They Say He Flies at Night: A Silver Bell Legends novel by Amy Matayo

Author:Amy Matayo [Matayo, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

13

Piper

“For the third time, let’s go!”

It’s two days later, and Bryant keeps calling for me from the kitchen. I feel bad—I do, especially since I initially told him I needed a quick second to brush my teeth. That was ten minutes ago. Now, I can’t make myself move from the desk chair in my bedroom. He’s gotten weary of my many “just one more second” replies, but this is important. Yes, registering for wedding gifts is important too, but when you’re weighing the value of a new KitchenAid against the sad fate of an ostracized old man, the scale tips heavily in Mr. Lorry’s favor. Especially when I just discovered Mr. Lorry moved here to Arkansas with his wife and child back in 1998 and bought the house next door to the antique store. There was a picture of the three of them standing in front of a “Sold” Coleman Realty sign, Walter and Sarah smiling at the camera while little Scotty tried to break free from his mother’s grasp, arms outstretched, fingertips barely touching in that way children everywhere do seconds before they escape.

I smile at the photo, mentally attempting to insert myself into the scene.

Happy family.

New adventure.

Whining child who simply wants to check out his new bedroom.

Realtor so proud to have sold the large home to such a famous—

The door flies open. “Piper! My mother is already at the store. You can finish up whatever it is you’re doing later.”

I jump up and push the chair underneath the desk, feeling more than a little guilty. I’m supposed to be excited to plan for the wedding, not stalling for time.

“I’m doing research.”

“You said you were brushing your teeth.”

“I did that already.” Sometime this morning, I forget when, but I keep that tidbit to myself.

“Researching what?”

Whether or not my boss is a murderer, I think, but I can’t exactly say that. So, I settle on, “Work stuff,” and hope for the best.

“It’s Sunday.”

Bryant’s right. It’s a day of rest. A holy holiday. A day that frowns on snooping for the criminal history of an elderly recluse on the internet, if I remember the Bible right.

“I couldn’t think of anything better to do.”

I immediately know it’s the wrong thing to say.

“Um, you could hang out with your fiancé? Plan the wedding we’re supposed to have in five months?”

“You played pickleball at the club all morning and were an hour late to pick me up. By then, I was heavily involved in what I was reading. Plus, it didn’t seem like hanging out was a huge priority.”

He lands on the bottom step and glances over his shoulder at me.

“All the more reason I thought you would be ready.”

“I was ready, but then I got bored and opened my laptop…”

“What ‘work stuff’ are you researching, anyway?” I’m not sure I like the way he air-quotes those two words.

“Just…antiques.” It’s only a half-lie. Yes, antiques, but only indirectly. Ever since that horrible woman made those comments about Mr. Lorry at dinner last night, I haven’t been able to shake her words from my mind.

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