“Definitely looks like the lions on my table. And it was stuck underneath a vase?”
Annie nodded. “It looked like it had been covered up with some kind of putty, and then the vase was stuck onto a metal stand.”
“I wonder … .” Mary Beth’s eyes narrowed. “I’m just wondering, if this is connected to my table somehow, how did it get stuck to the vase? And how did the vase end up in Betsy’s attic?”
“You know how Gram was. She was a collector, and she liked pretty and interesting things.”
“And people liked giving them to her,” Alice added. “Who knows how it ended up in the attic?”
Mary Beth thought for a minute more. “Wait a minute. The vase you broke, was it kind of tall and delicate with flowers and little angels painted on it?”
Annie nodded, a little spark of anticipation running through her.
“And it was on a brass stand, wasn’t it?”
Again Annie nodded. “At least I think it’s brass.”
“Then I’m sure Mother must have given that to your grandmother. Betsy was one of the few people besides me who visited my mother at Seaside Hills Assisted Living before she died.”
“Really? I wish there was something left of it so you could look at it. It broke into a million pieces.”
“That’s all right. Mother gave it to me a long time ago. Then, when she went to assisted living, I took it to her with some flowers in it. I always wondered what happened to it—not that it was worth much of anything.”
“I’m sorry, Mary Beth. I wish I’d known. I would’ve given it back to you.”
Mary Beth patted Annie’s arm. “Don’t you worry about it. I’m sure Mother was glad Betsy had it. I know she enjoyed the visits.”
“But if the key and the table both were in your family, doesn’t that prove they go together?” Peggy clasped her hands together. “How exciting! A secret key.”
“That doesn’t really prove anything, you know,” Stella said. “Maybe a long while back there was another piece of furniture, something matching, something that had a lock. Mary Beth says the table doesn’t have one.”
Peggy wrinkled her nose. “You’re no fun.”
“Is there another piece?” Kate asked, and Mary Beth shook her head.
“Not that I ever heard of. There was the table with the lions on it, another table with chairs in a different style, a writing desk, some china, a mantel clock and some silver pieces passed down from my great-great-grandmother, but that’s all, besides a few books and papers. I—uh—don’t have the desk anymore, but the fittings on it weren’t anything like this key.”
Annie glanced at Kate. Was the writing desk the antique piece Kate had overheard Mary Beth trying to sell? Annie and the rest of the club had to do something quickly before Mary Beth was forced to let go of any other family treasures.
“Hmmm.”
Alice nudged Annie out of her reverie. “Are you going to stare at that key all day, or are we going to do our hook-and-needle thing?”
Laughing, she and the others went to their places in the circle of chairs.
“Here are your needles, Peggy.” Mary Beth handed her the little black and gold paper packet she had brought up from the basement. “And, Annie, you’re welcome to come look at my great-great-grandma’s table if you would like. I don’t know if it’ll help.”
“You know me.” Annie gave her a smile. “Leave no mystery unsolved.”
“Yes, we definitely know you. Come by my place after the shop closes tonight. OK, everybody, before we get started, how about we each give an update on the projects we’re working on. Gwen, why don’t you start us off? That’s a gorgeous sweater you’re knitting. I love that teal and gold blend.”
****
Mary Beth’s cottage was much like her: warm and welcoming, unpretentious, neatly kept and eclectic. As always, a picture of her beloved niece had a prominent place on her mantel.
“This is a new one, isn’t it?” Annie smiled as she looked at the pretty young woman with expressive blue eyes and long blonde hair. “How is Amy these days?”
“Oh, busy-busy as usual, but she’s promised me a visit soon.” Mary Beth’s dark eyes glowed. “I have so many things planned for when she’s here. I may even close the shop for a few days, just so we’ll have time together.”
“Couldn’t Kate—”
“Kate’s been pretty busy herself these days with her pattern sales and all. I hate to keep her tied down to the shop.”
Or can’t afford to.