“They have.” I was pleased he’d picked up on it. The locals had a lot of pride in the fact that their buildings were beautifully restored and maintained. “I think most of it was constructed in the 1860s, during the gold rush. There used to be a gold mine in the side of Destiny Peak, and many of the local rivers are still panned for gold—not that you’d find more than the occasional fleck or nugget. But the Heritage Museum would be able to tell you more accurately.” I pointed toward the building, which was across the road and down a couple of blocks. “They keep a lot of information about the town’s heyday there. Destiny Falls was a big deal at one point, and Arthur Emerson, who runs the museum, is a font of local knowledge.”

“I’d like to see the museum,” Blair said, earning a smile from me as we changed course to cross the street.

We paused outside and I fished in my pockets for a coin to drop into the donations box as we entered the museum. There was nobody in the foyer, so we passed into the main part of the building, which was a rabbit warren of rooms and corridors with glass display cases built into the walls. We found Arthur Emerson inside the room where they kept a collection of old mining tools.

“Guests.” The small man clapped his hands in delight, his perfectly trimmed gray mustache jiggling with the motion. “Are you happy looking or would you like the full tour experience?”

“Hi, Arthur,” I said, hoping he’d recognize me after all this time. And not hate me.

Arthur took a pair of spectacles from the front pocket of his striped shirt and propped them on his nose, then a smile spread over his face. “Kennedy, my dear!” He stepped forward with open arms, and I gave him a quick hug, pleased to have received a warm response rather than the cool reception I’d been granted in other parts of town. “I’ve been keeping up with your career. I always knew you were meant for big things, although I had hoped you might stay here.”

My smile faded. “Things happened that made it pretty much impossible, but I’m here now and I plan to stay.”

“Yes, I think I know a little about that.” His expression was sympathetic. “Many people made it their business not to know, but I’ve always been the curious type.” He looked me up and down. “I’m glad to see you’ve been eating since you arrived. Whenever I saw you on the television, I wanted to hand you a piece of pie. You were too thin, dear.”

“Tell me about it,” Blair grumbled. “That’s what the film industry does to women. Chews them up and spits them out with an eating disorder and a drug addiction.”