Divided Interests

by Kelly Elliott

  Oreo came up and rubbed against my legs.

  “Good morning, sweetie.”

  When she jumped on my lap, I noticed she had a ribbon tied around her neck. I untied it, and the key to the attic fell on my lap. I looked around, then picked up the key.

  “You want to go up into the attic?” I asked as she purred so loudly I couldn’t help but giggle.

  “Actually, it was me who wanted to go up there.”

  Turning, I smiled at Lucas. “You know, we’re not supposed to see each other until the wedding.”

  “Do you really want to start doing things by the book now?”

  Laughing, I shook my head and picked up the cat, then made my way over to him.

  “You want to go exploring…now?”

  “Yes. Tom gave me this last night.”

  He held up the necklace that had been in May’s trunk.

  “Tom told me they were real diamonds in the bracelet, so I gave him the ruby necklace. It is a ruby. A very expensive ruby.”

  I lifted my brows. “Your grandfather?” I asked.

  “That’s what I’m thinking. He probably showered her with jewelry when he was dating her.”

  “And she left it all up in the attic.”

  “Tom brought his friend over, the jeweler. He offered to buy a few of the pieces.”

  “Really? Wow. Are you going to sell them to him?”

  Lucas laughed. “Your father would really kick my ass. Paige, they’re worth a lot of money. A lot of money.”

  “Okay. Well, that’s good, I guess.”

  He placed his hands on my shoulders and smiled. “I’m talking about enough money to pay off the mortgage on the flower shop. Enough money to pay for that kitchen reno you want, and enough money to put away for ten kids to go to college at any university they want.”

  “What exactly are you saying?” I asked, my voice stumbling.

  “Let’s head up there really quick.”

  I followed Lucas. Once in the attic, he winked at me before opening up the chest. He pulled open the drawer and shook his head as he gazed down at the jewels.

  “So…I’m saying, Grams casually kept thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry in her traveling trunk for years. Okay, not just thousands of dollars. That piece you’re holding is a five-and-a-half-carat ruby that is worth twenty-thousand dollars. According to your brother’s friend, there might be over a million dollars’ worth of jewelry up there.”

  I gasped. “Wh-what!”

  He nodded. “I called my father this morning, asked him if he could contact his family in England, alert them to all that we found. He just called me back, and they don’t want any of it returned. As far as they are concerned, my father’s dad would have wanted the family to have it. He gave it to Grams as a gift.”

  My hands shook. “Lucas, I can’t even think right now. Why in the world would William and May leave all that up in that trunk?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe May didn’t want it as a reminder of what she had done. Out of respect for Granddad? Maybe she didn’t even realize what she had in there.”

  “We need to put it in a safe, you know that.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, I know. The family did ask a favor…from you.”

  “Me?” I asked in surprise.

  “We sent pictures of the jewelry to them. There is a brooch in there, one that has been in the family for a while. My grandfather gave it to Grams when she told him she was pregnant. He was married at the time, that’s why he left her alone, plus I guess she told him she was in love with another man.”

  “William,” I whispered.

  “Yes. Anyway, they asked if you would wear it at our wedding.”

  Lucas reached into the chest and pulled out a black brooch with a woman’s picture painted in the middle of it. Pearls lined the outside of the piece. It was stunning.

  “Apparently, this is my great, great—there might be one more great in there—grandmother. Her name was Lady Elizabeth Davers.”

  “Lady? I still can’t believe you have nobility in your blood.”

  Lucas cleared his throat and spoke in a terrible English accent. “My lady, I come from one of the finer peerage families of the mother land.”

  Laughing, I pushed him lightly on the chest. “I’d love to wear the brooch. I found the pearl earrings Millie wore in her wedding to William. Isn’t it terribly romantic that I will be wearing something from both women?”

  “It’s simply perfect. I love you, you know that, right?”

  “Of course,” I said softly, reaching up on my toes and kissing him. “And I love you.”

  “So, do you want to go fool around up in the attic?”

  “I would, but everyone will be showing up soon.”

  His brow lifted. “Who is everyone?”

  “Your mom, Jen, the makeup and hair girl Jen found at the last minute. They’ll all be here soon.”

  Lucas looked stunned. “The wedding isn’t until tonight. Why is everyone coming over now?”

  I placed my hand on the side of his face, then gave it a few light slaps. “You better hope we don’t have ten little girls, Lucas, because you have no idea what it takes for women to get married.”

  He groaned, then kissed me on the tip of my nose. A small box in the corner of the attic moved and fell to the floor. Lucas and I both looked at the box, then back to one another. A moment later, we were pushing each other out of the way to get the hell out of the attic.

  “Something has to be done about the freaking ghost!” Lucas called as he nearly fell down the steps.

  Once we were out, the door locked and both of us breathed like we had run a marathon. I let out a long breath. “Married first. Honeymoon second. Ghost third.”

  Lucas nodded. “Maybe Oreo can talk her into leaving.”

  “You look beautiful,” Lynn said.

  “Lucas is going to shit his pants. Sorry, Mrs. Foster.”

  Lynn chuckled. “It’s true, he will. If he doesn’t go weak in the knees first. I’m glad the veil isn’t over your face. You’re too beautiful to cover it.”

