They’d first kissed mid-June of last year? Levi wasn’t sure what had gone on between June and August to delay progress. He supposed he could read all about it in Adam’s new book if he wanted. And he definitely didn’t.
“Right.” Adam cleared his throat again. “Well, so that was a beginning, of sorts. And we’ve come a long way in the past ten months, obviously.”
“Sure, sure.”
“I guess what I’m trying to say, and not very articulately, is that your sister has come to mean a great deal to me. I’m sure you realize I’m in love with her—and she with me. We’re in love with each other.”
“Well, sure.” Levi shifted in his seat, the heat of the sun making a sweat break out on his skin.
“With your parents gone and you being her older brother, for whom she has a great deal of respect, I wanted to ask you . . . I’d like to ask Molly to marry me. I’d like to ask if I have your blessing on that.”
Levi’s mouth parted as he stared back. Adam’s words whipped through his mind. Maybe this shouldn’t seem like such a curveball, but it did. It seemed so fast. Maybe Adam had kissed Molly a year ago, but they hadn’t gotten together until months later.
“I can see I’ve caught you off guard.”
“No, not—” Who was he kidding? He gave a wry laugh. “Well, yeah, actually. I guess you have.”
“Do you, um, have concerns about me? I guess I wouldn’t blame you. I wasn’t honest with Molly last summer. But that’s not who I am. Molly and I have done a lot of talking, and I’ve been very careful to—”
“It’s not you, Adam. I mean, yes, that was a concern initially, but I can see that’s not who you are.”
“Then what is it? Do you have concerns about the two of us together?”
“No, that’s not—it just seems kind of sudden. I wasn’t expecting this.”
“We’ve been together since August. That was ten months ago.”
“Right, right. But you had a long-distance relationship until January.”
“That’s true. And yet, I feel as though I’ve known Molly forever. I’m wholly devoted to her, Levi—I want you to know that. There’s no one else for me, and I believe she feels the same about me.”
“I don’t doubt that. And as much as I sometimes like to think I can control Molly’s life, she’s made it clear that’s not my place—and she’s right. She’s an adult, and so are you.”
A long, uncomfortable silence hung between them. Levi hated to disappoint Adam, but he didn’t see what the big rush was. Ten months was nothing. And only five months living in the same town. How could they possibly know each other well enough to commit to a life together?
“But you have reservations . . .” Adam said.
Levi thought about that. What would his dad say if Adam were asking for his blessing? The image of his dad on that gurney in the ambulance was the only thing that came to mind.
Take care of your sisters.
Levi’s headache pulsed in his ears. Adam was patiently waiting for a response. “My only reservation is the length of time you’ve been together. And during that time, Molly’s had a lot to deal with—we all have. The trauma of our parents’ sudden death hasn’t been easy to recover from. Making a go of this inn has been an additional pressure because it’s deeply personal to all of us. Add to that, her previous relationship with Dominic messed her up for a while.”
“I’m aware.” Adam’s brows pinched in a frown. “She has been through a lot.”
“It’s been a lot to process. And falling in love on top of it . . . I just wonder if a little more time might be in order. This is a lifetime commitment you’re talking about.”
Adam looked crestfallen. “Right.”
Levi hated to burst his bubble, but he had to think of what was best for Molly. And he knew without a doubt that more time would be wise. They had the rest of their lives to be married. On the other hand . . .
“As I said though, you’re both adults. You have to do what you feel is right.”
Adam seemed to gather the disappointment and shove it somewhere deep. His shoulders straightened, and he gave Levi a brave smile. “I value your opinion. It’s why I came to ask for your blessing. And if you feel Molly needs more time . . . I’ll respect that.”
Relief flooded through Levi. He couldn’t stand the thought of watching Molly make a huge mistake—not on his watch. He stretched out a hand.
Adam grasped it.
“You’re a good man, Adam. A little extra time never hurt anything.”
eighteen
Mia’s breakfast plate had been cleared for a while. Her foot sat propped in the chair opposite her. Della had fussed over her ankle, bringing a pillow from the living room and tucking the cold pack around it just so. There sure were a lot of caregivers around this place.
She opened up the journal and picked up where she’d left off last night.
August 1957
Dear Diary,
We’ve been so busy! Lake season is in full swing. Paul and I are two ships in the night lately. But tonight we’re going out to celebrate our fifth anniversary. Paul is taking me to the same restaurant he took me to on our honeymoon, and I’m going to wear his beautiful wedding gift, the blue diamond.
I have named my necklace Carolina Breeze. Paul laughs at my silliness, after all the diamond is hardly substantial enough to warrant a name of its own, but it is still rare and precious, all the more so because it was a gift from Paul.
I feel bad for not wearing it more often, but I’m afraid it’ll fall right off my neck. When we bought the inn I worried even when it was put away, because we house so many strangers. But Paul finally arranged a safe spot in which to store it, and now I can breathe easy, knowing that Carolina Breeze rests in safety.
