The Inn on Harmony Island (Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman #1)(10)

“Um, what?” I asked as I slipped behind the counter so I could fill up a coffee for her. I wanted to read her lips to make sure I caught every word.

Missy closed her eyes and pressed her hand to her stomach. She took in a deep breath. “I was on my way here, like I always am.” She slowly opened her eyes, and her stare made me pull back slightly. “That’s when I ran into Merigold, you know, Tom’s wife?”

I nodded as I slowly grabbed a to-go cup for her coffee—even though I didn’t really know who Tom or Merigold were. But I feared if I asked, she’d take me down a rabbit hole. Until someone provided me with a tangible family tree, I was never going to figure out how people were related to each other in this town.

“Merigold normally has that pink undertone to her skin like she’s just gone to the beach, but we all know that woman doesn’t do a lick of work or ever go outside.” Missy narrowed her eyes before she sighed. “Anyway, I digress. She looked so pale that I had to ask her what was wrong.” Missy stopped and stared at me. “You know, so I could help her if something was wrong.” She raised her hand toward the sky, and I half expected a hallelujah to come from her lips.

I kept busy, shooting her a small smile of acknowledgment. We both knew that she hadn’t asked so she could help Merigold. “Of course.” Then I paused. “And you’re so sweet to think of her.”

Missy seemed to like that compliment. “It’s only right,” she said as she leaned both arms on the counter. “Poor woman couldn’t keep it in. She said Charlotte Cane’s will reading is going to be a packed house.” Missy dropped onto the barstool next to her while grasping her hands and worrying her lips.

It was no secret that Missy and Charlotte had a rivalry. Both were in the hospitality business, Charlotte owning Harmony Island Inn and Missy owning Apple Blossom B&B. And they weren’t shy about their distaste for each other, though when they were together, they smiled and laughed like lifelong friends.

I paused as Missy’s words washed over me. I hadn’t known Charlotte very well. She kept to herself at the inn while her grandson, Miles, ran her errands. Plus, I didn’t really run with the over-seventy crowd here on Harmony Island—in fact, I didn’t really run with any crowd.

I kept to myself and my sister, and that was about it. The last person I opened up to was Naomi, and she worked here for a few days before she was whisked back to Magnolia Island, where all of my friends now lived. Dad and Penny set up a life there. And Penny’s daughter, Maggie—my stepsister—and I were close, but we had different lives.

I just wished I could have what Maggie had in Magnolia. A group of women who took care of each other. Here, I didn’t have that. And I was beginning to wonder if I ever would.

My gaze made its way back to Missy, who was staring at me. Her methodical blinking made me realize that she was waiting for me to respond. I probably looked like an idiot, standing there, dozing off when she just told me that…well, I still wasn’t so sure what the problem was.

“It’s a bad thing that her granddaughter is coming to the reading?” I asked as I grabbed a rag from the small sink in front of me and began wiping down the counter. “Isn’t that normal?” Besides Mom, I didn’t have too much experience with death. My grandparents passed when I was a kid, but I wasn’t part of settling their estate.

Missy’s blinking turned rapid, and she leaned back like I’d just slapped her. Then she sighed and shifted her weight, sipping her coffee. “Of course, it’s bad.” She pinched her lips together as if she were trying to form the words that I could see brewing in her mind. My lack of indignation seemed to have startled her.

I quirked an eyebrow at her comment, waiting for her explanation. She stared hard at me for a moment, hinting to the fact that what she wanted to say wasn’t exactly churchgoing. She leaned back and clicked her tongue. “I’m just thinking about what Charlotte would want. That house needs to go to someone who wants to take care of it.”

I studied her. “And that’s not her granddaughter?” I figured most of the regal homes on Harmony Island went to the family members. At least, that would explain the intermingling of families here.

Missy’s eyes widened, and for the first time, I realized there was so much more to this story than I knew. Most people here had skeletons in their closets, but besides the passive-aggressive way they spoke to each other, they never really opened the door wide enough for any of them to slip out.

This was a skeleton in Harmony’s closet, and I was fairly certain Missy had no intention of letting me know the details.

Her lips fluttered, but I really wasn’t interested in playing pick around the words to find the actual meaning. The bookstore was going to open in just a few minutes, and most of the construction workers in town came to my front door for breakfast every morning. If I was going to be ready for them, I needed to finish stocking my shelves.

“I’m sorry that she’s coming to town. I hope that the will reading will go smoothly and everyone will be happy.” I prayed my wide smile and soft gaze would calm Missy down. But the furrow between her brows remained.

“Yeah,” she mumbled as she slung her purse over her shoulder and grabbed her cup of coffee. “I doubt that, but I appreciate your words.”

I nodded before focusing my attention on rinsing out the rag. “Well, if I hear anything once she gets here, I’ll let you know.”