Page 20 of Kindred Lies
Maybe that explained why Nick closed himself off to most people. He knew firsthand how a broken heart could forever damage everything. It certainly gave Cooper insight he never had before. “I suppose that's true.”
Olivia smiled at Nick. “I agree. Let's hope that doesn't hold correct for my feelings for Ben. I'd hate to live with unrequited love the rest of my days. I want to know what it feels like to have someone love me as much as I love them at least once in my lifetime.”
“Sometimes that is even worse. Love isn't always enough. Sometimes it is the very thing that destroys you.” Nick replied solemnly.
“That's a gloomy way to look at things. I'm not going to let that cloud my idea of what I want in life. With that I'm off. I have plans for my free afternoon that doesn't include bemoaning over something I'll never have. See y’all later.” Olivia waved at them as she breezed out of the door before either of them could respond to her statement.
Cooper couldn't help asking, “Did you lose someone you loved Uncle Nick?”
A grimmer look that usual came across his face before he gave a simple answer, “Yes.”
“Is that why you don't let anyone else into your life?” He’d never been so intrusive in his life. Cooper hoped Nick didn’t hold it against him.
“Not exactly. Look I don't really want to talk about this. I've said more that I wanted to.”
Cooper could understand that. Who really wanted to talk about how their heart got broken? “I can respect that. What can I do for you?”
“How much do you know about this Amethyst?”
“Not a whole lot? Why do you ask?”
Cooper could see Nick hesitate briefly. “I ran into her earlier. She mentioned she saw the painting of Marianne here. It hadn't been until she pointed out her resemblance to her that I realized why she appeared so familiar to me. I want to look at it.”
“She does look a lot like her. It's uncanny how much.”
“I thought perhaps they might be related somehow.”
Cooper hadn't thought about that possibility. It certainly could explain why she looked so much like the woman in the painting. “Is there any way to find out?”
“Possibly. What's her full name? I could make some inquiries.”
“She checked in as Amethyst Solstice Keane. I did a little research on her. I um—got curious. I know she writes for a magazine. Other than that I don't know too much. Oh and her mother is coming in tomorrow night.”
Nick got completely still before. “Her mother? Is she part of the reservation?”
Cooper shook his head. “No, not originally Amethyst asked me to add her earlier. I forget her name. It's kind of different.” He began to look through the papers on his desk trying to locate the name of Amethyst's mother. “Give me a minute to find the sticky note… Ah here it is her name is Lyoness.”
“You're absolutely certain that is her name?”
Nick had never been prone to showing excitement of any kind. It almost seemed like he forgot to suppress his emotions. He didn't look thrilled exactly; the more correct term would be anticipation. Like he had just found something he had been looking for his whole life. It made no sense to Cooper, but he didn't see any reason not to give him the information or confirm its authenticity.
“Amethyst gave it to me. I don't see any reason for it to be wrong.”
Nick peeled himself off of the counter and stood to his full height. “I still want to look at the painting, but I'm going to do it another time. I'm going to go do some checking on your guests. After I have some news I'll be back. See you later.”
Nick exited the inn much quicker than an injured person should. He sure acted odd when he found out the name of Amethyst's mother. Why that had been so important for him to rush off so he could investigate them? What could Lyoness and Amethyst have to do with his Nick?
