Chapter 31 #2
“We’ll have to make this legitimate with a believable story,” Gina said. “But don’t worry, I have a plan.”
The consignment store was one of the fancier ones in Vail. April browsed the racks, running her fingers over silk scarves and designer jackets.
She'd been there half an hour when the bell over the door chimed.
A woman walked in—sixty-something, elegant, wearing a Hermès scarf and oversized sunglasses, a leather tote bag on her arm. Her silver hair was cut in a sharp bob, and she carried herself with the quiet confidence of old money. She approached the counter.
"I'd like to consign these, please. My late sister's belongings. She had such good taste, but I simply can't keep everything."
“Oh, well, let’s see,” the owner said.
April drifted closer, watching as the woman laid out a diamond ring, a Coach wallet, and—
April's breath caught.
Her Louis Vuitton Speedy Thirty purse. Obviously damaged, but still beautiful in its own way. April actually took offense when the shop owner picked up the purse, examined it, then turned her nose up.
“Louis Vuitton. Authentic, but in rough shape. We don’t sell damaged goods here.”
"Oh my God," April breathed. "Is that the Speedy Thirty?”
The shopkeeper looked at her, surprised. “It is.”
"I'll take it," April blurted.
“My dear, it’s in terrible shape. I can show you a pristine Versace that came in—”
“Are you kidding?” April picked up Lucky Louis and caressed the leather. “A purse like this has a history. It’s probably been through so much that it never asked for, but here it is. It’s lovely.”
The silver-haired woman, smiled slightly. "You have good taste, dear. It was one of my favorites, too."
April looked at the shopkeeper. "How much?"
“Oh, I wouldn’t take money for that. I have a reputation to keep up.” She waved her off.
"I can tell." She turned back to the woman in sunglasses. April's hands were shaking as she reached for her wallet. "Ma’am, can I buy it directly from you? I'll give you—whatever you're asking. Please."
“Goodness, take it, take it. Just knowing it’s going to someone who loves it as much as my sister obviously did is enough for me.”
The store owner named a price for the ring and wallet.
“You know, I think I’ll keep them after all. My sentimentality is getting the best of me today.” She picked up the ring and the wallet and put them back in her tote bag. She gave April one last enigmatic smile, and left.
April clutched the purse to her chest, marveling at her luck.
Only later, safe in her car, did she burst into laughter.
Gina's disguise had been perfect. Even knowing it was her, April had barely recognized her. Nettie—Gina's master makeup artist friend—was apparently worth every penny.
The story was set. April had found a battered Louis Vuitton at a consignment shop. Inside the lining, hidden away, was a chip containing crypto. The find of a lifetime. She'd tried to track down the woman who donated it, but no one could find her.
If reporters came sniffing—and they would—the shop owner would tell that story. The woman in the Hermès scarf would remain a mystery.
April Taylor had gotten very, very lucky.
The new espresso machine gleamed like a spaceship in the morning light, all chrome and brass. April stood behind the counter at Riversong, admiring it, and thought about the journey that had brought her here.
The old machine sat in the corner like a retired war horse—polished, honored, but no longer in service. Sonny hadn't been able to let it go, but he'd agreed to retire it. Maybe they'd move it to the Boulder location when that opened.
It was a rare lull, and April welcomed it.
"When are Wren and Rochelle supposed to be here?" Hannah called from where she was wiping down tables. "And Stephanie? I need help planning this wedding, and Steph has some ideas that sound either brilliant or completely insane."
April laughed. "Yeah, that’s about right. Knowing Stephanie, her ideas are probably both. They'll be here around three, should be soon."
"Perfect." Hannah grinned. "I'm so glad you asked me to be your maid of honor."
“Well of course, because you are my sister and I love you and you’re going to look absolutely gorgeous in that dress you already picked out, and you’re planning the most amazing wedding.”
"Mom! Dad's here!" Kevin called from the back office, followed by Benny's excited barking and Pete's deeper woof.
April smiled. Hearing Kevin call Shane Dad still gave her a thrill every single time.
Shane came through the door with sawdust in his hair and a grin on his face. He'd been helping Ben and Bear with renovations—new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and plans to rebuild the front porch.
"How's it going?" April asked, already pulling a shot for his regular—an Americano.
"Good. Ben says another two weeks and the house will be perfect." Shane leaned across the counter to kiss her. "Then we need to decide—your place or mine?"
"Our place," April corrected. "Whichever one we choose."
"Our place." Shane's smile was soft. "I like the sound of that."
“Me, too.”
"When I came in, Kevin was FaceTiming with another day camp friend who already goes to his new school," Shane said.
