around. No sign of Chloe. I hoped our luck would hold.
“Had a little business to take care of in Salem.” I extricated myself from the hug and took a look at her. “Is there something in the water around here? You look great!”
The tough, no-nonsense Fran I had worked with blushed bright red and looked downright girlish. “You’re not with the force anymore so you don’t have to kiss my ass.” She grabbed one of the disposable cell phones I was holding. “What the hell is this? Are you running drugs up there in Maple Sugar?”
“You big-city types are too damn suspicious.” I took the phone back from her. “So how is the old gang?”
She filled me in on mutual friends and I was trying to figure out a way to make an escape before she started questioning me about Sugar Maple.
“So what happened with Karen? Did you figure out why she was looking for you?”
If I told her what really happened to my ex-wife, Fran would run screaming for the nearest exit. Lying was the only option.
“She called a few times but we never connected.”
“Your brother Ronnie said he heard she headed out west to start over.”
“Could be,” I said, feeling like a shit. “I’m not on her Christmas card list.” I changed the subject. “So what are you doing here?”
“We sold the house and bought into an over-fifty-five complex out on Landingham Road so we could be closer to the grands. Your brother helped us.”
“You bought from Ronnie?” My older brother was a successful Realtor with connections all over the area.
“He hooked us up, negotiated a great price, and held our hands the whole way. Great guy.”
This was the same guy who had specialized in Atomic Wedgies when I was growing up.
“So tell me about life up in the boonies,” she said, a big wide smile on her face.
“Not much to tell. You already know it’s a small town, no crime, lots of tourists in season.”
She waved a manicured hand. “I don’t care about that. Tell me about the woman.”
“What woman?”
“What woman?” she repeated. “Your girlfriend, that’s what woman.”
“Who said I had a girlfriend?”
“You did,” she said. “Last time we spoke.”
Where were the random bolts of lightning when you needed them? “Early days,” I said and hoped she would let it go at that.
“Did she come down here with you?”
“Uh—”
Fran was no fool. She knew a yes when she didn’t hear one. “Where is she?” She did a three sixty in place, scanning the store for Chloe. “I want to meet her.”
“You know women,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t hit me in the head with a box of Legos for the sexist statement. “Retail therapy.”
She glanced at her watch and groaned. “It’s almost five. Jack’s waiting for me at the senior center.” She thought for a moment. “I know! Why don’t you and—?”
“Chloe.”
Her smile was wider than ever. “Why don’t you and Chloe stop by for dinner tonight?”
“That would be great, Frannie, but we have plans.”
She pretended to slap her forehead with the heel of her hand. “Going to squeeze in some family time while you’re here?”
“You ask a hell of a lot of questions, Kelly.”
“Still the best way to get answers.”
“Business dinner tonight. How about a rain check?”
Her hazel eyes teared up behind her rimless glasses. “Sure,” she said, “but don’t be a stranger.”
I pulled her into a bear hug of my own and that was when Chloe showed up, arms piled high with brightly colored yarn and trailing a cat carrier behind her.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God,” Fran stage-whispered. “You’re dating Uma Thurman!”
14
CHLOE
Uma Thurman? I could have kissed Luke’s gray-haired friend. If she thought I looked like the willowy blond actress, that meant at least part of Aerynn’s protective charm was still up and working.
“You’re a knitter, too,” she said, gesturing toward the pile of Red Heart and Lion Brand cradled in my arms.
“I run a yarn shop
Jacquelyn Mitchard
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