Jill Elizabeth Nelson Read Online Free PDF Page A

Nicole in a python’s squeeze. “You found him! Baby Sammy’s been found at last!”
    â€œBaby Sammy?” Nicole’s words came out muffled in Hannah’s lilac-scented bosom.
    Hannah set her away. Tears streamed into every crevice of the older woman’s face. “The dearest little boy on the planet. Little Samuel Elling. He went missing over fifty years ago. I’d given up that he’d be found.” Her hands flapped like an excited bird. “We must tell Simon straight away.”
    She leaped up, but Nicole grabbed her hand. “The police are here already.”
    â€œThen we must hurry.” Hannah tugged Nicole to her feet. The woman was as strong as she was stout. “I need to see Simon’s reaction when he’s told his heir has been found. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”
    â€œJust a minute. I don’t understand.”
    â€œYou will soon enough.” Hannah hurried up the flag-stones toward the house. “Come along, dear.”
    Nicole scurried to keep up. “I don’t know if I should. I mean, I’m not family.”
    â€œOh, pish. I’m family and I invited you. You’re entitled. After all, you found him.”
    Joy pulsed from the woman as if Nicole had announced the child was about to be returned alive. Maybe Hannah’s muddled mind had misunderstood. But how could she?
    When Nicole was a little girl, Grandma Jan had warned her about the people who lived in this house, and thewarning had struck deep. Her grandmother wasn’t one to speak ill of others. Of course, everyone knew about Melody, the ice queen, and her prima-donna ways. But it wasn’t about her that Grandma had cautioned the most. It was Hannah. Grandma gave her orders to stay away from the woman in the funny clothes.
    But Nicole hadn’t seen a thing to fear in the mixed-up woman—either now or the day she ran into her, literally. Twelve-year-old Nicole had been trotting along on a main street sidewalk eager to meet up with some friends, then boom! She came up short against a stout figure emerging from Darlene’s Beauty Shop. The scent of lilac enveloped her then as it had today, and she looked up into the dreaded woman’s face, steeled for a scolding. Only Hannah hadn’t said one harsh word. She’d asked who Nicole was and seemed pleased to meet the Kellers’ granddaughter. She’d smiled and dug in her purse then swished off up the street, leaving Nicole with a pair of wide eyes and a peppermint in her hand.
    Ahead of Nicole, Hannah’s crinoline swished exactly the way it had twenty years ago, and the ’50s dancing slippers on her feet tapped the stones. She led the way up three steps, pulled open the door and motioned Nicole inside.
    Nicole hesitated. She was about to enter the boogeyman’s lair. Not that a childhood ghost story had any hold on her now. Her fears had way more substance. What did her grandparents have to do with the missing heir of the town’s founding dynasty? Rich might not be happy to see her barging in, but anything she could find out about the investigation might help her discover the truth that would clear her family name.
    Or not.

THREE
    â€œI ’d like to speak to Fern,” Rich said.
    â€œSorry.” Simon tapped his snifter. “My wife is indisposed and has gone to bed.”
    â€œYou don’t think she’d want to be informed of this development as soon as possible?”
    Simon took a sip. “Giving birth to our son nearly killed her. After we lost him, she never got over it. Half a century has passed. I won’t rob her of sleep over news that can wait until tomorrow. Old scars are going to rip open. I want to be the one to break it to her.”
    Rich studied Simon under lowered brows. Fine-sounding concern for his wife. Only Simon wasn’t known for patience with his sickly spouse. The man resumed his seat at the desk and leaned back in his