Free The Postman Always Purls Twice by Anne Canadeo

them carrying anything. Maybe I didn’t notice,” Lucy said.
    â€œMaybe the stalker saw his gift had been rejected and came back for it.” Phoebe looked around at her friends, her theory clearly making her nervous all over again.
    â€œOh dear. I hope not.” Maggie felt goose flesh rise on her arms. “I wish Jennifer had let me call the police.”
    â€œYou can still call. It is your shop and you have a right to be concerned about your property,” Suzanne reminded her.
    â€œNot to mention poor Phoebe, alone upstairs tonight,” Lucy added. “Are you going to be all right?”
    Phoebe did look a little nervous, Maggie thought. She shrugged her thin shoulders. “Oh . . . I’ll be fine. All the doors are locked and there’s the alarm. And I have Van Gogh,” she added, mentioning her cat.
    â€œRight, that very scary watch cat. He’ll protect you.” Dana smiled. Van Gogh ran under the nearest piece of furniture at the sight of a stranger. Though he clearly adored Phoebe.
    â€œWhy don’t you come home with me?” Maggie suggested. “I’ll be worried about you. I won’t sleep a wink.”
    â€œMe, either,” Suzanne and Lucy said in unison.
    â€œIt’s unanimous,” Dana added.
    Phoebe sighed. “All right. If it makes you all feel better. I’ll just grab some stuff . . . and my cat,” she mumbled.
    â€œI heard that. It’s all right,” Maggie added with a sigh. The truth was, even though Maggie had initially balked about having the cat in the shop, she was getting used to him. Even as a houseguest.
    A few moments later, Maggie had checked all the doors and windows, set the alarm, and followed her friends out to the porch. She locked the door and double-checked the knob.
    A few yellow petals remained in the spot where the big basket of roses had stood, the only evidence that it had been there at all.
    Maggie glanced at them a moment and checked the door again.
    â€œCome along now. Time to go.” Lucy tugged her arm. “No one is going to bother the shop. Jennifer Todd is gone. That’s the only person this weird delivery guy is interested in.”
    â€œHe was obviously following her. Maybe he followed her back to the inn,” Suzanne said logically.
    â€œYes . . . that’s probably true.” Maggie accompanied her friends down the path to the street. “But thank you for waiting until I closed up.”
    â€œDon’t be silly. Safety in numbers,” Lucy said quickly.
    â€œEspecially true for sheep, come to think of it,” Maggie quipped. “Though you’re hardly a timid bunch.”
    â€œAre you kidding? We’re pretty darn baaah-aad ass, if you ask me,” Suzanne insisted.
    Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Oh please. Can we go now?”
    â€œAfter that, we really ought to,” Maggie agreed. It was definitely time to head home, but good to end the strange evening with a laugh.

Chapter Four
    â€œC ome on, Lucy . . . just say yes. You know you want to.”
    Suzanne’s tone was tempting. So was her invitation. Lucy still wavered.
    â€œI do . . . but I have a project due Friday. I don’t think I should skip work tomorrow.”
    â€œOh, come on. It won’t take the whole day. Just an hour or two. You can catch up at night. Just drink some coffee, like you always do.”
    That was true. She should have been back at her desk already, but got sidetracked after dinner, watching a baseball game with Matt. The spring season had just started and they were both suffering from Red Sox withdrawal.
    With her cell phone balanced between her ear and her shoulder, Lucy carried a bowl of popcorn from the kitchen to the sofa. Tink and Wally swirled around her legs, two panting, furry crocodiles, lured by the scent of their favorite snack. The dogs watched vigilantly for a stray kernel to drop in their