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Once more, Emma left Dixie in Sophie's capable hands. The young girl had worn the puppy out, and Dixie was struggling to keep her eyes open as Emma shrugged into her jacket.
"We won't be long; I just want to do a bit of exploring. Besides, it's too chilly to stay outside for long. You sure you don't mind, Sophie?" Emma needed to be certain she wasn't burdening the young girl with puppy-sitting duties, but both Sophie and Cook quickly assured her that Dixie wouldn't be a problem.
"Let's get going, we'll make it a quick tour. The wind's picked up; it bites right through you," Travis urged, guiding her toward the door. He paused just long enough to grab his jacket. Moments later, they were ambling down the path toward the potting shed. However, Emma's interest wasn't piqued by the shed; instead, she was intrigued by the small cottage behind it. This was where the gardener, the reclusive Nancy, lived.
"Are you sure she won't mind us strolling around?"
"Nancy's quite private, but she loves showcasing her gardens. As long as we don't intrude on her private quarters or enter the cottage, I don't see why she'd have a problem," Travis reassured her. Taking her hand, he started to lead the way past the garden shed. That's when they heard a truck door slam. Travis glanced over to the driveway and saw that Nancy was back, her truck laden with plants. He motioned for Emma to head toward the cottage gardens.
"There's Nancy now. I'll go help her with unloading and introduce you. Go ahead and explore; we'll catch up. This won't take long."
"I could help too—"
"We've got this covered. Feel free to wander."
Without waiting for Emma's response, Travis dashed over to assist the petite gardener as she grappled with a tray of bright red poinsettias from the back seat. Emma could see that the truck was filled with evergreens, sturdy concrete pots, and potting soil. Observing Travis and Nancy, she noted how well they worked together. It was evident they'd done this before, and she realized she'd have only been in the way if she had tried to help.
Pulling the collar of her jacket tighter against her neck, Emma meandered down the flagstone pathway, admiring the lush tropical plantings. Shielded from the Florida sunlight by large oak trees, ferns had grown thick, and clusters of bromeliads added splashes of color. Moss nestled between the pathway stones, and she noticed large pots of exotic plants tucked among the ferns. Rounding the corner of the cottage, she discovered a small fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. Realizing she'd wandered into a private sitting area; she retraced her steps to another pathway. More pots of flowers and foliage mixtures added color and texture to the landscape.
Having grown up around her mother's gardening business, Emma recognized most of the area's plant life. However, one particular pot caught her off guard, and she hurried past, not wanting to ponder what was planted in the rich soil.
Her unexpected find soon faded from her mind as she marveled at the creative blend of native plants with the tropical brilliance of exotic flowers in Nancy's garden. Emma knew despite its seemingly natural appearance, the garden was a labor of love, requiring significant thought, work, and upkeep.
Lost in memories of other gardens she had enjoyed; it was Travis's voice echoing down the pathway that pulled her back to the present. Looking up, she watched the pair approach. Besides Travis, Nancy reminded her of woodland nymphs from her childhood books.
"Emma, I'd like you to meet Nancy," Travis said, introducing the women. Emma offered a smile and extended her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nancy. I must admit, I've truly enjoyed walking through your gardens. They're beautiful, and clearly, a lot of work."
"Oh, it's not work when you love what you do. It's nice to meet you. I know your mother; she's helped me on several occasions when I had trouble selecting plants for the pots."
"Yes, my mom certainly has a magical touch with flowers."
Their conversation revolved around the gardens for a few moments more. However, Emma and Travis carefully avoided mentioning the murder or the search of the potting shed. A gust of frigid wind made Emma shiver and she decided it was time to depart.
"It was nice meeting you, Nancy, and I hope we can talk again soon. But I need to get going. I stayed longer than I intended." She grinned at Travis, and added, "There's a certain puppy that needs to go home before Sophie decides to adopt her."
After bidding Nancy goodbye, Travis gently guided Emma down the pathway toward the house. As they neared the door, she came to a halt and turned to him.
"I don't know what's happening around here, but I can't picture Nancy being involved. I don't know if someone's trying to frame her for the ornament thefts and Cindy's murder, or if it's merely a coincidence that the box was found in her potting shed. But I'd bet she's innocent."
"I don't think so either," Travis agreed.
It didn't take long for Emma to retrieve Dixie and say her goodbyes. She promised to contact Travis the next day. Once again, she found herself exiting through the kitchen door, Dixie in her basket in one hand and in the other hand, a basket filled with cookies and Christmas candies Cook had hastily assembled for her.
"All right, Dixie, you've had quite the morning. Time to head home," Emma said as she slid behind the wheel of her car and fastened her seatbelt. But once on the main road, she headed toward town rather than home. It felt like a habit she fell back into without thinking. Before she knew it, she was pulling up in front of Susie's diner. She glanced at Dixie and issued a stern warning.
"Barney, my mom's dog, was always welcome here at the diner, as long as he behaved. If you behave, you'll be welcome too. But no begging or barking, understood?" Dixie didn't respond, but her wagging tail seemed to signal agreement.
Grabbing Dixie's basket, she hopped out of the car and dashed to the diner's entrance. A friendly older man held the door open for her, and she stepped in, taking in the familiar atmosphere. Spotting a booth in the back corner, she discreetly set Dixie's basket on the bench next to her, hoping to keep the pup out of sight. No sooner had she settled in than Susie arrived with a cup of hot chocolate.
"This seems to be a popular drink today. I thought you might enjoy it."
Gratefully accepting the cup, Emma couldn't help but dip her finger into the dollop of whipped cream on top. As if on cue, Dixie popped her head out of the basket. Emma held her breath, wondering how Susie would react. But, true to form, Susie merely reached over to scratch the puppy's long ears.
"Well, this brings back memories. Dixie looks like a miniature version of Barney, doesn't she?"
Emma nodded and smiled. Her attention shifted to the front door as it swung open, allowing a fresh batch of customers to enter the diner. Recognizing Jake and Kim, she raised her hand in greeting.
"I suppose I'll need two more cups of hot chocolate," Susie remarked, observing the pair making their way to Emma's table.
Jake and Kim slid into the booth across from Emma, waiting for Susie to leave before speaking.
"You won't believe what we've found out about some people closest to the Andersons," Jake declared, while Kim nodded and grinned at Emma. Seeing their barely suppressed excitement, Emma felt a jolt of anticipation.
"Well, don't keep me in suspense. Tell me," she responded.