Page 77 of Family Jewels

Neely Kate’s mouth pressed into a tight line.

Dread crept into my stomach. “Why do I think there’s history between you two?”

“Never you mind about that. Didn’t you say Miss Mable said she gave the jewelry to Leah?”

“Yeah. But you found the jewelry in her drawer.”

“Maybe we should have a chat with Leah anyway.”

The mischief in her voice had me worried. “I think we should wait for Trixie. We might not get the chance to talk to her at all if your conversation with Leah goes the way I think it will.”

When she frowned and lifted her shoulder into a noncommittal shrug, I let out a sigh of relief. But the glances she continued to shoot toward Leah made me nervous. I needed to distract her. “When I walked into the nursery this morning, Maeve was on the phone with Mason.”

That got her attention.

“Could you hear what she was saying?” she asked.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but once I realized she was talking to him, I couldn’t help myself. She told him he was working too hard and needed more sleep. I suspect he’s not eating well either.”

Sadness filled her eyes. “He doesn’t have you to bring him lunch and take care of him anymore. That man loved you, there was no doubt about it. He’s probably trying to fill the gap with work.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Like someone else I know.”

I shot her an annoyed look. “She told him I was coming in with Muffy. But then she saw me and hung up. She said she never tells him anything specific about me, but he always asks if I’m doing okay.”

“He still cares,” she said quietly. “But what about you? How are you feelin’?”

“I still love him. I think a part of me will always love him, but he’s gone.” I tried to keep my voice from cracking with emotion. “And I don’t think about him nearly as much as I used to.” If part of me still loved Mason, how did I categorize my new feelings for James? Not that I was even sure what they were . . . “Do you think it’s possible for part of me to still love Mason yet have feelings for someone else?”

“If you’re asking if I think it’s possible to love two men at the same time, then yeah, I think that’s possible. But one of them is here and the other left you. I think that makes your choice clear.”

I held my breath. Had she figured out the sudden shift in my feelings for James?

“If Dr. Romano doesn’t call you by tomorrow, maybe you should call and ask a question about Muffy.”

We were talking about two different men. I looked down at my fork. “Then I’d be like every other woman in the county—usin’ her pet to gain access to him.”

“Don’t give up on him,” she said insistently. “There’s a few tricks you can use to get his attention. But even if he doesn’t want to see you again, there are plenty of other men in this county.”

“Neely Kate, you know I’m not the kind of woman to use tricks to get someone’s attention.”

She studied me for a moment. “No. I suppose you’re right.” She sighed. “Not to worry. We’ll get you dating again. There are plenty of fish in the sea.”

I considered telling her I wasn’t particularly interested in fishing but decided to change the subject. “Maeve invited us to dinner tonight.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh. I’ve missed Maeve’s cooking, even if my hips have not.”

I laughed.

The waitress brought our food. I glanced at the clock and then did a double take. It was a horse wearing a saddle, raised up on its back legs, most likely to fit in with the rodeo theme, but the hands of the clock were actually his male parts—his longer one was the minute and the two small, circular ones were lined up for the hour. I shook my head and shifted my focus to the time. Trixie had said she’d be here in half an hour, but a good hour had come and gone since her call. It seemed unlikely she was going to show up. “Do you think Buck found out what she was up to?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Neely Kate said. “She called you, right? Maybe you should try to give her a call.”

“Good idea.”

I pulled out my phone and called her back, but there was no answer and no voice mail. “She didn’t answer.”

“Maybe she changed her mind. Or got scared.”

“Or both,” I said, frowning.

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