twenty-one
Grace’s bedroom door was closed when Mia and Levi reached the top of the stairs. Mia was high on hope. She just knew that necklace was somewhere in this house, and the attic seemed like their best shot.
Levi rapped on the door. “Grace? Can we come in?”
There was a shuffling sound. Then a moment later the door opened. Grace was wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a T-shirt that readIf you say so. Her long blond ponytail trailed over her shoulder.
“Hey.” Grace’s gaze swung between the two of them. “What’s up?”
“First of all,” Mia said, “I want to apologize for all the hoopla outside. I’m so sorry for bringing my crazy world to your doorstep.”
“It’s not your fault. I wonder who squealed. It wasn’t us.”
“I believe you.” Mia was a little surprised how true this was. Trust had never come easily to her, yet this little family had quickly earned it. It said a lot for the Bennetts. “It could’ve been anyone I passed on the trails or who saw me around town in the car or who caught me coming or going. It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done.”
Grace gave Levi a look. “Well, you wanted the inn to get national attention. Mission accomplished.”
Mia gave a rueful smile. “Be careful what you ask for.”
“That’s not quite the kind of attention I was after.”
Grace noticed the ladder. “Um, what’s that for? Something broken?”
“We need to get up in the attic through your closet,” Levi said.
“Ooo-kay...”
“You’re not going to believe this,” Mia said. “Have you read Dorothy Livingston’s journals?”
“Um, yeah... A long time ago.”
Mia went on to explain that the blue diamond necklace was worth a fortune and that Dorothy had said she kept it tucked away somewhere safe.
Levi took over when she got to the part about Dorothy’s will, explaining that the necklace was unaccounted for.
“So...” Grace said after she heard him out. “You think it might still be here somewhere?”
She didn’t seem very optimistic, but Mia was starting to realize that was Grace.
“It’s possible,” Mia said. “Isn’t that exciting? I can’t wait to start looking.”
Grace shrugged, opening the door wider. “Knock yourselves out.”
They slipped through the door and onward toward the closet.
Levi knew Grace was skeptical they’d find anything more than dust bunnies in the attic. She was just too kind to burst Mia’s bubble. He was thankful for that. And glad he could divert Mia’s attention from the scandal taking over her life.
He opened the door to the small walk-in closet, his heart sinking. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The floor was covered with clothes and boxes and who knew what else. He threw Grace a look over his shoulder. “Seriously?”
“On a positive note, I got the college apps done,” she deadpanned.
Well, that was something. “All three of them?”
“All three of them. Happy?”
“Ecstatic.” He wanted to addAbout time, but he held his tongue. “Now we just have to wait for their response. Did they say how long it would be?”
“Six to eight weeks, but my friends say it doesn’t take that long.”
