Page 18 of Two Hearts Reunited

But those weekends and times during the summer she’d come to visit Mom had been worth it. Mom had seemed a littlemore resigned, but still hadn’t given up on finding Shanna. She was working again and catching up on the bills but had taken out another mortgage on the house, Anya had found out later.

Even when Anya began working in Madison, she’d kept in touch with Mom. Since she seemed to be balancing her job and her life pretty well again, Anya hadn’t worried.

Until Mom suddenly wasn’t. Anya had been working at the law firm for about a year when she’d realized that Mom was no longer returning her calls.

“Anya?” Jaynie gave her a nudge as she joined her at the counter when a customer came into the shop and began looking around. “You seemed like you were miles away.”

Anya pursed her lips. “I was thinking about my mom and remembering how well adjusted she’d become when I was away at school and even for another year afterwards.”

“The question is, would things have been any different with her if you’d stayed here in town?”

“Leave it to you to reassure me,” Anya murmured. “No. Probably not. Her obsession had nothing to do with me but everything to do with the phone call she received.”

“I still think you should go to the cops with it,” Jaynie said, frowning.

“No. Not until I know more. I wouldn’t even have the recording if Mom hadn’t said something to me before she died. I just wish she would have held on a little longer so she could have told me more about it,” Anya said.

Jaynie sighed. “I hear you. Believe it or not, I think we’re caught up. There are a bunch of deliveries going out in the morning. And then there are the flowers that need to be delivered to the Dragonfly Pointe Inn for their online auction tomorrow. It’s a shame they can’t host the regular event like they usually do because of COVID.”

“There were so many people at the event last year,” Anya observed. “Plus, the Inn was booked up. There were people everywhere, even in town. I can see why they felt like they needed to handle it differently this year, even though the financial loss must be significant.”

“If you want to start getting things ready to check out, I’ll go help the man who just came in,” Jaynie said, glancing at her watch. “I’m glad that Penny decided that the deposits should be put into the bank during the afternoon rather than at the end of the night.”

“Yes, I feel much more comfortable walking over to the bank during the day than I did dropping the deposits off in the drive-through at night,” Anya agreed. “Okay. I’m glad I could let Wren go early since she’s coming in tomorrow morning.”

Another fifteen minutes later, after Jaynie had taken the customer’s order for a Christmas Eve flower delivery, Anya was sliding the glass doors closed that led into the shop and locking them up.

After the cash registers were emptied into the safe, and the lights were turned down low, they headed into the restroom so that Jaynie could make sure that Anya looked her best.

Adding some lipstick, she looked at Jaynie, grinning. “How’s that? Have I passed inspection yet?”

Jaynie laughed. “You’ll do. Seriously, you look great, Anya. Plus, it’s nice to see you smiling.”

She grimaced. “I don’t do it often, do I?”

“Hardly ever,” Jaynie admitted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a quick squeeze. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I can’t wait to hear how it goes tomorrow.”

“Truthfully, it might just end up being awkward since we don’t have much to talk about,” Anya admitted.

“Don’t be like that,” Jaynie growled. “Promise me that you’ll have a serious talk with him and try to make peace with the past.”

“You’re right. I need to go in there with a better attitude.” Anya sighed. “I promise I’ll try.”

“Just be confident in yourself. You’ll be fine.”

“I’m so lucky to have found a friend like you,” Anya said softly as they headed toward the exit together.

Chapter Eight

Eric must have checked his watch at least a dozen times, waiting for Anya to show up at the Crystal Rock Tap.

He’d been impressed at what was obviously a new ventilation system that had been installed when he’d walked into the Tap an hour earlier. Small exhaust fans were in place near the ceiling around the entire perimeter of the room. There was quite a bit of distancing between the booths and the tables, and it looked like they were keeping a head count because they were still offering entertainment, a tall plexiglass panel surrounding the stage.

The hostess who’d seated him at the table had looked vaguely familiar. He’d probably gone to school with her but didn’t remember her name. He’d asked a few questions about the seating, and she said she wouldn’t work anywhere in town except for here or the Dragonfly Pointe Inn because they were the only places she felt safe.

Eric had downed a couple of beers by the time Anya walked into the entrance of the Tap. The waitress had just appeared at the table and asked if he wanted another beer.

“Sure. I’ll take one more. Hang on for a minute. Let me see if Anya wants something too,” Eric replied, standing to greet Anya as she approached the table.

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