Page 126 of Out on a Limb
“I appreciate you letting me use the garden for the Friday night meet and greet.”
I turned to look at her between the seats.
Helen’s smile was wide. Like she thought she was getting something she wouldn’t have gotten anyway.
Little did she know I would offer the garden up to a furry convention right now if it brought in new visitors.
“You’re welcome.” I turned back to face forward.
I was more than happy to let her use the garden.
As long as I could keep it open that long.
I fought the lunchtime traffic, gripping the wheel tighter and tighter with each passing second. By the time we pulled into the lot at the bank I was ready to scream.
Helen jumped out immediately. “I’ll be right back.”
I watched in the side mirror as she went inside the bank my grandparents had used forever.
Julia turned to me. “What do you think is inside the box?”
I’d filled her in on what was going on after my altercation with Alan this morning. There wasn’t really any way around it.
“I’m not sure.” If Alan was the only one looking for the key, I would have hoped it was the money he’d stolen from the garden.
If my granddad was the one looking for the key, I would have assumed it was some amount of money he didn’t want my grandmother to know he had.
But the fact that they were both looking for it together had me stumped.
“Hopefully it’s nothing gross.” Julia’s upper lip curled. “Like naked photos of them having a torrid affair.”
“They’re not having an affair with each other.” I’d been unlucky enough to have a front-row seat to each of their indiscretions. “I can tell you that much.”
I leaned forward as Helen came out of the bank. “She’s coming back.”
Julia turned in her seat. “Does she look happy?”
“She’s smiling.”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s happy.”
“What?” I squinted at Helen, looking for any other sign of emotion. “Why not?”
“She’s not like us. She doesn’t put it all out there.” Julia dropped back into her seat as Helen came closer.
She was smiling. She looked happy. She should be happy. What was the point of wearing a smile if it wasn’t how you felt?
Is this what Andrew had to do all day every day? Guess who was showing how they really felt and who wasn’t?
Helen pulled open the door.
“Are you happy?” Andrew might not feel comfortable asking people outright, but I sure as hell did.
Helen’s brows came together. “About what?”
What in the heck did she mean about what? “Did they tell you about the boxes?”
“Oh.” Helen slid into the Jeep. “Yes.” She shook her head at me. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
