Summer In Iron Springs Read online

  “Thank you,” Phoebe smiled at the kind woman. “That means a lot to me. And thanks for letting us look.”

  Once Ms. Cox was gone, Jenna, Phoebe, and Billy stared at the mountains of paper. There were stacks piled from floor to ceiling. Boxes were heaped in corners and file cabinets were so full, the drawers wouldn’t close completely.

  “Well, we better get started,” Billy said as his eyes surveyed the monumental task before them.

  “Uh-huh,” Jenna agreed. “And by the way, remember when I told you about all the awards Ms. Cox has won? Well, I should probably point out that none of them were for neatness.”

  “You guys shouldn’t spend your day doing this.” Phoebe felt a pain of guilt over the tremendous effort they had already put into helping her. She couldn’t let them spend hours and hours searching through millions of pieces of paper in the hopes that they might find the one that lists the donors of a silent auction that took place three years ago. “It’ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

  “Actually, a needle in a haystack would be a breeze compared to this.” Billy sighed. “So, we’d better get started.”

  “I’m serious; I can’t let you do this. This is my problem, not yours.”

  Jenna put her hands on her hips and stared at Phoebe. “I’m hurt. I thought we were friends!” She put her bottom lip out and pretended to pout.

  “We are friends.” Phoebe said. “I just can’t—“

  “You can, and you will. If we’re friends, you will let us help. That’s what friends are for.”

  Jenna didn’t wait for Phoebe’s permission to get started and Billy quickly followed Jenna’s lead and began sifting through scraps of paper in search of the donor record.

  Soon, Jenna came up with a system where each person was assigned to search a specific pile. Then, each carried the pile to a large open area, just outside the office, where the papers could be sorted.

  As they discussed a strategy, they decided that they may as well organize the office while they looked for the record. After all, Ms. Cox was nice enough to allow them free access to her records. Phoebe found several empty boxes and labeled them; one for receipts and invoices, one for scripts and notes regarding the various productions Ms. Cox had directed over the years, and another for student evaluations. Several others were left unlabeled until they found something that required its own label. Eventually, Jenna wrote “assignments” on one of those. On another, she wrote “junk”—that one was for gum wrappers, coke cans, and other stuff that was strewn about on the office floor.

  “I’m starving.” Billy announced after three hours of searching without any luck. “How about I go pick up pizza. Then we can eat while we work.”

  “That sounds good to me.” Phoebe agreed

  “Me too!” Jenna’s voice floated up from behind a mountain of paper. “Get something meaty, we are going to need protein if we’re ever going to get through this mess.”

  Billy returned a few minutes later with an extra-large, meat lover’s pizza and three cokes. He dished a large slice onto each of the three paper plates he’d gotten from the Red Hornet Pizzeria and delivered one to each of the girl’s work areas.

  “Thank you, Billy.” Phoebe glanced up at him from her spot on the floor. She was surrounded by deep piles of paper. Billy leaned over, careful not to disturb her hard work, and planted a kiss on her lips.

  “Here you’ll need these,” he said, handing her a bunch of napkins. “You’re a messy eater.”

  Nineteen

  The gloominess Phoebe felt after spending hours searching the mountains of paperwork in Ms. Cox’s office only to walk away empty-handed diminished when the lights were lowered and she saw the emperor strutting across the stage in the buff.

  “He really looks naked!” she shouted so Billy could hear her over the screams and cries of the rowdy audience.

  “It’s a nude suit, but it sure looks realistic!” Billy let out a loud whistle when the emperor swaggered about in his elaborate non-existent new clothes. The audience went nuts as he paraded from table to table with his hands on his hips and a very convincing—look at my fancy new get-up—grin on his face. Phoebe laughed so hard her stomach hurt. By the time the play ended, her spirits were lifted and she was starving.

  They walked up Park Street to The Gold Mine where Dave had made reservations. They were seated on an outdoor terrace that gave an amazing view of the mountains. The hostess turned on the gas heater that was attached to the umbrella stand in the center of the table and the gentle warmth it provided made the spot absolutely perfect.

