Treasure on Lilac Lane: A Jewell Cove Novel

by Donna Alward

  Abby shook her head. “I don’t know how to say this,” she murmured. “Tom and I … we’ve known about Rick’s adoption for a while. But we never said anything. We didn’t know if Rick knew, and we didn’t know if we’d be violating a privacy law or something. We found out when Ian Martin brought by the last of Marian’s things.”

  Jess shook her head. “Funny how Ian tends to be at the center of all this stuff. He had the safe deposit box key. Do you think there’s a connection there, too?”

  Abby sat back. “I couldn’t tell you. But I can do some digging.”

  Jess thought for a minute. Technically she hadn’t broken Rick’s confidence because Abby had already known. But if she asked Abby to go ahead, it was a deliberate decision to meddle around in his past. What if they discovered something they didn’t want to know?

  Would it be better than not knowing at all? And maybe it wasn’t a bad thing, in which case Rick deserved some happy news, didn’t he?

  “I think he needs to know in order to really move on,” she finally responded. “The whole reason he went to the bank was to get it over with. Now he’s left with more questions, you know?”

  Abby laughed. “You have no idea. I went through a lot of questions when I arrived in Jewell Cove, and it took me a while to sort through the answers. And there are still things that are a mystery to me, and I know I’ll probably never know the entire truth. But I know enough.”

  “It’s probably better not to mention this to Rick until we know more,” she suggested. “He’s had a real rough go, dealing with Roberta being gone and adjusting to his injury. No sense stirring something up if it comes to nothing.”

  Once more Abby’s frown deepened. “Are you sure? He might not like us nosing around.”

  The dark, guilty feeling slipped through Jess again, but she shook it off. “He said it was okay if I looked into the necklace. And besides, he’s been doing so much better lately. The last thing I want to do is cause him to have a setback, you know?”

  Abby nodded. “I get that.” She leaned a little closer to Jess. “You and Rick, are you…?” She didn’t say the words but Jess knew what she was asking. Just as she heard Rick’s voice in her head, asking her to keep things quiet for now. Discreet. She’d already said enough today without adding to it.

  “I’m just helping out a friend, Abs.”

  “May I have a closer look at it?”

  Abby held out her hand and Jess placed the necklace in Abby’s palm.

  Abby examined the stones. “It’s real, I’m sure of it. And old. And it does look the same … though to be fair, who’s to say that the one Edith had was the only one?”

  They looked at each other. Both knew that the chances of there being identical antique ruby necklaces in the same small town were slim at best.

  Abby straightened her spine and handed the necklace back to Jess. “I’ll do some investigating, see what I can find out.”

  “Thanks, Abby. I appreciate it.”

  “No worries.” She smiled. “I’ve enjoyed looking more into family history. I’ll call you if and when I find out anything.”

  “And you’ll keep it private? Rick hasn’t told anyone that he’s adopted.”

  “Except you.”

  Yes, except her. It was another indication of how close they’d become over the last several weeks. They were really starting to trust each other, and it was a feeling that took some getting used to. But it was a good feeling, too. Jess was starting to think that the reason her past attempts at romance had failed was because she hadn’t trusted anyone enough to let them see the real her.

  “I know you said you two weren’t, you know,” Abby said significantly. “But you’re falling for him, aren’t you?”

  Jess let caution be her guide. “You’re just caught up in newlywed glow,” she accused with a laugh. “And think that everyone should be as much in love as you are.”

  Abby raised an eyebrow. “Funny. Rick said the same thing the day of the wedding. I think you both doth protest too much.”

  Jess laughed. “On that note—I’d better get back. Thanks, Abby. And remember, secret.”

  They walked to the front door and Jess got her coat, shrugging it on and buttoning it to the top. Abby took the scarf and looped it around Jess’s neck. “I’m pretty good at keeping secrets,” she said, and all levity was gone from her face. “Don’t worry.”

  Rick’s truck was parked in Jess’s driveway when she arrived home. Her heart gave a leap at seeing him again, standing by her back door, and the searing kiss he treated her to made her knees go weak. She considered telling him about the afternoon’s developments, but he pulled her into his arms and the conversation with Abby was swept out of her head.

