Safe Harbor: A Cold Creek Homecoming

by Sherryl Woods

  “A little thing? You think turning our lives upside down is a little thing?”

  “Come now, Tina. Don’t go losing your perspective. I think life gets utterly boring if there’s not some sort of disturbance now and again to spark things up.”

  “Spark things up, for heaven’s sakes? Just tell me one good thing to come out of all this.”

  “Why that’s easy, child. Just look how much closer we all are now that we see we might lose each other. We appreciate things we’d been taking for granted.”

  Tina regarded her doubtfully. “I suppose, but I could have appreciated all of you just fine without going to this extreme.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” Sarah replied, then gave her a calculated glance. “Then, of course, there’s you and Drew.”

  “No, there’s not,” Tina insisted stubbornly.

  Sarah said with absolute aplomb, “We’ll just have to wait and see about that, won’t we? I think maybe I’ll send him on over to keep you company anyway. He seems to distract you better than I do.”

  “Humph.”

  When Drew entered the hallway a few minutes later, he gave her his most dazzling grin. It warmed her down to her toes in spite of her best intentions to keep him at arm’s length. If she was going to wind up hating Drew for splitting up her family, she didn’t want to have a taste of falling in love with him first.

  “Sarah sent me out to cheer you up.”

  “Actually, I think she’d prefer it if you’d seduce me. She seems to be feeling particularly romantic and philosophical today.”

  “I’d be happy to oblige with the seduction, if you think DCF wouldn’t object to our using one of the bedrooms. I’m afraid we’d draw too big a crowd down here.”

  Tina suddenly found herself giggling at the thought of all those society writers peeking through the curtains as she and Drew gave them enough material to gossip about for the next ten editions of their papers. The potential headlines in the business pages could be even more provocative.

  “I can just see the headline on Gregory Hanks’s column,” she said, still chuckling. “Merger talks begin between Harrington Industries exec and Landry CEO.”

  “I like that,” Drew agreed. “Care to merge?”

  “If you’re referring to us, we’ve already put that possibility on hold. If you’re referring to our companies, don’t hold your breath.”

  “It might not be a bad idea, you know,” he said thoughtfully, as though the prospect had just occurred to him. “We’d be an unbeatable team.”

  Tina eyed him warily. Why this sudden talk of a merger? In an instant, Drew had reawakened her earlier doubts about why he had involved himself so deeply in her life.

  “I’ve already got my business lineup in place. I’m not interested in joining a new team,” she retorted lightly, determined not to take his idle chitchat seriously right now. Later, she might have to examine Drew’s motivations more closely, but for the moment she had to focus all her energies on keeping her household together.

  That, of course, was all the more frustrating because the entire situation was out of her hands. She could only sit idly by and wait.

  When Mr. Grant and his assistants finally emerged, she tried to read the expressions on their faces, but they were masters of disguise. Looking at them, you’d have thought they’d just dropped in for a pleasant morning of tea and conversation.

  “Will you speak to the press before you leave?” she asked. “They’ve been waiting.”

  “I’d really rather not,” Mr. Grant said nervously. “We’re still in the preliminary stages of this.”

  “Then tell them that. I’m sure they’d rather hear it from you than me.”

  He finally agreed.

  Looking uncomfortable and running a finger around the collar of his shirt as though he were choking, Mr. Grant said tersely, “Mrs. Harrington has been extremely cooperative with this investigation. Our preliminary findings are that there are no violations of state regulations. However, we have not completed our report. We expect it to be available within the next few weeks.”

  He waved off questions and practically ran to the front door, leaving Tina to field the remainder of the questions. Most of them had to do with how she had met her friends and what their backgrounds were. The society reporters, although clearly somewhat aghast at their lack of social connections, were charmed by Sarah, Juliet and Mr. Kelly. Even Billy managed to delight them with comments that were actually printable.

  Just when she thought it was winding up, the business writer requested a last question.

  Tina nodded. “Certainly, Mr. Hanks.”

  He turned to Drew. “Mr. Landry, exactly what is your role in all of this? I understand that you were the one who made the report that brought this situation to the attention of the state.”

  “That’s true. I had received some information which I felt merited further investigation. As some of you may know,” he said, glancing at his father, “I have a special interest in the welfare of the elderly. I wanted to assure myself that no one here was being taken advantage of. After meeting Mrs. Harrington and her friends, I am now reassured that I was mistaken and that this is a happy, family-style environment. I regret that I stirred all of this up unnecessarily and brought these people so much pain.”

