“Let me help,” she had pleaded when Annie left to go to town. “I’m feeling so much better. I think those iron pills your doctor prescribed for me are already working. I’m—really grateful for your kindness.”
Annie was wearing white jeans and a lime green top with a scallop of tiny white flowers at the neckline. Her blonde hair shone in the sunlight as she stooped to retrieve her crochet project and tuck it into her tote bag. She and Alice had errands to do that morning, she had explained. She would come back for her later, and they would go to the club meeting together.
Tiny gold flecks danced in Annie’s striking green eyes. “Are you sure you don’t mind doing this? I need to prepare the way for you to join us at A Stitch in Time. You see, people in Stony Point are wonderful, but they don’t take to outsiders very well unless they’ve been warned that someone new is coming. I’ll be back in a couple of hours—the meeting is at eleven o’clock—then I’ll introduce you to my Hook and Needle Club friends.”
“Of course, I understand. And I’m happy to clean the wicker,” Tara said. Annie was actually going to leave her alone at Grey Gables—with free reign of the house and silverware!
“You won’t get all the furniture done this morning. Just leave everything where it is when you need to change for the meeting. We can finish it later. Remember not to get it too wet, and once you’ve washed it, you need to dry it.” She motioned to a basket in the corner that held clean white rags. “I’ve prepared a solution of water and ammonia. Once you dust, you can wash the furniture with the brushes. The toothbrush is good to get in small places, and the paintbrush can be used for the larger areas. The pointed stick comes in handy for those tiny grooves that trap the dirt.”
Then Annie had climbed inside Alice’s Mustang and left her on the porch at Grey Gables. Boots, who had followed her mistress to the car, returned and trotted lightly up the steps. The cat wrapped herself around Tara’s ankles and purred a welcome.
“You too!” she scolded lightly, and stooped to stroke the velvety gray fur. Why did everyone have to be so kind to her? It made what she was planning to do so hard! She switched on the handheld vacuum to dust an overturned chair. Plying the nozzle into the most deeply soiled areas, she began to scrub. If only she could wash away the grime that had a choke hold on her heart.
It wasn’t a total lie, she rationalized. She really did want to talk to someone who knew her mother; but the other part—the plan to steal valuable artwork—was Jem’s idea. Maybe she could get him to change his mind or just be happy with one canvas. Then they could both get away from here and start over somewhere.
A shadow flashed across her peripheral vision, and suddenly a figure rounded the porch and came up the steps. “Jem! What on earth are you doing here!” She dropped the vacuum hose. “Someone will see you!”
“No one will be coming by right now,” he said, panting with the effort of the climb. “But just to be sure, let’s step inside.”
“Jem, please! Annie could come back any minute. If she finds you here …”
He pushed her forward into the entry hall of Grey Gables. “They won’t be back any minute. They just left. And no one is around except that neighbor of Mrs. Dawson’s, and she drove off with the boss lady. So you see, we’re completely alone!”
Tara closed the door and leaned against it, her heart beating a frightened rhythm. “It was you!” she gasped. “The other day when the flowerpot fell off the rail. You’ve been watching! Spying on us!”
“Blasted cat nearly scared me to death. When I jumped out of its way, my elbow knocked the pot over. Good thing the woods were so close.”
“Oh, Jem. I hate this! I hate what we’re doing …”
“Tara, sweet Tara,” he said, coming close to her, “I’ve been watching, and you were terrific. The way you made the lady of the house fall all over herself to help you. You did just fine; you’re a real actress.” He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her head against his chest.
The familiar scent of him, all fresh and piney, and the warm breath of his mouth next to her ear made her dizzy. Why did everything just fly out of her head whenever he was around? “I missed you, Jem,” she murmured.
“And J.C. missed you too, baby,” he said. “So tell me, what have you seen inside that attic?” His eyes gleamed with hope and too familiar avarice.
“Nothing! I’ve only had a few days here. I can’t just up and ask to look through her attic!” She caught her lip between her teeth and struggled to explain. “Besides, she’s been … so good to me. Can’t we just forget about doing that? We could leave today …”