Blood & Rust (Lock & Key #4) (22 page)

“
TANIA, THIS LOOKS WONDERFUL
.” My mother stood with her walker before her in the middle of my store, her large dark blue eyes taking in every detail.

I was almost ready for tonight’s opening.

I had artwork and antique pieces in specially designed groupings around the space. Willy was making adjustments to the custom shelving we had designed together weeks ago for one of the walls, the golden afternoon sun streaming over his gray hair and all down his back as he worked.

“Can’t believe this is the old five-and-dime,” Rae murmured.

“Part of it, but, yes, it’s Dillon’s. One and the same. The owners took longer than expected to separate the old store into three retail spaces, but the timing worked out for me.”

Her face broke into a smile. “I used to come here with my daddy in that old Chevy pickup. You remember the one?”

“Of course I do. Dad used it, too, for a while. We’d come here together in that truck, tool around town, go to the luncheonette.”

“Yes, you did.”

Our eyes lingered on Lock’s hand-painted mural on the wall behind the long front desk. A painting of a great big pulsing heart that was worn and rust-colored on the edges but a deep silky blood red at its living center. An original work of art that Wes had helped him with.

“Stunning,” Rae murmured.

“The painting was Lock and Grace’s gift. I still pinch myself every time I look at it. What do you think of the front desk, Ma? Willy created it out of an old vintage front door I had found in Iowa, and he made the legs using pieces from an iron gate I had found at a house demolition years ago.”

“It’s beautiful. He does amazing work,” she murmured, a hand smoothing over the top of the desk.

“He does. We’ve had a lot of fun working together.”

My mother’s eyes roamed over every part of the store. Her shoulders rose and fell with the effort of moving with the walker as her guide, the walker bearing the brunt of her emotions.

“You did this, baby. You did. How I wish your daddy were here to see it. He’d be so proud of you. He always said you’d do great things in your own way, in your own time. You certainly have here.”

“I wish he were here to see it.”

“Oh, I think he can. I know he can feel it.”

I slid my arm through hers as she wiped at her eyes.

“You think this is nuts? Doing this here in Meager?” I asked.

She turned to me, adjusting her grip on the walker. “A little bit of nuts can have its merits, Tania. You have that, and you used it wisely. It shows. Otherwise, you never would have gotten this off the ground.”

“I had a lot of help from my friends. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

She gave me a pointed look. “Those are good friends to have.”

“Yes, they are.”

For the first time in a very long time, I felt absolutely confident in my decision to open my own store. Knowing I had the support and care of this amazing band of people behind me made me proud and made my heart so very full.

“I only wish I could have helped you.”

“I know, Mom.” I rubbed her arm. “It’s okay. Knowing I have your support is what’s important to me.”

“Oh, honey, you’re my precious daughter, and you will always have my support. I know things have been difficult with you having to come home, the divorce, but I didn’t want you to uproot yourself.”

“Mom, I didn’t leave Racine because of you. I left because I wanted to. You needing me was the best sort of impetus, the best shove in the rear. It made me look at everything differently. For the better. Believe me.”

“Well, I’m glad something good’s come out of it at least. I haven’t seen you like this in a long while.”

“I haven’t felt like this in a very long time. It feels good.”

“As it should.”

“Sit here, in your grandmother’s chair.” I patted the cracked leather of the armchair.

“Oh, look at that! You buffed it up. It looks good here.”

“I’ll make us some tea. I have Earl Grey, some sort of Chai thing Jill likes, and jasmine.”

“Jasmine, please.”

I helped her settle in the leather easy chair and went to the back storage area where I had a small table with an electric kettle.

“I’m glad you brought Grandma’s chair. It’s so good to sit in it, use it again, isn’t it? I haven’t been able to get over to that house at all. Maybe you’ll take me one morning? I should go. I’d like to.”

“Of course. The house is full of things you should look over. What do you think of Great Grandma’s piano over there?”

“Beautiful as ever.”

“I just got it tuned yesterday,” I said, both our gazes pinned on the freshly polished dark wood upright piano on which Rae, Penny, and I had all taken lessons once upon a time.

“Is this Jill’s jewelry? She’s been working like crazy, you know.”

“Isn’t it beautiful?” I placed a mug of tea on the small table by my mother’s side. “I wanted to feature local up-and-coming artisans. That was part of my idea for this store. I also wanted to have other more portable and more affordable options available in the store alongside the antiques. Jill’s handmade trinkets are perfect.”

“I’m glad the two of you are working together.”

“Me, too. I need someone I can trust in here. Jill’s going to work here part-time for now and then give me more hours once Becca goes to preschool in the fall.”

“She’s very excited. She’s been talking nonstop about it.” Mom blew over the hot amber liquid and took a careful sip. “I wish I could come tonight, but I just get too tired in the evenings. It’s your big night. I don’t want you worrying about me.”

“I’m glad you came now to see it. I like this—sitting with you.”

Rae set her tea back down on the table. “We’re not usually this quiet, are we?”

I laughed. “No.”

“That used to drive your father nuts.”

“What’s that?”

“You and me—loud, stubborn, full of intent to prove our points, day in, day out.”

“Ah, he liked opinionated women, Ma. He loved that color in his house.”

“He did. See? That’s where
nuts
is good, too. I want you to have that kind of nuts in your life, baby. This is important”—her gaze met mine—“but it isn’t everything.”

“I know.”

She grinned, her head slanting toward Willy and Dawes working at the back. “Those Jacks are another breed of men.”