  I felt my cheeks blush. “My heart feels like it is going to beat right out of my chest.”

  “I felt the same way,” Jen said. “Except I also felt sick to my stomach. And for a good fifteen minutes, my mother had to talk me into not running from the church.”

  Lynn and I looked at Jen with shocked expressions. “You didn’t want to marry Gene?”

  “I did. But in a few brief moments of hysteria, I didn’t.”

  Turning back to the mirror, I drew in a slow, steady breath. “I have no doubt in my mind I’m ready to marry Lucas. I’m afraid the moment I see him I’ll try to bolt out of my father’s arms to get to him.”

  Jen and Lynn both let out soft chuckles. Lynn took a step closer to me. “I have been trying to decide when is the best time to do this, and there doesn’t seem to be any time that probably won’t make us both cry our makeup off.”

  My hands reached for hers. “What is it?” I could hear the concern in my voice.

  “Everything it okay. I didn’t mean to scare you. Oh sweet, sweet Paige. The day your momma passed away, she called for me that morning.”

  “I remember,” I said softly.

  “We spoke and she…” Lynn let out a tender laugh as she recalled the memory. “She told me that she knew someday you and Lucas would marry. I told her I hoped like hell she was right.”

  My hand came up to my mouth as a laugh and sob slipped free.

  “Your momma was always right. Here is another example. You’re about to marry Lucas.”

  I wiped a tear.

  Lynn pulled out a box that was in her purse. She handed it to me. “Your mother told me that when you got married, I was to give you this.”

  I gathered up my dress and walked over to the bench in the room where I was getting ready. It was one of the upstairs rooms. The whole upstairs had been turned upside down to get me ready. The wedding prep was the most fun I’d
ever had. I had been treated like a princess. Manicure, pedicure, a facial, massage—that one was from Lucas—and endless primping and laughing.

  With a deep breath to calm myself, I untied the ribbon on the box and slid the lid off. I was greeted with the smell of my mother’s favorite perfume and pink tissue paper. Carefully opening the tissue, I smiled at the sight.

  “Her handkerchief,” I whispered. “I used to play with it when I was little. She told me it was a wedding gift from her mother.”

  I ran my fingers over the embroidered initials. My heart pained at the thought of my mother not here. I had been trying all day not to think about it, but at times, the sadness had been so overwhelming that I knew I could burst into tears any moment. But this, this gift made me feel like she was here with me.

  “It’s beautiful,” Jen said, her hand on my shoulder. “You should wrap it around your bouquet.”

  I quickly stood. “The brooch. We can pin it to the handkerchief.”

  Lynn smiled brightly. “That’s an amazing idea, Paige.”

  Jen walked over and got the bouquet. “It’s almost time to go down, so let’s let the stems dry a bit before we wrap it. Let’s touch up your makeup, give you hair one more spray, then you’ll be ready to go.”

  I nodded.

  As I stood in the mirror, I let my eyes wander down my dress. The white satin mermaid gown hugged my body in the most delicious way. I loved that it showed off my curves and knew Lucas would appreciate it even more. The delicate crystal belt added the perfect touch. The halter top was satin and gave way to lace and a stunning pattern of crystals, beads, and sequins that made an intricate, yet delicate, open pattern down my back. Most of my back was exposed, making the dress feel sophisticated and sexy.

  My hair had been put into a low bun with only a few hanging curls. Jen stood on a stepstool and pinned on the simple veil. I didn’t want one that covered my face, yet it felt like I was missing something if I didn’t have it.

  Lynn handed me the pearl drop earrings I had found in Millie’s things in the storage shed. I put them on and took another look at myself.

  “You’re going to steal the air from the room,” Lynn said, kissing me and then turning to Jen. “I’m leaving her in your hands. I’d like to see my son, and then I think I need to get to my seat.”

  I squeezed her hand. “Thank you for everything.”

  She gave me a soft smile. “Of course, my sweet girl.”

  After Lynn left, Jen looked at me and then we both took another glance at my reflection in the mirror.

  “I hope he shits his pants,” I said with a silly giggle.

  “Trust me. He will,” Jen said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  Karen, the makeup artist from Fredericksburg, handed me the bouquet of pink daisies and white roses. “I’ve dried off the stems and carefully wrapped the handkerchief your mother gave you around the stems and secured it with the brooch.”

  She wrapped it, so the initials could be seen. “You did a beautiful job. On everything,” I said.

  “My God, you look like your mother.”

  Turning, I smiled at my father. He was dressed in a black tux.

  “You look handsome as all get out!” I exclaimed, making my way over to him. I kissed him on the cheek, and he took a step back, giving me a once-over.

  “The bastard doesn’t deserve you. No man does.”

  “I would bet Granddad told Momma the same thing about you.”

  He laughed. “He did, and he was right. I was nowhere good enough for her, but I loved her so much.”

  I smiled. “She loved you too, Daddy.”

  He nodded and cleared his throat. “I happen to know that undeserving—”

  “Daddy, be nice.”

  With a roll of his eyes, he said, “I happen to know that Lucas loves you very much. I just saw him.”

