“No, but I took pictures.” He scrolled through his phone and handed the device to her. She clicked and zoomed, then marveled at their good fortune. “Misty Water. This is your meal ticket. It was in the first collection and they only made a few hundred of them.”
“How do you know all this?” April appeared over her shoulder, scrutinizing the zoomed in photo.
“My sister collects them. She’d had some since she was a baby. It’s kind of our family’s thing. Going to antique stores. Finding rare pieces. Dad’s been into it forever.” She looked up at Beck who was now leaning against the far wall as if he wanted to stay as far away from them as he could. “Probably as long as your dad has known him.”
He met her gaze and in it was the same hostility she’d felt in his office. A shiver ran through her and she passed off the phone. “Use this. It’s your best shot.”
Tyler stood and fell back into to the seat by Journey. “What do I say when I call him?”
Caroline felt the chill grow. “You don’t call him. He has to call you.” Just like her. A rabbit in a snare. Jeremiah had been so calculating. They’d bumped into each other twice on campus, and both times he’d been cordial, infuriatingly gorgeous, and completely aloof. In the end, she’d caved, sought out the guy who’d introduced them and got his number. That was the horror of it all. She’d brought all the pain onto herself.
Again she pushed aside the memories that refused to stay locked away and caught the end of Journey’s suggestion. “…maybe an anonymous caller?”
“It needs to be a professional dealer.” April interjected.
“Someone he already knows.” Beck was finally back in the conversation, moving toward the couch to regain his seat on the armrest. “Elgin was the home base. There has to be someone there he has contact with.”
“I’ll do a search on antique dealers near Elgin.” Tyler punched at his phone and then froze. “I recognize this name. Norman had receipts from here. Several of them.”
“I’ll make the call. They’re probably going to want some collateral up front to pursue it.” Beck punched the numbers into his cell and paced while he talked. Caroline hadn’t thought he was listening, but as fluid as a curator, Beck described the bead he was looking for and added a layer of flattery, saying he’d heard this store in particular could get what no one else could. Then the final nail: money isn’t a factor. The guy took his information, an alias that rolled off Beck’s tongue as if he’d used it before. The way April choked on her wine when she heard the name implied he had.
“And now we wait,” he said, pocketing his phone.
“Your old fake ID, Beck, really?”
“It’s never failed me before.” A smile. A beautiful, hauntingly real smile exchanged between them and Caroline felt a wave of jealousy she was unprepared for.
“I need to go.” She was out of her chair before she allowed herself to feel anything more. “Sorry. I forgot I was meeting someone later.” She was a terrible liar, but no one seemed to doubt her excuse.
Ty followed her. “I’ll walk you down.”
“Oh, okay.” She ignored April’s raised brows mostly because Journey didn’t seem at all bothered by the gesture.
Once they were in the solitude of the hall, Ty gently grabbed her arm. “Are you okay?”
She turned and his hand fell away. “I’m fine. You have to stop treating me like a fragile bird.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just I know you were thinking about him in there and I worry for you.”
His concern sent a flood of warmth through her. As much as she wanted to be strong on her own, her friendship with Ty had become a tether of sorts. One she didn’t even know she needed.
She tapped his arm with her knuckles. “So congratulations. I saw Journey’s ring.”
His expression morphed into the same one Journey had on earlier. “She’s cool with us being friends. In case you were wondering. She really wants to get to know you better too, especially since you’re the reason we even got to this point.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. I can’t even tell you what the other day did for me. The things you said…” His voice caught and he stopped. She was grateful, feeling her own tears teeter on the surface.
She blew out a breath. “Enough of that.”
“Okay. But I want you to come to brunch with us on Sunday. Anne Marie will torment you if you don’t go, anyway, so it’s a win-win.”
She shook her head, her stomach knotting at the thought of being in the same space as Beck, especially one so intimate. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Beck and I are not in a great place right now.”
“Who cares? I want you there, and the Kinders are my family, too. Isn’t that what you told me?”
