Upon entering Penny’s home, Kat immediately noted the warm, cozy atmosphere. Old-fashioned Christmas decorations like fresh cedar garlands and vintage ornaments complemented the assortment of antique furniture and collectibles.
“It’s in here.” Penny motioned toward a door Kat hadn’t noticed. Painted the same porcelain-white as the walls, it blended seamlessly into the surroundings.
As she crossed the plush art deco rug, Kat yelped, taken aback as something waddled past her. Hardly able to believe her eyes, she gaped at a large Russian tortoise. Or rather, at its backside as it shuffled toward an enormous custom-built enclosure partially hidden by potted plants.
“Don’t worry,” Penny said with a smile. “That’s Chip. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. Well, he might if he could catch one.” She laughed, and Kat breathed a little easier.
“You have a pet tortoise?”
“We’re more like roommates. And he’s the one in charge.”
Kat grinned, suppressing the urge to stroke his leathery head. She’d always wanted a pet—a dog, specifically. But Fern had a policy against furry animals, since you never knew if someone would be allergic.
“This used to be my dad’s bedroom and office,” Penny explained, giving the door a firm nudge with her hip. “I’ve kept it exactly as he left it.”
Kat followed her into the modest space, momentarily mesmerized by the wall of bookshelves, nautical trinkets, and stunning brass telescope on a vintage mahogany tripod. “Your dad must’ve been quite the adventurer.”
“In his own way, he was.” Penny dropped to her knees and reached beneath the wrought iron bed frame, retrieving a small wooden chest.
Kat’s pulse spiked. This was it. The entire reason she’d come here. Her only hope for saving the shelter resided inside the dusty box.
Penny flipped open the lid and a flicker of surprise darted across her face.
“What’s wrong?” Kat took a step closer, her heartbeat stuttering.
“It’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone? Like, it’s been stolen?”
“Not stolen.” An unexpected smile curling her lips, Penny plucked a folded square of paper from inside. “There’s a clue.”
“What do you mean? A clue for what?”
With a fond, wistful expression, Penny explained, “When I was a kid, my dad would set up elaborate treasure hunts in the apartment. He’d hide an object, then leave me clues, often riddles, to help me find it. He must have planned one for my first Christmas home from college. Before he died…” Her voice fell away in a soft whisper, and for a long moment, she didn’t speak, merely staring into the distance.
“What does it say?” Kat asked gently, balancing her eagerness with empathy.
Blinking a few times, as though slowly returning to the present, Penny unfolded the note and read it out loud. “‘The stars wait for no man, and neither does the sun. Once you think it’s over, it’s really just begun.’” Her hands dropped to her lap, a puzzled expression clouding her features.
Kat frowned. “Do you have any idea what it means?”
“I’m afraid not. The clues weren’t usually this difficult. I suppose Dad figured I could handle more challenging ones in college.” She smiled again, but Kat didn’t find the situation amusing. She didn’t have time for games.
Pacing the floor, she furrowed her brow in thought. “If we put our heads together, surely we can solve it. Would you mind reading it again?”
Penny obliged, but hearing the words a second time—or even a third—didn’t lend any more clarity.
Kat ran her fingers through her hair in exasperation. “We’ll never find the brooch at this rate.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Penny said cheerfully, rising to her feet. “We just need to give it some time. And perhaps some food and a good night’s sleep.”
“Oh, I didn’t plan on staying,” Kat reminded her quickly. “I didn’t book a hotel or pack a bag.”
“I can call Trudy at the Morning Glory Inn and see if she has a room available,” Penny offered. “And I have several racks of vintage clothing downstairs. I’m sure we can find something that will fit. As far as bath and beauty products go, the inn provides lovely hospitality kits. And anything Trudy doesn’t have you can borrow from me.”
Kat’s frown deepened. First of all, she couldn’t afford to spend the night at a run-down motel, let alone an inn. Secondly, spending more time with Penny would only complicate the situation. Not to mention give her sister more opportunity to bring up the one subject that was off-limits—their mother. “I don’t know….”
“One night,” Penny persisted. “I’m sure we’ll have the clue figured out by this time tomorrow.”
“I guess one night would be okay,” she relented out of desperation. While less than ideal, her credit card could cover the room charge.
Finding the brooch needed to be the priority above everything else.
“Hooray!” Penny clapped her hands in excitement, skipping toward the door. “I’ll call Trudy.”
Kat wrenched her phone out of her coat pocket. Somehow, she’d have to inform Fern she wouldn’t be coming home tonight without revealing her secret mission. No reason to get her hopes up in case the plan didn’t come to fruition.
And based on the latest wrinkle, there was an extremely good chance it wouldn’t.
After taking a few minutes to clear his head, Jack returned to the kitchen, determined not to let his sister’s bad news affect the rest of the day.
“You’re never going to believe this.” His tone awestruck, Colt stuffed his phone in the back pocket of his jeans.
“What’s up?”
“I just got a call from Penny.”
“We should alert the Poppy Creek Press,” Jack teased.
“Har-har,” Colt said wryly. “It’s what the call was about that’s newsworthy.” He paused theatrically as Jack grabbed a russet potato and peeler.
“Spill it, Davis. And while you’re at it…” He nodded toward the cutting board.
Colt grabbed a chef’s knife and waited for Jack to hand him the first peeled potato. “Penny’s long-lost sister showed up today,” he announced in a hushed tone, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone else in the kitchen had overheard him.
The peeler slipped from Jack’s grasp, nearly taking off a chunk of his thumb. “Penny’s sister?”
“Crazy, right? After months of no response, she showed up out of the blue.”
“What do you know about her?” Jack couldn’t contain his curiosity. She had to be the woman he’d encountered in front of Thistle & Thorn earlier that afternoon. And if the two women were related, there might be a slim chance he would see more of her after all.
“Not much. Penny couldn’t talk long. But she sounded a little disappointed.”
“How so?”
“She said her sister planned on leaving town today. Apparently, she only came to pick up a piece of jewelry that belonged to their mother and didn’t seem interested in getting to know Penny at all. Strange, right?”
Jack let Colt’s words sink in, disheartened on Penny’s behalf. And his own, if he were honest. He’d felt an instant connection to Kat, but based on this new information, his first impression might have been wrong. “Has she left already?”
“I guess there was a hiccup in her original plan, and she’s staying another day or two. They’re stopping by the diner in a few minutes.”
This time, the peeler made contact with his flesh. “Ouch!” Jack flicked his wrist, waiting for the sting to pass. Luckily, he hadn’t drawn blood.
“Are you trying to add something new to the menu now?” Colt smirked once he’d made sure Jack hadn’t seriously hurt himself. “Because I’ve always thought we could use more finger food.”
“Hilarious,” Jack muttered, sucking on his offended finger. “Why are they coming here?”
“For a late lunch.”
“I’m curious, what made her decide to stay longer?”
“I don’t know all the details. But it sounds like they couldn’t find what she was looking for, so she’s sticking around town until they do.”
Still licking his wound, Jack couldn’t decide how he felt about the news. On one hand, he was anxious to see her again. On the other hand, it was much safer for his heart if he didn’t.
He’d already fallen for a woman who cared more about possessions than people.
And he couldn’t risk making the same mistake twice.