“Who says I’m hard to please? Shame on you for talking about your grandmother that way!”
Both Gabrielle and Lauren turned at the sound of Mary Perkins’s voice.
“Grandma!” Lauren exclaimed, obviously happy to see the older woman and not at all concerned at being caught talking behind her back.
And Mary had obviously not been upset with her, since contrary to her normally restrained demeanor, she held out her arms and pulled her granddaughter into a warm hug.
“How’s your arthritis?” Lauren asked.
“Nothing can keep your grandmother down, you know that,” Mary said.
“Where’s my sister?”
“Running errands for me in town. She left the note for you, but she said to tell you she’ll be back soon.” Mary stepped back from her granddaughter and turned to Gabrielle. “Ms. Donovan, how nice to see you. What brings you by?”
“I’ve been wanting to make an appointment, but Elizabeth said she didn’t know your schedule, so I thought I’d take a chance and stop by.” Gabrielle decided not to mention her upcoming book unless asked. She didn’t want to discourage the other woman from setting up a time to talk. Obviously, since her granddaughter was here to see her, she was too busy now.
“Well, Elizabeth can be overprotective of my time.” She smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “What did you want to discuss?” Mary asked.
Gabrielle drew herself up straighter. “Actually, I’d like to talk to you about the curse, how it’s affected your family from the original generation on. Whatever you can tell me, I’d love to hear it.”
“For your book?” the mayor asked.
“You’re writing a new book? About what?” Lauren asked.
Gabrielle glanced at the mayor.
“The Corwin Curse,” Mary said.
Lauren shook her head, a skeptical look crossed her face. “Have fun,” she said lightly.
“I take it you don’t believe in it?” Gabrielle asked.
“Oh, no.” Lauren waved away the notion.
Mary frowned.
“Yet Elizabeth does?”
Lauren inclined her head. “My sister and grandmother are cut from the same cloth.”
Mary turned back to Gabrielle. “I’d be happy to discuss my family with you,” she said, surprising Gabrielle. “Let me make the appointment myself.”
She pulled a set of keys from her purse and walked over to the double doors, letting herself into her office. Since she didn’t invite them in, Gabrielle waited where she was, despite her curiosity.
Mary returned with a leather-bound appointment book in her hand. They agreed on a morning appointment during the week and both wrote it down.
Gabrielle glanced at her watch and realized, with a start, how late it had gotten. Derek was expecting her. “I really should be going,” Gabrielle said. “Nice to meet you, Lauren.”
“Same here.” The other woman nodded. “I’m only here for a short time, but hopefully I’ll see you again soon.”
Considering this woman was related to Mary Perkins and could offer insight into her psyche, Gabrielle nodded. “Count on it,” she said, before heading out the door.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
GABRIELLE DIDN’T HAVE TO ring Derek’s doorbell. He flung it open as soon as she set foot on the front porch. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her inside, locking the dead bolt behind her.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried sick. I thought maybe something had happened to you!” A muscle throbbed in his left temple.