Trapped by her own words. “Okay. You win. I’ll go to brunch on Sunday.”
Ty pulled her in for a hug and it felt just like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket. That same familiarity returned, the one she couldn’t pinpoint or explain. She just knew he felt like family. And heck, she’d always wondered what it would be like to have a brother.
Chapter 39
Dustin took the bait by Friday night, giving Tyler the excuse that his phone had been stolen and he’d only just now recovered all his contacts. Dustin didn’t mention the bracelet or even Norm’s stuff. Just commented that he’d be back through Bentwood on Saturday and wanted to see him. Tyler feigned excitement, his stomach twisting with every word as he eagerly invited Dustin to meet him at the storage unit, claiming he hadn’t touched the boxes since his last visit.
Now he waited in front of the locked building. It’d been rented to someone else, but Tyler didn’t need to get inside to finish things. All the leverage required was nestled in the trunk of his car.
He banged the back of his head against the metal building, too anxious to do anything but stare at the sky and rehearse what he needed to do in his head. Every breath tasted like dust, the stench of spilled gasoline and oil permeating stronger than the McDonald’s on the corner. He hadn’t noticed the grime coating every building in the rundown lot when he’d rented it. Maybe he’d picked it subconsciously, wanting the resting place of his grandfather’s things to contrast the luxurious life he’d built with the Kinders.
A fool’s mission.
Nothing about this place was where he belonged. Mitchell may have been his given name, but Tyler was a Kinder, and when all this was over, he’d finally make it official.
Tapping his finger on his thigh, he waited. And waited, until finally a crunch of gravel permeated the quiet space. He shot off the wall, his heart galloping. Only… it was Beck’s Mercedes, not Dustin’s old truck. Tyler felt his heart settle, both with disappointment and unease.
“What are you doing here?” he asked when Beck approached. Clad in slacks and a dress shirt, he’d obviously come from the office, even though it was the weekend.
“I know we decided not to tag team him, but I didn’t want you out here alone.” He seemed resigned to this fact like he’d labored on it for a while. “I’m going to park around the corner.” He checked his watch. “Any word?”
“I got a text about five minutes ago. He should be here shortly.”
“Okay. I’ll go then.”
Tyler wanted to curse and kick the building. He and Beck had never had this kind of relationship, with forced statements and hesitant steps.
“I’m sorry about Caroline,” he called out to Beck’s retreating figure. “I needed a friend and she was there. I never meant to hurt you and if I’d known this would be the result between us, believe me, I would’ve backed off.”
Beck’s steps faltered and he turned back around, his hands deep in his pockets. “Where did you end up staying?”
So he obviously didn’t want to discuss Caroline. That was fine. At least they were talking.
“I’m in a hotel for now, but I found a studio apartment near UT. It should be ready this week.”
He nodded. “I figured you�
��d be moving in with Journey.”
“And live with April? No thanks.” Besides, he wanted to do things right this time. A new job. A new home. A new beginning.
The silence prevailed again until Tyler felt his own frustration dominate. “Is this how it’s going to be between us now?” The things Beck had said to him in his living room couldn’t be taken back. Tyler knew that. But one night shouldn’t negate a twelve-year friendship.
“I don’t know.” Resentment thickened his tone. “This has been the worst year of my life, and I’ve had to face it completely alone. And unlike you, Ty, I did reach out, only no one cared enough to help. They were too consumed with you.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry I let you down. You have no idea how much I wish I could take back the last several months.” Tyler took two steps forward, his throat thick. “But you’re my best friend, Beck, and we have to find a way to fix this.”
Beck massaged the back of his neck like he had a personal vendetta against his skin. “I can’t seem to stop the anger. It just keeps growing hotter.”
“What can I do?” It was strange to have to plea for Beck’s favor. It had always been given so generously, even from the beginning.
The air tight with tension, Beck studied him while Tyler silently urged him to let it go—the animosity, the fight, the competition that Beck seemed to have with him. He was his best friend and he needed them to be okay.
