Prelude of Lies (14 page)

Graham shook his head. “We’re working on the office. Come and see.”

Sydney put the car in gear and drove toward the office. The lights were out and she had no idea what Graham was talking about.

As she turned off the headlights, the lights around the building blazed on. The paint gleamed, still probably wet, but perfect. Flowers poked out of the gardens and the fountain sputtered before coming to life. Sydney got out of the car and stared in amazement.

Landscape lighting lined the sidewalk, the repaired board sidewalk. The front porch of the office now held two brand new benches and several pots spilling over with beautiful flowers.

The sign was what caught her eye though. Placed right beside the door:

Brookside Campground and Resort.

Sydney and Daisy Brooks, proprietresses.

In loving memory of Del Brooks.

Tears filled Sydney’s eyes. Daisy nudged her arm as the door opened and light filled the interior. Following the welcoming glow, she stopped inside the door, moving only to allow Daisy to stand beside her.

Their day’s work still intact, the new changes were stunning. Comfortable furniture filled the space they’d designated as the reception and waiting area. Mature potted plants hugged the corners, giving the room a homey feel. The desks now housed everything needed for office work. Framed prints of the campground in earlier years covered the walls and soft music played in the background.

“How? What? Who?” Daisy sputtered behind her.

“We all pitched in.” Marshal motioned to the office area. Every man in the campground, including Tucker’s crew and Jace, now stood on the porch.

“You guys have had such a rough time of it. We all can’t help but feel we’ve held you back. You’ve opened your property to us. We wanted to give something back. You don’t deserve what’s happening around here. We’re not leaving until whoever is messing with you is caught.”

“You guys are incredible. This is wonderful. Thank you so much.” Daisy started down the line, hugging each in turn.

Words escaped Sydney. No one had ever done anything like this for her before. Her hands shook and she didn’t know what to say. She finally found her voice as she wiped at her tears. “Ditto.”

Following Daisy, she hugged each man. She couldn’t help but wonder whose idea this makeover had been and didn’t miss the barely concealed animosity between Tucker and Graham.

“The phone lines are in, but it’ll be Monday before they’re hooked up. The satellite Internet is back in business, too. And the electric work for the office and house is finished.” Jace pointed to the lines.

“How did you do that?” Sydney blurted out. “The electrician said Monday.”

“Turns out he and I went to school together. When I explained the deal you guys were forced to make, he came out on his own time to take care of this part.” Jace grinned.

Sydney couldn’t help it, she hugged him tight, not caring what kind of spectacle she made of herself.

Marshal cleared his throat from behind her. “The house . . . the air conditioners work, the dead animals are gone, and we removed all the damaged furniture. It doesn’t stink anymore, but I’m afraid you’ll probably have to do more repair work than you thought, but you should be able to move in soon.”

Sydney hugged him, wondering what Jace would say next. She seemed to be caught between these two trying to outdo each other.

“All the plants you wanted are on order and will be placed early next week. My guys want to do the house painting. All you need to do is pick a color.” Tucker smiled, and Sydney watched as Daisy hugged him. “We moved a few jobs back so we can make sure this place is perfect when you open. No problem.” Tucker’s grin at Daisy’s second hug made Graham turn green. Wow.

“The stones for the parking area will be delivered in the morning, hopefully before the inspectors arrive. I talked the guy into throwing in a spreading crew. He was more than willing after hearing your story.” Graham glared at Tucker.

The stones had been a huge deal. They hadn’t been able to talk the quarry into delivering them for at least another month. Daisy squealed and hugged him, the same tug of war going on for her sister.

“He’s also dropping your order for the campsites off. We’ll have to spread those though.” That earned Graham an extra squeeze.

“You’ll be able to work from the house with the wireless Internet we set up.”

“We’ll replace the faucets in the kitchen.”

And on it went. Sydney was stuck in the middle of a childish game of “My dad is bigger than your dad.” Interrupting their banter, she thanked them again, the words coming from her heart even though their current behavior irritated her to nearly a screaming level.

“Sydney. We found this in the closet.” Marshal pointed to a battered box on the coffee table.

“What closet?” She went to Marshal, an ominous prickle at the back of her neck.

