“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m overwhelmed and somewhat embarrassed. Maybe it’s something your sister would want to have.”
Before Nick could say anything else, Monica interrupted. “Mom gave it to him a very long time ago so he could give it to the woman he’d marry. He’s saved it for that very one, and you, Amanda, turned out to be the one—the love of his life. And knowing my brother as I do, there could never be anyone else.”
“It’s like a scene from a movie,” Lori squealed. “How romantic!”
Monica continued. “You know our family is from New York City. When Dad proposed and gave this to our mother, she told us an engagement ring from Tiffany’s is a pure, unparalleled classic style. When she gave it to my brother, she knew he’d only give it to someone very special.” She glanced at her brother. “Do you remember how she described it to you, Nick?”
He cleared his throat and bowed as if performing on stage. “Aside from telling me to be sure the girl I give it to is the one I want to spend my life with, she always told me it stands alone.” He continued to recite his mother’s description. “No filigree. No brushed gold. No garish display. It’s a simple Tiffany diamond engagement ring. Understated but elegant.”
“Hey, that’s not bad,” Monica shouted.
Nick grinned and tapped his temple. “That’s because my mind is a steel puddle. Information clings to the memory cells.”
Laughter filled the room.
“There’s one more line that goes with it,” Monica said to Amanda. “And anyone who knows anything about jewelry will always ask you, ‘Where did you find him?’”
“That’s easy to answer.” Amanda beamed. “I found him right here. And I don’t intend to let him go.”
“Then it’s settled,” Jeff said loudly. “If you three ladies will stop crying, we can celebrate with a bottle of champagne. We’re going to have a wedding!”
He disappeared for a few moments, came back with champagne glasses, a bottle of the bubbly, and toasted the newly engaged couple.
“Congratulations to you both. You’re truly a couple destined for happiness.” He raised his glass. “Take it from me.” He paused and winked at his wife. “It only gets better from here on in.”
Amanda’s heart soared. Happy not only because she and Nick had made it official, but also because she’d found a new family who loved and accepted her.
* * *
When the evening festivities ended, the happy couple took their leave. Once settled in his truck, Nick asked, “Your house or mine?”
Inching her way next to him, she gave him a peck on the cheek then tugged at his sleeve. “What exactly did you have in mind, Mr. Dalton?”
He started the car. “You know exactly what I have in mind, Miss Conifer.”
“Your house it is.”
At Nick’s cabin, his chocolate lab, Maxine, curled up in front of the warm, glowing flames of the fireplace. Amanda poured two glasses of brandy and waited on the sofa for Nick to join her. From where she sat, she had a perfect view of an open field. She noticed the first flakes of snow, which had been part of the holiday weekend forecast, falling with intensity.
“Do you have to go to Denver tomorrow?”
“Nope. We can spend the rest of the weekend together, doing whatever you want to do. Or whatever comes naturally.” He slipped his arm around her neck and drew her close. “How do you think you’re going to like being Mrs. Nick Dalton?”
“I’m going to love it.” She held out her left hand, admiring her ring. “It’s so beautiful, Nick. I’ll treasure it forever.”
After placing her brandy glass on the coffee table, then his, she made a sweeping motion and curled her arms up and around his neck.
He followed her amorous behavior with his own. Then catching his breath, he added, “Unless I hear otherwise, I’ll assume this is an etched-in-stone-kind-of-moment that commits us to that once-forever, everlasting time in our lives together.”
Chapter Thirty
After Nick had dropped her off at her house, she decided to get a little more sleep. When she awoke, she lay in bed gazing at the sparkling diamond on her left hand ring finger. I’m so lucky to have found the man of my dreams.
Smiling, she tossed off the covers and swung her legs out of the bed. She stepped right into her slippers and put on her yellow terrycloth robe. After a liberating stretch, she shuffled down the stairs to the kitchen and turned on the coffeemaker. While waiting, she made her way to the patio window. With a quick pull, she opened the drape to view an unexpected sight. The forecasted “dusting of snow” had turned into a promising snowstorm—a white blanket covered the landscape.
This weather would set off a few inconveniences for the restaurant. Fortunately, she had the day off. She took a few minutes to marvel at the beauty of the scene and let her thoughts drift back to her childhood days. The vivid recollection of her and Poppy out in the yard building a snowman or snow fort or having a playful snowball fight made her lips curl at the corners of her mouth. “Those were wonderful times,” she whispered.
Then, as if orchestrated, a family of deer pranced across the back edge of her property line on the way to the large wooded area that separated her land from Ponderosa Estates. She watched them until they had disappeared among the trees. Her thoughts turned to her grandfather and the many timed they had watched the wildlife trek across their property.
I feel your presence, Poppy.
Before turning toward the kitchen and the aromatic brewing coffee wafting through the house, she studied her ring. His mother was right. A Tiffany solitaire diamond said it all. How lucky was she to be coming into this family, the right family.
You knew, Poppy. You knew from the minute I met Nick at the hospital that he was the one. How? I’ll never know or be able to explain. I hope you can see how happy I am.
