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All things come to those ait
"Perfect It’s absolutely perfect" Chloe Abbott cradled the rosewoodit to inspect each side Sunlight poured through the s of the antique shop on Fourth Avenue in Seattle, glea off chests of silver, displays of china and crystal, and finding deep red highlights in the clock’s wooden box
She couldn’t detect a single fault with it The wood had the fine patina of age, and when the clock struck the hour, the carved doors on the front opened The delicate figures of two dancers in Louis IV court dress popped out to twirl to the strains of a Strauss waltz
"Gran’s going to love this" Delighted, Chloe set the clock carefully on the glass counter "Thank you so lad you like it" The shop owner, a thin, elegant ray suit and tie, abandoned his normal reserve and fairly beamed at her "I knew the moment it came into the shop that it was meant for Winifred There’s only one tiny detail that detracts from its value Someone modified the clockworks to add a modern battery-operated alarm inside"
"I don’t care, David, and I doubt Gran will, either" Chloe’s eyes half closed as she swayed to the lilting randfather’s favorite waltz Gran told ed"
"I see me that story"
Chloe opened her eyes and chuckled at his expression of fond indulgence David McPherson had grown up with Chloe’s grandrandfather Richard in the community of Ballard, only a few miles froned on as an assistant to her father, a cryptographer eic Services, precursor to the CIA That same year, Richard Abbott and Winifred were married four days before he and David donned army uniforms and marched off to war They’d returned to Seattle to take up their lives after peace on Winifred had resu her doctorate and stayed on to become a professor of literature Richard inherited Abbott Construction from his father, while David had opened an antique shop in don Seattle Both h David ed at forty-two and never had children, he’d been adopted into Richard and Winifred’s fareat-uncle
Which hen she’d wanted a special gift to htieth birthday, she’d called on David
"Of course you remember You were probably at the same dance"
His blue eyes twinkled "I’ ht ed him "Clever, David, very clever"
"Soely, patting her back
"Hmm" Chloe herself had never experienced true love, so she’d have to take his word for it She stepped back and looked once lass counter "I’ll buy it, of course It’s wonderful"
"Give me a few minutes to pack it properly" David walked behind the counter and disappeared through a curtained doorway
The antique bell mounted above the outer door chimed Chloe smiled politely at the three older wo displayOutside, the sidewalks were busy, thronged with pedestrians walking briskly past A solitary lass into the interior of the shop He was of average height and weight, dressed in khaki pants with a neatly pressed plaid shirt Mirrored sunglasses concealed his eyes below the bill of a Mariners baseball cap that covered all but a glimpse of short-cropped black hair
Chloe’s skin prickled and she shivered She couldn’t see the lasses, but she had the uneasy conviction that he was staring at her So had he been watching her?
"Here we are" David returned with a cardboard box, tissue paper and an elegant plastic bag
Chloe turned to look at David, and when she glanced back at the , theainst the counter "Where did you find the clock?"
He carefully wrapped the tissue paper around theit into the white box with his shop logo, Elegance, in tasteful script across the top
"At an estate sale in the Capitol Hill District Fortunately," David told her, taping the lid of the box closed, "I had the opportunity for a private viewing before the house was open to the public and I picked up several nice pieces, including this clock"
"What else did you find?"
Chloe listened with interest as David pointed out the various newly acquired iteoodbye and left, the clock held safely in her ar
She checked her watch She had to lecture college freshlish composition at two o’clock If she was lucky and there were no traffic snarls, she could make it back to the campus with ten minutes to spare She quickened her steps as she headed toward her car and was soon driving north on Dexter Avenue before crossing the Free to hook up with Pacific Avenue on her way to Lake Union and the University District The University spires were already in sight when her cell phone rang She flipped open the phone, read the caller ID information and held the slim silver phone to her ear
"Hi, Alexie, what’s up?"
"Did you get Gran’s present?" Chloe’s sister didn’t bother with a greeting
"Yes, and it’s gorgeous You’re going to love it"
"Good Which one of us is picking up the cake?"
"I will"