She nodded. “Every bit. He proposed last night before meeting the guys for poker and their Kringle club meeting, and I think he was planning to celebrate with all of his friends since I accepted.”
I tore my gaze away from the innocuous dark blue box. “Really?” Bernie hadn’t mentioned that fact to me. Why did he keep hiding facts?
“Yes. We had an early dinner together, and then he left. I didn’t know it’d be the last time we spoke.” She sighed, clasping her hands together in her lap. “I liked him, a lot. While it wasn’t the love of the century, we were compatible, and sometimes I think that’s more important than the rush of romance and wild emotions. In fact, after my various romances, I can tell you it is much more crucial. You have to be able to laugh with each other and enjoy the boring times as well as the adrenaline-rush ones.”
My stomach cramped. “I see.” My entire relationship with Aiden was built on adrenaline and danger. We’d never even watched a movie in bed together. Was it the excitement as well as history that kept us together? It certainly wasn’t new memories or day-to-day life. In fact, we weren’t really together. He was in a different state, no doubt being stitched up by a doctor right now. Hopefully, anyway. I dragged my attention back to the grieving woman in my office. “Was Lawrence’s son angry he spent all of his money on the ring?”
“Yes,” Florence admitted. “He was furious. Hoyt Forrest doesn’t like me very much. He runs the bait and tackle shop around Lilac Lake that has been there forever. The man is in his early forties and thinks, or rather thought, he could run Lawrence’s life.” She shook her head. “It’s sad they didn’t reconcile before Lawrence’s death.”
I would need to look into Hoyt. For now, I studied the box. “Do you want me to escort you to the bank so you can put that in a safety deposit box?”
“No.” She pushed the finished list across my desk. “How about we go to the jewelry store and return it? I wouldn’t mind having company on the way.”
With that ring, she should have an armed guard. I guess I’d have to do. Plus, I still hadn’t found a Christmas present for Aiden, and the idea was giving me a headache. Constantly. “All right. You can tell me more about what makes a successful relationship on the way.” I stood and dug my purse from my laptop bag, figuring if she’d gotten it wrong so many times, maybe she had now learned how to make one work.
I could use all the help I could find.
Chapter 6
Earl’s Jewelry Store was across the border in Washington state, and I spent the ride watching the icy roads and listening to Florence recall her various romances through the years. Her adventures were impressive, and she’d spent time in several different countries, including a summer in a castle in Scotland with a modern-day laird.
She finally wound down with a sad sigh, saying that Hoyt Forrest wouldn’t even let her attend the funeral for Lawrence.
It seemed unnecessarily mean to me. “I’ll talk to him,” I promised, driving through an older part of Spokane, its brick buildings having seen better days. “I can’t promise anything, but I need to discuss the case with him, anyway.”
Florence patted my arm. “That would be so kind of you. Thanks.”
“Is he a decent guy?” I asked, hoping it was grief and not cruelty that drove him.
“He’s okay,” she said quietly. “I know that Lawrence loved him very much, although they’ve been having problems lately because Hoyt likes to gamble.”
I stiffened. “That’s news. Any idea how much money he’s lost?”
“No. He asked Lawrence for a loan two weeks ago, and it hurt Lawrence to refuse to help, but he just couldn’t send bad money after bad money.” She unhitched her seatbelt as I pulled alongside the curb, frowning at the barred windows set on either side of the metal door. “I remember when this area of Spokane didn’t even need locks on the doors, although the jewelry store was always careful, you know.”
“So do I,” I murmured. Hoyt was looking good as a suspect for the murder, but I didn’t have a feel for him yet. “Do you think Hoyt could’ve hurt his father for money? That he was that desperate?”
“No. I can’t imagine anybody wanting to hurt Lawrence or being that desperate. It just doesn’t make sense.” She opened the door and snow blew inside my SUV.
I wondered how many of her jewelry items had been purchased at Earl’s but didn’t know of a polite way to ask. Dodging through the rapidly quickening snow, I grasped her arm and ushered her across the newly shoveled walkway to push open the door. A tinkly bell announced our arrival, and we hurried inside to see counters of sparkling gems. Christmas decorations danced across the walls in several winter scenes, and music played a muted holiday selection.
Did Aiden like jewelry? I’d never seen him wear any, but a nice gold cross seemed like him. Of course, that was seriously personal. He could probably use another leather jacket, but that was both out of my budget and not personal enough. I sighed.
Florence pulled the box from her pocket just as a man bustled through the door at the far end, his blue bowtie perfect over his neatly pressed shirt. His eyes were brown, his spectacles thick, and his gray hair thin. He smiled and laugh wrinkles extended out from his eyes.
“Florence. How good to see you.” He moved around the counter and straight for her, reaching for her hands and losing the grin. “I’m so very sorry to hear about Lawrence.”
Florence leaned in. “Thank you, Earl.” She partially looked over her shoulder at me. “This is my friend, Anna Albertini. Anna, this is jewelry genius extraordinaire and a lifelong friend, Earl Jacobson.”
Earl released her and held out a gnarled hand to me. “Anna, it’s so nice to meet you. I know your grandparents from different events in Silverville and think very highly of them. Your Grandpa Albertini was about five years older than me in school, and our high schools were rivals. I went to Bourn High.”
Bourn was the next valley over from Silverville, and I had many friends from the small community.
I shook his hand, being gentle with the obvious arthritis in his fingers. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” The place smelled like lemon cleaner and pipe tobacco that somehow melded neatly with the Christmas pine air freshener.
Florence handed over the ring box. “I can’t keep this and would like to give the money to Hoyt, Earl. I’m sorry about the sale and hope you can recoup somehow.” She wiped snow off her forehead, and a piece dripped down to her red jacket.
Earl took the box, his lips tightening. “I have no problem giving you a refund, but you really shouldn’t give the money to that dolt, Hoyt. Lawrence wanted you to have this ring, and he gave it to you, so it’s yours. A gift is a gift.” He nodded emphatically. “Lawrence and I were friends for fifty years, and I knew him. If you don’t want the ring, and you don’t want cash, perhaps you’d like to exchange it for that nice opal set over in the estate sale area? I know how much you like opals, and these have yellow diamonds around them. So stunning.”
