Page 17 of The Seven Rings
Her phone rang out with “It Wasn’t Me.”
“If you didn’t…” She picked up the photograph. “Johanna? Maybe. Whoever, this one next.”
She carried it back to the dining room.
“Clover—and it’s still playing on my phone.”
“She went with Chuck Berry,” Owen observed.
“While I couldn’t have said that, I got theit wasn’t meright off. This box was set aside from the others, and this photo on the lid.”
“Johanna.” Trey took the photo. “Maybe she’s giving you an assist now, too.”
“Or Collin,” Owen put in.
“That’s a good thought.” Cleo pointed at him. “If Collin’s still here—and of course he is—he’d weigh in on this. At least it seems he would.”
“Whoever did this, wants this box next.”
She sat, opened the lid, and immediately saw more photos of Johanna, of her and Collin, of both of them with Trey’s parents.
“Oh, is this you, Trey? On Collin’s hip?”
“Yeah, my parents have a copy of this shot. Johanna’s holding Anna, and Collin’s got me. It couldn’t have been long before their wedding.”
“This definitely belongs in the gallery.”
Sonya started to lift a pile out, then dug deeper.
“Wait! Tintypes, and yes! Miniatures, framed.” Lifting more, she spread them out carefully. “It’s—God.”
“The seven brides,” Trey finished. “They’re all going to be here. And these weren’t stored like this, not when we did inventory.”
Looking through, he shook his head. “Not like this. I’d remember it. We didn’t go through every box, just identified photos, but there wasn’t one just like this.”
“It may or may not be a clue, Son, but it’s a major find, and a huge help with the gallery.”
“It’s Clover,” Sonya murmured, and she picked up a photo. “Clover and Charlie on their wedding day. I saw this—dreamed, saw them in this meadow, dancing at their wedding.”
“They look so happy. Young and happy,” Cleo added.
And Clover played Dylan’s “Wedding Song.”
“We’ll frame this. It’ll go in the gallery, but before that, we’ll put it out, and with Collin and Johanna’s wedding photo, and any we find.”
“Like this one. Lisbeth, right? The fifth bride. Formal wedding shot.” Owen held it up.
“Yes. God, she’s radiant even in a photo.”
“I’ve got Agatha and Owen. Very formal. A handsome couple,” Cleo said. “Oh, here’s another—his second marriage—Owen and Moira. You know, I have to say they both look happier.”
“I’ve got a tintype here,” Trey offered, “and it’s Marianne and Hugh Poole.”
“The miniatures. Catherine—second bride. Not from her wedding, but there wouldn’t have been time, since she died on her wedding night. And Astrid—they must’ve had this done before the wedding. Maybe as a gift to Collin, because you can see enough of her dress. It’s her wedding dress.
“We have them all. All seven brides.”
“And more,” Trey added. “More photos. One of Clover in front of the manor.”
