Gordon Mortimer handed John a very nice bottle of cabernet. Where in the world had the man found a bottle like this in Westbury? John wondered.
As if reading his mind, Mortimer said, “The Mill has quite a nice collection of wines. That’s one of my personal favorites. I was very pleased that they had a bottle on hand.”
“I’ll open it now to let it breath before dinner,” John said. “Are you staying at The Mill?”
“I am. I discovered it on my first visit to Westbury and find it quite acceptable.”
John nodded. He was sure that The Mill’s owners would hate that it was being described as “quite acceptable.”
Maggie emerged from the kitchen with a tray of cheeses, grapes, olives, and crackers. She placed it on the coffee table in front of the living-room fireplace and greeted their guest in the library.
“I’m so glad you could join us,” Maggie said, extending her hand. “I see you need something to drink.”
“Look at the wine he brought us,” John said, pointing to the bottle. “We’ll have it with dinner. In the meantime, I’ve opened a pinot. Would you like some?” he asked their guest.
“Yes, thank you,” he replied as John poured three glasses.
“Let’s go into the living room to enjoy this,” Maggie said, leading the way. “I’ve got some nibbles in there.” She ushered Mortimer to a chair opposite the fireplace and pointed to the tray on the coffee table.
He was almost seated when he jumped to his feet as a small gray-and-white cat that Maggie recognized as Buttercup screeched in protest and darted off the chair and up the stairs. “Good heavens!” he said, clutching his chest. “Is that the cat that created such a ruckus when I was here last time? I think she’s got it in for me. Cats don’t like me, and I’m not fond of them.”
Maggie suppressed a laugh and avoided looking at John, who was also politely holding back. “It was Bubbles, last time,” she said.
“How many cats do you have?”
“Three cats and two dogs,” John interjected. “We’re animal lovers. I’m a veterinarian, after all.”
“Ahhh …” Mortimer cleared his throat and turned to the tray on the coffee table. He placed a slice of white cheddar on a cracker and had it halfway to his mouth when he noticed the painting over the mantel. “Is that new?” he asked, returning the cracker to the napkin on his lap.
“Yes,” John replied. “We just hung it a few days ago. We got it on our honeymoon in Cornwall.”
Mortimer nodded. “Yes. I would have guessed that it was Cornwall. It looks very much like it belongs to the Newlyn School.” He sat, absorbed in the painting. “Do you mind if I have a closer look?”
“By all means,” Maggie said, arching her eyebrows at John.
Gordon Mortimer set his wineglass on the coffee table and approached the painting, scrutinizing it in silence.
Maggie finally broke into his thoughts. “What do you think of it? We’re not art collectors or anything. We just loved it and wanted to bring it home to remind us of our honeymoon.”
Mortimer chose his words carefully. “You have very fine eyes,” he said to them both. “It’s unfinished, of course. I assume you knew that?” he asked. “Good,” he said when they nodded. “That’s why it’s unsigned. But it’s lovely.”
“Are you familiar with the Newlyn School?” Maggie asked.
“I am, madam. Painting done at the turn of the twentieth century in both the United States and the United Kingdom are a real interest of mine. I’ve collected both professionally and personally.”
Maggie screwed up her courage and asked, “Do you have any idea whose work this is?”
He paused, contemplating the painting, then turned to her. “I feel certain it was done by either Elizabeth Forbes or Dame Laura Knight. If this were finished and signed, it would be worth a very tidy sum.”
“That’s what the dealer we bought it from thought, too.”
“I’m assuming you’ve insured this?” Mortimer asked, slipping back into his official capacity.
“Yes. For what we paid for it,” Maggie replied, supplying the amount.
Mortimer raised an eyebrow. “Might I suggest you double the insurance?”
***
“He’s a very interesting guy,” John said as they were getting ready for bed.
“It was a fun evening, wasn’t it?” Maggie asked. “I was afraid you’d want to kill me when I left the message that I’d invited him to dinner. I know you work so hard during the day and you need your evenings to relax and decompress. Did you enjoy him?”
