Living the Wright Life
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April 18th and 19th
The search for treasure and hidden family secrets is one way to stoke the flames of passion. Jamie Parker thrives on solving puzzles, finding treasures, and searching for hidden secrets. When Cameron Wright asks her to translate ancestral documents, she has no idea the Wright's had a trunk full of devastating and personal haunts from the past. Joining forces, the two ignite a hunger for treasure and find it's not the gold in their pockets that matter, but the gold in their hearts.
Jamie Parker looked over as a group of women seated
themselves near the window at the Midtown Café. Sitting across from her
sister-in-law Sandy, she scanned the menu.
“I hope Ruth had a good time. I think she broke a record,
only mentioned Cameron twenty times today. Guess she wanted to make sure I’d
never forget she had a gorgeous nephew.”
Sandy laughed. “You couldn’t be more right on that one.”
“Of course,” Jamie flashed her pearly whites and gave her a
devilish smile. “I always am.”
“Brat.”
“Yes, but you still love me.”
“I admit nothing and declare my innocence.” Sandy pushed
her auburn curls away from her face.
“You forgot to bat your eyes like the most innocent
southern belle.”
“Behave yourself.” Sandy playfully pointed her finger.
Jamie laughed. “You married into the family. You have to be
good to me. As my sister-in-law, it’s an integral part of your job
description.”
“I don’t recall that in the wedding vows.”
“Funny,” she drawled as she patted her Sandy’s hand, “I
remember it quite well.”
Sandy laughed. “You have an awesome imagination.”
“It’s my greatest gift.” Jamie tilted her head and sniffed.
She snorted. “Along with always being right? Here comes
Ruth.”
“Did the waitress
come?” Ruth Garrison bellowed and sat next to Sandy.
“Yes, Jamie ordered for you.” Sandy clasped the elderly
woman’s hand.
“Thank you, dear. I appreciate you including me.”
“I enjoy your company.” Jamie corrected, “We enjoy your
company.”
“I hope so, since you so kindly come to visit,” the older
woman said, “Reading to me on occasion.”
Jamie arched an eyebrow. “Once a week isn’t ‘on occasion’.”
“It’s all the same if you’re not making it an afternoon
ritual. Once you’re married…”
She enjoyed her visits with Ruth but realized silence was
best. She’d started reading to her while she’d been recuperating from her chemo
sessions.
It’d become so routine, neither one of them wanted to stop.
However, one misconstrued remark and Ruth would surely find some way to
manipulate a promise to visit every afternoon.
“What are you reading?” Sandy jumped in, obviously
understanding where Ruth was leading the conversation.
“Potter,” Jamie replied. “Book seven.”
“It amazes me that you read them,” Sandy remarked. “I
preferred the movies.”
“I’ve seen all of them at the theatre.” Jamie laughed. “And
own the books, too.”
“Books are much more interesting, although, I do miss the
old movie classics. No one comes close to the icons: Katherine Hepburn, Cary
Grant, and Dean Martin. The list could go on.”
Jamie grinned. When she reached Ruth’s age, she wanted to
be exactly like her−surly, brash, and not caring if she was politically
correct. Only, her image was a cute little old lady with a tight bun, a cane,
and a Tweety bird. Of course, one must not forget the cantankerous cat; a Maine
Coon would be perfect.
She’d recently received her doctorate in Marine
Archaeology. Enjoying her independence, she couldn’t understand the push on
marriage from her mother and Ruth. What was the rush? Just because her brothers
had married before they were twenty-six didn’t mean she had to marry.
No one could say Jamie was hopeless. She wasn’t from the
most affluent family in town, but her trust fund would keep her content and
secure.
The fortune hunters had made their attempts, which Jamie
was always very cautious of falling into that trap, a category for impending
disaster.
Her connections were admirable, her family influential. Her
brother was, as their father before him, the CEO, and chairman of JB Parker, a
nationwide commercial development company. If a person wanted to join forces
with one of the most prominent families in New York, he could do a lot worse
than the Parkers.
However, she didn’t want to delve too deeply on how long
it’d been since she had a legitimate date, never mind an offer of marriage.
If someone were foolish enough to attempt to manipulate
her, Jamie would play the devil’s advocate. Of course, she’d win the debate. It
was a rare occurrence when someone outwitted or beat her in a verbal battle.
She refused to act the coy seductress, batting the eyelashes, and pretending
that the man was more intelligent.
She was growing a
bit cautious. The breathtaking balls, the theme parties, the magical chase had
been quite enjoyable, but it was the same people year after year. It’d become
monotonous. It was rare that a ball or party created a rushing excitement. They
were extravagant, the modern way of courting and searching for the perfect
match. The excitement for her was gone.
Unfortunately, whenever she mentioned the tedium to her
mother, her simple reply was to find herself a husband, a nice lawyer, doctor,
or CEO.
Her mother had given up any subtlety of her youngest
daughter’s unmarried state. Instead, it had meandered into a quest. She could
see her mother singing The Impossible
Dream.
Of course, the impossible quest, the heavenly cause would
be to see all her children happily married. Only she remained, since her
brother Aaron had taken the deep plunge last year, joining forces with Sandy.
If she’d accepted any of her previous proposals, they’d
have all been complete and utter catastrophes. Disasters of the tabloid
form…paparazzi candy.
Those people would be like hounds, breathlessly waiting for
the rare meat of scandal and divorce. Goosebumps shivered up her arm. It’d be
better to stay single than shackled to a social climber. They’d already
commented about her being a modern day spinster, hinting she needed to come out
of the closet since no one sees her with a man. Just because she’s waiting to
marry does not mean she was gay. And…if she was, it was none of their business anyway. Even her mother, inveterate
matchmaker that she was, couldn’t argue that point.
She needed to kick her brother, Logan, hard for becoming an
actor. They were already in New York society, now they had nationwide notoriety
because of him.
They followed Logan and the Parker family like a pack of
wolves, aching to find anything on them. It’d be better to remain unmarried
than be with someone who made her miserable, creating a juicy scandal for the
tabloids.
Ruth thumped her purse. “Where’s that nephew of mine?”
“Which nephew?” Jamie asked.
She boomed a surly snort. “Which nephew? The only one I
like spending any time with.”
Jamie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Cameron’s coming to pick
you up tonight? Why? I could’ve driven you home, you know.”
“He is.” Ruth beamed, not missing the whiplash of reaction
from Jamie. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Jamie twitched. “He’s coming because?”
“Did your little ears perk up?”
“Really,” Jamie quipped.
“Very well,” Ruth sighed, temporarily thwarted. “Blackmail,
my dear.”
Both ladies eyed her, doubt written on their faces.
“With a bit of strategically placed guilt.”
“Why? What are you up to?” Jamie demanded.
“Nothing. Only wanting to spend time with my nephew.”
“Mmm, a job well done.” Sandy commented, tapping her iced
tea and looking around. “Where’s our food?”
Jamie shrugged. “Ah, your artful sense of drama and
manipulation.”
The older woman smiled coyly. “Yes, a talent you possess as well.”
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