The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton

Author:Paige Shelton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

* * *

I would never admit to anyone that I white-knuckled the entire drive to Rosebud House. I had to dig deep for the fortitude. But once I was in the circular drive, I relaxed and decided that now that I’d gotten it out of way, maybe I could drive anywhere.

Maybe. But not today.

Jolie opened the door as I reached for the knocker.

“You made it!” Today she was dressed in a black velvet gown, making it appear that she was in mourning. Perhaps it was her way of respecting Alban, or maybe she knew him better than she’d let on so far. The article I’d read had percolated and I began to wonder about their true relationship. Maybe I’d ask, but I wasn’t sure.

“I did.” I smiled satisfactorily.

“Come in. Trudie has already put out the tea.” She pulled the door wide and set out toward the library.

I took a step to follow her but was stunned into place right inside the entryway. It was completely cleared. There were no stacks of anything in sight.

It was even more beautiful than I could have known before. A pointed star-like and colorful design, very much like the stained-glass window above, was the center of the floor tiles.

“Jolie!” I said.

She stopped and turned to face me again. It was her turn to smile satisfactorily. “Do you like it?”

“I … I can’t believe it, but I love it. It’s so pretty.”

“Thank you. It’s a start. Homer, Trudie, and I worked hard yesterday evening. We were all exhausted by the end of it.”

“How are you doing with it?” I asked.

“I think I’m okay. I’m not upset, but I’m not relieved either.”

She was halfway down the hall, but I could see her eyes fill with tears. I hurried toward her.

“Jolie?”

She wiped her eyes. “I’m being silly, Delaney, but I don’t know what this cleanup or my lack of feelings about it means. Am I okay?”

I put my hands on her arms. Though I wasn’t sure I trusted her all the way yet, I didn’t think her hoarding was an affliction she couldn’t beat.

“I would vouch for you being okay any day of the week. I don’t know much about … your need to keep things, but I can’t imagine that this cleanup isn’t a great thing, particularly if it stays that way.”

“I hope so. I wonder if this was Bowie’s goal—to threaten me enough to get me to clean it up.”

“Maybe she really does have your best interests in mind.” I didn’t know what I believed when it came to Bowie Berry, but I hoped.

“I know she used to, but I can’t say I’m not concerned that’s somehow changed.” She shook her head. “Anyway, come along.”

The library hadn’t seen the same attention as the front of the house, but neither Jolie nor I commented about it as we followed the path to the green velvet table and sat. My eyes glanced over the portrait behind the desk. I’d now seen many pictures of Vivian, but this one was still by far the most glorious.

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