The Things We Knew (18 page)

N
ick sat on the dock at the yacht club that Sunday afternoon, watched the boats come and go, and wondered how long he could stand the status quo. He'd met up with a couple of buddies earlier for a sail, but hadn't stayed out long. His heart wasn't in it.

Lynette Carlisle had infiltrated a part of him he'd long believed impenetrable.

The more time he spent with her, the easier it became to forget where he'd been, what he'd done.

He was even beginning to believe in second chances.

A blast of U2 rang out from the pocket of his shorts and he fished out his phone.

“I miss you. When are you coming back to the city?” Mindy's voice crooned in his ear. Nick scratched his head and tried to muffle a sigh.

“You're up early for a Sunday.”

“I couldn't sleep, Nicky. I was dreaming about you.”

“Mindy, seriously, stop.” Nick cut off her laughter. “Have you talked to your folks? Are we done with this stupid game of yours?”

“Not yet.” She gave an irritating sigh. “I'm just reminding you about the party next weekend. Your father says you're coming.”

“Oh, come on.” The upcoming shindig at the Vanguard's Cape Cod estate was the last place he wanted to be. Mindy was in no apparent hurry to make any rash moves.

“I told you I want out of this, Mindy. I wasn't making that up.”

“I know, Nicholas. You've been perfectly clear.” The chill in her voice reminded him of the frosty margaritas she liked so much.

“Do you really think this is fair to me?”

“Like you care what I think. As I said, I need time to sort things out. Daddy isn't in a good mood that often. I can't just spring this on him.”

Nick swatted at a fly. “It's not rocket science. ‘Dad, I'm in love with Horse. We're getting married.' I don't see the problem.”

“It's Horst, Nick.”

“Really?” He was glad she couldn't see his face, but he kind of wanted to see hers. He heard her shaky intake of breath. “Okay, sorry. Just don't take too long with this, please?”

“You know your father isn't going to be happy either.”

That he did. “Yeah. But you know what? I really don't care anymore.”

“I hope she's worth it.” She clicked off and Nick let out a groan, stared at his phone, and contemplated hurling it into the sea.

“Thought that was you, Cooper.”

Nick looked up and saw David Carlisle walking toward him. “Hey, David.”

“Been out on the water?”

“For a bit this morning.” Usually a few hours out there remedied all his problems. Not today.

“You sailing in Race Week?”

“Maybe. Jordy Cox is putting a crew together. What've you been up to?”

“Had lunch with a couple of friends.”

Nick didn't mask surprise when David lowered himself onto the bench beside him. “Sure you want to risk that? Gray might never talk to you again.”

David whipped off his cap and pushed fingers through his hair. “Some days that would be a blessing.”

“How's he doing?”

“Who knows?” David shrugged. A few days' worth of stubble covered his lower jaw. “He's been seeing a doctor. Seems to be serious about quitting.”

“You think he needs more rehab?” Some intensive psychotherapy might be advisable, too, but Nick wouldn't go there.

“Doesn't matter much what I think.” David pulled a stray thread at the bottom of his madras shorts. “Why don't you put your own crew together, Coop? I'll sail with you. Be like old times. We can drag Gray along too.”

Nick laughed at that. “Last time I saw your brother he could barely stand. Are you sure he can find his sea legs?”

“He'd have to find his brain first, but yeah.” David rolled his eyes. “Be good to get him out of the house, give him something to do.”

“Sure.” Nick doubted Gray would give the suggestion a second thought. He also doubted any of them would still be here next month. “You've been working pretty hard over there. The front looks good.”

On his way to work every morning Nick saw David up a ladder, repairing shutters, painting, and who knows what else. A couple mornings Gray had been outside as well, shuffling around, coffee in hand, trying to look busy. Nick was always half tempted to stop in, but never did.

“It's a money pit is what it is.” David leaned forward and scratched his leg. “Can't wait to get rid of it.”

Nick shoved down a sigh. “You're really going to sell?”

“You got a better idea?” Shadows underlined his eyes and made Nick wonder how much sleep the man was getting.

Had Lynette told her siblings about the bed-and-breakfast idea? He'd have to talk to her about that again. The idea wasn't totally ludicrous. And he hated the thought of Wyldewood falling into his father's hands. “What if I did?”

David's quizzical expression almost made Nick think he was talking to Drake. While Liz, Gray, and Lynnie had inherited Diana's fair hair and blue eyes, David and Ryan were all Drake.

“What, Nick? Just say what's on your mind.”

Nick shrugged. “Let me talk to Lynnie first. She had an idea. There might be another option.”

David didn't seem enthused. “Well, we still can't get hold of Ryan. I don't know if we can sidestep that stupid stipulation in my mother's will if he doesn't show up.” He pulled out his phone, studied it a minute, and shoved it back into his pocket.

Nick nodded. “Look, I know Gray doesn't want me hanging around, but if there's anything I can do . . .”

David stretched and let out a long groan. “Maybe Gray needs to let it go.” He stared Nick down, unsmiling. “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay.” Nick wiped damp palms on his shorts, tapped his Docksiders together, and waited.

