Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(62)

Instantly Emily relaxed. For a moment there, she’d started to panic.

“Oh.” Geoff’s voice lost some of its enthusiasm. “It’s photographs.”

“Of what?” Emily asked.

“The jewelry. Mrs. Evans had several pairs of diamond earrings and some emerald brooches. The pictures are to distinguish which piece of jewelry she meant.” He hesitated. “I believe Mr. Harris had been urging her to do this for some time because she wasn’t adequately insured.”

“Can I see that?” Emily asked. She knew it was risky to delve into this any further and yet she couldn’t stop herself. She reached for the document.

“Perhaps the gold watch is in here,” Geoff suggested.

“I’m sure it is,” Emily said with a confidence she didn’t feel. Flipping through the pages, she glanced at each photograph until she saw the one she’d hoped not to find.

The diamond earrings.

The pair she’d accidentally discovered in Dave’s suit pockets the afternoon of their wedding anniversary.

“Do you have what you need?” Geoff asked, his anxiety growing. If anyone were to step into the office and discover what he’d done, he could be in serious trouble.

“Here,” Emily said and handed him back the will and the papers.

Geoff immediately filed them and closed the drawer. He studied Emily. “Is everything all right, Mrs. Flemming? You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” she lied.

“Well…I hope that answered all your questions.”

“I appreciate your help,” she said, evading the question.

“You can’t tell anyone I let you see what was in Mrs. Evans’s file,” he told her.

“No one will ever know,” she promised.

Only a few hours earlier, Emily had felt that her marriage was rejuvenated. Dave loved her. He was doing two jobs because of the increase in their house payments. Now, in an effort to do her share, Emily had started work, too.

They needed money if they were going to hold on to the house she loved.

All Emily could do was hope Dave hadn’t found another way of paying their bills…a way that could land him in prison.

Twenty-Two

Teri Polgar was still reeling. The gynecologist’s news had been a shock. An incredible, wonderful, joyous shock, but a shock nonetheless, and she wasn’t sure Bobby was ready to hear it. She hadn’t completely taken it in herself.

“James,” she murmured from the backseat of the car. “Please drive me over to Get Nailed.” She needed to talk to someone, and she couldn’t think of anyone better than her best friend, Rachel.

“As you wish, Miss Teri,” James responded. He rarely had a comment or a question.

“Thank you.” Teri started chewing on her thumbnail, then jerked her hand out of her mouth as soon as she realized what she was doing. Nail-biting was a bad habit of hers, one she’d managed—for the most part—to break.

James pulled up in front of the Cedar Cove mall. Without giving him a chance to come around and open her door, she leaped out.

He stood uncertainly by the driver’s door. “Would you like me to wait?” he asked.

“Please,” Teri said over her shoulder. The mall was busier than she could ever remember seeing it. A woman standing beside a huge red kettle rang a bell, reminding others of those less fortunate than themselves. Teri automatically stuck a twenty-dollar bill inside. As kids growing up with an alcoholic mother, she and Christie had a very limited experience of Christmas, which might explain why she went overboard now. The only gifts they received came from charities like this one. Any extra cash her mother had was spent on booze.

The warmth inside the mall chased away the chill that had come over her. She moved quickly, eager to get to the salon. When she arrived, she walked directly through the waiting area and into the main body of the shop.

“Hey, look who’s here!” Jane called out. She wore a sprig of plastic holly in her hair as she worked on a customer’s nails.

Teri was instantly surrounded by her friends.

“Merry Christmas!”

“Teri, it’s so great to see you.”

Her gaze flew instinctively to Rachel. Rachel would reassure her. Rachel would help her put everything in perspective. Rachel would calm her nerves.

Intuitive as always, Rachel recognized immediately that something was wrong.

“Can you talk?” Teri asked, grabbing her friend’s hands.

Rachel nodded. “I just finished my perm. Mrs. Holman’s coming in for a cut and style, but I can put her off for a few minutes. What’s up?”

Teri released Rachel’s hands and gestured weakly toward the break room. Her knees felt unsteady. “Let’s talk privately.”

“That bad?” Rachel’s eyes turned soft with concern.

“No, not really. Just…overwhelming.”

Rachel led her to the back of the shop and pulled out two chairs. Teri nearly collapsed into hers. “I had the ultrasound this morning,” she said. “Bobby’s so anxious about the baby. He had an important radio interview so he couldn’t go with me. I didn’t think it was a good idea for him to be there, anyway. He worries too much.” She exhaled slowly.

Rachel frowned. “Your appointment was at nine, right?” She glanced at her watch. “It’s nearly noon. Why’d it take so long?”