Free forgotten (Twisted Cedars Mysteries Book 2) by CJ Carmichael Page B

of the doubt.”
    She didn’t have the nerve to argue the point. Just a few months ago she’d asked Wade if he could help her track her father down. Wade had put her off pretty quickly.
    “I hope you learned something from what happened with Kyle. There are some pretty bad people in this world. And, unfortunately, our father is one of them.” Dougal stood and waited until she’d done the same. Then he took her arm. “If he tries to get in touch, you call me, okay? Don’t wait even one minute. Just call.”
     
     

chapter ten
     
    s ince she was eager to spend time with the twins, Jamie had left work early and Charlotte was able to make it to Heartland before five o’clock. Terri Morrison, a tall, energetic woman in her late forties, with short, brown hair, and expressive brown eyes, was happy to see her.
    “Charlotte, I’m loving Unbroken , I’m so glad you suggested it for our Book Club. But I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.”
    “I brought some new books.” Charlotte set the carton on a chair. “Plus, I was wondering if you had someone new register today? The Sheriff was telling me about a woman who was injured in a truck accident on Friday.”
    “Birdie. Yes, I picked her up from the hospital today. A real sad case. Poor woman doesn’t remember anything. Not her name, or where she lives, or...anything. It’s like something from a book.”
    “Do you think I could meet her? The Sheriff thought it might be a good idea if someone showed her around town. It might help her get her bearings and maybe some of her memories, as well.”
    “That’s an excellent idea. She’s been very listless since she arrived. Leave those books, I’ll take care of them later. We have Birdie in one of our east wing rooms.”
    Birdie wasn’t in her room, though. She was in the communal kitchen, sitting at the table and watching several of the other women prepare dinner, while four children played around her. A little girl, about four, was coloring pictures at the table across from Birdie, while the other three, toddlers, kept busy with a bucket of toys on the floor.
    “Hello everyone,” Terri said. “Birdie I’d like you to meet Charlotte Hammond, our local librarian. Charlotte runs a book club for us here and keeps a selection of books for us in our mobile library in the computer room.”
    Charlotte was struck by an aura of deep sadness around Birdie. Despite bruising under her eyes, and her sickly pallor, she was strikingly beautiful, her features putting Charlotte in mind of the actress Amy Adams. Her thick, reddish-blonde hair was so thick you could hardly see the white bandages protecting her injury.
    She looked on the verge of collapse, yet she stood and offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlotte.”
    “I’m sorry about your accident. I hope you recover quickly.”
    Birdie gave a small smile, then glanced out the window. “It’s sunny outside, but I feel like I’m walking around in a thick fog.”
    “Are you in pain?”
    “I just took my meds an hour ago, so I’m pretty good right now.”
    Terri stepped forward then. “Birdie, if you’re up to it, Charlotte has offered to give you a bit of a tour of Twisted Cedars. It might help orient you.”
    “That sounds nice,” Birdie said softly.
    Since she didn’t look that strong, Charlotte decided the tour would have to be by car. “How about I drive you to the main street and we check that out?”
    “I’d really like that.”
    Terri accompanied them to the front street where Charlotte had parked her pride and joy—her father’s red ‘97 BMW.
    “It’s been a hot July so far, hasn’t it?” Terri commented.
    Charlotte agreed. “We’ve been using the air conditioning a lot at the library the past few weeks. Last year we only needed it a few days all summer.”
    “Today didn’t seem all that warm to me,” Birdie said.
    “Maybe you’re not used to the weather here on the coast,” Terri replied.
    Birdie just shrugged, obviously