April smiled. "That's the fifth one."
Shane got a funny smile on his face. "That'll make six of them total."
April knew exactly what he meant. "Six is a perfect number for a group of friends."
“It sure is.”
Kevin had been nervous about switching schools, but when she'd shown him the private academy's program—the science labs, the art studio, the climbing wall—he'd lit up. And now he'd have five friends from day camp to show him around.
"He's a good kid, our son," Shane said.
April's chest warmed. "The best kid." She slid the Americano across the counter. "On the house."
"You keep doing that, you'll go broke."
"Oh no, whatever will I do then?" April laughed.
Shane took a sip, watching her. "How are you doing? Really?"
April knew what he was asking. Echo Ridge. Vince. The money.
"I'm good," she said. And meant it. "Better than good. Yvonne came by this morning."
Shane's eyebrows rose. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." April wiped down the counter. "She apologized again.” April met his eyes. "She's trying. Really trying. And Kevin—he's starting to warm up to her. She brought him a book about horses and he actually hugged her goodbye."
"That's good." Shane laced his fingers through hers across the counter. "You're giving her a chance. That's all she can ask for."
"She's Kevin's grandmother. And she's trying." April squeezed his hand. "That counts for something."
"You're a good person, April Taylor."
"I don't know about that." But she squeezed his hand. "I'm trying."
The bell over the door chimed. Wren walked in, took one look at the new espresso machine, and let out a low whistle.
"Damn, April. That is one sexy piece of equipment."
April laughed. "Right? It practically makes the coffee for me."
"Must be nice, being loaded." But Wren was grinning, no real envy in it. Just the good-natured ribbing of a friend who was genuinely happy for her. “Am I the first one here? I want to talk wedding photos.”
Hannah came around the counter. “Yup, just you and me for now.” She turned to April and snapped her fingers in the air several times. “Oh garcon, our usuals please, and make it snappy.”
“Garcon means boy,” April clapped back. "Having so much money is weird," April admitted. "Like, really weird. I keep waiting for someone to tell me it was all a mistake."
"It’s not a mistake." Shane's thumb traced circles on her palm. "You earned it. In the worst possible way, but you earned it."
Maybe. April still wasn't sure about that. But she was learning to accept it. The money. The life. The safety.
The love.
She started making two Dubai Chocolate Mocha Lattes, their new specialty, for Hannah and Wren. Kevin bounded out from the back with Benny at his heels, Pete following at a more sedate pace. "Dad!”
April caught Hannah elbowing Wren as they both looked at Shane’s expression. Could a man look more blissed out?
“Yes, son?”
Another elbow to the ribs. They were loving this.
“Can we go to the ranch? Aunt Arden said I could help with the new horse!"
"Sure, bud." Shane ruffled Kevin's hair. "Your mom okay with that?"
"Are you kidding?" April smiled. "Go. Have fun. Just pick up dinner on the way home."
“Teriyaki wings, extra ranch?” Shane winked.
“You know it.”
Kevin grinned and disappeared back into the office to grab his jacket.
April finished making the coffee drinks on autopilot, muscle memory taking over while her mind drifted.
She'd been tied up in a basement, terrified for her life. Now she was here. Safe. Loved. Renovating a house and figuring out a new school, and a future that stretched out bright and possible.
"Hey," Shane said softly. "Where'd you go?"
April blinked, and came back to the present. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"About how lucky I am." She looked at him—really looked at him. The man who'd protected her in a gunfight. Who'd carried her in the rain while she shook with shock. Who'd driven her home and stayed, and kept staying, and would keep staying for as long as she'd have him.
"Lucky," Shane repeated, his mouth quirking. "That's one word for it."
"It's the right word." April came around the counter, wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her face against his chest. He smelled like sawdust and coffee and home.
Shane held her, steady and solid and real. "I love you," he murmured into her hair.
"I love you, too."
The espresso machine hissed. Benny barked at something outside. Hannah chatted with Wren at a table in the corner. Kevin laughed in the back room, bright and unafraid.
Normal. Beautiful. All theirs.
April had spent ten years running from Las Vegas. Ten years afraid. Ten years thinking luck was something you found at a poker table, something you could only hope for but never control.
She'd been wrong.
Luck wasn't in the cards. It wasn't in a purse or a crypto wallet or any amount of money.
Luck was this. Standing in a coffee shop she helped build with her loving parents and sister. Her sister and friends helping her plan her wedding. The man she loved holding her while her son laughed in the next room. The future spread out before them, wide and bright and full of possibilities.
April Taylor was the luckiest woman alive.
And this time, she wasn't running away from it.