The voice was muffled by the shirt, so Ryan pulled it down and repositioned his phone at his ear. “Cordell—is that you?”
“Yeah. Why don’t you join us at Harree’s?” He was yelling over the din of voices and booming music in the background.
“I’m already in for the night.” Now fully dressed and sitting on the edge of his bed, Ryan frowned at his reflection in the mirror.
“Come on, man … the gang misses you. What happened to our friend, Mr. Wild-and-Crazy?”
“Cordell, I’m not into that right now. Have a good time, and I’ll see you in the office on Monday. Bye.”
He ended the call, fell back onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling. Life was not the same, and he wasn’t certain when the change began—nor did he know exactly what the change was.
Chapter 25
Neville, North Yorkshire, England
2016
The back room of the soon-to-open Tea & Scones filled with laughter. Letice and Susannah studied the menu they’d devised. There would be plentiful, yet manageable, items for Letice’s new tearoom.
Letice narrowed her eyes. “By the way, you never told me the juicy details of your run-in with Colin in Scotland.”
Susannah shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “You and Diann should’ve been sisters.”
“Come on, give me the goss.” Letice leaned in, her forearms resting on the table.
“If you insist.” Susannah recapped Colin’s surprise candlelit picnic at Slains Castle and their romantic walk along the beach.
“He did what?” she exclaimed, mouth gaping, and recovered. “That’ll be a fly in the ointment to Vita. She came by and showed me the research she’d done with the homeless housing. She fished for info about you and Colin. If he’d have her, she’d be all over him in a minute.”
Susannah made a rapid change of subject. “Letice, this tearoom is going to be amazing. I can’t believe the work you’ve done on this old shop. It’s so inviting, and you’ve captured the essence of the nineteenth century—a leap back in time.”
Letice gave Susannah that I-know-what-you-just-did look. She took the hint though and dropped the Colin subject. “Yes, well, except for the plumbing.” Letice’s hazel eyes flashed with amusement. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Susannah. You’ve helped, encouraged, and even pushed me past my comfort zone.”
“I haven’t done anything that a friend shouldn’t do. To see you fulfill your dream makes me so happy. And proud of you, too.” She tilted her head back. “Although …”
Letice’s eyes narrowed again. “Have I forgotten something? What’ wrong?”
“No, I was thinking I’ve earned a few complimentary raspberry scones for my efforts.”
She grabbed her forearm. “For all my life.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I don’t want to see my ninety-year-old friend hobbling down the street to bring me scones in my dotage.”
Letice shook her head. “Hey, don’t be cheeky. Besides—” She waved to encompass the room, “—this place may not even make it, after all.”
“Don’t be absurd. It will.” Susannah’s chin jutted out as she crossed her arms. “I finished my article on Neville for a travel publication, and I mentioned the most promising new tearoom in all of Yorkshire.”
∞∞∞
After weeks of traveling on business, Colin was glad to return home. He’d missed seeing his friends, and most of all, he missed Susannah. They’d communicated via e-mail, phone, and text messages, their relationship more promising with each passing day.
But he’d grown concerned when the previous week resulted in unreturned messages. In their months of friendship, she hadn’t done this except when she’d mistaken the identity of his cousin—a tricky moment, though they’d come through it well, thanks to Diann’s intervention.
He stepped from his car and approached Susannah’s door, knocked, and waited. No reply. He pulled out his phone and tried to reach her once more. No answer. He could hear her landline ringing from inside.
Looking around to see if he was being watched, he stooped to move a small rock in her flowerbed, which concealed her emergency key. Once inside, he moved toward the kitchen, calling out to her. No response.
A teacup and plate sat on the table. There was tea still in the cup, cloudy from sitting out too long, one of the biscuits on the plate had a bite missing. The chair stood a few feet from the table, positioned as if someone had merely stepped away for a moment.
