The Whispered Word Page 8

  The genie theme came up again when Nora was reading the paper during her lunch break. Several customers were wandering throughout the store, but after calling out a friendly greeting from the ticket agent’s booth, Nora let them browse undisturbed.

  The paper’s front page was riddled with the usual doom and gloom. International unrest, political upheaval at home, a nosedive for the stock market, and a teaser for a juicy celebrity scandal. Nora skimmed the headlines and moved on. In the middle of the paper, her attention was caught by an ad for Virtual Genie’s appraisal fair. It was taking place right now.

  Nora stared at the brass lamp in the ad and realized that she very much wanted to see what this fair was all about. Specifically, she wanted to know what role Abilene was playing in the event.

  Over the past few days, foot traffic in Miracle Books had been slow between five and six, which was when many of the locals shopped for, or began preparing, their supper. As for the tourists, five o’clock meant happy hour at the lodge. Nora could see a brief but profitable rush after six o’clock because many tourists came downtown to dine or shop after a round of cocktails.

  Since she hadn’t had a customer since quarter to five, Nora locked the cash register, propped a note on the checkout counter, and left the shop.

  Crossing through the park, she noticed that every parking spot in the vicinity had been taken. When Nora drew closer to Virtual Genie, she saw why.

  A line of people stretched from their front door to the hardware store, which was two blocks away. Each person was carrying a collectible in their arms, which they shifted around or briefly rested on the ground until the line moved again.

  The people waiting for their appraisal appeared tired and anxious, but those exiting Virtual Genie looked totally transformed. Their faces were radiant with hope and they walked with a renewed vigor.

  Nora wondered exactly what promises Griffin Kingsley had made to these people.

  She headed to the front of the line, politely responding to the friendly greetings of her fellow townsfolk. As she walked, she took note of the treasures in people’s arms. She saw a pewter teapot, a guitar, a Shirley Temple doll, an antique coffee grinder, a toy train set loaded into a Red Ryder wagon, a Tiffany-style lamp, and a wedding-ring quilt. Her experience in purchasing vintage items for the bookstore had taught her to develop an eye for such things, and she guessed that one-third of the items she’d seen were worth a few hundred dollars at most.

  And that’s before the genie takes his commission, she thought.

  When she reached the front of the line, she told a man with a wheeled suitcase that she hadn’t come to participate in the appraisal fair. He nodded in acceptance and opened the door for her.

  Inside, Nora was immediately enveloped by an aura of peace. She guessed it was a combination of the cool air, the lux décor, and the soothing string music, but there was more to it than that. There was a sense of deep calm in this space—of being able to truly take one’s time. That was a rare gift these days, and Nora could see that the ability to simply sit and relax for a moment was greatly cherished by all those who entered.

  Nora recognized most of the people contentedly settled on chairs or divans. They were all sipping iced chai tea or selecting pieces of Belgian chocolate from the gold box in the center of a silver tray.

  Both Virtual Genie partners were busy. Tamara was seated behind her desk, showing a client an image of a Lladró figurine on her computer. Griffin, who stood next to his client, was giving instructions on filling out the consignor agreement.

  Nora strode up to Griffin, but waited for him to glance her way before speaking. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” Nora said. “I’m just looking for Abilene.”

  Griffin didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the intrusion. “Our clock and watch expert is in the other room. Do you remember the way, Ms. Pennington?”

  “I do, thank you. And I won’t be long,” she added, though she wasn’t sure why.

  After flashing her a courteous smile, Griffin returned his attention to his client. “Just leave everything in our hands, Mr. Bailey. That’s why we’re here. I look forward to seeing you again on Saturday.”

  Mr. Bailey shook hands with Griffin, leaving his silver candlesticks behind. Nora could see that Virtual Genie was acquiring a bevy of new clients. Judging by the number of items cluttering the tables and shelves in the back room, the event had been a smashing success.

  Abilene was seated at one of the worktables. She was peering at a watch face through a jeweler’s loupe and didn’t hear Nora’s approach.

  “Hi,” Nora said softly.

