It Must've Been the Mistletoe

by L. P. Dover

  Twenty-Five

  Adeline

  Since I had all the time in the world, I decided to spend the rest of my day in the attic. It’d been so long since I’d searched through everything, and I wanted to see pictures of my great-grandparents again.

  There were boxes everywhere, all stuffed with pictures, documents, and some with old clothing. The dresses weren’t in good shape anymore, but it was surreal to know that they’d once been worn so many years ago. I grabbed the box of pictures I’d taken to class on the last day before break, and opened it up. The picture of Mary Adeline and Andrew Hamilton was on top. Everything about them was the same as in my dream.

  My doorbell rang, so I slid the boxes aside and hurried downstairs. I could see the silhouette of my mother through the glass. When I opened the door, she grinned wide. “Hey, honey.”

  I stepped out of the way, so she could come inside. “Hey. I didn’t know you were coming over today.”

  She slid off her coat and hung it up on the rack. “I thought I’d surprise you. I asked off for this week months ago. I was hoping we could go shopping this afternoon.”

  “Sounds great. I was just looking through some old photos in the attic. Want to join me?”

  Her eyes lit up. “Sure. Your grandfather used to spend hours up there. I still remember all his stories. He used to tell them to me when your father and I started dating. Since your father was never into it, I think your grandfather enjoyed having someone to tell them to.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “I remember all the stories too.”

  When we got to the attic, she sucked in a breath as she looked around. “It’s been so long since I’ve been up here.” She opened one of the old, brown leather boxes, and we carefully searched through the contents. There were pictures of my house when it was first being built. Andrew Hamilton was just a young boy in the pictures. My great-grandmother, Mary Adeline, would’ve been the daughter of a servant at that time.

  “It’s crazy how much things have changed over the years,” I murmured. There were pictures of my grandparents before Andrew Hamilton, and of my great uncles and aunts. One thing was for certain, I definitely got the blonde hair from the Hamilton side. My father had the blond hair as well, but he had green eyes, while mine were blue like my mother’s.

  My mother picked up a picture of Andrew and Mary Adeline. “Did your grandfather tell you about these two?”

  I nodded. “Mary Adeline was a servant, and Andrew fell in love with her. His family didn’t want them to get married, and even threaten his inheritance, but they went through with it anyway.”

  “That’s right,” she replied happily. “Goes to show you how powerful love is.”

  It was powerful. As much as I wanted to fight my feelings, I couldn’t help but think that my love for Will was real. It haunted me, especially after what had happened this morning. He knew I loved apple pastries, but he didn’t know how. That had stuck with me all morning; only, I didn’t know what to do about it. I’d look like a crazy person if I tried to talk to someone about it.

  “Mom?”

  She looked over at me, brows lifted. “Yeah?”

  “Do you remember Grandpa telling you a story about Roger and Annaliese’s daughter, Adeline-Jane Hamilton?”

  She stared at me, her expression melancholy. “I do. Such a tragedy. Her mother died while giving birth, and her father sent her away to live with relatives while he searched for gold. And if that wasn’t sad enough, when she was on her way to her grandparents’ house, the coachman lost control of the horse and the carriage crashed.” Her gaze wandered about the room. “I remember seeing a newspaper article on her.”

  I gasped. “Really? I’ve never seen that.”

  She stood and searched the room. “Oh yeah. The clipping was in a wooden, pirate-looking treasure chest sort of thing. It was a long time ago, but I remember putting it back in there.”

  I’d never seen a treasure chest like she described. How could I have missed that? While she hunted on one side of the attic, I went to the other. About thirty minutes had passed, when we finally got lucky.

  “Found it,” my mother squealed. It was hidden beneath an old wagon wheel. She placed it on top of another larger chest and opened it up. Inside, there was a beautiful emerald broach, lined with diamonds. The silver was a little tarnished, but that could be fixed.

  “It’s so beautiful,” I murmured.

