Heat flushed through Sophie’s body, and her pulse thumped in her ears. She worked hard to level her tone. “Jenna. Did you try to locate the necklace? Did you call the airports or the airline’s lost and found?”

“I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Besides if someone found that necklace they wouldn’t turn it in. It’s worth at least a thousand dollars.”

It was worth so much more than that to Sophie. “You have to at least try!”

“I’ll call them tomorrow. But I’m sure it’s got to be long gone by now.”

Sophie’s chest squeezed tight. She couldn’t believe how flippant Jenna was being about the precious heirloom. “I was going to wear it for my wedding, Jenna. You said you’d take care of it.”

“Well, I tried. I can’t help if it fell off, can I?”

“You didn’t even try to track it down.”

“Calm down. I said I’d call the airport.”

Jenna was looking at Sophie as if she’d morphed into a monster or something. She’d never flipped out like this on her sister. But enough was enough. It was bad enough that Jenna had lost the necklace, but her cavalier attitude was infuriating.

Sophie forced herself to take slow, deep breaths, but it took everything she had to calm herself and part with Jenna on good terms.

Losing herself at work was easy enough. They’d sold so many books yesterday that they needed to restock shelves. They had a steady stream of customers. The article in the Gazette was on the front page, above the fold. The headline read Grand Opening for Bookshop by the Sea. The accompanying photo had been taken outside her shop and featured Nathaniel and Sophie, the store’s sign visible in the background.

There were just two on staff today, and Sophie had sent Ellie to lunch. She smiled at the twentysomething woman approaching the counter, two books in hand. She’d come in a while ago and spent her time browsing the fiction aisles.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Sure did.” The woman set the books on the counter, one of them a Nathaniel Quinn novel. “I guess I missed my favorite author by one day. My friends and I just got into town last night.”

“Oh, I’m sorry you missed him.”

“I was hoping to pick up his new release.”

“I’m sorry. We sold out last night. We have more coming, but you’ll probably be gone by the time they arrive.”

“Yeah, I’m only here through the weekend. We come to Piper’s Cove every year.” The woman handed over her credit card. “I haven’t read his last release, though. As you can see I’m planning to rectify that this week on the beach.”

“Sounds like a good plan.”