Valentine's Child (26 page)

Patrice’s response to this was to make a sideways comment about Sherry. Sparks had flown then. Mandy might have just met Sherry, but Patrice had slurred her
mother!
Swords were drawn, so Jake had quickly hustled the slightly befuddled Craigs outside to view the ocean. When they’d all returned it was to absolute, total silence, with Patrice at one end of the room and Mandy at the other. Mandy then slid him a look of “I’ve had enough already” and Patrice stood iron straight, lips thinned with fury and disappointment — a posture he knew only too well.

The tree house had been Mandy’s way to get her father alone, Jake realized after he’d scrambled up after her. She couldn’t know the memories it evoked for him. Jake hadn’t set foot inside the place since the last time with Sherry, and he’d had to fight stirring emotions he wanted to quash forever.

He and Mandy had been forced to share a section on the far side of the structure that had escaped the worst of the rot, but that was okay with Mandy. Although she hadn’t said so, he could tell she enjoyed the tree house as only a kid can. For that, fighting his own feelings was worth it, and he’d settled against the hard slats at his back with a strange feeling of contentment.

Of course, Mandy had had other ideas. “What’s
her
problem?” she’d demanded right away, jerking her head in the direction of the house.

“Patrice?”

“Yeah,” she snorted, flipping back a braid and staring at him through huge eyes that were more like his than Sherry’s but reminded him of Sherry all the same.

“You mean, besides egomania.”

Laughter filled those blue orbs, held in check, however, since he was still the enemy, too. That, he’d figured out right away. Mandy might want to meet her parents but she was reserving judgment on whether to love them or not.

Love …
Such a difficult word and one that seemed to come so easily to him all of a sudden. For years he couldn’t face it, or voice it, or believe in it. Now, within the space of a few weeks, he realized he’d loved Sherry all along and that he loved Mandy immediately, no holds barred.

Except he didn’t love Sherry anymore, he reminded himself.

“Was she always like that?” Mandy asked curiously.

“To varying degrees.”

“I wouldn’t trust anything she said. She wants to get people.”

It was Jake’s turn to stare. He couldn’t deny it, but his daughter’s perception got to him. “She’s difficult.”

“She hates my mother, doesn’t she? She didn’t come right out and say it, so I said it.”

Jake frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I said, ‘Why do you hate my mother so much? What did she ever do to you?’ and she got all testy and puffed up.”

He could picture Patrice, ready to explode. “I’ll bet.”

“Why does she hate her?”

“Because …” Jake hesitated, picking through his words.

But Mandy wasn’t one to wait. “Because?”

“Because I loved her,” he decided after a long moment. “Patrice sensed something I didn’t even know, and she did everything she could to keep us apart.”

“I thought you wouldn’t marry her.”

“It never came to that.”

Mandy nodded and murmured, “Ah …” in understanding. Staring down at her hands, a line forming between her brows, she asked softly, “You didn’t know about me, did you? Patrice made a crack about you not knowing.”

As angry as Jake was at Sherry, he didn’t want to hurt her further, but neither did he want to lie. “No, I didn’t.”

“What happened when she told you the truth?”

Thinking of that night, Jake made a face. He’d let Sherry down. He’d let himself down. “I — totally lost it.”

That had made her grin. “I’ll bet,” she echoed with his identical inflection, and then they were both laughing.

And for a shining moment Jake had been thoroughly and completely happy. He couldn’t recall ever being so happy, in fact, except for the hours he’d spent with Sherry.

Now, as he gazed out the makeshift window toward the beach and watched faint streaks of sunlight peek between the gray clouds, he searched his feelings and realized he was going to have to get over thinking about Sherry and concentrate on Mandy instead. She was his family now. No one else. Not even Patrice.

Drawing a deep breath and exhaling carefully, Jake reached into his back pocket and pulled out the series of canceled checks that Patrice had given him. He looked at them daily. He had to constantly remind himself of Sherry’s treachery or he would go back to her like a big, stupid puppy, desperate for love.

But his love was for Mandy. Only Mandy. He would see her as much as possible and she could absorb all his love. He didn’t need Sherry. He didn’t need anyone else.

Her signature scrawled so boldly and defiantly across the back of the checks infuriated him. He crumpled the checks with his fist. His hand hurt. He wanted to crush them to pulp. But then the spurt of rage and betrayal slipped away, turned to emptiness — a vast wasteland of nothing.

He just wanted to lie down and die.

“Damn you, Sherry,” he muttered, swallowing hard. “Damn you …”

“Since when do you want to sell me your partnership?” Dee demanded, glaring at Sherry as if she were a recalcitrant child.

Sherry put the finishing touches on a five-foot-long hero sandwich that was being made for one of their customer’s kid’s twelfth birthday party. “Since I decided to move on. My daughter lives in California and — ”

“You’re planning to move to California?” Dee asked.

“Not immediately. I don’t want to alarm the Craigs. But I think I’ll start making some changes. I’ve got some money saved — enough to get by on for a while. I do have a debt to pay back, she added ironically, “but I should have some left over for some traveling. Maybe I’ll move to Hawaii for a few months and lie around in the sun and drink mai-tai’s.”

“You’ll go crazy,” Dee predicted.

“Probably.”

“Sounds like all you want is a change. You don’t have to sell, you know. I can get someone to work for a while, so you can go find yourself.”

“I’ve found myself. Finally,” Sherry declared. “After being in limbo it’s all over now, and I can get on with my life. When Mandy showed up on my doorstep, that started it all.”