  “I think it was Adeline-Jane’s. These gloves were hers as well. They have her initials on them.” She handed me the silky white gloves, only now they were a yellowish-beige. Her initials were small and placed on the bottom of the gloves, embroidered with green fabric.

  “Is this all that was left of her belongings?”

  My mother shrugged. “Not sure, sweetheart. There’s no telling what happened all those years ago.” She dug around in the chest a little more, and pulled out a newspaper clipping. It was old and fragile. “Here it is.”

  I carefully took it from her and read the article. It was all about Adeline-Jane Hamilton and the carriage accident. The coachman had died as well. They were found by two farmers who lived close by. Reading about it only made it that much more heartbreaking.

  “She was very pretty,” my mother said.

  I nodded. “Yes, she was.” The picture was just a headshot of her, but I remembered Helen curling my hair and fixing it just like Adeline-Jane’s. However, what I saw next made me gasp in shock.

  “Adeline, what is it?” my mother asked.

  Facing her, I held up the picture and pointed at the necklace around Adeline-Jane’s neck, my hands shaking. I couldn’t even wrap my head around it. “Look at this.”

  She focused in on the necklace and shrugged. “What about it?” Pulling the necklace out from under my sweater, I showed it to her and my mother’s eyes shot open. “Where did you get that?”

  “It was my bridal present from Jessica. Her wedding planner gave it to me the other night, at the rehearsal.”

  Mouth gaping, my mother looked at my necklace and then down at the article. “This is uncanny. Where did she get it?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.” I never got the chance to talk to Margaret again at the wedding. Now, I wished I’d searched harder for her. There were too many strange things happening. She was probably going to think I was crazy, but I had to know what was going on.

  I pulled out my phone and my mother patted my arm. “I’ll be downstairs.”

  Once she was gone, I called Jessica, while pacing the room impatiently. I wanted answers. Thankfully, she picked up the phone.

  “Hey, girl.”

  “Hey. How’s the honeymoon going?”

  She sighed. “Wonderful. It’s going to be a shock coming back home to the snow after being in the Caribbean.”

  “I bet.”

  “Is everything okay? You don’t sound right.”

  I looked back down at the necklace around Adeline-Jane’s neck. “I’m fine. There’s just some weird stuff going on around here.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like my necklace. Where did you get it?”

  She groaned. “Don’t be mad, but I didn’t have time to pick it out myself. I feel so bad. With the wedding and work, I had asked Margaret to get it for you.”

  That made everything even weirder. “Do you know where she got it from?”

  “I told her you liked antiques. I’m pretty sure she got it from that small, antique shop by the general store. Why do you ask?”

  I heard Trent in the background, trying his best to get her off the phone by tickling her. “Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. I’ll tell you when you get home. Go have fun.”

  “Okay,” she said, laughing. “Talk to you later.”

  We hung up and I knew exactly where I had to go. Margaret had the answers.

  My mother and I had just left to go shopping, when my father called and said his boss was in town and had asked them out to lunch. She couldn’t say no, s
o I dropped her back off at my house and went out on my own. It worked out better anyway. I wanted to see Margaret and then go to the antique store to see how they got the necklace in the first place.

  Bridal Charms wedding and Event Planning’s office was on the other side of town. It was one of the largest wedding planning businesses in the state. Luckily, they were open on Sundays. When I walked in, the lobby was covered in poinsettias, garland, and red ribbons draped along the front desk. The receptionist sat behind the desk, wearing a bright red sweater. She was on the phone and her hand moved swiftly over the notebook as she wrote down her notes.

  “Sounds perfect, Ms. Stanton. We’ll see you this Tuesday,” the receptionist said before hanging up the phone. She smiled sweetly and stood. “Hi, welcome to Bridal Charms. Can I help you with something?”

  “Actually, yes. I was wondering if you could tell me if Margaret Grant was in the building. I’d like to speak to her, please.”

  Her brows furrowed. “Margaret Grant?”

