Till Death(58)

Her brow puckered as she continued folding the sheet. “Seemed good to me. She talked about him a lot. Granted, Angela talked a lot about everything.” Her brief smile faded quickly. “Why do you ask?”

I shrugged. “Curious.” Knowing I could trust her with the bit of inside knowledge, I said, “Cole learned that they had a fight the day she . . . disappeared.”

“Goodness.” Her hands stilled as she squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t know what to think. The boy seems like a good one, but you never really know people.”

“True,” I murmured, thinking of all the people who’d known the Groom in real life. Like Cole had said last night, no one would’ve ever suspected him of such atrocious crimes.

Mom sighed as she lifted her gaze from her sheet. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

“Honey, why don’t you go work the front desk,” Mom suggested when I bent over to pick up a pile of laundry.

I frowned. “You could use the help.”

“I can take care of this myself, but you’re looking a little pale, and with everything going on, the last thing I want to worry about is you passing out on me.” She dropped the linen on the workbench. “Listen to your mama.”

A dull ache had started behind my eyes, something the doctor advised would be common, so I decided not to argue. Walking over to her, I kissed her cheek and then started downstairs. I was passing through the dining room when I heard the bell ring from registration. Picking up my pace, I made my way to the front.

Every muscle tensed when I saw who was standing in front of the desk.

Mayor Hughes.

He was dressed more casually today, in a pair of blue jeans and a button-down moss-green shirt. His smile was just as tight and fake as I recalled.

“Hello,” I said, clasping my hands together. “What can I help you with, Mayor Hughes?”

“Heard you’ve had a busy couple of days.” He leaned against the desk, propping one arm upon the surface, rattling the vase of white orchids. “Wanted to check in on you.”

Why in the world would he check in on me? I schooled my expression blank even though surprise shot through me, stiffening my spine. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

That smile went up a notch, but didn’t reach his eyes. “Miss Keeton, I’m the mayor of a small enough town that I hear all kinds of gossip. Such as the ongoing property dispute between Mrs. Dawson and her much younger neighbors, the Rogers family. You see, the Rogers have a teenage boy, and you know like every family that has a teenage son, they have a basketball hoop up in the driveway that is partially shared with Mrs. Dawson. That does not make the latter very happy. Apparently it’s the constant thumping of the basketball that bothers her.”

I had no idea why he was telling me this.

“So when someone like you moves back to town, has her car vandalized not once but twice, and then suffers a fall that lands her in the hospital, I hear about it.” He paused, the smile fading. “And then there’s the tragic situation with Miss Reidy, who happens to work at your inn.”

My mouth moved, but there was no sound. At first, I didn’t know what to say, but then I focused on one part. “My mother doesn’t know about her truck. I haven’t told her yet,” I said, voice low. “Please do not speak to her about that until I have the chance.”

He inclined his head. “And why didn’t you tell her?”

“I don’t want her to worry needlessly.”

“Looks like she should be worried,” he replied.

Unease flooded my stomach. “Why would you say that?”

His dark brows rose. “Your mom has single-handedly taken care of this inn for ten years with no help from you. You left. That was your right. But your mother talked about you a lot, every chance she got. Missed you, but I’m sure you know that. She was able to do it all without you being here, without any . . . drama, but now you’re back.”

“And now there’s drama?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But that’s what you’re insinuating,” I stated, struggling to control my tone. “I didn’t vandalize my own car or my mother’s. I didn’t fall down the steps on purpose, and what is going on with Angela has—”

“Nothing to do with you,” he finished. “That is very correct, but all these things have happened since you’ve returned. Perhaps the world,” he said, circling his right arm, “is trying to tell you something.”

Seconds from losing my temper, I crossed my arms over my chest. What was it with this man? I didn’t get it. “And what is that?”

“That maybe you shouldn’t have come back here.”

I stared at him as he pushed away from the desk. Anger flashed brightly inside me. “What is your problem with me?”

“I don’t have a problem with you. Nothing personal,” Mayor Hughes protested. “It’s all about business.”

“How so?” I asked, genuinely curious, and still ticked off—very ticked off.

His gaze flickered behind me as he said, “You show back up in my town, I got one dead woman and another missing. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”

I gaped at him.

“The thing is, I know those two horrific tragedies have nothing to do with you, but when people think of what has happened recently, they’ll think about what happened before. The past will get dragged back up, and that’s the last thing this town needs, Miss Keeton. Now, I need to get going, but you think about what I’ve said.”