“There was a false front in the bathroom storage. We didn’t open it.” Marshal sounded a little freaked.

When Sydney read the top of the box, she understood. The frayed and dried edges of the layers of duct tape even deterred her. The message printed on top was kind of frightening.

This box intended for Sydney Brooks. Anyone who tries to reveal the contents will face my wrath, either in life or death.

Yep. Creepy.

Still, Sydney brushed the remaining dust away, melancholy washing over her. Gramps had hidden this box for her.

She hopefully now possessed his journals.

Maybe she also possessed some answers.

CHAPTER 13

Daisy woke early, before the sun and Tucker’s arrival. Why was he her first thought every morning? She stretched and tried not to think about Tucker, which wasn’t hard when she remembered her mother would also show up this morning. She still had no idea what she’d say to her or how she would react.

Her mother was only interested in the money she thought Daisy inherited. If it wasn’t for Violet, none of this would be about to take place. A burning sensation spread from her stomach to her chest. She needed to hang on to that anger.

Something crashed near the office. Fear had her out the door and down the path before she realized the stone delivery Graham arranged had arrived. She turned to go back to the cabin, a creepy chill covering her neck and legs. The temperature was chilly this morning, but this breeze felt like winter.

The fine hairs on her body seemed to stand and she rubbed her arms to try to dispel the chill. The cold air swirled around her, moving from her ankles to her neck and then back. Something brushed her face, like a hand or a feather, and she turned to find nothing. She took a step, her legs heavy and her brain confused. There was a weight on her back, as if she tried to carry someone twice her size. Each step was a chore, but somehow she managed to move her feet in rapid succession, finally running and feeling the pains and weights drop from her body.

What the hell?

Her whole body shook as she kept running. Up until right now, she’d always felt safe here. She’d lurked around the campground at any time of the night and had never been creeped out. It was like she moved with some kind of invisible protection in the past.

Obviously, that protection wasn’t present this morning. What if Sydney had helped her guardian cross over and now she’d face the world on her own? Did she even believe that? Catching her breath, she entered the cabin to find Sydney at the table.

“Couldn’t sleep. You okay?” Sydney looked up.

“Weirdest thing happened,” Daisy said, then explained what she’d experienced, watching the shock and worry on her sister’s face.

“We’re messing with the environment. Sometimes that incites paranormal activity. You told me that.” Sydney shook her head as if she didn’t believe she’d repeated those words.

“Yeah. I did. I couldn’t see anything, but I sure felt it.” She ran her hands over her arms.

“Maybe your conflicting emotions about your mother’s impending visit and the inspection have something to do with what happened.” Again with the head shake.

“I don’t know. Oh shit, Syd. What if she shows up during the inspection?” She banged her head on the table, too hard.

“We’ll have one of the guys watch for her. Tucker will probably do it.”

“She’s my problem.”

“Wrong. She’s
our
problem. You have to be present for the inspection or we don’t pass. Violet probably planned Nadine’s arrival. That bitch.” Sydney rose and paced around the table.

“I’m sure she did. Okay, fine. Tucker can handle Nadine if she shows and we’ll deal with the rest later. No problem. I’ll talk to him when he gets here.” Daisy tried to sound confident, even though she didn’t feel that way.

“Good. Let’s get going. We’ve got an hour before Uncle Al gets here.” Sydney disappeared into her room, leaving Daisy alone to try to organize her nerves.

An hour later, Al parked on the newly spread stones in the parking area, surprise on his face. The inspector also appeared surprised, but also a little skeptical. Was he now going to quit being fair?

A third man stepped out of the car and looked around. Daisy had never seen him before and wondered who he was. She glanced at Sydney who shook her head. New rules, probably. New Vile Violet rules. This could not be good.

Al approached, his usual easy manner and friendliness absent. Yet, he winked. “Good Morning, ladies. You know Edgar. This is Peter Green, mediator. Violet feels our relationship has influenced Edgar. She now insists we bring a second opinion inspector each week. We’re not to use the same person twice.” Al rolled his eyes so only they could see.

Shaking hands with the men, Sydney’s smile was pleasant. Most definitely fake. “Shall we get started then? We’d like to show you the office area.” Sydney led the way.

