When Gracie hesitated, he stared at her. “You owe me,” he reminded her.

She shivered. “I know. Okay-I’ll do what I can with Alexis. But I can’t promise more than a couple of days. She’s a woman on a mission.”

“And we all know what happens when you Landon women set your mind to something.”

“Exactly.” She stood and looked at him. “I’m really sorry, Riley. I know the apology is about fourteen years too late, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I never meant to make your life hell.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Do you want me to leave my cell number so you can get in touch with me about Zeke or do you want to call Alexis directly?”

Riley decided on the devil he knew. “Your number is fine.”

He handed her a pad of paper. She quickly wrote on it and passed it back.

“My camera,” she said.

He gave it to her.

“How long are you in town for?” he asked.

“A few weeks. My younger sister, Vivian, is getting married. I’m here to help out with all the details and to make the wedding cake. I rented a house at the edge of town. I need a kitchen to complete my other orders.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

She nodded, then turned the camera over in her hands as if she wanted to say something else. He waited, but she only shrugged, then walked toward the hallway.

He followed her to the front door. She stepped out into the night, then glanced back at him.

“I wasn’t wrong about Pam,” she said.

“I should have listened.”

Her lips curved up in a smile. “Really?”

“Sure. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes, Gracie. Good night.”

He closed the door, but didn’t step away. Sure enough he heard a thud, as if she’d just kicked the door.

“That was a low blow, Riley,” she yelled. “A real low blow.”

Despite everything that had happened and everything he had yet to do, he found himself grinning as he returned to the library.