Mia read the last entry again. She hadn’t misread it—a blue diamond! She was no expert on jewelry, but she knew blue diamonds were rare and valuable. She’d known from previous entries that her grandfather came from an affluent family, but she had no idea he’d been that kind of wealthy.
Mia wondered what had become of the necklace. Her mother hadn’t received any of their belongings, so where had they gone? She read the last line of the entry again.
A safe spot. Was it possible the necklace was still here, hidden away in the inn somewhere?
Her heart stuttered at the thought. She was probably getting worked up over nothing. But she had to ask Levi about it. He’d already read the journal. Maybe he knew what had become of the necklace. She momentarily forgot her injured ankle and banged her foot on the chair as she got up, wincing in pain.
She grabbed the crutches and made her way as quickly as she could through the dining room and foyer.
At the back door, she fumbled with the lock and made her way clumsily down the two steps. The roar of the mower quickly alerted her to Levi’s whereabouts. He was swiping a path toward the neighboring property.
Mia made her way across the patio and down the slope of the lawn. The journal was tucked under her arm, making the crutches even more awkward. Her ankle was pounding, but she was too excited to care.
Levi made a turn at the edge of the property. As he was coming back toward her, he caught sight of her and turned off the mower, removing his earbuds.
He was off the mower and at her side in seconds. “You all right? You should slow down on those things—you don’t want to fall again.”
“I was reading the journal and came upon the part about the blue diamond necklace. Do you know what happened to it?”
“Come sit down before you fall.” Levi took the journal from under her arm and led her back up to the patio.
When they reached the patio he took her crutches. “Have a seat. Let’s get your foot propped up.”
She did as he said, watching as he grabbed a low table and set it in front of her. “Do you know what happened to the necklace after Dorothy passed away?”
“No idea.”
“I know it didn’t go to my mom. They were estranged.
”
“Don’t ask me. Before you showed up I thought they didn’t even have children. Maybe it went to another relative. Or got pawned.”
“Oh, I hope not. Do you have any idea what blue diamonds are worth?”
“I assumed they had the same value as regular diamonds.”
“Not at all. They’re extremely rare and precious. You’ve heard of the Hope Diamond?”
“Of course.”
“Well, that’s a blue diamond. Granted, it’s huge, but even a small one would be quite valuable. We have to figure out what happened to it. The entry I just read said Paul made a safe spot for her to tuck it away in. What if it’s still in the house, Levi? That would mean it belongs to you.”
Surprise registered on Levi’s face. He seemed to process that thought for a long moment. “Well, let’s see. The Livingstons lived here until they passed away. I think the place was auctioned off after that, and the state’s governor purchased it as a summer home.”
“But what would’ve happened to the Livingstons’ personal effects?”
Levi shrugged. “Molly might know something. She’s obsessed with the history of this place. Do you need your cold pack? Your ankle looks a little puffier than it did yesterday.”
“Forget my ankle, Levi. We have to find that necklace.”
He straightened, hands on hips. He wore a baseball cap, and a sheen of sweat made his arms glisten. “Why?”
“Why?” There were lots of reasons, including the tug at her heart to find this little piece of home, this tangible symbol of her roots. But that wasn’t the reason she mentioned. “Because it’s worth a lot of money to whoever has it. And what if it’s still here, Levi?”
Levi was already shaking his head. “This place has been through multiple renovations, Mia. The governor converted it into a house. Then we turned it back into an inn. It’s been emptied out a few times over. We’ve taken down walls and put up new ones. It would’ve been found.”
“Are you sure? Don’t you think a blue diamond turning up in Bluebell would be newsworthy enough you would’ve gotten wind of it?”
He seemed to weigh her words. “That’s a good point.”
“Is there anything left untouched in the inn? What about an attic?” Maybe she was grasping at straws, but she couldn’t help it. She felt like an archaeologist making a rare discovery.
* * *
Levi’s eyes slid over Mia’s face. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. The tense look she’d worn since she’d arrived was gone. She didn’t look tired anymore. She looked . . . alive.
All of this over a lost necklace. It was kind of cute. “You’re obsessed,” he teased.
She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. “You’re not taking me seriously.” Mia whipped out her phone and started tapping the screen.
Levi sat down on the chair next to hers. He could only imagine that this was a nice distraction from the messy state of her life right now.
“Here, right here.” She shoved the phone under his nose. “Blue diamonds can easily be worth one hundred thousand dollars per carat.”
Levi read the information, then sat back, blinking. He let himself think about it for just a moment. Let himself dream that Dorothy had tucked the necklace under a secret floor panel somewhere and it could still be there all these years later.
That was about as long as he could push back his pragmatic side. “Chances of it still being here are pretty slim, don’t you think? Dorothy had to know the value of that necklace. Wouldn’t she have left it to someone in her will?”
“I don’t know, but it’s at least possible, isn’t it?”
“It’s probably long gone. And I have no idea how we’d even go about finding out.”
She bit her lip, drawing his attention to the pink lushness. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt. And he sure wasn’t the first to think it. But he wondered how many had seen her this intent. He could almost see the wheels spinning.
