The Weight of Perfection: Grand Harbor - Book Three

by Randileigh Kennedy

  “We are better than water chestnuts, girls. Mark my words. You already know that, Soph. Now it’s Lexi’s turn to find out. Hang on to this one. Have some fun. See where it takes you. The risk is always worth it,” Olivia said confidently.

  “Is it? Even when the ending is tragic?” I was always hesitant to dive into new things with uncertain outcomes. “I swear, if he breaks my heart, it’s going to be the worst tragedy yet. I just know it.”

  “All you can do is enjoy the ride,” Olivia mused. “And better to do that on a golden unicorn versus a boring wooden bench, right? Come on, let’s play some ball. You’d better at least stop thinking about him for the next couple hours, otherwise you’re going to get hit in the face.”

  We played game after game, soaking up the sun and laughing at each other every time someone botched a play. It was as carefree as any other afternoon with my friends, and I loved that. A few minutes before four o’clock, I left the group at the beach so I would have enough time for a quick shower before making the drive to Oak Shores.

  As I was drying my hair, my phone chimed. I smiled, immediately expecting it to be Luke for some reason, but it wasn’t. A different name flashed across my screen, followed by just one word: Dynamite.

  I was annoyed by my brother’s text as soon as I read it. I hadn’t heard from him since he’d left the bag with the money, and he finally texts me now? And not just a normal text, but instead one telling me he’s in trouble. Perfect.

  The bank thing seemed to be cleared up, from what Luke told me anyway. There was nothing further on the news – the sketch of my brother disappeared from all the reports. What could possibly be crashing down on him now?

  I texted back, hoping he was just being dramatic, or possibly just mirroring my last text to him for whatever reason. You okay? It was a generic question, but I wasn’t sure what else to send. Cade was never really okay. I just hoped he wasn’t in some kind of serious trouble.

  Seconds later, my phone chimed again. Meet me back at the creek by Lookover Rock.

  Why couldn’t he just come to my apartment? And why couldn’t he get in trouble when the timing was more convenient, like when I didn’t have any plans? Everything with him was always so complicated.

  Heading out to a party tonight. Can we meet tomorrow? I didn’t want to blow him off, but I also didn’t want to get lured into hiding any more of his secrets. The bag of money stashed under my bed was bad enough. I didn’t need anything else hanging over me.

  It’s important, Lex. So. Much. Dynamite. You have to come.

  I reread it several times, hating his sense of urgency. Did he need the money? Was I supposed to bring it with me? Even if I left right now, I’d still be late to Luke’s party given the creek behind my parents’ old house wasn’t exactly on the way. I’d also need a change of shoes. I hated the way my brother always made a mess of things, but I also felt guilty over the way he put so much faith in me to help him.

  I can be there in fifteen minutes. Do I need to bring anything? That was my roundabout way of asking about the money. The last thing I wanted was to take it, find out that’s not what this was about, and then be stuck driving around with all of that money sitting in my car.

  Bring nothing. And no one. Get here quick.

  I was beyond frustrated. I wanted to hand over his money, give him a lecture on cleaning up his act, and get back to my real life, but Cade always had a way of interfering with that.

  Instead of straightening my hair like I’d planned, I threw it up in a ponytail instead, slipping into a pair of flats for the walk to the creek. I grabbed a cuter pair of sandals to change into for the party. I would look stupid walking through the woods back to the creek in my striped sundress, but then again, no one would be there to judge me other than Cade – and his opinion didn’t matter to me.

  I locked up my apartment, climbed in my car, and headed toward Alice Drive where I grew up. We didn’t have the kind of money Olivia’s family had growing up, so we were a fair distance from the lake, settled back into the woods off a lesser traveled road. I parked off onto the gravel shoulder, heading on foot down toward the creek. There was a giant rock down there by the water that my brother named Lookover Rock, because if you stood up on top of it, you could just barely make out our backyard – enough to see if the porch light was on, signaling us home. I hadn’t been back to the spot in ages.

  When I arrived, Cade was already there, wearing ripped up baggy camouflage pants and a black tank top. He looked awful, like it had been at least a few days since he last showered.

  “You look terrible, Cade. What happened? You texted the codeword - what kind of trouble are you in?”