The ease came slowly. First in the way his shoulders relaxed, then in the way his eyes narrowed. It was the same look he’d get when they were about to do something they’d surely be punished for later. “The financial reports are due to Rob next week. I’d rather choke on cyanide than do them again.”
So would he, and Beck knew that. “Fine,” he groaned. “I’ll do them.”
“And there’s fifteen claim reports on my desk that I haven’t looked at yet.”
Beck’s new position was improving his negotiating skills. A year ago, he’d never come in so high.
“I’ll do half, but that’s it. And no fraud cases. Those take hours.” Ty squinted at his friend through the sun. “Is that enough, or do you need Journey and mine’s first born child as well?”
An easy grin spread across his face. “Only your second born, but we can discuss that later.” He glanced back at his car. “Right now, you have a mouse to trap.”
Dustin arrived ten minutes past the hour, late but Tyler expected no less. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. His long-lost brother was about to meet someone he never had before.
“Hey buddy.” Tyler strolled toward the old truck, memorizing the license plate this time.
Dustin emerged halfway from the driver’s side, but seemed uncommitted to getting out. “I thought we were going to work?”
“No need. I’ve got everything you want right here.” Tyler forced himself to his trunk, the leash on his temper straining with each step. He pressed the key fob and watched as the hood swung open. Three boxes of antiques lay inside, along with Mr. Bakerfield’s list.
A door slammed behind him, but Tyler didn’t look back or even acknowledge Dustin’s approach. Cheeks flushed, he could feel the fury rolling off him. His lying, cheat of a fake brother was close enough to grab. Close enough to slam on the ground and feel every bit of the debilitating pain he’d caused.
“What is this?” Dustin’s voice was cautious. He could sense the difference. The anger rattling in Tyler’s chest.
“A full list of the valuables, totaling approximately $44,000 and change.”
Dustin scanned the papers, his eyes widening and then narrowing. “That son of a…” he whispered under his breath. Obviously Norman had kept a few secrets of his own.
“I’ll give you all of it on one condition.” Tyler gripped the edge of the lifted hood, ready to slam it down on Dustin’s greedy fingers. “Victoria’s ring.”
The paper crackled and curled in Dustin’s grip. “You’re the misty water guy.” Tyler detected a bit of admiration, though it sickened him.
“It’s an easy decision. You can keep the ring and I call the cops. I have enough information to incriminate you, so at a minimum, I’d evoke enough suspicion to make your life difficult.” His voice was pitched low, yet hard, a promise of retribution. “Or you can walk away with a truck full of all the stuff you stole and a guarantee you’ll stay away from me and my friends forever.”
Dustin snorted, his face no longer that wide-eyed, innocent sibling. The hardened criminal had kicked in, with no longer a need to pretend. “But I thought you wanted to bond?” he mocked. “Get to know Norman and all that mushy crap.”
Tyler didn’t need a reminder of his rotten judgment. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Make your decision. I’m only going to offer this once.”
“You’d really trade Norm’s stuff for one lousy ring I could only pawn for a couple grand?” He shook his head. “Even you aren’t that big of a sucker.”
Tyler’s insides locked up. “You’ve already pawned it?”
Dustin shot him a sinister smile, obviously pleased to have the upper hand again. “Maybe. It was a gift. I can do whatever I want with it.”
Caroline’s words pounded in his head. He has to pursue you. Tyler began to lower the hood. “I guess we’re done then.”
“Wait.” He shot up his hand, catching the hood before it closed. A muscle under his eye twitched. “I didn’t say I didn’t have it.”
“You’ve wasted enough of my time, Dustin, if that’s even your real name. Do we have a deal or not?”
He backed away, looking around for any signs of a set up, and opened the passenger side of his truck. Tyler could see him tearing through his glove box and imagined Victoria’s treasured possession thrown in with all the other insignificant trash.
