Treasured Past (10 page)

“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 familiar 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.

He reminded me again that he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the value of the house. Funny. The way he’d phrased it, it sounded as though he wasn’t really interested in the house itself. Just the price that it would fetch and the money it would put in his pocket.

I had wondered how long it would take Donald to find his way into my office. But after three weeks, I didn’t have to wait any longer.

“Am I interrupting?” Donald’s white hair was in stark contrast with his tanned skin. I knew that his question was a mere formality, and that he didn’t give a damn whether he was interrupting me or not.

“Come in,” I told him, my smile tight and fixed.
Here we
go.

He didn’t shut the door behind him, and I was secretly encouraged. At least he would think twice before raising his voice.

“How are we doing?” Another attempt to be courteous. But I wasn’t going to be lulled.

“Just fine,” I told him, careful to keep my voice light.

He smiled and nodded before folding himself into one of the two overstuffed armchairs that faced my desk.

“Thought I’d stop in and see how Donald’s case is coming along.” He paused briefly. “Should I be worried about the fact that you haven’t given me an update in several weeks?”

“Not at all.” I put on my best professional demeanor. “There just isn’t much of an update to give you. The court date has been set for August thirteenth.” I paused. More just to make him wait than for any other reason. “I met with the other attorney and presented your son’s wishes about the house.” I purposely stopped at that point to make him ask for more information.

“And?” I could see his impatience, even though he was struggling to hide it. “Did they agree to our terms?”

You mean, did they agree to be blackmailed?
I wanted to say the words aloud but held back. I still had several more cards to play.

“The attorney said that she would discuss it with her client. We’re scheduled to meet again a week from Thursday.”

Donald nodded, and I took the opportunity to soften my voice and play the role of the helpless, ignorant female.

“Donald. I don’t think I ever asked you. What does your son do for a living?”

The crease between his brows deepened. “He’s in real estate.”

Real estate. How appropriate. “Is he quite successful, then?” I knew I was walking a fine line by starting this line of questioning.

“I don’t really see where that’s any of your business,” he snapped, the ferocity of his tone surprising me.

Bingo.
I’d hit a sore spot.
This could get interesting.

I forced my voice to remain calm, even casual. “Well, Donald, I agree that on a personal level, your son’s financial affairs are none of my business. But as his attorney, I must admit that I’m feeling a bit at a loss. It’s as though there are some important pieces of information that are missing for me.” I dropped my voice to a hushed tone. “My concern is that some of this information might surface when we get inside that courtroom.”

“And I’m assuming that you’ll never let this case get that far. I’m paying you to make sure that this is settled before it gets to a judge.” His voice was firm and brittle.

I remained calm, spreading my palms on the desktop. “I understand your wishes, sir. But my concern is that your son’s wife seems to be reluctant to settle under his terms. If she refuses to settle, then I’m going to be ill prepared to explain to a judge why your son is so deserving of their home.”

Donald was steaming, and I wasn’t sure if I should be pleased with myself, or if I should fear for my life. Nostrils flaring, he was clenching his jaw.

“Your job is to make sure it never gets that far.” He was repeating himself. Could it be that he’d never considered that he would have to explain what a failure his son was to me, and for the public record?

“I understand that, sir.” My voice was respectful but firm. “But let’s assume for a moment that this gets before a judge. How am I supposed to explain to him or her that your son deserves to own a house that he hasn’t lived in for four years?”

I fully expected to see steam coming from his ears.

“How did you find out about that?” he snarled.

He’d finally managed to insult me. The sweetness left my voice.

“Did you really expect that I wouldn’t do my homework?” I was incredulous. “Is that why you gave me this case? Because you have such a low opinion of my work and abilities that you thought I’d walk through this blindly without asking questions?”

“Of course not.” Donald began to back-pedal. “Your work is nothing short of extraordinary. I wanted the best possible attorney to represent my son. That’s why I came to you.”

Bullshit.
I struggled to hold my tongue, and he seemed to interpret my hesitance as acquiescence. As
if I would believe one word of your flattery.

“There’s a significant bonus waiting for you if you’re successful with this.” His voice had grown quiet, and I could see that he believed he had gained the upper hand so easily.

“And I appreciate that, sir.” I’d managed to regain control. “But I think that you should be prepared to hear some pretty ugly words if this goes to court.”

He was staring at me, jaw working again, but saying nothing. I took his silence as encouragement to continue.

“I understand that you and your son believe that you have a firm ground to stand on. But surely you know that others might be inclined to label your terms as blackmail.” It felt so good to say these words. “Particularly in light of the fact that your son hasn’t even been living in the house.”