Chapter Six
Addie shivered. The morning air was unpleasantly chilly, and Brian was struggling to fit her new shop door. She tapped her foot and scanned every passing vehicle to see if there were any dark sedans lurking about. Although Marc’s words and voice had been soothing and reassuring last night after he’d taken their statements about the near hit-and-run, when he left Serena’s, concern was clearly written all over his face, and it made her feel even more on edge.
He’d assured them both that the car coming close to hitting her was more than likely a coincidence. He noted the streetlamps in the square didn’t keep the area well lit. It seemed the town council opted years ago to just switch the original gas lamps over to electricity. Then something about integrity and tradition—Blah, blah, blah
, Addie thought as she continued scouring the streets for villains in evil black cars. He’d also pointed out that the car didn’t have its headlights on, so maybe the driver hadn’t seen her walking on the road. Even though he’d said all the right things, she couldn’t shake the image of the look on his face when he left. Little did he know that wasn’t her first near miss with a black sedan on the road.
Brian finished and handed her the new door keys. She placed them on her ring with her house and car keys and threw them into her handbag. She was already running late for the eight a.m. meeting at SerenaTEA and dashed off as Brian was telling her he’d meet at her house at noon to replace her back door.
“Great, thanks, I’ll see you then,” she called back from Serena’s shop entrance.
Her hand was on the latch when the door swung open. People, most of whom Addie recognized as business owners, began spilling out onto the sidewalk. “Isn’t this the Town Square merchants meeting?” She looked blankly at the faces streaming onto the walkway.
“Yes, it was. Meeting’s over, and none too soon,” snapped a rather tall, middle-aged gentleman Addie didn’t recognize.
“So soon?” She checked her wristwatch.
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Soon enough for those of us who aren’t too high-and-mighty to show up.” He sneered and walked away.
She watched as his long strides took him quickly to the street corner and wondered if he was the tall man she’d seen standing at the back of the crowd the previous night. Since he was apparently a shop owner, it would have made sense that he would have been there.
She found Serena humming in the storage room.
“What happened? The meeting was called for eight and it’s not even half past. I missed it?”
Serena jumped. “Addie! You scared the life out of me.”
“Sorry, but I’m shocked the meeting’s over so soon. Who was that tall guy who just left?”
“That’s Blain Fielding. You know, of Fielding’s Department Store on Main.”
“No, I didn’t get to meet him when I stopped in there yesterday to deliver a flyer, but just now he didn’t seem impressed with the meeting or with me. I guess Martha’s rumblings haven’t died down yet.”
“Don’t mind him—although he did his best to rile everyone up again, parroting Martha’s mutterings.” Serena shook her head. “That is, till I put an end to it. I told them all off.”
“Really? You did that for me?”
“Of course I did. He thinks he runs the downtown business district, and obviously feels threatened by someone else in town whose name holds more influence than his does.”
“It’s nice to know the police chief ’s sister has that kind of influence.” Addie winked.
“What? Me? No, he’s not feeling threatened by me.” Serena burst out laughing. “It’s you, you silly girl. You have no idea of the power the Greyborne name has in this town, do you?”
“No, I guess I don’t, and it worries me, since it appears that I’ve managed to make yet another enemy this week.” Addie slumped onto a counter stool. “I’m getting a distinct feeling that someone is trying to run me off at all costs.”
“Naw, I don’t think so. They’re just small-town people who gossip a lot and take a while to warm up to newcomers. Blain, well, he’s just a bit of a control freak anyway. He’s probably mad because he didn’t call the meeting and someone else might have a good idea or two. You’ll get used to them and him, eventually.” She snickered.
“I hope so. I guess that’s one of the disadvantages of living in a small town; people can be pretty territorial, and everyone has their own niche and place.”
“You just have to create your own, and with your family name, it should be no problem. Unfortunately, since your aunt became such a recluse due to her health in her later years, it allowed people like Blain to think they were more important in town than they are.”
“I just don’t want any more trouble.” Addie reached for a scone from the covered plate display on the counter. “Aside from the name, what was so important about my great-aunt? Did she contribute anything else to the community?”
“Only anything and everything to do with arts and culture. Didn’t you know anything about her?” Serena slid a plate toward her.
