Page 8 of Kindred Lies
Cooper shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don't know for sure. There have been several different dates floating around. I could tell you when they got married and guess…but even Marianne's journals don't say exactly what day he went out there. They were wed on April 1, 1953.”
“April Fool's Day? Interesting...” She paused and glance up at him. Her eyes widened as she said, “Wait you have some of her journals? Can I read them?” Excitement flooded her voice as her eyes practically pleaded with him.
It had been so easy to lure her in the direction he wanted her to go. She didn't even realize that she had been played either. Everything was going wonderfully and soon he could find out if she was as special as he believed. The more time they had together the better his chances of becoming more involved with her. “I don't know. They are kind of family heirlooms and over a half century old...”
“Oh I promise to be extra careful with them. If you let me read through them that is.” Eagerness infused her voice as she spoke.
He pretended it would be a hardship to let her look at them. “Well the thing is I don't know you very well how am I to trust you won't run off with them?”
She tilted her head as if to consider how to proceed. “Well if it makes your more comfortable perhaps you can be with me when I look through them? That way you'll know that I don't ruin anything that doesn't belong to me.”
Wonderful, he didn't even have to suggest it. She really was making this a bit too easy for him. Not that he had any intention of complaining, “Hmm… well I suppose that could work. Why are you so interested in Marianne and Easton anyway?”
“I'm a writer…” She shook her head. “But I suppose you already know that much. I mentioned it earlier when we met.” Amethyst sighed. “I love discovering interesting things about the places I visit. I admit I choose places that already intrigue me and I hope to unravel the town’s history and use it in my articles. I did stumble on the possibility of ghosts in this town and I thought it would be a wonderful feature. I’d like to write the truth and not an article speculating about the existence of ghosts. Will you help me?”
“I might be able to do that. Have you written anything yet? Will you show me?”
“I don't know—I just don't like sharing anything until I'm completely done. Maybe once it's completed I can send you a copy?”
Oh that was a good idea. It would give her a reason to keep in contact with him if she left town. He hoped they could build a relationship and she would choose to stay, but on the off chance it didn't go as planned he needed a backup plan. “That's would be fantastic. I look forward to reading your story.”
A brilliant smile formed on her face. “Good then I will make sure to send it to you. Now will you let me look at those journals?”
“I suppose I can do that. Walk with me back to the house. I need to let my dad know we're heading back to the inn.”
Amethyst practically bounced beside them as they strolled back towards the house. “Thank you so much for allowing me to see them. This is more than I ever expected to find.”
He hoped those journals lived up to all of her expectations. So far all of his were being met by the lovely woman before him. She had all of the qualities Cooper looked for in a girl. He just needed to handle this right so that she felt the same way about him.
