Annie scowled. “Kids, I bet. Poor Mary Beth—everything seems to be happening to her right now. Do you think she could use some company?”
“We can always call up and ask. Maybe we could take over a few things and make a little dinner party for her. It might cheer her up.”
Annie smiled. “It won’t hurt to ask. Come inside, and let’s see what she says.”
Annie called right away; Mary Beth sounded exhausted and a little overwhelmed, but she seemed glad for the company and the knowledge that she wouldn’t have to worry about fixing anything for herself for dinner.
“Well,” Annie said once she had hung up the phone, “that’s settled. Now what can we make to cheer up Mary Beth?”
****
Mary Beth was just finishing tidying up her ransacked kitchen and living room when her doorbell rang. She glanced at her dining room table, checking to see that the three place settings had the appropriate number of knives and forks and spoons, and that a crisp spring-pink napkin was folded beside each plate. The only real tangible reminder of the break-in was the gap on her living room shelf where her CD and DVD players had once sat and the broken dining room window. Wally had made her laugh when he came to board it up, asking her if he should set up a regular glass-replacement appointment for her from here forward.
She was trying to be thankful that the break-in was no worse, but piled on top of everything else, it was hard to do. Annie and Alice would cheer her up, though. And both of them were terrific cooks.
“Coming!”
She flung open the door and stopped short.
“Mr. Sanders.”
“Yeah, I know. Twice in the same week is a little bit much.” He shrugged and smiled. “I don’t mean to be a pest, but I was in Stony Point again, and I thought I’d take another look at your clock. I think I have the maker narrowed down to one of three from that era in Virginia, but there are a few details I wanted to make sure I got right. And I’d like to check for some particular maker’s marks too.”
Mary Beth pressed her lips together and dredged up a regretful smile. “I’m sorry, but the clock isn’t here right now. And this really isn’t a good time. I’m expecting company.”
He followed her glance through the living room to the dining room table. His eyes widened when he noticed the boarded up window.
“Oh man. What happened to your window?” He looked around the living room a little more. “A break-in?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Then the clock was stolen?”
“No, I’m thankful to say, my friend Annie took it to Brunswick for repairs.”
He looked relieved. “Well, that’s good news. It would be a shame to lose something like that. You didn’t have any of your other antiques stolen, did you?”
“No,” she assured him, amused in spite of herself by his single-mindedness. “And I will absolutely call you first if I decide to sell any of them.”
They both turned when Alice’s red Mustang pulled into the driveway.
“There’s my company.” She waved toward the car. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Sure.” He padded down the porch steps. “But you’ll let me know, right?”
“You’ll be the very first.”
He gave Annie a little wave as he passed her, and then he was gone.
“Him again?” Annie giggled. “I think he has a crush on you.”
“Very funny.” Mary Beth tried to lift up the corner of the aluminum foil that covered the casserole dish Annie carried. “And this is … ?”
“No peeking,” Alice scolded, getting between her and Annie, “or you don’t get any of this.”
She held up a covered pie dish, and Mary Beth hurried back up to open the front door for them.
“So what did your stalker want?” Alice set down her pie dish and a plastic bag full of other goodies. “He’s persistent, isn’t he?”
“Last thing I needed today.” Mary Beth rolled her eyes when the telephone rang. “Excuse me—I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll just get everything on the table,” Alice said. “Take your time.”
Dinner was ready to serve by the time Mary Beth came back, but by then she wasn’t very interested in eating.
“That was Chief Edwards. He said they found my DVD and CD players all smashed up and thrown in one of those dumpsters out behind the Grand Avenue Fish House. At least he’s pretty sure they’re mine. They’re the same models, and it would be an awfully big coincidence for two just like mine to show up just now. Based on the other trash in the dumpster, he’s sure they were put in there today. Why would anyone steal something like that just so they could smash it all up and throw it away?”