“Thanks. No, I told you, I didn’t even know she existed.”
“Well, your aunt Anita sat on every cultural and arts committee board in town. If there wasn’t one she believed in, she’d start it. Like the Arts Festival Committee—they plan and organize four big festivals in town every year, and they’ve been doing that as long as I can remember. She was a major donator and contributor to the library, creating a foundation that’s taken it from a small one-room building to the three-story one you see today.”
Addie’s eyes widened and she leaned in closer.
“She also set up a free lunch program in the elementary school and donated to the high school’s arts and music departments. As well as paying for their new library extension, which is named after her. You might say she was a very prominent, contributing member of the community. on top of the Greyborne name.”
“Wow. I have a lot to live up to,” Addie said, biting into her scone.
“There’s more, but you’ll hear all about her soon enough, I’m sure.”
Addie wiped the crumbs from her lips and stood up. “It’s almost nine. I guess I’d better go open. Who knows what adventures are in store for me today?”
“I’ve got lots of food left over from this morning’s very
short meeting, so come by for lunch and help me eat it.”
“Sounds good. You can fill me in on what happened at the meeting then. Have a good morning. See you at lunchtime.” Addie closed the door behind her.
When she opened her door, she sighed and mentally added another thing on her growing to-do list: get the sign back on the door. The coffee cup graphic was also lost . . . right along with her initial excitement about owning her own store.
She pushed the door open and slapped her hand to her forehead—how could she have forgotten that Brian was meeting her at the house at lunchtime? She dashed back to tell Serena she’d have to take a rain check on lunch today. When she walked back to her shop, a stooped, gray-haired woman was just approaching her door.
“I’m here,” Addie called and ran up behind the woman.
“Oh. Hello and good morning. Aren’t you open yet?”
“Just opening; please come in.”
“I can come back later if that’s a better time.” The woman smiled.
“No. Please tell me what brings you in today?” Addie stood holding the door open for her to enter. “Are you looking to purchase a gift or something for yourself?”
“I’m really not sure, dear.” The woman shyly smiled. “Do you mind if I just browse awhile and see what catches my fancy?”
“Not at all—make yourself at home. Would you like some coffee while you browse?”
“No, thank you. I prefer tea and think I’ll stop at that charming little shop next door when I’m done here.”
“Tell Serena, the owner, I sent you, and to charge your tea to my bill, unless you’d like me to go and get you one now to enjoy while you browse?”
“No, no, don’t bother yourself, dear. I’ll just take a look around and be off.”
“If you have any questions, I’ll be right here.”
Addie noticed the woman watching her as she took her keys from her handbag and put them in the drawer under the cash register. “Do you have a question?”
“No, no, dear, I’m just admiring your wee shop.”
“That’s nice. I’m glad you like it.”
The woman walked past the front of the cash desk toward the curio shelves by the window. She examined a few of the glass pieces, but then walked back to the book section, all the while smiling and nodding over her shoulder at Addie. “You have such a lovely store. I’m meeting my daughter later for lunch. It’s her birthday soon, so I’ll pick her brain about what she’d like for a gift, and then I’ll be back. I just know after seeing everything you have here that there’s going to be something perfect for her.”
“Yes, please do, and bring her back with you if you think it will help.”
“I want it be a surprise. I just love surprises, don’t you?”
“Yes, and birthday surprises are the best. I hope to see you later.”
“You will, dear. I promise. But it’s time for a nice cup of tea, so I think I’ll pop into the shop next door now. I’ll be back this afternoon.” The woman’s lips arched up into a half smile, and she left.
Addie strolled over to the display cabinet in front of the window to reorganize the venetian wineglasses the woman had been examining. She peered out and noticed the woman standing outside her door. A tall, younger woman came out of Martha’s. She met up with the older one and they turned and walked in the opposite direction of SerenaTEA. Addie leaned into the bay window for a better look as they hurriedly walked toward Main Street.
Addie shrugged and took a step back. Martha then appeared on the sidewalk brandishing a broom. She turned and saw Addie in the window, sneered at her, and began sweeping the debris from her sidewalk onto Addie’s doorstep.
Addie shook her head. Martha had definitely declared war.