Page 46 of Where I Found You
Elisa’s voice dipped with compassion. “What happened between them?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Noah shifted into a more comfortable position on the floor. “Grandma was there for the early years of my life, with her molasses cookies and patterned aprons. Always smelling like cinnamon and offering warm hugs. Then she was gone, and all the adults were hush-hush about it.” He shrugged. “I just put two and two together when I got older, figured out he left her.” He shot her a look. “This might shock you, but Hebert men aren’t particularly skilled in the relationship department.” He only had to look at his own dad to see that. “Grandpa was a terrific grandfather—but apparently not such a great husband.”
Elisa nodded. “I guess we all have our hang-ups.”
Some more than others. Noah swallowed.
“So if the inn is so important to you, why aren’t you staying?”
“I need to get back to Shreveport.” The words flew off his tongue as if they were rehearsed. Yet the meaning behind them didn’t feel nearly as strong as it had even earlier that morning.
The inn was already working him over. Or was that Elisa? He needed to tread carefully. He cleared his throat. “Ready for the next clue?”
She picked up the envelope—the one he’d been so eager to open moments ago, yet nearly forgot about during their impromptu game. “Do you want to do the honors?” She extended the card.
“Sure.” He took it from her, scooting a few inches away from his spot on the floor, resting one shoulder against the couch and facing Elisa so he could keep his distance as he read. Thankfully this time he knew to brace himself against his grandfather’s handwriting.
The origin of that fateful command
Lives among us even today
Search the books if you want to find
The truth to end a fray. (UJC)
Elisa pulled a little black band from her wrist and began wrapping her hair into a short ponytail. “Read it out loud.”
That wasn’t going to help.Oh, Grandpa. He muffled another sigh as he repeated the confusing words for Elisa.
“Huh?” She frowned, her hands slowly falling from her hair.
“Yeah, exactly.”
She snatched the card from his grip, re-read it, then looked up. “This isn’t a poem.”
“It’s a bad one, if it is.” They were back to square one all over again. Make that square two, technically. Now what?
“Maybe it’s about the poem from the first clue.” She licked her lower lip, her gaze running back over the handwritten words. “That fateful command… what command? What books?”
“Grandpa has a library.” Noah pointed behind them down the long hallway. “Maybe he means one of his history books?”
“Maybe. And this UJC.” Elisa shook her head. “It’s in parentheses. Would he mean that as an afterthought? Like a sub-clue?”
“Or that part isn’t even important.” Noah shrugged. “Maybe it’s optional.”
“Or it’s further explaining the last line somehow.” Elisa sighed. “This one will be a doozy.”
He snorted. “I thought that was my line.”
“Maybe being an Eeyore is contagious.” She handed him the card, then stood.
Noah did so as well, his left foot tingling from sitting on the floor so long. “Wait a second. You think I’m Eeyore?”
“Well, you’re sure not Tigger.”
“I guess that makes you Piglet, then.” He was starting to see why teasing was so much fun. In fact, if he was in fourth grade, he might just reach out and tug her ponytail. Instead, he caught her wrist as she started past him.
She turned, glancing down at his grip, and her soft hand warmed.