Neither man seemed to own a face that didn’t border on grumpy. Not even a grimace when they told them about the snakes and the deer. The inspection seemed to take forever. Daisy couldn’t help but stare over her shoulder for the ominous presence of her mother. Tucker would alert her if she showed. She needed to keep smiling and trying to hurry this up without seeming like they were trying to hide anything.

Finally back at the car, Edgar’s pinched expression was now gone. “You ladies are doing a fantastic job here. Pass.”

He ducked and got into the car.

“I only have the before pictures I saw to go on, but the difference is remarkable. Pass.” The mediator returned to his seat and Daisy did her best to keep still.

“Same bonus as last week. You gals are in good shape.” Al stepped toward them and lowered his voice as he handed Daisy an envelope. “Violet in two weeks. Just so you know.”

Daisy couldn’t stop thinking about different things she could do to drive Violet crazy when she showed up for inspection in two weeks. If she dug random holes and covered them with leaves, she could trap the horrible woman. Paint buckets in doorways, the snakes, or maybe the bathhouse that seemed to be a mosquito breeding ground. All were good ideas, but too obvious.

“Get the revenge ideas out of your head. We couldn’t get away with any of that stuff.” Sydney elbowed her in the ribs.

“What are you, a mind reader now?” Daisy asked.

“I was thinking about taking her out on the pond and showing her the fish we found. Or the caves on the edge of the property.” Sydney giggled.

The fish was one of the biggest Daisy had ever seen. She didn’t remember the pond ever having such huge fish. Now, they seemed to be awash in hideously huge carp. The caves were the winter resting place of a family of bears. So far, they hadn’t bothered them, and Daisy hoped it stayed that way. According to the conservation ranger she talked to, the bears would move on soon.

“You’re bad.”

“You were thinking the same thing.” Sydney waved at the retreating car, her face frozen into a polite smile.

Probably matched hers. “Paint cans, snakes, and the mosquito breeding ground.”

“Yeah, but we’ll have that done before she arrives.” The bathhouse contractor was due to start today.

“Damn. Too bad.”

As soon as the car pulled away, Daisy let her shoulders slump. “We did it.”

“Not without help.” Sydney yawned.

“I know. We’re lucky. And we’re stupid. Why did we let them talk us into staying up until four for nothing?” She glared at Marshal’s cabin, where it remained quiet.

“Because we owe them. Last night was pretty lame, wasn’t it? We didn’t even see a thing. What’s up with that? And then you have an experience this morning.” Sydney kicked a rock as they stopped in front of the stones for the campsites.

“Holy shit, this is going to kill us.” The enormous pile would take them the rest of the week to spread, even with the extra help.

“Don’t look now, but I think Nadine is here.” Sydney’s gaze went beyond where Daisy stood.

Taking a deep breath, she turned, shocked at the petite woman who trailed after a pissed-off-looking Tucker.

“I tried to call you. No signal.” He held up his phone. “She wouldn’t wait.” Breathless, Tucker stopped in front of her.

Daisy nodded at Tucker with a wry smile, trying to decide if this woman could really be her birth mother. She regarded her with no emotion. Nadine stared back with hard, calculating eyes, her face finally crumpling into the fakest tears Daisy had ever seen.

“Oh, my baby. My baby. I’ve tried to find you for so long. Oh. You are so beautiful. Come here.” Nadine held her arms out.

Daisy stepped back.

“Don’t you know me? I’m your momma. I told you I would be back.”

Daisy retreated again. “You’re not my momma. I have momma and you never were and you never will be her. What do you want?”

At her harsh tone, the woman, her birth mother, stopped the fake crying and glowered at her.

“I was told you were beside yourself missing me and I rushed to see you. What kind of people did I leave you with that you turned into such an ungrateful brat?” Venom dripped from her words.

“You left me with people who love me and taught me how to be a good person. I shudder when I think of what I would have turned into had you not dumped me when I became inconvenient to you. You did me a favor.” Daisy held on to the anger she’d found this morning. Gone were the hurt and questions. She could see now that she’d been a very lucky child.