  “How does he look?”

  He gave me a wicked smile. “Nervous as hell. I offered him some whiskey, but he declined.”

  “You did not!” I said, slapping him playfully on the chest.

  He sighed liked he had amused the hell out of himself. Taking my hands in his, he said, “It’s time. Are you ready?”

  I nodded. “I’ve waited for this day for a long time.”

  He held out his arm to me, and I slipped my arm through his.

  “Let’s go get you married.”

  Lucas

  A SMALL HANDFUL of people sat in chairs in the greenhouse. Paige had kept the decorations surprisingly minimal. A few bouquets of flowers were scattered around the room, and the altar was an arch covered in light pink and white roses. Preacher Smith stood there, a smile on his face as we waited. The music started, and my heart nearly jumped to my throat.

  I had asked Milo to stand in as my best friend, which had made the bastard start crying. It happened the day we had all been decorating the backyard until one in the morning. He was drunk as all get out and nearly passed out on the sofa. I walked in and saw him watching Top Gun for some unknown reason. When I asked him to be my best man, he broke down and hugged me. Yeah, awkward, but I was glad he agreed.

  I smiled as I let my eyes sweep over the friends and family we’d invited to the ceremony. In all, it was only twenty-four people, most of whom were friends of ours growing up. The reception, on the other hand? We had sent out a text three days before the wedding and had invited over a hundred-and-fifty people. Some were former colleagues of Paige’s, some mine. A lot were our folks’ friends, people we’d known growing up, and one or two of our college friends.

  Callie and Tom Jr. walked down the aisle, each of them nodding and saying hello as they made their way. Callie went off to the side with Jen, and Tom Jr. stood next to me. He had the very important job of holding the rings. I gave his hair a quick rub and winked at him.

  “Good job, Junior.”

  He beamed with pride.

  The air changed the moment I saw Paige walking down the path. I couldn’t get a good look at her through the greenhouse windows, but the moment she stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat, and I swayed.

  “Do you need me to hold you up there, Lucas?” Milo asked in a hushed tone.

  I watched as Paige and her father started down the aisle. “Maybe.”

  He chuckled and gave me a pat on the back.

  As Paige walked slowly toward me, our eyes met. A million things ran through my mind. Things I wanted to tell her.

  She looked absolutely beautiful. Too stunning for me to form proper words. Her eyes seemed to sparkle, and for the briefest moment, I knew Millie, May, and William were here with us.

  Paige and Phillip stopped in front of me, and Paige turned to her father.

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  He wiped a tear from his eye. “I love you more, my sweet girl.”

  I reached out, and Phillip placed Paige’s hand in mine.

  “She is precious and means the world to me,” he said, his voice cracking. “I couldn’t give her to you unless I knew deep in my heart that she meant the same to you.”

  A heavy soreness built inside as I squeezed her hand gently.

  “I’m not giving her away, Lucas. You don’t give away something you love. But you can share her with me.”

  Paige let a sob slip free. “Daddy,” she whispered.

  “Thank you, sir. And I swear, I will treasure and love her with everything I have for the rest of my life and beyond.”

  He nodded, wiped his tears, and then went to his seat.

  Paige and I took a few steps closer to Preacher Smith. I turned to her and our eyes met.

  “You are breathtaking. Beyond beautiful.”

  She smiled, a slightly pink tint to her cheeks. The preacher started to talk, but all I could do was look at her. When we faced one another to say our vows, I wasn’t even positive I was talking, but the way she was smiling at me, I knew I must have been. We exchanged rings, and when it came time for me to kiss her, I summoned up every ounce of strength I had not to
ravish her with kisses and take her back to the house.

  The kiss was soft, sweet, and slow. When we pulled away, we both laughed because everyone was cheering like a bunch a crazy people. I leaned my forehead to hers and stared into her soft brown eyes.

  “Hello, Mrs. Foster.”

  A tear slipped from her eye and made a slow trail down her cheek. “Hello, Mr. Foster.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “For?” she asked with a giggle.

  “For taking this slow and making me the happiest man on Earth.”

  Paige smiled, wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me once more. This time, the kiss was indeed a bit naughtier.

  Three years later

  AS I WALKED up to The Little Flower Shop, Paige stood outside. She was talking to an older woman, a smile on her face and one of the baskets she kept outside the shop in hand. It was filled with flowers that looked like small bundles of wheat. At her feet, a basket filled with mums, and next to that, even more flowers. The façade of her shop looked exactly how Paige had described years ago. The grey, wood-framed large windows gave it a rustic look. One of the windows opened and gave way to a small window box filled with Gerber daisies, one of Paige’s favorite flowers. Over the last three years, Paige had also turned the greenhouse at our place into one of the most impressive sights I’d ever seen. Half of the greenhouse held some of her favorite flowers, the other half was a play area for our daughter, Zoey.

  Inside the flower shop was just as amazing as the outside. It was exactly how Paige had always described it. She had even picked up a few items for the shop when we went to Italy for our honeymoon. It had been two weeks of pure bliss. Exploring small villages, eating some of the most amazing food I’d ever tasted, and trying wine after wine, until I vowed to never drink wine again.