Ever After (Nantucket Brides 3)

“And she’s trying to win us over to her side.”

Jamie picked up a little triangle of crisp strudel, broke it in half, and gave the larger piece to Hallie. “Let’s see. Angry woman who slams gates versus Edith who brings us food. Hard to decide, huh?”

“Edith has won me. This is delicious. Apricots?”

“I think so. What’s your favorite berry?” He picked up a square cookie with a design of a rabbit on it.

“Lingonberry. They grow on little bushes. When I was little, Grams made a killer jam from them. Is that tea hot?”

Jamie touched the pot. “Scalding.”

By the next minute they were seated at the table and helping themselves. Before they finished, Jamie’s phone rang. He looked at the ID. “A cousin. What a surprise.” He touched “answer.” “Jared, good to hear from you. I just came up from the basement, where I have Hallie chained to a wall. She—”

“Give me that!” Hallie said as she took the phone from him. “Hi, Jared. Everything here is okay. What about you?”

“Fine,” he said. “Alix and I are in Texas right now, but I wanted you to know that I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m going to get a lawyer on this case against your stepsister.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” she said. “I’m sure you made your point clear enough that Shelly won’t do anything like that again.”

“Hallie,” Jared said with patience, “we left your stepsister alone in a house that you own. For all we know, by now she’s put it up for sale.”

“I don’t think she’d do that. She—”

Jamie took his phone back and put it on speaker. “I agree with you,” he said to Jared. “You have a lawyer? If not, I’m related to some.”

“That’s why I’m calling. Alix wondered if Hallie knew an attorney who is aware of the family situation. It might save time explaining.”

Jamie looked at her in question.

“My neighbor’s son, Braden Westbrook, is a lawyer,” Hallie said. “But he’s with Hadley-Braithwaite in Boston. They’re a big-deal law firm and I’m sure this case would be too small for them.”

“Does your friend know Shelly?” Jared asked.

“Oh, yes. He’s known her since she was a child.”

“Perfect. I’m going to call him.”

“Do you want his phone numbers and addresses?” Hallie asked. “I know them by heart.”

“Let me get a pen,” Jared said. “Okay. Shoot.”

She recited Braden’s cell number, office number, the addresses of his law firm and his apartment in Boston. Then she gave the cell number and address of his mother, who lived across the road from Hallie’s house.

“This is great,” Jared said. “Thanks, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I know anything.”

“Ask about the tea room,” Jamie said.

“Uh, Jared?” Hallie asked. “Uh, something happened. I don’t know how to say this exactly, but…Well, actually, nothing really happened, but—”

Jamie picked up the phone. “Did you know this house is haunted by a couple of tea-serving ladies?”

“Oh, Lord,” Jared said. “I forgot about them.” He let out a sigh. “Nantucket has…” He trailed off. “How scared are the two of you?”

“Not scared at all,” Jamie said. “Well, Hallie is a bit, but she had me move upstairs to be near her and she’s okay now.”

“Did she?” Jared said in a way that left no doubt that he thought the “moving upstairs” had nothing to do with a couple of ghosts.

Jamie looked at Hallie, whose face was turning red. “Actually, we’re intrigued and would like to know more about the ladies, but that room is locked. We thought we’d call a locksmith and—”