“True. It wasn’t the we-can-have-it-all attitude women have today,” Sylvia added.
“And neither one of us was ready to settle down. There was just too much of the world to explore, things to do, people to meet,” Charlotte said, her voice rising in excitement.
And sounding too much like Lexie, the world traveler, for Lexie’s comfort, given the illegal, immoral detour the story was about to take.
“Go on,” she said tightly.
“Well.” Charlotte inclined her head. “Given that it wasn’t easy for single women to find work at nontraditional jobs and sewing just wasn’t my thing—I occasionally had to resort to…” Charlotte’s voice trailed off, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment.
“Stealing,” Lexie finished for her, her stomach cramping.
“It could have been worse. I vetoed prostitution,” her grandmother said.
“Oh, God,” Lexie said.
“Your parents wouldn’t help?” Coop asked gently.
Of course, he didn’t feel the same sense of betrayal that was coursing through Lexie at the moment. No question, her grandmother had made bad choices in her life and maybe she’d had her reasons. They’d find out. But to think Charlotte had lied to Lexie, of all people…it hurt worse than discovering there was no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. And hadn’t Charlotte been the one to keep those illusions going as long as possible?
“Lexie, you have to understand, the world was much different then. It’s one thing for you not to conform to your father’s exacting standards. You can still go out and make your way, head held high. My parents washed their hands of me when I wouldn’t conform to the standards of society. And that left me all alone,” Charlotte explained.
Lexie met her grandmother’s gaze, knowing how much Charlotte needed her to understand. It wasn’t easy, but she nodded slowly, trying to imagine herself as an eighteen-year-old in not just an unforgiving family but an unforgiving society.
“My parents did the same,” Sylvia said sadly.
“When all options run out, when you’re hungry, you’ll do just about anything,” Charlotte said, her old eyes filled with the same determination she must have had back then.
“So what did you do?” Coop asked, filling in the silent void.
“I began to clean apartments. From there, wealthy families would offer me work serving during lavish dinner parties. I was grateful and it helped pay the rent on the hellhole of an apartment Sylvia and I shared.”
“While I was lucky enough to have had Ricky hire me at the jewelry store,” Sylvia said.
“See? I’m the good guy in this scenario,” the other man said, puffing out his chest.
“Shut up!” Charlotte and Sylvia yelled at him in unison.
Lexie and Coop stared at each other, surprised.
Sylvia cleared her throat. “It was Ricky’s idea for the three of us to use Charlotte’s cleaning connections to vandalize big parties. He was also the one who made sure we spaced out the jobs so people wouldn’t get suspicious. Does that sound like a good guy to you?” she asked.
Ricky frowned. “Isn’t that just like a woman to shift the blame?”
The older women glared at him.
“Did Grandpa know about this?” Lexie asked, trying to put together the time line of her grandmother’s life.
Charlotte shook her head. “Oh, no. No. You see, all the original jobs took place when I was eighteen, before I met your grandfather,” Charlotte said. “Then the three of us, we…umm…”
“We broke up for a while,” Sylvia supplied helpfully. “And your grandmother and I lost touch.”
Lexie narrowed her gaze. She’d never heard about Charlotte and Sylvia losing touch with each other, but then again she hadn’t known her grandmother had been disowned by her family or had worked cleaning houses, either.
“I met your grandfather a short time later, we fell in love and I accepted the traditional role I’d initially turned my back on,” Charlotte explained. “But then Henry was drafted and I didn’t have many friends. I was terribly lonely. Sylvia and I reconnected and that helped. But then this bozo contacted Sylvia for one last job.” Her grandmother jerked her thumb toward Ricky.
“Hey, I needed the money!” Ricky exclaimed.
“And we were bored, I’m ashamed to admit.” Charlotte glanced toward the wall, unable to meet Lexie’s stare. The beginning robberies were because they’d needed money to live. This last one was pure fun and games, at least for the women. And that disappointed Lexie to no end.
Coop leaned forward, his arm braced on the chair. “How did you pick the Lancasters?” he asked.
“My dear Henry worked for them as a chauffeur. That much was true. But they were a pretentious family and didn’t treat your grandfather well at all. He had told me about their eclectic jewelry collection, and how during various times he drove for them, the matriarch, as she liked to call herself, used to brag to her friends about how she didn’t need a safe. She just spread the items throughout her various closets. So I suggested we find a way to hit their home. But that was the last job. I swear. Your grandfather came home and we lived happily ever after!”
Lexie closed her eyes and groaned. When she opened them, she snuck a glance at Coop, gauging his reaction to the story. He stared at the trio, clearly fascinated by the dynamic, the byplay, the history and reasoning behind it all.
“So now that you know everything, can I have my necklace back?” Charlotte asked hopefully.
“And what are you going to do with this information?” Ricky asked.
“Wait just a minute. I have a question first. We took the necklace because you’ve been avoiding me and any questions I had, but why did all three of you show up here now?” Lexie asked.
“Well, these old bats tied me up and demanded some goods back they think I still have,” Ricky said before anyone else could answer. “I told ’em I’d give them what they wanted as long as they made this all go away. I can’t afford for my past to get out. It’ll ruin my business and destroy my daughter.”