  I nodded. “She’s a wedding planner here. She’s short, with curly, brown hair.”

  “Hmm . . . I don’t know anyone here by that name. Not unless she’s very new. Hold on a minute.” She picked up the phone and asked the person on the other end of the line about Margaret. I could tell by the look on her face she was just as lost as I was. When she hung up the phone, she scratched her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t find anyone who knows who you’re talking about.”

  “That’s so weird. She was my best friend’s wedding planner. I just saw her yesterday.”

  The receptionist shook her head. “I don’t know what to say. I’m completely stumped.”

  So was I. It was obvious she didn’t know who Margaret was, and I didn’t want to bother Jessica on her honeymoon again. Nothing made sense at all. And just like that, Margaret had disappeared on me once again.

  Giving up for the time being, I headed back toward the other side of town to the antique store. I’d gone into it plenty of times before, but I’d never seen my necklace there. Or maybe I just never noticed it. There was so much in that store, it was nearly impossible to see everything.

  When I walked in, the owner’s wife was at the counter, polishing up a brass candlestick. Her name was Bessie Freeman, a retired elementary school teacher, who also happened to be my second-grade teacher when I was younger. Her white hair was permed and teased to look like a football helmet.

  Watching me walk in, she waved and then lifted her glasses, so they rested on her head. “Hey there. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  I smiled. “I know. Been busy with school. I’m glad it’s Christmas and we get a break.”

  She nodded. “I hear ya. I never had to deal with those high schoolers like you do. I’d want a break too. Then again, I had to teach a certain little girl who couldn’t seem to stop talking when she was in second grade.”

  That made me laugh. “I’m so sorry. It was hard not to chat, when my best friend was in the same class.”

  She snorted. “I know. I had to separate you two.”

  “Those were the good ol’ days. I miss being that young. I’m sure I’m getting payback now. Although, it’s not so bad teaching high school. I love my students, when they want to learn, which luckily, is ninety percent of the time. I can’t complain.” I walked up to the counter and looked in the glass case.

  “I would’ve lost my mind dealing with the youth today, always on their phones. I don’t understand it.” I couldn’t agree with her more. “So, what brings you in, my dear?”

  I took off my necklace and sat it on the counter. Bessie picked it up and smiled. “I remember this one. I engraved it with your name.” She set it back down.

  “How long was it here? I don’t remember ever seeing it when I came in before.”

  Pursing her lips, she looked off into the distance. “Let’s see . . . it was many years ago when my husband found it. I’d have to say we’ve had it for around thirty years. We kept it in this jewelry box.” She pointed to an old, sterling silver jewelry box inside the glass case. “Usually, we keep the top open, but sometimes, when I clean, I accidentally knock it down.”

  That was why I never saw it. It had to have been closed. “So, you said your husband found it?”

  She nodded. “In the woods, out by Moss Creek Bridge.” The second she said that, my stomach clenched. Adeline-Jane had died in that area. “He was digging in the dirt along the bank, and there it was. I didn’t think it’d turn out as nice as it did. It’s really old.”

  “It is. It belonged to one of my ancestors.”

  Gasping, she slapped a hand over her mouth. “How do you know?” I carefully pulled out the newspaper clipping about Adeline-Jane Hamilton and set it in front of her. Eyes wide, Bessie gently picked it up and read it.

  “Adeline-Jane Hamilton is one of my great aunts. She died right by Moss Creek while on her way to visit my fifth great-grandparents. The locket matches the one around her neck.” I pointed at the crest engraved on the front. “That’s the Hamilton crest.”

  Her face lit up excitedly. “I don’t know what to say. This is incredible. I’m just glad it found its way back into the family. Although, the story about your aunt is heartbreaking.”

  Picking up my necklace, I clasped it back on. “It is. I have a question for you though. Do you remember the woman who bought it?”

