Page 62 of Loss Aversion

“Oh, yeah? They take a well-deserved vacation?”

“I don’t think so. Mama looked to be on a mission. You know how she can be. She asked me to watch the inn for her. Said it was an emergency. I asked her where they were headed, and she said, “north.” And that was all she’d tell me.”

“Mind if I look around?”

“Sure. Can you tell me what you’re looking for? Maybe I can help?”

He told her everything he knew about the diary. Which wasn’t much. Together, they scoured the first level, figuring it wouldn’t be elsewhere as it was left by a visitor, Grant not divulging that visitor was Mia. He figured the less people knew, the better.

They found nothing.

“Sorry, Grant,” Mary-Lou said, blowing hair out of her face.

“It’s okay,” Grant said, hating having to call Mia with the bad news. “That husband of yours doing okay?”

“Just fine, thank you for asking,” she said with a smile. “I’m sure Lucas has been bowled over learning about Mia and Birdie showing up after all these years.”

“That would be the case.”

“If you remember, I used to be friends with her sister, Maisie.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, for the sole purpose of remaining her trusty minion.”

“Well, Mary-Lou, we’ve all done things in the past we’re not proud of. Then we grow up and hopefully learn from our mistakes.”

“I don’t think people realize what a terrible person Maisie was…” Mary-Lou stumbled with her words. “She was almost, I don’t know, obsessed with Birdie and madly in love with your brother, Lucas.”

Grant tilted his head. “Why are you telling me this, Mary-Lou?”

“I guess I need to get some things off my chest. Maisie and I did some things that were…devious and hurtful. To Birdie.” She looked down at her hands. “Made sure Birdie got blamed for things she hadn’t done.”

“Sure you don’t want to talk about this with Pastor Jeffries? As opposed to an officer of the law?”

“Already did that. He suggested I speak with you since it’s weighing heavy on my mind and Lucas is out of town.”

Twenty minutes and half a sweet potato pie later, Grant was on his way home, with a whole new perspective of the Wellborn sisters.

Particularly Birdie.

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