The Lady Stole My Heart (The Lady is Mine, #2)

by Aimee Nicole Walker

  “I’ll talk to his daughter and see if she knows. The box was recently placed up here, possibly as soon as it arrived.” I looked over at Memphis who was the one who found this lead. “When did you say Mr. Betson died?”

  Memphis came over and knelt beside me. “Why do you ask?”

  “Mr. Betson won this item from an eBay bid three weeks ago, and it was shipped a few days later. There’s no telling how long it took to arrive. I was just curious if he saw it before he died.” It suddenly made me sad to think he died without knowing the contents of the foot locker.”

  Memphis pulled out his phone to study the notes he’s made about the estate. “He died two days after the auction closed which was the day before the package shipped.”

  “That’s really sad,” Lyric said.

  “I’m going to ask his daughter about it. Maybe she knows why her father wanted it.”

  I left the guys upstairs and found Dawn sitting in a recliner I presumed was her father’s due to its large size and scruffy appearance. It reminded me of the recliner Elijah’s dad refused to part with. Dawn was staring out the large picture window with tears rolling down her face, unaware I had entered the room. I could tell her mind was a million miles away, and I didn’t want to intrude upon her grief, so I tried backing out of the room. I stepped on a creaky floorboard in the process, jerking her out of her daydream with a startled gasp.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said softly. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. “Well, I’m not fine today, but someday, I will be. Did you find anything interesting to either of you?”

  I told her about the foot locker and asked, “Did it have significant meaning to him, do you think?”

  “I know the foot locker you’re talking about. It arrived after he passed away.” Dawn drew in a shaky breath before continuing. “My dad is—was—a Vietnam veteran, and I think the idea of someone selling a soldier’s personal belongings to the highest bidder would’ve greatly insulted him. Knowing him, he’d decided to track down the soldier’s family and return the items to them.”

  “That’s what I would try to do if I were him,” I said, nodding in agreement. “Are you willing to sell the locker to me?”

  “Will you do everything you can to locate the soldier’s family and return it to them?”

  “It might take time before I can work the research into my schedule, but I promise to do everything in my power to find the rightful owner. I have some contacts at our local veteran’s affairs office. I’m willing to hire a private investigator if I need to.”

  “Then you can have it,” Dawn said.

  “I can’t accept it for free.”

  “You’ll probably be paying out-of-pocket expenses to locate the owner, and I know my dad would be pleased with my decision. I only ask one thing.”

  “Name it.”

  “You let me know when you find the family.” When not if.

  “You have yourself a deal.”

  In the end, I did buy a complete set of china that had belonged to her great-grandmother. She already had one set from a different grandmother and didn’t have room for a second one. Memphis negotiated prices with her over a few items then Dawn and I loaded the foot locker in the back of my SUV.

  “I’m excited about all the possibilities the search could uncover,” I said to the guys once we were on our way back to Blissville. “Lyric, are you willing to lend me your investigative skills while we wait for the networks to work out a deal for our show?”

  “I’d be happy to help you. Just let me know when you’re ready to start,” Lyric said. After a pause, he added, “There’s another type of partnership I was hoping to discuss with you but lacked the courage to bring it up.” I glanced at him in the rearview mirror and saw uncertainty stamped across his face. I suspected I knew what he wanted to discuss, but thought it was better to wait to hear him out first.

  “Were you serious when you said you’d like to hire me to do the baking for Books and Brew?”

  “I was,” I said, trying not to get my hopes up too high. I heard the subtle sigh of relief escaping from Memphis. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I just need something to keep me busy until I figure out what I’m doing with the rest of my life.” It was the first time Lyric had confirmed he had no intention of returning to the show. Even if he decided to go back into television at some point, he could use Blissville as a home base just as well as anywhere else. “I don’t want you pissing off the commercial bakery currently supplying your goodies now if this doesn’t work out.”

  “You let me worry about my contractors,” I said. “They’re a business, so they should be used to clients trying other vendors or seeking other options. Even if they do get pissed, there are other commercial bakeries I could use.”

