over to the main house.”
“I’m sure the water will be just fine,” Lila said. “Are you too full from baking nibbles to share with me?” She held up the box. “I could make us some coffee. I’ve got decaf.”
“That would be wonderful, dear.” Eleanor settled at the kitchen table and folded her hands in front of her. “Any word from Theo?”
“No,” Lila replied, not knowing if she should divulge what she might have learned about him. She dared not spread any rumors. It was all just hearsay at this point. “Have you ever heard the name Perry anywhere? I’ve been doing a little digging and speculating that it could be his last name,” she said carefully.
“That would be interesting if it were,” Eleanor said. “I have a lodger who comes once a month or so on business. His stays are what have been keeping me afloat recently. Name’s William Perry.”
“William Perry,” she repeated. “Wonder if they could be any relation?”
“He’s from Nashville, like you, so I’d have thought Theo would’ve said something if he were from there as well, wouldn’t he?” Eleanor replied. “The man’s a musician. He’s rough around the edges—he’s got sleeve tattoos and spiked hair—doesn’t really remind me of Theo.” Lila tried to imagine that. She conjured up old memories of her ex, Razz, the last musician she’d been around. His loud, extroverted rants and antics were nothing like Theo’s quiet introspective ways. But while he didn’t seem like Theo, that description of William did sound a lot like Smash.
Lila got up to make them each their cups with the makeshift French press she’d been using. While she did, she grabbed her phone and opened the search engine, quickly typing in William Perry. She coughed to hide her gasp when she saw what popped up:
William “Smash” Perry is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the multi-platinum, award-winning duo Rockford and Smash, a Nashville-based country music band in which he also plays banjo and mandolin. He currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lila navigated out of the page and clicked another with a link to Smash’s music. One of his songs began to play while she poured their coffees. It was a rock-based banger with undertones of those familiar hillbilly and blues elements so prominent in this area. As she watched Smash play guitar in the video, the resemblance was uncanny.
It’s him, she thought. Smash is Theo’s dad. She was nearly sure of it.
Putting her phone down, she finished making the coffees, bringing one over to Eleanor and sitting down beside her. She reached into the box of confectioneries and pulled out a piece of fudge. Pinching it between two fingers, she asked, “What does that guy do when he’s here?”
“William? He usually keeps to himself; he takes a lot of walks. He prefers to be left alone. But that’s just fine with me. He always pays his entire bill in advance, so he can do cartwheels through the yard for all I care.” Eleanor laughed.
“How long does he stay?”
“Oh, about a week or so. Sometimes just a few days.”
“When is he next due to visit?” Lila said, unable to hold back and feeling a rush of adrenaline at the thought of these estranged people being in such close proximity. Did William know Theo lived in town? He must do.
“He’s on tour at the moment, I think,” Eleanor said. “Lots of questions…” Her eyebrows bounced up and down with interest.
“Sorry. I just thought they might help me find Theo.”
“Have you called the police?”
“I suppose I should.”
“So that would bring the total to…” Lila tapped the numbers on her phone screen’s calculator. She swallowed. “Twenty-three thousand, two hundred, seventy dollars.”
After she’d tried to put in a missing person’s report, Eleanor had asked Lila to come over for dinner. Lila had spoken to the police department, but since it had been less than twenty-four hours, and Theo was a grown man, they weren’t as receptive as she’d hoped. Not knowing how much she should say about what she knew, she’d left it at that, thinking perhaps she’d try to call again tomorrow.
Apparently, Eleanor had been just as busy making savory dishes as she had been with the desserts.
Eleanor put her face in her hands. “With figures like that, I’ll never be able to fix this place up,” she said.
Lila peered down at the list of suggested renovations they’d been making together. “We could take off the new carpet.”
“I hate to say