  “Of course. She was such a sweet lady. Came in here looking for bridal gifts, and when she saw that necklace, she was dead set on getting it. When she asked if I’d engrave it, I recognized your name. I knew you’d love it.”

  I placed my hand over the locket. “I do. It’s very special to me. I’m glad I was able to find out where it came from. If my mother hadn’t found the newspaper clipping, I’d have never known.” Looking around the store, I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d found anything else over the years. “Was the locket the only thing your husband found in that area?”

  She nodded. “Yes. After he found the locket, we combed the area. We didn’t find anything else.”

  “Speaking of finding things, have you by any chance seen the woman who purchased it? I’ve been trying to find her, but it turns out, she’s disappeared.”

  “As a matter of fact,” she said, walking over to the window, “I saw her just this morning walking the streets. She’s doing that all the time. You might find her out there.”

  I headed straight for the door. “Thanks, Bessie. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”

  “Take care, darling.”

  Hurrying outside, I looked up and down the street. There were people going in and out of the shops, but Margaret wasn’t one of them. A nearby bench was vacant, so I sat down and pulled out my phone. Typing in Margaret’s name into the search engine, I hit enter and waited to see what popped up. Unfortunately, nothing led me to her. It was like she’d never existed.

  Twenty-Six

  William

  As soon as I landed in California, I went straight to my office. It was Sunday, but I wasn’t surprised to see Noah in his office and Jeanine at the front desk. Dressed in a pair of green pants and a navy shirt with tiny flowers, Jeanine’s face brightened when she saw me walk through the door.

  “You just can’t get enough of us,” she teased and stood.

  I pulled her into a big hug. It was probably the last time I was going to see her for a long time. “I had to come in and make sure I grabbed everything out of my office. I’m glad Noah’s here. I can go ahead and fill him in on Stan Whitfield.”

  “You could’ve done that tomorrow, during normal business hours.” She smiled. “Not unless you have a reason to get back to Asheville in a hurry.”

  I shrugged. “I think I might.”

  “What do you mean?” She gasped, shrewdly narrowing her eyes. “Did you meet someone?”

  I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “I did.”

  She followed me into my office. “Who is she? I want all the details.” Jeanine was like a
mother to me. When I worked all hours of the day, she made sure I had plenty of food. I was going to miss her when I moved back home.

  Chuckling, I opened my top drawer and pulled out Stan Whitfield’s file. It was the only one in my desk. Everything else was cleaned out. I never thought I’d see the day when I moved back home. But it felt right.

  Jeanine leaned against my desk with her arms crossed over her chest. “Tell me about her,” she demanded impatiently.

  I held up my hands. “Okay, okay. She’s my sister-in-law’s best friend. Her name is Adeline.”

  “Aw,” she replied sweetly, dragging out the word. “I love her name. What’s she like?”

  I didn’t even know where to begin. She was everything I’d always looked for in a woman. “She’s beautiful, smart, funny, and genuinely a good person. She’s not interested in me for the money I make or the car I drive.” Closing my eyes, I could see her smiling face. “She’s real.”

  Jeanine squealed. “I’m so happy for you, Will. I could tell something was different when you walked through the door.”

  “Oh yeah, how so?” I asked.

  She looked into my eyes. “It was in your smile. I’ve never seen you look so happy. Hopefully, she feels the same way about you.”

  There was a connection between me and Adeline, for sure. I knew she felt it too. “I hope so,” I replied. “I’ll find out more when I go home.”

  “Are you getting her anything for Christmas?”

  My pulse spiked. “Would it be too soon for that?”

  “Of course not,” she blurted incredulously. “Surely, you’re going to see her on Christmas day, right?”

  “As a matter of fact, she is having a huge Christmas party.”

  “There you go. It’s always polite to bring the host a small gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Just think about the things she likes.”

  Furrowing my brows, I sat down at my desk. “She’s a history teacher. Other than that, I know she likes to ride horses, hike, and go white-water rafting. Oh, and she doesn’t like coffee.”