Unfinished Business

be thrilled.”
    Vanessa watched as her mother accepted his credit card and went briskly about completing the transaction.
    “You’ve got a terrific place here, Mrs. Sexton,” he went on. “If you came over the county line, you’d have to beat off customers.”
    “I like it here.” She handed him his receipt. “I’ve lived here all my life.”
    “Cute town.” He pocketed the receipt. “After our first dinner party, I can guarantee you some new customers.”

    “And I can guarantee I won’t beat them off.” She smiled at him. “Will you need some help Saturday when you pick it up?”
    “No, I’ll drag a few friends with me.” He shook her hand. “Thanks, Mrs. Sexton.”
    “Just enjoy it.”
    “We will.” He turned to smile at Vanessa. “Nice meeting you. You’ve got a terrific mother.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Well, I’ll be on my way.” He stopped halfway to the door. “Vanessa Sexton.” He turned back. “The pianist. I’ll be damned. I just saw your concert in D.C. last week. You were great.”
    “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
    “I didn’t expect to,” he admitted. “My wife’s the classical nut. I figured I’d catch a nap, but, man, you just blew me away.”
    She had to laugh. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “No, really. I don’t know Mozart from Muzak, but I was—well, I guess enthralled’s a good word. My wife’ll just about die when I tell her I met you.” He pulled out a leather-bound appointment book. “Would you sign this for her? Her name’s Melissa.”
    “I’d be glad to.”
    “Who’d have expected to find someone like you in a little place like this?” He shook his head as she handed the book back to him.
    “I grew up here.”
    “I can guarantee my wife’ll be back.” He winked at Loretta. “Thanks again, Mrs. Sexton.”
    “You’re welcome. Drive carefully.” She laughed a little after the bells had jingled at his exit. “It’s an amazing thing, watching your own child sign an autograph.”
    “It’s the first one I’ve signed in my hometown.” She took a deep breath. “This is a beautiful place. You must work very hard.”
    “I enjoy it. I’m sorry I wasn’t there this morning. I had an early delivery coming.”
    “It’s all right.”
    Loretta picked up a soft rag, then set it down again. “Would you like to see the rest of the shop?”
    “Yes. Yes, I would.”
    Loretta led the way into the adjoining room. “This is the set your admirer just bought.” She ran a fingertip over the top of a gleaming mahogany table. “It has three leaves and will sit twelve comfortably when extended. There’s some beautiful carving on the chairs. The buffet and server go with it.”
    “They’re beautiful.”
    “I bought them at an estate sale a few months ago. They’d been in the same family for over a hundred years. It’s sad.” She touched one of the glass knobs on the server. “That’s why I’m so happy when I can sell something like this to people who will care for it.”
    She moved to a curved glass china cabinet and opened the door. “I found this cobalt glass at a flea market, buried in a box. Now, the cranberry I got at auction, and paid too much. I couldn’t resist it. These saltcellars are French, and I’ll have to wait for a collector to take them off my hands.”
    “How do you know about all of this?” Vanessa asked.
    “I learned a lot by working here before I bought it. From reading, from haunting other shops and auctions.” She laughed a little as she closed the cabinet door. “And through trial and error. I’ve made some costly mistakes, but I’ve also wangled some real bargains.”
    “You have so many beautiful things. Oh, look at this.” Almost reverently, she picked up a Limoges ring box. It was perhaps six inches high and fashioned in the shape of a young girl in a blue bonnet and blue checkered dress. There was a look of smug pleasure on her glossy face. “This is charming.”
    “I always try to keep in a few Limoges pieces. Whether they’re antique or new.”
    “I have a small collection myself. It’s difficult to travel with fragile things, but they always make hotel suites more like home.”
    “I’d like you to have it.”
    “I couldn’t.”
    “Please,” Loretta said before Vanessa could set it down again. “I’ve missed a number of birthdays. It would give me a great deal of pleasure if you’d accept it.”
    Vanessa looked up. They had to turn at least the first corner, she told