by Parker, Ali
I had a new understanding of the family dynamic. I understood why Patrick was so fiercely protective of his little sister. I was as well. I wanted to march into the Kendell house and lay into her parents. I wanted to shake them until they realized just how beautiful Mae was, inside and out.
“I get it,” I told him. “You did the right thing. She will see that one day. I’m sure of it. In the meantime, just keep looking out for her. One day, she will appreciate it.”
“I know, but I just hope I survive that long. Mae can really hold a grudge when she wants to.”
I laughed. “She loves you too much.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Chapter 27
Mae
I sipped my tea, looking over the cup at the man I was hoping would give me a job. The guy had to be pushing eighty. He was the very proud owner of the oldest private museum in Philadelphia. I remembered visiting the museum several times when I was younger. I had thought him old back then.
“Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy day to meet with me, Benjamin,” I said with a friendly smile.
His eyes, a clear blue that had a faint misty look to them stared back at me. “It’s I who should be thanking you. I wasn’t sure you would be interested in talking to an old relic like me.”
“I feel privileged to be talking to you. You are kind of a hero in the antiquity world. My dad always spoke very highly of you.”
There was a brief moment of anger that flashed through the man’s eyes. “Your father used to be a great source for me to tap when I was stocking my museum.”
I said nothing about the fact he used the past-tense version. I managed to sell him a few pieces over the years, but he always let me down gently. He would tell me he wasn’t looking for anything new or he was going in a different direction. “Things changed,” I murmured.
“I couldn’t help but hear about the business being bought out by that other place,” he said.
I winced. “Yes. Patrick felt it best to sell and move on.” I wouldn’t disparage my brother to a man who was a virtual stranger. I would certainly disparage him all I wanted to Carrie and Tyson.
He smiled. “I saw the article in the paper as well. I gathered the reporter got the impression you didn’t think it was such a great idea.”
I felt my cheeks redden. The reporter needed to be slapped. I only had myself to blame, but damn if the woman had to go and blast it like that. I sounded like a crazy person. Then again, I did go into the museum and act a little crazy.
“I was a little upset, but I understand why he did what he did. He wanted to free up his time and mine, I suppose.”
Benjamin nodded, his thick shock of stark-white hair catching the light overhead in the restaurant. “It’s a shame what is happening nowadays.”
“What would that be?” I asked.
“All the corporate nonsense. I liked things small and fair. My museum doesn’t stand a chance when up against a man like that. His pockets are deep, and he will keep swallowing up the little places and absorbing them into his giant kingdom. It’s the little places like mine that his business was built on. Without guys like me, he never would have made it to where he was.”
I nodded. It was true. “It’s unfortunate, but I guess we can be grateful more people are getting to see the history of our world. People nowadays want the big and bright. They want all the bells and whistles. They want their history on their terms.”
He smiled. “You get it.”
I shrugged. “I think I do.”
“You do. I can tell you do. You fought for your business. That’s what I’m looking for.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You want me to work for you?”
He smiled before bursting into a coughing fit. “Sorry,” he murmured before taking a drink of water. “Too many years of inhaling dust.”
“Are you okay?”
There was a wistful smile on his lips. “Yes and no. I’m a man long past his prime. I’m alone in this world and I think my days of digging up history are coming to an end.”
“I’m sorry,” I told him, not sure what else to say.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life and they have never been so obvious as they are right now as I stare at the end.”
I was almost afraid to ask what he meant. “Mistakes?”
“My Millie could never have children. That never bothered me. I was too busy working in my museum to notice. Then one day, the good Lord saw fit to take her on up with him. Again, I was okay. I worked, and I worked, and I worked some more. Now, I find myself alone. I’m the youngest of two brothers who were both killed in the war before they ever got a chance to marry and have children. I’m it. I’m the last of my family line. My work was my everything, and now, I’m done. I can’t take it with me.” He chuckled. “I guess that’s the difference between us and the ancient civilizations. I don’t want to be buried with all my old treasures. I want them to stay here.”
I wondered if he was going senile. I didn’t understand why he had called and asked to meet with me. I was a stranger to him. I didn’t know what he wanted me to do for him. I was way out of my element and suddenly very uncomfortable. “You look rather healthy and spry,” I told him with a smile.
He chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think I’m going to be pushing up daisies in the next few months, but I’m not going to be around forever. I’m not sad about it. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thinking of the future.”
I was lost. “That’s always a good thing.”
“I don’t want my museum falling into the hands of a man like Tyson Helms,” he said firmly.
I nodded. “Understandable.”
“I don’t have anyone to pass it along to. I have no family that will inherit it.”
I nodded again. At that point, I was simply humoring what I assumed was a lonely old man in need of someone to listen to him. “I’m very sorry about that.”