Amanda poured that first cup of the day and sat to listen to CNN. When she had finished watching the world news, she showered, dabbed on a little makeup, brushed her hair up into a pony tail, dressed in jeans and sweatshirt then proceeded to Poppy’s home office, one he referred to as the Work Zone. Her task for the day, while waiting for Nick, was to go through his files and clean out his desk.
“This is not going to be easy, but I’m going to take the plunge and get it done.”
With a hot cup of coffee in hand, she entered the Work Zone. Starting with the filing cabinet, she plunged into what she thought would be a challenge. But to Poppy’s credit, she discovered he had kept an easy-to-follow, accurate system, all folders labeled and filed in an understandable fashion.
She removed the outdated and unnecessary ones and tossed them into a box ready for disposal on trash pickup day. After a few hours of intense sorting, hunger replaced the need to work. She made some raisin toast with peanut butter and honey and poured yet another cup of coffee.
“Just a short break.”
She had no sooner sat down to eat when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Charles standing there in full snowstorm garb and carrying a shovel. She smiled, thinking he looked like one of the neighborhood kids who usually came around to shovel the snow.
“Good morning, Amanda.” He rested his shovel against the porch railing.
“Charlie! What are you doing out here on this fine blizzardy day?” She motioned him into the house.
“Just cleared a path for you.” He removed his hat and gloves and shook the snow off his boots before stepping inside the house.
“Thanks. How about a cup of coffee?”
He nodded and hung the jacket on the hall tree. “I came by to see if you have electricity. That offer of coffee indicates you do.”
“Everything’s fine. Why? Problems?”
He followed her into the kitchen. “I’ll say. Most of Crestview Village is without power. Seems a few lines snapped with this wet heavy snow. Looks like it’ll take a few hours before they get it fixed and before I can open the restaurant.”
“Cell phone, Ch
arlie. Then you wouldn’t have had to drive all the way out here.”
He shrugged. “Didn’t think of that. But it’s just as well. I wanted to check on you and Sarah, make sure you lovely ladies weren’t stranded.”
“All is well, as you can see.”
“After I warm up, I’ll head back to the restaurant. So if you need anything, give me a call. I’ll be available.”
“That’s very reassuring.”
They discussed restaurant business for a few moments than Charles asked, “How was Thanksgiving at Nick’s sister’s?”
“Actually, Charlie, it turned out to be better than I could have ever imagined.”
His eyes widened. “Now that sounds interesting. Fill me in.”
She placed her right hand behind her back and crossed her fingers then extended her left hand and shouted, “Nick and I got engaged.”
Charles’ eyes fixed on the ring. “To be married?”
“Yes, silly. Of course to be married.”
A few seconds of silence followed before he looked at her. “It’s a beauty. He does have good taste.”
She smiled.
“Are you sure about this, Mandy?”
“Never been surer about anything.”
More silence.
“Then congratulations.” He kissed her cheek. “You have my approval, and I truly hope you and Nick will be happy.”
“Thanks, Charlie. Are you just saying that, or do you mean it?”
“Sweetheart, I want nothing more than for you to be happy. Believe me. And if this does it, then yes, I wholeheartedly mean it.”
She sighed. “Charlie, it’s important to me that you understand and support my decision.”
“Of course I do.” He straightened. “After all, Mandy, we are family. Remember?”
“Yes, that’s just it. We are, Charlie. Family.” Her thoughts took her away for an instant.
Charles took her hands in his. “I can hear you wishing Pete were here.”
How right he is.
“Remember, I promised him I’d take care of you, and I will.”
“I know you and Poppy were extremely close, and I do appreciate you want to watch over me, but there’s nothing to worry about here. Nothing.”
He smiled at her. “Okay. You’re right. But you know how I am.”
She nodded. “Yes, Charlie. I know you’re a combination of a mother hen and big brother.” She picked up her coffee cup and raised it high. He followed suit with his. “I think it’s time you take care of you and Sarah, and leave me and Nick to take care of us.”
They clinked cups, symbolizing their unspoken pact.
After visiting for a while, Charles excused himself. “Call if you need anything. Since I’m usually a short jaunt through the woods—” he motioned out her patio door, “—at Sarah’s, I can be here in no time.”
He gave her another congratulatory hug and kiss then headed toward the door. “Guess this means Nick and I will be family, too.” He laughed and added, “What is this world coming to?”
“Deal with it, Charlie. It’s a long time proposition.”
Amanda watched the steam from his SUV exhaust disappear down the driveway and out of sight, then she headed back to the office to finish her clean out project.
Back at Poppy’s desk, she shuffled through the large middle drawer and found two contracts she didn’t know about and several stock and bond certificates. She set them aside, making note that she’d have to call Uncle Jack about these. Next came the three side drawers.