  “If you’re sure—”

  “I’m sure you bake the best cakes, muffins, and desserts I’ve ever had. If you’re willing to give this a go, then so am I. Why don’t you meet with Milo and me at my office tomorrow? We’ll do lunch and discuss terms and come up with a plan we can all be happy with.”

  “Sounds perfect to me.”

  For the rest of the drive home, the conversation remained light and fun. Lyric talked about the recipes he planned to make later for us to sample as if we didn’t already know how lucky we’d be to have him work for us. Memphis talked about the comic book he was creating with Lyric’s encouragement. I started weaving wild guesses as to the reason Mr. Betson might’ve bid on the trunk. His daughter’s assessment was probably right, but how did he even stumble across the auction?

  “Good point,” Lyric said. “Maybe it was something he frequently searched for, so they sent an alert when the auction went live.”

  “Yeah, it’s a strong possibility. He did have an extensive collection of military items,” I agreed.

  As fun as our day was, I was looking forward to getting home and seeing Elijah. He came out to greet me when I pulled into the driveway. “There’s my Freckles. How was the hunt?”

  “I think it went well, but I might’ve volunteered for a project beyond my capabilities.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, so I took him around to the back of the SUV so he could see the locker for himself. He opened it up and looked inside. “Did this stuff belong to the man who recently passed away?”

  “Kind of, but not in the sense you’re thinking.” I reached into my purse and pulled out the packing slip I found inside the shipping box. “He bought it from an eBay auction then died before he received it.” I told Elijah about Dawn’s theory and waited for his input.

  “It’s possible he wanted to return it to the soldier’s family, assuming they weren’t the sellers. I think contacting the seller would be your best bet. Find out how these items came to be in their possession.” Elijah looked quietly into the box then picked up the thick stack of letters wrapped with twine. “Those letters probably hold many clues. The return address would be a good place to start if the seller can’t give you any promising leads.”

  “Name and rank of the soldier might help someone at the VA locate an heir,” I said.

  “True, but it might be hard getting someone willing to search for a family simply to return clothes and letters.”

  I blew out a long breath. “Help me get this inside, and I’ll start my search after I clear a few other things off my plate.”

  “I wasn’t trying to discourage you, Freckles,” Elijah said, grabbing the right handle while I grabbed the left.

  “I know you’re not, babe. You’re being practical like always, and I need it sometimes. How was golf with Andy?”

  “Interesting.”

  I glanced over when I heard the humor in his voice and saw he was trying to suppress a grin. “Why? Was he sharing stories about my brother?”

  “Well, there were some funny Milo stories, but I was mostly thinking about your parents who joined us on the course today.”

  “Oh boy,” I s
aid, snickering. “I assume they were in a heated competition.”

  “Very much so.”

  “I feel like I should apologize for not warning you, but then again, I had no idea you’d invited my parents.”

  “Andy invited them, but I was glad to have them along. We had a fun day. Very enlightening.”

  “How so?”

  “I see where you and Milo get your competitive streaks,” Elijah said mildly, but I could tell there was something else he wasn’t sharing with me. But what and why wouldn’t he… I screeched to a halt which jerked Elijah back a step when he had continued walking.

  “Oh my God! Andy is about to ask Milo to marry him, isn’t he? That’s why he invited Mom and Dad on the outing. Andy is surprisingly old-fashioned sometimes.”

  “Um…” Elijah’s panicked look gave him away more than anything else.

  “Don’t even bother denying it!” I set the trunk down and began jumping up and down like a lunatic for a few minutes. “How’s he going to do it? Big extravagant proposal?”

  “Um…”

  “He probably hasn’t thought it all out yet. I wonder if he wants help. Should I call him?”

  “No!” Elijah said suddenly. “He has everything under control, Freckles. He’s already come up with the proposal idea, but he isn’t sharing it with anyone just yet. Not even you.” Elijah kissed the tip of my nose, hoping it would soften the blow of his words. It helped a little. “I know how much you love Milo, and I know it’s killing you not to be involved in the planning of one of the happiest days of his life, but Andy wants it to be a huge surprise for everyone.”

