Page 32 of So in Love
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Crystal parked her car—rather the car Alaina kept at the house for visitors, primarily her, to use—in front of the library.She jumped out and locked it before hurrying inside.
Kelsey smiled at her from the front.“Good morning!”
Shivering, Crystal pulled her gloves off and shoved them into her pockets.“It’s freezing outside.”
“Snow in the forecast again,” Kelsey said.“But we’ll see if that happens.Most of the time the forecasters get it wrong.”
“Not because they don’t try,” Brooke said, joining Crystal at the counter.“It’s hard to nail the timing.A lot of elements have to line up just right for us to get valley snow.”
Kelsey grinned.“Which is why it’s so great when it happens.”
“It would be nice to see, especially since I missed it last month.”Crystal rubbed her hands together and looked at both of them.“Who’s ready for my Darryl update?”
Kelsey’s eyes lit.“Me!I’m done shelving books.”She glanced around.“Alaina didn’t come with you?”
“No, Alexa’s nanny is sick today.I briefed her over the phone on my way here.”Crystal had just met with Darryl before coming here for their scheduled meeting.
“I just need my assistant to show up.”Kelsey’s gaze went to the clock behind the counter.“She’ll be here any minute.Why don’t you guys head up?Things are really coming together for the exhibit.A few holes here and there, namely about Bird’s Nest Ranch and Dorinda.But hopefully we’ll fill them pretty soon.”
“We’re certainly closer than we’ve ever been,” Crystal said.She turned with Brooke to go upstairs to where the exhibit was housed.
“Don’t tell her the new stuff until I come up!”Kelsey called after them.
Crystal heard the door chime and hoped that Marci, Kelsey’s assistant had arrived.She and Brooke made their way up to the exhibit, which took up about two-thirds of the upper floor.The Archers had donated several glass-topped cases, which were now filled with newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, and various historical items from Ribbon Ridge’s history, including the Bible that had been used to swear Benjamin Archer into office as the first mayor of the town.
She went to the case that held the brick that had started their endeavor.It also contained some pottery collected from the excavation of Bird’s Nest Ranch, as well as a chipped and faded shell cameo brooch.They had no proof that had belonged to Dorinda, but Crystal believed it had.The display wasn’t full as they were anticipating adding more items.
Crystal glanced over at Brooke, who stood on the other side of the case.“I really hope I can get some letters or maybe even photographs from Jamie’s mom tonight.”
“That’s tonight, huh?”Brooke asked.
Crystal nodded.It felt strange to be meeting the parents of the guy she was sleeping with.She’d gone to his house the past two nights following the Whipped Cream Incident.She suppressed a smile thinking it was a good thing the can had run out when it did.
“Yeah, Jamie set it up.”
Kelsey joined them then, walking quickly into the exhibit.“Marci’s here.What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Brooke said.“Crystal was just telling me that she’s going to Sam and Angie’s tonight.”
Kelsey gave Crystal a serious look.“Beware, she will stuff you until you can’t walk.”
“Duly noted.Okay, so I met with Darryl, and I have to say we feel kind of dumb.”
Brooke’s brow furrowed.“Why?”
“We just now tried to find Dorinda’s family.Darryl found her birth certificate.She was born in Syracuse, New York in 1860.”
“Wait, Syracuse?”Kelsey asked with a bit of excitement.“Benjamin Archer was from Syracuse.”
“You’re right.”Crystal was surprised she hadn’t recalled that.She felt as if she’d memorized practically everything about Ribbon Ridge’s history.Not bad for someone who felt claustrophobic in a small town.“I should’ve mentioned that to Darryl.See, Iamdumb.”Inwardly, she winced at that admission.But then she’d been dumb her whole life, so why should it bother her?
Kelsey rolled her eyes.“Please.You arenotdumb.”
“I wouldn’t have remembered that,” Brooke said.“Do you think there’s a connection?”
“There has to be.Two people from Syracuse coming to the same tiny town?”
