“I gave it a pretty good going over before Bob picked it up. There is a little cubbyhole with a door on it behind that panel there.” Mary Beth pointed to a place on the right side of the desk. “It has a keyhole, but I never saw a key for it. It wasn’t locked anyway, and there wasn’t anything in it.”
Annie exhaled impatiently. “And we’re back to the possibility that whatever Geoffrey left for Angeline might not be there anymore.”
“If that’s the place he meant,” Mary Beth said, “then you’re right. It’s been empty at least since I was a little girl.”
“I guess we could go ahead and see if the key we found with the clue fits it. If it does, we’ll know that’s where it was supposed to be.”
“If Park Cambridge Antique Shoppe still has the desk on Monday.” Mary Beth’s shoulders sagged. “I could have used a little good news today. Now the best we can hope for is just knowing it’s a dead end.”
Annie glanced at Alice and then smiled at Mary Beth. “I know. Why don’t we make a girls’ day out of it? We can drive to Portland and look at the desk. We can have lunch somewhere fun and then do some shopping.”
“Thanks, Annie, but I really can’t—”
“Sure you can. You’re closed on Mondays.”
A little color came into Mary Beth’s cheeks. “I don’t want to spoil the fun, but I really can’t afford a shopping spree right now.”
“Come on,” Annie coaxed. “We can just window-shop. That’s still free. I’ll drive, and lunch will be on me. You won’t be out anything but a little time. What do you think?”
There was a little twitch at the corner of Mary Beth’s mouth. “OK.”
Annie clapped her hands together. “Great. Are you in, Alice?”
“Sorry, not for Monday. I have a Divine Décor party at eleven and then a Princessa jewelry party at three. Some of us have to work, you know.”
Annie wrinkled her nose. “Now who’s no fun?”
****
Monday turned out to be a beautiful day. It was a little bit cold for May, but the sky was a delicious clear blue, and spring was in its full riotous glory. Mary Beth was sitting on her front porch when Annie pulled up in her driveway, and she immediately scurried out to the car.
“Right on time,” she said as she buckled herself in.
Annie smiled. “Of course. And don’t you look nice. Did you make that?”
“Just finished it yesterday.” Mary Beth fingered the lightweight ecru pullover she had crocheted. “It’s one of Kate’s patterns. She always lets me test them before she prints them up for sale.”
“It’s great. And just right for you.”
Mary Beth chuckled. “I had been griping about how all the patterns are designed for girls in their twenties who look like fashion models. Kate’s so sweet, I think she designed it especially to flatter someone with—ahem—a fuller figure.”
Annie laughed with Mary Beth, happy to see she was in a more cheerful mood than she had been lately. Obviously Mary Beth was feeling better with Kate being back at the shop with her.
The drive to Portland was pleasantly uneventful, and Annie didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere by bringing up Mary Beth’s financial troubles. Instead, she asked about something she knew always made Mary Beth happy.
“How’s Amy doing?”
As she expected, Mary Beth beamed at the mention of her niece.
“Great, as always. She’s still spending a lot of time with Everett Graber, who works in the same office.”
“Oh, and he has the cutest little boy.”
“Peter. Yes, he’s precious. I’d sure love to see them get a little closer one day. I guess Amy’s still not ready for that.”
“I know you miss having her around. Is she going to come visit this summer?”
Mary Beth pressed her lips together. “I hope she will. Every time Amy makes plans to come, Melanie figures out something for her to do instead. It’s so frustrating.”
Annie glanced briefly at her. “You know she’s jealous of you, don’t you? Melanie, I mean.”
“Of me?” Mary Beth laughed. “You’ve seen her—tall and thin and still gorgeous. She is always fashionable, and always in the middle of some important national or international event. Not to mention being pretty well off. Why should she be jealous of me?”
“Because she knows Amy is closer to you than to her.”
“Amy’s her daughter, not mine.”
“That’s the point.” Annie glanced up to make sure she hadn’t missed her exit. “Amy is her daughter, but Amy loves you best.”