Five Years or So

by Kay Correll

  She went to the dining room and spied Lillian headed into the kitchen. She hurried after her to tell her to go take a break and work on wedding things.

  About the only good thing to happen this week as far as Jay could tell was the fact that Mason and Zoe were spending a lot of time together. He saw them at dinner and walking on the beach and sitting out on the deck having drinks.

  Much better than Mason lurking around Robin all the time. Much.

  Not that it mattered anymore. Because he and Robin had hardly spoken this week. He just didn’t know what to say to her now. He should explain things, but the longer he waited, the worse it got and the more strained things were between them. To her credit, she had tried a few times to talk to him, but it had never seemed to be the right time.

  And he’d seen the look in her eyes as he shut her out. But it was really for her own good. She deserved someone much better than him. How had he ever thought he was a good fit with Robin? He wasn’t even in her league, her universe. It had been one magical day at Lighthouse Point, and he’d remember it always. But one day was all it would ever be for them. Even if it was crushing his heart to know that. It was best for Robin, and that’s what counted.

  “Jay Turner? I need you to come with me for questioning.”

  Jay whirled around at the sound of Sheriff Dave’s voice. The man stood there with a serious expression sculpted on his face.

  “I thought you already asked questions.” He dried off his hands on a towel and set it on the counter.

  “I’ve got more.”

  He looked behind the sheriff and caught his breath when he saw Lillian and Robin standing there listening. Perfect. Just perfect.

  “Dave, what’s this about?” Lillian took a step forward.

  “I’ve checked into Jay’s record. He went to prison and served time for this exact crime. Stealing from his employer. I need to bring him in and question him.”

  “Jay did not take my money.”

  Jay sent Lillian a grateful look.

  “Maybe, maybe not. But I still have lots of questions for him.”

  “But he’s getting the food ready for my wedding. Surely the questions can wait until later.” Lillian came and stood by his side.

  Robin still stood behind the sheriff with a dazed look on her face. Of course. She had no idea that he had a record. That he’d been sent to jail for stealing. He’d been lucky so far keeping that fact from the gossip on the island. Guess that was over now. And he was pretty sure the dazed and disbelieving look on Robin’s face would haunt his dreams.

  “I really need to talk to him. Now. It’s always better to get as much information as possible, as soon as possible after an incident like this.” Sheriff Dave drew himself up taller and put on an authoritative expression, though he did look slightly daunted by Lillian standing up to him.

  Jay clenched a fist. He’d have no alibi this time, same as last time. He lived alone. No one could vouch for where he’d been the night the cash had gone missing.

  “But—” Lillian started again.

  “You need to let me do my job. If he wasn’t involved, I’m sure we’ll sort that out.” The sheriff took a step forward. “Come with me, Jay.”

  Jay untied his apron and turned to Dana who was standing near them, her eyes wide. “Dana, I need you to take over the meal prep, but also the wedding prep. There’s a list on my desk by the computer. Can you sort through it and keep going?”

  “Me? You want me to work on the wedding food?”

  “Yes, and the meals in the dining room.” He turned to Lillian. “You’ll get her more help if she needs it?”

  “Of course.” Lillian nodded.

  He turned back to Dana. “It will be fine. You’ll do fine. You’re a very good chef. I believe in you. You can do this.”

  Dana’s eyes glistened with tears. “I… I won’t let you down.”

  He turned back to the sheriff. “Okay, let’s go.” He strode out of the kitchen with the sheriff by his side.

  Robin still hadn’t said a word, but he hadn’t missed the hurt look in her eyes along with the confused expression on her face as he walked past her.

  Robin watched Jay and Sheriff Dave walk out of the kitchen. Deathly silence descended upon the room, and neither she nor Lillian nor Dana moved. She had no idea what was going on here. And what was that nonsense that the sheriff had said about Jay being in prison?

  She slowly turned to Lillian, trying to gather her thoughts, so full of questions. Her heart felt like it was lodged in her throat and she swallowed before speaking. “Lillian, what’s going on? What was that all about? He said Jay stole from his employer and has been in… jail?”

  “It’s not my story to tell.” Lillian shrugged. “But I don’t believe Jay ever stole from anyone. And I’m positive he didn’t steal from me. He wouldn’t.”

  “But he went to jail for stealing?” She frowned.

  “You really need to talk to him.” Lillian turned to Dana. “Nothing said in here today leaves this room. Do you understand?”

  Dana nodded.

  “Now, Jay believes you can handle all this so I do, too. I’ll make a few calls and get you more hands in here, though. But you’ll be in charge.”

  “I… I can do this. I can.” Dana looked at the door where Jay had disappeared. “Jay thinks I can handle this. He said he believes in me.” She sounded astonished. “That means a lot to me.”

  “That’s high praise from Jay. I’ll get you more help, then I’m going to head to the sheriff’s office and get this nonsense sorted all out.” Lillian turned to Robin. “You’ve got things covered at the inn while I’m gone?”

  “Of course.” Though right now she didn’t feel like she had anything covered, anything under control. What was going on?

  Lillian left the kitchen and Robin stood watching Dana bustling around with Jay’s list of to-dos in one hand. Dana would do fine.

