Page 90 of Caper Crush
“I don’t have a trained eye, so these all seem strong to me. I feel something when I look at them. But from my own experience, I’ve just learned so much since I started my own business. Even when the tax code changes, I understand more the reasoning. I know the history of the changes. I feel so much more competent than when I first started.”
“There is that. But then every time I start a new painting, I wonder if I can pull it off again. I guess now I have more muscle memory and craft techniques to fall back on.” I stare at our brick wall. “But I couldn’t paint. The two nights before the theft, I couldn’t paint. And I’ve never not been able to paint, so it really threw me. And thenPlaying Aroundwas stolen. It was all too much. Also realizing that someone really hated me—if it was personal.”
“I wouldn’t take that so personally. It’s more about their weirdness than yours. They’ve just fixated on you. Even if it’s Edmund and it’s because you told Annabelle not to marry him, does he want to marry a woman who is so easily swayed?”
“I wouldn’t,” I say.
“Exactly.” He glances at his watch. “I forgot about the burritos; I’d better go pick them up.”
“Yes. Thanks for that.”
“I mean it,” he says. And the way he looks at me, I don’t want him to go.
“You should go get the burritos before I turn into a very grouchy Miranda,” I say.
“Maybe I want to see the very grouchy Miranda.”
“Trust me. You don’t.” Just like I don’t want to look at my foot. It is even more purple and blue than yesterday.
My phone rings, and I pick up. It’s Uncle Tony. I put him on speakerphone.
“I’m thinking maybe I should follow Vinnie and Edmund around when I’m off on Monday and Tuesday,” Uncle Tony says. “The lady selling her cottage is getting impatient and wants to put it on the market if we don’t have the money.”
“I wish I could go with you,” I say.
William shakes his head.
“Let us know if you find anything,” I say. “I’m sorry I haven’t had any success.”
“I’ll give you a full report,” Uncle Tony says.
Chapter twenty-one
“Ican’tbelievemyuncle warned me off William,” I say to Tessa and Penelope on Thursday evening after we finish discussing some possible plot points for Penelope’s next novel. “I feel betrayed.”
“It makes sense, though. Take it from me, it’s definitely awkward if he’s not interested,” Penelope says. “I mean, do you see it lasting if you started dating?”
Yes.We work great as a team. “I could see it lasting.”
“I’m impressed you haven’t called him yet this week.” Tessa opens up her laptop.
“Me too,” I say wryly. “It wasveryhard not to call him. But I know he’s busy with work. And I’m trying to pull back and not follow my feelings.” And it was good for painting. I was pouring all my unrequited desire into my art.
My phone beeps.
Tony:Edmund went to the gym and then to his office in midtown both days. At Annabelle’s at dinnertime on Monday.
I look up Vinnie’s gallery to see if he still lists the Agatha Boonland for sale or if Edmund bought that. “Vinnie’s art gallery still lists the Kimimoto as available for purchase!”
“That’s weird,” Tessa says.
“Can you call him and see what he says?” I ask.
“Sure,” she says.
Tessa calls, putting the call on speakerphone. His assistant picks up. The assistant confirms that the Kimimoto is available for purchase and asks to take her name as interested.
“Razzy Skunchmunden.”