David twisted the gold band on his finger. “Gray came to see me. The week after you guys had that fight over Christmas, when was it . . . a few years ago.”

“Five.” Nick knew what was coming, no time to prepare.

“I need to know if what you told him is true.” Something flickered in the other man's eyes—doubt, hesitation, Nick didn't know. But he sensed David already knew the answer to the question.

“Gray was my best friend.” Nick worked to keep emotion out of his voice. “Why would I make something like that up?”

David pushed at a small mound of sand with the tip of his sneaker and swore. “How did you find out?”

Sea gulls swooped around the masts of the yachts in berth. Music blared from a couple of the boats as crews swabbed down decks and polished brass. A group of grade-schoolers walked past wearing orange life jackets, heading toward the Sunfishes, and reminded him of happier days.

Nick's chest rose and fell as he struggled for the right words.

“I saw them. The first time, I was twelve. The summer my folks divorced and my mother left. They were in the pool house. I was supposed to be with a friend, but I wasn't feeling well so I came home.”

“There were other times?” David's voice hitched and he cleared his throat. He didn't look at Nick.

“Yes. She . . . your mom, uh . . . she would come over . . . to the house. My dad didn't care at that point. I don't think she thought I'd think twice about it.” His throat closed, further explanation impossible. Unnecessary.

Nick leaned back, inhaled salty air and sun block, and remembered.

Diana Carlisle appeared in his doorway, unannounced, unexpected. “What are you working on, Nick?” She wandered into his bedroom like she had every reason to be there. A thin cotton dress hugged her slender frame. At thirteen, Nick was just beginning to appreciate her beauty. What he didn't appreciate or understand was the way she flaunted it in front of his father.

He was so surprised to see her, he didn't attempt to hide the drawings spread out across his desk. She scanned his sketches of buildings and houses and tilted her head, a smile sitting pretty on her lips. “These are wonderful, sweetheart. I didn't know you were so talented.” She rested a light hand on his back, the heat of her touch making him want to jump from his chair.

He stayed put, pushed hair out of his eyes, and squinted up at her. “I want to be an architect. My father wants me to be a lawyer. Or work at the bank.”

Her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks flushed. A hint of rum mingled with her sweet perfume. She crouched before him, held
his wrists, and stared at him through sad eyes. “You listen to me, Nicholas. Don't let him control you. You're too good for that, you hear me? You can do whatever you want. Follow your heart, darling. Promise me?”

“Sure.” Nick swallowed down a weird lump in his throat and forgot about asking why she was here.

“I have to go.” She smiled, stood, and pressed her warm cheek to his. “Don't tell anyone you saw me, okay, Nick?”

Nick clasped his hands behind his head, his stomach churning. “She didn't think I would know what was going on.”

“Guess she underestimated you.” David batted his cap against the palm of his hand. “My mother was pretty naïve. A free spirit. Did her own thing most of the time, didn't care what anyone thought.”

“I'm sure she never intended to hurt any of . . . you.” He'd almost said
us
. But he didn't have the right to include himself anymore.

David lifted his shoulders, his eyes too bright. “I was already away at school when my parents started having problems. I didn't realize how bad it was. How much my dad was drinking. Or how she must have hated it.”

Nick pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don't think anyone else knew. After your mom died, I tried not to think about it. Until that day during Christmas break. Gray was so angry with your dad. I just . . . I didn't want him blaming Drake. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“Did my father know about the affair?”

Nick pondered the question. “Yeah, I'm pretty sure he did.”

“So wouldn't that have given him reason to . . . I mean . . . I don't know.” David smacked his cap again and stared at his feet. “I wish I would have woken up that day. Heard something earlier.”

A ripple of fear made its way down Nick's spine. “David, your dad would never have—”

“I don't know what he was capable of, Nick. When he was drunk . . . well . . .”

“But the police didn't take it any further; there wasn't an investigation. It was an accident.”

“Yeah. That's what they said.” David's voice dropped. “You haven't spoken to Lynnie about any of this, have you?”

Nick was quick to shake his head. “No. I don't intend to.”

“Good.” David pulled his cap back on. “She's stressed enough with working and worrying about Dad. And now she's got this babysitting job.”

Lynette was going to land herself in the hospital if she wasn't careful. “How long is she doing that for?”

“I didn't ask. Well.” David gave a half laugh. “I have a meeting with your father next week. Wants to talk to me about some hotel chain that might be interested in the house. That'll be fun.”

“He'd never tell Lynnie about the affair, if that's what you're worried about.”

“How do you know that?” David's eyes scrunched together.

Nick watched a long navy sloop head out to sea, white sails billowing as it picked up speed. Wondered if Gray would actually consider sailing with him again. “He just wouldn't.” Somehow he had to believe that.

“If you say so.” David cracked his knuckles and gave him a sidelong glance. “What's up with you and my sister, Cooper?”

Nick allowed a smile and crossed one leg over his knee. “Not much.” Not as much as he wanted.

David nailed him with a look Nick recognized all too well. “Like I said, Lynnie has enough to worry about. You'll answer to me if you hurt her. I'm sure you understand.”

“Yeah, I understand. Your sister isn't a kid anymore. You can't order her around. Me either, by the way.”