Page 26 of Merry Mended Hearts

Why would he think it’d been in his room? How had it ended up in mine?

The radio, however, was more bizarre than anything. I couldn’t buy into the whole Santa story. The fact that it played was probably just a joke—a prank played by the inn staff. There was probably hidden speakers in the living room where they liked to tease guests who’d come eagerly to hear the radio’s story.

Why else would Boone have gotten so upset and removed it?

That still didn’t explain how the fire had vanished from the fireplace when it’d been at full blaze moments before. It wasn’t like it was one of those electric fireplaces that could be dimmed with a switch.

And then there was the completely unguarded wonderment in Boone’s handsome expression. Either he was a very good actor, or something else was at work here.

BOONE

I wantedthis thing out of my sight.

The radio was heavier than I expected it to be. With the old set in hand, when I didn’t see Junie at the reception desk, I marched right past it, past the dining hall, and down to the office space Junie shared with her mom.

I was tempted to bypass relocation and opt for the chopping block outside where I’d just finished preparing another day’s worth of wood for the fires. I wanted to hack it into a thousand sharp shards, but Junie would never forgive me if I destroyed this stupid thing.

And if were being honest with myself, I’d probably never forgive myself either. Really, as upset as I was, I only wanted answers.

Junie and Aunt Meg’s office was clean and organized. Stacks of labeled totes were situated across from Junie’s desk, which overlooked a stunning view of the snowy landscape outside. Each tote was labeled to signify the various holidays the inn was often festooned for throughout the year.

I trudged past them and slammed the radio down a little too hard on the desk beside Junie’s computer.

“Easy,” Junie said, coming in behind me.

The irritation that had flared at the sight of my late wife’s necklace in Grace’s hand kicked up my heartrate all over again. I hadn’t meant to snap at Grace. And I certainly didn’t mean to snap at Junie—though, I did intend to ask her a few questions.

A few years ago, Junie had stopped by the cottage one evening to drop off some blankets they were replacing when the inn was being redecorated. She’d come across something Amy had left behind during our last visit, and she’d thought it would be helpful to bring that by for me.

“To hold onto,” she’d said.

The sight of that necklace undid me. Amy had just died. I’d just moved back to Harper’s Inn. And while Junie had meant for it to be a comforting gesture, that small reminder had made me miss my wife more than I already did.

I’d broken apart, shattering into a misfit pile of heartbeats. I’d wilted. My entire body had lost its strength. I wasn’t sure I’d really mourned her until Junie placed this necklace in my hand and had left me alone with it.

It was this necklace that made me accept that Amy was really gone. That she wasn’t coming back. That I’d gotten rid of everything the two of us had had together.

I’d taken that locket and tucked it away in a drawer at the cottage. How could the necklace possibly have gotten back to the inn at all, let alone into Grace’s hands?

Grace. The same woman the radio had played for…

“What’s the matter?” Junie asked. “You look like you just saw the Ghost of Christmas Past.”

Blood pounded through me, amplifying my pulse and my breathing. I was far too agitated.

Fisting my hands at my sides, I inhaled a deep breath and exhaled just as slowly, working to keep my voice calm.

“Do you know how one of the guests got ahold of this?”

With the chain strung around my middle finger, I allowed the locket to dangle from my downturned palm. I met Junie’s eyes, knowing the same memory passed between us?—

The day Junie had been a shoulder to cry on when I’d finally allowed myself to grieve Amy’s death.

Junie was the one person I could completely be myself with. Again, I worked to steady my frustration.

“Oh, Boone.” Junie’s voice was breathless. Her eyes turned glossy. I knew she knew what this meant to me. “I thought you had it at the cottage. Were you carrying it around and dropped it somewhere around here?”

“No. It’s been tucked away in a drawer at my place.”

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