  “What?”

  “Dynamite, Cade. You texted me. That means you’re in trouble, which is the only reason I came. What kind of trouble are you in?” I was really flustered at this point. I thought this was serious, like he needed help right away, but now I was doubting that given the confused look on his face.

  “What? I’m not in trouble.” He stared back at me with a furrowed brow.

  “Dammit, Cade, that’s what that word means. We use it to warn each other of danger, remember?” I sighed dramatically, putting my hands on my hips. “This is such a waste of my time. What am I doing here?”

  “I know what the word means, Lex. But I’m not the one in trouble.” He put his hands into his pockets, looking down at the ground. “I texted you the warning. You are the one in trouble.”

  “What?” I was pissed now. “Is this about your money? Does someone know I have your bag? If you got me mixed up in something, Cade, I’m going to kill you.”

  “First of all, you weren’t supposed to look inside! But no, it’s not about the bag, Lex. It’s about the bank robbery.” He looked up at me, not saying any more.

  “I’m in trouble for the bank robbery? That’s ludicrous, Cade! I’m the one who was robbed, remember? How would that be my fault?” I was fuming at this point. “Are you stoned? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “It’s that guy you’re with, Lex. His last name is Beckett, right?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “What does he have to do with any of this?” I crossed my arms.

  “I overheard some guys. They were talking about it. I was at this house, and…”

  “A drug house?” I cut him off.

  “Yeah, my dealer’s house, but that has nothing to do with it. I overheard some guys talking about the robbery, and…”

  “Unbelievable,” I interrupted. “You were high then, you’re high now… All of those drugs are ruining your life, Cade. I refuse to allow them to ruin mine. You don’t even know what you’re saying.”

  “You don’t believe me? They mentioned Beckett, Lex, I swear. They were talking about him being involved, like being the ringleader or whatever, and the name stuck out and I had to tell you. He’s trouble, Lex. I wanted to warn you so you don’t get hurt. You need to walk away from him.”

  I stared back at him in disbelief. He was obviously very mistaken. He overheard this at his drug dealer’s house? The story was already messed up on so many levels. Granted the people my brother was hanging out with at a place like that, I believed any of them could be involved in something as serious as a bank robbery, but Luke? It wasn’t possible. He wasn’t that guy. My brother was delusional.

  “I…I don’t believe you,” I stammered. It was implausible. He obviously heard the wrong conversation, or it was out of context, or he was making assumptions based on wrong information. Maybe Luke’s name got thrown in there while trying to help clear Cade. He clearly had no idea what he overheard. “I’m leaving. I have somewhere to be,” I said with an annoyed tone in my voice.

  “With him?”

  “What’s it to you?”

  “Lexi, this is serious. These guys – they’re not your kind of people.”

  “Why not? Because they’re like you?” I didn’t mean for my tone to sound so scathing, but this entire conversation upset me. “You know the wrong peo
ple, Cade. Don’t put that on me. You want to be a hero? Save yourself. Dig yourself out of the massive hole you’ve been sinking in and do something with your life for a change. The ‘overprotective big brother’ act doesn’t work when I’ve been babying you for years.”

  “He’s dangerous, Lex. I really believe that. Actually, I’m sure of it.”

  “You’re dangerous, Cade, yet here I am, always trying to bail you out of your own mess. Speaking of bailing you out, while we’re talking about it, I want that bag of money gone. I don’t care where else you have to hide it. Dig a hole right here by this rock for Pete’s sake, but I need it out of my house. You have twenty-four hours to find a place for it, or I’m about to have an entire closet full of new shoes. Do you understand me?”

  “You didn’t tell him about the money, did you?” His eyes looked so genuine as he asked, and I hated that. He looked like a boy – like a defeated child who needed help.

  “No. I didn’t tell him anything. I kept your secret, simply because you asked me to, and I’m trying to do right by you. I’m trying to help you, but you’re really making it hard. I’m running out of stamina, Cade. And now this? Accusing Luke of something you really know nothing about, other than some vague conversation you think you heard while shooting that garbage into your veins… I’m done. Take your money back, and stop blurring my life with yours.”

