Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Athena
Corporate clients are the foundation I’m trying to build on. I have contracts with a bridal shop, several restaurants, and a dental office. Now, I’m working on landing a deal to supply four large arrangements a week to Whispers of Grace.
It’s a jewelry store owned by one of Linny’s long-time clients, Ivy Marlow-Walker.
She’s a designer who has built an empire from the ground up.
Linny loves telling me the story of how Ivy started her business in the spare room of her apartment when she was my age.
That wasn’t that long ago, but now, Ivy is living her dream.
A new collection of her necklaces will be featured in the gift bags for one of the biggest award shows of the season.
Linny had a hand in that.
I’m proud of her, and I’m excited that she invited me along to meet Ivy this morning at her boutique.
“Ivy is going to love those.” Linny touches her fingertips to one of the daisies in my hand. “Daisies are her absolute favorite.”
I asked so I could be sure that I came prepared.
Linny has already mentioned Wild Lilac to Ivy, and she expressed some interest, so I’m here to seal the deal.
I have a navy blue dress on and the butterfly earrings that Linny gave me for my birthday a year ago. Ivy is the designer. I cried when I opened the gift-wrap to find the box from Whispers of Grace.
I rarely wear the earrings because I’m terrified that I’ll lose one.
I suck in a deep breath when Linny pulls open the door to the quaint jewelry shop in SoHo.
A petite woman with long blonde hair gazes in our direction. A smile lights up her face. “Linny!”
She races over. The pretty pink dress she’s wearing sways as she walks.
I stand to the side as she throws her arms around Linny. “Can you believe it? We’re going to Hollywood!”
I watch my sister-in-law as she tears up. This is as big a moment for her as it is for Ivy.
They lower their voices as they hold tight to one another. I take a moment to gaze around the shop at the display cases and the pretty jewelry that sits inside.
A tap on my shoulder turns my attention back to Ivy and Linny.
“You have to be Athena.” Ivy looks me over. “You’re just as beautiful as Linny said you’d be.”
I offer the daisies to her. “These are for you.”
Her green eyes drop to the flowers in my hand. “They’re beautiful. Daisies are my favorite.”
I smile at Linny. She wiggles her brows and tosses me two thumbs up.
Ivy takes a step closer to me. Her gaze drops from my face to my neck.
“Athena’s arrangements are so unique, Ivy,” Linny starts her pitch. “I know that you pick up flowers now and again to bring into work, but Athena could take care of that for you twice a week.”
Ivy nods, but her eyes are locked on my neck.
“The cost is very reasonable,” Linny goes on even though we decided on the subway ride here that I’d handle the discussion about Wild Lilac. “Athena has a gallery online that you can look through if you’re interested.”
Ivy’s gaze finally travels back up to my face. Her brows knit together.
Linny pushed too hard. Ivy probably thinks the only reason I tagged along this morning was to try and land her as a client. That was part of it, but I wanted to meet her.
She’s accomplished what I want to. She’s taken her passion and built a million-dollar business out of it.
I look down when I feel Ivy’s hand brush against mine.
“That locket is breathtaking. The etched rose on the front is beautiful.” Her voice comes out quiet. “Where did you get that?”
I close my eyes briefly. I can’t tell her that my mom stole it from my father or that the rose gave me inspiration to pursue a career in floral design.
“It was a gift from Athena’s mom,” Linny says. “She gave it to her a long time ago.”
Ivy turns to look at Linny. “How long ago?”
I answer because I don’t want Linny to have to lie for me. “My mom got the locket twenty-four years ago.”
That sets Ivy back a step. Her hand darts to her chest. “Do you know where she got it?”
Linny clears her throat. Whatever she’s about to say won’t be based in truth. I’ve held onto this gold chain and locket for dear life for years. I’ve avoided every question about where it came from or who is inside.
I’ve never owned its truth because I’ve tried to bury mine.
I can’t anymore. I won’t anymore.
“She got it from my father.” I swallow hard. “They had just met. It was a one-night thing.”
Ivy reaches forward to take my hand. “That locket was stolen from Finola Lera’s gallery twenty-four years ago. She handmade it for her mother.”
My free hand instinctively reaches up to grab the locket. I close my fist around it. “Who?”
“Finola Lera,” Ivy repeats. “She’s an incredible jewelry designer. My hero.”
Is my father related to Finola Lera? Is that where my creativity comes from?
“She made two identical lockets for her parents.” She points at my closed fist. “A gold one for her mother and a silver one for her father. His hung on a pocket chain.”
“Did they have a son?” I blurt out the question without thinking.
Her head shakes slowly. “No children.”
I try to piece together everything she’s saying. She can’t be right. The people inside are my grandparents. I’ve never vocalized that to anyone, but my heart has always believed it.
“They caught the man who stole the pieces when he tried to pawn the silver locket.” Ivy looks to Linny. “Her parents’ pictures were in both.”
Linny’s voice comes out in barely more than a whisper. “What do her parents look like?”
Linny has looked at the pictures in the locket at least a dozen times since we met. She’s always hatching a plan to find them. For a time, she wanted to post their images on Facebook to ask for clues. I told her no. I wasn’t ready.
Tears well in my eyes as I loosen my hand and open the locket.
Ivy leans forward. Her gaze narrows as she studies the images. When her hand leaps to her mouth, I know before she even says a word.
“I can’t believe it.” She squeezes my hand. “This is it. Athena, you have Finola Lera’s locket.”