The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

“I love it,” Blue murmured.

“You do?”

She straightened and took Tawny’s hand. “I do. And now I have a surprise for you.”

“Really? Chocolate cake?”

Blue laughed. “No, but we can get something special at the fair later on. Now, come on. We don’t want to be late.”

Blue got Tawny settled in the backseat, and the little girl chatted like a machine as Blue drove across the bridge and headed downtown. They parked in front of an old brick building located at the very end of Main Street. At one time, it had been some sort of factory when lumber was king around these parts. Then it had been closed for decades and nearly been torn down. But several years earlier, the Blackwells had bought it and done extensive renovations keeping with the rustic beauty of the town and of a time long gone. Exposed beams and the brickwork laid the foundation for all the commercial units inside, and Blue had managed to scoop up the largest located on the main floor. It boasted floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the river behind the building. The natural light was amazing, and the large open space was ready for her to make dreams happen.

“Is this where the fair is?” Tawny asked as they exited her SUV.

“Nope.” Blue leaned down and took her hand. “There’s something even better inside, and I hope you’re going to love it as much as I do.”

Tawny skipped along as she led her toward the main entrance. Once inside, they walked straight ahead, where an older man dressed in a rumpled gray pinstripe suit waited. His thick white hair was askew and his features were sharp. But his eyes were warm, and he smiled when he spied Blue. He handed Blue a large envelope, and, with a few last instructions, he was off.

She opened the manila envelope and retrieved a key, which she used to open the door they st

ood in front of. Once inside, she flipped the light switch to the right and held her breath as she turned in a full circle.

“What do you think?” she asked Tawny.

“It’s big. Like the gym at school.”

“I bought it.”

“You did?” Tawny ran to one of the windows. “This whole place?”

“I did.”

“And we can come here to play?”

Blue followed Tawny to the window, and for a moment or two, they looked out at the river, swollen from a week or so of autumn rain. On the other side of the bank, the flaming reds and oranges of fall danced in the waning light as the wind rustled the leaves off the trees.

“When I was a little girl, dancing made me feel like I was on a different planet. Like I could do anything. Be anyone. If I was sad or upset, I could dance and forget about all that.” Blue looked around the room. “I spent more time in a dance studio than I did at home. I loved ballet. I loved interpreting music with my body.”

Blue knelt so she was face-to-face with Tawny. “I always thought that if I had a little girl, I’d want her to dance. To feel that freedom and love it the way that I did.” She exhaled. “The way that I do.”

“I like to dance,” Tawny said softly.

“I know. I’ve watched you.”

Tawny’s light eyes were serious as she looked up at Blue. “I could be your little girl. If you want to borrow me.”

Her words hit Blue with a flurry of bittersweet hammers that bruised just below the surface. She blinked rapidly and had to wait a few moments before she could speak.

“I would like that.” She cleared her throat, got to her feet, and winked. “Do you want to dance?”

“Right now?”

She nodded.

“Yes!” Tawny started to twirl in a circle as Blue grabbed her phone.

“What’s your favorite song?”

“The Baby Shark song. The remix one.”