Treasured Past

by Linda Hill

  I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “You know I can’t go into that.”

  “Confidentially, I promise. Just between you and me.” She was leaning forward, elbows on the table.

  I was embarrassed to admit that I was basically having my arm twisted behind me. “I’m surprised that you didn’t figure it out.” I fiddled with my fork to avoid her eyes. “Donald Gold’s father is a senior partner in my firm.”

  I could see the wheels spinning in Melanie’s mind. “Brown, Benning, and Gold.” She slapped her forehead. “Why didn’t I figure that out?” Our eyes met and held for several moments. “Let me guess. You’re being forced to take this case.”

  “More or less.” My tone held a touch of sarcasm. Melanie was shaking her head. “You must be furious.”

  “More or less,” I repeated. “It’s not that I’m crazy about my job, but I don’t know if I’m ready to throw it away yet just because I’m being asked to represent my boss’s son.”

  “Even if he’s a jerk?”

  I was frowning. “I’ve had enough change in my life over the last year. My work has been stable and worry-free.”

  “Until now,” Melanie reminded me.

  “Until now.” I began to speculate in my mind about my situation at my office.

  “Why don’t you come back to the center? You know we could always use you on our side.”

  Just the thought made me shiver. “I can’t go back right now. Maybe not ever.” Anxiety crept along my spine. “I don’t really enjoy what I’m doing right now, Melanie. But the money is unbelievable and I don’t get emotionally involved with my clients.” My voice was firm. “It’s been good for me.”

  Melanie’s chin tilted up as she assessed me once again. “You look like a completely different person from a year ago. It’s obviously been a good move for you, Kate. But you should know that we all miss you, and we’d welcome you back with open arms.”

  My throat hurt as I thought of the women that I’d worked with, the ones I’d represented. I had never felt so many highs — or lows. And now I didn’t think that I could ever go back.

  CHAPTER TEN

  I sat in the car outside my office and counted to ten. At least twenty times. It wasn’t working. I knew if I walked into the building that I would go directly to Donald Gold’s office. I knew that I would interrupt whatever he was doing and demand some answers. I knew I would break every unspoken rule about how a junior member in a law firm should treat one of the senior partners.

  “Dammit!” My fist struck the steering wheel, and I instantly regretted the move. “Ouch.” I rubbed my hand, feeling sorry for myself. Why did things suddenly have to get so difficult? Everything had been going so well. My world had begun to center on my home and personal life. I’d been able to leave my work behind me at the office each day. Now I was in a quandary. Everything about this case seemed so unethical. I was involved for all the wrong reasons, and my stomach was queasy.

  I put the key back in the ignition and started the engine. I wasn’t about to go upstairs and make a fool of myself by blowing up in front of everyone. I wouldn’t give Donald Gold the satisfaction. I’d figure out a solution to my dilemma. Somehow I had to believe that I would be able to make things right.

  I drove to Cambridge. I didn’t think about the how’s or why’s. I just drove.

  The neighborhood around Treasured Past seemed quiet, and I had no trouble finding a parking space right outside the store.

  Without thinking, I opened the car door and swung my feet to the pavement, walking briskly to the front door. I grabbed the doorknob and pulled, surprising myself when the door didn’t budge.

  Taking a step backward, my eyes moved to the CLOSED sign displayed in the window. Frowning, I read the posted store hours and swore under my breath. CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS.

  Now what would I do? Not that I had a plan before. But I’d wanted to see Annie. Pouting, I didn’t hear the locks snapping open as Annie threw open the door. Then she was standing in the doorway, waving me inside. Her hair was down, a wavy auburn mass just past her shoulders. She turned on one heel, beckoning me to follow.

  I stepped inside, and she was already behind the counter, flipping through a brochure and looking distracted. Neither of us had even said hello, and I held back, waiting for her to break the silence. I didn’t have to wait long.

  “Here.” She was folding back a page and holding it up for me to look at. I couldn’t help thinking that she didn’t seem at all surprised to see me, as if she had expected me to walk through that door when I did. She was pointing to a black-and-white photograph that I couldn’t decipher from this distance. “These might be perfect.”

  I stepped closer, squinting at the poor image of what appeared to be an old sectional bookcase. It was impossible to tell what it was made of or how large it was from the picture, but it appeared to be extremely tall, with multiple sections that must have covered many yards.

  I narrowed my eyes, completely lost. I had no idea what she was talking about.

  “Perfect for what?” I dared to inquire.

  She stared at me for a moment, then blinked hard. “For your great room.” Her tone was matter-of-fact as her eyes dropped back to the photograph. “I can’t be certain of the dimensions, but I think it would be worth taking a look at.”

  Her eyes met mine again, and this time I recognized the look that I’d seen on her face so often before. The same look that I knew showed on my own face whenever I discovered a piece of antique furniture that I had to have.

  “What’s your budget?”

  I was holding back my smile. “I didn’t know I had one,” I told her, trying to keep from laughing.

