Just a Wish Away Read Free Page B

busy and she wanted to make room in the store before the tourists descended."
    "You couldn't have predicted a robbery, Evie."
    "No, but I knew she was going to be in the store late at night. I should have tried to dissuade her from coming in alone or persuaded her to wait until today. I also could have offered to help. Beverly Adams, Aunt Phoebe's assistant, is on vacation until next week."
    "Evie, stop it. Aunt Phoebe wouldn't have been persuaded to wait even if you'd tried to talk her into it. This shop is her baby and she watches over it like a hawk. Besides that, she's stubborn."
    "Stubbornness is a Parker family trait," Evie said with a sigh.
    "Exactly."
    "I'm so glad you were able to come, Alexa. My parents are in Europe right now, and I haven't been able to catch up with them yet, so I want to make sure I'm taking care of everything."
    "I'll help you however I can." Alexa said.
    "I appreciate that. Did you speak to your parents? Is your father coming?"
    "I left a message for my dad, but he hasn't returned my call. That's not unusual. We don't talk often, especially since his wife had another baby."
    "I can't believe your father is having babies at his age," Evie said, raising an eyebrow.
    "His wife is fourteen years younger," she said, deliberately keeping her tone neutral. She didn't want to get into her feelings about her dad's marriage. She should have been used to it all by now. It had been twelve years since he'd married his second wife, and this new baby was number four.
    "And your mom?" Evie asked somewhat tentatively.
    "She's actually the best I've seen her in years. She got remarried last year, and her husband is in the wine business. She often goes on trips with him, and she seems happy."
    "I'm glad for her and for you."
    "Thanks."
    "Aunt Phoebe will be happy to see you when she wakes up."
    Alexa liked the hopeful note in Evie's voice. She didn't want to think about the possibility that her aunt would never wake up. That was too awful to contemplate. "So what can I do?" she asked.
    "If you want to start with clean up, that would be great. I have to pick up my twins from school in a few minutes, so I won't be able to do much more today. If you unpack anything, just make sure to write down each item with a brief description. Aunt Phoebe is a stickler for details."
    "I remember that from when I worked here as a kid."
    "Some things don't change," Evie said with a smile.
    "So the shipment is from an estate?"
    "The Wellbournes. They own that big house on the bluff."
    "Oh, sure," she said. That house had served as the foundation for many a daydream, not only because it was enormous, but also because there had always been an air of mystery about it. She and Braden had made up numerous stories about the people who had stayed there.
    "Jack Wellbourne died last week, and left some of his antiques to Aunt Phoebe."
    "That was nice of him."
    "She was very excited to see what he'd left her. Apparently, he was quite a collector." Evie grabbed some keys off the counter and tossed them to her. "Lock up when you leave. In fact, you might want to keep the door locked until we're sure there won't be any more trouble." She paused. "If you'd rather not be here alone, we can leave this for later."
    That was a tempting thought, but Alexa knew that her aunt would want the shop put back in order as soon as possible, and she had nothing else to do. It was broad daylight, and there were a number of people on the street, so she didn't feel in any danger.
    "I don't mind cleaning up and getting some pieces inventoried," she said. "I might as well do something productive."
    "If it makes you feel better, the police said they'd keep an eye on the shop for the next few days."
    "That's good."
    "Where are you staying?"
    "I reserved a room at the Cheshire Inn."
    "You could have stayed with us. Although, twin six-year-olds, two dogs and a cat make life a little hectic."
    "But you're happy," Alexa said, seeing the sparkle of pride and love in Evie's