The Key in the Attic(28)
Sanders examined it and took pictures from all sides, and with Mary Beth’s reluctant permission, he even took the back off to look at the works.
“It’s obviously from the mid-1800s like the other things. Gorgeous carvings, and it’s still in amazing condition too.”
He quoted her a nice price.
Mary Beth glanced at Annie. “No, I don’t think so. I want to hang on to this, even if I have to sell some other things.”
Sanders nodded. “It’s a one of a kind, for certain. I know about a few woodcarvers from this period, but it doesn’t look like the work of anyone I’ve seen. It keeps good time?”
“Excellent. I set all my other clocks by it.”
He increased his offer by half, but Mary Beth shook her head. “I’m sorry. No. This clock has been in my family for over a hundred years. I can’t let it go.”
He gave her a hard glance and then doubled his most recent offer.
Mary Beth bit her lip. It was tempting. So tempting.
“No,” she said finally. “I just can’t. I appreciate it, but no.”
“Too bad.”
Sanders looked disappointed, but he seemed in no hurry to leave. He still studied the clock, jotting down notes to himself about the carvings and the works.
“I’m going to see if I can find out more about whoever made this.”
“If you do, I’d love to know about it,” Mary Beth told him. “I’ve always wondered.”
He was bold enough to help himself to the rest of the living and dining room, commenting on various items he found there, offering to buy a few pieces, but eventually Mary Beth herded him toward the door. “I appreciate your generosity, but, really, I don’t want to sell anything right now.”
“Too bad,” Sanders said again, “but you know how to reach me if you do.”
With a nod at Annie, he finally left.
Mary Beth locked her door behind him and then sank down on the couch. “Sorry to put you in a spot like that, Annie, but thanks for coming.”
“He just showed up and wanted to come in?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m sure he’s harmless enough, but I didn’t really want to let him in knowing I was here by myself.”
Annie sat down beside her. “I’m glad I could help you out. He sure did like your clock, but who could blame him?”
Mary Beth grinned. “It is a beautiful old thing, isn’t it?”
“He offered a pretty good price for it too.”
“I know.” Mary Beth frowned. “I just couldn’t sell it. Even his last offer would be only enough to postpone the inevitable. And if I have to lose the shop, I don’t want to lose the last of my heirlooms as well.”
Annie hesitated for a moment. “How are things going with the shop?”
Mary Beth shook her head, afraid for a moment she might cry, but she managed a smile instead. “Nothing’s changed. Either I find a miracle by the end of next month or Stony Point gets a Burly Boy’s Burger Barn.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
She knew Annie meant it, that she’d help however she could, if she possibly could. Too bad it wasn’t that simple.
“Just keep praying for that miracle.”
“I’ve been doing that all along.” There was a twinkle in Annie’s emerald eyes. “All of us have.”
“For now, how about having a cup of coffee with me? It’s the least I can do after dragging you over here without a moment’s notice.”
“Thanks, but I really don’t have time to—” Annie frowned at the clock on the mantel. “I think it’s stopped.”
Mary Beth growled half under her breath. “That little pip-squeak. What did he do? That clock never stops.”
She went to the mantel, gave the clock’s pendulum a gentle push and was rewarded with a satisfying ticking sound.
“I’m sure he didn’t mean to mess it up,” Annie soothed. “You saw how interested he was in it. ‘Fascinated’ might be a better word.”
Mary Beth came back to the sofa and sat down. “I’m sure you’re right. I could tell he was trying to be careful when he looked at it, even if he did practically take the thing apart. But, still, he shouldn’t—”
The clock wasn’t ticking any more.
Mary Beth bit her lip, figuratively biting her tongue at the same time. “OK, one more try.”
She started the clock again. It managed a few strong ticks and then fell silent.
“Why don’t we take it down from the mantel and look it over?” Annie suggested. “If the mechanism is over a 150 years old, it can’t be very complicated.”
They did just that, but neither of them could find anything wrong.