“I did. I wasn’t looking forward to being ‘on’ tonight, but it was fun. Plus the dinner you cooked was wonderful.”
“Pricey steaks and twice baked potatoes are always a hit. The wine he brought was fabulous. We should get some to have on hand.”
“Not if you knew the price. That’s at least one fifty a bottle.”
“No kidding? That was nice of him.”
John pulled back the covers, and they slid into bed. Maggie wriggled into this arms. “Nice to hear him confirm what that dealer told us about our painting. And I’m thrilled he’s giving us an appraisal for double what we paid for it. We’re savvy art collectors and we didn’t even know it.”
“Don’t get too carried away with yourself, Mrs. Allen. We just got lucky. Honeymoon luck.” He began to trace her jaw line with kisses. “How about we relive some of that honeymoon now?”
“Don’t you have to be up at the crack of dawn?”
John slid his hands to her waist. “No surgery tomorrow morning. I get to sleep in until at least six thirty. Mortimer won’t be here until eight to pack up the remaining silver. So we’ve got plenty of time; the night is still young.”
“In that case, Dr. Allen,” Maggie breathed in his ear, “you’re on.”
Chapter 34
“Gramma!” Sophie cried as Susan ushered her nieces into the mayor’s office. Maggie came around the side of her desk and scooped the girls into a hug.
“Look how much you’ve grown!” she cried. “You’ll be taller than me, soon.” She held them close. “You’re early. I didn’t expect you for another half hour.” She looked up at Susan. “Good flight?”
“A bit bumpy, with tailwinds. But those winds pushed us here, and we landed ahead of schedule. The rental car was ready and waiting, and there was almost no traffic.” Susan leaned in and hugged her mother.
“Is this where you work, Gramma?” Sarah asked, surveying the large office awash in sunshine from the large windows on either side. “Why do you have a dining room table?”
Maggie smiled. “That’s a conference table. I have meetings in here sometimes and I need a table that’s big enough for a group.”
“You must be important,” Sophie said, turning in a circle to look at the room.
“Your grandmother is very important,” Susan interjected. “She’s the mayor of Westbury. That means she runs this town. Do you know what an election is?”
Both girls nodded in unison.
“Gramma was elected mayor by the people of Westbury.”
The twins turned solemn eyes to their grandmother. “Wow,” Sarah whispered.
Susan beamed at her mother. “You two need to know how special she is.”
Maggie flushed. “That’s enough of that. I’ve got a job and I do it, just like everybody else. Which reminds me,” she said, looking at her watch, “I’ve got a meeting upstairs in five minutes. Why don’t you go to Rosemont and get settled in? This won’t be a long meeting. I should be home in an hour and a half. Roman and Eve are waiting for you.”
“What about the cats?” Sarah asked.
“Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup will hide at first. Don’t chase them—let them come to you.” Maggie turned to Susan. “John arranged his schedule so he’ll be done early today. He’ll pick up a pizza on his way home.” She kissed them each, then escorted them to the elevator. “See you soon.”
***
“They’re a handf
ul, aren’t they?” Maggie said later that night as the three adults sat on the veranda after the girls finally went to bed. Eve and Roman lay passed out at John’s feet and the cats were nowhere to be seen.
John chuckled. “By the looks of these two,” he said, gesturing to the dogs, “I’d say they got quite a workout today.”
“The twins chased them up and down this back lawn all afternoon,” Susan said. “After being cooped up on an airplane all day, I thought the exercise would be good for them. Was it too much for these two?” She pointed to the furry creatures at his feet.
He shook his head. “They’re fine. I’m sure they loved it.”
“What do you have planned for the next few days until Aaron comes? I’ve scheduled a vacation day on the fifth to spend with the girls. I’ll take them to the mall to get new outfits for the first day of school.”
“I loved how you always did that with me.” Susan smiled at her mother. “It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so we’ll go to a pottery painting place. We’ve invited Marissa Nash to join us.”
