The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapter 9 Ethan is different

While we wait for the security footage to load, the waitress recounts her transaction with Jane’s lookalike. “She was beautiful, and very friendly. I wish all customers were like her.” She gushes, “She bought a box of cookies and asked if she could use the service exit, because she parked in the side street. The young woman glances back and forth between her manager and me, uncertainty painting her features. “Was that wrong?”

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong.” I assure her, trying to keep my voice gentle even though her decision has actually inconvenienced me greatly. If only she’d said no! The blonde would have been forced to walk out the front, right past me. “Have you ever seen her before?”

Unfortunately the waitress is too young to have been working here when Jane and I were married, but maybe she’s seen her on other occasions. “I’m sorry, no.” She replies. “I think she was from out of town.”

“Why do you say that?” I question sharply.

“Well, she said she loves our pastries but she never gets to eat them anymore because she moved away.” The waitress explains.

“Can you tell me anything else about her?” I implore, keeping my fingers crossed that she’ll remember some small clue to the woman’s identity.

“Well, I can tell you she has money.” She answers, “Her clothes were designer and the perfume she was wearing costs

thousands of dollars.”

I leap at the detail, “What was the perfume brand?”

“La louve.” The young woman flushes, “I’ve been saving up for a bottle for months. I think it was the signature line.”

breathe, turning my attention to the security tape. We all watch with bated breath, but the grainy footage doesn’t reveal any helpful hints. In addition to the oversized sunglasses obscuring the woman’s features, she kept her face. averted from the cameras the entire time she was in the store. It’s

When I get back to my penthouse, I head straight for my closet, reaching up to the high shelves above the clothing racks and extracting a worn shoe box. Opening it, I

in a bridesmaid’s gown, is the woman who brought Paisley home after she ran away from Frank:

Linda

last person | expect to find waiting on the

Blinking in surprise, I choke, “Alpha,

He greets me coolly. “I came to thank you for

reason he’s here, I’m only thankful he chose to come to my work, instead of my

Alpha continues shrewdly, “Why did * you say we’d

didn’t remember me,

Ethan frowns, “I should have – you were Jane’s best friend after

stop

“Though I wonder – why did a high price lawyer need

wanted you to stop. I think dryly. “You know what they

titles on my bookshelf. “And the woman

no, oh no, oh no.

woman found her near Eve’s shop, but she asked

I offer him a wide smile, an inspired thought striking me just in time. “You mean Isabel. You remember Isabel – she was one of Jane’s bridesmaids.” I remind him, describing another one of our friends. Like Jane, Isabel is a small blonde who moved away for work

must

name, triggering a deep pang in my chest. “Not at all. Jane is-” Damn it! I catch myself just in time. I came this close to saying Jane is doing well. Instead I dab at my eyes, pretending to be caught up in emotion. “She wasn’t the type of person who would want her friends to go on mourning her forever. I know she’d want me to be happy, so I focus on the good memories – not