“Lexie!” Lucas said her name, a breath of frustration rushing out with it.

  Lexie quieted, attempting to look bashful. She turned to Lucas. “You’ve told me that when I want something I need to learn to ask for it. That I should stick up for myself.”

  He rubbed his chin. “Not sure this is the situation where you need to defend yourself.”

  “Well, I think it is. It’s going to be totally boring. You’re making me go. It’s going to be torture.”

  “So, you want to drag Belle there just to keep you company?” he challenged. “How is that fair? I’ve also told you to always think of others too.”

  Belle laughed. Oh, the joy of dealing with a smart child. “First, tell me what’s going on. You said torture so I’m thinking a medieval prison chamber, but then you said maybe cupcakes, so I’m guessing a Renaissance Faire that has a cupcake-eating contest where the losers are thrown in a torture chamber.”

  That stopped Lexie before she could say another word. “It’s close.” She huffed. “I’m sure Uncle Luc can tell you better than me.”

  “No. This is your deal. You do the persuading. Remember our talk,” he said.

  “Follow me.” Belle led Lexie over to their table. She loved seeing Lucas try to be the best parent he could be. Lexie followed. “Now, where is it you want me to go?”

  A few customers streamed inside. Bixby appeared in the kitchen doorway. “I’ve got it.”

  Belle focused on Lexie. She never stopped appreciating what this girl brought into her life. “I’m listening.”

  “Uncle Lucas is making me go to this boring event—”

  “Way to sell it, kid,” Lucas said.

  Lexie frowned, then started again. “Gramps invited us to an open house. There’s a house for sale. Grams will be there. We’re going out to eat after.” She stopped, face screwed up, thinking. “I know it won’t be very fun, because there will be a lot of standing around, but it is a cool rich house.”

  “I’ll go.”

  Lexie stared at her. “Really? You’ll come?”

  “From what I hear that’s what friends do for each other.” She thought back on the reaction Lucas had when Lexie invited her to lunch, too. “But if lunch out is a family thing, I don’t need to go.”

  Lucas appeared behind Lexie. He smiled, warm and tender. “Of course, you’re invited. My parents want to meet you anyway. It’s a good time. Good food. No promises on the cupcakes though.”

  “Alright.” Belle smiled. “Let’s do this.” She thought about the beastly station wagon out back. “Can you give me a ride?”

  “Of course.”

  Belle ignored Bixby’s look of accusation. “You got this, Bixby?”

  He waved her away. “Yes, I’m set.”

  The house was large. Many windows, most of them tall and wide to allow the sun, lined the sides. She’d never been inside a mansion-house, and she called it that because even though it seemed like a mansion, she was almost positive there were even bigger ones out there, more windows, more floors, longer, wider, taller. It was painted a light gray with white trim on the windows and doors, sculpted hedges and perennials in the front. Reminded her a little of Forsythia’s stately house. Forsythia was in charge of the Women’s Charitable Organization that Belle’s Aunt Eliza had encouraged her to join. Her aunt had been involved in it and now Belle was, too. It was a way to get involved in the community and pay it forward even if some of the women were rather demanding and a touch bit snooty.

  They stood outside, taking it in. Lexie planted herself next to Belle. “There’s cupcakes,” she said. “I just know it.”

  “Know it or want there to be?” Belle teased. This wasn’t an event for children so she doubted there’d be too many sugary pastries, but one could hope. “Hmm. Maybe we should look through the house first to be polite.”

  Lucas jumped into the conversation. “Definitely. Give some of the adults a chance.” He motioned toward the house. “Shall we?”

  They walked up the driveway, then across a stone path that led to the front porch and then to the front door. It reminded Belle of her porch with the rotting step. She liked to think of it as character. Everything about this house was perfect. No damage or chips or cracks. No peeling paint or close-to-rotting window trim.

