We ordered two veggie omelets with home fries, rye toast, and, of course, more tea. Lara wrote it down with her usual efficiency and disappeared through the swinging doors.
For a few blessed minutes, things felt almost normal.
The low murmur of conversation returned. Coffee poured. Plates clattered softly. The smell of onions and peppers drifted from the kitchen.
Amy watched me over the rim of her mug.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked more quietly now that the crowd had lost interest.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Embarrassed and feeling foolish but fine.”
Our food arrived quickly. We ate without rush, the kind of comfortable silence that only comes from knowing someone your whole life.
I no longer paid attention to the sound of the bell jingling over the door, which was why Beau’s sudden appearance at our booth caught me and Amy off guard.
Amy didn’t hesitate to shift slightly in the booth, inviting him to join her, which I was relieved to see.
Beau slid in next to her and rested his forearms on the table.
He studied my face carefully, not dramatically, not accusatory, just assessing.
“That’s some shiner,” he said evenly. “Heard Ian already tackled the culprit and secured the rug.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Before he left this morning.”
I could see that they were both a little anxious, and it had nothing to do with my face. And I had no desire to sit between whatever needed to be said.
“I think I’ve had enough public appearances for one day,” I said lightly. “I’m going home.”
“Breakfast is on me,” Amy said before I could reach for my wallet and I saw the appreciation in her eyes for giving her time alone with Beau.
Beau turned to Amy. “I haven’t eaten yet, if you don’t mind hanging a bit, I’ll get the check for all of it.”
Amy smiled softly. “I could go for more tea. Besides, I really would like to talk with you, Beau.”
Beau looked relieved and a bit nervous, not sure what Amy would say.
I stepped out of the booth but paused beside the table and not wanting the poor guy to suffer said, “The four of us need to get out to supper soon.”
Amy took it from there. “That would be great.”
Beau couldn’t hide his relief and smiled at me. “Looking forward to it, Pepper.”
A sudden thought tugged at me. “Amy, by any chance would you happen to know what Vera keeps in her safety deposit box?”
She frowned slightly. “Not a clue.”
“Which safety deposit box?” Beau asked.
CHAPTER 22
Istayed in my truck longer than I meant to.
The engine was off, the air drifting in through the open window warm but not uncomfortable. Main Street moved at its usual late-morning pace.
Vera had more than one safety deposit box, not two but several.
Beau hadn’t made it sound dramatic. He’d said it in that calm, factual way of his, as if he were explaining why someone spreads funds across multiple accounts to minimize risk.
