Page 16 of A South Hill Christmas Keepsake
Birdie whipped around and gasped as if she’d seen Elvis. “Well, well, if it isn’t the prodigal Parker. I’ve been wondering, have you considered sticking around?”
“I’m just visiting,” Hannah Leigh said with a smile, though Birdie’s piercing stare made her feel like she’d just confessed to a federal crime.
Birdie hooked her arm through Hannah Leigh’s. “Come sit by me. I have theories, and I need someone with sense to help me sort ‘em out.”
“Theories?”
“About something concerning our dogwood tree. It’s famous, you know.”
“I heard.” Hannah Leigh blinked. “What about it?”
Birdie looked around, then leaned in like she was about to reveal something big. “Years ago, there was a story about a woman waiting for her true love under that tree.” She straightened, lifting her chin the way she did when she was getting ready to get bossy. She folded her arms across her chest. “And now you’re telling me you found an old locket buried underneath it? Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
“Actually…I didn’t tell you that.” Hannah Leigh held Birdie’s stare. “Matter of fact, I haven’t told anyone. How did you even know?”
Birdie stood there blinking with no response whatsoever. Finally, she winked. “I heard right, didn’t I?”
Hannah Leigh hesitated to answer.
Birdie rolled her eyes. “Oh, honey, I hear things. It’s not eavesdropping if the good Lord puts you in the right place at the right time and gives you sharp ears and a reason to use ‘em, right?”
“I’m not so sure that’s how it works.” Hannah Leigh didn’t agree, but the heat creeping up her neck gave her away. “It’s probably nothing more than a trinket someone lost.”
“Do you have it? I’ve got to see it.” Birdie sniffed like a detective on a case. “It’s never just a trinket in South Hill, especially not if it came from Harper’s Jewelry.”
“Oh, I guess it could’ve come from there,” Hannah Leigh said. “I hadn’t even thought about that. I should stop by there tomorrow.”
“So, youdohave the locket.” A flicker of excitement danced in Birdie’s eyes. “Everything means something here. Always has, always will. I believe the locket you found connects to that story from long ago.
Hannah Leigh hesitated, but despite her better judgment, she handed over the locket.
Birdie leaned in, curiosity glittering brighter than her rhinestone glasses. Suddenly, her mouth dropped open. “Well, I’ll be. This is something.” She slid her glasses down to the tip of her nose and squinted at the tiny photographs. “There’s something familiar about these two…” Her expression pinched.
“There is?” Hannah Leigh’s excitement was barely containable.
“Or maybe not,” Birdie said, lowering her glasses with atsk.
Her heart deflated like a balloon at a county fair that’d lost its helium halfway home. “So, you don’t recognize them?”
“Nope,” Birdie said brightly, already whipping out her phone. “But don’t worry, Facebook will.”
Before Hannah Leigh could stop her, Birdie was snapping photos like a woman on a mission.
“Whoa, Birdie! What are you doing?”
“Investigating,” she said without a second glance. “This will be Exhibit A. I’m going to post the picture and spread the word.”
“Don’t you dare post that on the internet. Give me a chance to find her. This might be a very special treasure. The whole world doesn’t need to be in on this.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll only send it to my top-secret committee.”
“You mean the gossip chain?” Hannah Leigh asked. “Please don’t do that.”
Birdie’s lips pursed like she’d been told Santa was on strike. Then, simply turned and walked into the darkened theater.
Hannah Leigh stood there, surprised that Birdie didn’t have to have the last word. Someone tapped Hannah Leigh’s shoulder. She whipped around to see Aunt Winnie standing behind her.
“You scared me,” Hannah Leigh said. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
