The Holiday Secret by Kathryn Springer

Author:Kathryn Springer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-07-10T18:54:56+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Judging from the number of people crowded inside The Happy Cow when Ellery and Bea arrived, half the town must have marked this event on their calendars.

The whimsical decor on the outside of the building was reflected inside the ice cream parlor. Bistro-style tables and chairs in an array of pastel colors were scattered around the small dining area. A large sign behind the old-fashioned cash register encouraged customers to Keep Calm and Add Sprinkles.

Ellery ushered Bea to a table for two in the corner and while Bea tunneled through layers of hot fudge and peppermint whipped cream, tried to hide her growing concern.

Carter still hadn’t shown up.

“How is everything?” A middle-aged woman with auburn hair paused beside the table.

“Yummy!” Bea said at once.

The woman laughed. “That’s what I like to hear.” She turned her attention to Ellery. “When you’re finished, feel free to go upstairs and take a look around. There are some beautiful pieces if you’re looking for Christmas gifts.” She lowered her voice. “And I don’t get a commission to say that, either! If you find something you love, bring it down and I’ll ring it up for you.”

Karen had mentioned how much she liked jewelry. Maybe Ellery could find something to brighten her day after the doctor appointment.

Bea finished her ice cream and they climbed a wooden staircase leading to the second floor.

Ellery wasn’t sure what she expected to find, but the spacious room on the other side of the gauze curtains strung across the doorway rivaled the specialty boutiques Ellery had visited while traveling with her parents. Natural light poured through the wall of glass overlooking the main street.

The space was family-friendly, too. Bins filled with large wooden beads and colorful string had been set out on a low table, perfectly sized for children. Bea gravitated toward it immediately while Ellery wandered through the displays.

All the jewelry, from the delicate gold and silver chains draped like tinsel on birch branch centerpieces, to the tiny charms that filled rustic wooden bowls, reflected God’s creation.

A photo in a rustic frame near the cash register caught Ellery’s eye. Anna Leighton, her copper-haired twins...and Liam.

Someone had written “Anna’s Inspiration” underneath the photograph, but judging from the expression on Liam’s face, the words were true for her brother, too.

Ellery’s gaze shifted to a sheaf of brochures tucked in the hand-thrown vase beside it. Even before she reached for one, before she saw a picture of a vintage canoe, she knew what business they were advertising.

Castle Falls Outfitters.

Ellery studied the photos on the front page with the intensity of someone who’d found a treasure map, searching for clues that would tell her more about her brothers.

The brochure looked professional, the company logo superimposed over the hand-drawn sketch of an oak tree, its branches stretching from border to border. The base of the trunk separated into roots anchored in the riverbank.

Ellery was about to turn the page when the floorboards outside the studio creaked. She glanced over her shoulder but even before the curtains parted, she knew it was Carter.

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