Page 30 of Soul

I turn around on a heel. “How do you know that we just bought a place here?”

The old woman looks up at me over her glasses. “Honey, there isn’t much in Bantry that I don’t know about. ‘Sides, the home was expensive, knew a classy woman and man probably bought it since no one around here could afford it. It’s been empty for a couple years now. And the population is only thirty two hundred. I’ve been in Bantry all my life and will die here. I know everyone.”

I smile and nod. “Well, I definitely agree. How much?”

“Two thousand,” she says and I suck in a breath. Jack looks at me with hard eyes. “You can put the mirror back.”

“Not before you get that tapestry,” he rumbles.

I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. It’s really beautiful though,” I say it loud enough for the woman to hear.

“Excuse me Ms. Callahan, but you’re about to become Mrs. Davis. He will be very pleased if you purchase something to add to your new home.” Jack’s dark gaze holds mine. For the first time, I can see real unguarded sincerity there.

“It’s expensive.”

“It isn’t. He will think that is a pittance. She’ll take the tapestry, and I’ll purchase it on behalf of her fiancé,” Jack tells the old woman.

“I have money.” I narrow my eyes at him and place my hands on my hips.

Jack scowls. “Yes of course, but if someone is tracking your credit card and bank account, there will be problems. We will use the card I have.”

“Good point.” I breathe in slowly.

The old woman stands. “I believe I have something else that might be of interest to you my dear.” I turn around and follow her. Jack stays close which is annoying and comforting at the same time.

She leads me to a tall armoire. “Oh, I’m sorry, the furniture we have is all new and looks great.”

“It’s not the furniture you’ll be interested in, precious.” She opens the armoire doors and hanging within is a gown. A lace wedding gown.

The woman smiles as I hold my hand over my mouth and my eyes tear up. “I married my Henry in this gown, sixty years ago, made by my mother’s own hand. I’ve held onto this as Henry and I were not blessed with children. He passed almost ten years ago now, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss him.”

“And you’re willing to sell it to me,” a tear slips down my cheek as I look at the most perfect dress in the world. Absolutely ideal for a tiny wedding in a small church in Ireland.

The dress has a lace cap sleeve, a sweetheart neckline, and fits close to the body until you hit the knee where the lace flares out enough to give it some body. There’s a nude colored underlay because the lace is a wide pattern. The shape reminds me of fans that flare out meeting with a flower shape in the center of each fan. It’s incredibly intricate. The back has a one-inch wide, scalloped, lace piece to hold up the top, and then is cut out and open to the lower back. Showing just enough of my bare back that Chase will lose his mind.

“No precious,” the woman says, and my heart sinks. I know, I just know this is the dress I must marry the man of my dreams in. And then she blows me away with her next words. “I’m going to give it to you.”

Chapter Eleven

Chase

“Hey, Baby,” I pull my woman back against my body as a little old woman in front of her zips up a garment bag. “Buy something?”

Jack hands the woman a credit card and she looks up to me. “So, this your young man?” She looks at me over her glasses. Gillian snuggles back into me and puts an arm around my middle.

“It is.”

“Strapping young fella. Big.” Her eyes widen as she takes in my appearance.

“Making new friends again?” She shakes her head. “What did you get?” I point at the garment bag.

Gillian sighs and looks up at me. “Only the best things ever.” I tip her chin back and look into her face. Her pale skin is pink at the cheeks and her eyes a forest green. I’ll never tire of looking at her face. “Which is what?”

“A tapestry for one. It’s the trinity! Can you believe it?” She points a finger behind us and I see the symbol. The design is beautiful and the craftsmanship perfection.

“It’s lovely. I’m sure it will go great in our home, and I know how much you love the trinity.”

She nods happily and pulls out her phone and takes a picture of it. “I can’t wait to show the girls. They are going to die!” Then her face scrunches up into a frown, as if she just grasped what she said. I pull her back into my arms and tip her chin up.

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