  Abilene dropped the loupe and hurried to cover the watch with her hand. It was such a furtive gesture that Nora’s curiosity, which was already aroused, now deepened into something else. Something akin to suspicion.

  Indicating a nearby folding chair, Nora asked, “May I?”

  Abilene responded with an indifferent shrug, but Nora knew indifference could be a version of anger. She pointed at the watch.

  “Will it bring a good price?”

  Removing her hand from the timepiece, Abilene’s demeanor suddenly changed. Her eyes became animated and her face shone. “Yes. Between six and eight hundred dollars. This is an Omega ladies’ watch,” she explained. “It’s fourteen karat gold with diamonds around the face. The diamonds have excellent color and clarity and the watch is in very good condition—other than a little oxidation to the face and minor scratching on the clasp.”

  “Wow. You’re incredible,” Nora said and meant it. “You can cook like a trained chef, you’re extremely well-read, and you can appraise jewelry.”

  Abilene blushed. “I’m better with clocks, but I can handle jewelry evaluations too.”

  “I don’t know how you learned these things, but I’m guessing you had to. They were all necessary.”

  The light vanished from Abilene’s face. The spark fled from her eyes and she stared down at the watch with a mournful expression. Regretting her words, Nora attempted to repair the damage. “It looks like you enjoy this work. Just like you enjoy working at the bakery. So are you glad you decided to stay?”

  Abilene picked up a pen and made a note on a legal pad. “Why are you here?”

  “Because I’ve been worried about you,” Nora said softly. Though she wanted to put a hand on Abilene’s arm, the young woman was sending out a clear vibe that physical contact wouldn’t be welcomed. “I’d also like to apologize for my behavior. I didn’t mean to chase you off last night. I was a jerk and I’m sorry.”

  Abilene gave Nora a small smile. “It’s okay. And you don’t need to worry about me anymore.” She turned back to her notepad. “I’m fine.”

  Knowing that the words were meant as a dismissal, Nora made to leave.

  “I’d like to be your friend,” she said, pausing at the doorway. “I’m out of practice, so I’ll probably make more mistakes like the one I made last night. But if you’d like a cup of coffee tomorrow morning or supper later tonight, I could cook for you for a change. Just show up when you’re ready. You’re always welcome.”

  Abilene murmured her thanks and Nora returned to Virtual Genie’s main room. When she saw Jedediah Craig talking with Tamara, she nearly tripped over the corner of a Persian rug. How had she missed him outside?

  There was no use in pretending that she hadn’t seen him, so she walked right up to him and raised her hands in surrender.

  “I guess my stalker status is now official.”

  Though Jed smiled, his eyes remained guarded. “A stalker who travels with magical treats in her bike basket.” He turned his smile on Tamara. “Nora brought me the world’s best blueberry muffin this morning. If you haven’t been to the Gingerbread House yet, you need to go. Like, tomorrow. As soon as it opens. After meeting with half the town today, you’ll need at least two muffins. Maybe three.”

  “I think I met more than half the town,” Tamara said with a hint of boastfulness. “But no one has a toy as wonderful as yo
urs.”

  Nora glanced down at the object on Tamara’s desk. “That doesn’t look like one of the antique soldiers you played with when you were a kid.”

  “No, but like those soldiers, my mom gave me this mechanical bank.”

  Jed sounded remorseful. Again, Nora wondered what kind of money issues he was dealing with.

  “I’ve seen banks like this before, but they’ve always been way beyond my price point,” Nora said. “Does it work?”

  “To perfection,” Tamara answered for Jed. “Would you like to see it in action?”

  Intrigued, Nora nodded.

  Tamara put a coin in the top of a cast-iron tree trunk and depressed a metal lever. An iron buffalo reared his head, butting the bottom of the young boy clinging to the tree trunk. As the buffalo’s head moved, a startled raccoon popped out of the top of the tree, coming face-to-face with an equally startled boy.

  It was a charming old toy.

  “Do you have to part with it?” Nora whispered to Jed.