He strode to her bedroom, calling her name once more. A scattering of clothes lay on the bed, dresser drawers hanging ajar. The closet door stood open, revealing several bare hangers. Next, he went into her office and found on the desk a rough draft of the Cruden Bay travel article she’d written. A few printed photographs from the trip littered its surface. He picked up a picture of Slains Castle and thought back to their dinner that night. A perfect night.
He’d enjoyed her company and holding her hand with the sound of waves and wind around them. She’d seemed to take pleasure in the night as much as he.
Replacing the photo, he noticed two envelopes propped against a tape dispenser, one addressed to him, the other to Letice. His fingers shook as he tore open the envelope, the sound ripping the silence. A small object fell out and pinged along the flagstone floor at his feet. Stooping to retrieve it, he found it to be a small silver pocket cross. Inside the envelope, he found a card.
Colin,
My life has taken an unexpected turn. I'm not sure if I'll return to Neville. It's out of my hands now. If my situation changes, I'll contact you. I know you, of all people, will respect my privacy. It would be best if you forget about me. Just let me go.
Susannah
Weakness overtook him, and he stumbled into the desk chair. He squeezed his eyes shut, not knowing what to make of it. It appeared that she’d left in a hurry. But why? Where?
He thought of Letice. Grabbing his phone, he frantically called her. “Letice, we need to talk,” he said, his voice brittle.
“Colin, what’s wrong?”
He ran his fingers through his dark hair—he had no voice.
“Are you there?”
He steeled himself and said with a tremble in his voice, “Letice, you need to come to Susannah’s right now.”
She gasped. “Colin, you’re scaring me. What’s happened?”
The note slipped from his fingers onto the desk and, with tears in his eyes, he said, “She’s gone.”
Chapter 26
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
2019
Colin strolled down the sidewalk snaking through Central Park. The early morning air had a crispness to it. He breathed deeply and slowed his pace, taking in his surroundings. He lowered himself to a park bench beneath an immense beech tree.
A man of stocky build, gray hair, and plenty of muscle approached him. He had a gleam in his eyes that defied his powerful physique, a quality Colin found both menacing and jovial.
“Good morning, Mr. Godwin.” Colin stood and presented his hand. “Trust you’re doing well today?”
“Well enough, Mr. Heard.” Scott Godwin presented Colin with a large brown envelope.
“All you asked for is here, except …” He paused while a young man in an expensive suit strode past.
“Yes, Mr. Godwin?” Colin took the envelope but made no move to open it.
“Except I can’t find any record of Mrs. Wilkinson’s death.” He rubbed a hand over his face.
“I don’t understand,” Colin said, skeptical. “What does that mean?”
“It’s possible she didn’t die in Louisiana. She was extradited to the U.S., but she did go through customs in New York and stayed a few days here before she was sent to Louisiana. With the new privacy laws in place, it’s become increasingly difficult to search out certain records. Those files are protected. Although unlikely, it’s possible she died en route. Yet, I can’t locate any record of that either. All seems kinda strange to me.”
Colin grew silent. He glanced at the package. Mr. Godwin cleared his throat.
“Mr. Godwin, thank you for your time and efforts. I have all the information I need. You’ve been very thorough given the brief time allotted.” He reached into his pocket and removed a plain white envelope and gave it to the man. “You may count it now if you’d like. I’ve included a bonus.”
“That won’t be necessary, Mr. Heard. I trust you. There was no need for the bonus—but I thank you all the same. Doin’ my job.”
“Thank you, again.” Colin stood, clutching the brown envelope.
Later, at his hotel, he walked to the large window overlooking Central Park. He could see the bench where he and Scott Godwin had met. He stretched out in the comfortable armchair next to the window. Still gazing over the park, he reached for the envelope. He stared at it and wondered if he should open it at all. Was this an invasion of Ryan’s and Susannah’s privacy? He desperately wanted to discover what happened. Why had she left? He rose and paced the room.
What had caused her to move to Neville and leave her new life there? What drastic event had caused her to go? Had he pushed her too fast?
