Page 168 of For Better or Hearse
Without a doubt, she loses. After, Nathaniel and Augustus go at it. Grandson and grandfather battling it out for the win. Whiskey is poured. Some of the lightness ebbs. They make plans. They talk about how Ash will stay here near the end. About plans for his funeral. Who to invite. When to read the will.
Nathaniel’s brows get more and more furrowed until he stands and paces. Every so often, he stops and rubs her shoulder like she’shis touchstone. His way to cope. She soaks in the contact. She understands. He’s hers as well.
A mischievous smile on his face, Augustus rises from his chair. “Now I have something for the both of you,” he says, shuffling over to a photo on the wall. “But I need you to keep it on the down low, as the kids say.”
Nathaniel sits beside Ash, rests his elbows on his knees. “What is it?”
Without a word, Augustus tugs at the frame of the photo to reveal a safe.
Ash nudges Nathaniel’s shoulder. “Did you, uh, know about that?”
“Not a clue,” he mutters.
Augustus’s hand trembles as he twists the dial on the safe. It’s expected. The doctor told them his fine motor skills would be on the decline. When Ash meets his eye, Nathaniel makes a move to rise. Asks in a light tone, “You need help, Grandpops?”
The safe pops, and Augustus crows. “Ah-ha. Still got it.”
Nathaniel sits. Augustus returns, his eyes dancing with mischief. The object in his hand flashes gold for an instant before he deposits it in Ash’s palms.
She gasps, gapes at it. “Oh, holy shit, Augustus. Are you serious?”
To the bright sunlight of the window, she holds up a gold money clip with a mother of pearl inlay. Though polished bright, its age is evident. Weathered by time. She flips it over. Engraved on the front side are the initialsCG.
“Grandpops…” Nathaniel’s eyes are wider than Ash has ever seen them. “Is this what I think it is?”
“It is.” A fond smile twists Augustus’s lips. “It was a gift from Carlo Giacomo. After I gave him a room at the Ambassador. It’s now yours.”
Ash hands the clip to Nathaniel, whispers, “We’re not going to get our legs broken just by looking at this, are we?”
Nathaniel laughs, a bright, brilliant sound. Blue eyes lit with wonder, he runs a hand over his square jaw and evaluates the piece of history in his hands. “Grandpops, I need this story.”
Right then, Ash’s phone blares in her purse.
“Shit.” She hops up and heads for her backpack. As she brings out the device, her breath stalls in her windpipe. “Fuck.”
Nathaniel’s head snaps up. Stern brows furrowed, he asks, “Everything okay?”
No. It’s not.
Because of course. Of fucking course the universe has its own plans.
Instead, she forces a smile. And a lie. “New client. I have to take this.” She waves a hand. “Go ahead with the story. I’ll catch it later.”
With that, she heads for the backyard. Heart pounding, she winds her way through the roses and gardenias until she comes to a stone bench next to a small koi pond.
She steadies herself. Hits talk. “Hey, there.”
“Ash?” comes the hesitant voice.
She closes her eyes. “Camellia, hi.”
An image of Camellia forms in her mind. Beautiful. Sleek blond hair. Pearl earrings. Designer clothing as she walks the halls of her McMansion.
“I’m sorry it’s been so long,” Camellia says with false sincerity. “Time completely got away from me. How can I help you?”
She’s tempted to hang up.
In Hawaii, she wanted to know. Why. She wanted to know for herself. She felt like she owed Nathaniel. Now, though, she’s blissfully happy. By asking, would she be doing the right thing or the wrong thing? Is she meddling again, or is this some sort of fucked-up self-sabotage?