Page 1 of Remorseless Sinner

CHAPTER 1

Gracie

Birds twittered blithely outside my window as I woke up on a beautiful May morning in Honeywood.

I stretched and began to braid my golden-brown hair into a long plait.

For the past few years, I had rented a little cottage in the idyllic small mountain town of Honeywood, feeling incredibly lucky to have gotten this place on my salary as a preschool teacher.

My little cottage was made of ancient, soft-hewn gray rock and wood, and sat off a little lane in town near a beautiful dappled meadow and sparkling brook.

Soft falls of honeysuckle and roses dangled outside against the glass, and as I inhaled the crisp morning air, my phone rang.

“Sweetie, you headed down here?” my mom asked. “It’s particularly important to be on time to service today.”

“I will be,” I said. “You know I never miss a day.”

“I know,” Mom said. “You’re a good girl.”

She ended the call and I pulled on a long soft gray skirt and a lightweight gray cotton turtleneck.

The Eye sees all

But after all Iwasa good girl. I had worked very hard to serve the Eye and do my duty as an obedient daughter.

After brushing my teeth, I headed out the door and to my car.

“Good morning, Grace!” caroled Mr. and Mrs. Potter, my energetic 70-year-old neighbors, who were out weeding their beautiful rose garden as they were every morning.

“Good morning!” I sang back. “Best little town in all the land, isn’t it?”

They agreed, and I smiled to see their simple joy in each other as the sun shone on my head.

Maybe that would be me soon, if the Eye was willing.

“Your usual, Grace?” Mr. Martinez asked as I swung into the Honeywood Home Café for my morning cup.

“Yes, please, one cinnamon dolce latte to go,” I chirped. “After all, you can’t beat the Honeywood coffee.”

Then I was down the street in my little beat-up truck. It wasn’t much to look at, but it got me from my job to church to home, and that was pretty much all I did.

All Iwantedto do. I served the Eye, as I always did.

After passing by the tiny, picturesque Honeywood downtown—coffee shop, grocery store, and City Hall—I drove by the public library where the head librarian William Perkins was just opening his doors for the day.

He was a kind man with soft blonde hair, an easy grin, and a library full of my favorite books, so of course we were good friends.

Maybe more. I couldn’t deny I had a massive crush on him.

He was justeverythingI wanted in a man.

Good-natured, endlessly patient, with a kind word for everyone.

Maybe this would be the week he asked me out on a date.

After all, I was 26 years old and I’d never been kissed.

Well, nothing thatcountedanyways. Not a proper kiss you couldtellanyone about.

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