The Stone of Sadness (An Olivia Miller Mystery Book 3) (27 page)

“Your interest and persistence has cleared an innocent man. Once and for all,” Father Mike said to Olivia. “You found the person responsible for those terrible murders. May Mary and her daughter rest in peace.”

“I think they were already at peace,” Olivia said. She met Father Mike’s eyes. “I think…maybe…justice is for the living.”

Father Mike’s kind eyes were bright. “Perhaps you’re right, my dear.”

Father Anthony spoke. “I wanted to come up and talk with Mike. And, with you, Olivia.” He leaned forward, his face serious.

“I swear to you I did not know that Emily was the killer.” He shook his head. “I am still coming to grips with it.” He paused. “I never meant to lead her on. She accused me of having an affair with Mary. I didn’t know what to do. If Emily made that claim publicly…would people have believed my denials, Mary’s denials?”

“I don’t know,” Olivia said. “Some would have believed you.”

“Emily was unbalanced. Angry. Desperate. I regret how I handled it. I should have confided in you,” Anthony told Mike. “I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me.”

“I hope I would have,” Father Mike said.

“If I had tried to calm her, if I didn’t leave the rec hall…” Tears gathered in his eyes. “The Monahans would be alive.”

“Don’t,” Olivia said softly. “You didn’t know what would happen. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t.” Olivia swallowed. “I think, when something happens, we blame ourselves. We wish we could have changed things, we wish we could have done something differently. But the truth is, things just don’t work that way.”

Anthony nodded.

They talked a little longer, and when the men finished their drinks, they stood to go. Olivia walked Father Mike to the car but before he got in, he turned to Olivia. “Have you found what you were looking for, my dear?”

Olivia smiled. “I think so,” she said. “I think I have.”

Father Mike patted her hand. He reached into his pocket and retrieved an envelope. “Someone asked me to give this to you.” Olivia took it and Father Mike hugged her.

“You take care, Olivia. Come back and visit us sometime.”

“I will.” She smiled at the priest. “Thank you.”

Olivia took the envelope to the porch where she sat down and opened it. “It’s from Kenny,” she told Jackie.

Dear Olivia,

Thank you for all you’ve done. Because of you, I can live without fear of the police coming to my door to arrest me. I’m safe now. My name is cleared. That is a gift for my family as well.

You’ll be surprised to hear I went to see my father at the nursing facility. When I sat down next to him, his eyes got all watery and he gripped my hand and kept patting it. I was amazed, really, that he showed me affection.

You’ll be even more surprised to hear that my father’s benefactor for the nursing home is Emily Bradford. I nearly fell over when I found out. It seems that she set up a fund to pay for his care. It floored me. Maybe it’s guilt for trying to frame me? I guess some things can’t be explained.

Anyway, thanks for everything. You did good work. I’m happy.

Father Mike knows what happened to you and your aunt last summer. I was sorry to hear about it. Don’t let a stone of sadness sink you. You’re strong. Make yourself a happy life. That’s what I wish for you.

Kenny

Olivia smiled and handed the letter to Jackie so she could read it. When Jackie finished, she lifted her face and turned to Olivia.

“A happy life,” Jackie said. “That’s what I wish for you, too.”

“I feel better, Jackie,” Olivia said. “I’m not sure why but I feel lighter. I’m not afraid to go home now. Since Aggie was murdered I’ve had that stone of grief in my heart. I felt like it was sinking me, pulling me away from the people and place that I love. I guess I’ve been afraid to lose them too.”

“Maybe,” Jackie said. “Maybe you’ve been afraid to hold onto them for fear of losing them. To protect yourself from more hurt. So you pulled away.”

“Father Anthony told me something when I first talked to him,” Olivia said. “He told me that there’s good in the world and when he finds it, he holds onto it. I want to hold onto the good in my life. I’m going to hold on tight.” Olivia smiled. “I want to be with Brad and Joe. I want to go home.”

Olivia made the drive from Howland to Ogunquit in just under an hour and twenty minutes. She pulled in and parked her car at the end of Joe’s driveway. Joe’s truck was parked in front of the garage bay. Olivia hadn’t been home in almost a year. She sat in the Jeep drinking in the familiar lines of Joe’s cape style home. She turned her head to her own brick ranch house on the lot next to Joe’s, the house she shared with Aggie for so many years. An ache squeezed her heart.

