The Black Sheep's Redemption (4 page)

And the headache.

And now the note in her coffee can. The headache worsened.

Quickly, she tossed her thoughts in another direction.

Fitzgerald Bay. A small close-knit community that was friendly to outsiders. At least that’s what the website advertised when she’d been narrowing down her choices.

And now she had a place to live and a good job. She was doing all right for someone who’d had nothing and no one three weeks ago.

She glanced at the clock on the wall behind the counter. Eight forty-five. She still had a few minutes before she needed to walk to the park. Demi leaned her head against the cushioned back of the chair and stared out the window while she sipped her coffee. Her mind spun, wondering, desperate to remember who she was, where she was from, if she had relatives that missed her. She swallowed hard against the tears that sprang to the surface.

“Hey.”

Demi jumped and did her best to hide her whirling emotions from Victoria who stood before her holding a plate of sandwiches and some delicious-looking pastries.

“Oh. Sorry, I was…thinking.”

Victoria set the plate on the table beside Demi and said, “Help yourself.”

“What? Oh, no, that’s okay. I have money.” She flushed and wondered if she looked like a charity case.

Victoria shrugged. “I just thought I’d give you a sampling of what we serve here. Maybe tempt you to come back.”

Now Demi felt embarrassed. And hungry. “Well, thank you.” She snitched a croissant filled with chicken salad and took a bite as she tried to push the depressing thoughts from her mind. “Wow. This is delicious. I’ll definitely be back.”

They laughed and Victoria said, “It’s my own chicken salad recipe. Pretty good, huh?”

“You could win ribbons with this stuff.” Demi quickly polished off the first sandwich and took a sip of coffee.

Victoria laughed. “I knew I liked you.” She settled into the chair opposite Demi. “So, how do you like working for Charles? I know it’s been only one week, but you must have some impressions.”

What was the woman fishing for? “I’m very grateful he hired me. The children are definitely a handful, but very precious.”

“I know. They’re great. And Charles is a wonderful man regardless of what you might hear said around town.”

“Oh, come on, Victoria, how can you say that?”

Demi and Victoria turned in unison to find the owner of the voice. A young woman with her blond hair hanging around one shoulder planted her hands on her hips. “Charles might be guilty of murder.”

Victoria sighed. “Meghan Henry, cousin to Olivia Henry, meet Demi Taylor.”

Demi gave the adamant young woman with the pretty hazel eyes a tremulous smile. “Hi.”

“Hi. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have interrupted your conversation, but I’m just very concerned for you. For anyone who has anything to do with Charles Fitzgerald.” And she did look worried, a genuine kind of worried, not the fake kind of worried most people in the town had expressed in order to pump her for information about the Fitzgeralds.

Frowning, Demi exchanged a look with Victoria then said, “I appreciate your concern, but Charles has been nothing but kind to me.”

Meghan sighed. “Well, I would watch my back if I were you.” She slipped her purse over her shoulder. “I’m in the cottage on the beach, the one just up from the lighthouse. If you ever need anything, please come see me.”

Again, sincerity rang in Meghan’s words and Demi wasn’t sure what to think. “Well, thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Be careful, okay?” She glanced between her and Victoria. “See you around.”

With that, she left.

Demi raised a brow at Victoria who sighed. “I hope you won’t take what she said to heart. I don’t believe for a minute that he murdered Olivia.”

“I know. I don’t believe he did, either.”

“Good.” Approval radiated from the woman. “He’s needed some help for a long time. His father’s housekeeper, Mrs. Mulrooney, is wonderful, but she can’t keep up with two rambunctious toddlers. I’m so glad Charles found you.”

Demi felt a smile slip across her face. “Thanks. It was actually his sister Fiona who told me about the job.” She looked at the clock again. “And now I’ve got to run. Nice to meet you.”

“You, too. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

* * *

Charles gave the swing a push and felt his heart lighten at his children’s laughter. His eyes drifted from his kids to the direction he knew Demi would come from.

He’d had a hard time falling asleep last night as her image kept appearing in his thoughts—in between wondering who’d vandalized his house. He preferred thoughts of Demi. She was beautiful, had a gentle spirit about her—and she scared him to pieces.

She’d been in his life just a short time, but already, he felt as though he’d known her for a while. And while it was true he didn’t know as much as he’d like due to the amnesia, he liked what he knew, what he’d observed.

He also knew that if he had any brains at all, he’d find a woman old enough to be his mother to care for the children simply to cut down on the wagging tongues. Unfortunately, no one in that age category seemed to be in the market for a job that taxing. Or one that had anything to do with him.