Maggie’s head came up sharply, but she remained silent.
“I talked to Loretta last night. Apparently things are touch and go with that sweet little Nicole. If she’s well enough, we’ll take her with us. I invited Sean, but he’s not into that ‘girly stuff.’”
John glanced at Maggie. “That’s nice of you, Susan.”
“Loretta’s invited the girls to spend the night of the surprise party at her apartment. So we don’t have to take them with us,” Susan continued. Maggie opened her mouth to protest. “I know you had crafts planned to take with us to keep them occupied, Mom, but they’ll be happier with Marissa. And we won’t have to keep track of them.”
“You’re right,” John jumped in. “The twins will love that.”
“It’s all set, then,” Maggie said, rising stiffly. “I’ve got an early meeting, so I’m heading to bed.”
“I’m beat, too,” Susan said. “Coming with you.”
Mother and daughter climbed the stairs in companionable silence. “Let’s check on the girls,” they said in unison at the top of the stairs.
They quietly opened the door to the guest room that Sarah and Sophie referred to as “our room.” The girls were huddled together in the king-sized bed, bracketed by the trio of cats. All were in a deep sleep. Maggie gently closed the door and hugged her daughter tight before they set off for their own beds.
***
Loretta Nash took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
“Come on, Mom, they’re here!” Marissa cried.
Loretta opened the door to her apartment. Marissa brushed past her mother to greet her friends and pulled them into the apartment. “Let me show you my room.”
Loretta stood in the doorway, looking at Susan. It was uncanny how like her father she was in the set of her jaw and her expansive smile, even though her remarkable eyes were definitely Maggie’s.
Susan smiled. “How are you, Loretta?”
Loretta quickly stepped aside. “Come in, please. I’m fine. How was your trip?”
“Uneventful. The girls are so excited to spend time with Marissa. How’s Nicole? Will she be joining us?”
“I want to talk to you about that. She’s feeling better today, and she’d like to go.”
“Great. Then it’s all set.”
Loretta hesitated. “That’s not all of it. Her condition is delicate. Nicole is back on dialysis and may need a transplant.”
“I’m so sorry, Loretta,” Susan said, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
“She needs to be tested before she can be placed on the waiting list, and then we wait for a donor. In the meantime, we’ll continue to monitor Nicole very carefully. She can’t get overly tired, and she can’t be exposed to anyone who is sick. So I’m very hesitant to take her out in public.”
“I understand completely,” Susan said. “I’ll keep a very close eye on her and call you the minute she doesn’t feel well. The pottery place shouldn’t be busy during the week, and if anyone there is sick, we’ll leave immediately. I won’t take any risks. And you can call me to check on her.” She looked into Loretta’s eyes. “This must be so hard on you.”
Loretta turned aside and nodded. “I think she needs some fun in her life, too. She’s borne so much pain without complaint. And she’s so excited to go with you.”
“Then it’s all set. We’ll be on our way, and I’ll drop them off here when you get home from work.”
***
Susan commandeered a table for two by the large plate-glass window of the pottery shop and set up the paints and supplies that she and Nicole Nash selected for their projects. Susan was working on a jewelry tray that she thought would go perfectly in her mother’s bedroom, and Nicole selected a ceramic teddy bear. “For my Susan,” she said.
Susan gave her a quizzical glance. “Who is your Susan?”
Nicole pointed to her beloved doll, propped onto a chair at the end of their work table. “Her name is Susan. Like you.”
“Ahhh … that’s nice. I didn’t know we had the same name.”
“Nicole named her after you,” Sarah supplied from the next table over, where the three girls were hard at work on their projects.
Susan swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m sure your Susan will love this teddy bear. If you need any help, you let me know.”
Nicole tackled her project with patience and restraint rarely seen in a four-year-old. While the three older girls chattered away at the next table, Susan and Nicole worked in companionable silence. When it came time to fill in the eyes and nose on the bear, she held out her paintbrush to Susan. “You do,” she commanded.
