At Molly’s insistence, Mia had made herself at home on her bed. She was officially off the crutches, although she sported a limp. The sisters had split for the day, braving the growing crowd of photographers out front.
Mia’s flight home was tomorrow, but she hadn’t packed yet. She didn’t even want to think about leaving Bluebell. Or going home to face 24/7 scrutiny. Couldn’t one of the Kardashians just do something outrageous already?
Levi emerged from the closet, carrying a cardboard box. Poor thing had been in the sweltering attic for most of the day. His hair was almost gray with dust, dirt smudged his blue T-shirt, and something that looked like grease marked his cheek.
But the expression on his face said it all.
“Nothing?”
“’Fraid not.”
“And you’ve been through everything?”
“Every single thing.” He gave the box a little bounce. “Found some interesting old stuff though. An oil lantern, photos, and random stuff from what must’ve been the inn’s lost-and-found box.”
She could tell he was trying to ease her disappointment. A consolation prize. She made room for him on the bed. “That’s fun. Let’s go through it.”
He glanced at the bed. “Molly’ll kill me if I set this down here. Why don’t we head downstairs, maybe order a pizza? It’s getting on toward suppertime.”
“Sure.” She followed him out the door. “I pity the delivery person, though, having to wade through all the stalkers outside.”
“I’ll warn them when I order, but I’m sure they already know.” He gave her a look. “It was in today’s paper. Front-page news.”
“Great. Now everyone in town knows I’m here. And I’m sure they probably know about the scandal too.”
He gave her an empathetic look as he preceded her down the steps. “There was mention of it in the article.”
“Of course there was.” She took her time with the steps. Last thing she needed was to fall and hurt herself again.
“Well... you’ll be out of here tomorrow anyway. I’ve already talked to Skeeter about flying you to Charlotte. He can sneak you out the back. I’ll wait a while, then notify the goons out front that you’re gone.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out.” Business as usual. She didn’t know why that bothered her so much. She had no reason to complain. He’d taken such good care of her.
“I’m not sure an endorsement from me is going to count for much by the time all’s said and done,” she said.
“I’m just sorry your trip wasn’t more relaxing.” He glanced back at her. “At least you won’t have to hobble through the airport on crutches.”
“There is that.” She settled on the living room couch, and Levi set the box on the coffee table, then went to change out of his dusty clothes.
He returned wearing his standard khakis and a black T-shirt that set off his dark hair and blue eyes. “Hungry yet?”
“Let’s wait a bit if you don’t mind.”
He sat beside her. “Not at all.”
They began rooting through Levi’s finds, the musty smell of the attic filling her nostrils. He’d turned off the phone’s ringer last night, so the house was quiet except for the ticking of the mantel clock. It was probably going to take hours to weed through all the voicemails.
The oil lamp looked really old, and it was in perfect condition. There were pillbox style hats that were popular in the ’50s. She modeled them for Levi. When he came across a black fedora he set it on his head, making Mia wish men’s hats were all the rage again because, mercy.
“Ooh la la,” she said. “Very Frank Sinatra.”
He left it on as they continued their exploration. Mia pulled out a gold woman’s watch and turned it over. An inscription readAll my love.
“Look, it’s engraved.”
“Nice.”
Mia wondered if her grandfather might’ve given it to her grandmother, but it could’ve been anyone’s. It could’ve been left at the inn by a guest.
