Page 29

Kenna

––––––––

River slid a paper across the table. Kenna pulled a piece of tape off the dispenser and added the note to the other clues. While they'd remembered all they could from their childhood, none of the places they thought would have a package had come to fruition.

The old house they'd last lived in with their parents was now owned by someone else and remodeled. Zane and River had rode over and checked it out, making sure their father hadn't left something there for them. But with new occupants and an intensive remodel, they checked their old house off the list of possible places to find the package.

"We checked the warehouse where Dad used to work. It's now a storage place for the heating and ducting company next door." River tapped her finger on a piece of paper. "We also checked off that park Mom and Dad always took us to—that was a long shot. It's a public place. If anything was left a decade ago, someone would've found it or a groundskeeper would've thrown it away." Her sister crossed her arms. "What about Ronald?"

The man who used to work with her dad and had initially set the idea in her head that Dad wasn't dead was her first guess on who would have the package. She shook her head. "He died two years ago. I found his obituary in the St. Maries paper after searching for every Ronald who lived there. Surprisingly enough, only three would be around his age. His full name was Ronald Kewsky."

River sighed. "That's sad."

"You know what else is sad?" Kenna sighed. "We went to the stables where Mom and Dad had Luxy stabled in the off chance they had records of where Luxy had gone. There was no sign of there ever being acreage or horses there. It's now a huge apartment complex. I didn't even recognize the area."

"I haven't thought of your horse in a long time," whispered River.

"You know, Kingsley tried to find Luxy for me after we went into foster care. He was told the horse had been sold at auction." She swallowed and whispered, "In my head, I keep hoping that some little girl got the horse and not—"

"That's what happened." River nodded. "You have to believe."

"I try." Kenna planted her hands on her hips. "I don't know where else to look. I feel like we didn't know enough about Dad's life to even make a wild guess where he would hide a package."

From the kitchen, Zane said, "Our dad's supposed to call today. He might have an idea on where we can look, considering he's somehow mixed into your dad's business."

"If he'll even tell us." Kingsley set his bottle of water on the counter. "It'll depend on if Dad woke up wanting to be an asshole today or not."

"Truth," muttered Zane.

River sat in the chair and cupped her chin. Kenna rubbed the back of their neck. They'd not only looked for the package over the last week, but she and River had also continued to work. But they weren't the only ones running on empty.

Kingsley and Zane had barely slept.

Whenever they had downtime, someone from the clubhouse, bar, or campground called. They were needed to keep Gem Haven running.

A knock filled the silence. Zane left the room. She reached for Kingsley, linking her fingers with his, needing that connection. Starting tonight, she would pamper him to show how much she appreciated all his help.

Kingsley always supported her no matter how wild an idea she had or how irrational she became over the last week.

The thunk of boots and soft conversation infiltrated the dining room. She turned and found Zane leading Zora to them.

In Zora's arms was a basket of flowers. She stepped over and gave Kingsley's mom a hug, having not seen her since the day she had hurt herself.

"You're walking." She smiled. "How's your ankle feeling?"

"Much better." Zora looked down at her foot. "The swelling is gone and once the bruising is done changing colors, I won't even know I twisted it."

"Here, sit down." She stepped over and pulled out a chair. "Did you walk all the way over here?"

"No. Big John gave me a ride." Zora held out the basket. "I didn't get a chance to give you flowers last time, so I wanted to drop these off. I cut them this morning. If you put them in water, they should last a good while."

She looked toward Kingsley. "Do you have a vase?"

"I doubt it." He walked into the kitchen and opened the cabinets.

Zora leaned to the side. "Check above the fridge."

Kingsley looked back at his mom and then followed her instructions. Several large vases were stored in the cabinet above the fridge. Kenna glanced at River, not wanting to say anything but needing to know if she was the only one who found it strange that their mother lived in a cabin instead of in the house.

It was a huge house with plenty of room for everyone.

Her sister raised her brows. She too thought it was strange that Zora knew where the vases were located. Maybe at one time, they belonged to her.

Kingsley filled up the vase with water and set it on the island. Zora put the basket on the counter and began to arrange the cut flowers.

"Once I'm done, I'll get out of your way." Zora smiled tenderly.

"There's no rush." She leaned forward and smelled a bloom. "These are beautiful. They smell wonderful."

Zora ducked her chin but couldn't hide the smile of pleasure. She was obviously proud of the way she could grow flowers.

"Okay, so Dad mentioned that we'd find a key in the package that goes to the bank." River leaned back in the chair.

"It wouldn't be to the bank." Zane stepped behind River. "It'll probably go to a safety deposit box."

"What's that?" Kenna turned around.

"You don't know what a safety deposit box is?" asked Kingsley.

She scoffed. "Don't make it sound like I'm an idiot. When in my life would I have found that out? I don't even have a bank account."

"Not making fun of you." Kingsley kissed her, softening his words. "Banks have safes in the back, in a little room, that customers can rent. They're given a key." Kingsley leaned against the kitchen island. "Those with the key can open the safe whenever they want."

"It takes two keys," said Zora.

Kenna grinned at Kingsley, knowing she wasn't the only one who didn't know exactly how bank safes worked.

"Are you sure it takes two keys? Kenna's dad only mentioned one key," said Kingsley.

"I'm positive." Zora delicately slid the stem of a flower into the vase. "The owner of the safety deposit box receives one key, but to open the box, it also takes the master key from the bank. Once both keys are in place, the box slides out of the vault. They allow you to go inside a little booth with a curtain behind you for privacy to go through the contents of the safe."

"How do you know that?" Zane stepped closer.

"Because I have a safety deposit box." Zora eyed the flowers, changing where two of the blossoms were set, and continued putting the rest of the stems in water. "There was a time when I needed somewhere safe to store some of my papers while I was away from Gem Haven."

Zane frowned. "But, we have a safe—"

"You're a lot like your father." Zora's warm smile took the sting out of the comparison. "But I wanted somewhere that only I could get into. I think it's important to have that security."

There was so much Zora wasn't saying that all Kenna could do was watch the conversation taking place around her. The Stafford men seemed lost—and that wasn't something she'd ever seen before. Normally, they knew when someone sneezed in Gem Haven.

Zora turned from the flowers and met Kenna's gaze. "Enjoy the flowers."

"We all will." She leaned against Kingsley. "Thank you."

Zora limped past her. Kingsley stiffened, and Kenna looked up at him, only to have his total focus on his mom.

"Zora?" said Kingsley.

Kenna noticed that he never called her mom. That was probably to be expected, considering he hadn't grown up with her and believed she had stayed away on purpose.

"Hm?" Zora turned around.

"Dad wouldn't have given you anything to put in that safety deposit box, would he?" Kingsley's hand on Kenna's nape tightened. "Maybe a decade ago?"

Zora's brows pinched together. "Not that I recall."

Zane moved toward his mom. "I'll walk you out."

Instead of going, Zora met Kingsley's gaze. "Big John is the only one who asked me to put an envelope in the box."

River gasped. Kenna gripped the back of Kingsley's leather vest.

Zane met Kingsley's gaze and nodded. "I'll get Big John and bring him to the house."

As soon as the door shut, she turned to Kingsley. "What's with all the questions? What are you thinking?"

"Do you think somehow our dad gave a package to your mom?" River rounded the table and came to Kenna's side. "That's crazy."

"Let's just wait." Kingsley kissed her forehead, bringing her to his chest, and wrapping his arms around her. "We might as well check every avenue."

She pressed her cheek to his chest. As much as she wanted to stay and find out what was going on, she had to get ready to go to the bar. Her shift started in an hour.