She hesitated, but then she decided she was worth at least six little cakes. If he knew she was spending ten bucks on what he would consider cookies, he’d have a cow. But Tori had a flash of confidence. So what. Too bad. She marched up to the counter and placed her order. As she glanced at her reflection in the bakery case, she could have sworn she had grown a couple of inches taller. Must be the sugar. She smiled to herself. Things were going to be different. She wasn’t sure how, but she was determined to fix her life. Then she remembered something someone had once said. “You can’t fix people. You can only fix yourself.”

Tori took the white paper bag from the woman behind the counter, thanked her, and smiled. Who would have thought a small mixture of buttery dough and cinnamon could cause an epiphany? She was going to approach things a little differently now. Sure, he’d think she was being the obedient wife, but two can play at the manipulation game.

She pushed her grocery cart toward the deli section and ordered a half pound of bologna and a half pound of American cheese. She never understood why that was her husband’s favorite sandwich. He’d be thrilled. Frankly, she didn’t care if he was thrilled or not, but this was the first step in taking back some of her own power. Since she had been a strong ten-year-old child, she could be a mighty thirty-eight-year-old adult. Tori could hear him bragging at work, “Hey, look what the old lady made for me.” God, how she hated that expression. Old lady, my ass.

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Stillwell Art Center
The same day

Cullen placed the blanket and its contents on his long worktable. “I’ll get to the diary lock tomorrow.”

Luna frowned.

“Listen. I know that as soon as I get it open, you’ll be digging into it like an archeologist. You’ll be engrossed for hours. Days,” Cullen said evenly. It wasn’t the first time he had had to convince his sister to take it easy. Slow down. “Besides, I don’t know about anyone else, but I could use some dinner. It’s past six.”

“And I have to get Marley and Ziggy home before my board meeting,” Ellie said.

“I’d be available to get something to eat.” Chi-Chi hoped she hadn’t crossed a line. It wasn’t unusual for all of them to share a meal, but when it came to Cullen, she always waited to be invited. She also had her own crush going on.

Luna still stood with her arms akimbo. “Huh. Traitors.”

Everyone chuckled as Chi-Chi linked her arm through Luna’s. “Come, girl. You need to make sure you are robust for this new puzzle.”