Tabitha decided to bring the painting inside the cabin after she'd taken care of her groceries, propping it up against the wall in front of the television, since she knew that she wouldn't be spending much time in front of that, as there were better views outside. Again, the painting called to her, and she tried to place why it felt so familiar. Giving her head a little shake, she plopped down onto the sofa and leaned her head back, staring up at the ceiling of her cabin as she tried to make sense of being lied to by the server at the restaurant.
Letting out a soft sigh, she picked up her phone and called Damon, wondering what advice he would give her about the situation. He answered within a few rings, and Tabitha smiled to hear his voice on the other end of the line. "Tabby? Is everything okay up there?"
"I'm fine, yes. I bought a painting this morning because it feels familiar. I'll send you a picture of it later on today. But I did want to pick your brain a little bit, if you're free."
"I'm retired, all I have is time. Shoot."
She giggled as she nodded. "So, at breakfast, I showed my server the picture of Alex and Mum, asking if she recognized Alex. Before she told me that she didn't recognize either of them, I saw her eyebrows lift in surprise, so it was clear that she did know Alex, but I don't know why she would lie about something like that. I don't think I look like a serial killer or a stalker!"
Damon let out a soft chuckle, and she responded to that with a short sigh. "Okay, let's attack a few of these ideas running through your head. First, I'm surprised that you can pick up on those microreactions."
"Mum taught me well."
"I'm certain she did. So, she looked at the photo and claimed that she didn't know either woman, but you felt like she was lying. Maybe she knew someone who looked like one of them, and reacted like that because she had to convince herself that Alex and Erin weren't her friend?"
"I suppose that could be possible. It just feels off, I guess?"
"I get that, and I will always advocate for listening to our gut, just…take that feeling with a grain of salt this time? You might be so focused on this quest that you're tilting at windmills. Now, as for your assertion that you don't look like a serial killer or a stalker, I would have to say that that might not be the case. You're a lovely young woman, so you can get people to trust you quicker than someone older or less conventionally attractive. And if you had the right personality type, you could easily head down the road to serial killer, for the thrill of it all. Not that you would, since I know you better than that, but the possibility is there, and it's important that we recognize how we look at people in order to keep ourselves safe."
"Yeah, I guess."
"And as for the stalker material, while you might be sweet and innocent, you could be working with someone who has less than wholesome, who wants to get information on someone using any means possible. And there would be a possibility that you didn't know what was going on, and could appear totally innocent. I'm certain your mother has spoken about cases where the bad guy has used his kid or spouse as bait, and then ran with that information. So your server maybe was being a bit cautious since she doesn't know you, or why you want to find Alex. It's easy to tell someone that you're looking for a friend, and that not being the reason, after all."
"True. Are these things that you learn when you're in law enforcement? I think that the advice you gave would be what Mum would tell me, if I was asking her this."
"It is something that you pick up over the years, yes. Does that make you feel better?"
"A little, yeah. Thanks for talking to me about this. I figured that you would know more about it than Daddy would."
"Anytime, kiddo. And keep sending pictures, Scotty and I love seeing them."
"Of course! Talk to you soon, Damon!" They hung up, and she set the phone aside, ruminating over his words. She knew that he was right, that while she might appear young and innocent, that was also the perfect disguise for someone with less than clean motives. Letting out a little sigh, she got up from the sofa and went into the bedroom, shedding her clothes and changing into her new bathing suit before slinging her towel over her shoulder and making her way out to the lake with her book..
The sun was glorious, and she smiled as she made herself comfortable on the sand and cracked open her book, reading until she had managed to calm her mind enough to relax. Placing her bookmark, she set the book on her towel before making her way to the water. Tabitha took two steps in, to where the water covered the tops of her feet, and began to shiver violently from the cold. "It takes you by surprise, doesn't it?"
She looked over at Patty and saw that she was on the beach with two children. Nodding, she traipsed over to them through the water, trying to acclimatize her body to just how cold the water was for June. "I know that the lady who checked me in mentioned how cold the water was, but I don't think I fully believed her."
"It's hard to wrap your mind around, yes. Did you have a good morning?"
She nodded as she took a few steps further out, letting the water lap at her knees. "I did. I picked up supplies for the week and bought a painting."
Patty nodded as she giggled a little. "Random, but that's the thing about small towns, right?"
"Right. Since you're out here, would you mind keeping an eye on me while I swim? Again, I was cautioned about being in the water while alone."
"I will, yes."
"Thanks!" she replied before heading back to her own little bit of beach and then waded further out into the water until she was waist deep. Then she dunked her entire body beneath the water, trying not to inhale a mouthful of water as she gasped at the way it needled her skin. Coming up for air, she shivered violently a few more times as she grew used to the temperature. Still, she was only able to swim for a few minutes before she was just too cold to stay in and she ran up to the beach and sat down on her towel before gazing out at the water.
"I wonder if the person who checked me in would be able to tell me if she recognizes Alex?" she murmured, thinking about what Patty had said about this being a small town. Small towns meant that everyone knew everyone else, so it made sense that she might know Alex, if the woman was here. Getting to her feet, she picked up her book and wrapped her towel around her body before heading back into the cabin.
After drying off, Tabitha dressed in one of her new skirts and a thin sweater before she made her way up to the main building. A relieved smile crossed her face when she recognized the woman at the front desk, and she made her way over to there, getting in line behind the man checking in. It didn't take too long before she was done with him, and then Tabitha was standing in front of her, trying not to bounce on her feet with nerves. "Is everything okay with your cabin?"
"Perfect, I love being so close to the water! And you were right about how cold it is! I don't think I'll do too much swimming this week, but it was nice to get my toes wet. I actually had another question for you. I think I mentioned that I was here to try and find memories of my mum and her best friend?" The older woman nodded. "I was wondering if you could tell me if you recognize her friend? I have a picture here."
She pulled it out of her diary and set it on the desk, watching the woman's face for her reaction, and so was able to see that she, too, recognized someone there. The woman looked up at Tabitha and gave her a short smile that wasn't as friendly as it should be before she answered. "That's Lexie Miller."
"So you do know her! Is she in the area? Do you know where I could find her? I have so many things I would love to ask her about my mother, and now that I know that I made the right choice coming here, I feel like I might finally get those answers!"
The woman shook her head, which made her deflate a little, a frown marring her face. "I'm sorry, I don't know you from Eve, and while you might have a picture of Lexie, that doesn't mean that you know her. She and her partner value their privacy, and I won't be the one to disturb that. If you see her around town, feel free to talk to her, but you won't find anything out about them from me."
That was definitely not the answer she was expecting from anyone, and she nodded as quick tears flooded her eyes. The woman reached across the desk and patted her hand delicately, trying to offer comfort, and Tabitha gave her another small nod before picking the picture back up. "I, I hope that I can find her around town, then. Thank you, I guess?"
"You're welcome, dear. I wish that I could tell you more, but…"
"But keeping confidences is important. I understand." Letting out a deep sigh, Tabitha turned and started back for her cabin, her minding whirling with what she could possibly do next to find Alex and ask her what she wanted to know about her mother.