was (in my lighthouse aerie), and, second, what the noise was.
The doorbell.
I opened one eye. Outside, it was daylight. Charles leapt up on the bed and swatted at my face as if to say,
Aren’t you going to answer that?
I stumbled out of bed, crossed the room, and switched on the camera that was mounted over the door to the outside. It wasn’t a security camera, because it didn’t record anything, but it had been installed by a previous resident of the fourth floor so he didn’t have to run downstairs every time someone hammered on the door to return a book or ask if the library was open (if so, why would the door be locked and the parking lot empty?).
Louise Jane McKaughnan obviously knew about the camera, because she was smiling up at it. In one hand she held a tray bearing two extralarge take-out cups from Josie’s, and in the other a small paper bag.She lifted the bag to the camera and pointed with the cup-bearing hand. Grinning all the while.
I switched the sound on. “Louise Jane.”
“Isn’t it a beautiful morning, Lucy? It’s going to be a real Outer Banks day, just like we had when I was young. I thought you’d enjoy a treat.” She smiled.
I glanced around my room. The bed was unmade but everything else reasonably tidy. Connor had driven me home after dinner and walked me to the front door. I didn’t suggest he come up, and he did not ask.
Slowly, slowly,
I’d thought.
He waited until I was safely inside and the door shut behind me before returning to his car and driving off into the night with a roar of the vehicle’s powerful engine.
Expecting to be able to sleep in and enjoy my day off, I’d not gone to bed but had filled the kettle for hot tea, hung up my dress, put on comfortable cotton pajamas, and switched on the computer. I’d worked late into the night, enjoying the sounds of quiet and the distant waves crashing against the shore, and doing some research to advance my admittedly limited knowledge of Jane Austen. Charles had attempted to assist, but after the seventh time I’d removed him from the keyboard and placed him firmly on the floor, he gave up and curled on the window seat for a nap.
“It’s a bit early for a social call, Louise Jane,” I said, attempting to stifle a huge yawn.
“We Outer Banks girls get up with the sun. I brought coffee and muffins.”
“I’ll be down in five minutes.”
“Don’t bother—I know where the spare key’s hidden. I just wanted to make sure you were . . . alone.” She gave me a long wink that almost turned my stomach.
“Fourth level.”
“I know.”
I flew into the bathroom, splashed water on my face, stuffed unruly curls into an elastic band, and threw on the first clothes that came to hand. I was not going to be found in my jammies by Louise Jane McKaughnan.
I was pulling a T-shirt over my head when I heard footsteps on the iron stairs and then a knock at the door. I opened it, and Louise Jane tumbled into my apartment. She headed straight for the kitchen, opened a cupboard, took down two small plates, and laid out muffins and scones. All while I was still standing with my hand on the open door. “Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks. I will. Josie said you take cream and sugar, so I added that already.” She put the cups and plates on the table and pulled out a chair. “I adore this little room. It’s just perfect.”
Louise Jane was trying hard to be friendly, but the woman had not one iota of warmth. She came across much like a shark smiling from the other side of the aquarium glass.
If this glass breaks, you’ll see what I really think of you.
I accepted a cranberry bran muffin and chastised myself for being mean. Perhaps Louise Jane really did want to be friends.
“Absolutely perfect for a single woman who’s just passing through,” she finished.
“Where’s Andrew today?”
She waved a hand. “Off playing somewhere. We don’t
live
together, you know. He’s not my boyfriend. We’re only good friends.
The doorbell.
I opened one eye. Outside, it was daylight. Charles leapt up on the bed and swatted at my face as if to say,
Aren’t you going to answer that?
I stumbled out of bed, crossed the room, and switched on the camera that was mounted over the door to the outside. It wasn’t a security camera, because it didn’t record anything, but it had been installed by a previous resident of the fourth floor so he didn’t have to run downstairs every time someone hammered on the door to return a book or ask if the library was open (if so, why would the door be locked and the parking lot empty?).
Louise Jane McKaughnan obviously knew about the camera, because she was smiling up at it. In one hand she held a tray bearing two extralarge take-out cups from Josie’s, and in the other a small paper bag.She lifted the bag to the camera and pointed with the cup-bearing hand. Grinning all the while.
I switched the sound on. “Louise Jane.”
“Isn’t it a beautiful morning, Lucy? It’s going to be a real Outer Banks day, just like we had when I was young. I thought you’d enjoy a treat.” She smiled.
I glanced around my room. The bed was unmade but everything else reasonably tidy. Connor had driven me home after dinner and walked me to the front door. I didn’t suggest he come up, and he did not ask.
Slowly, slowly,
I’d thought.
He waited until I was safely inside and the door shut behind me before returning to his car and driving off into the night with a roar of the vehicle’s powerful engine.
Expecting to be able to sleep in and enjoy my day off, I’d not gone to bed but had filled the kettle for hot tea, hung up my dress, put on comfortable cotton pajamas, and switched on the computer. I’d worked late into the night, enjoying the sounds of quiet and the distant waves crashing against the shore, and doing some research to advance my admittedly limited knowledge of Jane Austen. Charles had attempted to assist, but after the seventh time I’d removed him from the keyboard and placed him firmly on the floor, he gave up and curled on the window seat for a nap.
“It’s a bit early for a social call, Louise Jane,” I said, attempting to stifle a huge yawn.
“We Outer Banks girls get up with the sun. I brought coffee and muffins.”
“I’ll be down in five minutes.”
“Don’t bother—I know where the spare key’s hidden. I just wanted to make sure you were . . . alone.” She gave me a long wink that almost turned my stomach.
“Fourth level.”
“I know.”
I flew into the bathroom, splashed water on my face, stuffed unruly curls into an elastic band, and threw on the first clothes that came to hand. I was not going to be found in my jammies by Louise Jane McKaughnan.
I was pulling a T-shirt over my head when I heard footsteps on the iron stairs and then a knock at the door. I opened it, and Louise Jane tumbled into my apartment. She headed straight for the kitchen, opened a cupboard, took down two small plates, and laid out muffins and scones. All while I was still standing with my hand on the open door. “Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks. I will. Josie said you take cream and sugar, so I added that already.” She put the cups and plates on the table and pulled out a chair. “I adore this little room. It’s just perfect.”
Louise Jane was trying hard to be friendly, but the woman had not one iota of warmth. She came across much like a shark smiling from the other side of the aquarium glass.
If this glass breaks, you’ll see what I really think of you.
I accepted a cranberry bran muffin and chastised myself for being mean. Perhaps Louise Jane really did want to be friends.
“Absolutely perfect for a single woman who’s just passing through,” she finished.
“Where’s Andrew today?”
She waved a hand. “Off playing somewhere. We don’t
live
together, you know. He’s not my boyfriend. We’re only good friends.
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