“Since when do you care about anyone but yourself?” Sylvia asked.
“People can change. I returned your laptop, didn’t I?” he asked Coop.
Coop nodded. “You did. But you stole it first.”
“It was a distraction, nothing more. I didn’t want you to put two and two together and come up with the ring!” Ricky explained. “So what’s it gonna be? Charlotte says you’ll keep the past buried because you’re in love with her granddaughter. That true, Mr. Reporter? If so, I’ll give these two pains in the ass the pieces they’re looking for.”
Lexie’s jaw dropped.
Coop’s mouth ran dry. How the hell had this man verbalized something he’d never said aloud? How had Charlotte pegged his feelings when he’d only just admitted them to himself?
He glanced at Lexie who looked like she was about to faint. Considering the mere hint of him more than liking her had sent her running, he could only imagine what this declaration would do. If he chose to confirm it.
He didn’t—at least not yet—and decided a good offense was the best defense. “What pieces would that be?” he asked Ricky, avoiding the statement altogether.
“He’s had my wedding ring for the last half century!” Charlotte said on a wail. “Your poor grandfather died thinking I’d accidentally flushed it down the toilet while he was overseas fighting for his country.” She sniffed, the exaggerated gesture not lost on anyone in the room.
“Hey! It’s not like you’re the queen of England. The damn thing isn’t worth more than a washer.”
“But it’s my washer and I want it back!” Charlotte’s voice rose.
“Grandma, calm down. It’s not good for your blood pressure,” Lexie urged the older woman.
Without warning, Sylvia stood, strode up to Ricky and kicked him in the shin. “That’s for upsetting my friend. Oh. And did I mention I want my bracelet back? If Charlotte gets her Lancaster necklace, I want my bracelet from
the same job.” She adjusted her polyester shirt and reseated herself in her chair, crossing her ankles like a lady.
Coop couldn’t write anything like the dynamic between these three older people. They were priceless, shameless and yet endearing all at the same time. The stuff of fabulous, fantastic fiction, he thought.
Coop glanced at Lexie. Even behind her glasses, he caught the little furrows in between her eyes and the concerned expression on her face. She obviously knew exactly what he was thinking. Or thought she did.
“Ricky, are you saying you have both ladies’ items?” Coop asked.
“Maybe.”
Lexie jumped up from her seat. “I’ve had enough. Do any of you remember that these items are stolen? Stolen. As in—aside from my grandmother’s wedding ring—the necklace, Coop’s ring and the bracelet don’t belong to you!” She paced back and forth in front of the trio, chastising them under her breath until she finally paused. “Sylvia, you’ve been taking computer lessons, right?”
Sylvia nodded. “Yes, ma’am, and I’m pretty darn good!”
“And, Grandma, something tells me that you already know more than you’ve let on to me, correct?”
Charlotte glanced away. “Maybe.”
“She’s been coming to the Apple Store with me. But she loved the time you spent teaching her, and she didn’t want to insult you by saying she didn’t need your help,” Sylvia said helpfully.
“I love our time together, too,” Lexie said, her voice softening. “But we can spend it doing other things instead of you pretending not to understand my instructions.”
Charlotte nodded, looking at her granddaughter with love.
“Okay, this is how it’s going to be. You two computer-literate women are going to do research. You’re going to find out who’s still living in the Lancaster family, return the jewels and hope they won’t press charges against an almost octogenarian and her cohorts who have learned their lesson. Right?” Lexie stared at each of them in turn.
They grumbled, but no one committed to returning anything. They did, however, focus on the last part of Lexie’s statement.
“I’m not going to jail!” Charlotte cried out, grabbing her chest.
“Calm down,” Coop said, recognizing the ploy.
“No more faking when it comes to your health!” Lexie exploded at her grandmother.
Coop rose and placed a calming arm around Lexie’s shoulder. He admired the way she had held on to her temper and her emotions through this entire ordeal and he was about to make it even easier on her. “It’s okay. I’ve actually done the research already and there’s good news. First, the statute of limitations has run out and they can’t be charged.”
Everyone’s shoulders slumped in relief.
“Coop, thank you.”
Lexie’s warm smile of gratitude settled inside him, expanding his heart even more. His feelings for her would be the death of him yet. “You’re welcome. And second, the Lancaster family is gone. There are no direct descendants.”
“So we can keep the jewels?” Charlotte and Sylvia asked at the same time.
Ricky kept silent. Coop knew the older man’s only interest lay in hiding his past. They hadn’t broached that subject. Yet.
“No, you may not!” Lexie said. “Those items don’t belong to you,” she said, clearly exasperated.
Once again, Coop had done his research. “There is a foundation the family established in honor of Harold Lancaster that channels money into inner-city programs to keep kids out of trouble and provide scholarships to those who want a college education. If you sell the jewels, you can donate the proceeds to a good cause. At least that way the money will go where the original owners intended.”
“But how are we going to publicly sell jewels without revealing how we got our hands on them in the first place?” Ricky said at last. Because his self-interest was finally at stake.
Coop had an idea. “Lexie, can I see you alone for a minute?”
