Page 69 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
“No.” Had he been sincere, it would be a memory to cherish, not a way to leave a clue.
Elle scrolled through her phone. “There are two post offices there.”
Alex checked his watch. “We could drive up today and check them out. I’ve had the Menno-Hoff museum on my bucket list for a while. Then we can take you out for a birthday dinner.”
“Have you been there, Elle?” asked Kimberly.
Elle shook her head. “I’d never even heard of it until I moved here.”
“Let’s go, then. I’ve been wanting to look at an Amish cradle. Since the FBI has unfrozen my June paycheck, I need to think of buying a few baby things. I have only six weeks left to prepare for this little one. Besides, this may be one of my last outings.” Baby kicked Kimberly in the ribs in agreement. She winced and rubbed the spot.
“Another power kick?” asked Alex.
“I don’t think your lecture last night worked.” Kimberly rubbed the spot of the second kick. Every night since returning from California, they’d spent part of the evening reading or talking up in the loft. Her favorite spot was still in the beanbag chair, but with just over a month and a half left, getting out of it without help had become difficult.
“You sure you’re up to it?” asked Alex.
“Half the museum is sitting and watching videos. I can do this.” Kimberly led the way to Alex’s truck. She wasn’t going to miss a chance to go on an outing.
* * *
As suspected, the post-office box was empty except for several months’ worth of generic circulars. At Kimberly’s insistence, Alex added the key to his key ring. They arrived in time to join the next tour at the Menno-Hoff. The rest of the tour group included a family with elementary-age children and grandparents. The grandfather kept pronouncing Amish as Aim-ish, causing his daughter to cringe.
After the tour, they drove a few blocks to the flea market. Alex expected a few stalls in a city park, not acres and acres of wares. Hand in hand, Alex and Kimberly wandered through buildings and stalls. Elle hung back, watching for trouble.
Kimberly stopped at furniture stalls and quilt stalls and clothing stalls. Elle seemed as enthralled with the wares as Kimberly did. And Alex found shopping at the flea market more fun than shopping on Fifth Avenue in New York. He kept a wary eye out for anyone paying more attention to them than to the conservative Mennonite and Amish families.
A rocking cradle suspended between two supports caught Kimberly’s eye. She ran her hand over the smooth, dark wood as she spoke with the wife of the Amish crafter. Alex watched the conversation with only one eye as he’d noticed two overdressed men following them. Someone had forgotten to tell the FBI agents they wouldn’t blend in, in Northern Indiana dressed like city businessmen. Alex signaled to Elle to watch the men, then moved to Kimberly’s side.
Kimberly bit her lower lip. “This one is my favorite so far. Part of me thinks I should stop looking. But I’m so not sure.”
“Why aren’t you sure?”
“I don’t know. What if I’m wrong and the baby doesn’t like it?”
The Amish woman hid a smile.
Alex turned Kimberly to him and raised her chin. “I might be wrong about this, but I think as long as the baby is loved, he or she won’t care too much about the cradle—as long as there are no slivers. And this cradle is too finely made for any of those.”
“You have a wise husband.” The wife pulled a small mattress out of a box. “We will include this mattress for free.”
Kimberly bit her lip again and nodded. “I’d like to buy it.”
“How will you get it home?” asked the husband.
Alex measured the cradle with his hands. “I have a truck. It should fit in the back seat.”
“It comes apart like this.” The carpenter pulled two wooden pins out, unhooking the bassinet from the support stand. “Now it will fit?”
“Definitely.”
“I’ll wrap it for you. It will be about fifteen minutes, if you would like to look around.”
“Thank you.” Kimberly wandered out of the shelter of the stall.
Elle leaned against a post and nodded at the two men in suits. They stood out like oranges in a bushel of apples. “They’ve been looking at home decor.”
Alex nodded. “Take Kimberly into the quilt booth. I will walk around to the horse auction. I want to see if they separate.”
