Glancing at the photo album on the seat beside me, I realized that was silly. Of course I would be welcome—Derek wanted the photo album. He’d made a special trip to my shop to ask about it.

Still, I felt the tingle of nerves bloom in my stomach as I walked up the steps. The four-story mansion loomed over me, sucking all the sunlight out of the day.

It was chilly and grew even cooler in the shadow of the house. A shiver tickled my spine as I pressed the fancy white porcelain doorbell.

I waited.

The sound of the bell echoed through the house, but no one came to the door. Where was the fancy butler?

Maybe I should give him more time. The house was gigantic and if he was at the other end it would take a while to get to the door.

I waited, tapping my fingertips on the soft leather of the photo album.

No one came.

Impatience spread through me. My leg started throbbing. Was no one home? I’d come all the way out here and I hoped it wasn’t a wasted trip.

I backed down the steps and looked up at the house. No signs of life. Sighing, I turned back toward the driveway when a movement over by the garage caught my eye.

Was someone there? I remembered Derek liked to tinker with cars. I took off in that direction.

The gravel crunched under my feet as I approached the garage, which was almost as big as my house. Made from the same granite block as the mansion, it had two stories and four garage bays. Three of them were closed, their green wooden doors blocking what was inside. The fourth stood open, revealing a white 1960s Triumph convertible.

I approached tentatively, wrinkling my nose at the smell of oil and metal. It was dark inside and I didn’t see a soul. What was that movement I’d seen?

“Hello?” I ventured.

Clunk.

“Ouch!”

Derek slid halfway out from under the Triumph on a dolly. Rubbing his head, he frowned at me from his upside down position, then recognition lit his face.

“Willa! What are you doing here?” He slid all the way out, stood up and brushed the dirt from his blue mechanic’s outfit.

“I thought you might like this.” I held out the photo album and he pulled a rag from his pocket, using it to wipe the grease off his hands before taking the album.

A smile formed on his lips as he leafed through the book. “Well, I’ll be…”

A noise came out of the dark recesses of the garage, startling both of us. Derek swung around toward it. Carson appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, a boyish grin on his face.