Evelyn laughed. “I’ll spare you, but I’m not sure about him.”
“It’s always my fault, isn’t it? Gerald, just take one look at her. Can you blame me?”
“I’m invoking the Charter on this one, Jackson. There’s no safe answer; you, Maggie, or Evelyn will end up cranky at me.”
Prodding me, Evelyn pointed at the box. “Open it!”
“Fine, fine. If it’ll make you happy, I’ll open it.” I peeled off the strips of tape securing the lid. Tossing it onto the empty seat, I discovered five boxes wrapped in pink and silver paper. “More pink? I thought this was a peace offering, not a declaration of war.”
“There is nothing wrong with the color pink,” Evelyn growled.
“On you, it’s lovely. On a so-called peace offering, it’s the opening volley of war.”
“You have doomed yourself to a lifetime of pretty pink presents, Jackson,” she warned, grinning at me.
“If you’re asking for a pink wardrobe, including bathrobe, I give to you all of my credit cards and an unlimited budget.”
Choking on a laugh, Gerald shook his head. “No flirting. Nicole’s right; you two are sweeter than syrup, and that’s just wrong.”
“You have to admit it, Gerald. He earns perfect points for a smooth delivery.”
I widened my eyes. “This is graded now? When did they start grading, Gerald?”
“Since the beginning of time. I thought you knew this. So, what’s in the box?”
Groaning, I picked up a square box. It was too small to be a phone, too large to be a ring a box, which led me to believe it contained a watch to replace the one wrecked in Oconee. “More boxes. Ten bucks says Elliot told him my old watch had an accident.”
“Fool’s bet. Shame about that old watch of yours; it was a nice piece, if I recall correctly. One of Rolex’s better ones, wasn’t it?”
“It was a good watch. I’ll give him credit there, he does have good tastes.”
Evelyn bounced beside me, her gaze fixed on the box. “Don’t just sit there talking about it. Open the box!”
“Gerald, in case I somehow forget, remind me that Evelyn really likes presents.”
“It’ll cost you.”
Smirking, I took my time unwrapping the present, peeling away every scrap of tape. “Any bets on brand before I open this up, Gerald?”
“It won’t be a Rolex. He’s either going to buy you the best and the most expensive he can get his hands on or he’s going to go with reliable, expensive, and something with double meanings. I’ll go all in on either a Jaeger-LeCoultre or an Omega.”
“Him? An Omega? You’re joking,” Evelyn blurted.
“And thus proving Mr. Anderson’s love of irony and taunting his sons—even the one that technically doesn’t exist. He’s a jackass, Evelyn. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. But, if he can double down annoying his sons, he will. He’s probably been sitting on that watch for years, just waiting for a chance to tease you with a gift you won’t refuse, Jackson.”
“If it hadn’t been for the circumstances, it would have been a cold day in hell before I’d let him,” I muttered.
“Exactly. Evelyn, you’re such a good influence on him. At the rate you’re going, he’s going to sound like a modern man instead of a reject from two hundred years ago.”
I scowled, realizing I had let a mild curse slip. “It’s the drugs.”
“No, I’m pretty sure it’s the pretty lady glued to your side, old friend. Now open the damned box already.”
“I’m telling Maggie you’ve been sneaking peeks at Evelyn.”
“Don’t worry, I caught Maggie sneaking peeks at her, too. Who wouldn’t? You caught yourself a beauty, Jackson.”
I was torn between pleasure at his compliment and wanting to rip his eyes out. “Gerald…”
“He didn’t catch me, Gerald. I ruthlessly hunted him down. I’m the predator. He’s the rabbit.”
“It must not have been a very taxing hunt for you, then. My bet is that you make other women question their sexuality just by walking down the street.”
Evelyn grinned. “You’re so sweet.”
“Stop hitting on my woman,” I growled.
Grinning at me in the mirror, he said, “I hope you don’t mind the jealous type, Evelyn.”
“I like him just as he is.”
“She’s a keeper, Jackson. You’re going to have to tell me—in detail—just how you managed to win her.”
“I told you. He’s a rabbit and I hunted him down.”
Unable to resist the urge, I nipped Evelyn’s neck before turning my attention back to the box. Beneath the wrapping was a wooden box stained a cherry red. “Irony wins; it’s an Omega,” I announced.
When I opened it, I was startled to discover two watches within. One was meant for a lady, featuring a red gold casing and a mother of pearl dial, which was ringed in diamonds.
