Part 9 (1/2)

”Who are they?”

It seemed it took an eternity for them to answer me. Maggie shook her head in amazement and Hannah swallowed and took a deep breath.

”It's you and your father, right?” I asked.

Maggie looked at me. ”No, it's me and Uncle Nathan.” She seemed completely bewildered.

”Are you sure?” I asked. Maggie gave me an exasperated look and I felt the color rush to my face. ”Of course you are. Sorry. I never thought a brother-in-law's picture would be in it.”

Hannah still said nothing. I glanced at her and knew something was up. ”Well, I a.s.sume the lock of hair is yours,” I said, looking at Maggie.

She nodded. ”I agree, though I don't remember this locket. Maybe I remember her wearing it occasionally, but I can't be sure. It was so long ago.” Her eyes welled with tears and I felt bad for her. Then she blinked and they just rolled down her face, without her changing expression. I swallowed hard at the sad expression.

I looked at the clock, it was nine. I looked at both of them; this was taking its toll. ”Well, why don't we discuss this further over breakfast? Breakfast is on me,” I said.

”That's a good idea. I'll be ready in twenty minutes,” Maggie said and got up. Hannah declined and I felt perhaps she didn't want to be part of the discussion.

”Would you mind watching Ole Yeller for me?” I asked, motioning to Chance, who was sleeping in the doorway.

”Not at all, Chance and I will be fast friends by the time you get back. She may not want to leave. Now go, go,” Hannah said with a shooing gesture.

I took the tarnished jewelry and carefully placed it in a plastic bag. ”Keep an eye on this, Hannah.”

”Dear Lord, I have to fix up a room for your sister and brother-in-law. Good grief! You two have fun.”

She got up, kissed my cheek and was out the door with Chance following her.

Chapter Eight.

It was a nice cool, crisp autumn morning and I'm sure the scenery would have been beautiful, if I could have seen it. Maggie drove far too fast.

”You drive a car as fast as you ride a horse,” I said, as I instinctively pressed my foot on the imaginary brake.

”And you complain too much,” she answered and put her foot on the gas.

We parked in what I could only guess was the downtown of this small town and walked across the street to a little diner for breakfast.

As usual, I was starving by the time we sat in a booth by the window.

I started the conversation as the waitress set a coffeepot in front of us. ”So you're a doctor.” I eagerly poured both of us a much-needed cup.

”Almost a doctor,” she corrected me.

”I appreciate you taking care of me Almost Dr. Winfield. Seriously, thank you.”

”I should be thanking you after what you did last night. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I have a frightful temper, but you're the last person in the world I should be angry with.”

As Maggie spoke, I noticed a man at the counter staring at both of us. He was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. ”Who's the guy at the end of the counter?”

She glanced over and grunted. ”Christ, it's my cousin, Charlie. I thought he was out of town.”

”He's very handsome.”

”I think that's part of his problem. He even dated Allison once or twice,” she said as she drank her coffee.

”Really?” That surprised me. ”Maybe I got the wrong impression, but I thought you and she had a relations.h.i.+p at some point in time.”

”Yes, we did. We were involved for four years. We were having problems for the last six months of the relations.h.i.+p and thought a vacation was in order. We were in England. She was buying antiques for her shop. We argued one day, and I stormed out. I walked around London for hours, knowing it was over, but not wanting to give up.” She shrugged. I saw the dejected look.

”I know what you mean, Maggie. The realization hits you right between the eyes. You wonder what in the world you were thinking. How you could have been so foolish. It's a hollow feeling,” I said and stared at my coffee cup.

Once again, the visions flashed through my mind. How could I have been so foolish, so easily taken in?

”Speaking from experience?” she asked. I looked into her eyes and for the first time in quite a while, I thought of spilling my guts.

Then the anxious feeling started once again coupled with the urge to get up and run. ”Everybody falls in love, Maggie. I'm no different. So, you were in London...” I said, dismissing the topic. I felt the eyes of scrutiny upon me and drank my coffee. Leave it be, Maggie, please.

Graciously, she continued. ”I went back to the hotel and found Allison with Charlie of all people. They were standing in an intimate embrace. They didn't even notice I was there. I took the first plane back. She tried to tell me I was imagining things, that we were all childhood friends and there was nothing intimate about Charlie, that I was being paranoid and ridiculous. I don't know, maybe I was. In any event, she wanted to try again. She's been persistent ever since.”

”Why would she want someone else when she had you?” I immediately felt the blush rush to my face.

Maggie raised an eyebrow and grinned. ”Well, that was an unexpected but nice thing to say.”

”Well, you, I...” No stammering, please.

Luckily, my new best friend, the waitress, arrived.

Maggie looked at my plate in amazement. ”Where are you going put all that?”

”Hey, I'm gonna need all the nourishment I can get. Getting thrown through a door takes its toll.”

Her smile faded and she became very serious. ”You shouldn't be involved in this. I don't even know you.”

”Well, I am involved now, and you do know me now, so let's put our heads together and figure this thing out.” I could feel her watching me as I ate a mouthful of pancakes. I was in the middle of a bite when I glanced up to see her looking at me. ”Do I have egg on my face?” I self-consciously looked down at my s.h.i.+rt. I was afraid my feeding frenzy was out of control.

”It dawned on me that I know absolutely nothing about you. Except that you once had a private investigation business and now you're a photographer.”

”What kind of photographer?” I asked, wagging my fork in her direction.

”A well-known photographer,” she corrected herself with a slight grin.

”That's better.”

She gave me a suspicious glance, which again, I ignored. She was about to go on when her cousin got out of his chair.