“Last night, after you couldn’t reach the sheriff, dispatch radioed Jasper. He was on patrol and started searching for Harper’s truck right away.”
“I was there for all of that. What about after I left?”
There was a thump in the background followed by several quick bangs. “Another deputy kept an eye on Celeste’s place until Harper was found. That didn’t take long. After leaving the parking lot, Harper stopped at a gas station to buy a six-pack. The clerk didn’t want to sell it to him because it was obvious that Harper was already buzzed. But the clerk was just a kid and Harper scared him, so he sold him the beer and then called 911 to report a possible drunk driver. By the time Jasper pulled him over, Harper had already chugged two beers.”
“Oh, man.”
“His blood alcohol content was through the roof. He could barely string a sentence together, so no one could question him. Isn’t that annoying?” Nora heard the slap of bread dough striking the counter. “When the sheriff asked Harper what he was doing in Miracle Springs, Harper laughed and said he wanted to go skinny-dipping in our magic water.”
Nora groaned in frustration. “He didn’t mention Celeste? Or CBD oil?”
“Nope. But Jasper’s shift starts at seven, and he’s not going to let Harper leave the interview room until he talks. At least he can’t hurt anyone. Celeste is safe.”
Nora thanked Hester for letting her know and asked her to call back later with any updates. She then flopped back onto her pillow and waited for relief to sweep over her. When it didn’t come, she assumed there’d be no closure until she heard that Harper had been found guilty of killing Bren to get back at Celeste.
As the first hints of daylight seeped into her room, Nora pulled the covers up to her chin. She couldn’t sleep, but she wanted to stay in the warm nest that was her bed a little longer. Closing her eyes, she rested in her silent, cozy room until six o’clock. At that point, she put on her well-worn slippers and plodded into the kitchen to brew coffee and write a to-do list for the day.
When she showed up at the Gingerbread House an hour later, Hester met her at the back door with a puzzled look. “Sheldon already got your book pockets.”
“Actually, I came to see if I could deliver Celeste’s muffins. It saves you a trip, and I can see how she’s doing today.”
Hester smiled and waved her inside. “It’ll be a light load because she would only let me bake one flavor. Last night, she said that she was getting up early today to make banana oat muffins. If they go well, she’ll try two different kinds tomorrow. She’s hoping that after today, she won’t need my help anymore.”
“Wow. If Celeste bakes every morning and keeps the shop open until six every evening, her days are going to be super long.”
Hester handed Nora a large bakery box and said, “Maybe focusing on work is the only way she can manage her grief. If she uses her energy to help people, that energy might come back around and help her too.”
“I like that idea. By pouring yourself out, you can be filled up.” Nora walked to the door and propped it open with her backside. She paused for a moment, hypnotized by the sight of Hester rolling a ball of dough into a paper-thin circle. The kitchen was full of sunlight and the aroma of baked bread, and Nora knew she could spend hours watching her friend work.
Wisps of cinnamon and toasted pecans escaped from a gap in the bakery box lid, breaking Nora’s trance. “Good luck today, Hester. I’ll tell all of my customers to buy a tin of your shortbread cookies while supplies last.”
“And I’ll tell mine to buy a steamy Highland romance from you while supplies last. Is there a better pairing than books and cookies? One hand for your book. One hand for your cookie. Life is good.” Hester pointed at Nora with her rolling pin. “Don’t forget to take pics of the sidewalk display. I’m dying to see it.”
After promising to send an image, Nora headed to Soothe.
Across town, merchants were sweeping stoops and cleaning glass. The cheerful faces of pansies peered out from flowerpots. Arrangements of Indian corn and pumpkins added color to the window displays.
Soothe wouldn’t be open for another two hours, so Nora walked to the back of the building, intending to ring the bell at the delivery door. But when she left the alley and rounded the corner of the building, she saw a man in a black hoodie standing directly in front of Celeste’s door. His legs were spread shoulder-width apart and his right arm was raised as if he meant to knock. He wasn’t knocking, however. He was marking the door with red spray paint.