his two younger sisters still live there. I searched and searched. I made a few phone calls. But I haven’t been able to find out anything about them online. I’m guessing that they lead quiet lives.”
“Hmm.” Genevieve’s attention tracked Sam as he worked the espresso machine. The woman who stood behind the to-go line cash register, Star, slid glances at him from beneath her lashes when he wasn’t looking. If Star could have shot love beams out of her eyes, Sam would have been reduced to vapor.
“Genevieve.”Once again, Natasha broke into her reverie. “Honestly!”
“Sorry!” She grinned apologetically. “What’s our plan going forward?”
“I’m going to see if I can find an address for Russell’s mother. If I can, I thought I might reach out and ask for a meeting. She may be able to shed more light on what Mom and Dad and Russell were up to the weekend of Russell’s death.”
“I don’t know, Natasha. Alice Atwell lost her son. I’d hate to stir up her grief. I can’t imagine we’ll comfort her if we show up and announce that our dad once dated her son’s wife in college.”
Natasha exhaled with frustration. “I’m not sure what else to do, then. The yearbook picture of Mom and Dad is the only shred of evidence I can find linking the two of them prior to when they started dating years later in Savannah. You and I have both hunted for information on their time in Savannah, and nothing unusual has come up. It seems that everything that happened in Savannah happened just the way Mom and Dad always said it did.”
Genevieve had come to Misty River because of the first letter. For the past several days, though, the mystery involving her parents had lessened in urgency for her as Sam had overtaken the top spot in her list of priorities. “Don’t forget that I’m going to see Nanny.” She’d called Aunt Jolene and set up an appointment to stop by and see her dad’s mom day after tomorrow. “Who knows? Nanny may have a lucid moment and be able to tell me something about Dad’s relationship with Mom while he was in college.”
“She’s a sweetheart. Unfortunately, I don’t think she has many lucid moments anymore.” Natasha tightened her ponytail. “I took her to an outdoor class last summer where instructors were teaching the steps of a quadrille. I wanted to get her out of the house, and Wyatt and I were terrible at the quadrille, so I’m sure we were extremely entertaining to watch. She seemed miserable the whole time.”
“She was probably highly confused to find herself surrounded by Americans twirling to the steps of an English dance.”
“If you don’t find anything out from Nanny, and we decide not to pursue a meeting with Alice Atwell, then we might need to admit that we’re done ... that we’ve found all the information we can.”
“What about reopening our investigation into Angus Morehouse?”
“We researched him as much as we could and didn’t come across a single clue.”
“Perhaps we can find a friend or family member of his that we could talk to?” Genevieve suggested.
“I’m not opposed to that.”
“I’ll make a note to call Birdie Jean and ask her if she could suggest someone. What if that doesn’t pan out?”
“Then I think it’s time to confront Mom and Dad.”
Sebastian
We need water, and this pipe might hold water—so no matter what, I’m going to break it.
When it’s my turn again to hit the pipe, I raise my rock over my head and throw it at the pipe with all my strength.
A metallic sound explodes through the space. The pipe cracks. Instantly, water gushes from its broken end. The girls and Ben cheer.
Water’s coming out fast, spilling all over the floor.