  “Apparently not you,” I said with a slight pout.

  “Freckles, I only know he asked your parents for their blessing. I wouldn’t have known if your mom hadn’t burst into tears and your dad hadn’t shouted ‘hallelujah.’ It didn’t take me being an ace detective to figure out what made them so damn happy.”

  “I can’t believe my mom hasn’t called me yet.”

  “Would you want your mom calling Milo and filling him in after I expressly asked her to keep it quiet so I could surprise you?”

  “No, I wouldn’t want your plans to get ruined by Milo’s big mouth. He’d never be able to keep a secret like that from me.”

  “But you will manage to keep it from him, right? Andy and your parents will never forgive me if they find out I let the cat out of the bag.”

  “You didn’t,” I reminded him. “I guessed.”

  “That’s right, Nancy Drew. I need you to promise me you won’t let this slip.”

  “Of course, I won’t.” I had much better control than Milo did. Elijah stared at me as if he wanted to believe me, but worried about the competitive streak running through my blood. “Besides, I’ll get a secret thrill every time we talk because I know something he doesn’t.”

  “That’s my Freckles.”

  I’D KNOWN ALL ALONG JACKIE and Dennis were joining Andy and me for golf while Maegan went digging for treasures and Milo went to drag rehearsal. The Queen City Divas were putting on a charity event to raise money for an HIV transition home owned by Milo’s friend, Archie. It seemed like the perfect time to put our proposal plans into action. Andy had become my best friend, so of course I told him about my mom giving my great-grandmother’s ring to me to give to Maegan. Andy confessed he was planning to ask Milo to marry him too. That’s when we started planning our proposals so they wouldn’t overlap or take away joy from each other.

  Lying and keeping secrets from Maegan felt wrong, and I didn’t enjoy doing it, but I couldn’t tell her Andy and I purposely invited her parents so we could both ask them for their blessing to marry their children. I also couldn’t tell her I knew how far Andy was going to give her twin brother a proposal he’d never forget. I had never planned to tell her anything about Andy’s proposal, but my body language or tone of voice must’ve given something away. So, I threw poor Andy under the bus. At first, I worried Maegan wouldn’t be able to keep the secret from Milo, but then I realized my fear was unwarranted. She’d go to any lengths to see her brother’s dreams come true.

  On Wednesday, instead of our usual French toast brunch, Maegan and I headed to The Ohio State University Hospital for my dad’s surgery. I was nervous for many obvious reasons like something going wrong during my dad’s surgery or finding out the cancer was more progressed than they thought. The biggest cause for my tension was knowing I would see my brother for the first time since I kicked his ass in his front yard after finding my wife in his bed pregnant with his baby.

  Maegan and I arrived a few minutes after Dad checked in. Mom was sitting by herself looking calm and serene as she waited to be called back in to see Dad before surgery.

  “Oh, Elijah,” she said, hugging me tight. “Thank you for coming. He will be so happy to see you.”

  “I’m where I want to be,” I assured her. “Well, maybe not in the hospital but with you and Dad.”

  “Maegan,” Mom said, holding out her arms for the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. “Thank you for being here with us today.”

  Maegan slid her hand inside mine after hugging Mom. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jack and Daphne approach. I reminded myself to breathe and remember I wasn’t there for Jack; I was there for Mom and Dad. Maegan and I stepped back so Mom could greet them too. Maegan released my hand and slid her thin arm around my waist and pressed into my side. I raised my hand and rested it on the back of her neck because she loved the weight of my hand there. If we were alone, she’d lean into my touch more and practically purr from pleasure.

  “Hello, Elijah,” Jack said calmly, but his expression gave away how anxious he was. “I hear you’ve both met Daphne.”

  “Hello again,” she said sweetly.

  Maegan and I returned her greeting, and I knew I had two choices: introduce Jack and Maegan or pretend he didn’t exist. My mom had been through enough and didn’t need for me to act like a child.

