This is a prequel to the series - A Merchant Street Mysteries - arriving September 2013.

Dependable Adele Abberley is tired of seeing to everyone else’s responsibilities, including running the family antique store, taking care of her dad, and tending her brother’s two boys. When idealistic Kipp Waterbury drops by her antique store, will his romantic nature help her to view the world in a brand new light? Will the secrets they find hidden in an antique Victorian chair encourage her to stop trying to please everyone and please herself instead?

 

Fifteen years ago…

Adele Abberley’s heart raced. She hung up the phone and placed a shaky hand to her mouth, taking a slow deep breath. Her Bull Terrier shoved her nose under her hand, trying to get a pat.

“Okay, Fresca. I didn’t forget about you,” she said, smiling. She kissed that big sloped head of hers. “We both might have Roman noses, but I still say we’re beautiful, especially you.” She kissed Fresca again and then sighed.

She’d done it. She’d finally registered. Late in the year, but she had still done it. She’d finalized registration for her first semester to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, something she should have done right out of high school. She’d certainly wanted to. But for the past eleven years, life kept getting in the way. Not really her life but everyone else’s she knew.

She leaned back on her bed and flung her arm across her forehead. Fresca whined and licked her cheek.

Dad will have a fit, a complete come apart.

“Yes, he will,” she cooed at Fresca. “Yes, he will.”

And why wouldn’t he? She’d been taking care of him, the antique shop, her nephews, and just about everything else that needed handling. What would he do when he found out she planned to move out and get an apartment closer to the University of Utah? Not that they lived far away. In fact, she lived near downtown Salt Lake City. But, she wanted to be on her own and at twenty-nine she deserved the right. She’d taken care of everyone else for long enough.

She hopped off the bed and grabbed a suitcase from the closet. Fresca looked at her and whined.

“Might as well do a little advance packing, don’t you think?”

Fresca rushed to the closet and brought back one of her slippers. She hopped back up on the bed and dropped it in the suitcase, going for the mate.

Adele’s stomach cringed. Despite having made all the arrangements for college, her gut instinct told her something would stop her again from fulfilling her dreams. It always did. But she just had to start telling people no. This was her life after all.

She brushed the feeling aside and continued adding items to her suitcase. Fresca added more shoes.

“Adele? Are you in there?” her father said from the hall.

She gasped, closed the suitcase, and quickly stuffed it in the closet. “What is it?”

He pushed open the door, coughing. “Sorry about that. Got a tickle in my throat. Just got a call from Rhonda.”

She frowned. He’d been coughing for weeks and kept telling her it was just a lingering cough from a cold. I wonder. His olive skin had a yellowish cast to it and he looked thinner, making his dark eyes appear sunken. Although he still had a thick head of graying black hair, it looked finer and less shiny. Fresca ran over, jumped on his thigh, and did a back flip. Dad looked like he might topple over but steadied himself.

“Down, Fresca,” she said. “Sorry, Dad.”

“Silly dog. Anyway, it’s not good news,” he said, his voice hoarse.

Adele flopped onto her bed. “Is it ever?”

“Rhonda just telephoned the boys, and Zymon isn’t home with them.”

She slapped her cheek. “They’re alone?” Her gaze tore around the room in search of her purse and keys. “Where’s Rhonda this time? And where’s Zymon? This is getting ridiculous.”

“I didn’t think to ask what city she’s in this week. Some buyer’s convention in some city—New York, Maine? Don’t ask me. As for your brother, I haven’t the foggiest idea.”

Probably off on another drunk somewhere. She would never say anything to Dad about Zymon’s drinking, but it seemed to be escalating.

“What about the antique shop?” She pulled open her nightstand drawer, still looking for her keys.

“No answer. Could you…” He waved his hand.

“Sure I’ll go, if I can just find my car keys.”

She had no intention of telling him her college plans right now. She still had a few weeks to gently break the news to him, the time she needed to gain the courage to tell him.

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