Odette smiled as they walked toward the door. “Your blackberry hot chocolate the other night gave me the idea. Goat cheese, mozzarella, blackberries and basil on sourdough bread,” she said.
“Well now,” Theo pouted, “I’ll be thinking about that the whole time I’m shopping.”
They parted ways in the parking lot, but not before Theo rained kisses on a giggling four-year-old.
Theo had already done most of her shopping. She’d sent off gifts to Boston for Trix and her fiancé, Jude. Kendra, the sassy secretary that still ran the law offices of Adams, Kennedy & Brandeis with an iron fist had already sent Theo a text saying her gift had arrived. A carefully packed box had been shipped to London just after Thanksgiving, and because she and Jordan were redecorating Indigo’s birthday for Christmas, she’d bought things like books, art supplies and a monthly science themed subscription box she knew the child would be crazy about.
She’d already bought a beautiful scarf and matching gloves for Ashley, and a day planner the woman had been admiring. Theo figured Ashley wouldn’t spend the money to buy the planner for herself, so she’d done it for her. She thought she was done buying for Ashley, but the conversation the two of them had while decorating the tree had put another idea in Theo’s mind. She decided she was going to find a nice box and begin filling it with holiday ornaments and other decorations so that Ashley could have some things to hang on her tree next Christmas. Since it wasn’t a gift she planned to give Ashley until the following year, she had twelve months to come up with a good collection. She started the project by walking through the quirky, one-of-a-kind shops in town and began gathering.
When Theo got back to the office, she was surprised to find Ashley sitting at her desk.
“You do realize we’re closed, right?” Theo joked after she’d dropped her bags in her inner office and come to sit with Ashley.
“Yeah,” Ashley shrugged. “Wyatt’s at work, and I don’t really want to be by myself. Every shop and office on this street is decorated for Christmas, and I’ve gone to see Vivienne three times.”
“How much coffee have you had to drink?”
“Three times,” Ashley said, her eyes wide. “Three different coffees.”
“Goodness,” Theo laughed.
“And she’s got those chocolate chip brownies over there again.”
“I wish you hadn’t said that.”
“I bought you some. They’re in the kitchen.”
“Some?” Theo asked.
“I knew you’d want more than one.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?” She leaned over and hugged Ashley who began to laugh.
“Seriously. So smart, sophisticated, educated, clever and such a complete dork all at the same time.”
Theo shrugged. “It’s a whole package, babe.”
This made Ashley laugh a little more. She shook her head. “At least you’re cute.”
Theo grinned at her. “So, you wanna get some dinner? Come over and watch a movie?”
“What about Jordan?”
“He’ll be there, too. If that’s okay.”
“Jordan’s great,” Ashley told her. “Truly. I love you guys and thank you. I think I’m gonna see if Wyatt will meet me at The Copper Queen. We can get some mozzarella sticks and have a couple of beers. It seems like he’s always got something planned lately. Either he’s gaming online with a bunch of geeks, or he’s out with his work buddies. Maybe I can con him into hanging out with me for a change.”
“That sounds good,” Theo agreed. “Hey, if Wyatt doesn’t want to go out, you could always ask Bex.”
“Oh my god,” Ashley exclaimed. “What’s up with that woman, anyway? I thought you asked a lot of questions, but I take it all back after spending time with her.” She stood up and stretched her lower back. “And you know what’s weird?”
“So many things.”
“Sure,” Ashley nodded, “and maybe this is just me, but it feels like Bex is everywhere I go.”
“You realize she’s only been here for a week, right?”
“Well, it’s not like Whisper Creek is all that big. I mean, I run into a lot of people I know, but Bex … it feels like she’s actively following me around.”
Theo laughed. “You are a very fun girl.”
Ashley playfully swatted Theo’s shoulder. “Do me a favor. Next time you see my boyfriend, tell him that, okay?”
15. MOTORIST
Theo reached up and rubbed her eyes. She was tired. She glanced at her computer screen which told her it was a little bit after eight. Both Indigo and Jordan were hanging out with the Reillys, and the thought of going home alone didn’t overly excite her.
When Theo heard the knock, she wasn’t sure it had been real. Office hours ended three hours earlier, and, while she had stayed open later for some clients, there was no one scheduled to come in and meet with her this evening. She ignored it and began gathering her things so she could head back to the barn.
She shut the computer off and shouldered her backpack. She’d chosen a pair of dark gray dress pants to wear with her white sweater that morning. After seeing her last client, she’d kicked off her heels and opted for a pair of thick socks while she tended to her administrative chores. She bent down, grabbing her Sorel boots, and stepped into the hall.
This time when a knock sounded, Theo looked up to see a man standing on the other side of her door. He was peering in at her through the center of the Christmas wreath that hung against the glass. The lights that illuminated the outside of the Brubaker Building let Theo know this man was unfamiliar. He had dark red hair, and Theo thought his eyes were brown, but it was hard to tell for sure. There was some distance between them, and there was only one lamp that burned in the far corner of the lobby.
She dropped her boots and her backpack near the large receptionist desk and her hand went to her pocket. Her office keys were on a different ring than her house and car keys. The latter she kept in her pack, the former she carried in her pocket while she was at work.
“Hello? Hello? Hey, I’m sorry. I know it’s late.”
