Page 69 of The Marriage Deal
Effie cast her gaze down, scuffing the toe of her boot. "She gave it to me for free."
My eyes widened. Yeah, this was no coincidence. "And you didn't think this shit was cursed or something?"
"I did everything I could to find out if that wasn't what was happening. And then I realized why look a gift horse in the mouth? When have good things ever happened to us, Elly? This was my lucky shot, so I took it."
There was one way I could easily find out if what I suspected was the truth. "Let's go meet her."
"Like right now?" Effie took her phone out of her pocket. "Okay. Let me call her."
"Don't call. A surprise visit would be better."
"Elly! She's an old woman! What if she's out walking or something?" But I wasn't listening to her protests. I was already making my way to the truck. I heard Effie curse behind me as I opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat. But soon I heard her close the shutters of the shop. She opened the driver's door and asked me to scoot over.
I've had a license for a decade now, and still she acts like I can't drive. I slid to the passenger side and, a third of an hourlater, we were at the woman's place. She wasn't responding to her intercom, but we managed to slip into the apartment building when someone else opened the door. When we got to her apartment, it was to find out from a neighbor that no one had been staying there for months but that he saw several people the other week move in, only to move out yesterday.
Yeah, this was definitely Levi's doing. I sent him another text.
Me: Please answer
Levi: What's up? Sorry for the late reply. I was up late last night. Got a headache.
Levi: Old stuff? What are you talking about.
Me: You know what I mean. We're at the place you rented. The jig is up. If you don't tell me the truth, I am taking all of this stuff and reporting it to the police as stolen property. I definitely recognize your mother's ashtray. Hell might as well rope in Interpol. This is an international crime.
Levi: Ok. Ok.
Levi: I asked my mom if she had some antiques she did not need and she happily obliged in handing them to me. I set up the ruse, because I knew you or your sister would not accept it if I gave it to you.
Me: Because it would be fucking charity. You think because you can pay me, we should accept your charity?
Levi: I knew this was how you were going to react.
Me: That's it. We are returning it all to you.
Levi: No. Take it please. You should have seen my mother's face when I told her it would help you.
Levi: She was asking after you by the way.
Me: My love for your mother is not going to make me accept charity.
Levi: I didn't give it to you I gave it to your sister. Does she think it's charity?
I paused and glanced at Effie, who was trying to peer through the keyhole. "It's empty alright." She straightened and glanced at the neighbor, who was now scratching his bulging belly. She leaned in and whispered, "What the fuck is happening?"
I might as well come out with it. If it was Effie he gave the antiques to, it should be Effie who should make the decision. I took her hand and wandered further away from the door. The neighbor got back into his apartment. "It's from Levi. Or rather, I should say, Levi's mother."
"You're telling me I met his mother!"
"You probably met an actor."
I explained the whole thing. Redwood hall and its artifacts, including the ashtray. What Levi told me as well as my summary of what he probably did to make Effie think she was probably getting antiques from an old lady who wanted to move away. When I finished the story, she stared at me blankly.
"A castle, huh? Damn. Your husband is rich rich."
"So? What are you going to do about the antiques?"
Effie rubbed her chin. "I mean, it's kinda yours too, right?"