“Is there a way to get hold of that will and find out if someone inherited the necklace?”
“I don’t see how. Wills are private, and besides, that was a long time ago.”
“Maybe there’s a statute of limitations on those records.”
“I guess it’s possible. The will’s probably long gone by now though. There’s only one law firm in town, but I’m not sure how long it’s been around. I could check on that, I guess.”
“Would you?”
The grateful look she gave made him willing to do much more than run downtown and ask a few questions. Did she know the kind of pull she had? He gave his head a shake. What was getting into him? She was a guest. Just a guest.
But her excitement was contagious.
“Sure, I can do that.”
Mia shifted forward, closer. He caught a whiff of her soap or shampoo. Something clean and feminine. He drew in a lungful.
“Can you imagine what that kind of money could do for your inn, Levi? For your future?”
He loved that she was so excited for him. But he was afraid to even think about getting that kind of windfall. He didn’t like getting his hopes up needlessly. Life didn’t just go around handing you priceless treasures. He’d rather focus on the facts and maintain a realistic attitude.
Besides, Dorothy and Paul were Mia’s grandparents. Wouldn’t that make the necklace an heirloom that belonged to her? “You know, in the event we did find the necklace, it’s probably more yours than mine.”
She waved him off. “While it might be cool to have something of my grandmother’s, if we found it in your house it would rightfully belong to you.”
“I appreciate your generous spirit. And your enthusiasm,” he told Mia with a smile. “But one thing at a time. Let me check at the law office and see what I can find.”
“Can we go today?”
He quirked a brow. “Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”
“I can wait in the car.” She was already grabbing her crutches.
“You mean now?” He looked back at the Toro.
Her whole body seemed to sink in the chair. “Oh, right. Sorry. You were in the middle of mowing.”
He supposed the lawn could wait. “Come on. I’ll finish later.”
Her bright smile was all the thanks he needed. He helped her to her feet. Her arms were slim but strong, and he found himself reluctant to let her go as she balanced on the crutches.
“You’re supposed to be resting that ankle.”
“I can rest it in the car,” she said with a saucy smile and hobbled away before he could argue.
nineteen
It was taking Levi forever. He’d parked in the shade behind the law firm and left her the keys. Mia put down the window and propped her foot on the dashboard.
Maybe it was good news that it was taking so long. On the other hand, he probably just knew the people inside. Small-town folks often liked to stop and shoot the breeze. Not like in LA, where you passed only strangers on the street, and when you did run into someone you knew, it was all polite smiles and promises of lunches that were never fulfilled.
Mia pulled out the journal and continued reading. Who knew, maybe her grandmother would mention the necklace again. Several entries later, the driver’s door opened and Levi slid inside.
Her eyes raked over his face for any clues as to his success. “What did they say?” Mia pulled her foot down from the dashboard.
He started the car and buckled himself in before answering her. “Well, for starters, I was wrong.”
“I’ve never heard that roll off a man’s tongue so easily,” she said playfully.
He gave her a wry look and adjusted the air conditioning. “Sorry it took so long. I ran into a buddy from high school.”
Levi put the car into Drive and pulled from the parking spot.
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense,” she said. “What did he say?”
“It’s good news, actually. Wills do become public after the estate is settled. And they’re stored at the clerk’s office. Although
Robert said with this one being kind of old he didn’t know whether they’d still have it on hand. It might take a bit of patience to retrieve it.”
“But that’s great news! Can we go there next?”
“I’m one step ahead of you. I already called down there, and Connie’s looking for the record now. She said it would be in the basement, so she’s trying to hunt it down.”
Mia could hardly sit still. “We could have that will in our hands in a few minutes.”
“Provided she can find it. And even so, keep in mind, it might not tell us a thing about the necklace.”
She gave him a pointed look. “That would be good news though.”
Levi’s lips twitched. “Fair enough. Just trying to temper your enthusiasm with a little realism.”
Mia clutched the journal. “I haven’t found another mention of the necklace, but I’m not done yet. I hope it’s in the house somewhere. Wouldn’t that be something?”
“That it would. But chances are she left it to a friend or relative.”
“I hope not.”
“Well, we’ll know more soon enough.”
It only took a few minutes to get to the courthouse.
Levi reached for his door handle. “I’m not sure how long it’ll take.”
“I’m coming too.” Waiting wasn’t her strong suit, and she was tired of sitting in the car.
“You sure?”
She tugged her ball cap down. “It’s just the one woman, right?”
“Yeah, she pretty much has the run of the place.”
“All right then.”
The clerk’s office was a two-story brick building on the other side of town. Levi held open the door and Mia stepped inside, the air conditioning cooling her skin. The main room was small, containing only a few seats, a big table, and a mammoth-size copy machine.
To their left was a window that opened into an unoccupied office, bright with florescent lighting. The building smelled of old documents and burnt coffee. Dust motes danced in a beam of sunlight shining through the front window.
“She’s probably still downstairs.” Levi crossed the room and began looking at the old photos on the walls.
Carolina Breeze Page 11