  * * *

  Dawn on Thanksgiving morning was a non-event, thanks to a heavy fog rolling into the harbor. Jess got up, took a hot shower, and then started on her contribution to the family dinner: Grandma Collins’s corn casserole and cranberry sauce.

  By the time she’d put the berries on to boil and the casserole in the oven, a weak autumn sun was trying to burn away the fog. Rays filtered through the wispy clouds, and the air was so still that the boats that were docked at the wharf were perfectly reflected on the water.

  This was one of the reasons she loved Jewell Cove. No matter what time of year, it was still the most beautiful place she’d ever known.

  Thanksgiving was a big deal, and this year everyone was going to Sarah’s for dinner. Treasures was closed for the day, and tomorrow Jess would be run off her feet during the annual Black Friday sale. Granted, the shops in Jewell Cove had nothing on the bigger cities with their chain stores, but they all held holiday sales just the same.

  She was pulling on her favorite cashmere sweater when a thought hit her. What was Rick doing for Thanksgiving? He had no family left in Jewell Cove. They’d been spending more and more time together, but Jess hadn’t brought up the holiday, not wanting to upset the happy balance they’d found. They had fun together and tended to steer away from topics that would bring them down.

  Except she really should have made sure he had plans before now.

  She picked up her cell, found his number, and hit the call button.

  He answered on the second ring.

  “Hey,” she said softly. “What are you up to?”

  She heard a bit of a clatter in the background before he answered. “Just working on something. You?”

  “I was wondering if you had any plans for today.”

  “I’m just working,” he answered.

  “No dinner plans?”

  “Well,” he said, “I have a frozen turkey dinner in the freezer. I figured I’d pop that in later.”

  “That’s disgusting,” Jess replied. “It’s Thanksgiving. You need a real dinner. With mashed potatoes and gravy and my mother’s stuffing.”

  “Breezes is open. I’m sure Gus has turkey and the fixings planned.”

  Stubborn man. They were technically seeing each other but he was so determined to keep their relationship private that he refused to even acknowledge the hint.

  “We’re all going to Sarah and Mark’s this year. Why don’t you come?”

  There was a pause on the other end. “With your family?” he finally asked.

  “Why not?” she asked cheerfully. “Good heavens, you’re practically family anyway. And there’ll be a mountain of food. After you have a dozen, one more person at the table is nothing.” They’d kept their relationship discreet, as per his wishes. She knew what she was asking. If they went together, questions would be asked. Assumptions made. Would that really be so bad?

  “What I mean is…” His voice lowered a little. “Are you asking me to go with you, Jess?”

  She cradled the phone close to her ear. “I suppose I am,” she replied. This was a new step. Asking him to a family holiday was pretty much her way of saying they were a couple.

  “You’re going to tell your family we’re a thing?”

  Jess frowned.
She was perfectly fine with showing up together, and she was actually okay with the idea that they were a couple. But Rick’s resistance spoke loud and clear that he wasn’t ready yet. A little voice inside her said he might never be, but she ignored it. “Why do we have to define what we are?”

  “Because you know someone’s going to ask.”

  She sat down on the sofa and leaned back. “I don’t think they will. It’s just dinner. You’re included in a lot of family events. The invitation just came from me this time. And I can say that I knew you didn’t have plans and invited you to come along.”

  “Which is strictly true.”

  “Right.” She let out a breath in relief.

  “Except…”

  Her breath halted.

  “Except what?”

  “Except that I can’t stop thinking about you, Jess. And there’s a chance your family is going to see right through me.”

  Her heart did a happy flip. Maybe he was just private when it came to his personal life, because he made little statements like that and she lit up like crazy. “There’ll be too much commotion.” She hoped. Their feelings were too new and confusing to try to explain. Still, she wanted him to go. The thought of him sitting home alone on Thanksgiving, only a few months after losing his mother was just wrong. “Come on, Rick. The boys will be there. You know you’ll hang out with them anyway. You can watch football and eat pie until you burst.”

