Which probably meant they’d already walked more miles than she could in a week.
The three of them stood before her looking ridiculously fit and healthy. Miss Marla wore pink, and Miss Sarah blue. Leggings, zip-up jackets, and caps.
“How come none of you sweat?” Maggs brushed hair out of her eyes. “I walk five feet and I’m dripping.”
“Your new to exercise, dear.” Miss Marla patted her hand. “We’ve been doing it for years. It keeps us healthy and frisky.”
“Frisky?”
“She had a date last night and didn’t get home until the early hours of this morning,” Miss Sarah said.
“Okay, wow. Go you. I haven’t had a date in ages,” Maggie confessed.
“But as you’re taking steps to change yourself, that will change too, dear,” Miss Marla said. “What’s in your hand?”
“Buzz found it.” She handed the wallet to Miss Marla, who immediately opened it.
“There’s a note in here, but nothing else,” she said. They all huddled closer as she read aloud. “‘He knows and can expose us, A.J. I love you and know you love me. I can’t live my life without you any longer. When I see you with her, my heart hurts. Must we live our life for them? You know my marriage is unhappy, know there is only you I care about. Run away with me. I love you now and always.’ It’s signed with the initialL.”
“Wow,” Maggs whispered. “Just wow.”
“Oh, my.” Miss Sarah wiped her eyes. “She loves him desperately.”
“But who is A.J.?” Miss Marla asked.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think we should have read that.”
“Why, Maggie?” Mr. Goldhirsh asked.
“It’s private.” Looking at the writing again, something tugged at her memory. The way the tails were squiggly, and thei’s had little hearts above them. “And I’m not sure we want to know who wrote it, because if they never ran away, we don’t want to cause them trouble.”
“I doubt a few initials will help us find their identity anyway,” Miss Marla said, tucking the note back in the wallet and handing it to Maggs.
“There’s something familiar about that writing though,” Maggs said.
“Really?” Miss Sarah looked excited.
“I’ll take it to Chief Blake.” Maggie pushed it into her pocket.
“After you’ve studied it.”
Miss Marla and Miss Sarah were fierce gossips. Maggie hoped they kept this to themselves but doubted it.
“Now, Maggs, I want you at my house for meditation tomorrow morning,” Mr. Goldhirsh said. “It’s time.”
“For what?”
“To get that mind of yours working properly again.”
“I… ah, I have a thing.” She skirted around them. “I’ll take a rain check.” Maggs hurried up the path.
“I’ll come to you then,” Mr. Goldhirsh called after her. Buzz, she noted, was now trotting after them.
“Traitor.” It was only because they were heading down and he’d get food quicker.
It was demoralizing that the seniors in this town had it together way more than her. Trudging on, she inhaled cold, fresh air, and had to admit ten minutes later, if only to herself, it was nice being out here alone in the freezing cold. Nice and head-clearing, and yes, it gave her time to think. Okay, her cheeks were frozen, and there was every chance her nose would fall off, but she had to admit her morning walking regime was going okay.
Who had written that letter? Maggie had felt the emotion in every word.Did they run away?
