Harper tried to crunch the numbers. A birth year of 1882 meant he would have been about sixty when he married Olivia.
“Dr. Farrow was the professor of theology and literature at Winfield College for fifty of his years and quite active in his church. Married to Ruth Farrow from Cleveland.”
Harper stopped her. “Are you certain her name was Ruth?”
“That’s what the obituary says.”
“Does it say anything about a second wife?” Harper asked.
“No, just Ruth. Looks like she died in 1939 at the age of fifty-five, after almost forty years of marriage. A marvel, really. And...” A long pause. “No mention of kids, but it says he had two grandchildren.”
“What about the names of those grandkids?”
“It doesn’t list them.”
Another roadblock. “Do you have an obituary for Olivia Farrow or Via Belle?”
Another moment passed while the woman searched. “I’m afraid there’s no record for either name.”
Harper gave the woman her address in Catawba and thanked her profusely. After the many roadblocks, it was nice to have someone help.
Her phone chimed, and she looked down at a text from Kelsey. Last Harper checked, her friend was still drinking gallons of ginger tea.
I’m so sorry, Harper!
She read the text twice, wondering what Kelsey had to be sorry for.
Are you feeling better?
I was until I sawThe Hollywood Reporter.
I’m afraid to ask...
My dad—
When the text stopped, Harper’s stomach plunged, a myriad of possible endings to “my dad” dangling in her head. Had Evan and Marlo’s marriage already blown up? Poor Kelsey. She had everything going for her except her dad’s whims.
She started typing again.
Are you still in the Maldives?
Yes.
What happened to your dad?
Instead of another message, Kelsey called. “I can’t text this.”
Harper braced herself. “What happened?”
“My dad just announced his next movie.”
“Okay.” She was curious, of course, but Evan announced a new movie every year. Why was Kelsey stressing over this one? “Is something wrong with it?”
A weird sound crossed the continents, something between a gulp and groan. And an anvil crashed in Harper’s gut. He wouldn’t have— “What’s the movie, Kelsey?”
“I don’t think I can say it.”
“Please tell me.”