The top drawer contained odds and ends, office supplies and stationary products. The middle one held a checkbook, folders with bank and stock statements and two large unsealed envelopes with a hand written identification. The first envelope Amanda opened read SAVE-IMPORTANT revealed family photos—ones that included her with her parents, her with both grandparents, Charles, one of Uncle Jack standing with two others whom she thought were related, father and young son. She turned the photo over and read: Jack, Big Phil, and Little Phil. Continuing on, she found several scraps of paper with scribbled notes on them:
1. Jack Haliway. gambling project – 2/3 yrs down the road.
2. Silent Partners – deal of lifetime
3. Family money & Govt. Connections
4. Ponderosa Estates & Crestview Village buy-out: see proposal - Harbor Development Corp.
She remembered seeing this the same company up in the Black Hawk area a while back and wondered how Poppy was connected with them.
5. Investigating – Charles???
None of this made sense, but she made a mental note to add this to the “talk-with-Uncle Jack-list.”
The second envelope marked CHARLES WHARLEY aroused her curiosity. When she opened this one, she found an undated, unsigned copy of a partnership contract offering Charles fifty percent ownership in Italian Farmhouse. She noted it had been drawn up by Jack Haliway’s firm.
Wonder why Uncle Jack had told her Poppy had never got around to doing this, when it was right here. All he’d said was that they’d discussed it. I guess he just forgot. It didn’t matter now because it was totally up to her which way this would turn out. However, it was strange. Kind of a mystery.
I think I’ll let Nick look over all these papers. Maybe he could make some sense out of all this stuff and solve her mystery before she’d have to go and bother Uncle Jack.
The bottom drawer contained an alphabetical file folder with a variety of papers—birth, death and marriage certificates, car titles, and insurance policies. She perused further and found family medical records, school report cards and diplomas, and a large hodgepodge of years of miscellaneous paperwork.
Amanda decided she had reached overload and would sort through these files another day. She needed time to digest all these documents and discoveries and try to make sense out of them.
Chapter Thirty-One
Amanda let her thoughts focus on Nick and drifted into a romantic fantasy about the two of them being stranded on a semi-deserted island, one with modern amenities, people around to accommodate their every need from gourmet food to entertainment to transportation. The loud ring of the house phone on Poppy’s desk startled her back to reality, to Crestview and to the now-raging snowstorm.
“This is Nick Dalton calling his favorite fiancée.”
“You mean there’s more than one?”
He chuckled. “Are you kidding? One is about all any man can handle.”
She filled him in on Charles’ visit.
“You are a brave soul, telling him about us so soon.”
“Not brave soul, just a deliriously happy one.”
“You mean you didn’t change your mind after that early bird wakeup call today?”
“Are you suggesting that you did?”
He laughed. “Touché’! Now why would I do that? You know I’m crazy about you.”
“Can’t hear that enough.”
“Ditto.” He waited, then finally asked, “Well?”
“Yes, Nick. I’m crazy about you, too.” She could picture him grinning.
“That’s better. You know we’re doomed to be together.”
“Doomed?” she bellowed.” How romantic!”
“You know what I mean, Mandy.”
“Yes, I do, so I’ll let that doomed stuff slide for the time being. Now back to Charles. Believe it or not, he did wish us well.”
“Guess he’s not as bad as I thought.”
“No, he’s not a bad guy, just peculiar and overprotective.”
They chatted about their holiday dinner at Monica’s and their evening afterwards. Both reaffirmed their love and commitment to one another and their future partnership.
“You’re right where you belong, Amanda, with me.”
She smiled at his comment—she felt the same way—yes, where she belonged.
She spoke in confidence to him about what she’d found in Poppy’s desk and asked him if he’d look everything over to see if he could figure out what it all mean
t.
“Of course, whatever you need.”
“I’d also like us to discuss Charles and the business. Since you’re going to be my full-time partner in marriage, you should have a say on what we should do about that business stuff dealing with Charles.”
“Mandy, we can talk about it, but it’s your decision. I’ll support anything you decide.”
Static crackled through the phone lines, breaking up their conversation. “Are you calling from your cell phone?”
“No, I’m at the company condo. Had to come here to work and get warm. The heating system at the office has turned into an air conditioning system, and can’t get a repairman today. I promised Phil I’d have these holiday plans ready for him by tomorrow. I decided to take advantage of the company condo and get it done.”
“Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”
“It’s a push, but I’ll have it ready for him.”
“Where is this condo?”
“Downtown. The Aspen Peaks Complex.”
She flinched. “You’re kidding, right? That’s where I used to live. And where I have since come to find out is one of Poppy’s holdings.”
More static and lost voices again interrupted them. Finally, Nick continued. “What a coincidence. Maybe you know Phil or his wife Nancy already.”
“What’s the last name again?”
“Bristol.”
“Sounds familiar, but can’t place a face with it.”
“You probably heard it from me. Don’t fret over it. You’ll meet them both next weekend, if you’re up to the challenge.”
She could hear the delight in his voice. “Sounds like fun. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine.”
“Mandy, would you be horribly upset with me if I don’t make it up the mountain as early as we anticipated?”
“I’ll just miss not spending the day together, but work is work and it has to get done.”
Nick promised to call when he was leaving Denver to head on up the mountain to her place.
“I’ll have dinner and a fire in the fireplace waiting. Warm and cozy.”
“Cozy is good. I love cozy. I love you.” He paused. “Did I mention I love cozy?”
Matters of the Heart Page 16