After their burgers, Jamie walked with Sean toward the dance studio, her mind still snagged on the necklace his aunt wore. “Do you think… do you think your aunt’s necklace could be the coin mentioned in the letters?”
“It could be anything, but it doesn’t make any sense. Why would she have it? Especially if my grandfather gave it to your uncle?”
“Well, your aunt—godmother—would have been close to your mother, right?”
He gave a curt nod.
“I thought Uncle Alan said Gail was your mom’s sister—”
“But—”
“I know. She didn’t have a sister. But maybe they were like sisters. So, what if Gail…” Jamie groaned. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s driving me crazy. Do you think you could ask her about it?”
“You just want to play Cupid.”
“I can’t help it. My uncle is an amazing man.” She grinned. “Sean, think about it—what if that’s the coin? If her name were Gail, I’d lay my life down she was my uncle’s long-lost love.”
Warm and inviting, Sean’s laughter spiraled around the chilled air and drew her in. “You’re incurable.”
A horse-drawn carriage clopped around the bend, drawing their attention.
“Will you just ask her about it?”
“You aren’t going to leave it alone until I do, are you?”
“What if she knows who or where Gail is? What if because you don’t ask, Gail is never found, and my poor uncle dies a sad, lonely bachelor?”
“Ouch.” He raised his hands. “Okay, okay. Enough with the guilt session.”
“So, you’ll ask?”
Another laugh. “Yeah, sure.”
Jamie threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Thank you!”
Sean stood in the kitchen where his aunt chopped vegetables on the marble countertop. What got him here, what pushed him to ask her about the necklace that even now peeked out from her blouse, he didn’t know.
Oh yes, he did. It was that hug. Jamie’s spontaneous expression of glee. That reaction had a deadly and dangerous effect on Sean because he knew he’d do anything for her after that hug.
“So, what’s up, handsome?” Aunt Mitzi popped a piece of bell pepper in her mouth as she lifted the cutting board over the large cooking pot then scraped the knife along the surface and dumped in the veggies. “You look like you have something on your mind.” She slid a sly smile his way. “How’re things with Jamie?”
Sean ducked his head, hating the way the heat filled his face. He was crazy about the ballerina, but he wasn’t sure about stepping into the explosive waters of dating with her—or anyone. “She’s… good.”
“Oh, come on, you clod! She likes you, and if I’m reading this correctly, you’re a bit over the moon about her, too.” Her hand moved to the necklace, and Sean realized how often she did that. He’d never noticed before. Were those markings the same as the ones in the letter? If they were, how did she get it? Was it possible there was more than one coin like that?
As he studied the piece, he realized she’d frozen with her eyes wide.
Sean reached for the pendent and lifted it. “You wear this all the time.” He turned it over, and his stomach clamped at the inscription—just like in the letter. “It must be special to you.”
Her mouth opened then closed. “It is.” She quickly moved to the fridge and bent over.
“Where did you get it?”
Armed with meat in a white paper wrapper and more veggies, she straightened and nudged the door closed with her foot. She dumped the contents on the counter, her back to him.
Sean switched to the other side, leaning back against the high-end counters. He touched her shoulder. “Aunt Mitzi?”
“Could you grab the oregano and paprika for me, Sean?” She wouldn’t face him.
Something was going on. He wasn’t sure what, but he’d never been one to back down. In the letters he’d read “The Wolfe honor was as solid as the ships they built. And just as unsinkable.” He’d like to think the same was true of tenacity. Tugging the letters from his back pocket, he knew he had to find the answers.
Carefully he unfolded the letter and placed it on the counter, over the food, and noticed his godmother slow her pace once her gaze struck the papers. “Where did you get the medallion, Aunt Mitzi?”
Her shoulders slumped, both hands resting on the edge of the counter as she looked down. She drew in a long, hard breath. “Please, Sean…” Her voice hitched. Chin trembling, she shook her head. “Please, don’t ask.”
A tear streaked down her perfectly made-up face. Slowly, she wiped it, backed up a step, then walked out of the kitchen.