Hidden Riches Read Free Page B

double the purchase price, she thought.
    â€œThat so?” Ashworth leaned closer as the bidding began on the next lot. “I’ve got a set of six at the shop. Cobalt and silver.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYou got time, you drop on by after this and take a look.”
    â€œI might just do that. Lea, you bid on the Depression glass.”
    â€œMe?” Horror in her eyes, Lea gaped at her sister.
    â€œSure. Get your feet wet.” Grinning, Dora tilted her head toward Ashworth’s. “Watch this.”
    As Dora expected, Lea started out with hesitant bids that barely carried to the auctioneer. Then she began to inch forward in her seat. Her eyes glazed over. By the time the lot was sold, she was snapping out her bid like a drill sergeant commanding recruits.
    â€œIsn’t she great?” All pride, Dora swung an arm over Lea’s shoulders to squeeze. “She was always a quick study. It’s the Conroy blood.”
    â€œI bought all of it.” Lea pressed a hand to her speeding heart. “Oh God, I bought all of it. Why didn’t you stop me?”
    â€œWhen you were having such a good time?”
    â€œBut—but—” As the adrenaline drained, Lea slumped in her chair. “That was hundreds of dollars. Hundreds.”
    â€œWell spent, too. Now, here we go.” Spotting the abstract painting, Dora rubbed her hands together. “Mine,” she said softly.
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    By three o’clock Dora was adding half a dozen cobalt saltcellars to the treasures in her van. The wind had kicked up, stinging color into her cheeks and sneaking down the collar of her coat.
    â€œSmells like snow,” Ashworth commented. He stood on the curb in front of his shop and, with his pipe clenched in his hand, sniffed the air. “Could be you’ll run into some before you get home.”
    â€œI hope so.” Pushing back her flying hair, she smiled at him. “What’s Christmas without it? It was great meeting you, Mr. Ashworth.” She offered her hand again. “If you get up to Philadelphia, I’ll expect you to drop by.”
    â€œYou can count on it.” He patted his pocket where he’d slipped her business card. “You two ladies take care of yourselves. Drive safely.”
    â€œWe will. Merry Christmas.”
    â€œSame to you,” Ashworth added as Dora climbed in the van.
    With a last wave she started the van and pulled away from the curb. Her eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror and she smiled as she saw Ashworth standing on the sidewalk with his pipe in his teeth and his hand lifted in a farewell salute. “What a sweetheart. I’m glad he got that figurine.”
    Lea shivered and waited impatiently for the van to heat. “I hope he didn’t overcharge you for those saltcellars.”
    â€œMmm. He made a profit, I’ll make a profit and Mrs. O’Malley will add to her collection. Everybody gets what they want.”
    â€œI guess. I still can’t believe you bought that hideous painting. You’ll never be able to sell it.”
    â€œOh, eventually.”
    â€œAt least you only paid fifty dollars for it.”
    â€œFifty-two seventy-five,” Dora corrected.
    â€œRight.” Twisting in her seat, Lea looked at the boxes packed into the rear of the van. “You know, of course, that you don’t have room for all this junk.”
    â€œI’ll make room. Don’t you think Missy would like that carousel?”
    Lea imagined the outsize mechanical toy in her daughter’s pink-and-white bedroom and shuddered. “Please, no.”
    â€œOkay.” Dora shrugged. Once she’d cleaned up the carousel, she might let it spin in her own living room for a while. “But I think she’d go for it. You want to call John and tell him we’re on our way back?”
    â€œIn a little while.” With a sigh, Lea settled back. “This time tomorrow, I’ll be baking cookies