Page 60 of Home Changes
The bakery smelledlike yeast and butter and fall seasonings. Allison had just pulled the first tray of pumpkin coffee cake from the oven when the bell above the front door jingled. She frowned. It was too early for her regular customers. She frowned, wiping her hands on her apron as she crossed into the front room.
“Edna?”
The older woman didn’t smile. Her winter coatwas unzipped, lipstick smudged a bit, so she’d probably been at the diner having her caramel roll. Her wispy gray hair frizzed around her ears from the brisk wind outside.
“Morning, sweetheart,” she said, voice low. “You got a minute?”
Allison nodded. “Hi, yourself. What brings you by so early? Come on back. Coffee’s fresh.”
Edna followed her behind the counter into the kitchen, her boots tapping sharply on the tile. She didn’t sit. Just stood there, her eyes flicking toward the stairwell that led to the apartment upstairs.
“She still up there?” she asked quietly.
Allison nodded. Everyone knew where Lottie was staying. The news had spread like wildfire as soon as Ken had told Edna. The people of Hollister now did a double-take at everything and everyone. “She is. I haven’t heard her, so she’s still sleeping, I think.”
Edna exhaled through her nose, then leaned in. “I saw a truck this morning. I was heading into the diner. Took the long way because it’s my morning to have a caramel roll with Kate. Need to burn some calories.”
Allison’s stomach dropped. “What kind of truck?”
“Dark blue Chevy. Extended cab. Dent on thepassenger side big as a sin. Parked outside the diner before sunup.”
Allison gripped the edge of the counter. “Did you see the driver?”
Edna nodded slowly. “Didn’t recognize him. Not local. Stocky fella, military haircut. Face looked tight. Mean. Like someone who hadn’t smiled in a long time and didn’t plan to.”
“Did he talk to anyone?”
“Nope, not that I saw. I came in just after him. He got a coffee to go from Corrie. Didn’t make eye contact. Left fast. But he looked around like he was checking every corner of this town. Like he was mapping it in his head.”
Allison swallowed hard. “He see you watching him?”
Edna gave her a sharp look. “Honey, I’ve been blending into diner booths since before you were in training bras. He didn’t give me a second glance.”
The tremble Allison had been holding at bay settled in her hands. She turned toward the coffee pot, pouring herself a mug so Edna wouldn’t see her face.
“Damn, what do I do now? What do I tell her?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Edna’s hand came to rest gently on her back. “You keep your chin up. You keep that girl safe. And you let the rest of us do what we do best.”
Allison turned.
“And what’s that?”
Edna’s eyes narrowed. “We notice everything. We talk. And when danger rolls into town wearing a dented truck and a bad attitude, Hollister circles the wagons.”
Allison reached for her phone. “Ken knows?”
“I called him before I came. He’s already moving. Seth, too, I imagine. Although he has Chester to care for.”
Allison shook her head. “No, Sarah, his sister came in last night. Seth called her when Lottie told us what had happened. He wanted to be able to move without worrying about his dad. She’s staying for a week but can extend it to two weeks if …” Allison swallowed the knot rising in her throat. “Can you watch the shop? I’m going to run up and tell Seth.”
Edna leaned in, voice like gravel and steel. “You got it. This asshole picked the wrong damn town.”
CHAPTER 20
Seth settled into a booth at the diner. One with an unobstructed view of the street and the bakery. He jerked his eyes to the door when the bell rang. As he recognized who’d come in, he blinked and then smiled. “Gregg?”
Gregg Koehler frowned and looked over. “Well, I’ll be. What the hell are you doing back here?” Gregg walked over, and Seth stood up, shaking his old friend’s hand.
