by Ellery Adams
“When I picked it up from Geneva, I knew Starling would love it. I did have to sign a form promising that if it’s needed for evidence at Janell’s trial, it will be produced.” He winked. “I’ll tell Starling later.”
“Did you ask Keith Pruett to let you buy it?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s a nice guy, lives in Wyoming. Divorced, no kids. He told me about his mom, said she was sweet and kind, and a saint for putting up with his father. Evidently, Janell wasn’t exaggerating about Larry. He really wasn’t a very nice man.”
Molly felt bad for Mrs. Pruett. But she was happy her ring had found a new home on just the right person.
He said quietly, “I’m sorry to see Nathan isn’t here. Did he ever get back to you?”
“No. Have you talked to him about Pamela’s case?”
“I haven’t spoken to him since her arrest. I don’t think he’s visited her in jail.”
Molly sighed. “He never married after Ma. Then Pamela finally came along, and he finally found someone to be with. They haven’t even been married a year. I feel bad for him, and it feels strange saying that. All those years without a father, I’d gotten used to the idea of not having one. He shows up, asks to meet me, hopes I’ll forgive him, and I decide to give him a second chance, and it hasn’t been easy. I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do, not just for me, but for Tyler. He deserves to know his grandfather.” She shook her head. “Now he’s gone again, for the second time. He’s going to miss out on knowing my beautiful little boy.”
“You know I’m a cop, which means I tend to be a pessimist. So, normally, I hold the view that most people don’t change. But I’m willing to bet that Nathan has. Don’t give up on him yet.” He reached over the table for the pitcher of mimosas and topped off both of their glasses. “And thank you again for brunch. Everything is delicious, and this is fun. Tyler looks really cute. Can I get first dibs on holding his hand when we go out trick-or-treating?”
“You’ll have to fight over him with Matt and Mom, and probably Starling and Sean, but sure, go for it.” He laughed, and the doorbell rang, and Molly froze in place. “I wonder who that could be?”
Matt pushed his chair back. “I’ll get it.” He shot Molly a hopeful glance as he headed for the door.
From where she was sitting, Molly had a wide-open view of the foyer. It seemed like Matt was moving in slow motion as he opened the door. When Nathan walked into the house, Lombardi said, “Looks like he has changed, after all.”
Molly stayed seated, but Lombardi got up, and pulled another chair to the table, next to her. He moved his chair one seat over.
Clara did the honors of welcoming Nathan, since Molly hadn’t spoken up. “We’re all very glad you could make it,” she said. Tyler was sitting next to Clara, staring at this new addition to their party with interest. She pointed to Nathan. “Tyler, meet your grandpa.”
Tyler shook his head. He pointed at Sean, “Grandpa.”
“Yes, that’s right. But you have two grandfathers.”
Tyler frowned, and Molly knew this was all going way over his head. She said, “You can call the new guy Pop-Pop.”
Tyler giggled. “Pop-pop, pop-pop.”
Nathan was staring at Tyler with awe and wonder. Molly almost laughed out loud. It was as if he’d never seen a two-year-old before. More likely, it had something to do with the realization that this was his biological grandson.
Matt said, “Food is in the kitchen, Nathan. Help yourself.”
Nathan returned with a full plate. He sat next to Molly, and while everyone talked around them, said, “Thank you for inviting me. I apologize for not having gotten back to you. I really should have called, but things have been hectic back at the restaurant.”
“It’s fine. As you can see, there’s plenty of food.”
“I’m glad to see you looking so well. When I saw you in the kitchen that horrible night, I couldn’t believe it. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” Molly took a sip of her mimosa. “I’m sure you have a lot to deal with since Pamela’s arrest, but I want to apologize to you for what happened. I feel bad about it.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Pamela has to face the consequences of what she’s done. We’ll get through it somehow.”
“What are you going to do?”
He looked at her. “You’re wondering if I’m going to stick it out with her. The answer is yes, I am.” He smiled. “I can see you’re shocked. I know, the father who ran out on his wife and child is going to try sticking with wife number two, the criminal who will probably go to prison for a decade or more. It doesn’t seem possible, does it?”
“It’s not that, it’s just, well . . .” She lowered her voice so Tyler couldn’t overhear them. “She tried to kill me, and she killed Charlotte, and she was going to let Alison take the blame for it. No one, including me, would blame you for leaving her.”
“I appreciate you saying that, but everyone else has abandoned her. Wyatt won’t talk to his mother, and Alison is pretending nothing ever happened. Which could be her lawyer’s ploy to get her off the hook, since they’re looking at an insanity defense. I hope she gets some psychiatric counseling. Then there are the lifelong friends who suddenly don’t know Pamela, and Lyman Construction’s board of directors has cut her loose and wants nothing to do with her. I can’t leave her. Not now.”