Him. A murder suspect. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. But apparently the townspeople didn’t have any trouble believing it. Everywhere he went, he felt eyes on him, knew they were wondering if he was a killer. His medical practice had suffered as had his confidence in most of those he used to call friends.

His gaze went to a young couple strolling hand in hand along the park path as though they didn’t have a care in the world. He remembered those days. Sometimes he missed them. Then he looked at Brianne and Aaron and wouldn’t change the past even if he could.

His eyes went back to The Reading Nook bookstore.

But Demi had him thinking more and more about the future and what it might be like to find the one he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with.

A feeling of someone watching pulled him from his thoughts. Glancing around, Charles spotted two women on a park bench near the sandbox. They stared at him as they talked.

Christina Hennessy and Dolores Nunez, nanny for Burke and Christina’s toddler. Distaste curled through him. He didn’t care for Mrs. Hennessy much, not simply because she was Burke’s wife, but because she was such a fake. Probably why she and his ex, Kathleen, had gotten along so well.

And still, she didn’t take her gaze from him. Out of a morbid sense of humor, he lifted a hand and waved.

Her right brow rose and she deliberately ignored him, turning her gaze on the nanny.

Why the woman needed a nanny was beyond him. She didn’t work and didn’t seem to have any responsibilities that he could see.

Speaking of nannies, Demi surprised him and stepped out of the Sugar Plum Café instead of The Reading Nook and headed his way. He tried to forget about the pair across the park.

But the hair on the back of his neck rose as he continued to feel their stares. He reminded himself not to let their snide glances and whispered words affect him.

But a small part of him wanted to stomp across the park and demand they cease their nasty gossip. Instead, he took a deep breath and watched Demi approach. The concerned frown on her features told him that she’d picked up on his expression. With effort, he loosened his jaw and relaxed his shoulders.

Only to tense up again when Burke stepped into view. The man glanced at him and pursed his lips as though seeing something distasteful.

He said something to Christina and the nanny, then practically shouted, “Come on. It’s not safe for Georgina to play here. Apparently, they don’t screen the people who use this place and will allow murderers around small children.”

FIVE

D
emi couldn’t read the expression on Charles’s face, but the smile he shot her looked forced, the frown lines between his brows deeper than yesterday.

Burke said something that Demi wasn’t close enough to catch, but apparently Charles heard it—and didn’t like it. She saw the fury on his face and the rock-hard tension in his body. She had a feeling he was exercising extreme self-control at the moment.

Burke held his daughter as he and the two women left the park.

Charles relaxed and occupied himself by pushing the twins on the swings. They each sat in the little side-by-side bucket seats, legs dangling. Sweet laughter reached her ears, chasing away the frown she knew was on her face.

A twinge in the vicinity of her heart made her wince. What about her own father? Where was he? Was he missing her? Worried about her? Or was he even alive? She had the same questions about her mother, but no amount of trying could bring to mind a face that she could call family.

Drawing in a deep breath, she stuffed her sorrow away and pasted a smile on her face. “Good morning,” she called.

Charles turned and his answering smile flashed her way. It seemed a little less forced than the previous one. “Hey, there. We got here a bit early and this was the only way I could corral them.”

Demi let out a laugh. “Looks like fun.”

“They seem to like it, but even as petite as you are, I don’t think you’d fit in the seat.”

His appreciative gaze made her pause. Was he flirting with her? Sure looked like it. Did she mind? Warmth centered itself in her midsection. No, she didn’t mind a bit. “You’re silly.” She stepped next to him, placing herself behind Aaron. “Let me take one so you don’t have to dance back and forth between them.”

His eyes lingered on her a moment longer and his expression seemed to soften even more. “That’d be nice. Thanks.”

Demi waited until the little boy came back toward her then gave him a gentle push. He squealed and laughed, his black hair blowing in the wind. As he approached her again, he held out his hand and yelled, “I gots Dino!”

Demi laughed and caught the swing, pulling Aaron to her so she could study the plastic dinosaur clutched in his fingers. “He’s the best-looking dino I’ve ever seen.”

That sent Aaron into more peals of laughter. She let the swing go and Aaron swooped into the air.

She looked at Charles who stood watching her, the strangest expression on his face. “What?” she asked.

He shook his head and cleared his throat. “Nothing really. You’re just good with them.” He smiled. “So, how are you this morning?”

