The streetcar traveled quite a distance. The sun was beginning to set, so it was hard to see clearly, but the buildings around them now had actual lawns in front. The townhouses, although built side by side, were at least four stories tall and oozed elegance. The only thing Annabelle knew about the Talbots was that Harry used to work for a grocer, so they weren’t wealthy people, but the stop where she was told to exit seemed to be a very nice neighborhood.

The streetcar conductor gestured down the lane. “Your address is about six blocks down that-a-way,” he said.

It was an awfully fancy area, especially when she saw placards on some of the lawns. That building was the Belgian Embassy? Others were the Russian and the French Delegations. She walked past the embassies and soon moved into a retail area. Most of the shops were for jewelry, antiques, and imported fabrics, but at last she arrived at the door matching the address in her hand. Talbot’s Fine Food & Delicatessen was stenciled in gold lettering across the top of the bow-fronted window. The display featured an assortment of imported cheeses, exotic blends of tea, and chocolates in hand-painted boxes. Her heart squeezed at the lavish presentation of Delacroix spices artfully arranged in an open treasure chest.

The shop was closed, the door locked. She stepped back a few paces and craned her neck to peer into the upper two floors above the shop. It looked like they were apartments, for the windows were open and framed with draperies. Laughter and piano music leaked out from the upper floor.

If she could hear them, they could surely hear her. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Mr. Talbot?”

The laughter continued unabated, and she tried three times before a laughing young lady stuck her head out the window.

“We’re closed,” she called down, her face still flushed with laughter.

“I’m looking for my sister. Is Elaine Larkin there?”

“You must be Annabelle,” the lady said, then turned around. “Elaine, your sister made it in time for your party!”

Party? Oh good heavens, she’d forgotten her sister’s birthday!

A moment later Elaine herself was at the window. “Annabelle! Come upstairs for some cake. We’ve got plenty.”

The sense of relief was so strong, Annabelle plopped down on the curb to sit. It had been a long few days that careened from angst to joy to heartbreak, and throughout it all she’d been worried about Elaine, but it was all right now.

“Stay right there,” the other woman called to her. “We’ll send someone down to let you in.”