The woman who was renting Olivia’s house had planted flowers and greens in the window boxes and had placed a huge container spilling over with pink and white flowers on the front landing. The windows were open and Olivia could see the curtains fluttering in the light breeze. There was a pale blue bicycle leaning against the garage door. It was an old style bike with higher handle bars and a wicker basket attached between the bars. Olivia smiled. She had never met the woman who lived in her house. After Olivia returned to school, Joe had taken care of placing the ad, interviewing potential renters, getting the lease signed, and collecting the rental money.

Olivia stepped from the Jeep and walked up Joe’s driveway to ring the doorbell. Just as she pushed the bell, she heard the slap of her own house’s screen door closing and voices coming towards her. She stepped off the porch to see who was heading in her direction, and just as she did, Joe spotted her standing at his door as he was walking across the lawn from Olivia’s house. A huge smile spread across his face and his step quickened.

“Liv!” He was carrying a bag of groceries and a petite blond woman was walking beside him holding a canvas bag. Olivia smiled at them.

Joe grabbed Olivia with his free arm and gave her a bear hug.

“What’s this?” His voice was excited. “You didn’t tell me you were coming home.”

“I thought I’d surprise you,” Olivia grinned. “Is the spare bedroom still available for me?”

“It’s all yours, sweet pea. Any time.”

Olivia turned to the woman who she guessed was in her late sixties. Her honey blonde hair was pulled up into a chignon. She had beautiful smooth skin and her brown eyes sparkled. She was dressed in tan Capri pants, a white linen blouse, and brown sandals.

“I’m Olivia.” Olivia smiled and extended her hand.

The woman grasped Olivia’s hand warmly. “I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Rose Williams. It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

“Thank you for taking such good care of the house,” Olivia said.

“Oh, it’s my pleasure. This place is really heaven on earth. Thank you for renting it to me.”

Rose handed Joe the canvas bag she had been holding. “I’ll let you two catch up. I’ll talk to you later, Joe.” She turned to cross the lawn. “So nice to meet you, Olivia.”

When Rose was nearly to her house, Olivia said, referring to the bags of groceries, “Were you two going to make dinner together? Don’t change your plans on account of me.”

“Oh, no. She was just helping me carry the bags,” Joe answered hurriedly.

Olivia gave him a sly look as she took one of the bags and opened the front door for him. They entered the kitchen and started putting the groceries away.

“Do you mind that I came back early, Joe?”

“It’s never early enough to have you back. You can live here all year round as far as I’m concerned,” Joe told her.

“I’m going to walk up to town and surprise Brad at his store. I didn’t tell him I was coming back.”

“He’ll be happy to see you. He’s been straight-out busy.” Joe leaned against the counter. “What about you, hon? Your summer class is starting next week?”

“Well, the classes start then,” Olivia said. “But I’m not going to be there.”

“Decide to take the summer off?”

“I’ve decided to take the whole year off, Joe. I put in for a leave of absence at school.”

Joe’s eyebrows went up and a smile played across his lips. “That, so?”

“Is it okay, do you think? For me to take a break? I thought I’d work in Aggie’s shop for a good part of the year. Maybe do some other things.”

Joe met her eyes and put his hands on her shoulders. “I think it’s the best idea you could have come up with.”

“Really? You think Aggie would approve?”

“Sweet pea, Aggie would want you to be happy.”

Olivia hugged him. “I just need a break.”

Joe patted her hair. “I understand,” he told her.

Olivia stepped back and the two returned to emptying the bags.

“So what were you and Rose planning to make for dinner?”

“We were going to make…” Joe stopped, realizing Olivia had tricked him into admitting he and Rose had dinner plans.

Olivia grinned. “She seems real nice, Joe. Classy.”

“She is real nice.” Joe’s tanned cheeks showed a pink blush. “We’re just friends,” he blurted.

Olivia cocked her head. Joe turned and started bustling in the cabinet. Olivia stood still and stared at his back. When he turned around again, she was still staring.

“We’re just friends,” he said.

“Joe, I know you think I’ll be upset. I know you think it’s too soon after Aggie died. But I’m not and it isn’t. It’s okay. I saw the way you look at each other.”

Joe swallowed hard and looked down at the floor. Olivia took his hand.