  Lucas pushed open the mahogany door, motioning for them to enter first. A few steps inside and Belle was in awe. She looked up in wonder at the soaring ceiling. A magnificent chandelier hung from its center, casting a dim, golden glow that reflected off various surfaces. From the grand foyer, numerous doors and hallways branched off in several directions. Staircases hugged the sides of the room, curling their way to the second floor and to a landing leading to more hallways. She imagined herself singing, her voice echoing off the walls like that of a rock star.

  A man who had to be related to Lucas entered the room. He had just a few more lines on his face, and wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. There was the smile at the sight of his son, his granddaughter, and it was big and it was loving. Belle felt a twinge inside her chest. What must it have been like to always have a parent—two parents!—supporting you, smiling at you like you’re everything in the world to them. She could only imagine. With every year that passed, it was harder to remember the details about her parents.

  Lexie tugged on her arm, pulling her forward. Why was Belle so nervous to meet Lexie’s grandparents? Like she was about to be studied and judged. Whether she was an appropriate person to spend time with their son and granddaughter.

  “Gramps, this is Belle.”

  Another big smile. Almost immediate approval. “Finally.” He stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you. You can call me Phil.” He looked around. “Joan? Where are you?” His voice echoed through the room.

  “What is it this time?” She rushed toward them from a hall. “There’d better be a fire because I’m placing the finishing touches on the food.”

  Lexie ran and hugged her grandmother. Belle fought off another twinge. “Grams. This is my friend, Belle.” She looked to Belle. “This is Grams.”

  Another smile, so loving, so tender. “You can call me Joan.”

  Belle awkwardly stuck out her hand, but instead, Joan approached her and the next thing Belle knew they were hugging; there was warmth and kindness. It was overwhelming.

  “Mom, you know, not everyone is a hugger,” Lucas said.

  Joan pulled away. “Sorry about that, but anyone who loves my Lexie is an instant friend, and I hug my friends.”

  “It’s okay.” Belle blinked away the burn in her eyes.

  Another group of people entered the room. The introductions were brief.

  Phil spoke first, “This is Jeremiah Fisher, one of my top agents at Graystone Estates. Jeremiah, you know Lucas and Lexie. This is Belle.”

  The man was tall. Everything about him was blunt, from his sharp angular looks to the bite of his words. The man barely glanced at her. Instead, he soaked up everyone’s attention with his puffery. “That’s true. I’m one of the more experienced agents in the area.” His voice was raspy, his words crackling. “This house, this baby, will sell for millions within the week.” He grinned, but it wasn’t a pleasant sort of smile; it was all teeth. It would make a baby cry. “Just maybe, with this sale, I’ll retire and ride off into the sunset. I’ll go with a bang.”

  Belle didn’t like to make flash judgments but Jeremiah stuck out as the proudest, the most incorrigible person. She couldn’t imagine working with him.

  Belle recognized Jamie Finch, the local real estate agent. He worked for Clay Real Estate. He looked just as smooth and slick now as he did the first time she met him, from his hair to his blazer and khakis. From what Belle could remember, he was just starting out, so if he could be in on the sale of this house, it should be huge for him. If his client ended up wanting it and bid high enough, it could get his career rolling.

  It was almost as if Jeremiah couldn’t hold back. Just had to take every moment to brag. He jerked his thumb toward Jamie. “If this house sells, this one here will be riding my coattails, licking up my crumbs like a dog.”

  Jamie offered a tight smile, but the annoyance and dislike was clear by his scarlet cheeks. “This is my client, Hannah Lewis.”

  Hannah seemed quiet, standing behind everyone. She had average looks, but a calm, peaceful way about her. She didn’t appear particularly wealthy, but everyone wore money differently.

  Right then, another woman rushed through the front door. She was middle-aged, her brown hair pulled up, with a few loose strands framing her face. Belle thought she was pretty. “Hope I’m not too late!”

  Jeremiah’s face squinched up, quite crab-like. “Of course you’re late. You’re always late. That’s one reason why you’ve never been able to beat me as the number one agent at the company. Everyone, meet Mia Harmen, the second best-selling agent at Graystone Estates.”