  Now she just had to worry about Jay. And find out if all this was true, that he’d been in jail? Why had he never told her? And what else was he hiding from his past?

  Her heart sunk and she felt so foolish. She’d thought she knew him so well, but no, she hadn’t. She didn’t know him at all.

  Chapter 20

  Lillian hurried to the sheriff’s office. What a fine mess this was. She was positive Jay did not take the cash. She instinctively knew, the first time she met him, that he was not one to take anything from anyone. He was honest and honorable, even if he did keep to himself and tried to act all gruff and aloof. Underneath all that was a caring, giving, honest person.

  She slid out of her car and walked toward the sheriff’s office. She gritted her teeth at the sound of someone calling her name. Camille. Last thing she needed was Camille Montgomery right now. She ignored the call and kept walking.

  Camille hurried up to her. “Lillian, didn’t you hear me calling your name?”

  “Hello, Camille.” She stopped and swallowed a sigh.

  “I saw the strangest thing awhile ago. I saw Sheriff Dave practically dragging your chef, Jay what’s-his-name, into the office. What happened?”

  “Nothing happened, Camille. Just a mix-up.”

  “I heard money was stolen from your safe.”

  Lillian grimaced. No secrets in this town.

  “So did this Jay steal from you? I heard that it wasn’t his first time. That he’d been in jail for stealing before. Didn’t you check out his background before you hired him? You should always check out employee’s backgrounds.” Camille shook her head, her face a picture of disapproval.

  Gee, thanks for the business advice. From a woman who’d never worked a day in her life… Lillian contemplated the best way to handle this and squash Camille from walking around town spreading rumors.

  “Jay did not take any cash. That’s ridiculous.”

  “How well do you know him?” Camille’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

  “Camille, he’s been working for me for over five years. Five years. I kn
ow him well. He didn’t take anything.”

  “I hope that Sheriff Dave can get to the truth. We can’t have criminals just roaming freely around the island.”

  “He’s not a criminal.”

  “He kind of is, right? He’s been in jail.” Camille flounced her hair behind her shoulder, and then leaned closer, lowering her voice. “I don’t know that I even personally know anyone who’s been to jail.”

  “Camille, I’m busy.”

  “Well, one more thing. I was wondering if my invitation to your little wedding was lost in the mail.”

  The invitation she hadn’t sent because no way she was inviting Camille to her little wedding. “Oh, Camille, I’m sorry.” But she wasn’t. “We’re just having a small, intimate wedding. Just family a handful of close friends.”

  “I’m hearing quite a bit of talk around town of people that are going,” Camille accused her.

  “No, not really. Just a few close friends,” she insisted and then pinned the woman with a look she was fully aware Camille would ignore. “And don’t go spreading rumors.”

  She turned and headed into the sheriff’s office with the sound of Camille’s exasperated huff filling the air behind her.

  Jay sat across from the sheriff answering question after question. No, he didn’t know where the money was. Yes, he’d put it in the safe. And yet again—no, he didn’t know where the money was.

  Sheriff Dave didn’t believe him. That’s the thing about having a record. No one ever believed you were innocent. Ever.

  He turned at the sound of the door behind him opening, and welcome light streamed into the room.

  Lillian.

  Lillian looking like a whirlwind of energy and determination.

  “Dave, time to drop this.” She shut the door, and the room plunged into dim, depressing darkness again.

  “I already told you. I need to question him. He’s our prime suspect.”

  “He didn’t take the money…” She paused, then looked at Jay. “And I’m so sorry to have wasted your time, Sheriff. But wouldn’t you know? I went back and tore up my office and I found the cash. I’m so scattered this week, I must have taken it out and forgotten I did. I’m so sorry to trouble you.”

  “Oh…” The sheriff frowned. “Well, I guess that’s good.”

  Jay didn’t think good old Sheriff Dave actually thought it was good. The sheriff had been enjoying this tiny bit of crime on the island and seemed to relish this excuse to question him.

  Jay stood up, his chair clattering behind him. He just managed to catch it before it crashed to the floor. “So, we’re done here, right?” he asked. He’d had about enough of these questions and the sheriff’s looks of disbelief.

  “Uh… yes. I guess we’re finished,” the sheriff said. “And Lillian, I’m glad you found your money.”

  Lillian just nodded. “Come on, Jay. We have work to do.”

  He followed her outside, into the sunshine. The glorious sunshine. Pushing thoughts of the dim sheriff office’s interior far from his mind. He faced Lil on the sidewalk. “Lillian, wait a minute.”

  “What?” Her face held an innocent expression, but he wasn’t buying it.

  “You lied to the sheriff. You didn’t find the money, did you?”

  “I did not.” She shrugged. “But you didn’t take it.”

  “But—”

  “It was the quickest way to get the sheriff to leave you alone. He wasn’t interested in tracking down who really took it. Anyway, no more talk about the money. I had a new safe put in with a new combination. And I’ll give you the combination unless you don’t want it. I’d understand if you don’t, so something like this nonsense won’t happen again.”

  “But now he won’t look for who really stole the money.”

