Page 47 of Save the Drama for your Mama
I tensed up, surprised by her touch, but then played it off by standing and dropping some money on the table to cover our check. “And on that note, it’s time for me to get back to work. Lots more to do before we head into that attic tonight.”
Alfredo wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked to the exit, with Melody a few steps ahead of us and out of ear shot. “You two make a cute couple, you know.”
“Knock it off,” I said, shrugging Alfredo’s arm off my shoulder. “You already crossed the line today.”
Alfredo chuckled. “I call it like I see it.”
But even as we stepped out into the afternoon sunlight, Melody’s touch still lingered on my body. What was happening to me? I told Alfredo I had no interest in a relationship, but there was one big problem with that theory.
The jitters in my stomach were proof I’d lied.
ChapterEleven
MELODY
I sat at the top of the steps in front of the dusty attic door, waiting for Cooper. He was supposed to meet me there ten minutes ago to search for clues about his mom’s mysterious past.
Finally, I heard footsteps and paws coming up the stairs.
“Well, well, look who finally made an appearance,” I said as Cooper stood in front of me. “I was about to start without you.” I reached down to scratch Romeo behind the ear.
“And how were you planning to get in?” he asked, jingling his keys in front of my face.
“I’ve got friends in low places,” I said.
“If you quote song lyrics like Alfredo—I will keep the attic locked for the rest of your life,” Cooper tried to say with a straight face, but failed.
I smirked. “I will survive.”
“Troublemaker.” He shook his head, chuckling. “Anyway, sorry, I got caught up working on my book.”
“Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses.” I waved my hand, while appreciating his sincere apology. “Please tell me it was at least worth it and you were productive.”
Cooper shrugged. “A little better than yesterday, so I’ll call it a win.”
“Then let’s get at it. I’m dying to investigate!” I said, with a little too much energy.
Cooper unlocked the door and pushed it open, waving me in first. “After you.”
“Thank you,” I said, stepping into the attic.
“Time to get down to business,” he said. “First, I want to check her diaries to confirm that those years are missing, as Alfredo said.”
“Are they all in the chest with the music box?” I asked.
“Not quite,” he said. “Only the last few years are in there. The rest are all stored away in those blue boxes over there.” He gestured to the stack against the wall.
“Which ones?” I asked.
“All of them.”
I glanced over at the enormous stack, my mouth dropping open. “All those boxes are for her diaries?”
“Yup.” Cooper walked over to the corner, grabbed the box on top, then dropped it to the floor to open it. “But luckily, they’re sorted by decades and years. Each box has ten diaries for ten years. It shouldn’t be too difficult to see if something is missing. In fact, this is the box I was looking for.” He pulled the top off the box and began pulling out diary after diary and setting them aside, all of them leather-bound.
Cooper stopped pulling the diaries out, but continued to stare inside the box, not saying another word as his face turned pale.
“What is it?” I said, moving closer and glancing inside the box to figure out what he was looking at.