“Mom!”

“They are, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“I see it in Grace’s eyes. In Jill’s, I saw it from the first. Like a fresh drift of snow you wake up to in the morning. Absolutely clean, bright with sparkles as far as the eye can see. She thought she was hiding it from me, but you can’t hide that.”

“Boner is good to her.”

“He is, and it shows. She deserves it. Just like Grace.”

“They certainly do.”

“So do you, honey. I know Kyle disappointed you in many ways. Maybe he even hurt you. He must have for you to pick up and leave. You dust yourself off and walk ahead. Come what may, let it come. That’s what you do, all your life. That’s what you’ve been doing.”

“Mom—”

“You need to take care of
you
right now, and all else will fall into place. Hopping into bed with someone is easy. Anyone can give you a good orgasm. You know what I mean?”

“Holy shit, Rae.” I plonked my mug down on the table.

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

“Yes. But if you find someone who can give you a really, really good one…” I said, my insides clenching at the memory of Butler’s sensual talents.

“Oh, well then, yes, he’s worth a second look. Absolutely.” She laughed out loud, and I joined her.

I stretched out my arms and legs and heaved a huge sigh. I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything in the world.

“Baby, you have a good head on your shoulders, and you’re no flighty young girl, never were to begin with. You’ll meet someone else, and you’ll know.”

“I will. And I’ll know,” I repeated quietly.

I had already. But I had to let it go.

“You like someone, don’t you?”

“Mother—”

“When you turned forty, you complained that things would be so dreary and horrible. But the heart still pumps, and the heart still desires. It still calls.” She glanced up at Lock’s heart mural. “You’d better listen and pay heed to the call.”

“Pay heed to the call, huh?”

“Yes, indeed. Your father and I raised you to be alert and smart, didn’t we?”

“You did, Mrs. Reigert.” I picked up my tea mug and saluted her with it. “You certainly did.”

TANIA HAD GIVEN HER
gallery a name. A good name.

The Rusted Heart.

An hour into the opening, and the Rusted Heart was packed.

A huge arrangement of white roses towered over a round wood table at the front of the space where Jill had placed rows of clear plastic cups filled with white wine. A shorter, stocky, dark-haired woman who looked oddly familiar helped her.

The woman suddenly stepped in front of me, a cup of wine in her hand. “Welcome! Would you like some wine?”

“Uh, no. Thanks,” I replied.

“Hey, Butler!” Jill smiled at me, stepping up next to the woman. Jill had lost most of her pregnancy weight in the two months since she’d given birth to Grace’s baby. Her blue eyes sparkled at me. “Penny, this is Butler from the Club. Butler, this is Tania’s sister, Penny.”

“Oh, you’re Butler!” Penny’s eyes flashed at me. Small brown eyes that reminded me of Catch’s, not Tania’s large exotic dark ones.

“And you’re Penny.”

“I am,” she said, beaming. “Tania’s mentioned you a time or two. Good to meet you.”

“Thanks. Good to meet you too.”

Penny glanced at the sunflowers I clutched in my hand. “Very nice.”

I raised my chin at the elegant roses behind her on the table. “Well, they can’t match those.”

“Tania’s ex sent those this afternoon.” Penny shrugged. “They’re pretty and all, but they didn’t make much of an impression on my sister.”

“Oh, yeah?” I said.

Penny’s lips curled into a grin. “Tania’s mingling somewhere in the crowd.”

“I’ll go find her,” I said.

“You do that,” said Penny.

A guitarist along with a double bass player, a drummer, and a pianist filled the store with their bluesy music. I’d heard The Innocents play at Pete’s one night when Boner and I had hung out. They were good. The perfect soundtrack for the mood I knew Tania was going for.

Nina was talking with Alicia, Wes, and Catch. Mary Lynn and Kicker were talking with Willy, who was showing them around. He had put in plenty of carpentry hours here at the store, he’d told me, helping Tania flesh out the design of her space. They’d made a great team. The bare bones of the vintage structure were still visible, still offering a sense of local nostalgia, while the simple, modern accents did not overpower.

I spotted Tania.

Something dropped inside me, making me stop in my tracks. Her dark hair was sleek, shiny, and very straight. Her makeup was dramatic, her lips colored a deep red. She wore a charcoal-colored dress that hugged every curve and showed off her pale skin and dark hair. Understated and utterly provocative.

Gorgeous
.

I hadn’t seen her in weeks.

Clip had been over here, helping Willy, and he’d filled me in on what was going on, but I’d kept myself busy. Kept away. Now, the sight of Tania was a balm to that dull ache in my chest. She was every bit the polished woman, the decisive professional, the would-be slayer of my heart and soul.

She lit up the fucking room. The queen in her kingdom.

A blond guy in an expensive suit—extremely polished himself, right down to his fingernails, I’d bet—stood with her. Her arm was through his as he sipped on a glass of wine, and they talked. They looked good together, comfortable. They laughed at something he’d said.
Was it clever? Witty? A clever witty something that I wouldn’t understand?

My stomach hardened, and I clenched my jaw as I brushed past people, pushing through the space.

People admired the paintings, drawings, and old photographs up on the walls, a huge hand-painted canvas circus poster from the fifties dominated one wall. They discovered the bits and pieces on display in the antique cabinets. I recognized a lot of Wreck’s collectibles—old signs, oil cans, painted tin boxes, old wooden wagon wheels, original paintings and sketches by Lock. She hadn't included a lot of Gerhard’s stuff though; she was saving that for her next show.