Waterfront Weddings (50 page)

Maybe he’d misinterpreted her signals that she wanted him to leave her alone.

It rankled, but he’d honor it. Didn’t mean he had to relax before she made it home. He’d feel ridiculous if she’d slipped in and was tucked in her bed sound asleep while he played night watchman. He could think of a few choice things to call himself, including fool.

He rubbed his neck where the breeze snuck under his collar. Kind of like how Alanna had slipped under his guard. Amazing how one could spend eleven years actively forgetting someone, only to have the walls tumble down the moment she reappeared.

The cicadas sang their lullaby, loud and in tune. The faint scent of pine slipped around him as the trees rustled. He glanced at the Indiglo symbols on his watch. He’d give her fifteen more minutes then call to make sure he hadn’t missed her.

The evening had wasted his time, plain and simple. He couldn’t identify Gerald’s game, but it annoyed him. He’d joined the foundation board before Gerald became president. Ever since he could make better use of his time at home. Then to have Gerald delay any decision on his proposal. . . Jonathan had to force his anger back. He wouldn’t jump too many more times for the man.

In fact, if he invested more time in working with the island’s many bed-and-breakfasts, he’d land plenty of new projects. And it wouldn’t mean the silly games the older man threw around in some twisted power play. Come on, this was a small town on a small island. There were much bigger things to invest his time in than a tug-of-war over who had the last say.

Something crunched on the road. He stood and took a step to the edge of the porch. Was that Alanna?

He toyed with acting nonchalant and ignoring the sound, but he needed to know she was okay. Gerald had something on her, but Jonathan didn’t think she knew it yet.

He rubbed his hands over his head. Time to get a haircut. But that would mean stopping by the Grand and seeing Jaclyn. Right now he didn’t want the complication. He bit back a yawn. When had she become a complication in his life?

He didn’t want to answer, so he walked down the path to the road. His steps crunched through the debris of fallen leaves and branches. He wouldn’t sneak up on whoever worked their way up the road. It was too dark to see much, except what the small light on the approaching bike illuminated. The bike turned onto the drive to the Stone home.

Slowly he released a breath. At least now he knew she was home. He glanced at his watch again and frowned. Alanna shouldn’t be this late. What could he do? She didn’t want him to be her protector.

“Jonathan?” The word carried like a whisper over the stillness.

The song of peepers filled the quiet. In the morning, he should get down to the pond, see what changes had occurred as spring reached the island. Sounds crunched his direction, and he waited.

A soft sigh filtered toward him, and Alanna leaned against the split-wood fence lining the road.

“Long night?”

“Long week.” Her shoulders were pushed forward as if by unseen forces. “I never should have come back.”

Not this old argument. He’d tired of it. “Really? We all face the past.”

“But I’m learning things. Things that change what I’ve always thought.” She scrubbed her face with her hands. “I’m not making sense. That’s part of the problem. Nothing adds up.”

Jonathan considered the faint outline of her profile. Her shoulders slumped in a defeated slant. He stepped closer as he thought about how to respond. “Have you talked to your mom?”

“No.” She snorted. “Reaching her right now is like calling the president. No one’s answering when the number’s mine.” She pulled straight. “Can I ask you a question?”

He nodded then realized she might not be watching. “Sure.”

“What would you do if you caught your family in a lie? One that doesn’t necessarily hurt anybody, but it’s still a lie?”

“Depends.”

She didn’t respond at first, but he held his tongue. How much did she want to know what he thought?

“That’s the great wisdom you have to offer?”

He turned toward her and brushed his fingers along her jaw, noting the way she shivered. “Alanna, there’s a lot about my family I would change. Some days we get along, other days we can hardly stand each other. But we’re family. So I put up with some things. Most of what we do impacts nobody else. If my sister did something that hurt others, then I’d have to say something. Or if she hurt herself, I’d speak up. It’s part of being family.”

“But it’s not hurting anyone else.” Her words didn’t have the fierceness that came with conviction. “And I can’t anticipate the consequences.”

“What do you mean, consequences?”

