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Page 212
reaching for missing bonnet ribbons. The three-story edifice appeared huge. How was she to locate four smallbut oh, so essentialitems within its thick walls?
Jess's housekeeper Grace met them at the door. She wore a black dress similar to the one she'd had on when Abby first met her. The frown she wore beneath her parrot's-beak nose was even less welcoming than the one she'd turned on Abby on her prior visit. "I knew this wasn't a good idea," Grace whined. "Jess has been fussing all morning waiting for you. And you promised not to be a bother."
Abby squeezed Hannah's arm as she opened her mouth to protest. "I'm sorry," Abby said gently. "We'll convey our greetings, then go off to look, if that's all right."
Grace sniffed. "As long as you're quiet."
Jess waited on the settee in the antique-crammed parlor where she had been on Abby's prior visit. Once again Abby drew in her breath as she saw Jess, with her bewildered expression on a face so much like an aged Lucy's. Abby hurried across the room and took the ancient, dry hands from the elderly woman's lap, squeezing them gently. "I'm so glad to see you again, Jess."
The puckered mouth curved into a heartbreakingly sweet smile as again Abby smelled roses amid medicine. "Happy you could come, Dixie." She peered up myopically, then shook her head as though to clear it. "You're not Dixie. You're Abby, and you're here to look for the journals."
Thrilled at her sudden lucidity, Abby said

 
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