No. He would never believe that she had left because of him. However, there was one thing he was certain of. He grabbed his phone and called Ryan’s office.
“Hello, Janet. This is Colin Heard. Is Ryan in?”
“No, sir. May I take a message?”
He slumped onto the sofa. “Yes, please. Will he be free for coffee sometime before lunch?”
“I’m looking at his appointment calendar, and he does have a free hour at ten this morning. Would that be convenient for you?”
“Yes, will you have him meet me at the coffee shop on the first floor of your building, please?”
“Yes, sir—my pleasure.”
He heard the smile in her voice. “Have a nice day.” Colin propped his elbows on his knees and let his wrists hang limp, his head bowed. Why had he pursued the investigation? He had to unburden himself to Ryan. Maybe he should’ve never come. He desperately needed to know what had happened to this woman he’d grown to love.
∞∞∞
Colin chose a booth at the coffee shop, his eyes focused on the door. He sipped his Earl Grey, trying to get his thoughts together on what he’d say to Ryan. He wasn’t sure how his confession of snooping in his mother’s business would go.
He let out a low sigh when he saw Ryan approaching. “Good morning. Thank you for meeting on such short notice.” He hoped the lump in his throat wasn’t evident in his voice.
Ryan lowered himself into the booth. He opened his mouth to speak when the server approached.
“What will you have, Ryan?” The server smiled broadly.
“My usual, Cindy. Thanks.”
“So, what do you have on your mind? Advertising is still working on your project, so I don’t have anything to report.”
“That’s fine. I’m here about something else.” Colin placed a white envelope on the table and slid it forward.
“What’s this?” Ryan didn’t reach for it.
“A letter that I hope you’ll read when you’re alone. Right now, I need to say something to you.” Colin cleared his throat and was about to begin when Cindy came back with Ryan’s coffee.
“There you go.”
They thanked her and returned to their conversation.
“I need to apologize to you.”
Ryan brought his gaze from the envelope to meet Colin’s eyes. “What for? I don’t understand.”
Colin looked away, searching for the right words to begin. He said a silent prayer for strength. “Ryan, I must ask your forgiveness for something I’ve done. After I spoke to you at Horden Castle and found out that you were Susannah’s son, so many unanswered questions bombarded me. I was a man obsessed to learn the truth. I even hired a private investigator.” He reached to the booth seat and produced the larger envelope. “This is his report. I haven’t opened it.” He pushed it toward Ryan. “I couldn’t.”
Ryan stared at it, his forehead wrinkled.
“I don’t expect you to understand my feelings toward your mother. We were getting to know each other when she left, but I did care for her.” He stared intently at Ryan, searching his eyes. “Will you forgive me?”
Ryan reached for his coffee and took a long drink but said nothing. He studied Colin. “Why are you asking for my forgiveness?”
“Because I’ve intruded upon your privacy. This is about your mother’s memory, her life, of which I have no claim other than friendship. Remembering her the way she was in Neville should be enough. We had some pleasant times together.” He realized the sadness in his eyes was unmistakable. He felt the depth of her loss within his very soul. “To tell you the truth, Ryan, her leaving nearly undid me.”
∞∞∞
Ryan was silent a moment, taking in the man’s sorrowful expression. He shrugged. “Mr. Heard, I seriously don’t know what to say. I’m not angry with you, nor do I think you need my forgiveness. It is I who should …” How could he possibly tell this man—a stranger—what he’d put his mother through? And he would have to tell him everything in order for him to understand. He wasn’t prepared for that.
Ryan rose without warning. “I—I forgive you if you feel you need it. I respect what you’re saying—and admire your business acumen. But it’s too difficult for me to speak of my mother.” He picked up his takeaway coffee. “If you’ll please excuse me. My ad department will be in touch. But I—I just can’t talk about her now.” He turned to leave.
“Ryan.” Colin grabbed the envelopes and stood, thrusting them forward. “Please take them. You can throw away the report if you wish.” He touched the smaller envelope. “But please read this.”
