Weave of Absence Read Online Free PDF Page A

safe. You shouldn’t even let anybody touch it until it’s evaluated.”
    The bell above the door tinkled. I turned around to see Matthew strolling in with Winston, hisFrench bulldog. My heart leapt and I just knew I was grinning like a fool. I turned my smile down a few degrees.
    â€œHi, Matthew,” Marnie said.
    Matthew was tall, nearly six feet, which meant that when I stood next to him in my high heels, I
almost
reached his shoulder. His hair was dark, and his eyes could change color—from a light golden brown when he was in a good mood, to almost black when he was furious. I’d seen them both ways, but lately they were more often the former. I dared to hope that meant the friendship he felt for me might be growing into something more. He walked over to the counter.
    â€œI have to go into Charlotte today,” he said. “So, if you don’t mind, could you keep Winston until dinnertime?”
    â€œAs if you need to ask,” I said.
    Winnie padded over and dropped his butt to the floor, staring at me. He had a flat, wrinkled face on a squat, muscular body. His large soulful eyes softened his otherwise ferocious mug into that of an adorable teddy bear.
    From the day I’d opened my store, Matthew had been dropping him off each morning. It was an arrangement that made everyone happy. Matthew needed peace and quiet while he wrote, whereas poor Winnie was miserable without attention all day. And truth be told, I liked having him around. What I liked best about it was that once Matthew had finished his daily word count,he’d come by and pick him up. So I got to see him twice a day. And once in a while, I’d get an invitation to dinner out of it. What this girl wouldn’t do for a date.
    â€œHow’s your book coming along?” Marnie asked. “This is your second one, right?”
    â€œIt’s going well. I just hope I finish it on time.” A year ago, a publishing house had accepted Matthew’s proposal for a book on criminology. He’d quit his teaching job at UNCC, moved back to Briar Hollow, and settled down to write. He’d finished his first book and was now hard at work on a second one. “I never realized how stressful these deadlines can be.”
    â€œTell you what,” I said. “You can just leave Winnie with me until you’re finished.” I ruffled the fur on Winston’s head. “You love spending time with me, don’t you, big boy?”
    Winston rolled over on his back, no doubt hoping for a belly rub. I fished through my drawer for a doggy biscuit and he scrambled back onto his feet and lunged for it. And then he trotted over to his cushion, chewing contentedly.
    â€œWhat have you got there?” Matthew asked, noticing the flag. He leaned forward to get a good look.
    â€œIt’s Marnie’s,” I said. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
    Marnie explained, “It’s a sort of family heirloom. I’m not sure exactly how old it is, but I know it goes back a few generations.”
    He studied it in silence for a few seconds, then said, “You should have this looked at by an expert.”
    â€œThat’s what we were just talking about,” I said.
    He paused, looking thoughtful. “I have a friend at the Charlotte Museum of History. Actually, he’s the curator. If he can’t tell us, I’m sure he knows some expert who would know.”
    Marnie’s eyes widened. “Really?” She seemed about to agree and then she frowned. “I don’t know. Bruce really wanted to take it to Charlotte himself.”
    â€œDidn’t you say Bruce would take it to the Charlotte Museum of Art?” I said. “Surely the museum of history would be a better place to bring an antique flag. Besides, Matthew knows the curator. I’m sure Bruce won’t mind.”
    â€œI’m on my way to Charlotte to see my agent now,” he interjected. “I’ll be driving