Lexie shot the three a warning glance. “Behave!” she said, then followed him into the kitchen. “What’s up?”
He brushed her hair off her cheek. “Are you okay?” Despite knowing she would trample all over his heart, he couldn’t help but ask.
She nodded. “As long as I keep my breathing steady, I won’t hyperventilate,” she joked.
But he could see the strain and the disappointment etched all over her face. “It’s almost over,” he promised her, refusing to dissect that comment too deeply. “I was thinking that I can contact the Lancaster Foundation, tell them that I did some research on the ring in my possession and realized it belonged to them. I’ll also tell them I was able to track down the other missing pieces and I’d like to give them back—with the stipulation that no questions be asked about where they’ve been because the previous owners agreed to an anonymous return.”
Lexie paused in thought. “That might work,” she said at last. “I can’t thank you enough for keeping their names out of this.”
“I’m doing it for you.”
She visibly swallowed hard. “I know. And I appreciate that.”
“I don’t want your appreciation, Lexie. I want—”
“Well? Are you gonna leave us sitting out here all day?” Ricky bellowed from the other room. “These crazy women are threatening me.”
Nothing personal would be accomplished right now, Coop thought, frustrated. Especially since Lexie appeared relieved at the interruption. And she hadn’t picked up on the fact that Ricky had said Charlotte believed Coop was in love with her.
“Let’s go give them the news,” he said, walking out of the room without meeting her gaze.
He informed the trio, that if the foundation accepted the items without question, they’d be off the hook. But if they chose to make a big deal about where the jewelry came from, there was nothing Coop could do.
Lexie insisted on taking her grandmother and Sylvia home, thereby avoiding dealing with Coop and the unresolved issues between them.
Running away was something Lexie excelled at.
THE NEXT DAY Coop stopped by the Vintage Jewelers to collect the bracelet from Ricky. With much grumbling, the other man agreed to let Coop accompany him to the bank to get the item from the vault, along with Lexie’s grandmother’s wedding ring. With all three items now in his possession, Coop contacted the Lancaster Foundation and explained the situation to the president, who was overjoyed at the news. Coop handed the items over, officially ending his involvement with the ring.
What about his involvement with Lexie?
No easy answer there.
But he didn’t contact her. She knew he had something to say to her. He knew she didn’t want to hear it. She also had his Web site, which meant the ball was in her court. She’d have to come around or not.
That’s the way it had to be.
Even if it wasn’t the way he liked it.
He did call Charlotte, told her he had her ring and asked her to meet him so he could return it. Charlotte, of course, invited him over for dinner, but he declined. Since she’d waited over a half a century to get the ring back, she informed him he might as well hold on to it until the next time he saw Lexie.
“Wily old woman,” he muttered.
With the mystery of the ring solved and no outside distractions, Coop spent the next few days at the office, doing his job covering the news. Concentrating wasn’t easy but neither was going home to his empty apartment, without time with Lexie to look forward to.
“You’re never going to believe this!” Amanda exclaimed, sitting down on the corner of his desk.
He glanced at the fashion editor. “Tell me,” he said, not really listening.
“The Lancaster Foundation called me.”
Coop’s ears perked up. He lifted his gaze from the computer screen.
“I thought that would get your attention,” she said, a pleased grin on her face.
Amanda had been annoyed with him since he’d admitted to her off the record that he’d
returned the jewels, but refused to let her cover the news in her section. Coop understood. The fact that he’d uncovered jewels from a prized collection that had been missing for years would have been a big coup for her. For him as well, in his crime beat. He’d opted to protect Lexie and Charlotte instead. He couldn’t have lived with himself if he’d revealed all and destroyed Lexie’s beloved grandmother in the process.
But at night, he’d been pouring out the story onto the computer screen, a fictionalized version of events, names changed to protect the innocent, of course. It was his best damn work ever.
“Hey, wake up!” Amanda snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Where are you lately? Anyway, the jewels you returned? The foundation wants to auction them off. It seems the foundation is in desperate need of cash. They see the auction as a way to raise money and bring public awareness to their cause. And they want to give me exclusive, inside coverage!” she said, beaming.
“That’s fantastic. See? Now you have your coverage, a better angle and you can forgive me for not letting you report on it in the first place.”
“Not so fast.”
Something in her tone caught his attention. “What do you want?” he asked warily.
“The foundation had a condition for giving me an exclusive.” She met his gaze.
The steely determination he saw there unnerved him. “Just how does this involve me?”
“They’d like you, as in you, the Bachelor, to emcee the event.”
“No. Way.”
She clasped her hands together. “Please? Come on. I need you for this. You can bring whoever you want as a date,” she said, obviously hoping to entice him.
“I’m not dating anyone,” he muttered.
She raised an eyebrow. “So the Blogger rumors are true? It’s over between you and Lexie?”
He clenched his jaw. He’d done his best to ignore the omniscient, seemingly ever-present Blogger who knew all his and Lexie’s moves. But when someone threw the damn words in his face, he had to face it.
Just as he had to face the truth. “It’s not over.”
“Then invite her to the auction. And her grandmother for all I care! Just be there!”
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