The Sawmill Book Club by Carolyn Brown

Author:Carolyn Brown [Brown, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake
Published: 2024-07-09T00:00:00+00:00

Benny had been at far too many antique auctions and sales to remember, but something about this one was different. Nothing excited him—but then, he had just found the mother lode of all mother lodes when he lucked into the garage sale that morning.

“This old place has history,” a woman said at his elbow. “I know it as well as my own house. Anything in particular you are looking for? The previous owner was one of my friends—I’m June.”

“Thanks for the help,” he said. “How long did she run the B and B?”

“She didn’t. She died about ten years ago, and the folks that ran the house as a B and B bought the place at the sale. But they weren’t very business savvy. They didn’t do a bit of remodeling, so it didn’t go over well. Folks insist on having a bathroom for every bedroom these days. They bought it as it was—furniture, dishes, and all—and just set up shop the next week. My friend Victoria owned it before those people bought it.” June heaved a sigh. “I bet she turned over in her grave at the idea of strangers staying in her home.”

“Did you say Victoria?” Benny asked. “Did she own an antique store here in Jefferson?”

“That’s the one.” June sighed again. “She’s been gone for years now, but walking through this house and seeing her granddaughter, Libby, again sure brings back a lot of good memories.”

Benny had only been listening with half an ear, but suddenly he was ready to pay close attention to what the woman was saying. Good Lord! What had he done by bringing Libby to this place? And why hadn’t she told him that this was where she grew up?

“Where was Libby?” he asked.

“Going up the steps when I was coming down. I expect she’ll be going to her old bedroom. Do you know her?”

“Yes, I do,” he answered.

June patted him on the arm. “She’s a good person, though she has had to be independent her whole life. Just like her grandmother. Now, we were talking about this old house, weren’t we?”

Benny was torn between going to make sure Libby was all right and finding out more about the house. His gaze traveled from June’s bright smile to the stairs, where he saw Libby waiting for a horde of people to pass by so that she could make her way down to the foyer. She caught his eye and nodded toward the door leading outside.

“Victoria’s grandparents built the house, and her parents were born here,” June was saying when he tuned back in to her story. “As each generation passed on, they left the place to the next one. Victoria inherited it and the store when her mother died. By then she had lost her husband, and she had a small son, Quinton, to raise alone. Her folks had always loved antiques, so she started her own business in the old grocery store she had inherited.”

“What happened to it when she passed away?”

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