  Mia huffed. “Okay, there, big guy.” Then she burst out in song. “Jeremiah was a bull frog….” She sang off key, not hitting any of the notes; maybe that was why Jeremiah turned and walked away muttering something Belle was positive no one wanted to hear.

  Overall, as she studied everyone, the way they stood, either hunched or ramrod straight, when she looked at their faces—none of which seemed happy—she noted the tenseness to this group. Belle caught a glimpse of why Lucas might have wanted to work in a different field. All the agents competed against each other instead of working together. He jumped from one frying pan into another one. Detective work and solving murders weren’t exactly stress free.

  Lexie squealed. “Let’s go explore!”

  Belle glanced to make sure Jeremiah was out of hearing distance. Lexie grabbed her hand; it came naturally, and Belle only felt wonder. They heard the noise of Lucas’ phone. That noise meant he would have to leave.

  “Uncle Lucas, you should stay. There might be cupcakes,” Lexie stated.

  “I know, kiddo. But it’s my job.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. I know the cook.” He looked to Belle. “Are you okay without me? I should be back in time for lunch.”

  Of course. Belle nodded. “If you’re late, we’ll just have to camp out and live off whatever is left at the food table.”

  “I think that nasty old man would have something to say about that,” Lexie said, fearless.

  “Shh,” Belle whispered, even though she agreed.

  They said goodbye to Lucas then went exploring. Belle thought back to the wonders of childhood. Many of the afternoons she had with Aunt Eliza were filled with scavenger hunts. Searching the forests surrounding her house for certain-shaped sticks or dark green moss or a toad. Of course, she hoped to find treasure. Maybe in the form of a unique butterfly or the sight of a large owl. Even later, when she lived with her aunt and uncle, she imagined herself back in time, Aunt Eliza pointing out the techniques of camouflage in the wild or the silvery silk of a spider web in the sun.

  “Let’s see what we can find upstairs.” Belle headed to the grand staircase that went up and then to the right where there was a landing overlooking the foyer. “Maybe the perfect reading spot.”

  Lexie stopped in her tracks, eyeing her with suspicion. “Do you have a book stuffed somewhere and this is a trick to make me study?”

  Belle covered her mouth and gasped, then smiled. “Absolutely not. But it’s a good idea. Wish I’d thought of it. Now let’s go.”

  At the top of the stairs, they gazed down at the smooth floor. It almost made her dizzy; she closed her eyes, hearing the imaginary music of a party, seeing the couples dancing, drinking champagne. Maybe there would be games, too. She broke from the daydream, not sure what caused her to snap out of it. Maybe it was the shift of air, or that feeling of being responsible. She opened her eyes to find Lexie leaning half over the railing.

  In a second, without thinking, she grabbed the tail of Lexie’s shirt and yanked. Hard enough they both tumbled backward to the floor.

  Lexie let out a grunt of pain, but it was hard for Belle to care. She lay on the floor, trembling, completely unable to hide the tears welling. A shudder went through her body.

  Once upon a time, a woman was given charge to watch over a precious girl. The girl was vivacious, full of energy, and easy to love. The woman, completely irresponsible, daydreamed, and the girl almost fell over a railing and died. It was a shocking experience, and it left the woman feeling guilty, the echoes and voices of her relatives sounding in her ear.

  Of course, you would do something like that. The girl might have been lucky to die and not be around you anymore, said the uncle. Just like your mother. Irresponsible, echoed the aunt.

  “Belle, are you okay?”

  She couldn’t talk. She didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved. All it took was the image of Lexie falling and Belle wanting to vomit, for her to snap. “What were you thinking?”

  Lexie’s face went wide with surprise, it drooped, then it settled, like cement. It went from caring to closed off. “Geez. I am a kid, you know.” Then she stood and stomped down a hall.

  It was the first time Belle understood a little, just a tiny bit, what Lucas dealt with on a day-to-day basis. She took a few deep breaths and followed.

  So much for the excitement of hunting for the perfect spot.

  There were connecting hallways with large bedroom suites branching off. This could have been a fun moment, but Belle had ruined it by overreacting. But did she? Maybe not. She might have saved Lexie’s life. But she should never have closed her eyes, off in la-la land.