  “So, how’s the investigation going?” Dave asked after everyone had placed their orders.

  Phoebe thought about the hours of work they had put in today only to walk away from the school empty-handed. “Frustratingly slow.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Not unless you have some magical powers that will help us find the auction record hidden somewhere in the mountains of paper in Ms. Cox’s office.”

  Dave gave a chuckle then, holding up his hands feigning defeat he said, “No magical powers here, sorry. But if there’s anything else I can do, I’d be glad to help.”

  “Thanks, I’ll let you know. But you already helped a lot. Without the police report, those guys at the gallery never would have told us who sold them the cameo.”

  “And we never would have gotten that report without your help.” Jenna gave Dave a flirty smile.

  “It was nothing.” Dave smiled at Jenna before shifting his glance to the mountain side. “What an amazing view.”

  Billy pointed to the uppermost peak of the mountain. “Saturday, Phoebe and I are hiking to Skeleton Lake.” Billy lifted a slice of the Portobello mushroom he’d ordered as an appetizer onto Phoebe’s plate.

  Dave’s eyebrows shot up. “Skeleton Lake? Really?”

  Phoebe noticed the expression on Dave’s face and then shifted her eyes to Billy. “Why, is it like Mount Everest or something?”

  “No. Not Mount Everest,” Dave chuckled. “But it’s a heck of a hike.” Dave lifted his plate so Billy could give him a slice of the mushroom. “I’ve done it. It’s . . .” He paused when Billy gave him a stop-talking-now stare.

  “What was that look about?” Phoebe shifted her gaze from Billy to Dave and then back to Billy.

  “Nothing,” Dave said. “It’s a great hike; just kind of long. I’m sure you’ll have a great time.”

  “I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard stories.” Jenna’s words added to Phoebe’s already growing insecurity.

  Okaaaay. In Phoebe’s mind, she was picturing a grueling hike that would end with Billy carrying her exhausted body out of the woods. “What stories?” Phoebe looked at Jenna.

  “It’s not that bad,” Billy piped up before Jenna could answer. “Feebs here is in great shape.” He gave her thigh a gentle pat. “She’s been working hard in the orchard.”

  Phoebe nodded in agreement but Dave’s words—both the spoken and the unspoken ones—made her wonder if she really could do it. “Is it super hard?” She turned to Billy.

  “It’s a lot of uphill. But it’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be with you.”

  Phoebe thought about the painting. She had studied it for hours—memorizing every detail—she’d imagined herself there, sitting on that bench. She visualized her mother and the joy in her eyes as her father got down on one knee and proposed. There’s no way I’m leaving Iron Springs without visiting the place my parents got engaged. She told herself. “I’m looking forward to it.” She smiled at Billy as the server set her dinner on the table before her.

  Everything looks delicious,” Phoebe said glancing around the table and eyeing each of the meals. She and Billy each got a steak and Dave ordered a seafood platter for two that he and Jenna were sharing.

  Phoebe had just taken her first bite of steak when her eyes were drawn to a tall, thin, and very attractive girl who had sauntered onto the terrace. The girl didn’t no
tice—or more likely she was doing a great job pretending not to notice—the countless sets of eyes upon her. Men at every table had turned their heads in what seemed like an involuntary motion to ogle the willowy beauty. The floating way she sashayed across the patio reminded Phoebe of a debutant on her way to the ball. As she headed toward their table, she stared at Phoebe. It was the kind of look you give someone you really dislike. At first, Phoebe thought she was imagining things but, when the girl’s eyes remained fixed on her for much longer than was normal, Phoebe realized that she was, indeed, the object of the snotty girl’s disdain.

  Who is this girl?

  Billy’s back was to the girl so he was caught off guard when she came up behind him and covered his eyes with her hands.

  “Guess whoooo’s baaaack.” Her lips were so close to Billy’s ear that Phoebe was sure he could feel her breath on his face.

