I grinned at her in welcome and slid off my stool, pretending the movement didn’t make the room spin. My first customer! “Welcome to Much Ado About Books.”
She smiled a shy but very pretty smile. “Hello.”
When no other words were forthcoming, I glanced down at the Tupperware box. Looking back at the woman, I asked, “Can I help you?”
“Oh. My name is Caroline.” She licked her lips nervously. “I, uh, well, I heard what you did for Shadow yesterday.” Her accent was more Downton Abbey than Alnster. I wondered if she was a tourist. But if so, how did she know Shadow? Caroline pushed the Tupperware box toward me. “This is to thank you.”
Looking down at the cakes, I was a little flabbergasted.
Who was Caroline to Roane and Shadow?
“Uh, okay.” I took the box and peeled open the lid. There were cupcakes inside, decorated with pink frosting that looked like roses. “These are beautiful. Thanks.” Surprisingly, my stomach rumbled.
“I’m Roane’s cousin,” Caroline explained.
Oh. Okay. The accent threw me, but looking at her again, I realized she and Roane shared the same beautiful chestnut eyes. “Right.” My grin widened. “Well, it was nothing, really, but thank you for the cupcakes.”
She shook her head. “It was everything, Ms. Starling. Shadow is Roane’s best friend. He’s a wonderful dog.” Her eyes brightened with tears. “I don’t know what we would have done if something happened to him.” Caroline’s cheeks suddenly flushed, and she looked down at her shoes. “You must think me such a goose getting upset over a dog.”
My lips twitched at the way she talked. Seriously, how old was she? “I don’t think you’re a goose at all. I’m a dog person. I get it. They’re family.”
Some of her embarrassment faded, and she nodded. “They are.”
Intrigued by Roane’s cousin, I leaned against the counter. “So, do you live in Alnster?”
“On the outskirts, yes. I live with my aunt. Do you know the road that cuts into the woodlands? We live up there.”
I remembered there being woodlands on the road that led into Alnster, but that was about it. Surmising that’s where she meant, I nodded. “So is your aunt Roane’s aunt?”
“No. We’re cousins on our paternal side, and Aunt Helena was my mother’s sister.”
“So you’re a Robson.”
Her lips pinched together. “Technically yes. But Aunt Helena had my name changed when I came to live with her.”
There was something unhappy in Caroline’s eyes. That and her indeterminate age intrigued me. I wanted to ask more questions, but she started backing away toward the door. “Well, I better get home. Thank you again.”
“It was no problem, really. Thanks for the cupcakes. Maybe I’ll see you at The Anchor sometime?”
Instead of answering, Caroline gave me a weak smile and hurried out of the door and back into the drizzly day.
“Well, that was weird,” I mumbled.
Looking at the cupcakes, I decided to take that break after all.
A few minutes later I was in the apartment, preparing a sandwich, and eyeing the delicious cupcakes the whole time. Arranging them on a platter, I snapped a photo and posted it on my Instagram. My friends were enjoying my shots of England. I captioned this one with “A gift from a friendly neighbor.”
Then, like an impatient kid, I took a bite out of one instead of waiting until I’d eaten my sandwich.
The sponge cake melted in my mouth, sharp, flavorful strawberry jam oozing onto my tongue from the center. The buttercream frosting was perfect. Not too sweet, light and creamy.
It was the best freaking cupcake I’d ever had in my life!
I wondered if Caroline worked at the bakery in town.
Finishing the cupcake, forcing myself not to eat another, I put them back into the Tupperware box to keep them fresh. “Note to self,” I murmured just as I was about to sit down to my sandwich, “ask Roane about his cousin.”
It was as if I’d conjured him.
A loud banging had me rushing to the window. Peering down onto the street below, I saw a familiar figure at the front door. Shadow stood at his side.
Heart rate increasing, I hurried out of the apartment and down to the bookstore, regretting the faster pace almost immediately. Light-headed, I gripped the store door for balance and yanked it open.
Roane pushed his way inside as he brushed off the hood of his raincoat. Shadow followed, and as I closed the door and locked it, the dog shook his body and sprayed everything in his vicinity with rainwater.
Me included.
He was forgiven when he trotted over to me and jumped up to say hello. Despite my light-headedness, which was seriously worsened by a huge dog putting his wet paws on my shoulders, I stumbled, laughing and jerking my chin away to avoid his kisses.
“Shadow, down,” Roane said, not sounding amused.
“It’s fine,” I promised, petting the Dane just before he heeded Roane’s orders. I had two muddy marks on my shoulders from his paws, and Roane’s expression clearly said that it wasn’t fine.