Page 35 of Sea La Vie
“A new door,” he echoes and mirrors my movements around the kitchen table. “And getting you back.” He smirks and charges around the table wrapping his arms around me. He reaches one paint covered hand up to my cheek and leaves the outline of his palm. I squeal and beat at his arms, though I have to admit being wrapped up in him is a feeling unlike anything else. I wouldn’t mind staying like this for a few more minutes.
We’re both laughing as he carries me back into the living room. He’s about to set me down when I hear a crack, and Tate stumbles. He sets me down safely and turns to look at what’s just happened. “I forgot about avoiding the soft spot in the floor,” he says. “I’ll have the contractor take a look at that when he comes out next.”
I’m only half listening to him though, because a flash of something has caught my eye. I bend down and reach my hand between the joists beside the one already uncovered and fish out what I’ve found. It’s covered in cobwebs, and dust falls from it as I secure it in my palm.
“What is it?” he asks, as I wipe what I’ve picked up along my jeans.
“It’s a ring.”
14
Tate
“Let me see,” I say, holding my hand out.
Lainey drops the small diamond ring into my palm, and I hold it up for inspection. Small is a generous way to describe the little chip sitting on a thin gold band. It’s barely big enough to see, yet simple and stunning all the same.
“What do you know,” I murmur.
“Wasn’t your grandpa married?” Lainey asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “He only ever had one wife as far as I know, and she passed away when I was really young.” I turn it over to inspect the band, for an engraving. There is none. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“I think there’s only one person who would know,” Lainey says softly.
“But he has dementia. We might be too late, Lain.”
“We can try again,” Lainey suggests yet again. “What would it hurt? If he doesn’t remember, we still get to visit with him, and we can chalk it up to a mystery that wasn’t meant to be solved.”
I study the ring a minute longer. “What if it’s a story he doesn’t want to share? It’s hidden for a reason. Maybe we should put it back and leave the skeletons in their nice and comfy closet.”
One of Lainey’s eyebrows shoots up to her forehead. “It's your grandpa. You get to call the shots here.”
“Let me think on it,” I ask her.
“Okay,” Lainey nods. I watch as she yawns and rubs at her eyes. I should tell her to go home, to get some rest. But…I don’t want to.
“Have you had dinner?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I was going to pop something in the microwave when I got home.”
“I bought a couple steaks earlier, one to eat tonight and one to freeze. What if I tossed those on the grill for us?” I definitely bought both steaksanda bottle of red in hopes I could talk her into eating with me tonight.
“I don’t know,” she says. “I probably need to get Midge home.”
I peer around her to the dog lying on her back and wedged between the cushions, blissfully snoring.
“Stay,” I say. “Please?” I jut out my lower lip, and Lainey rolls her eyes.
“What can I do to help?” She asks.
“Nothing,” I tell her. “Relax for a change.”
“Tate, I can’t let you keep spoiling me like this. I’m going to get used to it and not know how to fend for myself when you leave.” She cracks a small smile and yawns again. I hate that she keeps bringing up me leaving. It’s something I keep pushing to the back of my mind, knowing I can’t stay here on vacation forever. Tonight’s not the night to decide what I’m doing, though.
“Go relax.” I point to the couch, insisting she sit and take a break for once.
She lets out a huff of air, but doesn’t fight me any harder. I watch her make her way to the couch and sit down.