  Apparently I wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding my reaction, because her eyes floated over my face and then seemed to come into focus. Her smile was slow.

  “Hi.” She drew the single syllable out slowly, her voice low. “I’m glad to see you.” The way her eyes were sparkling made my stomach flutter.

  “Hi.” I returned her grin. “You don’t seem surprised to see me.”

  “You’re right.” Her eyes stayed on mine as she contemplated her reply. “I know this probably sounds silly, but somehow I just expected you to be here.” Her lashes fluttered as she glanced at the brochure she held in one hand. “I was sitting here thinking about you and thinking what a good fit these shelves might be in your house. I glanced up and there you were, almost as though I conjured you up.”

  I didn’t know how to respond. She seemed almost magical as she stood there, full of enchantment and casting a spell over me.

  “So forgive me,” she continued when I didn’t speak. “What brings you here?” The change in her voice was subtle, as though she regretted what she had just said.

  I could only shrug. “I’m not sure exactly,” I admitted. “I had a lousy day at work, and I had to get away. The next thing I knew I was parked outside your store.”

  Annie studied me carefully, eyes narrowing for an instant. I thought about what I was saying, about what it might mean that it was Annie that I had wanted to see.

  I spoke my thoughts aloud. “I guess I just wanted to see you.” My face grew hot as I risked the words.

  She didn’t respond right away, but rather took a moment, as if to digest my words and decide whether they had any meaning. “I’m glad,” she said simply.

  We watched each other awkwardly until she glanced at her watch and then broke the silence. “So you’re playing hooky. We should be having fun then, I suppose.” Her smile warmed me.

  “Sounds perfect to me.” I could almost guess where the conversation was leading. I nodded toward the brochure in her hand. “Do you have something in mind?”

  “Are you up for an auction? There’s one over at the Legion Hall that starts at seven.” She glanced quickly at her watch again. “We could wander over there and take a look to see if there’s anything interesting. These shelves might be perfect in your house, but we should probably
get some measurements first.”

  I laughed. “You just want me to spend more money.”

  Her eyes grew larger. “No, that’s not it. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t assume —”

  “I’m kidding,” I interrupted her. “I just can’t believe you’ve given that room a second thought. No one else has shown any interest.”

  “Are you kidding? Nothing would make me happier than to help you redesign and decorate that room.” Her eyes were lit with enthusiasm. “I have this visual image of what I’d do with it.” She stared off in the distance, and I found myself unable to control my smile.

  “Would you really want to help me with it?” I asked. “I just wouldn’t think of asking anyone to do it. Every time I stare into that room I just feel so overwhelmed.”

  “Oh, Kate. There’s so much you could do in there. I have so many ideas. I know I should probably stay out of your business, but I just can’t help it.”

  The thought of having Annie in my home, helping me decorate, made my heart sing. “I would love to have your help. I don’t even know where to start.”

  “Really?”

  “But we’d have to agree on payment.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “But it will take so much time. You’ve surely got better things to do.”

  “I can’t take any money, Kate.” She placed both hands on her hips. “It would be pure enjoyment for me. I would have so much fun. And it would be a good distraction for me.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “A distraction from what?”

  She seemed to stammer. “Oh, from the store. From antiquing. Summer is almost here, and that’s our slow season.”

  I don’t think I quite believed her, but decided to let it pass. “We would still have to come up with some kind of payment, Annie. I just wouldn’t feel good about you doing so much work for nothing.”

  Annie brushed me aside again. “It’s not necessary, Kate. Besides, if you pay me then I’ll think of it as a job instead of a fun project.” She pulled her lips together adamantly. “Besides, you’ll already be spending a ton of money on the design and improvements.” Her smile was wicked. “I’ve been known to have expensive tastes when I’m spending someone else’s money.”

  I laughed and regarded her for a few moments, thinking again about what it would be like to have her spending so much time in my home. “I guess I’ll just have to buy you a present, then. To thank you for your work.”

  I thought I detected a slight blush on her cheeks. “Don’t thank me yet. You may not like what I do.”

  I sighed, completely charmed. “I can’t imagine that, Annie,” I gushed, then blanched as I realized what I was thinking about. No use fighting it or denying it any longer. All I wanted at that moment was to worm my way into Annie Walsh’s heart.

  “We’ll see.” She interrupted my thoughts. “Does that mean we have a deal?”

  I nodded, tongue-tied again.

  “Good.” She reached under the counter and pulled out a tape measure. “Let’s go take some measurements. Then we can check out the auction and see what they have.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The bookcases were enormous but would have fit perfectly except for the fact that they were in terrible shape. Annie wrinkled her nose when she inspected them, obviously disappointed.

  “We would have to restore them. There’re so many pieces missing, and someone obviously tried to strip this section and never bothered to finish it. We would have to strip the entire thing down.” She was trying to maintain her enthusiasm, but it was clear that her heart wasn’t in it. “It’s your choice. But I think they would be a lot of work.”

  It was an easy decision for me. “I think I’ll have to pass on this one. This thing has regret written all over it.”