Molly nodded. “I understand. It’s very kind of you.”
“I’m a slow learner, but I’m getting there.”
“I’m glad,” she said.
“I have you to thank.”
Molly was surprised. “Me?”
“You’re a good role model. You’ve built yourself a wonderful life with a loving husband, you have an adorable son, and your mother loves you very, very much.” He smiled. “I know I’m late to the party, but I love you, too.”
She didn’t know what to say. Of course, the natural response would be to say she loved him. But she couldn’t do it. Was this a bad sign? Had she not forgiven him? Did it matter? She felt like Tyler, when he took his first baby steps, and one day, she hoped, she would be sprinting toward the finish line. And when she got there, she would say I love you, too, and really mean it. Until then, she would just have to do her best.
Molly lifted her glass. “To new beginnings,” she said.
Author’s Note
The story of Larry Pruett discovering valuable coins hidden in the bathroom vanity is based on a real-life event that happened to a friend of mine. Her home was built in 1954, and she has lived there since 1998. A retired woman, she didn’t want to spend a lot of money renovating her bathroom. Originally, she was only going to replace the floor, but her contractor convinced her that if she was going to replace the floor, she really should replace the vanity as well.
When the contractor took the vanity out, he discovered a hole in the wall, near the floor, cut out from the baseboard. Hidden in the wall was a flyer from the 1970s, and wrapped in the flyer were nine gold coins, each in their own plastic pocket. My friend took the coins to a jeweler, who confirmed they were pure gold. She was then referred to a gold buyer, and based on the price of gold at the time, was paid fifteen thousand dollars (each coin was valued at approximately seventeen hundred dollars). She was shocked. This was more than enough money to pay for her bathroom renovation! She also gave her contractor one of the coins. As she told me, he could have taken all of the coins and walked out the door with them and she never would have known. There are good, honest people out there, and he was one of them.
Later, another friend recommended to her that she renovate the rest of her house. After all, whoever hid those coins might have hidden more around the place. But not wanting to spend the money to rip her house apart, she declined. So maybe someday, a future owner who decides to renovate the house will find more gold coins behind the walls. You never know in life what you’re going to find.
Parker Riggs
Books by Ellery Adams
Antiques &
Collectibles Mysteries
A Killer Collection
A Fatal Appraisal
A Deadly Dealer
A Treacherous Trader (with Parker Riggs)
A Devious Lot (with Parker Riggs)
A Killer Keepsake (with Parker Riggs)
A Bidder End (with Parker Riggs)
A Fatal Fabergé (with Parker Riggs)
Mint Condition Murder (with Parker Riggs)
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
The Whispered Word
The Book of Candlelight
Ink and Shadows
The Book Retreat Mysteries
Murder in the Mystery Suite
Murder in the Paperback Parlor
Murder in the Secret Garden
Murder in the Locked Library
Murder in the Reading Room
Murder in the Storybook Cottage
Murder in the Cookbook Nook
The Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries
Pies and Prejudice
Peach Pies and Alibis
Pecan Pies and Homicides
Lemon Pies and Little White Lies
Breach of Crust
The Books by the Bay Mysteries
A Killer Plot
A Deadly Cliché
The Last Word
Written in Stone
Poisoned Prose
Lethal Letters
Writing All Wrongs
Killer Characters
The Supper Club Mysteries
Carbs & Cadavers
Fit to Die
Chili con Corpses
Stiffs and Swine
The Battered Body
Black Beans & Vice
Pasta Mortem
Hope Street Church Mysteries
The Path of the Crooked
The Way of the Wicked
The Graves of the Guilty
The Root of All Evil
Fate of the Fallen
The Deeds of the Deceitful
Books by Parker Riggs
Finding Jessica
A Treacherous Trader (with Ellery Adams)
A Devious Lot (with Ellery Adams)
A Killer Keepsake (with Ellery Adams)
A Bidder End (with Ellery Adams)
A Fatal Fabergé (with Ellery Adams)
Mint Condition Murder (with Ellery Adams)
About the Authors
Ellery Adams
USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and three cats. She’s written multiple series including the Supper Club Mysteries, the Book Retreat Mysteries, the Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries, and more.
Parker Riggs
Parker Riggs’s love of writing began as a teenager growing up in New Jersey, where she penned short stories and poetry. Her dream to be a published author got set aside for a career in Washington, D.C., where, for two decades, she supported politicians and lawyers. Yet the dream never died. Pursuing her passion for mysteries, Parker is the author of A Treacherous Trader, A Devious Lot, A Killer Keepsake, A Bidder End, A Fatal Fabergé, and Mint Condition Murder (all with Ellery Adams), along with a stand-alone mystery, Finding Jessica. She is now permanently settled in New Hampshire with her husband.
Chapter 1
