A passing thought seeped into his mind. He wondered what Madeline thought about Comfort Crossing. No doubt, with her big-city background, she thought the town was stiflingly small, though she seemed to genuinely like Rebecca and Larry and their bed and breakfast. Of course, what wasn’t to like about it? Rebecca and Larry were the real deal. Kindhearted people who would give you the shirts off their backs. He was glad Madeline had landed at the Sweet Tea. He liked the fact that Rebecca and Larry were there to look out for her. Not that Maddy would react well to his thinking she needed looking after. He smiled to himself, picturing Maddy bristling at the very idea.
Maddy, now there was a woman who had taken him by surprise. She’d fallen into his life with her impossibly captivating smile and her driving need to find out about the letter. A cross between a little lost waif and a polished businesswoman.
Maddy filtered in and out of his thoughts all day as he worked at the store. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad. He put in a long day and was glad to lock the door at closing, finish up some paperwork, and head home.
When he climbed into his truck, he noticed Maddy’s scarf peeking out from under the front seat. He scooped it up. It was butter soft and a bright turquoise color. He held it up to his face and could smell her faint scent. Her perfume, or lotion, or shampoo, or whatever held that faint scent of lavender. He thought she’d been wearing the scarf when they went to go visit Aunt Josephine. He’d better go return it to her on his way home. Yes, that was the friendly thing to do. She might really be wondering about it. With that thought, he mentally rolled his eyes at himself, as if that were even possible. It was just an excuse to go by and check on her and he knew it.
The truck sputtered to life, he flicked on the headlights, and headed over to the Sweet Tea. He debated briefly, wondering if it was too late to go over, but decided it was just barely within the socially acceptable time to call on someone. Within minutes he was eagerly climbing out of the truck and heading to the front door.
“Come in, Gil.” Larry answered the door. “You looking for Madeline?”
“I am. I found her scarf…” Gil felt like slapping his forehead. “Just a sec, I left it in the truck.” He headed back to the truck and grabbed the scarf. Larry stood in the doorway watching him, probably thinking he was an idiot. Or, quite possibly, seeing through his ruse.
They walked into the front room, with the scarf now firmly in Gil’s hand.
“I’ll go up and tell her you’re here. Owen is the only other guest tonight and he’s in his room. Rebecca just went upstairs to watch her favorite TV show about some family in England or something like that. Just lock the door behind you when you leave.”
“Will do.” Gil crossed over and stood by the bookcase, looking at the photos lining the shelves. A picture of Rebecca and Larry with their kids when they were little. Their daughter in her wedding dress. Their son holding a sports trophy. Family memories captured and displayed proudly.
At the sound of footsteps on the stairs, he turned and stared at her. “Um, hey, Maddy.”
She smiled at him and the whole long day just seemed to melt away.
“I found your scarf in my truck.” He stood there with the scarf clutched in his hand.
“Oh, good. I wondered where I’d lost it. It’s one of my favorites.” She reached for the scarf and he reluctantly gave it back, unwilling to break that connection with her.
“You didn’t have to make a special trip.”
“I wanted to check on you, too.”
“I’m fine, really I am.”
He looked at the red scarf she’d tied around her neck now, hiding the knife cut, and didn’t know if he believed her. Well, now she’d have another scarf to hide it. A shudder sliced through him, again, for what might have happened in New Orleans.
“Do you want to sit down for a bit?” Maddy motioned toward the couch.
“I can stay for a while.” Gil carefully hid his excitement at being asked to stay. He felt dangerously close to a kid in high school visiting his first crush. He sat down on the couch and Maddy sat down beside him, close but not touching, angled towards him so they could talk.
“I’ve been working on finding Paul all day. Rebecca let me use their computer. I have a few leads, but nothing concrete.”
“Well, that’s better than nothing. Anything I can help you with?”
“No, I’ll just keep digging. Maybe Josephine can give me something else to go on when we go visit her tomorrow.” Maddy’s eyes glistened with a tinge of anticipation.
“I hope so.” He hoped fervently. Maybe something that would keep Maddy here for a while. He wasn’t sure what information about Paul could possibly accomplish his wish for Maddy to stay, but it was worth a shot.