The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill

Author:Melissa Hill [Hill, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: AcM
ISBN: 9781848946088
Google: jLe8c3TTXgUC
Goodreads: 13362947
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2012-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Later that day, Holly stood behind the checkout tallying store totals. Briefly, she checked her watch. Still two hours to go until close.

Glancing out through the front windows of the store, she saw that it was snowing again.

‘How are things?’ Carole asked, approaching Holly from behind. Somewhat startled, she jumped.

‘Oh, I didn’t hear you! I should put bells on you to stop you from sneaking up on me.’

Carole laughed. ‘You look a million miles away.’

She shook her head and shrugged, going back to reviewing the store totals. ‘Oh, I suppose it’s this bracelet. I have to admit, I’ve been somewhat consumed by it.’

Carole bent down to pick up a stray piece of the tissue paper that they used to wrap customer purchases. It had drifted to the floor like some sort of deflated ghost, tired of haunting.

‘Well, you’ve certainly been doing your due diligence in finding the owner, I’ll say that much. And from what you have told me, you seem to be making progress.’

Holly shrugged again, somewhat half-heartedly. She pressed print and waited for an inventory list to be ejected from the printer. ‘I’ve been trying.’

‘I salute your detective skills. Danny’s too.’

Holly smiled, thinking of her son’s brilliant insight into the horseshoe charm. ‘I probably wouldn’t have found the art gallery without him,’ she said, then gave a rueful smile. ‘He doesn’t get his technological savvy from me, that’s for sure.’

Carole pursed her lips. ‘Well, at least Nick contributed that much. Being a techie in today’s day and age isn’t a bad thing.’

Holly nodded her head in agreement. ‘There’s no denying Danny is his father’s child.’ She’d already told Carole about Nick’s sudden appearance that morning. Ranted, more like.

Carole held up a hand before Holly had the opportunity to take a walk down melancholy lane. ‘And he is also most definitely his mother’s son. He wouldn’t be the person he is today,’ she paused, and put a finger under Holly’s chin, raising her gaze to her own, ‘he wouldn’t have the opportunity to become the man that he will surely be, if it weren’t for you. Never forget that.’

Holly smiled and looked at boss, mentor and friend. ‘Thanks Carole.’ Carole moved to the other side of the counter, straightening a shirt on a hanger. ‘Anyway, changing the subject, do you have plans for New Year’s yet?’

This time it was Holly who snorted and rolled her eyes. ‘Carole, you know my opinion on all that. New Year’s Eve is pyjama time.’

‘Don’t let your life pass you by, Holly, you’re only young once.’

Holly was about to counter Carole’s advice when the front door of the store opened and along with a blast of cold in came a young woman. She was expertly coiffed with bright blonde hair and high black patent Christian Louboutins, and dressed head to toe black. Before she said a word, Holly knew exactly who she was.

‘Jessica?’

Holly had indeed pegged Margot Mead’s assistant to a tee from their telephone conversations.

‘Are you Holly? I brought the lists.’

‘Fantastic.’ She turned to Carole to give her a rundown on Jessica’s involvement in the search so far.

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