Page 26 of In Dangerous Water

“Hi, Estella.” I waved back. “I’ve been sent for soft drinks while Gabriella and Arianna try and organize the latest find.”

“I can take care of that for you.” Estella nodded.

“Two ginger ales, and a cola for me, please,” I said, walking over to the bar.

“Dragooned you into helping, did they?” Estella grinned at me and began to fill glasses with ice.

“I volunteered,” I told her and climbed onto a barstool.

“Better you than me,” she said, shuddering dramatically.

“It’s interesting seeing all the antique papers,” I said. “They found an old ledger filled with the household accounts from the early 1900s.”

“Fascinating,” Estella said dryly.

“Arianna seemed to think so.”

“Yeah well, she’s an archeologist; that would be right up her alley I suppose.”

“Look!” Isabella waved a crayon at me, determined to show me her coloring book.

“Wow,” I told her. “Look at those pages you did.”

Estella placed the cola off to my side. “If you’ll keep an eye on my monster, I’ll go run these to Gabriella and Arianna.”

“Oh.” I blinked at that. “Sure.”

“Cool,” Estella said as she moved from around the bar. “Because when I get back, I’d like to have a word with you.”

“Oh,” I said again, frowning at her retreating back.

Isabella patted my face. “Sad?” she asked.

“No, I’m not sad,” I said. “I’m wondering if I’m about to get a lecture from your Mama.”

“Book?” Isabella asked, giving me a winsome smile.

“Sure,” I said and picked up a crayon to color a page with the toddler.

Estella returned and slipped back around to the rear of the bar. “Heard all about the excitement at the aquatic center. It’s all over the news. You doing okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly and took a sip of my soda so I wouldn’t have to say anything else. Hopefully.

“Cordelia.” Estella’s voice was quiet but firm. “I wasn’t trying to be all up in your business. I am asking if you aresafe.”

“I wasn’t the one who was hurt.”

“No,” she said evenly. “But you’re the one who is being—I guess you’d say—stalked.”

I lifted my gaze from the coloring book to make direct eye contact with Estella. “I am aware.”

Her dark gaze did not flinch. “Do you think it’s an obsessed fan from your Olympic swimming days?”

I blew out a long breath. “I honestly don’t know. But whoever they are, they certainly hate me.” I stopped and slanted a meaningful look at the toddler. “Not sure this is the best place to be discussing this.”

Estella waved away my concerns. “She’s too young to understand what we’re saying.”

Isabella suddenly became interested in my glass of soda, and to distract her, Estella nudged a pink sippy cup within the child’s line of sight.

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