  “Hello, Jack,” I said coolly. “This is Maegan.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Maegan said pleasantly.

  “Likewise.”

  The pager in my mom’s hands lit up and buzzed, signaling we could go back and see Dad for a brief visit before he was rolled into the operating room. A calm hush settled over us as we followed the nurse through the corridors as a Markham united front for the first time in ten years. Some of the players were new, and past transgressions weren’t suddenly forgotten, but in that moment, we only wanted to give Dad peace of mind.

  “Mercy me,” Dad said when all five of us stepped inside his little curtained cocoon. Mom went to the right side of his bed and slid her fingers through his. I saw him squeeze her hand to assure her he was fine. “I didn’t expect all of you to get up so early.” His eyes searched mine, looking for signs of distress, but I’d be damned before I showed any. “I hate that you took time off for this. I’ll be right as rain in no time at all.” His voice shook just enough for me to detect he wasn’t as calm as he wanted us to believe.

  I walked to the left side of his bed and took his other hand in mine. “You took the day off when I had my tonsils removed.”

  “Of course, I took the day off. You were a frightened little boy having surgery for the very first time.”

  “And you’re my father who’s having surgery for the first time. There’s no other place I should be.” Tears formed in my dad’s eyes, and one slid down his cheek. It was going to take some time to get used to seeing my dad express emotions this way. The man I grew up with wouldn’t have cried if he cut his arm off with a chainsaw. He would’ve told my mom to stitch it up so he could get back to work clearing the fence line. “Everything is going to be just fine, Dad.” It had to be.

  “I know.”

  I stepped aside, and Maegan took my place briefly to give Dad a kiss on his cheek. “We’ll see you when you come out of recovery.”

  “I’m liable to be
grouchy and not the charmer you’re accustomed to seeing.”

  Maegan giggled. “That’s understandable. I won’t hold it against you.” She patted his hand and joined me in the corner so Jack and Daphne could wish him well too. Daphne was as sweet as Maegan, but when it was Jack’s turn, Dad crooked his finger for him to lower his head then whispered something in his ear.

  Jack lifted his head to look into Dad’s eyes, nodded, and said, “Yes, sir.” Dad squeezed Jack’s hand like his actions and words pleased him greatly. Jack and Daphne moved to the opposite corner of Maegan and me so Mom could have all of Dad’s attention.

  Dad reached up and cupped Mom’s face with his free hand. “You won’t be rid of me yet, Brenda. Forty-five years of marriage to you just isn’t enough.”

  “I’m not worried,” she said serenely. “You’re too ornery for heaven, and the devil hasn’t figured out what to do with you yet.”

  Dad let out a loud guffaw then pulled Mom into a hug. When he pulled back, he looked into my eyes and said, “Would everyone give me a few minutes alone with Elijah?”

  “Sure,” Mom and Jack said at the same time. Mom rose from her chair and headed in our direction. She patted Jack’s arm and smiled reassuringly at him as she walked by. She slid her arms around my waist and hugged me before taking Maegan’s hand and leaving the room with everyone else.

  I wasn’t sure how much time Dad had left before they were going to wheel him back, so I headed straight for the chair Mom vacated. Dad, never one to mince words, got straight to the point. “This might seem like I’m taking advantage of the situation, but I’d like for you to make me a promise.” I tensed because I knew where he was going. “Now, don’t do that, Elijah. You think you’re reading my mind, but you’re making assumptions instead. I can’t blame you, but I’m asking you to hear me out.”

  “Okay, Dad.”

  “I’m not asking you to pretend Jack didn’t do a terrible thing to you, Elijah. I’m only asking you to talk to him and allow him the opportunity to apologize. He has missed you every single day you’ve been gone, and the look I saw in your eyes a few minutes ago makes me think you’ve been missing him too.” I nodded because words weren’t possible right then. “I’m not saying the two of you could ever go back to the way things were, but I know they can be better than they are right now. Will you at least give him the chance to talk? I’m not asking for me; I’m not even asking for him; I’m asking for you, Son.”