“That looks tricky,” Susan agreed. “You’ve done a perfect job,” she said as she supplied the requested details. They both leaned back to admire the completed bear. “We’ll leave him here to be fired. That’ll make him shiny and the colors won’t rub off. They’ll call my mom when they’re ready to be picked up, and she’ll bring them to you. Would that be okay?”
Nicole nodded.
Susan ruffled the little girl’s hair. If she’d had a sister, she’d want her to be just like this little girl.
Chapter 35
Susan Martin rolled over in bed and reached for her cell phone on the nightstand. The ping was probably a text message from Aaron, telling her he’d boarded his flight to Westbury. She stretched. It was nice to linger in bed instead of racing to the shower and then off to her office or the courthouse. Susan opened one eye and clicked on the message.
Slight snafu. Driver’s license expired and couldn’t get thru TSA. Will get it renewed today. Booked on late morning flight tomorrow. Will be there before party. So sorry. Didn’t want to wake you. Love u!
“Didn’t want to wake me, my foot!” Susan fumed. “He doesn’t want to tell me over the phone. Coward.” She sank back into the pillows and began typing her response. Before she could hit the Send button, her phone rang.
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
“I was just calling to check on everybody. You were all sound asleep when I left for Town Hall. Who stole your sunshine?” Maggie asked. “You sound terrible.”
Susan filled Maggie in on Aaron’s predicament. “I was just typing my reply when your call interrupted me.”
“I hope it’s a sympathetic reply,” Maggie said. “Remember when that happened to me right after your father died? It can happen to the best of us.”
Susan remained silent for a beat. “I’d forgotten about that. I guess you’re right.”
“I’m sure he’s incredibly irritated with himself. I know I was. You don’t need to rub salt in the wound. He’ll be here tomorrow in time for the party, and it’ll be fine.”
“Okay, okay. You’re right.”
“So what will you and the girls do today?”
“I’m feeling pretty lazy. Any ideas?”
“Why don’t you get out the spare sheets and let the girls make forts with them in the library? You can
have a tea party in there with the cats.”
Susan laughed. “That’ll be quite the affair. Sarah and Sophie will love it. Not sure about Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, though.”
“They can take care of themselves. See you tonight. And cheer up. In the grand scheme of things, this disappointment is inconsequential.”
***
Susan scrambled through an opening in the sheets and headed in the direction of her ringing cell phone. Bubbles, wearing a lacy baby bonnet and one tatted bootie, saw her chance to escape and streaked after Susan.
“You let her out!” Sarah protested as Sophie dived for the opening in time to prevent Blossom from joining her sister. Only Buttercup seemed content curled up in Sarah’s lap, a crocheted shawl strewn over her back, while Sarah brought an empty cup to Buttercup’s mouth and pretended to serve tea to the purring cat.
Sophie motioned for her twin sister to remain quiet. They both leaned toward the hallway, where Susan now stood talking to her boyfriend. The girls exchanged a knowing glance and eavesdropped as best they could.
“These things happen to everyone, Aaron. Don’t worry about it. At least you’ve gotten it renewed and have a flight tomorrow.” Susan was silent for what seemed like an eternity. Her tone was warm and mellow when she spoke again. “Me, too. I can’t wait until you get here, and we can concentrate on each other for a few days. I love you, too.”
Sarah hugged Buttercup and grinned at Sophie, who nodded in return. Their aunt Susan was in love and that’s exactly how things should be.
***
Susan inserted her key into the back door of Rosemont the following day. She’d dropped the twins off at Loretta Nash’s apartment and had twenty-five minutes before she had to leave to pick up Aaron at the airport. He’d texted her when he’d boarded his flight and told her they expected to be on time.
The morning had been sunny but late afternoon clouds were rolling in and thunderstorms were predicted. She hoped they wouldn’t spoil the fireworks Marc had arranged for later that evening.
Drawing Close: The Fourth Novel in the Rosemont Series Page 15