Chapter 55
55
Opal
I enter the small apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Hildy’s heel. Percy arranged for a rideshare to bring us here, and as the driver expertly maneuvered his SUV through the bustling New York City traffic, Hildy regaled Percy and me with stories about her past with Louie.
It didn’t take me long to realize that Louie Howells was indeed the same Louie that Hildy once loved deeply. They spent countless hours together discussing a potential future decades ago.
When she mentioned they played Seven Rolls to Bliss, I smiled. Percy turned his head to look out the car window. He was silent then and barely spoke for most of the journey here.
I still haven’t been able to understand why he didn’t mention knowing Aunt Hildy when we first met at the coffee shop. As soon as I told him the name of my bar, he should have said he knew who Hildy was. He had the chance then to tell me about his grandfather, but he didn’t.
I need to know why, but now is not the time to press him on that.
“I’ll check with his nurse to see if he’s up for visitors,” Percy says as he points at a spot in the center of a small living room. “You two can wait here.”
Aunt Hildy grabs my hand for a squeeze. I know it’s not to comfort me. It’s to quiet her emotions.
Since Percy mentioned his grandfather to her, unshed tears have sat in her eyes. I can’t tell if they’re born from happiness or sorrow. Maybe it’s a combination of both.
“I loved him so,” she whispers. “Oh, Opal, how I loved Louie.”
I squeeze her hand. “When’s the last time you spoke to him?”
It’s not my business, but I want it to be. I want to know everything there is to know about the man who once owned her heart.
“Right after Percy was born,” she says with a sigh. “I was going into a restaurant in the West Village. Louie was on his way out with his daughter, Emily, and her newborn son. Emily’s husband, Raymond Haines, was there too.”
That has to be almost thirty years ago if not more. I have no clue how old Percy is, but I’d guess he’s slightly older than I am.
“Louie’s wife was with him, too,” she whispers. “His third wife.”
Since Aunt Hildy has never been married, I know she wasn’t Louie’s first or second wife. I hope she was someone who mattered to him because it’s obvious he mattered to her.
Percy steps back into view from a hallway. “He’s tired, but he’ll see you now. You can both come, but his nurse said we need to make it quick.”
Hildy’s hand slides from mine as she rushes to where Percy is. I follow slowly, wanting to give my aunt a chance to see the man she loved without me hovering over her.
Percy points down the hallway. “It’s the second door on the left, Ms. Wallner.”
“Hildy.” She looks up and into his face. “Please call me Hildy.”
* * *
Any fear I may have had about how deeply Louie once cared for Aunt Hildy evaporated as soon as I walked into the room Percy directed me to. I wanted to give Hildy and Louie a private moment alone, but when I heard my great aunt’s signature laugh, I approached the open doorway to find her sitting in a chair next to a handsome man with gray hair.
Their hands were woven together as she reminded him of the fun they had as newly graduated college students. Now, as I stand next to Percy and hear Louie speak, in a subdued voice, about how much he has missed Hildy’s smile, I’m glad this all worked out the way it has, even though I still have a million questions.
I glance at Percy. “Did you know I was Hildy’s great niece when we met at the coffee shop?”
He stares blankly at me before he nods. “I have a question, too.”
“We’ll get to that,” I snap in a tone so low I know the reunited lovebirds can’t hear me. “What do you want from me? From my aunt?”
“I want what’s rightly ours,” Percy scoffs loudly.
His grandfather leans forward in his chair. “What was that, Percy?”
Percy rubs a hand over his head. His hair is so short that the action doesn’t disturb it all. I suddenly realize he has the very same haircut as his granddad. I might find it cute if I wasn’t seething right now.
“I was telling Opal about your claim to Turquoise Crown.”
Louie’s facial expression mirrors Hildy’s. It’s a combination of shock and confusion.
“My what?” Louie’s voice is so loud the nurse bolts back into the room.
“What’s going on?” she questions Percy, likely because she knows he’s stirring the pot and agitating his granddad.
“It’s nothing, Cheryl.” Louie taps the air in front of him three times as if he’s tapping her hand. “Percy has some explaining to do to me.”
She takes that to mean she can leave the room, so she does.
“You heard me.” Louie looks directly at his grandson. “Start explaining what you meant by that comment.”
Percy starts pacing. It’s an impressive feat considering how small this bedroom is, but he walks the length of the room twice before he opens his mouth to speak. “You always talked about how Ms. Wallner wanted to invent the next big board game. I know you contributed to that, Grandfather. My mom told me Turquoise Crown was as much your brainchild as it was Ms. Wallner’s.”
Hildy’s gaze volleys between Percy and Louie, but she remains silent.
Percy doesn’t. “You’re entitled to some of the cash she’s made from that game. Now, her great niece will profit more since she holds the rights to it.”
“Wait!” My hand darts into the air. “How do you know that?”
“Hildy told a friend of a friend of my mom’s, “ Percy admits. “My mom is the one who suggested I marry you so we can share in the wealth since my grandfather never got his share of the fortune the game made. I make a damn good living, but some extra cash in the coffers wouldn’t hurt my family.”
“Marry me?” I laugh. “What are you talking about?”
“Percy!” His name snaps off the lips of his grandfather. “I need a moment alone with you to set you straight. But first, you’ll apologize to these women.”