  “I just want what’s best for you…”

  “Then leave me alone until you get your life together. I appreciate that you think you’re saving me from something, but save yourself. That’s all I want. That’s the single only thing that will ever pull this rage out of me, Cade. Watching you slip away – watching you ruin your life, hit after hit – you are burning through my will to help you. Get it together. That’s all I want. In the meantime, we’re done.”

  I turned and walked away, anger pulsing throughout my entire body.

  “Lexi,” Cade called out as I continued to walk away. “Please be careful. The rest of the world isn’t like you. We’re not all innocent and good and perfect. I just wanted you to know. I just wanted to save you from getting hurt.”

  “You’ve never been anyone’s hero, Cade. You don’t have to try to be one now. I can take care of myself.”

  I huffed back to my car, fuming, frustrated, overwhelmed… All I knew, despite whatever nonsense my brother was spouting, was how bad I wanted to be wrapped up in Luke’s arms, safe and unaffected by the entire conversation I just had.

  Yet instead, the confidence I had just moments ago – I was shaking, wondering if there was any truth to my brother’s words.

  Chapter 14

  By the time I arrived at Cliff’s cabin, I was a half hour late to the party. I still felt frazzled by the meeting with my brother, but I knew I had to clear it from my mind as best I could for the time being. I pulled the wrapped present from the trunk of my car, almost dropping it on the ground as I struggled to close the hatch.

  “Whoa, do you need help?” Luke’s smooth voice was comforting and sincere. His smile softened my nerves. “I have waited all day for this moment.” He slid an arm around my waist, gently planting a kiss on my cheek.

  “Sorry I’m late. I…I got held up.”

  “Are you okay? You seem on edge. Is everything all right?” He stared back at me with curious eyes, and I appreciated how quickly he could read me.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s my brother. He needs rehab. He’s a mess, and it’s really bothering me.”

  “What’s that?” He motioned to the giant wrapped present in my arms. “Did you just bring Satan a gift?”

  “It’s a birthday party,” I said with a shrug as he reached out and took the package from my arms. “And stop calling him Satan.” I cracked a smile.

  “Whatever this is, it’s too good for him. I’m telling you that right now. It’ll go underappreciated. He may even curse at you. It’s not too late to take it back. No one has seen it yet.”

  I laughed. “He’ll like this one, I promise – even if he curses at me. Deep down in his cold, black heart, he’ll feel a small tinge of joy. I’m certain.”

  “In that case, can we pretend it’s from me so he’ll stop threatening me with bodily harm?”

  I giggled. This is what I loved about Luke. He was playful. Relaxed. Charming. He was exactly what I needed when everything else felt messy. My brother was obviously so very wrong about him.

  “You can have all the credit.” I reached out for his free hand, lacing my fingers with his.

  “Why are your hands shaking?”

  “It’s nothing. Just a rough day. I’m fine. Promise.”

  “We’re gonna fix all that later. Whatever’s bothering you, I’m gonna solve it with cake and stargazing tonight.”

  If only it were that easy.

  “I’m fine,” I reiterated. “Let’s enjoy the party. I’m happy to be here.”

  He squeezed my hand and led me through a wooden gate into the backyard. As soon as the gate slapped behind us on the metal latch, at least four middle-aged women stopped in their tracks to stare at me.

  “Mom, this is Lexi,” he introduced as a pretty woman with short dark hair walked toward me.

  “I’m Carol. It’s a pleasure to meet you, dear,” she said warmly. She hugged me, which I didn’t expect. Her smile looked just like Luke’s, and I already liked her.

  He introduced me to a couple aunts and a cousin. Their names were all blending together and I knew I would mix them up. There was also a neighbor in attendance, which surprised me as I suspected Cliff wasn’t fond of too many people, but he didn’t seem to mind her presence. They mostly just ignored each other, standing on opposite sides of the yard.

  “Why do you have a gift? I didn’t want a party, which means I sure as hell don’t want any gifts,” Cliff barked, sitting down in an open patio chair.

  “Grandpa, Lexi did something nice for you. Can’t you be a kind human and just say thank you? I don’t think anyone has died yet from gratitude, so you’re still safe.”