“What do you know about me? How dare you judge me? You have no right.” Nadine screamed, shaking her finger in a ridiculous gesture.

“I have every right to judge you. I’m the one and only person who has that right. You abandoned me. Left me to go party and spread your legs for any member of your beloved band that would do you.” Daisy kept her tone even and her volume low. “See? I know plenty about you.”

“You owe me. I gave up so much when I had you. You ruined my figure and gave me these terrible stretch marks. You wrecked my body.”

Sydney stepped forward, but Daisy grabbed her arm.

“I didn’t ask to be born. Is Joe Brown really my father? Or just a name you made up?” Daisy held on to Sydney’s arm when she tried to take a step forward. She wouldn’t stop her, but she’d have to wait until Daisy spoke her mind.

“How dare you? You little slut! How dare you speak to me that way?” Nadine’s hands shook as she reached into her pocket for a pack of cigarettes.

“How dare you show up here thinking I’m going to be glad to see you? I would have been glad when I was four, six, or nine, or even sixteen, but not anymore. You are not my mom and you never will be. And how dare you call me a slut? You don’t even know me.” Daisy stepped back and released Sydney’s arm.

“Do you know what I spent to come to you? I heard you needed me so badly. I dropped everything, even quit my job to come and rescue my baby.” The fake tears started again, stopping long enough for Nadine to take a drag from her cigarette and blow out the smoke.

“It was nice of you to visit, but you really should be going.” Sydney moved toward Nadine, her tone pleasant but firm.

“Who the hell are you? Don’t tell me. Nancy’s baby girl. Half-owner of this hellhole. I heard all about how you think you’re entitled to a bigger cut of the property because you’re blood related. Well, let me tell you something . . .”

“Lady, you have no idea what you’re talking about. How much did she offer you to come here and cause trouble?” Sydney was now inches from Nadine’s face. “Go away.”

“I have a right to be a part of my daughter’s life. Damn you, move and let me talk to my baby.”

“You gave up that right when you signed the adoption papers without even asking how Daisy was doing. Don’t come here expecting to be a part of her life. She has family. Family that loves and supports her. I am her family and I will not let you hurt her.”

Daisy had to admit, Sydney had an impressive way. Nadine seemed to shrink a little, not that she’d seemed very big to begin with.

“Her name is Starshine. My little Starshine.” Nadine pushed Sydney away and took a step, with her arms out toward Daisy.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Daisy yanked her arm away when Nadine tried to touch her, her legs shaking. “Go to hell.” She was done with this. She wanted answers, not this drunken whore.

“I’m already there, baby. I need your help to get out.”

The pleading hacked at her resolve. Daisy took a deep shaky breath. She couldn’t let this woman suck her in.

“No. You had your chance. Obviously, you didn’t love me enough to stay clean. Why would now be any different? You love your drugs and booze and whore-men more. I hope they take care of you when you’re old, because you won’t have me to do that for you.” Her chest burned and she fought tears, but she walked away with her head held high. The last thing she heard was Sydney asking Tucker to escort Nadine from the property and Nadine swear she’d be back.

Daisy leaned against the side of the cabin and banged her head a few times. She wanted to scream, cry, and pound her fists like the tantrums her mother should have had to deal with when she was little, but didn’t. She wanted to know why. Damn it. Why she hadn’t been enough to keep her mother straight? Why hadn’t her mother loved her enough to stay clean? Why hadn’t she wanted her?

Instead of the sobs working their way to the surface, she let out one of Sydney’s screams. Half-expecting Sydney to run to her, Daisy didn’t know whether to take a walk or stay put. She needed her sister, but at the same time, needed time to make sense of Nadine’s angry words and ‘you owe me’ attitude. What kind of mother blamed her child for ruining her life and wanted payment for stretch marks?

Never once had her mom said those things to Sydney. She’d never complained about the stretch marks. She’d always said they were her badge of honor for delivering such a beautiful child. The way she’d used her words hadn’t made Daisy feel bad for not giving her any.

Really, Nadine
had
done her a huge favor by dumping her. She most likely would have turned out just like the woman. Though, she still wondered if she did have some of her mother’s tainted ways. So many things she’d done might be because of the crappy DNA she’d inherited.