Beach Winds (27 page)

“I located their marriage license—for Edward Denman and Frances Cooke—and I found where Frances is buried.”

Buried.

“I’m sorry. I suspect that disappoints you, but it’s better to say it straight out. I hope you understand.”

“
Where? When?”

“
New Bern. There’s no marker on the grave, but the death was properly recorded. Almost twenty-five years ago.”

Nearly a
quarter of a century.

“
I would’ve been about six or seven.”

“
Yes, ma’am. Cause of death was noted as pneumonia. Appeared to have been living with a friend or acquaintance at the time. I haven’t been able to locate that person.”

“
I see. What about her parents or siblings?”

“
She was an only child and her mother died a year ago in Richmond.”

A
grandmother. Her grandmother. She’d missed her by a year, and a lifetime.

“
What was her name?”

“
Margaret.”

“
Margaret.” She said it aloud, testing it to feel for any kind of rightness, and found none. In the end, she was a grandmother who wasn’t, apparently by choice.

He resumed.
“I have the cemetery records and a plat to show where she’s buried. No grave marker, but there was a small obituary. I’m guessing the friend gave the info for that. Shall I read it to you?” Again a pause. He asked, “Are you all right? It’s normal to have misgivings. Believe me, I know. I’ve been doing this for a long time. Another thing I know is that after this much time has passed, it doesn’t hurt to take it in slowly, a little at a time. It’s different for everyone. But it’s the living that need the consideration.”

Her heart seemed to be vibrating in her chest.
“Maybe you’re right.”

“
Again, we can meet and I can hand the paperwork over and we can discuss it, or I can scan in the material and email it. I’m always available to meet, in person or by phone.”

Her hand to her chest, she willed her heart to slow. She spoke in slow, measured words,
“Yes, thank you. Can you scan it and send it?”

“
I’ll have my assistant take care of it and you’ll have it later today. You can review it when you’re ready. If you have any questions, or would like me to dig further, let me know.”

“
Thank you. I appreciate how quickly you took care of this.”

“
My pleasure. Now, take a few moments and relax. Remember, this is about the past. It’s been in the past for a long time.”

She nodded.
“Thanks.”

Frannie sat for a while, mindful that the others were still out there, but unable to compose her face. In the end, she decided not to worry about it. It was what it was.

They were sitting and chatting. They looked up in unison when she walked back into the room.

Brian looked at her face and then at the phone in her hand.

She shrugged. “You all know that I recently learned that I’m adopted? I hired a detective to find out what he could about my birth mother.”

She sat down on the floor
. The remains of her lunch littered the plate. She’d never felt less hungry.  She tried to smile. “Apparently, she died many years ago. The detective is sending me the details.”

“
You never knew her, right?” Luke put his utensils on his now-empty plate.

She nodded.

Maia said, “Like that matters.”

Luke countered,
“Never said it didn’t.”

“
Anyway, it’s good information to know. You have to give yourself time to adjust to it. It’s not easy when the past you thought you knew starts shifting.”

Maia was right. Shifting.
She’d had an earthquake and the aftershocks kept coming.

From the corner of her eye, she caught Brian giving Maia a
look
.

“
I’m okay, Brian. Really. In fact, it’s good to know the facts.” It was true. It was good to know the truth.

Joel turned to Luke and said,
“Give Juli my apologies. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to run.” He shared his smile generally around the room. “I wish all business meetings could be this much fun.” He stopped beside Frannie and gave her a hug. “Be strong.”

“
Thanks.” She patted his hand. “You mentioned Juli?”

Maia jumped in.
“She called while you were dressing. She’s dropping by to pick up Luke. His car is at the gallery.”

Frannie nodded.
“Thank you all for this lovely lunch. Thanks for thinking of me and coming by.”

“
Pretty good timing, if I say so myself. Thanks for the show.” Joel grinned.

Brian frowned.
“What show?”

Instinctively, Frannie knew he was thinking of their private meeting on the porch
because that’s what popped into her mind first, too.

“
I fell into the ocean. They arrived in time to save me.” She cleared her throat. “Joel saved me. Maia and Luke watched as I went under.” She meant it as a joke, but no one got it.

Brian scanned each face, and apparently satisfied by what he saw, he turned back to her, saying,
“Wrong time of year for a swim, unless you’re wearing a wet suit.”

This started a round of laughter.

Clearly puzzled, he said, “I guess that was a pun of sorts, unintended, but I don’t think it was that funny.”

Maia giggled.

Frannie said, “I’ll explain later.” And then she hushed, thinking that might seem to imply something to the others, such as Brian lingering after the others had left. Her cheeks felt warm.

No, please, not here. Not now.

She was glad of the chance to walk with Joel to the door and turn her back to the others. She needed time to cool her cheeks. She handed him his jacket.

“
I’ll put it on later.”

“
It’s still officially winter. You’ll need it when the sun starts going down.”

He smiled and leaned forward and put a quick kiss on her forehead.
“Take care of yourself, Frannie. Give yourself a little credit, and also have some fun. Otherwise, the rest isn’t worth much.”

