With one more look into Ansley’s brown eyes, Fin finally nodded. “Can I assume she was with you when Athena harried you?”
Relieved, Annie answered, “Yes, you assume correctly.”
“Then I’d welcome her presence so that I may apologize to her personally,” Fin said. He settled back in his chair.
“Thank you both,” Annie said as she started again for the door, digging her cellphone out of her bag. She almost paused to suggest that her friend could stop by the diner to pick up lunch but thought better of it. Perhaps Peggy would be sent and yet another sleuthing friend would be alerted to the developments in the mystery. “I’ll be just a moment.” As she shut the door behind her, she saw Ian reach into his desk for a copy of the diner’s menu.
Since Charlotte took her lunch promptly at noon, the outer office was empty. Annie walked back and forth as she waited for Alice to answer.
“Hey, Annie. You’re not calling to cancel are you?” Alice’s voice sounded in her ear.
“No, but I have a slight change in plans to suggest,” answered Annie. “Instead of meeting me at the diner, come to Ian’s office.”
Annie could hear the puzzlement in her friend’s voice. “Um, why? Have they added a salad bar in Town Hall—and finally gotten some decent coffee?”
“Because the falconer from the Highland Games is sitting in Ian’s office as I speak, and he brought someone else with him. I think you’d like to hear the conversation over lunch, wouldn’t you?” Annie grinned, imagining the look on her friend’s face.
“Are you serious? What a crazy day to come! The man must have fog fever. Who’s the other person?”
“Kyla Bell’s mother. You’ll see the resemblance as soon as you see her.” Annie told her the plans for lunching in the conference room. “Charlotte is at lunch, of course, so just head to the room.”
“OK.” Annie could hear the sounds of her friend preparing to leave her house, the jangle of keys. “This is so exciting! I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“I’ll tell Ian. Do you trust us to order your lunch?” Annie thought to ask before she disconnected.
Her friend chuckled. “Just this once. And you’d better not mess it up.”
“Considering how often we eat at The Cup & Saucer together, I think you’ll be safe.” Annie said goodbye and closed her phone.
Pausing before the door to Ian’s office, she closed her eyes and silently prayed that the truth would be a blessing to everyone involved.
17
When Annie re-entered the office, Ian looked up from the writing pad on the desk before him. “Is Alice coming? If so, what should we order for her?”
“Yes, she is,” Annie answered. “She’s on her way. For the order, somehow it feels like a day for soup. Order us both a cup of fish chowder and a side salad. Dressing on the side, of course.”
Ian was no stranger to dining with Annie and Alice, and knew what dressings each lady preferred. He jotted down the information. “I’ll call in the order.”
“Don’t forget to ask if Peggy can deliver it,” Annie cautioned him. At times her friend’s intense curiosity could rise to uncomfortable levels, but on this occasion Annie didn’t want her to miss the chance to meet Ansley and Finley, even if she couldn’t stay long.
Ian picked up the phone, mouthing “will do” to Annie. Returning to her chair, Annie sat again next to Ansley. “How long did it take for you to drive to Stony Point?” she asked the visitors.
“In today’s fog, almost ninety minutes,” Fin answered. “But it’s usually a good twenty minutes less than that on normal days.”
“I thought unpredictable was Maine’s normal,” Annie quipped. “But I must confess I find the capriciousness rather exciting most of the time. Of course, Texas has its wild side also, but it’s drastically different from here. I’m enjoying those differences.”
Ansley had not yet put the ferrule away, but instead she toyed with it, turning it over and running a finger over the engraving. “I’ve never lived anywhere but Maine. I still live in the same county where I was born, even.” A soft smile touched her mouth. “Guess I’m just a homebody.”
Ian set the phone back in the handset. “The food should be here in about fifteen minutes … with Peggy.”
Annie clasped her hands together. “Oh, good! Peggy is Emily’s mother, and she will be so happy to meet you, Ansley. Were you working at one of the venues at the Games?”
“No, I wasn’t able to attend,” Ansley answered. “My husband’s mother has been ill and had to be hospitalized the night before the Games. She begged me to stay with her. I couldn’t say no, though I hated to miss Kyla’s dancing.”