“I want you to have it.”
I blinked, gave my head a good shake, and stared at him. “You what?”
“I want you to have it. I want you to take over. I know you will fight to keep it out of the hands of the corporate machine.”
I licked my lips. “You want me to have it? I’m not sure I have the means to buy a business right now.”
He smiled and shook his head. “No. Not buy. I want to give, bequeath it, if you will.”
I felt my head shaking. It was happening involuntarily. I was trying to work it out in my head and coming up very confused. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t understand.”
“My little shop is nothing to write home about, but it is mine, and I like it the way it is. That Tyson? His minion tried to buy my museum. Several times actually. I say no and he comes back with a bigger offer. It isn’t money I want. He isn’t the only one. There have been others. I can’t sell my precious treasures. They are worth a lot more than money. I want someone that appreciates the history.”
“But your business is a business. It is worth money.”
He waved a hand. “Money isn’t everything.”
“I think you have a lovely business and I appreciate the offer, but I cannot accept it as a gift. I am certainly interested but I don’t have the money to buy your business. I wish I did because I would absolutely be interested. Unfortunately, I spent the bulk of the money I earned from the sale of our business on an artifact.”
He chuckled. “A woman after my own heart. Sometimes, there is a piece you just have to say screw practicality and just buy it.”
I smiled. “I definitely did that. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.”
“You don’t have it?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. It should be ready for me to pick up in about a month.”
His bright smile made me feel better about my splurge. “That sounds exciting. But that doesn’t change my offer. I don’t need nor want you to pay for the business. I want to pass it down.”
“Benjamin, you are too generous. I cannot ask you f
or that. I would not feel comfortable taking it.”
“Let me try it a different way,” he said. “My business means the world to me and I worked my entire life building it. I spent my life in that place. I will not sell it. If you do not take it, it goes to the state. You know what happens then. It will get split up and sent all over the place. Wouldn’t that be a shame?”
He was guilting me. “That would be terrible.”
“Now you understand my predicament. When I saw that article in the paper, I knew what I had to do. I knew you would be the caretaker my precious things needed to stay out of the hands of people only interested in making a buck off the items I have spent my life collecting. I have been to estate sales. I have watched people pick through a person’s belongings, tossing what they deem invaluable to the side. I have thought long and hard about what I want to happen. I know tomorrow isn’t promised. I could drop dead in the next five minutes. I want to be in control. We have very little control in this world, but this is one thing I can control. I want to leave this world knowing my collection is in good hands.”
He was making it very difficult to say no. It all sounded very reasonable. People made wills because they wanted that last bit of control. They wanted to thumb their nose at death before they took their last breath. “Benjamin, I want to do it. I really do, but it’s too generous.”
“You would be making an old man happy. All that I ask is you hold on to that museum with the white-knuckled grip you held on to your family’s business.”
“But I lost that,” I reminded him.
He shrugged. “I don’t believe you could have saved it. As I understand, it was your brother’s, and before that, it was your dad’s.”
I nodded. “Yes. I would have never sold.”
“Exactly.”
I closed my eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “Okay.”
He grinned. “Okay? You’ll take it?”
“I don’t feel like I have a choice. I don’t want your museum falling into the wrong hands. I respect you and I want to make sure you have complete peace as you move onto the next season of your life. I promise you, I will treat it with the same love you did. I will fight tooth and nail to keep it just as you would want it.”
He let out a long breath. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”
He was going to make me cry. The relief and happiness on his face made me feel better about accepting such a generous offer. “I hope I can do it justice.”
“I have no doubt that you will. Now, tell me about this artifact you bought. Do you have a place to put this treasure?”
I burst into nervous laughter. “My mantle?”
“Now that is true love,” he said with a laugh. “Why would you spend that kind of money on something you have nowhere to put.”
I leaned forward. “Because Tyson Helms wanted it,” I whispered.
He burst into raucous laughter, slapping his hand against the table. “Good girl! I knew you were the right choice.”
I grinned, thrilled he understood what it all meant. Carrie didn’t understand. She thought I was crazy. I wasn’t crazy. I was mad. I was a woman scorned. Everyone knew you didn’t fuck with a scorned woman. I was going to hit Tyson where it hurt the most.
Chapter 28
Tyson
I got out of the car, feeling the jetlag as I walked into the hotel. I used my very broken Italian to speak to the man behind the counter. I got the key to my suite and headed for the elevator. It felt like I had been waiting forever for the day to arrive. I was thrilled to be in Rome.
I had done my research and knew exactly how much I would pay for the artifact that had been dug up just outside the city. It was being touted as coming from the era of the Roman Republic. A time before Jesus was born, according to history. I wanted to verify it for myself and that included seeing the site it came from.