Ryan hesitantly took them. “All right,” he said softly. “Have a good day, Mr. Heard. Let’s not bring this subject up again … please. If I decide to discuss it, I’ll let you know.”
“Fair enough. I will look for your marketing proposal. We can work via e-mail for now.”
Ryan paid for his coffee, and walked out into the bright day, a beam of light reflecting off the side of a bus, the sound of the city surrounding him—horns blowing, the buzz of conversations along the sidewalk, a faraway siren. He stepped briskly toward the park rather than his office. He dropped the large envelope into his bag. He wouldn’t open it.
Chapter 27
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
2019
LaGuardia Airport offered its usual flurried atmosphere. Loud conversations in multiple languages engulfing the air, attempting to invade Ryan’s train of thought on the upcoming trip. Vernon and Ryan checked in for their flight and made it through security with time left to discuss the case over coffee. During the flight, they didn’t engage in conversation. Ryan read a book, and in no time, the flight was touching down at their destination.
Outside baggage claim, Ryan and Vernon waited on the curbside for Diann to pick them up. Ryan took in the typical Louisiana, late-spring afternoon. Bright pink azaleas bloomed profusely, fragrant drooping white clusters of the fringe tree dotted the landscape, and rose bushes lay heavy with nearly opened buds.
Introductions done, Diann asked, “Ryan, would you and Mr. Sturdivant prefer to come to my house for dinner? Or would you like to go to your hotel?”
“I’m beat. I think I’ll order room service and crash for the rest of the evening. Is that all right with you, Vernon?”
“That’s fine. I’d like to go over my files one last time before the trial.” Vernon’s voice held fatigue as well. “Thanks for the invitation.”
“I understand. We can do it later in the week, depending on how long the trial goes.” Diann’s voice quivered. “Hopefully it won’t be long.”
Ryan noticed the anguish in her tone and felt deep guilt that he was the cause of her sorrow. Diann wouldn’t feel this way had he been kinder to his mother and stood by her when the whole thing began.
The car stopped,
and Ryan became aware of his surroundings. They’d arrived at the hotel. Vernon struggled with his luggage as Ryan got out of the car. Diann opened her door, but Ryan stopped her. “You don’t have to come in. We’ll see you tomorrow at the courthouse.”
Vernon stepped to the window. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” He strode to the lobby, leaving them alone.
Diann reached into her purse for a tissue. Ryan saw what was about to happen. “Aunt Diann, please don’t be upset. It’ll all work out. You wait and see.”
Dabbing at her eyes, she looked at Ryan. “Do you think so?” She sniffled.
Her pain hurt his heart, stabbing like a dull knife. It was so hard to hold any semblance of control when she looked at him like that. “Yes, it will,” he said with more conviction and control than he felt. “We’ll meet you at the courthouse at two tomorrow.” Ryan reached into the open window and squeezed her shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to pick you up?”
“No, we’ll take a cab.”
Diann offered a final fleeting glance and he watched her drive slowly from the parking lot.
As Ryan unpacked, he noticed the envelope Colin Heard had given him in New York only two days before. He ignored the larger envelope and reached for the smaller one. The feel of something small and hard within it grabbed his attention. The overused cliché of “curiosity killed the cat” came to mind. He released a sad laugh and thought how true that could be.
He tore into the envelope and removed a single piece of paper. When he unfolded it, a small object fell to the floor and bounced on the carpet. It was a small metal cross that looked vaguely familiar. He held the cross and opened the paper.
Ryan,
Please accept this pocket cross as a gift. Your mother gave it to me in much the same way I’m giving it to you. It was enclosed in the final letter she left for me when she disappeared from Neville. She was a strong Christian woman, and I admired her a great deal.
Please don’t be offended, but I can see that you are struggling with God. You remind me of myself many years ago. I gave up the fight and followed Christ. My life has never been the same. I don’t want to go back.
Permelia Cottage Page 23