She closed the door behind him, feeling like something in her life had changed, perhaps forever
, maybe in a good way.

Juli arrived
within minutes. Luke teased her about looking for an excuse to come inside so she could admire her painting hanging on the wall. They didn’t stay long, saying they had to pick up Luke’s car and then Danny.

“
Did the sketching go well?”

“
It did. At least, I think so.”

“
You’re your own harshest critic.” Luke put his arm around her shoulders for a quick hug. “You missed a fine lunch.”

“
I smell barbecue.”

“
Play your cards right and maybe next time we’ll invite you.”

They both smiled silly smiles and went out the door.

Maia said, “I’d better get going, too.” She pulled on her jacket. “They’re my ride.” She gave Frannie a quick hug, told her brother to stay out of trouble, and then was gone.

Suddenly, it was
only the two of them.

Brian asked,
“Did we finish the conversation we started on the porch?”

His blue eyes
were warmer than they had any right to be. She backed around to the far side of the counter.

“
I think, yes, for now we’re done. It’s been a busy day.”

He sat on the stool.
“What was that about a swim?”

She shook her head.
“Nothing big. I was looking out at the ocean, my feet got stuck in the sand and when I tried to back out, I stumbled.”

“
I see.” He tapped his fingers on the counter top. “You probably don’t know, but Juli’s first husband died…in the ocean. It was pretty tough for everyone.” He shrugged. “For a moment, it threw me.”

“
I had no idea.”

“
You couldn’t. Besides, it’s history. People have to put the past where it belongs and get over things.”

“
Easier said than done.”

“
Maybe, if you let it be difficult.”

“
And you don’t?”

“
No. You’re talking about Diane? I’m definitely over her. Unfortunately, I have to deal with her because of Megan.”

Actually, she
’d been thinking about his grudge against Maia. His response about Diane surprised her. She let it drop.

“
What a day. First, breakfast with Juli. Then you walk in. Then I fall in the ocean. Joel, Maia and Luke show up for an impromptu lunch. And then you walk in, yet again.”

“
With the food.”

“
Yes, that’s an important detail. But then you torture me on the porch because you want to kiss me.”

He smiled and moved as if getting up from the stool.
“Is that what I did?”

“
Seemed like it to me.”

“
And now what?”

She let his question hang there. She had no answer. He reached across the counter and took her hand. He stroked her fingers with his own and she might
’ve had an answer soon, but a knock sounded on the side door.

“
Someone forgot something?” She cast a quick look around as Brian reached for the door.

A woman
’s voice said, “Hello?”

Brian stepped back and in walked Laurel.

She was perfect from her freshly styled blond hair and fair, unmarked skin to the sweater and jacket and the slacks that fit her with a deft combination of shape and drape. She held her clutch purse delicately, her fingers poised to show her manicure and the hands that would never be allowed to wear age spots. She strode in and then paused, as if hesitant. Softly, she said, “I hope I’m not interrupting?”

As Frannie struggled to find words, Laurel turned to Brian.

“I’m Laurel Denman. Frannie’s mom.”

She said it with the right timing, and with a tiny hitch in her voice to betray her uncertainty and hurt
—the hurt inflicted by her heartless daughter.

Brian accepted her hand.
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Denman. I’m Brian Donovan.”

“
Are you a friend of Frannie’s?”

He sort of shrugged, but it was more like he was trying to shake something off of his back. Laurel grabbed his hand, locking
it between her much smaller, softer hands. He cast a quick look at Frannie.

“
Yes, ma’am,” he said.

“
There are so few friends of hers that I know. Frannie doesn’t bring them home.” She patted his hand and then released him.

He stepped back and turned toward Frannie.

She tried to keep her face blank. Did she want him out of this? No witnesses for a scene that would surely not show her at her best? Or did she want him here as a bulwark to keep either of them from going too far?

Neither. Never mind Brian, she wanted Laurel out. OUT. Any way in which she had to make it happen was
fine with her.

“
Call me later, okay, Brian?”

Chapter Twenty

“
Call me later,” she’d said. Her blue eyes had gone as dark as midnight. It gave him chills.

He thought Fran was a hider, an avoider, and maybe she was, but she was also…
He couldn’t think of the right word. Dangerous?

One thing he knew, he wouldn
’t want to be surprised by her somewhere, anywhere, with that look on her face. He knew it was due to Laurel’s unannounced visit. He almost felt sorry for Mrs. Denman.

It kind of hit home, too. Was that what he
’d been doing to Maia? Punishing her with his attitude?

Call me later
, she’d said. The words echoed in his mind.

Mrs. Denman looked every inch a lady. Spoke that way, too. She probably had good cause to worry about Fran. And heaven knew, most any
adoptive mother would worry about her daughter chasing down her ‘roots’. So, given that he didn’t know what the heck was going on, he knew enough to recognize there were big problems between mother and daughter. He was more than happy to scoot. Contrary to his earlier assumptions, it was obvious Fran could defend herself fine.

He could get on with his day.

But he sat in the van, letting it idle and tapping on the steering wheel. That shiny Lexus must belong to Mrs. Denman.