  “Mr. Craig might not mind when he sees what one of these recently sold for online,” Tamara was quick to say. “And yours is in better condition, Mr. Craig.”

  Sensing Jed needed privacy to conclude his business, Nora wished him luck and headed outside.

  Back at Miracle Books, Nora tidied up and then plunked down on her stool behind the checkout counter. She’d just opened to her place in her current read, The Sun Is Also a Star, when a group of women poured into the shop.

  Seeing Nora, a lady with purple hair exclaimed, “We’re on a girls’ trip! Five girls in their sixties who’ve left our husbands at home. We’re eating too much, drinking too much, and spending too much money, so stand back!”

  And spend they did. The purple-haired woman bought a pile of books and shelf enhancers, including a black lacquer desk set, a lion doorstop, and a brass hand mirror with a floral handle.

  “Could you ship these to me, hon?” she asked Nora and put a fifty-dollar bill on the counter. “This should cover the postage and the hassle.”

  After closing the shop, Nora decided to hunt for a shipping box. She was on her way to the storeroom when she remembered that Abilene had cut out pieces from Nora’s stock of cardboard boxes to make her window display. As for the rest, Abilene had taken them to the recycling dumpster the following day.

  Because the dumpster had been emptied recently, the flattened boxes were scattered across the bottom. Nora stared down at them and scowled. She was going to have to climb inside and retrieve the right box.

  “I should have charged more for shipping,” she grumbled and jumped down into the dumpster.

  After choosing a box and tossing it onto the ground, Nora was on the verge of heaving herself back over the dumpster’s side when she spied a piece of cloth peeking out from beneath a flattened box. Curious, Nora tugged at the cloth. It got snagged on a box corner, but after Nora shook it roughly, it came free.

  When she held it up to the light cast by the streetlamp, she recognized it at once. It was the housedress Abilene had been wearing the night she’d hidden in Miracle Books.

  “Why are you in this dumpster?” Nora asked the dress.

  The longer she stared at it, the more unsettled she became. There was something off about Abilene putting the dress in the recycling bin—something beyond the fact that it wasn’t made of cardboard or plastic. Had Abilene deliberately dropped the dress into the wrong dumpster?

  A breeze swept down into the metal receptacle. It filled the skirt of the dirty floral print dress and Nora was reminded of the enormous mushrooms that sprung up in the woods after a rainstorm.

  The space where Nora’s pinkie finger used to be tingled. Ignoring the sensation, she tried to concentrate on another tingle. A mental one. Nora felt the dress was familiar, like she’d seen it somewhere before.

  “How could it be familiar? No one I know has ever worn a dress like this.” Her voice bounced off the metal walls. When it came back to her, it sounded foreign. Strange.

  Far off in the distance, Nora heard the lonely whistle of a train.

  She looked back at the dress as if it were a living thing. “I think I know where you came from.”

  Chapter 6

  Beware the man of one book.

  —Latin Proverb

  When the ringing of Nora’s phone jarred her awake, she was overcome by a feeling of déjà vu. It wasn’t a good feeling. It was a feeling of dread. Nora realized that she was reliving the post-dawn phone call of a few weeks ago. The one where June had called to tell Nora that Estella had been taken into custody for murder.

  This time, the edges of Nora’s window shade were filled with a buttery light as she fumbled for the phone. The ringing stopped before her eyes had a chance to focus on the caller’s name. Rolling onto her side, she turned on the lamp and squinted at the phone screen.

  Jed had left her a text message.

  I’VE HAD A LOT ON MY MIND LATELY, BUT ALL I WANT TO THINK ABOUT IS YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO YOUR DECK TO HEAR IT.

  Nora’s heart gave a leap. Was Jed outside right now?

  Shoving her covers aside, Nora ducked into the bathroom to make herself presentable. She quickly brushed her hair and teeth before pulling a thin sweatshirt over her BOOK LOVERS NEVER GO TO BED ALONE tank top.

  Jed wasn’t waiting on the deck, but he’d obviously been there. And what he’d left behind took Nora’s breath away.

