Annie cleared her throat. “Now what about the banquet? The message I got wasn’t very specific.”
“Neither was mine,” Alice said. “Do you have any ideas?”
“Not really. I thought I could make some of Gram’s pies to take, but other than that I don’t know. I’ll be happy to help however I can, of course, if I’m still here.”
“I guess I’ll make my usual pumpkin bread. I know Pastor Wallace likes it, but it would be nice to try something new once in a while.” Alice’s voice brightened. “Maybe we should put our heads together and figure out something fresh and exciting for this year.”
Annie frowned. “Are you sure you don’t remember anything else about when Susan was here? After she came back from New York, of course.”
“I thought we were talking about the banquet.” Alice glanced over at the gurgling coffeepot. “And I thought you invited me over for some coffee.”
Annie laughed and got the cups.
2
The next morning, Annie parked her burgundy Malibu in front of the stately white-columned Stony Point library and went inside. She stopped for a moment in the foyer, loving the feeling of being surrounded by so many books and promising herself a return visit when she had time to spend the whole morning browsing. Then she went into the Great Room and up to the Circulation Desk.
“Good morning, Grace,” she said softly, and the petite woman behind the desk looked up with a smile.
“Well, hello there. Just a sec.” Grace turned to the low shelf behind her, found a book tagged Dawson, and handed it to Annie. “Is that what you’re after?”
“Oooh, pretty.” Annie opened the decorating book she had requested and flipped through a few pages. “I already see a couple of things I’d like to try at Grey Gables. Thanks for requesting it for me. I didn’t know interlibrary loans were so fast.”
Grace winked. “Depends on who you know.”
“I guess you know just about everybody in town. Do you remember Susan Morris? She’s about my age. Moved to New York maybe about 1980.”
“Morris?” Grace drew her dark brows together, thinking. “That’s quite a while ago. Was she any relation to the Morrises who lived way out on Elm Street? Ellen and Jack?”
“Those were her parents’ names, if I remember right. You don’t know where Susan might be now, do you?”
“No. If she’s still in Stony Point, she doesn’t come to the library. I guess I could see if she has an active card, but I think I’d remember if she checked anything out more than once or twice.”
“Would you mind looking?” Grace looked at her a little oddly, so Annie added, “Susan and I were good friends when I used to come here for the summer, but we’ve lost touch. I’d like to know how she’s doing these days.”
“All right, let me check for you.” Grace tapped a few keys on the computer keyboard. “No Susan Morris in our database. If she had a library card, it was before we computerized in 1985. Do you remember her address?”
Annie tried to picture the envelopes that were still lying on the coffee table in her living room. 214? 216?
“I think it was 214 Elm.”
Grace keyed in the address. “Not Morris.”
“Could you try 216?”
Grace obliged and then shook her head. “Sorry.”
With a sigh, Annie handed Grace her library card. “Well, thanks for trying, anyway. I guess I’ll just take my book and be on my way.”
Grace scanned the card and the book, and handed them both back to Annie. “If there’s something else I can help you with, just come back anytime.”
Annie left the book in her car trunk and walked up Main Street. The Cup & Saucer was gearing up for the lunch crowd, so she didn’t stop in to talk to Peggy Carson. She’d see her at the next meeting of the Hook and Needle Club. Instead, she went straight to A Stitch in Time.
“Annie! What are you doing here? I didn’t expect to see you until the meeting on Tuesday.” Mary Beth came from behind the counter with a smile on her roundish face. “You must have run out of something.”
“Actually, I decided I’d like to make myself a nice, thick sweater.”
Mary Beth’s smile broadened. “So you’re staying in Stony Point after all.”
“Now, now. Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m just making a sweater, not a commitment. How are you stocked for new and delicious crochet patterns?”
“How about we have a look? Do you have anything specific in mind?”
“Just something nice and warm. I’m not sure what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it.”