Our Now and Forever(69)

So Vivien lurked in the wings, waiting to spill Snow’s secret and possibly break her son’s heart. Caleb had said there was nothing that could make him change his mind. Nothing short of cheating, and that was one sin her mother-in-law couldn’t throw in Snow’s face.

Caleb would stay with his wife, no matter what. That’s what he’d said. Snow clung to the hope that he meant those words.



Caleb had never wanted to see something sell so badly in his life. He almost wished he’d set up an anonymous bid of his own to make sure the number kept going up. Or he could have let his father know the painting was available. Jackson McGraw had been looking for another Norton for years. But knowing how he felt about Snow, Caleb would burn the painting before letting his father have it.

They’d watched Ming vases, silver flatware from the eighteen hundreds, and a turn-of-the-century pocket watch go for well over their top estimates. The moment the Norton was brought on stage, Snow grabbed his hand and squeezed hard enough to cut off circulation. To save his digits, he extricated his hand and put his arm around her, pulling her tight against his side. At some point, her nervousness had infiltrated his system.

He sent out high-dollar thoughts to the crowd around them, who had filled in more than half of the seats by the time the first item was rolled out.

The low estimate on the painting had been set at ten thousand, and the bidding started at five. When the action slowed around eight thousand, Caleb cursed himself for not grabbing a paddle. What the hell was wrong with these people? Didn’t they know fine art when they saw it?

But then a phone bidder joined the party, and the number went up. Two gentlemen in the audience remained determined, and soon a casual Saturday morning auction turned into a bidding war. When the auctioneer yelled, “Do I hear twelve five?” Snow squealed and nearly climbed into his lap. The war continued and crested at fourteen thousand before both sides started to back down.

And then the bidder on the phone came in at an even fifteen thousand, two thousand over the high estimate, and the room fell silent. The auctioneer tried to goad the attending bidders into going higher, but no one was willing to top the fifteen mark.

“Sold to bidder thirty-four ten on the phone!”

Snow danced in her chair as Caleb silently thanked the powers that be for giving his wife the good day that she’d hoped for. “What are you going to do with all that money?” he whispered in her ear.

She flashed him a smile that took his breath away. “I’m putting in a coffee shop,” she said, taking him completely by surprise.



Lorelei was going to be so surprised. Snow had intended to add the little coffee and baked goods nook in the back of the store come spring, though that would only be possible if the store hit record sales during the holiday season. But now, the project could start right after the new year no matter what happened over the next six weeks.

Another bonus of her big day was that she’d be able to buy Caleb the present she really wanted to get him.

“How long has this coffee shop idea been brewing in that little head of yours?” Caleb asked as they traveled north up I-65.

“Since the festival,” she answered, still a little shocked to be holding a check for fifteen thousand dollars in her lap. “As I’m sure you know, the specialty coffee business is booming. Pairing that with Lorelei’s amazing baked goods is a no-brainer.”

Or so she hoped. Ardent Springs wasn’t the hippest town on the planet, but they loved Lorelei’s desserts, and she had faith they’d be willing to pay for tasty coffees to go with their cookies.

“Is Lorelei going to share the start-up costs, since you’re willing to put her name on it?”

She hadn’t thought of that. “You mean, like a partnership?”

“Sure.” Caleb passed a BMW, adding, “If it’s going to be called Lulu’s Café, then Lulu should put up some money.”

The café wasn’t Lorelei’s idea, but they had talked about her running it. She’d only been selling the baked goods for six months, and though she never complained, Snow knew that Lorelei was only making enough to cover her ingredients and keep herself mobile and fed. Not that she needed a lot of money, living with Spencer over her grandmother’s garage and all.

“I don’t know,” Snow said, uncomfortable with the idea of mixing friendship and business. “I’ll have to think about it.”

“Do you have a coffee supplier in mind?” he asked. What was up with all the questions?

“No, Caleb, I don’t. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know if I want Lorelei to put up money, and I don’t know where we’ll get the coffee.” She tightened her jaw and stared out the window at the passing landscape. “Forget I said anything.”