Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 03 - Valentined Read Online Free PDF Page B

and kept it in her intimates drawer—that’s what
she called her underwear drawer—for many years.”
    “Do you think the heart on this card is one of those
sachets?” asked Essie.
    “I don’t know,” said Sue.  She held the front of the card up
to her nose and sniffed.  “It doesn’t smell like it has any perfume or talcum
powder in it, so I’d guess not.  You can try to remove it and use it in a
drawer if you like though.”
    “Oh, I don’t think I’ll do that,” said Essie with a sigh. 
“I really just want to know who sent it to me.  It’s a mystery…and…”
    “And Essie likes mysteries!” called out the gentleman who
had earlier made the crack about Essie’s secret admirer.  Sue looked over at
the man and gave him an admonishing glare and he quickly resumed work on his
card. 
    “I guess that’s all I can offer you, Essie,” said Sue with
finality as she handed the card back.  “It is a curious situation.  If you
don’t know who this person is, I don’t know how you can find out who he is just
by finding out more about the card.  I wish you could.  And I wish I could help
you.”
    “That’s okay, Miss Barber,” replied Essie.  “You’ve actually
been very helpful.”  Essie said good-bye to her table companions and headed
back to her apartment.
     
     
    Chapter Five
    “To love is to receive a glimpse of
heaven”
    —Karen Sunde
    Back in her room, Essie was sitting in her recliner mulling
over the information she had acquired from Sue Barber at the arts and crafts
class.  Not much, she realized.  Sue had been impressed with the workmanship of
the card, but other than that and the fact that she thought the little heart
might contain some sort of sachet, Essie hadn’t learned much in her trip up to
the second floor.  As she stared at the card, she thought of someone else who
might be able to provide her with some pertinent information about the greeting
card.
    Grabbing her telephone from the end table to her right, she
tapped in the numbers for her oldest daughter, Prudence.  Pru answered on the
first ring, which was typical. 
    “Hello.”
    “Pru?  It’s your mother.”
    “Oh, Mom!  Hi!  Is something wrong?”  Essie smiled to
herself.  It was so like her eldest to immediately assume the worst when
receiving a phone call from her mother. 
    “I’d really like to speak with Mindy, dear, if she’s
there.”  Pru’s adult daughter Mindy lived at home with her parents while
attempting to jump-start her career.  The economy had taken a toll on the young
woman whose college degree in graphic design wasn’t in great demand in
Reardon. 
    “Mindy? Well, yes, she’s here, Mom.  She’s getting ready for
work.  I’ll get her.”  Work was a part-time job at a local boutique.  Mindy
created ads and brochures, and designed the small company’s website.  Essie had
seen samples of her work and had been surprised and delighted by her
granddaughter’s talent.
    After a few seconds, Mindy spoke.
    “Hey, Grandma!  What’s up?”
    “Mindy, dear,” began Essie, “I have a little problem that I
believe you might be able to help me with.”
    “Me? Sure, Grandma,” replied Mindy with a small laugh.  “I
can’t imagine that there’s anything I could do that Mom couldn’t though.”
    “Oh, yes, dear,” said Essie.  “This is a problem in graphic
design.”
    “Really?” exclaimed Mindy.  “What are you making, Grandma?”
    “Oh, dear, I’m not making anything,” explained Essie.  “I
have something here that I’d like you to take a look at and tell me what you
can about how it was made…or designed.”
    “You mean like an advertisement?” asked Mindy, her curiosity
obviously piqued.
    “No, dear.  This is a greeting card.  A valentine to be
exact.”
    “A valentine?” cried Mindy.  “One you received?”
    “Yes, as a matter of fact,” said Essie.  “There are some
very unusual things about it.  I’d really like you to take a look