“I’m not sure.” She sighed and pulled back from his touch. His fingers felt chilled by her absence. “But that’s my problem.”

“You’re an attorney. A good one. You can figure out the consequences. But I think you already know what you need to do.”

“It doesn’t mean I like it.”

He chuckled at the fight in her tone. “True. But aren’t families worth fighting for?”

She pushed from the fence and took a step toward home. “Thanks.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

“Yeah, friends.” She brushed hair from her face as she paused a few steps away. “I’ve meant to ask, did you ever catch Grandpappy?”

Her question surprised him. Grandpappy? “You remember that old fish?”

“The one that always got away?” A smile colored her words. “Of course. I take it you never caught him?”

“I didn’t have my good-luck charm.”

“I haven’t been that for a long time.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Good night, Jonathan.”

Jonathan stood there, rooted by the sensation of her quick kiss as she melted into the shadows. How much closeness could he handle?

The sound of her bike moving up to the house followed by the click of her door echoed in the stillness. He leaned against the fence as waves of memories crashed over him. The times they’d sat on the small dock “fishing” as an excuse to spend time together. He’d use worms while she pretended to fish with marshmallows. They’d sit shoulder to shoulder, ready to reel in the fish that lived in the pond, the descendants of the fish he and his grandpa had initially stocked the pond with.

At the time, he’d thought they’d spend the rest of their lives shoulder to shoulder, taking on the world.

Another dynamic duo. Poised to change the world.

Then life happened. The world changed.

And so did they.

A
lanna leaned against the door. What had she been thinking? Kissing Jonathan, even if on the cheek?

She covered her face with her hands and sank to the floor. She felt drained, exhausted. Yet her mind whirled. If she didn’t get some rest, the next day would be a nightmare. But all she could think of was her ridiculous question. Grandpappy? The island had muddled her brain. Why else would she ask about a fish? A fish?

That sealed it. If Jonathan hadn’t already decided he was better off without her, she’d left no doubts. Who would want to be with a woman who focused on a fish that had probably died years ago when her family overflowed with liars? Especially when she wasn’t sure she wanted to confront them and bring the truth to light.

Her mind hurt from the implications. At some point her mom had started selling her brother’s art as hers. She must add her signature to the corner after the paintings arrived. Alanna didn’t know whether she should hope Trevor knew about it or if she wanted him to be oblivious to the fact the paintings weren’t sold as his. But she couldn’t imagine her mom doing something like that.

Alanna pulled her knees up and lowered her forehead to rest on top of them. Cold seeped through the floor into her seat, but she didn’t move.

Her parents had dragged them to church growing up, but the extent of any faith seemed to end at the church doors. And many cold winter mornings, it had been easier to stay home than trek via snowmobile. It wasn’t until she started college and searched for answers to the mess of her life that she found a personal relationship with God.

In the years since, she hadn’t probed the depths of her parents’ faith. In the short pockets of time she had with them, it hadn’t seemed important. Now. . .

Now she wished she’d pushed.

Because as things stood, she couldn’t imagine how to start the conversation.
So, Mom, how long have you defrauded the world?
That couldn’t end well.

God, give me wisdom
.

A way to turn the problem around existed. She just needed to think creatively. That’s how she handled clients’ legal problems. Look at the situation from every possible angle. Examine it until she could finally find one that minimized the potential problems. The one that put them in the best possible position.

That’s what she’d do. Pretend her family was her client. For the moment, she’d ignore the fact that if she truly represented them, she’d have to choose, since a conflict existed between her mom and brother. That complicated the matter too much.

A yawn stretched her mouth to the point her jaw popped. Tomorrow she’d research the legal issues. Now she’d sleep.

The next morning when the shop stood quiet, Alanna turned on the computer and prepared to dive into the legal issues. Each time Alanna opened the search engine, her fingers froze, poised over the keys. If she started searching, she’d confirm the problem. She clicked over to LexisNexis and entered a search string. Hundreds of cases pulled up. This could take forever. She glanced around the studio. Guess it was a good thing the shop remained empty.