  “You mean you’d regret it if you brought it home.”

  “Exactly. It would be a lot of trouble just getting it to the house. Not to mention all the work it needs.” I shook my head. “I think we’ll have to keep looking.”

  Annie nodded, already taking another glance around the crowded room. “I don’t see anything in here that trips my trigger. How about you?”

  I shook my head. Everything felt dirty. No one had taken the time and energy to clean the items before the auction. I glanced around one last time to be sure. “Nothing,” I told her.

  She nodded and began strolling toward the exit. It was early yet, barely five o’clock. We had left my car back at my house, and my mind began to race frantically. I didn’t want my time with Annie to end.

  “Would you like to go to dinner?” I asked her as we stepped outside.

  I expected her to hesitate, but she didn’t. “Sounds good. I’m quite hungry, actually. Where shall we go?”

  “Do you like pizza?”

  “Please.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “I can’t get enough of it. Can we?”

  “Of course. There’s a great little place around the corner from my house.” I slid her a sheepish look. “I actually get takeout from there at least twice a week.”

  Annie laughed. “A woman after my own heart.”

  Exactly. I muttered the word under my breath.

  We ate in my living room, curled up on the single forest-green couch while Annie stared longingly into the great room.

  “I have so many ideas that I don’t know where to start,” she sighed, wiping a napkin across her lips.

  “Actually, I’d always thought that I should hire a contractor to build shelving into the wall.” I finished the last slice of pizza and felt completely satisfied. “There’s so much floor space that you could lose a foot or two all the way around the perimeter and you wouldn’t even notice.”

  Annie threw me an indescribable look. I could see her mind was racing as she jumped to her feet. “That’s it.” She covered the few steps to the glass doorway and stepped inside the other room. Walking to the center, she raised her eyes to each corner of the ceiling.

  “You have enough room for an entire library in here.” She turned as I came up from behind to join her. “You could line that entire interior wall with built-in shelving. The molding would have to be duplicated to match the rest of the house, but it could be done.” She wrinkled her nose. “Do you like the white paint?”

  I shook my head. “I’d prefer natural wood. The walls I’m not certain about.”

  Satisfied, she nodded and turned to the outside wall, arms folded across her chest.

  “These windows are wonderful. You could take advantage of the light coming in by putting in a window seat. Nothing too extravagant. Simple but in keeping with the woodwork in the rest of the room.”

  She continued to describe her vision until I could almost see the room transform before me. I was nodding, agreeing with her, watching the enthusiasm grow on her face.

  “It’s a great idea,” I told her. “What else?”

  She turned immediately to the far end of the room where an old stone fireplace was centered in the wall. At some point someone had painted it the same white color as the walls.

  “The fireplace is beautiful. I bet that the stones underneath the paint would be perfect if we could strip it off. Does the fireplace work?”

  I shrugged. “I’ve never tried it.”

  “You should probably get it checked out. I imagine it would make a big difference in what you decide to do with it if you couldn’t actually use it.”

  “That makes sense.” I studied the imposing stone mantel, trying to imagine what it might look like if the cold dark center below it was bright with flame.

  “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cozy rug near the fireplace, with a soft, comfy couch?”

  I nodded. “I love it. You have a wonderful eye.” Annie focused on me once again. “Do you think so?”

  “Yes. Everything sounds beautiful. But I don’t have a clue about where to start.”

  Annie’s eyebrows pulled together as she thought. “Let me make a couple of phone calls. You need to get some estimates from people who are fa
miliar with doing renovations. You don’t want some hack to come in here and put up traditional woodwork. Whoever does it will have to be able to replicate what’s currently here.” She walked toward me and frowned. “This is going to be expensive.”

  “It sounds like it,” I told her.

  She screwed up her face in an apologetic cringe. “Do you have a budget in mind?”

  “I do have a limited bank account.” I laughed.

  “But let’s start putting some numbers together and see what we come up with.”

  “Really?” She seemed barely able to contain herself.

  “If you’re sure you really want to do this.”

  “Kate, this is wonderful.” She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing me tightly. I know the hug only lasted a few seonds, but it felt as though time was suspended. The clean, fresh scent of her hair filled my nose as I took one deep breath. The unexpected feel of her arms around me and the closeness of her body against mine left me unable to breathe.

  When she finally released me, it wasn’t until I saw the smile on her face that I could finally exhale. The sound of the air leaving my lungs was like a heavy, yearning sigh.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  My strategy was simple. Say nothing to Donald about my meeting with Melanie. Give no indication of what I’d learned at all. Nearly weeks had passed since our meeting, and I knew that Donald was beginning to stew. It wasn’t like him not to stop in and ask for a status report on where his son’s case was headed. But I knew that he was waiting for me to come to him, and I refused.

  I had spoken with Donald Junior only once since our initial meeting, to let him know that a court date had been set for mid August, a full ten weeks away. I mentioned that I had met with his wife’s lawyer and that we had discussed terms of the settlement but had reached no conclusions.