  “It’s better than a poke in the eye, I guess,” Cliff muttered. “Set it on the table inside. I’ll open it later once I get my house back after everyone leaves.” Luke carried it inside.

  “Don’t take it personal,” Luke’s mom said quietly, leading me over to a fold-up table covered with food. There were brats and burgers and a whole bunch of potluck sides. “He hates everyone. That man hasn’t smiled since 1963. You just kind of…get used to it.” She shrugged her shoulders and I giggled.

  Luke and I loaded up our plates, sitting at a table with his two aunts. They told stories about Luke growing up and we all laughed together as they reminisced. The evening was exactly what I needed. I loved getting to know Luke better like this – getting a glimpse into his life growing up – getting to meet the people he was raised around. His aunts, like his mother, were all genuine, warm people. It made sense to me why Luke turned out the way he did, being raised by such strong, sincere women. He was sweet and respectful, and I appreciated their influence on him.

  “Luke. You’re gonna hate this,” his cousin Ashley called from the back door. “Your brother’s truck is on the side of the highway. Something about the alternator? He wants me to come get him, but I’ve had four glasses of merlot already.”

  “Great,” Luke said under his breath. He turned to me. “Up for a quick road trip?”

  “Don’t sandwich this poor girl in your truck with Casey,” his mom replied, waving her hand in front of her dismissively. “You go get him. She’s just fine here with us.”

  “This feels like a trap,” he said, getting up from his chair. “Are you waiting til I’m gone to tell her embarrassing stories about me? None of them are true, Lexi. I did not wear Spiderman underwear until I was seventeen. I have no idea why they tell people that, because I swear it wasn’t me.” All the ladies laughed.

  “I’m fine here, go get your brother,” I said casually. It was nice hanging out in the backyard with his family. It felt comfortable. �
��I have a few questions for them anyway,” I teased.

  “Don’t you dare,” he replied, pointing a finger at all of us.

  “It’s fine. Go.” I shooed him away.

  “I’ll be back in less than fifteen minutes. Don’t trust anything stupid they say about me.” He pulled his keys out of his shorts pocket. “Don’t let them change your mind about me.” We all giggled as he made his way out of the wooden gate.

  A minute later, Cliff stuck his head out the back screen door. “Girl! You,” he said, pointing at me.

  “Heavens, Cliff, she has a name you know,” Carol shot back with a laugh. “Her name is Lexi. That’s a little more polite than calling her girl. Geez oh Pete, how am I associated with him,” she added, turning back toward us. “Go in. Scream if you need us.”

  I cracked a smile, uncertain as to what I was walking in to. I doubted it was a warm hug.

  Cliff led me into the dining room, pointing toward the small glass-top table in the center. “Where did you get this?”

  The old cuckoo clock I’d wrapped up for him was laying out fully opened on the table.

  “It belonged to my grandma. It’s a Black Forest. Early 1920s I believe,” I said with a smile, gently flipping the clock over on its side so he could see the small carving into the back. “Although I’m guessing you probably already knew that.”

  “Of course I already knew that,” he barked. “I know more about this clock than you ever will. Why are you giving it to me? It’s valuable. Doesn’t anyone in your generation know about things that are valuable? You kids give away things like everything is worthless.”

  “This clock is far from worthless. My generation actually knows more about that than you think, thanks to the internet. I’m aware these sell for a pretty penny. This one, being a little more rare, well, it’s more valuable than most I’ve seen for sale. That’s actually why I’m giving it to you.” I maintained my warm smile, wanting him to be assured I knew exactly what I was doing. “You’re right in that I’m completely under-appreciating this piece. It’s been sitting in a box for years. It doesn’t make much sense for me to display it in my own place where it will be completely under-valued by everyone who sees it. I can’t think of a single human being who would walk into my house and appreciate this clock. That’s why I want you to have it. You’re the only person I know who can appreciate this piece, now that my grandparents are no longer alive. I want you to have it. Look at these carvings, Cliff.” I traced my fingers along the delicate lines on the front. “Something this valuable doesn’t belong in a box, nor do I want to sell it to some undeserving individual who will never fully appreciate it for what it is. You’re the only person I know who should enjoy the beauty of this clock. It’s all yours.”