  There was a sigh on his end. “What time?”

  “We’re supposed to be there at one thirty, dinner at two.”

  “I guess I could go.”

  “I’m driving since I have food. I’ll swing by and pick you up.”

  “I can always walk. It’s only a few blocks.”

  “Hey. I could use a spare pair of hands.” She no longer considered his prosthetic even a disability. It was just part of who he was.

  They would walk in together. People could make of that what they would. This way she had someone to help with her dishes.

  “Okay then. I’d better finish up here and have a shower.”

  The simple mention of him having a shower brought an image flying back into her brain and her sweater suddenly seemed a bit warm and cloying. “Right.” Her voice sounded slightly strangled. She was on the brink of offering to come over and help scrub his back when his voice sounded in her ear again.

  “Jess? Thanks. I mean, this will beat feeling sorry for myself at home, you know?”

  “You’re welcome. And don’t be late.”

  She hung up the phone, unable to stop a smile from spreading across her lips. Then she dialed one more number. She’d give Sarah the heads-up that there’d be one more for dinner.

  * * *

  Jess carried the casserole while Rick took the Tupperware holding the cranberry sauce. Several cars were already in the yard: Abby and Tom’s, Bryce and Mary’s, and their parents, Barb and Pete Arseneault’s. Jess knew Josh and Meggie would have walked over to Sarah’s. With Mark and the two kids, they were up to a dozen before Jess and Rick.

  She rang the bell but then reached out and opened the door without waiting. “Hello, we’re here,” she called out over the racket already taking place.

  Rick came in behind her and shut the door with his hip. “Holy cow,” he said behind her. “I forgot what a madhouse a Collins event can be.”

  There was an ear-piercing scream followed by giggles. Jess grinned and looked over her shoulder. “Matt and Susan are playing with Alice. My guess is toddler hide-and-seek.” Sure enough, Suzie came dashing by on her way to the laundry room to hide while Matt’s voice counted, slowly, followed by incoherent calls by Alice, who was walking but not yet talking.

  “Come on, let’s put this stuff in the kitchen,” she said.

  They walked through and found Meggie, Sarah, Barb, and Mary working—one at the stove, one at the sink, and two standing at the butcher block. “Jess!” Meggie saw them first and put down her spoon. “And Rick, so glad you could join us. Let me take that for you. The boys are all in the den.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. C,” he answered, handing over the dish. “Sure smells good in here.”

  “That’s my turkey,” Sarah answered. “I brined it and it’s going to be delicious.” Her tone dared him to say otherwise, and Jess saw him smile.

  He was startlingly handsome when he smiled like that; the rest of his face relaxed and his eyes were warm like melted chocolate. His gaze shifted to her, almost to ask if it was okay to go find the guys and that weightless feeling fluttered around again. “We’ll call you when dinner’s ready.” She nodded. “Thanks for carrying my stuff.”

  He followed the noise of the television, and Jess took a quick moment to admire the rear view as he walked away.

  “Je-esss,” said Sarah, reaching for the casserole holder and plunking it down on the butcher block.

  “What?” she asked innocently. Maybe a little too innocently, because Sarah’s gaze turned razor-sharp.

  “You said you asked Rick because you didn’t want him to be alone on the holiday.”

  “That’s right. He just lost his mom, and he doesn’t have any other family.” She snagged another glass bowl and used a spoon to help transfer the ruby-red cranberry sauce into Sarah’s decorative china.

  “Right.”

  Jess remained nonchalant. “Rick’s been a part of our family events for a long time anyway. Heck, he was Tom’s best man and you invited him here for Josh’s homecoming.”

  “Yes, I did. But I’m not single, am I? And you most definitely are. And so is he. I saw the way you were looking at each other just now. What’s going on?”

  Her sister was like a dog with a bone. But Jess had expected this. Sarah had been married for a long time. She tended to play both mother and matchmaker whenever possible. Jess didn’t usually mind because she knew it always came from a good place.