Alanna pulled up the first case and scanned the facts. Not relevant. She’d worked her way through the first twenty when the door opened.

Police Chief Ryan stopped just inside the door. “Miss Stone.”

“Hello, Chief.” She swallowed and tried to smile. “Do you know anything?”

“The trap was wiped clean. Without something there, we don’t have much to investigate.”

“Nobody else have an unpleasant surprise like this?”

“No, ma’am.”

Alanna nodded. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“Easy enough to do. Wish I had better news.” He slipped back out the door before Alanna could say anything else.

She turned back to the cases and read a few more before the door opened again.

“Good morning, sweetheart.”

Alanna’s head jerked up at her mother’s voice. “Mom?”

“Yes, ma’am. In the flesh.” Rachelle Stone looked like a radiant rose with her strawberry-blond hair piled in a loose chignon and an evergreen trench coat laced tight around her waist. Only the dark circles under her violet eyes gave any indication of her trials.

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Dad?”

“Trevor’s with him.” A cloud sailed across Mom’s face before she painted on another smile. “There’s nothing I can do for him, and we’re boring each other. The space will do us good. Besides, Trevor said you needed more art. Guess he’s tracked sales.”

“You can do that?”

“I can’t. But he can. He’s much savvier about technology.” Her mother waved a hand in the air then pulled off her gloves. “The Internet still baffles me.”

Alanna pulled in a deep breath. Was this God’s answer to her prayers? Sending her mom? “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I certainly hope so.” Mom loosened the floral scarf from around her neck. “I am your mother, and this is my home.”

“Yes.” Alanna bit her lip. “I have some things I need to talk about.”

The door opened again, and Mom spun on the heel of her pointed boot. “Ah, good.” She stepped toward the employee of the ferry service. “I trust you were gentle with the paintings?”

“Always am, Mrs. Stone.”

“That’s why I like you.”

Alanna rolled her eyes as her mother practically tweaked the grown man’s cheek, and he blushed. When had Mom developed this larger-than-life personality?

The man stacked the boxes against the wall, leaning each carefully next to the others. Alanna couldn’t wait to explore the contents even as she dreaded discussing them with her mom. What if Mom hauled them in back and added signatures?

Alanna closed the window on the computer. No need explaining her search to Mom. A few minutes later, Mom pressed a bill into the man’s hand, and he tipped his hat as he headed out with a whistle. Mom studied the stack of boxes.

“I really should have asked him to haul these to the back. Shortsighted of me.” She brushed a hand across her brow, and Alanna saw a flash of worry. “It’s amazing how quickly one loses the routine.”

Alanna slipped around the counter and hurried to Mom. She hugged her, concerned about how pronounced her shoulder blades felt. “I’m sorry about everything with Dad. How is he?”

“Good as can be expected. That’s what the doctors like to say. ‘But it’s going to be a long recovery.’” She bracketed the words then slumped. “The doctors are saying months. We’ll miss the whole season.”

“The whole season?”

“Yes, couldn’t do it without your help.”

Alanna swallowed hard as Mom sank deeper into her hug. “I can’t stay that long. I’ll be lucky to last another week, maybe two, before the partners demand my return.”

“We need you here.”

“I have a job.”

“We’re your family.” Mom pushed away and studied Alanna. “You’ve hidden long enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if one good that comes from this is you giving up your ridiculous phobia of Mackinac.”

“Mom. Maybe Trevor could come. Take care of the studio when I need to leave.”

“You know he can’t do that.” Mom planted her hands on her hips and jutted her chin out. “He can’t until everything’s cleared up. You, on the other hand, have acted like a child long enough. He had to endure two years of people looking at him like he should have died rather than Grady. You left for college. You weren’t involved in the stunt like he was.”

“It’s not that simple. Besides, I don’t think anyone else still thinks about it like we do. Maybe we’re fixated.”

“Don’t muddy the water, young lady. Your experience is not your brother’s.”

The door opened, and Alanna looked up, hoping for some relief from the intense conversation. Her heart sank as Mr. Tomkin entered.