“I’m…” She started to say fine, then decided to be honest. “I had a rough night.” And a crazy morning. “But I suppose that was to be expected after that scare I had at your house, then thinking someone was in my apartment.” She didn’t bother to mention the man she thought had tried to get into the building through the back door. And she didn’t want to say anything about the message in her coffee can. Not yet. She didn’t want to ruin what had the potential to be a wonderful day.

“I’m sorry.”

Demi shrugged and gave the swing another push. Aaron crowed, “Higher!”

She complied then looked at Charles. His blue eyes sparkled when he watched his children. Instead she asked another question burning in the back of her mind. “Do you mind me asking where the twins’ mother is?”

He went still for a moment then let out a sigh before giving Brianne another push. “No, it’s not like it’s a secret or anything. Kathleen left me when the twins were about six months old.” He shook his head. “Her parents spoiled her and she always was rather flighty, I suppose, but…” He shrugged. “She seemed to love me and I…well…I was enamored with her.” He pulled in a deep breath. “And then after the babies came, she just couldn’t handle it. I was in the process of hiring a nanny to help her out. One day Kathleen was there, the next she was gone. Months later, she sent me divorce papers and a note that she was living in Mexico fulfilling her dream of becoming an artist and wanted to get married to another man, an artist who understands her.”

All Demi could think was that the woman was insane. She’d given up all this for…that? “I’m so sorry. That must have been a terrible time.”

“It was.” Pain flashed across his face. “But you know, I don’t really hurt for me anymore. It is what it is. I just hurt for them.” He nodded toward the kids. “It’s going to be hard explaining her desertion when the time comes.”

Demi bit her lip. “Yeah.”

“Then again, if that’s the kind of person she’s decided to be, maybe they’re better off not knowing her.” He paused. “Would you like to take the kids down to the beach?” Charles asked. “It’s too cold to get in the water, but we could build a sand castle and let them run around, burn off some energy, maybe get some ice cream.”

Brianne heard him and grinned. “Ice cream.”

“I like chocolate,” Demi said. “What’s your favorite?”

“Ice cream, Daddy!”

Charles groaned. “Now I’ve done it.”

“What?”

“I’ll have to let her have some ice cream or I’ll hear about it all night.”

“Ice cream! Now!” Brianne shouted.

“Hush, Bri, not so loud. We’ll get some in a little while. Why don’t we go play in the sand?”

“No sand. I want some ice cream.”

Charles tossed Demi a wry look. “We might be eating ice cream a little earlier than I planned.”

Swings, the park, the beach and now ice cream? Shivers danced up her arms. This day was feeling more and more like a date.

She looked at him, wanting to ask him to clarify if this was a date or if they were just…hanging out. Instead, she simply said, “That sounds nice.”

Ten minutes later, the twins were in their car seats in the back of Charles’s truck. The red king cab with the leather seats was plush and roomy. Demi inhaled the new-car scent and smiled. “How long have you had this?”

Charles closed his door and cranked the engine. “A couple months.”

“I like it.”

He flashed her a grin. “I do, too.”

Small talk filled the short ride to the beach, interrupted occasionally by Aaron and Brianne’s two-year-old chatter.

Charles looked in the rearview mirror and frowned. His eyes flicked back to the road in front of him. Then up to the mirror.

“What’s wrong?”

“That car’s coming up behind us pretty fast.”

Demi glanced in the side mirror and spied a dark-colored sedan gaining on them. “Maybe he’s in a hurry and will go around.”

Charles let his foot off the gas and slowed.

And the car kept coming. Demi shifted, uneasy. “Charles?”

Charles’s fingers flexed on the wheel. The narrow two-lane road didn’t leave a lot of room to maneuver and she wondered what he was thinking.

Another look in the mirror showed the car about twenty feet behind them. Ten.

“Charles! He’s going to hit you!”

“Hold on.” He pressed the gas pedal. Aaron, picking up on the tension, started to cry.

The truck growled to life, responding to the burst of speed instantly. The sedan fell back, but soon gained lost ground.

“I don’t want to go too much faster, there’s a curve just ahead,” Charles said.

“Can you turn off?”

“Hang on, he’s coming faster.”

Demi felt herself jerk forward, then slam back. She yelped. Brianne cried out and Aaron howled.

Charles went faster. “Call 9-1-1. Tell them where we are.”

The curve ahead was sharp, the guardrail offering flimsy protection against a speeding vehicle.

Demi clutched the door and held on while her heart thumped in terror. She held the phone to her ear with effort. The operator came on. “We’re on Lighthouse Lane headed toward the beach! Someone is trying to run us off the road!”

