My to do list:
- Find the lost ledger.
- Find the missing books.
- Find Miss Josie’s one true love.
- Save the day.
- Get a new name.
- Become a perfect gentleman.
- Live happily ever after.
Rocco and I spent the morning trying to convince Miss Josie to go down to the basement. I stood next to the door and barked, hoping she’d open it for me. She told me to be quiet and ignored all my attempts to gain her attention.
Because our first plan didn’t work, Rocco stood by the door to the basement and made an ungodly sound. She didn’t even look at him. He makes those noises frequently. She was going over the inventory one final time, with Ms. Anne’s help, and remained focused on the task at hand.
Mrs. Steele fluttered about, reorganizing the shelves. She’d brought homemade muffins for Miss Josie and Ms. Anne, and homemade treats for Gracie and me. Mrs. Steele was a dog biscuit baking angel. She didn’t bring anything for Rocco, and he gave her a dirty look before pulling me aside so we could work on our plan.
“I’ll get down to the basement on my own. There is a narrow opening next to the stairs by the back entrance. I can easily squeeze through. The problem is getting you down there, too. We have to think of a way,” he said.
Ms. Anne and Gracie had come over first thing in the morning. We’d told Gracie about our plan, but she declared it too early to be disturbed and curled up on my bed. She somehow managed to ignore my barking and Rocco’s noises. Gracie needed her beauty sleep.
Miss Josie could probably use some sleep, too. She’d stayed up late chatting with Mistress Patti and now had dark circles under her eyes.
“I’ve looked for the books and ledger everywhere,” she said, and to my horror, her lip quivered. “They’re gone. I know it.”
Ms. Anne squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t lose hope.”
Miss Josie put on a brave face, probably for the sake of her friend. “I’m sorry. It’s not only about the books. Nate has been avoiding me. Not that I care, but we are neighbors, after all. It shouldn’t be tense between us. But he still leaves the coffee by the front door, and he’s still reading Pride and Prejudice. He’s up to chapter eight.”
“How do you know he’s up to chapter eight?” asked Ms. Anne.
Miss Josie lifted her First Impressions coffee cup and pointed to the words scrawled across the side. “It says, ‘Extensive reading? Like what I’m doing every day to make you drink coffee?’ He’s enjoying this.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“He’s reached the part of the story when Darcy talks about what it means for a young lady to be accomplished in Regency society. It’s actually kind of cute, and funny, too. He’s a nice guy.” Her face crumpled in despair. “And I’ve been so mean to him, Anne.”
“Did you respond to his letter?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t know what to say. He never had any designs on my shop. Those were the initial plans drawn up by the architects who worked for First Impressions and had nothing to do with him.”
“It doesn’t sound like he’s the evil bloodsucking corporate exec you painted him to be.”
“He’s not, but what can I do? I accused him of putting an old lady out of business. I screamed at him in his shop. I became the crazy parking Nazi of Beaver. I don’t know, Anne. He brings out the worst in me. And then I went and kissed him—”
Ms. Anne’s eyes widened. “You kissed Nate Murray?”
“Yes, but—”
“Did you enjoy it?” Miss Anne put her elbows on the counter and gave Miss Josie a conspiratorial wink.
“Oddly enough, I did.” She got a faraway look in her eyes, and her fingers went to her lips.
“I can tell.”
Miss Josie flushed. “I mean I enjoyed it more than kissing the dog trainer.”
“Wait. You kissed STD?”
Miss Josie shuddered. “Please stop calling him STD.”
Ms. Anne folded her arms across her chest. “You little harlot. Did you kiss Doc McHottie as well?”
Miss Josie’s blush answered for her, but she replied to Ms. Anne anyway. “He gave me a peck on the cheek. Not a kiss, exactly.”
“Are you going to see him again?”
She shrugged, letting out a sigh. “I’m sure I will. He works next door after all. He can’t avoid me forever, and I hate things being like this between us. I miss him.”
Ms. Anne gave her a knowing look. “I was actually talking about Doc McHottie, but now I understand your dilemma.”
Miss Josie narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t we supposed to be looking for my books? How did we end up talking about my love life?”
“Because it’s so fascinating. You never had much going on before, other than Ced—” Miss Josie silenced her with an icy look, and Ms. Anne gave her an apologetic wave. “Other than your evil ex, but now it’s like you’re making up for lost time. It is an interesting problem.”
“What do you mean?”
Pushing her red hair over her shoulder, Ms. Anne leaned closer to Miss Josie. “I’ve known you since you were in diapers. Heck, I even changed a few of those diapers. You can’t hide anything from me. You’ve kissed three men in a week, a new record, but only one of them got your panties in a knot, and that’s Nate Murray.” Miss Josie let out a noise of indignation, but Ms. Anne waved it off. “It’s all in the kiss, sweet pea. If the kiss doesn’t rock your world, the man won’t either. Trust me. I’m an expert.”
“You’ve been divorced three times.”
“Which is why I’m an expert.”
Miss Josie rolled her eyes. “There is nothing between Nate Murray and me. He’s not my type, and he’s not planning to stay in Beaver. What’s the point?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” She let out a long breath. “And maybe Doc McHottie’s kiss wasn’t quite as earth-shattering as Nate’s, but he’s the better choice for me. He’s a good guy, and we have a lot in common. And he’s a vet. He can help me take care of Capone. Convenient since Capone makes bad decisions and needs a lot of vet visits. I’m making the right choice here. A logical, well thought out, reasonable kind of choice.”
Ms. Anne laughed. “I’ve never made that kind of choice before. I give you credit.”
“I don’t want to get hurt again,” said Miss Josie softly.
“I understand, sweetness, and I didn’t mean to tease you about it.” Ms. Anne patted her arm. “Let me go pick up some lunch. Café Kolache. My treat. It’ll make you feel better, and it’ll give both of us the energy we need to find those books.”
Mrs. Steele came out of the back room wearing her cardigan and carrying an envelope. “I have to go to the post office, and I’m meeting a friend for lunch at Waffles Incaffienated. Do the two of you need anything?”
Miss Josie shook her head. “No, Mrs. Steele. Thank you. Enjoy your waffles.”
She waved and stepped out the door. Gracie continued to snooze in the corner, but as soon as Ms. Anne left, her eyes flew open. “It’s time. Operation Gracie Saves the Day will commence right now.”