Page 41 of The Seven Rings
“Who took what?”
“We found kids’ drawings. A nice stack of them. Some were Jack’s.” She filled him in as they began to walk.
“Seeing Dobbs? Bound to give a kid some nightmares.”
“And a grown woman, too. I got a sketchbook and some colored pencils, left them on the kitchen island. They’re gone.”
Owen said nothing for a moment.
“That’s a damn nice thing to do.”
“It’s all I could think of. It’s hitting my feels, Owen. I didn’t know it would hit them so hard, finding all the little things we’re finding.”
She led the way to the guest office. Owen stepped in, took stock.
“Looks good. Chair’s a winner. So’s the floor lamp.”
“We just found that one. I think it’s Tiffany.”
“Probably. Desk lamp’s no slouch, but the drum cabinet? The champ. Burr walnut, like the desk. Pristine. Doesn’t look like you guys need me. Maybe I’ll get a beer and sit on the deck.”
She gave him a finger poke in his rock-hard belly.
“Fat chance. I want a wall mirror right there. And we’re finding things like baby rattles, collar stays, an antique yo-yo, an old cocktail shaker, a silver pocketknife engraved 1916. And I want more.”
He paused at the third floor, looked down at the red glow around the Gold Room door.
“She’s stirring around in there.”
“It’s been like that for hours. She doesn’t like what we’re doing, which just makes me want to do it harder.”
“I’m on board with that.”
When they reached the attic, he let out a laugh. “Man, you’ve been through a lot, that’s some pile of dustcovers.”
“It’s a system. It’s working. And if there’s anything you want—”
His eyebrows drew together as he shoved at his dense brown hair. “Don’t start that.”
“Owen, if and when I manage to switch things around, furnish every room, I’m still not going to be able to use everything. We’ve still got the ballroom to go through, the servants’ quarters, the basement.”
“My house isn’t finished. And I’m barely there as it is.”
She would, Sonya determined, wear him down on this issue.
“You can earmark things for down the road. Anyway, if you want to start over there—”
“Got some mirrors here,” Trey called out. “I don’t think they’re what you’re looking for, but they’re mirrors.”
“Let’s see.”
She made her way over.
“Hey,” he said to Owen, then looked at the three small mirrors he’d uncovered. “Got some wear on the glass.”
“That just adds to the charm. I love the etching, the flower motif, the shapes. All different, but the same feel. Hang the three together, it’s a statement.”
“Okay.”