“Oh my God,” Evelyn whispered.
“Nice watch?” Gerald asked.
“Watches. Apparently someone’s been tattling about my having become prey to a pretty lady.” I took the watch out, admiring its sleek lines before capturing Evelyn’s hand and slipping it onto her left wrist. “I do believe this is for you.”
“No way,” she replied, shaking her head so hard her hair whipped against her cheeks. “I can’t wear that. Impossible. It’s worth more than my house, I’m sure of it.”
“Nonsense,” I murmured, batting her hands away when she tried to take it off. “Beautiful watches should be worn by even prettier ladies.”
“Wear the watch, Evelyn. It’ll make him happy, even if his father was the one to buy it. How about yours, Jackson?”
Mine featured an onyx dial encased in white gold with a black leather strap. Unlike Evelyn’s, it featured a telemetric scale, a minute track, a tachometry scale, a thirty minute recorder, and a seconds dial. “It’s excessive.”
I doubted I’d use most of the watch’s features, but the face was attractive and elegant, just like I liked it.
“Is that a compliment I heard?”
Evelyn took the watch from me, strapping it into place on my left wrist. “It’s lovely and it suits you, Jackson. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and complicated.”
“Gerald’s going to end up yelling at us if you keep talking like that,” I warned her.
“I’ll make a note to tell him that the watches are a hit with the lovebirds,” Gerald said. “What else is he bribing you with?”
I had to admit I liked the watch, but it was the way Evelyn gawked at hers that warmed me. When she smiled, it was almost enough to make me set aside my dislike for my father—and to accidentally send a wedding invitation his way when we reached that point in our relationship. Picking another box out, I shredded the paper, earning a laugh from Evelyn.
I arched a brow at the pair of cell phones in the next box. Hers was white and gold while mine was dark gray. “Phones, of all things.”
“Well, you can’t say it’s not a useful gift, seeing that yours died.”
“Murdered by a Fenerec,” I confirmed.
Evelyn giggled, snatching the box with the white and gold phone. “I’m liking these peace offerings. You’ll have to introduce me to your father so I can thank him directly—and warn him if he even thinks about hurting you, I’ll rip his face off.”
“I love this woman,” I informed Gerald.
“I’d have to be a blind idiot not to notice.”
Handing Evelyn my phone, I pursued the remaining gifts. One box proved to contain a custom set of car keys. Puzzled, I flipped them over in my hand. Any indicator of the make and model had been removed. “Now he’s just being mean. An invitation to find an unknown car? Give me a break. That’s not a peace offering, it’s torture. I don’t even have anywhere to put more cars.”
“Buy your mistresses a better house,” Gerald suggested.
“Hey!”
“Suppose you could buy a better house for your new wife, too.”
“I can’t win, can I? No matter what I say, I can’t win,” I complained.
“Park the babies on the grass?” Evelyn suggested.
“You do not treat a nice car that way. You do not park the babies on the grass. Fine. Maybe we’ll buy a new house. That cottage is too small anyway,” I muttered, wondering how many more changes I could handle before suffering from a mental breakdown.
“You could just move into my place, once I’m cleared of the Inquisition. I can fit four cars.”
My eyes widened as all of the practical problems of home ownership crashed down on me. “Do you have a house sitter?” I demanded.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine for a few weeks.”
I drew a deep breath, wondering how to push the point. I couldn’t let her home be ruined because of me.
Gerald cleared his throat. “Evelyn, dear. Let him win this one. It’ll worry him if you don’t, and it won’t cost you anything letting him have his way. I already reminded your brother to have someone watch your place, by the way—he beat me to the chase.”
“Not helping, Gerald.”
Tugging on my hand to catch my attention, Evelyn asked, “Would it make you happier if I had a house sitter?”
“A bit,” I admitted.
“Then I’ll hire one.”
“See? I am helping. What else is in the box beyond a car-lover torture device?”
“Copies of keys without make or model is a bit evil,” Evelyn said, taking the keys from me to spin them around her finger.
The next box proved to be a second set of keys with pink fobs. Shaking my head, I tossed them onto her lap. “Welcome to the club, sweetheart. I can’t say he’s playing favorites this time. But seriously? A pink key fob? How did…” I sucked in a breath and stared at Gerald. “
You
are his informant?”
