ask Vladimir, then turned to the guards standing around. No one could or would answer. She was given no opportunity to retrieve anything from her room—not her grandmother’s earrings that she’d taken off after the concert, not her Bible or the journal she’d always kept. She’d be allowed nothing and instead was ushered to the marble entry of the grand home where the etched glass front doors had been opened, the depth of the black night before her.
“Give her this.” Adele turned at the sound of her mother’s voice.
She could scarcely breathe for the terror building in her heart.
What would they do to her? Was this the last time she’d step through the threshold of her childhood home? Would she never hear her mother’s voice again? However much she needed a glimmer of compassion from one of her parents, the violin case was all that was forthcoming. It was shoved into her hands by one of the guards as her mother turned her back, tears glistening on her cheeks, and walked away into the conservatory.
It was her practice violin and not as grand as the one ownedby the orchestra, but it was a companion of sorts nonetheless. She hugged it to her chest as they were ushered out the front door, the rain unyielding as tiny ice pellets stung her cheeks.
Adele turned once more to look at Vladimir. He turned too, perhaps his soul having connected with hers, and looked across the top of the car to where she stood. She didn’t know what she expected, for everything had turned out opposite of what she’d thought. Would he be angry because she didn’t save herself? Would he deny her a last look as her parents had?
Vladimir looked at her with the same eyes, those lovely eyes of her friend that were now full of heart-shattering emotion, and mouthed, “ I love you too ,” before his head was tucked under the roof of the vehicle and he was swallowed up by the night.
And her new world began.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
S era was relieved when she saw William trotting up the walk to the bed-and-breakfast.
Until the Jeep pulled into the drive, she wasn’t sure whether he’d show up. In fact, she wasn’t even sure if she would be there. The alarm clock had sounded a good two hours before she was due to head to the airport and she’d lain awake in bed, agonizing over what to do.
The possibility that they could work together and find something that would break the mystery wide open was more than tempting. Sera had, after all, been searching for the painting, coming up with no new leads. But if she stayed now, what would the gamble be? Spending the previous evening with him had surprised even her. William Hanover wasn’t a cold businessman. He’d shown a tender side, and that scared her to death.
With the wedding happening tonight, she’d doubted whether he would show. But he surprised her yet again by greeting her with two paper coffee cups and an easy smile.
“Morning,” he said, coffee cup held out. “I took a shot and ordered you a mocha. I hope I was right.”
It wasn’t lost on her that she found it easier to smile in his presence now, for he seemed a bit more relaxed too. She guessed it was because of the peace they’d made the night before. Hisjeans were worn-in, as was his T-shirt, matching the casual smile he offered as he settled in the Adirondack chair next to her.
“Thanks.” She took the cup from him and tipped the warm confection to her lips. “Don’t think I’ve met a latte I didn’t like. I’m from New York—we practically live on caffeine.”
“I kind of wondered if you’d be here this morning or if you’d be jet-setting your way back to the East Coast.”
“Why is that?”
He shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. “Last night it seemed like you may have said everything there was to say—about the painting, I mean. I thought maybe you’d be about ten thousand feet up right now.”
Sera almost smiled, but bit her bottom lip to cover it. “In truth, so did I.”
He nodded. “But
“Give her this.” Adele turned at the sound of her mother’s voice.
She could scarcely breathe for the terror building in her heart.
What would they do to her? Was this the last time she’d step through the threshold of her childhood home? Would she never hear her mother’s voice again? However much she needed a glimmer of compassion from one of her parents, the violin case was all that was forthcoming. It was shoved into her hands by one of the guards as her mother turned her back, tears glistening on her cheeks, and walked away into the conservatory.
It was her practice violin and not as grand as the one ownedby the orchestra, but it was a companion of sorts nonetheless. She hugged it to her chest as they were ushered out the front door, the rain unyielding as tiny ice pellets stung her cheeks.
Adele turned once more to look at Vladimir. He turned too, perhaps his soul having connected with hers, and looked across the top of the car to where she stood. She didn’t know what she expected, for everything had turned out opposite of what she’d thought. Would he be angry because she didn’t save herself? Would he deny her a last look as her parents had?
Vladimir looked at her with the same eyes, those lovely eyes of her friend that were now full of heart-shattering emotion, and mouthed, “ I love you too ,” before his head was tucked under the roof of the vehicle and he was swallowed up by the night.
And her new world began.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
S era was relieved when she saw William trotting up the walk to the bed-and-breakfast.
Until the Jeep pulled into the drive, she wasn’t sure whether he’d show up. In fact, she wasn’t even sure if she would be there. The alarm clock had sounded a good two hours before she was due to head to the airport and she’d lain awake in bed, agonizing over what to do.
The possibility that they could work together and find something that would break the mystery wide open was more than tempting. Sera had, after all, been searching for the painting, coming up with no new leads. But if she stayed now, what would the gamble be? Spending the previous evening with him had surprised even her. William Hanover wasn’t a cold businessman. He’d shown a tender side, and that scared her to death.
With the wedding happening tonight, she’d doubted whether he would show. But he surprised her yet again by greeting her with two paper coffee cups and an easy smile.
“Morning,” he said, coffee cup held out. “I took a shot and ordered you a mocha. I hope I was right.”
It wasn’t lost on her that she found it easier to smile in his presence now, for he seemed a bit more relaxed too. She guessed it was because of the peace they’d made the night before. Hisjeans were worn-in, as was his T-shirt, matching the casual smile he offered as he settled in the Adirondack chair next to her.
“Thanks.” She took the cup from him and tipped the warm confection to her lips. “Don’t think I’ve met a latte I didn’t like. I’m from New York—we practically live on caffeine.”
“I kind of wondered if you’d be here this morning or if you’d be jet-setting your way back to the East Coast.”
“Why is that?”
He shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. “Last night it seemed like you may have said everything there was to say—about the painting, I mean. I thought maybe you’d be about ten thousand feet up right now.”
Sera almost smiled, but bit her bottom lip to cover it. “In truth, so did I.”
He nodded. “But
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