I knew she’d enjoyed in the past. Almost immediately after dinner, she excused herself and escaped into her room.
Later, when I came downstairs to check on her, I found her in better spirits. I’d heard the phone ring and hoped that whoever she’d spoken to had helped her process whatever it was that her visitor had said that upset her. Seeing that her mood was lighter, I didn’t feel the need to suggest we have tea and a chat. I respected her privacy, but if she needed a willing ear, then I was there for her.
Reassured that Jo Marie was fine, I returned to my room and read until nearly midnight, caught up in a story. Because the room felt stuffy even with air-conditioning, I cracked open the window. Right away a cool breeze swayed through the third-story room. When I turned my light off, my brain was full of the story I’d been devouring. Over the summer months, I try to read as much as possible because it’s difficult to find the time during the school year. While in college I’d gotten hooked on romances and contemporary women’s fiction. However, love stories with happy endings depressed me these days, seeing that I didn’t have one of my own and most likely never would. Lately, I’d really been into mysteries, which seemed a better fit, not that I was looking to murder anyone. The plots were interesting and I enjoyed the challenge of identifying the guilty party.
My life felt like an ongoing challenge. My house hunt had been less than satisfactory. Even my real estate agent was growing impatient with me, and I didn’t blame her. What I needed and wanted were inconsistent. The only thing I could tell Dana was that I’d know the right house when I saw it. I appreciated her efforts but feared my heart was stuck on the house with the orchard, the one where Nick Schwartz currently lived.
By nature I’m a light sleeper, but I was deeply involved in my dream when I stirred at the sound of a dog barking. Even in my sleep I recognized that bark—Elvis. It didn’t seem possible that Elvis was outside the inn. Not at this time of the night. My eyes flew open and I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.
Three a.m.
Not questioning my reasons, I tossed aside the covers and went to the open door leading out to my small balcony. Down below, walking up the driveway, were Elvis and Nick Schwartz. I’d seen a man and a dog late at night once before but hadn’t put two and two together. I couldn’t imagine what they were doing or why they would be here. By all that was right, I should have hesitated, should have ignored Nick and his dog, but did I do that? Oh no, not me. It startled me to realize I was happy to see him. I grabbed my sweatshirt, slipped it over my head, and raced down the two flights of stairs at breakneck speed.
I flew out the back door off the kitchen, as that was the closest one to the driveway. The security alarm made a series of short beeping sounds. I paused briefly, hoping the alarm didn’t wake Rover or Jo Marie. Apparently not.
Hurrying onto the driveway, I slowed my pace when I saw that Nick had caught sight of me. Elvis, too. Both stood frozen, as if doubting it was me.
“Hey,” I said.
He didn’t answer.
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“You going to report me as a trespasser?” he asked, keeping a tight hold on Elvis’s leash.
“Not my place.” Even if it was, I wouldn’t.
Elvis went as far forward as the leash would allow, and I bent down to pet his fur.
“You okay…you know, after the other night?”
“Fine.” His tone was testy.
“Did you come to see me?” I asked, hoping that was true, knowing it wasn’t.
“No. I didn’t even know you were here.”
This was confusing. “Then why are you here?”
“I have trouble sleeping,” Nick said, as if admitting a character flaw.
“I do, too, at times,” I admitted.
“You own the inn?”
“No, Jo Marie Rose does.” Clearly he didn’t know much about the town in which he currently
Later, when I came downstairs to check on her, I found her in better spirits. I’d heard the phone ring and hoped that whoever she’d spoken to had helped her process whatever it was that her visitor had said that upset her. Seeing that her mood was lighter, I didn’t feel the need to suggest we have tea and a chat. I respected her privacy, but if she needed a willing ear, then I was there for her.
Reassured that Jo Marie was fine, I returned to my room and read until nearly midnight, caught up in a story. Because the room felt stuffy even with air-conditioning, I cracked open the window. Right away a cool breeze swayed through the third-story room. When I turned my light off, my brain was full of the story I’d been devouring. Over the summer months, I try to read as much as possible because it’s difficult to find the time during the school year. While in college I’d gotten hooked on romances and contemporary women’s fiction. However, love stories with happy endings depressed me these days, seeing that I didn’t have one of my own and most likely never would. Lately, I’d really been into mysteries, which seemed a better fit, not that I was looking to murder anyone. The plots were interesting and I enjoyed the challenge of identifying the guilty party.
My life felt like an ongoing challenge. My house hunt had been less than satisfactory. Even my real estate agent was growing impatient with me, and I didn’t blame her. What I needed and wanted were inconsistent. The only thing I could tell Dana was that I’d know the right house when I saw it. I appreciated her efforts but feared my heart was stuck on the house with the orchard, the one where Nick Schwartz currently lived.
By nature I’m a light sleeper, but I was deeply involved in my dream when I stirred at the sound of a dog barking. Even in my sleep I recognized that bark—Elvis. It didn’t seem possible that Elvis was outside the inn. Not at this time of the night. My eyes flew open and I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.
Three a.m.
Not questioning my reasons, I tossed aside the covers and went to the open door leading out to my small balcony. Down below, walking up the driveway, were Elvis and Nick Schwartz. I’d seen a man and a dog late at night once before but hadn’t put two and two together. I couldn’t imagine what they were doing or why they would be here. By all that was right, I should have hesitated, should have ignored Nick and his dog, but did I do that? Oh no, not me. It startled me to realize I was happy to see him. I grabbed my sweatshirt, slipped it over my head, and raced down the two flights of stairs at breakneck speed.
I flew out the back door off the kitchen, as that was the closest one to the driveway. The security alarm made a series of short beeping sounds. I paused briefly, hoping the alarm didn’t wake Rover or Jo Marie. Apparently not.
Hurrying onto the driveway, I slowed my pace when I saw that Nick had caught sight of me. Elvis, too. Both stood frozen, as if doubting it was me.
“Hey,” I said.
He didn’t answer.
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“You going to report me as a trespasser?” he asked, keeping a tight hold on Elvis’s leash.
“Not my place.” Even if it was, I wouldn’t.
Elvis went as far forward as the leash would allow, and I bent down to pet his fur.
“You okay…you know, after the other night?”
“Fine.” His tone was testy.
“Did you come to see me?” I asked, hoping that was true, knowing it wasn’t.
“No. I didn’t even know you were here.”
This was confusing. “Then why are you here?”
“I have trouble sleeping,” Nick said, as if admitting a character flaw.
“I do, too, at times,” I admitted.
“You own the inn?”
“No, Jo Marie Rose does.” Clearly he didn’t know much about the town in which he currently
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