  “He wasn’t anyway, was he? Doesn’t matter. What matters is getting you back to the inn. Back to your life without the sheriff’s preposterous questioning.”

  “Now that he knows my background he’s going to question me more often about incidents that happen around town.”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it.” Lillian’s eyes flashed.

  “Well, thank you.”

  “There’s nothing to thank. You didn’t take the money. Let’s go.” She turned and started walking to her car.

  The woman never ceased to amaze him.

  She paused and looked at him when they got to her car. “But there is one thing I need you to do.”

  “Anything.” He sent her a grateful look, willing to do anything to pay her back for her kindness, yet again.

  “Talk to Robin. Tell her the truth. You owe her that much.”

  Well, anything but that.

  But he nodded. “I will.”

  Chapter 21

  Robin didn’t stop by the kitchen after the dinner crowd left, but that didn’t surprise Jay much. She’d been noticeably absent after he’d returned from the sheriff’s office.

  Dana had worked on wedding prep and had everything going for dinner by the time he got back. She, thankfully, hadn’t asked any questions upon his return.

  But now the kitchen was cleaned and he’d run out of excuses to hang around, hoping Robin would stop by. He needed to go find her and talk to her. Explain things.

  That’s all Lillian had asked of him for all she’d done for him.

  And Robin did deserve to know the truth. Then he’d leave her alone. Swing wide. Give her space. And quit worrying about who she dated. He scowled. Try to quit worrying about it, anyway, since it wasn’t any of his business.

  Maybe someday they could get back to being just friends, but he was certain things would never be the same. Ever.

  He walked out into the night and headed to her bungalow. She opened the door after his one single knock and stood there silently just staring at him.

  “Robs, can we talk?”

  “I don’t know. You haven’t wanted to talk all week.” Her eyes flashed.

  He let out a long breath of air. “I know. I’ve been… distracted.”

  “So you call cold and distant distracted now?”

  “Robs, please. Can we talk?”

  She stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind her. “Out here.” She settled onto a chair at the end of the porch, her arms crossed tightly across her.

  He leaned against the railing, facing her, but not too close.

  “I’m sorry for how I’ve been this week. I was just… things were just…” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “There are things I haven’t told you.”

  “Obviously. That’s quite an understatement.”

  “So what the sheriff said was true. I have been in jail. I was convicted of stealing cash at a restaurant I worked at.” He searched her eyes looking for a reaction.

  Her eyes were carefully cloaked, showing nothing.

  “And I know everyone says this…” He still searched her face. “But I didn’t do it.”

  One of her eyebrows raised, but she said nothing.

  “I didn’t. But I had no alibi and I had no money for a lawyer. I was convicted of stealing and went to jail. The only person in the world who believed I was innocent was my grandmother. She sat there in the courtroom and I could actually feel her heart breaking at the conviction. She got up, gave me a hug, and whispered she believed me.”

  Pain surged through him at the memory. His grandmother had been a proud woman, a fierce woman. She’d raised him when his own mother didn’t have time for him. She’d taught him his love for cooking.

  He looked away for a moment, collecting himself. “That was the last time I saw her. She died while I was in jail. When I got out, I was totally alone.”

  She sat for a moment, then spoke. “I’m sorry, Jay.” Her voice was low.

  He nodded. “I had a series of crummy minimum pay jobs. No one wanted to hire me because of my record. I finally got a job as an assistant cook at this fairly nice restaurant on the mainland. The chef treated me like dirt. Always threatening to fire me. Never letting m
e do anything, really. But at least it was a cooking job. Then the chef got sick and the manager let me do the cooking—he really had no choice—there was no one else.” He crossed over and sat in the chair next to Robin.

  Robin watched him closely but remained silent.

  “Lillian happened to come to the restaurant that day. She enjoyed her meal—really enjoyed it—and asked to speak to the chef. Evidently the waiter said the real chef wasn’t there and there was only me, this assistant cook. She still wanted to talk to me so the waiter came and got me. She asked if I was looking for a job. I said possibly but I’d have to explain some things to her first.” He looked out into the darkness, remembering that day so clearly. “She came back at the end of my shift. I explained that I’d been in jail for stealing but I hadn’t stolen anything. I even told her about my grandmother’s death.”

  Robin leaned forward, just slightly.

  “Lil looked right into my eyes for a few moments, then said she needed a chef for Charming Inn and was I interested.” He held out his hands. “I said yes. I started working at the inn days later.”

  “So she believed you?”

  “She did. She said she had an instinct that told her when to trust people, and she trusted me. I’ll never forget that. Or forget what she did for me. It turned my whole life around.”

  “I see.” Robin leaned back.

  “So, do you believe me?” He searched her face, looking for some hint that she believed him, too.

  Robin stared at him for a few moments before she answered. “It’s not what you did or didn’t do. It’s that you never told me. It’s a big thing in your life and explains a lot. But you never told me.”

  “What was I supposed to say? Hey Robs, by the way, I’m fresh out of jail?”

  “You could have just told me the truth. Not hidden it from me. I thought I knew you so well…”

  “You do know me. Better than anyone.” He started to reach for her hand but pulled back when he saw the shuttered look on her face.

  “Except… I don’t.”