Two steps into the building and I knew I was going to have to work for this one. Three tellers stood at their stations, each one in their fifties or older. One had teased up hair the color of pewter and smiled when she saw me, so she was my go-to girl. Hopefully, the smile meant she was at least friendly.
In my best schoolboy voice, I said, "Hi, I need to get into a safe deposit box." I looked down next to her stack of envelopes and saw her name. Roberta. As my mother always said, "There's nothing as magical as hearing one's name," so I flashed her a smile and added, "Roberta, I'd so appreciate it if you could help me. It would mean a lot to me."
She looked up at me with faded blue eyes and smiled a grandmotherly smile. "Oh, that's easy. All I need is your name and the key."
I let out a sigh of relief and then she added, "And your identification, of course."
Fuck.
Holding the key up for her to see, I said, "My name is Jeff Hopkins and here's my key, but there's a problem. I don't have my ID. I had my wallet stolen the other day when I had to take my daughter to the specialist in Philadelphia, and that's why I need to get into the safe deposit box. That's where my birth certificate is, and I can't get my ID again without it."
"Oh, well, we can't let you into the box without some form of ID, Mr. Hopkins. You don't have any form of identification?"
I was going to have to lay it on thick if this was going to work. Leaning forward, I settled my gaze on Roberta's pale blue eyes and stared deeply into them as I softened my voice. "I can certainly understand, Roberta, but that man who stole my wallet has made that impossible. Is there no way we can get around this? Without that birth certificate, I can't get my driver's license. I've already gotten one ticket after getting pulled over for driving without a license and I can't afford another one, but I need to drive my little girl to the doctors."
This kind of wheedling had never been my strong suit, and I was sure by the look on her face that she wasn't convinced as she sat there staring silently at me. Breaking the connection, I looked down at a picture on her desk of a little blond girl I guessed was her granddaughter and then back up at Roberta with the best pleading look I had. Just when I was sure our silent standoff would end in my defeat, her shoulders sagged and she said with a sigh, "Oh, one time can't hurt."
"Bless you, Roberta. You've just made my day."
As I suspected, she was a God fearing woman and my words only served to convince her she'd done the right thing for a decent soul in need. As I explained that the box was, in fact, my father-in-law's and told her about Joseph Edwards' wish to keep all his family's most important documents safe, she checked his information and located the box. She escorted me to a back room full of metal filing cabinets and I sat down at a conference table in the center of the room.
Roberta returned with the box and placed it in front of me. "I remember Joseph Edwards coming in with his little girl. She was a cute little thing. Nina I think was her name. How is she?"
I smiled at the mention of Nina's name. How was she? I had to keep up the facade of being not Nina's fiancé but her brother-in-law, so I simply said, "She's doing well. She lives in New York now and works as a curator."
Roberta nodded her happiness. "That's so good to hear. Please let me know if you need any additional help, Jeff."
As she walked out to help other bank customers, I quickly turned my attention to the safe deposit box. I would have loved to spend my time thinking about Nina, but I needed to find what Joseph Edwards may have hidden here and then get the hell out of that bank before someone figured out I wasn't who I said I was.
I lifted the metal lid and saw only a notebook sitting there in the bottom of the box. As much as I wanted to read what Nina's father had written about what my father had done, I simply stuffed the tablet inside my coat and left, thanking Roberta as I made my way outside. I hurried to my car with my heart racing at the knowledge that in minutes I might finally know what had started the chain of events that had led to the death of Joseph Edwards and ultimately, my finding the love of my life.
Chapter Fifteen
Nina
At three o'clock, I looked down at my new phone as it buzzed with a new text. I swiped the screen and saw it was from Tristan. Probably won't be home for dinner. Make sure Rogers has the cook make you anything you want. Can't wait to see you. Love you.
Disappointed, I texted back that I missed him and loved him too before I fell back onto the bed in frustration. While I'd loved this house in the good weather, now that winter had finally arrived, I was feeling cabin fever more and more. Being stuck out in the hinterlands in the snow without Tristan was definitely not how I wanted to spend the next few hours.
Well, if I couldn't spend time with the man I loved, then I could spend time with Jordan. We hadn't had a girls' night out since I left the hospital, and one was long overdue. A minute later, her phone was ringing and I was thinking of the perfect place to grab some dinner and drinks.
"Hello?"
"Jordan, it's Nina. This is my new number. Let's get something to eat."
"Are you nearby or out at the house?"
"I'm still at the house, but I can be there in an hour. Sooner, if Jensen is in the mood to drive fast," I joked. "I'd love it if we could get dinner tonight."
Jordan hesitated. "Well, Justin and I were supposed to hang out and watch wrestling tonight, but he won't miss me if I beg off. We better have a good time, though, since I'm missing hot guys beating the hell out of each other."
"Well, I'm not sure I can do better than that. I was just thinking of some good food and drinking these chocolate martinis Tristan introduced me to. They're delicious! You have to try one."
"I'll do dinner, but I'm not a martini girl."
"No matter. It's the company that's important. Can you be ready in two hours? Maybe we can go shopping too."
"I'm just getting out of school now, so two hours will work. Are we being driven around tonight, or is it like old times?"
No matter how much I may have wanted it to be like old times, I'd accepted the fact that Tristan wasn't about to have me driving or taking the subway. All the better, actually, since it was cold and snowy.
"We're going in style, girl. I'll have Jensen honk when we get there," I joked.
"Some date you are," Jordan said with a chuckle. "Okay, I'll be ready in two. See you then!"
I reread Tristan's text to me, focusing on the words Can't wait to see you. Love you and wishing he was there next to me as I lay on my bed. I understood now how I'd fallen in love with him the first time. He was like an addiction I never wanted to quit. My spare moments were filled with thoughts of him—how my heart raced when he kissed me, how my stomach did somersaults at the merest touch of his fingers on my body, how his beautiful brown eyes said so much even when he said nothing.