Letters in Time, Reiss Susan [read me a book TXT] 📗

harvest for weeks. Right now, I have the time and I'm glad to help. Let's get you some ice cream."

It had been years since I'd been to a Dairy Queen. All their unusual concoctions on the menu were tempting, but I settled for a single scoop of chocolate with chocolate jimmies. With all the inactivity over the past months, excess calories were building up in critical areas. I didn't want to diet to wear the clothes in my closet once I got back on both feet. The jeans skirt and loose yoga pants I'd been living in hid a multitude of sins. But it was nice to sit in his truck and talk for a few minutes while we ate an icy cold bit of heaven.

“What were you reading when I came out of P.T.?”

He whipped out a slim magazine with an orange and green cover that I’d seen stuffed in the back pocket of his jeans. “It’s the Farmers’ Almanac. I was checking on the weather forecast for the upcoming weeks.”

“Really?”  What a strange man.  “Wouldn’t it be better to use a weather app and watch the radar?”

He held up his index finger to slow me down. “Don’t dis the Almanac. It’s been right on the money with its winter forecasts. It’s right more times than not.”

I shook my head, not buying into his argument. “Sorry, I prefer technology like satellites.”

“The Almanac has got weather forecasts and lots of good information.” He flipped to a page and read. “Abraham Lincoln read the Farmers’ Almanac.”

“He didn’t have a Smartphone and apps back then,” I countered.

"He didn't use it for farming. He used it to win a murder trial. According to this article, he showed the jury that the moon was low in the sky on the night of the murder. There was no way the prosecution's chief witness could have seen the murder committed by the light of the moon. It's got lots of interesting factual tidbits like that."

“Speaking of facts, do you think we could go to the Maryland Room now before I collapse?  The physical therapist wore me out.”

Quickly, he started the engine and we were on our way. The library was a charming brick building with a landscaped courtyard at the entrance. I would have preferred the front door closer to the curb, but it was like an oasis in the middle of town. TJ escorted me through what he described as the newly renovated reading areas, offices, and stacks. It seemed very well stocked for a small-town library. I chastised myself for thinking like a big city girl. I didn't come to the Eastern Shore for big city living. This library had something very different to offer: historical information about Talbot County, where the Cottage, and Waterwood Plantation were located. Besides, if I were at the Central Philadelphia Library, I couldn’t navigate its many floors and miles of walkways.

The thought of unraveling the mystery of Daniel and Emma put a smile on my face. Fortunately, it masked my surprise at seeing the woman at the librarian's desk. She was young and radiated energy. She wore jeans, but her outfit was more of a coordinated jeans pantsuit. The jacket was embroidered with lots of colorful flowers. Her hair and makeup were perfect for a fashion magazine photoshoot. The red-framed eyeglasses were the only thing that fit with the stereotype of a librarian. I shook off that old simplified and uncomplimentary image just in time to hide my confusion.

She looked up and smiled. “Hello, how may I help you … TJ!” She slipped off her glasses.

His eyes were wide with surprise. “Stephani?” Then he frowned in confusion. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m working here as an intern, thank you very much.” She put her glasses on again with a little defiance.

“But I thought you were—”

“Doing hair?” She shook her head back and forth so her sleek cocoa brown hair swung gently in a perfect shape. “Oh no, I don’t do that anymore.”

TJ rubbed his chin. “But you were so good and—”

She cut him off again. “I wanted to do something worthwhile, so here I am. Her eyes flitted over to me and bore in.

“Hello, I’m Emma Chase. I just moved into my Uncle Jack’s Cottage down in—”

“I know who you are.” She flashed a million-watt smile. “News travels fast around here. Welcome to the Shore and to our library. What can I do to help you?” A quick glance at TJ seemed meant to dismiss him.

“I’m looking for information about the Cottage,” I said quickly.

TJ touched my arm. “Are you all set?” I nodded. “Then I’ll leave you ladies to it. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

Stephani pulled out a sturdy wooden chair at a large library table in the center of the room. "Why don't you sit down? Using crutches can be exhausting. We'll discuss your research plan."

I was grateful for her consideration and slid onto the chair while she got a pen and paper to take notes.

She asked, “Do you want to do a genealogical search of your uncle who left you the Cottage?”

"Ah, no, not exactly. I'd like to know about the land where the Cottage sits. It is surrounded by a place called Waterwood."

Stephani’s pen stopped moving. “Waterwood?”

“Yes, is that…”

She rose from her chair and hustled to a tall filing cabinet in the corner. After a little searching, she returned with a thick manila folder. "Let's start with the file on Waterwood, a well-known and old property in Talbot County. You can use my pad, but next time you should bring your own."

"Oh dear, I appreciate that you found all