  Phoebe searched Billy’s face—which was pretty difficult, since what’s-her-name was still covering his eyes. Still, she could tell Billy knew very well who was back.

  “Sarah?”

  Both Dave and Jenna’s eyes were fixed on Phoebe as Phoebe tried to disguise the jealousy she suddenly felt by using her fork to pick at her asparagus.

  As the awkward seconds ticked by—and as Billy made no attempt to inform Sarah he was on a date—Phoebe’s emotions started bubbling up in her chest. She swallowed hard while commanding her tear ducts to follow orders. She would just die if she let herself go to pieces in front of Miss-Sassy-Pants.

  Billy reached up, took hold of Sarah’s hands and removed them from his eyes. He turned to face her and gave her a quick hug—not a romantic hug, more like the kind you give your grandmother. Still, Phoebe couldn’t stop her temperature from rising.

  “When did you get back?”

  Sarah cocked her head to the side and gave Billy a wide smile. “This morning; why, did you miss me?”

  Billy didn’t respond. Instead, he shifted his weight and gave a nervous chuckle.

  Did he miss her?

  Phoebe’s mind filled with questions. The girl’s words played over in her head—guess whose back. Did she go away and return unexpectedly?

  Billy cleared his throat. “These are my friends.” He motioned nervously with his hand as he introduced each of them. “Jenna, Dave and Phoebe.” Then, returning his attention to the girl he said, “This is Sarah.”

  So that’s Sarah. Wow. Phoebe took a long look at the girl Billy used to date while Billy’s words registered in her mind. When they did, her emotions changed from jealousy to anger. Did he just introduce me as his friend?

  Sarah shot Dave and Jenna a phony smile before her piercing eyes settled on Phoebe. “It’s so lovely to meet you all. I hope you’re enjoying your dinner.” The practiced and totally sappy greeting was so completely over the top it was all Phoebe could do to keep from laughing out loud. Who does she think she is anyway, the Queen of England?

  Sarah’s eyes flittered to a group of people seated a couple tables over and she gave a refined wave of her delicate hand before returning her scorn-filled eyes to Phoebe. Phoebe glanced at Jenna and smiled—not that there was anything to smile about, but she was trying to appear unfazed, and she knew if she spoke her voice would crack and there was no way she’d let that happen. Jenna smiled back, and Phoebe was thankful for the sympathy in her friend’s eyes.

  Billy leaned in and whispered something in Sarah’s ear. Apparently whatever he had to say was quite humorous since Sarah threw her head back and laughed like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Then she put a hand on Billy’s chest and gave him a playful shove. “Oh, Billy, that’s so funny.”

  Oh please. Nothing is that funny.

  “So . . .” Sarah gave Phoebe a pretentious smile. “I hear you’ve got quite the story. What was it Billy?” Sarah pretended to direct her question to Billy, but she never took her eyes off of Phoebe. “Something about getting arrested and having to be sent away . . . very scandalous stuff.” She chuckled and waved her hand dismissively through the air. “I guess Iron Springs must be positively dull compared to what you’re used to—what with all the law abiding citizens in this town.”

  “Sarah . . .” Billy admonished. “Stop that.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry . . .” Sarah put a hand over her heart. “Was that a secret? I thought everyone knew. You know, the same way everyone knows about her dad.”

  Phoebe thought about standing up and knocking the stuck-up blonde on her butt before storming out of the restaurant but, for some reason, she felt like she was glued to the chair—almost as though she were temporarily paralyzed.

  “Well, I guess I better get going and let you get back to your friends.” Sarah glanced one last time at Phoebe and gave a fake laugh.

  “See you soon,” she whispered loud enough for Phoebe to hear.

  Billy watched Sarah walk away before sitting back down at the table and glancing nervously at Phoebe. “I’m sorry about that.” His voice was shaky. “I don’t know why . . . I mean, I can’t believe she said those things to you.”