I hadn’t told anyone else I was interested in a car for Evelyn.
“Me?”
“You!”
“Did you talk to my father before he came to Ottawa?” I demanded.
“Maybe a little.”
“A little? What did you tell him?”
“I didn’t. I simply encouraged him to speak to his other son about certain matters,” Gerald confessed. “I’m absolved of guilt, Jackson. I didn’t tell him about the incident with the Yaris until after he was already in Toronto. There’s no way he had time to buy a pair of cars and get custom keys made in the time he’s been in Canada. He must have been sitting on them, pink fobs and all.”
Scowling, I stared at the pink fob. “Elliot heard me mumbling about your purse, didn’t he?”
“He did,” Evelyn replied, grinning at me. “He must have been talking with Daddy.”
I shuddered. “That’s horrible, Evelyn. Don’t do that. Just don’t.”
“I think he’s reached his limit on fatherly affections. Anything else in the box?”
“One more thing,” I replied, picking up the package. It proved to contain a battered journal with a memory stick taped to the cover along with a pair of wedding rings. My mouth hung open, and all I could do was stare at them.
“Oh,” Evelyn gasped.
“What? What is it?” Gerald demanded.
“Wedding rings,” she whispered, taking the journal from me. She traced her finger around both of the rings. The large solitaire diamond glittered.
My father had no business buying us rings, but I couldn’t deny I wondered how beautiful it would be on her hand. I shivered.
“I think it’s a hint,” Gerald said, chuckling. “I think you have scored his approval. Elliot must have taken some photos with his cell and sent them over to your father.”
“If that fits you, I’m hunting them both down and beating them,” I swore.
If the rings didn’t fit, I’d be surprised.
“It’s really pretty,” Evelyn said.
“It’s well suited for the woman who is supposed to wear it,” I replied, clenching my teeth at the thought of my father’s meddling.
“He approves,” Gerald repeated.
“We don’t need his approval,” I snapped.
Leaning against me, she seized my hand and kissed my palm. “You’re just upset because it’s a pretty ring and he didn’t give you a chance to buy one for me first.”
“Maybe,” I conceded. “Maybe I’m mad because he didn’t even give me a chance to propose properly before buying rings.”
“I don’t think they’re new,” Evelyn said, freeing her band from the journal, squinting at the inside of the band. “It doesn’t feel new.”
“Feel? What do you mean?”
“Old things have a weight to them. Silver’s the worst, but even gold has it—and gemstones. These feel old. They’ve been passed down.”
“It doesn’t hurt you does it?” I asked in alarm, chilled at the thought of what a silver bullet had done to her.
“No, no. It’s not like that. It just feels old. Is it really a diamond, Jackson? This big stone?”
I took the ring from her, staring into the depths of the gem. Unlike with the dead, sensing gemstones took a little effort on my part, but I could feel the stone’s strength and purity as warmth in my hand and a tickle in my head. “It’s real.”
“Wow.”
The stone hidden in the pouch under my shirt shared the ring’s warmth, sending a shiver racing down my spine. Unlike the ring, there was a taint to the blood-red gem, something that went beyond the imprint of the dead. I shook my head, recoiling at the slithering sensation associated with the jewel.
“I won’t wear it if you don’t want me to,” Evelyn said, tugging at my sleeve.
Instead of answering, I took hold of her left hand, massaging at her palm. If my father wanted to throw me under the bus, it was a suicide I had already dedicated myself to. I’d be angry with him—and at myself for not acting faster to stake my claim on her before someone could edge in on my turf—but I wasn’t going to throw away my chance to make certain the world knew she was mine. Before I could second guess myself, I slipped the ring onto her finger.
It fit.
I was going to hunt my brother and father down and beat them both.
Evelyn held out her hand, admiring the ring. “Your father is a stalker. You know it means you’ll have to beat him now, right?”
“I’ll make sure to thank him for that—with my fist,” I swore.
“It’s okay. I have to beat him, too.” She retaliated by grabbing the other ring and shoving it onto my finger. “Mine.” Grinning at me, she said, “Your father is a stalker. They both fit.”
“Normal people would be calling the police,” I muttered.
“Okay, settle down back there, kids. We’re almost to the daycare. The owner said he’d be waiting for us.”
I sucked in a breath. What would I learn at the daycare, if anything? All I would likely come away with was a glimpse of Jacqueline’s life. It hurt thinking about it.