  She noticed the flowers first. Chains of wildflowers looped around the deck railing and a carpet of multicolored petals had been strewn over the floorboards. A white cloth covered Nora’s small café table and Jed had set a place for one. The setting included flatware, a glass of orange juice, and a dinner plate covered by an overturned bowl. When Nora picked up the bowl, her breakfast was revealed.

  She gasped in delight.

  Jed had made an edible bouquet using fresh fruit, cheese, and bread. He’d fashioned pieces of pineapple, mango, and cantaloupe into a dahlia. Strawberry and watermelon slices formed a red carnation with kiwi leaves. A hard-boiled egg daisy was positioned below a piece of toast shaped like a butterfly. The golden-brown toast wings were sprinkled with cinnamon and a light drizzle of honey.

  Glancing around, Nora wondered if Jed was close by.

  If he is, I should show him how much I love his surprise, she thought and did something she’d never done before: She used her phone to photograph the artistic meal. The presentation was so lovely that Nora hated to eat it, but the fruit looked fresh and juicy and she was hungry. Besides, Jed wouldn’t want her to preserve the meal in glass. He’d want her to enjoy it.

  She opened the napkin curled around her flatware and went to spread it over her lap. That’s when she saw a message written in its paper folds.

  Will you be my date for the Fruits of Labor Festival?

  Nora let out a tinkling laugh. The sound was like little bubbles bursting in the morning air.

  The napkin reminded her of the notes kids passed in grade school. They were always so direct. Do you like me? Will you be my boyfriend? Will you sit with me on the bus? If Jed’s note had included a box to check, Nora would have happily checked the yes box. Instead, she sent a text to Jed saying he would learn her answer soon. She didn’t want to accept over the phone. That wasn’t creative enough. She wanted to give him a magical reply worthy of his breakfast gesture.

  “Magical and fruity,” she joked aloud. Smiling at her own corniness, she speared a strawberry slice with her fork.

  No one had done anything like this for Nora before. No one had ever put forth this much effort to impress her. To make her heart leap with delight.

  Because she was focused on Jed’s surprise, Nora momentarily forgot about the dress she’d found in the recycling dumpster. Even as she plated the daily delivery of book pockets, her thoughts were on Jed. Abilene had been pushed to the back of her mind.

  Nora carried her cheerfulness into work and her secretive smile and sparkling eyes proved to b
e good for business. Though she’d always been an excellent listener, Nora had never been adept at small talk. Today, however, she was unusually chatty. She asked after people’s health, family members, and pets. She encouraged patrons to linger over cups of coffee and pastries. When they eventually left the shop, each and every customer carried a Miracle Books shopping bag loaded with books.

  Nora had just finished ringing up a sale when Amanda Frye’s son approached the checkout counter. He was even more physically imposing up close. When Nora had seen him speaking with Griffin Kingsley in front of Virtual Genie, she didn’t fully appreciate his size. Again, she thought of Popeye’s Bluto. The main difference between the two men was their clothing. Bluto wore a shirt and pants while Frye’s massive torso was stuffed into a suit jacket. The jacket looked expensive, but it didn’t fit Frye’s wide chest or thick arms well. If he twisted too far in one direction, Nora was sure the jacket would rip apart with the violence of Bruce Banner turning into the Incredible Hulk.

  Frye’s face was marked by dissatisfaction. Deep ruts traversed his forehead and even deeper frown lines bracketed his mouth. His lack of crow’s-feet proved how seldom he smiled, but the grooves between his brows were evidence of consistent anger. Nora didn’t know if she could reach past so much anger and disappointment, but she’d try.

  She greeted him with a friendly smile. “Good morning.”

  Frye, who was just about to set a plastic bag on the counter, abruptly froze. The bag dangled in the air and he gazed at Nora’s face with the unapologetic stare of a small child. Children could be excused for such behavior, as their curiosity was free of judgment. Frye was no child though, and there was no excuse for his openmouthed gawking or the way his lips curled in disgust.

  “Why not take a picture? It’ll last longer.” Nora turned, giving him a clearer view of her scars.