  Sarah’s words echoed in Phoebe’s mind. How did she know about Phoebe’s arrest? Had Billy told her? And Billy, what was up with him? These are my friends? She was completely heart-broken. So, we’re just friends? She glanced at Billy who still refused to meet her eyes. Pretty sure I’ve never kissed any of my friends. And what was that stuff about my father? Had Billy been lying when he said he didn’t know that her father had been a suspect in her mother’s murder? How could he not know? Apparently everyone in Iron Springs was aware of it—which would explain why people looked at her like she was from a different planet.

  After a strained moment of silence, Dave blurted out something about how it was perfect weather for night fishing. At least that’s what Phoebe thought he said. She wasn’t able to pay attention to anything other than the anger that had filled her heart.

  “Come with me Jenna.” Phoebe pushed back her chair and stood up. “I need your help in the ladies room.” She took Phoebe by the hand and led her inside the restaurant and down a dim hallway to the restrooms. Once inside, Jenna looked under each of the three stalls and, after establishing that they were alone, she turned the lock on the door.

  “That was way out of line!” Jenna’s face was bright red and she looked like a caged animal pacing the floor. “I can’t believe Billy just let that . . . that . . . person, stand there and flirt with him without saying a word.”

  “I know.” Phoebe grabbed some tissues and blew her nose. “I don’t know what to think about any of this.”

  Jenna gestured toward the door. “Who does that hussy think she is? And what’s up with that stuff about getting arrested?”

  The tears Phoebe had managed, by some miracle, to hold back, now rolled down her cheeks with a fury. “Well, you may as well know. . .” Phoebe sniffled. “. . . That part is true.”

  “I don’t care if it’s true. I don’t care if you’re a serial killer—well, actually I would care about that, but . . . well, that was a bad example.” Jenna waved the thought away. “What I’m saying is that it’s none of her business. I could just pop her right in that tiny nose!”

  “So could I, believe me.” Phoebe looked at her red, splotchy face in the mirror. “So, that’s Sarah? The Sarah Billy used to date?”

  Jenna nodded. “Yep, that’s her.”

  “Tell me the truth, Jenna. Did he used to date her? Or is he currently dating her?”

  “As far as I know they broke up. But, that little—whatever the heck that was—sure didn’t seem like the behavior of a couple who are no longer together.”

  “It sure didn’t,” Phoebe said, wiping her nose again. “I’m not going back out there.”

  “Okay. I’ll take care of it. You wait here.”

  Phoebe nodded and hoisted herself onto the granite countertop.

  “I’ll knock when I get back.” When Jenna opened the door to leave, Billy was standing there.

  “I need to talk to
Phoebe,” he said. He looked Phoebe in the eyes and added, “Alone.”

  Jenna turned to look at Phoebe. She raised her eyebrows. “Do you want me to leave you two alone?”

  “No,” Phoebe said, refusing to make eye contact with Billy. “I want to go home.”

  “Feebs, at least let me explain. I know that looked bad but—

  “It looked bad because it was bad Billy. Now, leave me alone.” Phoebe hurried past Billy. She glanced at Jenna. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

  “Okay. I’m just going to grab Dave’s keys.”

  Twenty

  Phoebe dumped her untouched lunch in the trash. “I’m going back to work,” she said to no one in particular as she plodded away from the picnic table. The blazing heat, combined with the fact that she hadn’t slept well for two nights—a result of the Sarah episode—put her in a terrible mood.

  “Hang on, little lady,” Norm called out. He set his plate down and hurried to catch up with her.

  “I need you and Billy to thin all those trees along the fence.” He pointed to the orchard’s southernmost boundary. “You can take my truck and come back to get us at two-thirty.”

  Phoebe let out a groan. She had been able to avoid Billy for two days. He’d tried to talk to her several times. He’d apologized over and over but Phoebe was too angry to listen to anything he had to say. What could he say anyway? He could tell her that he and Sarah had been gossiping about her and her father. He could say that the two of them had a good long laugh at her expense. She didn’t want to hear anything Billy had to say.

  “Are you sure?” She pointed to the area where she had been pruning all morning. “I’m almost done with my section. Shouldn’t I finish that first?”