His mom had been right to protect him from Ian’s family. To keep him from this world where nothing has value and everyone looks out for themselves. He felt grateful for his sister, too, wherever she was, and hoped the life she’d made for herself was a good one.
Dustin returned, the ring perched around his right pinky finger. “This what you want?”
Tyler knew it was Victoria’s at first glance, and felt a shudder of relief. “That’s it.”
He handed it over and Tyler backed away, watching as Dustin hauled each box from Tyler’s car to the back of his pickup. He made no effort to help or even to talk to him, just watched the last remnant he had of his grandfather disappear.
So this was what letting go felt like: incredibly liberating.
Chapter 40
When Tyler walked through the entrance of Bentwood country club Sunday morning, he saw his adolescence pass before his eyes. He’d chased Beck through the tables, knocking over chairs and swearing to make him pay for stealing his favorite sneakers. He’d hit his first birdie on a fluke shot that had Sean forking over fifty bucks for the loss. He’d kissed Journey on a rented golf cart more times than he could count.
They’d come full circle. Journey by his side, hand in his. And this beautiful building was no longer a kingdom far from his reach. It was his home.
“Should we wait for Caroline?” she asked.
“No, she said to go on ahead. I think she needs a second to gather her strength.”
“I hope Beck isn’t rude to her again.” Journey wore royal blue and he loved how it made her eyes shine. The dress was simple, made of smooth fabric, and modest. He’d even let her pick out his attire, a pressed white shirt, starched gray pants and black tie. It only seemed fair since they were officially announcing their engagement that morning.
“He won’t be. Not here.” Tyler knew his friend had too much class and breeding to be overtly cruel. Plus, in front of his parents, Beck would always be the perfect gentleman.
The dining room felt larger than life with its towering walls, coffered ceiling and dangling chandeliers. They stopped outside the doorway, neither rushing to get inside. “Feels strange, doesn’t it?” Journey said as she rested her chin o
n his shoulder. “We’ve been here together a million times, but this feels so different.”
Tyler leaned over and kissed the skin near her temple. “We don’t have to make a big production if you don’t want to.” As far as he was concerned, the people who mattered already knew. Everyone else could get over it.
“It’s too late for that. We called Anne Marie.”
Tyler snickered. “What about your mom?”
“I don’t think she’s coming today. Besides she’s been giving me the silent treatment since Winston disappeared.”
“Winston Carter III,” he reminded her with the same stuck up sneer the guy had used when he’d introduced himself.
“Shut up.” She smacked his arm. “My guess is I’ll hear from her the minute she gets wind of our engagement.”
“Oh, you’ll hear from her all right.” He chuckled and swept her hair over her shoulder, letting the soft strands drift from his fingertips. He could only imagine what an earful that would be. But instead of it bothering him like it had in the past, he let it roll from his shoulders. Lillian didn’t know he had every intention of Journey carrying the Kinder name. Neither did Journey for that matter. He’d tell her, but not until he made sure Harold still wanted the same thing.
She slid a hand to his cheek and looked at him with those apologetic eyes. “My mom has never understood value. She looks only at the surface.”
“I’m not concerned about your mother,” he assured her, kissing the inside of her wrist. “Just you and me.” They’d been given a gift, healing to both of their souls. The secret that plotted to ruin them ended up being their salvation. It forced them to move forward. Forced them to both face things within themselves they didn’t have the courage to see.
He’d never take it for granted again. Not his life, his family. And certainly not her.
Tyler placed a hand on her back and gently nudged her along, relishing in the familiar sounds and smells of the buffet. It was a small crowd today. Family and friends only according to Anne Marie’s text. April stood by the beverage table, watching everyone. Britani sat next to her best friend, but they both had their heads down, messing around on their phones. Beck stood in a gaggle of people, his arm around the waist of an old girlfriend decked in high heels, too much jewelry and dark hair tumbling down to her lower back. She clung to him, laughing when no one else really was. Back to normal, or at least it seemed they were getting there.
Until I Knew Myself Page 25