Page 96 of The Fine Line
“Were this many packing peanuts really necessary to move your things ten minutes across town?”
“My things are valuable.”
Rhett holds up a pack of Zoo Pals plates.
“To me,” I add.
He pulls out another. “Three packs?”
“They were on sale. I enjoy the compartments.”
“So I’m expected to buy a house, but you’re twenty-five and eating off cartoon animals?”
I press my lips together.
“Just saying.” He smirks.
“I’ll clean up the peanuts,” I sigh. “Where’s your broom?”
“Cub, it’s fine?—”
“Broom, Sutton.”
He sighs. “Hall closet.”
I head down the hall, opening a door to an entirely packed closet.
“Boys,” I mutter, and wedge my arms between the coats, shoving coats aside in search of the broom. All I find are hockey sticks and a life-size cardboard cutout of Rhett in his Storm uniform, which I choose to ignore.
Just as I’m about to give up and call for help, something catches my eye—a small wooden jewelry box, delicate and old. I drop to my knees, reaching for it, and run my finger over the delicate white flowers hand-painted on the top before flipping the little silver latch and lifting the lid.
Empty.
“What are you doing?”
I jolt. Rhett’s behind me.
“Looking for the broom,” I say. “You said hall closet.”
He holds up the broom. “That hall closet.”
I spot an open door across the hall—shelves neatly stacked with cleaning supplies.
“Well, you could’ve been more specific,” I huff. “Not everyone has a penthouse with twenty-five closets.”
“It’s just a three-bedroom apartment on a high floor. And there are only like six closets?—”
His eyes fall to the box in my hands. Something flickers in his face—there, then gone.
I stand and offer it to him. “Found this while broom-hunting. What is it?”
“It’s a jewelry box.” He clears his throat. “I think.”
I wait for more, but that’s all he says.
“It looks really old,” I say.
“It’s definitely from another lifetime.”