“I like her,” he said. “I like being around her. She’s good to me. She makes me happy.”

Olivia’s eyes brimmed with tears. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.

Joe looked up, sheepish. “Is it okay, Liv?”

“Yes. It’s good.” Olivia hugged him. “I want it for you. I love you, Joe.”

Joe squeezed her tight.

“You deserve to be happy,” Olivia said.

“We both deserve to be happy,” Joe whispered.

Olivia smiled up at Joe. “Go get her and tell her to come back over. I’m going up to town to see Brad. I’ll probably stay at his place tonight, so don’t wait up for me.” She grinned. “And don’t worry that I might barge in on you and your lady friend.”

“Liv,” Joe growled, but he had the hint of a smile on his face as he turned to take a glass bowl from the cabinet.

Olivia walked up Shore Road to town. Golden light spilled from windows and streetlights and nudged at the darkness that was settling over the trees and buildings. She passed hotels and private homes, shops and restaurants. The closer she got to the center, the more people crowded the sidewalks. Olivia loved the bustle of the summer, the people, the flowers, the colorful clothing in store windows. As she passed the Front Porch restaurant she could hear the customers’ jovial voices singing together as they shared a drink around the piano in the upstairs lounge. She waited on the corner of Beach Street to cross over to Brad’s store. She was home.

Brad’s store was full of patrons browsing books and magazines, and sitting at café tables in clusters of two or four sipping drinks from the coffee bar. Olivia spotted Brad working as barista, filling glasses, mixing liquids in blenders, and swirling whipped cream on top of frothy chocolate drinks. She leaned against the wall and watched him, her heart swelling. Brad’s brown hair flopped over his eyebrows. He needed a haircut.

As he reached for another mug, his eyes swept the crowded store, passed over Olivia, looked down at the milk jug in front of him, and then jerked his head back to look where Olivia was standing across the room. He stopped his activity and grinned at her, his blue eyes twinkling. Olivia smiled. He said something to the employee next to him, wiped his hands on a towel, and crossed the room in quick strides. He stopped in front of Olivia and locked his eyes on hers. Brad’s eyes were like deep blue pools and Olivia was ready to fall into them.

“Are you in the market for a book?” he asked.

“I might be,” Olivia said.

“Then you’ve come to the right place.”

“Have I?” Olivia teased.

“Oh, yes. No doubt about it. You are definitely in the right place.”

“I think I am.” She reached for his hand and the touch of him warmed her to her core. He pulled her to him and hugged her, stroking the soft brown hair and inhaling her scent.

“Happy Birthday,” she whispered.

“Best birthday gift ever,” he said.

“I might have a better one for you later,” she whispered.

Brad kissed her lips. “I’m glad you’re home.”

“Me, too.”

“What happened in Howland?”

“John came back a few days early.”

“I mean about your cousins. The case.”

“It’s solved,” Olivia told him.

Brad’s eyebrows went up. “It is?”

Olivia nodded. “It was Emily Bradford.”

“Emily?”

“I got shot at.”

“What?” Brad took a step back and his eyes scanned up and down Olivia’s body looking for damage.

“She missed.”

“God.” Brad pulled her to him. “God, Liv.”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later tonight.”

Brad led her to a vacated table and they sat. “How long are you staying?’

“A year.”

Brad’s eyes went wide.

“I took a leave of absence. I want to be home.”

Brad opened his mouth but nothing came out. A smile spread over his face. He laughed. “I can’t believe it.”

“I shouldn’t have gone to school this past year. I’ve been pulling away from everything I love. I’m still hurting, Brad…over Aggie’s murder.”

“I know,” he said, squeezing her hand.

“I’ve had so much sadness in my heart. I thought I could bury myself in my schoolwork and it would go away. But it didn’t. I need to be home. I need to be with you.”

Brad’s face was full of emotion. “I’ll help you. We’ll wear away at that sadness until it disappears. And we’ll fill your heart with something else.”

A tear spilled from Olivia’s eye and traced down her cheek. Brad brushed it away. She reached for his hand.

Olivia swallowed. “I was thinking of fixing up the second floor over Aggie’s shop. Make it into a studio apartment, like you have here over the store. The building’s paid for. Joe can help me fix it up. I can live there almost for free. That way I can keep renting out the house.”