Tires squealed as Charles took the curve. Her seat belt cut into her shoulder. From the side mirror she could see the car following behind.

And then they were on a straighter part of the road.

With another curve just ahead.

From a side road, Demi could see flashing blue lights.

Brakes squealed from behind them and she saw the car backing off. It did a quick three-point turn then sped back the way they’d just come.

Charles slowed the truck. Sweat dripped from his forehead and his face had lost color, as he pulled to the side of the road and stopped.

From the back, Demi heard a giggle. She turned to see Brianne gripping the front of her car seat. “Do it again, Daddy.”

Aaron’s eyes were wide, but he’d stopped crying. When he saw Brianne smiling, he chuckled.

Charles let out a breath and leaned his forehead on the steering wheel.

Demi swallowed hard. “You did a good job, Charles.”

“Thanks.” He paused. “You okay?”

“Yes. We’re all okay.”

A Fitzgerald Bay cruiser pulled up beside them. Charles rolled down his window to greet his sister Keira who exited her vehicle, walked to the window and demanded, “What happened? I saw that guy trying to run you off the road.” Her anger with the man was a visible thing. “He could have killed you!” She looked in the backseat and paled. “And the kids are with you.”

“We were on the way to the beach. He kind of came out of nowhere.” Charles shook his head. “Did you get a plate?”

“A partial. He went flying past me. By the time I turned around, he’d disappeared. I called it in for someone to see if they could chase him down so I could make sure you all were okay.”

Charles swallowed. “Someone really has it in for me, don’t they?”

“Unfortunately, it looks like it, yeah.” She pursed her lips. “Who was Olivia so close to that her death would drive someone to want to hurt you, to get revenge?”

Charles shrugged. “I have no idea. She didn’t talk about her life that much. I did a background check and she was clean. She took care of the kids and pretty much kept to herself so I’m not sure who she was close to.”

“What about her cousin, Meghan?” Keira asked.

Charles gave a slow nod. “She was really upset about Olivia’s death, but I can’t see her coming after me like this.”

Keira shrugged. “You never know. I’ll make a note for Owen and Ryan to check her out.” On a small flip-top notebook, she wrote something then slid it back into her front pocket. “Be careful, Charles. It looks like someone isn’t very happy with you.”

* * *

After consulting with Keira, Charles and Demi decided not to let the incident ruin their day.

And while Demi couldn’t say she was relaxed, at least the person who had nearly run them off the road was gone for now.

But a shiver ran through her as the thought occurred to her that he would be back. Somehow, deep in her gut, she felt that it wasn’t over. When they’d decided to keep their appointment with the beach, Keira promised to drive past the area often. “If whoever tried to run you off the road is watching, he’ll see the cruiser keeping an eye on you.”

“I don’t know if that’s necessary, Keira.”

She shrugged. “I don’t, either, but it can’t hurt.”

“Guess not.” Charles looked at Demi and she offered him a reassuring smile.

Now at the beach, Demi climbed from the truck and while Charles unbuckled Brianne, she went ahead and released Aaron from his car seat.

Then the four of them headed down the pier. Brianne seemed to have forgotten about her demand for ice cream since the incident with the car.

Charles limped slightly and again, Demi wondered what happened. Before she could be nosy again, his brows pulled tight into a frown as he gazed at the cliffs and rocks under the lighthouse.

Wondering at the expression, Demi looked where he did. The white lighthouse with the red roof matched the building next to it. Charles’s home. It sat at the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Just yesterday, she’d stood at the window and stared at the view. She’d been in awe of such beauty. “What a great place to raise kids.”

“I think so.” He shot her another smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes and the frown between his brows seemed even more pronounced. “The path to the beach is this way. Be careful, there are a lot of rocks.”

Demi held on to Aaron and followed Charles, noticing that he carried a picnic basket in one hand while holding tight to Brianne’s small hand.

Once on the beach, Charles opened the large basket, pulled out two towels and handed one to Demi. “I decided not to bring the chairs. We can use these. We won’t stay very long. I’ll have to get the twins back to the house for their nap.”

The wind whipped her ponytail around her face and tugged at the towels. Demi followed his example and planted herself on one. He’d placed them close together so that her shoulder nearly touched his.

As her gaze scanned the area, she caught sight of the cruiser sitting at the top of the rock. Keira stood looking down at them. Peace settled on Demi’s shoulders for the first time since finding the note this morning.

His musky cologne wafted to her and she inhaled, deciding she could get used to that smell. “It’s chilly for May, isn’t it?”