“I have no idea. Was he looking for—”
She broke off, as Tarik was furiously flipping through the guidebooks, and he stopped at a page in one about the mines. Turning the booklet upside down, he shoved it toward her. There in the background of a photo of the Amaryllis Mine (obviously renamed by Cole) was a rock formation that was shaped like an old man’s face.
Tarik leaned back in his chair and drank deeply from the glass of water that had been set before him. “I assume you told Cole where to find the mine,” he said, and Kady nodded.
“I told him that if he had trouble, he should look near that rock.” She was waiting to see what Tarik would say to this. For all that she knew she loved him, she didn’t know all the facets of his personality. Would he be angry that she’d had such a big secret and had given it to someone else?
But Tarik reached across the table and took Kady’s hand. “I don’t think all this would be here if it weren’t for you. I don’t mean just what you did to keep Ruth from shutting the place down, but the money also. Your Cole must have needed that money, and from what my people in New York told me and from what I see here, he used it wisely.”
“Yes, I think he did. And I think he was happy. One of the books says that the name Legend comes from it being a place of legendary beauty. Better than the truth, don’t you think?”
“Perhaps. But I like the truth better. Shall we get married in this town? It seems that I still own most of it.”
She laughed. “Yes. Let’s get married here.”
“And what do you want for a wedding gift?” he asked with teasing eyes.
“A free hand with that kitchen and garden of yours in Connecticut and a couple of kids and a honeymoon in Paris with a trip to Dehillerin to buy copper pots and—”
Tarik was laughing. “Your wish is my command, habibbi. Now, what do you want for lunch?”
Obediently, she looked down at the menu, but she didn’t see it. Thank you, Ruth, she thought. Thank you and Cole and all the people of Legend. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for you. Thank you.