I dropped my suitcase near the door and moved to look out the window. I had been hoping I would be making this trip with Mae. Mae would have loved Rome. I was dumb enough to let myself hope there was a chance for us. I had envisioned a romantic week, seeing the sights, enjoying wine and cheese, and having lots and lots of sex.
That wasn’t going to happen. She wasn’t even talking to me, let alone sleeping with me. I pushed away the thought. I was tired of mourning the loss of a relationship I never had. Mae was not for me. I wished I would have been able to be the man she needed. I wished like hell I could have been honest with her from the very beginning. I wasn’t sure that would have saved the relationship, but it could have prevented the hard feelings.
I scoffed. “Pull your head out of your ass,” I snapped as I looked at my reflection in the window.
I didn’t feel like being alone. I didn’t want to be with anyone, and I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, but I didn’t want to sit alone in my room. After being with Mae, I had a new understanding of my situation. I was alone. So, so alone. I didn’t crave human interaction, but I craved her.
I grabbed my room key and wallet and decided a stiff drink or five was in order. Admittedly, I had probably been drinking too much as of late. It was the only way I could get to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face. I saw the look of disgust and disappointment and pure hatred for me when she’d looked at me that day in the museum.
I would prefer never to see her again than to see that look on her face. I walked into the hotel bar, found myself a seat at the end of the bar, and ordered a scotch on the rocks. I took the first few drinks and tried to sink into the atmosphere.
For whatever reason, I looked to my left. I blinked several times and then looked into my glass to see just how much I had consumed. It wasn’t much. I wasn’t drunk. I turned to look at the woman that looked an awful lot like Mae. It couldn’t possibly be her. I stared at her so hard, she must have felt it. Her gaze turned on me. Our eyes locked and then I knew for sure it was her.
I put up a hand. It seemed like the right thing to do. I couldn’t pretend not to see her. We were past that. She waved, which shocked the hell out of me. She had her suitcase behind her and the carry-on and laptop slung over one shoulder with her purse on the other. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She looked like a packhorse. The woman needed new luggage or a personal bellhop.
I slid off my stool and moved toward her. I half-expected her to turn and run the other way. She didn’t. “Hi,” I greeted.
“Hi.”
“This is going to sound really cheesy, but what brings you to Rome?”
“I’m here on business.”
“Business?” I questioned.
She shrugged. “It’s a new job.”
I nodded, surprised that she had a new job already. “Can I buy you a drink?” I asked, knowing there was a very good chance she would tell me to fuck off.
She didn’t. “Sure, I could use a drink after my long flight. Flying commercial is not as fun as flying private.”
I chuckled. “I know. Trust me, I know.” I waved a hand and got the bartender’s attention. Mae sat down on the seat next to mine, which felt really weird to be so close to her without her trying to rip my face off.
“Why are you here?” she asked, taking a drink from the glass of white wine she ordered.
“I’m here to pick up a new find,” I told her.
She smiled. “Oh. That sounds exciting.”
“Mae, I’m sorry,” I said. “I am truly sorry for what happened. I should have been honest with you from the beginning. I didn’t realize how important it was to you.”
“You sure about that? I thought I made it clear.”
I winced. “You did but I also knew about your situation with your little sister and I thought maybe this could help. Your brother came to me with an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I weighed the pros and cons and decided me buying the business was the best option for everyone.”
She offered another sweet smile. “I understand.”
“Mae, you have to know I would never do anything to hurt you. Me buying the business wasn’t supposed to hurt you. Please believe me when I say I did it with good intentions. I knew Patrick was going to sell. I didn’t want it going to someone who would pay nothing. I didn’t want someone taking the business your family, you, built from the ground up with your own two hands. I know it sounds stupid and you probably don’t believe me, but I did it because I do care.”
She was quiet as I spoke and appeared to be listening to every word. “I believe you,” she said after several very scary seconds.
“You do?”
She laughed. “I do. You did what you thought was right. I have a new job that I love. When one door is slammed closed in your face, another one opens.”
Her words told me she was still a little angry. I hoped we could move forward, and that last bit of her anger would fade. “Thank you,” I told her, meaning the words. “How have you been otherwise? How is Hayden doing?”
“Hayden is great. She is looking forward to school getting out for the summer. I have no idea what I’m going to do with her. Carrie has offered to have her hang out with her while I’m at work.”
“She is lucky to have you.”
She finished her glass of wine. “I should probably get checked in. I would love a shower and then I plan on sleeping. I can’t afford to be off my game tomorrow.”
“Do you have a meeting tomorrow?” I asked.
“Something like that,” she said with a smile that told me she was hiding something.
“Can I buy you another glass?” I asked, hoping to prolong her stay in my company.