to family in Scotland. The old woman had lost her husband a few years before. She and Shay looked out for each other. Shay had just gotten to the attic, when Cody appeared.
“Thought I’d find you up here,” he muttered. “You don’t listen very well.”
“Then stop giving orders.” She dug through a stack of boxes. “I don’t think I’ll find anything. Oh, remember this?” She pulled out her Tinker Bell costume. Nina had made it for her in first grade.
“I remember. You drove me crazy trying to get me to help you practice for the play.”
“I don’t know what you had against Peter Pan,” Shay said, putting the outfit back.
“He wore tights.”
“So did Robin Hood. I don’t hear you complaining about him.”
“His bow made up for the girly clothes. You used to be good with a bow.”
“I haven’t shot one in years,” Shay said. “I probably couldn’t hit the barn.” Underneath the Tinker Bell outfit was Shay’s graduation gown. She brushed her finger over the red material. That was the worst year of her life.
“I have a friend who could help, but I’m afraid he’d give you more than just tips.” Cody helped her check the rest of the attic, but there weren’t any clothes.
Her cell phone rang. It was the airline informing her that her luggage had been delivered.
She hung up. “I guess I’m going to Leesburg. The airline delivered my luggage there.”
“Leesburg?”
“I thought that’s where I would be staying.”
“Can’t you buy new stuff? I thought women looked for any excuse to shop.”
“I have plenty of clothes in my suitcase. No need to waste money.”
“I’d rather you didn’t go.”
“Why not?”
“You might feel fine now, but Leesburg is a two-hour drive. That’s four hours working the accelerator and brake on a sprained ankle. Not one of your better ideas.”
“I’ll manage.”
“No, you won’t.”
“I’m going,” Shay said.
He sighed. “Come on, then.”
“I didn’t ask you to come.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“You’re bossier than I remember.”
“Too bad. Let’s get this over with.”
“I’m going to shower first. Do I need your permission to do that?”
“Not unless you need my help.”
Shay shoved past him and tromped down the stairs. She stumbled only once, and he grabbed her before she could fall.
“Stubborn,” he muttered.
“Tyrant.”
Shay showered and dressed in the same clothes. Cody pulled the truck around so she wouldn’t have to walk across to his house.
“You look like you’re going to your execution,” Shay said.
“If Renee sees me, it might be.”
“You two used to get along.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Care to explain?”
“No.”
He didn’t explain about Renee, but they talked as they rode, catching up on things from the past nine years, avoiding the touchy topics like fake parents and lies and letters and other things that couldn’t be mentioned, which was like tiptoeing around the Grand Canyon. They grabbed a late lunch from a drive-through and arrived at the shop late afternoon.
“Her car isn’t here,” Shay said. “This is odd. She was expecting me.” She pulled the key from her purse. “Are you coming in?”
He grimaced and got out.
Shay’s luggage was sitting outside the back door, where she had instructed the airline to leave it. “Let’s try the apartment first.”
“She hasn’t been here for a few days,” Cody said, after they looked around the apartment.