Dee examined Sherry thoughtfully as she wrapped the hero in plastic wrap. Then they worked together to lift it to the top of the counter just as their customer walked through the door with about ten boys to help her haul it out to the car.

When they were alone again, Dee questioned, “What about Mandy’s father?”

Sherry shrugged. “What about him?”

“What’s his role in all this?”

“I haven’t talked to him.” Sherry was blasé.

“Ah …sounds like there’s still unfinished business. Oh, I know, I know!” she said, lifting her hands to ward off the protests already forming on Sherry’s lips. “You told me what happened between you. I heard it. But it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings, and to my mind, she’s been pretty quiet.”

Sherry didn’t want to argue with her, but she couldn’t let that one go by. “He thinks I took that money for myself, Dee.”

“Of course, he does! All you have to do is tell them the truth.”

“I took some money for my mother. I did take it.”

“Your aunt Elena took it.”

“For my mother. I could’ve stopped her. I could have found another way to make everything right.”

“Oh, honey.” Dee shook her head.

“Anyway, I’m paying Patrice Beckett back,” Sherry said, her voice quavering. “I’ve got the cashier’s check already.”

“You did what you thought was right for your mama, and no one can blame you for that,” Dee said kindly.

“Oh, yes, they can. And they do.” Sherry’s voice was low with emotion. She had to get out of this conversation fast, or she was going to break down altogether. “I can’t decide whether to send it, or give it to her in person.”

“Oh, in person!” Dee was definite. “Make sure you look that bitch right in the eye and tell her it’s over.”

Sherry managed a half laugh. “Thanks, Dee.”

With a last, hard hug, Dee let her go. “Well, I’m not letting you sell out just yet. And you owe me my vacation in August. So, go do what you have to do, but you’re still half-owner until I say differently.”

“Okay.”

“And you let Mandy’s father know about this payment to his mother. The way you described her, she might not tell him.”

“Oh, I’m sure she won’t. But believe me, it won’t matter. It’s over between us forever.”

“Well, it’ll buy you back your self-respect. And that can get you anything,” Dee said, sounding sage.

Sherry smiled sadly. She knew better. J.J. hated her for taking his family’s money, and that was that. All she could hope for now was that he wouldn’t poison Mandy’s mind against her, too.

“Thank you, Jake,” Jill Delaney said for about the fiftieth time. “Thank you so much!”

“You’re welcome,” he answered into the receiver, “But it’s Jennifer Seeley who hired you.”

“But it was only after you stopped by this morning that I became a full-time employee!” she reminded him.

“It’s Crawfish Delish’s gain,” he muttered, wishing he could get her off the phone. He didn’t do well with gushing enthusiasm. It always made him feel like a fake, somehow.

But Jill wasn’t about to give up. “It’s like Christmas in February! My mother’s come to stay and take care of the kids for a while and Tim’s actually been trying to catch up on some back payments. I can’t believe it. Everything’s just about perfect. When I think where I was just a few weeks ago… Well, you never know, do you?”

No, you never do.

“I’ll stop by tomorrow with this month’s rent and a little extra.” She actually laughed with delight. “You may own everything in town, but you’re one heck of a nice guy, Jake Beckett!”

Her words should have cheered him up. They should’ve at least registered. But since Mandy’s exit he’d been in a blue funk that couldn’t be lifted, no matter how much he berated himself. Maybe it was time for another run on the beach. Maybe it was time for a change.
Something…

Jake was bent down to change his shoes when his intercom buzzed. “Someone to see you,” Barb announced.

If it’s Caroline or my mother…
Jake thought savagely, jerking to attention. Since the night Patrice had given him the checks, he’d scarcely spoken to either of them. Yesterday, Caroline had left a message on his answering machine saying she was finally considering taking the job in Seattle. He felt a pang of remorse then; Caroline deserved better. But it quickly faded away because it was all for the best, anyway. It would have never worked between them, no matter what happened.

As for Patrice… They hadn’t communicated in any form since Mandy had left. A blessing, Jake thought, less and less convinced his mother’s machinations were to benefit the family and more than a little sure she was only looking out for her own best interests.

What’s best for you…

Jake shuddered — footsteps walking on his grave. Preparing himself for a battle of wills if this unexpected guest should turn out to be Patrice, and a battle of unwanted emotion if it should be Caroline, Jake faced the door… And was surprised when a strange woman stepped across his threshold. She was vaguely familiar-looking, however, and he fought to place her. He’d seen nearly everyone in Oceantides at one time or another. Hell, he’d probably gone to high school with her.

“Mr. Beckett, you don’t know me,” she began uncomfortably, “but I work at the Seacliff Motel. I’m one of the maids.”

Memory surfaced. When he’d picked up Sherry to take her to Seattle, she was the maid who was cleaning rooms. A Beckett employee, he thought ironically. “I remember you from the other day.”

She seemed pleased he’d recalled her. “That’s right. I was there when you came to pick up Sherry Sterling.”

Jake’s brows lifted. She knew exactly who Sherry was.

“My name’s Lindy,” she explained hurriedly. “Annie Winters is my sister. Caroline’s friend from high school …?” She waited for Jake to make the connection. He remembered Annie but he hadn’t seen her since graduation, so he merely shrugged and waited for Lindy to go on. “I was a few years younger than you guys. My dad kind of got in financial trouble and we lost our house, so we all moved away, but I came back. But none of that matters,” she added, apparently realizing she was rambling on. “When I saw Sherry I wondered if you two still had a thing, but then everyone said you and Caroline were engaged.”