Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) by Belinda M Gordon Read Free Book Online Page A

suggest you let it go. She's been calling me Pix for two years now. There's no stopping her."
    "Pix?" Matt looked at me quizzically.
    I shrugged. "She reminds me of a Pixie."
    "Like Tinkerbell, with the wings and the tiny dress? Yeah, I can see that."
    Holly slapped his arm in mock outrage while he pretended to cower, a wide grin on his face.
    I smiled but didn't respond. Actually, Holly's reddish- brown eyes reminded me of Brenna's, although Holly's were constantly on guard while Brenna's were full of mischief. Holly's petite and frail frame made her appear delicate and childlike—just like the Pixies.
    "So, what brings you here today?" I asked Matt.
    "Xander sent me. He had a class, so he told me my job this morning was to get this place back in shape."
    "How nice of him." Surprising of him.
    "Can you believe Matt and I went to the same high school?" Holly interrupted. "We were just talking about the old days."
    Her face lit up as she spoke. It had been a long time since I had seen Holly that animated.
    The chimes over the door jingled. Ida Krauss, a tall woman in her sixties with a rather square and hefty figure, came in carrying a bakery box. Ida was the owner of the Café next door and a legendary baker.
    "Good morning, Tressa. I saw you go by and thought I would bring you a treat."
    She gave Matt a curious once over and looked at me expectantly. I introduced the two as she placed the box on the checkout counter. Holly eagerly opened the lid.
    "Oh good! Shoofly pie," she said.
    I met her eyes and smiled. This was Holly's personal favorite. I was very fond of sweets, especially chocolate, but I’d never really liked this particular pie. It wouldn't do to let Ida know that, since she was so proud of her baking. Long ago, Ida had come to the idea that the Shoofly pie was my favorite too, and we chose not to correct her.
    "Come on, Ida, let's take this in the back and slice it up," Holly said. "Matt, you want a piece?"
    "Thanks, but I better not. I've got a lunch in a few minutes."
    He watched her leave the room with Ida by her side.
    "You know, she doesn't remember me from high school," Matt said, "but I sure remember her. She was a year ahead of me and she was something else."
    "Really? What was she like?"
    "She was an angel. Everyone's dream girl. She was a cheerleader, homecoming queen, always the center of attention. But she wasn’t just popular—she was really sweet to everyone. Even a science geek like me." He smiled ruefully.
    He hesitated then, as if not sure he should continue.
    "She seems different now."
    "She's still very sweet." Even as I defended her, I knew she wasn't the vibrant girl he had just described.
    "She is, but subdued somehow. Her eyes are so sad." This was an unusual observation for a man, and completely true. "And she never used to wear so much makeup."
    I chuckled. Now that sounded more typical, especially from a man who appreciates nature.
    The other women returned, each holding a paper plate with a slice of pie. Holly perched on the stool behind the counter to eat hers. Ida handed me the other. I ate a forkful to be polite before setting the plate down on the counter.
    The older woman made a show of looking over the broken display cabinet, which still lay on the floor. It wasn't much more than a wooden frame, now that the glass doors and sides had broken out.
    Her investigation seemed to remind Matt of his purpose.
    "Tressa, where should I put this?" he asked, righting the broken cabinet.
    "Would you put it in the back of the storage room? Anywhere that's out of the way is fine." I would decide later if it was worth repairing.
    He gripped it carefully so as not to cut his hands and slid it out of the room.
    "Tressa, I hear you were the hero yesterday," Ida said.
    "Oh? What did you hear?" I asked, stiffening with worry. This must be why she had come—to create drama. She would probably talk about this incident for days.
    "I heard you stood up to Fred. It was about time someone did. And, oh