  She tried to act cheery, like it hadn’t happened. She watched as Lexie went through the motions, moving slowly, peering into closets, under beds, until discovering the bay window with a seat built into it.

  “Here!” Belle cried. “I bet you’d read every day if you had a seat like this.”

  Did she sound too cheery? Too fake? She hoped Lexie would join her, but no, she stood in the middle of the room.

  Belle continued, “It is the perfect spot. If we have to camp here, we’ll definitely need books. And cupcakes.”

  Not much of a response.

  “And look outside!” The yard was gorgeous too. A covered patio, room for lawn games. Belle could imagine the family times spent together.

  That was when she heard it.

  A creaking.

  It was subtle. Sounded like tree branches in the wind. The way the trees seemed to talk to each other. She realized she hadn’t heard any footsteps or talking. It was a little spooky.

  “Um.” Belle stood. “Let’s go look through the downstairs, then maybe it will be time to check out the kitchen.” Though she couldn’t stomach a sugary cupcake even if there were some.

  They were just about to walk across the strip of hallway that overlooked the foyer, when Belle heard angry voices.

  “He’s a cheater!” sounded an explosive voice.

  Belle stopped, Lexie almost bumping into her. She listened.

  She peered around the wall to the downstairs.

  Chapter Three

  It was Lucas’ dad, Phil, deep in conversation with Jamie Finch.

  It took one look to see they were in a heated debate. She hadn’t known Phil Graystone very long, but he didn’t seem the type to get into it with a competing agency’s realtor. He seemed flustered, on the defensive.

  Jamie was the furious one. He had always seemed so together, so organized, always composed with his slick hair. Now? His hair was ruffled, his eyebrows lowered, his cheeks stained crimson. Every time he spoke, his hands moved as if just the motions could convey the story.

  “What are you doing?”

  The sound of Lexie’s voice jarred her from listening. “Nothing,” she whispered. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

  Belle couldn’t hear what Lucas’ dad was saying, his voice was low and deep, a constant sound but not loud enough to echo upstairs. It was Jamie whose voice spiked.

  “It’s ridiculous! He’s ridiculous. Just because he’s been in the business for centuries doesn’t give him the right—”

  Phil talked, and by the tone, sounded like he was trying to calm Jamie down. He went on for a few minutes. Belle wished she could hear what they were saying. Who was Jamie talking about?

  She could take a guess.

  Belle searched the halls branching off the room downstairs. She didn’t want to walk through this private but not-private discussion. There had to be another set of stairs. That’s when she saw a figure in the shadows of the foyer, off to the side.

  Mia, the other Graystone agent, stood listening, too. Probably didn’t want to interrupt either. How many others were eavesdropping, hidden in rooms or around corners?

  “I’m telling you. He’s a cheat!” Jamie said, loud, clear, not as angry, but unafraid of who might hear. “I don’t know how he’s doing it…string of bad luck ever since—”

  “Enough!” Phil raised his voice for the first time, then he led Jamie into the kitchen. Food usually helped ease the tension. Maybe food would help ease the tension between her and Lexie.

  “Let’s check downstairs.” She walked toward the grand staircase, hoping Lexie would follow, unsure she would. When she heard the patter of steps, something inside her released.

  Down the stairs, a room off to the side remained closed. Belle turned the knob and pushed it open. The scent of books, maybe the lingering sweetness of cigar smoke, wafted out. Belle assumed they’d aired the room as much as possible. She walked into it, amazed at the number of bookshelves. They lined three walls, reaching from floor to ceiling. The entire house had minimal furniture and art, nothing personal on the walls. Even the shelves seemed slimmed down. She could imagine the stacks, the thick tomes, once in this room.

  Time to try again with Lexie.

  “What a fantastic library. Just imagine all the stories, the fantastical places and adventures, we could fill this room with if it was ours.” She tried to sound like herself, but given the quietness still coming from Lexie, Belle knew she was trying too hard. Kids picked that up right away.