  “We’re close, that’s all. We’ve been talking more because he’s been doing a little work for me. You don’t need to read more into it than there is, sis.”

  “Friends, huh?” Sarah put her hands on her hips. “Might I remind you that at Josh’s party, you were pretty upset I’d invited him as he was a ‘bad influence.’”

  Darn it.

  Mary stepped in to Jess’s aid. “Bryce says Rick’s cleaned up his act a lot. He hasn’t had a problem with Rick since before his mother died. I’m glad you invited him, Jess. No one should be alone on Thanksgiving.”

  Jess snapped the lid back on the container of sauce. “I agree. Now, what can I do to help?”

  Sarah was taking the stuffing out of the bird and Mary was finishing setting out plates and cutlery while Jess went to work mashing potatoes. Her mother sliced fresh buns and put them in a wicker basket while Aunt Barb spooned pickles into tiny dishes. “Jess,” Meggie said quietly, low enough that Jess was sure it was so no one else could hear. “Are you sure about Rick?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Meggie put down the knife and put her hand on Jess’s wrist. Jess looked up into blue eyes that were very much like her own. Though Meggie’s hair was graying, the resemblance was striking. Jess had always been rather pleased that she got her mother’s looks. She’d wished she had more of her mom’s strength, though. She’d become a single mom of teenagers and dealt with the grief of losing her husband and done it all with grace and patience.

  “I saw how Rick looked at you. And how you looked at him. There’s something happening between you. I just want you to be sure, okay? I love Rick, but he’s been struggling. And I’ve waited a very long time for you to take this step. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  Jess blinked several times as emotion welled up inside her. She met her mother’s gaze and gave her a watery smile. “I love you, Mom. And I promise it’s okay. I’m being careful. Not rushing into anything and keeping my eyes wide open.”

  “I know you are. I just want you to be happy.”

  “I’m working on it.” She gave the potatoes one final ma
sh. “What do you think, okay?”

  “Perfect,” Meggie answered. “Why don’t you call the boys and round up the kids? We’ll get everything on the table.”

  Jess stuck her head into the den and took a second to imprint the scene on her heart. Her favorite men in the world were gathered in this room—doctor, teacher, cop, soldier. All of them friends, brothers, and protectors of those they loved—whichever was needed at the time. And one was something more. Lover. Rick was sitting next to Mark drinking soda from a can and scowling at the television, grumbling about a bad call. Being with him changed everything.

  She just wasn’t sure what she wanted to do about it.

  Rick half-turned to put his empty on an end table and saw her standing there. For a few moments their gazes caught and clung, the connection between them as strong as ever. He was out of his ratty T-shirt today and instead wore jeans and a button-down shirt in soft blue. She hadn’t noticed earlier but he’d had his hair cut, too. It was neater along the sides and back, but she could still see the hint of curl there.

  And the moment drew out …

  Josh shouted at the television and Jess blinked. “Um, we’re ready to eat, guys. Hope you’re hungry.”

  “About time,” Bryce said. “I’m starving.”

  Jess reluctantly dragged her gaze away from Rick and went to find the kids. By the time she had them with their hands washed and heading to the kitchen, Sarah was shooing everyone to the table while she put a huge pitcher of water in the center. Jess had Alice on her hip, and she inhaled the scent of baby lotion, made stronger by the exertion of the baby’s games with her cousins.

  “Let’s get you in your high chair, hmm?” she asked, giving Alice a kiss on the cheek. Mary was seated next to the chair, ready with a bowl of mashed potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes. It only took a moment for Alice to start banging her hands on the plastic tray, clearly excited about what was about to come her way.

  Mark, as head of the hosting family, said a brief blessing and then they all dug in.

  Bowls were passed and glasses filled until everyone had a bit of everything. Jess marveled that Josh and Tom managed to keep all their food on their plates without the use of sideboards to keep the gravy from dripping off. Beside her, Rick was loaded up with vegetables and turkey and one of Meggie’s fresh buns. “You’re going to have to roll me home after this,” he said, picking up his fork. “I haven’t eaten like this since…”