  Tina looked from Drew to his father, whose eyes were surprisingly misty, and wondered what Drew had meant about his special interest in the elderly. Now that she did some thinking, he had been hinting from the very beginning, but she’d been too wrapped up in her own concerns to ask the right questions.

  Even now, her appreciation and curiosity couldn’t dispel the aura of gloom that seemed to weave around her. She still worried about how this could end up and what it might do to the image of Harrington Industries.

  Since taking over, she had tried so hard to do the things that she thought would make Gerald proud and, while she knew he would have approved of what she’d done by taking in her friends, she wasn’t sure how he would have felt about the implications for his company. Gerald had been an intensely private man who ran his business with quiet diplomacy and behind-the-scenes finesse. It appeared she was about to bring everything into the public eye with a bang.

  She was drawn back from her reverie by the tail end of another question from the business writer.

  “So you don’t see this as increasing the opportunity for you to snap up Harrington Industries?”

  Tina’s breath caught in her throat as her attention was riveted on Drew, awaiting his response. The question pulled together all of the confusion and doubts that had begun to plague Tina. Drew met her gaze steadily, and his reply was clearly directed more to her than to Gregory Hanks.

  “My interest in this situation is strictly personal. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Harrington Industries or Landry Enterprises.”

  “But you must agree that adverse publicity right now for Mrs. Harrington would make her company a prime target for a takeover attempt.”

  “As a businessman, I would have to say that your analysis is correct. However, I repeat, I am not interested in acquiring Harrington Industries.”

  Drew’s statement was made with absolute conviction, but Tina couldn’t shake the feeling that he was only saying what he knew she wanted to hear. Trust, which had been building slowly, suffered a severe setback.

  Chapter Eight

  As soon as the last of the reporters had left, Tina sagged against the front door with relief.

  What an ordeal!

  She wanted nothing more than a day—maybe even a whole month—all to herself to try to sort out everything that had happened, but getting time alone in this house was next to impossible. She would have settled for an hour just to think about Drew’s offhand, yet disturbing private allusions to a possible merger, followed only moments later by his
public denial that such a prospect had ever occurred to him.

  For the last few days she had put aside her doubts about his motives, but his comments this morning had made it impossible for her to go on ignoring her suspicions. With the critical stockholders’ meeting coming up soon, she had to find some way to counter all of the adverse publicity. Otherwise, Gregory Hanks’s suggestion about some shark—possibly Drew?—sniffing blood was very likely to become a reality.

  The one thing she didn’t want to face, but knew she had to, was the possibility that Drew had initiated the DCF investigation not for his stated reasons, but because of his own interest in Harrington Industries. Was he actively pursuing her for the same reason? She had to find some way to discover the truth before it was too late.

  A thought flashed through her mind. If Drew were making a move on the company, it might be showing up already in the sale of Harrington Industries stock. Checking to make sure that Drew had gone outside with the others, she took out her phone to call her assistant, David Warren, an eager young man who’d proved himself time and again. Not only was he good with the stockholders, but he was efficient, loyal and, above all, discreet. She needed to rely on all of those traits now more than ever.

  “Jennifer, get David for me.”

  “Sure, honey. How did this morning go?”

  “Don’t ask. I’m sure you’ll read all about it in the papers anyway.”

  “I can hardly wait. I just love starting my day with juicy gossip, especially when I know it’s probably not true. Just a second and I’ll put David on.”

  A moment later he picked up. “Hi, Tina. What’s up?”

  “David, I want you to do some checking for me.”

  “Sure.”

  “Do a little nosing around with our brokerage house contacts and see if there’s been any unusual movement in our stock.”

  David’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Have you heard something? Is there anything in particular I should be asking about?”

  “No. Not yet. I just have a few unsubstantiated suspicions. For now, just check on the movement. Is the volume especially high, any large blocks selling, that sort of thing. Okay?”

  “You’ve got it. Want me to call you back at home or will you be in later?”

  “If you discover anything significant call me here. Otherwise we’ll talk it over again tomorrow. I want you to stay on top of this for the next few weeks.”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks, David.”

  When she’d hung up, she sat for a long time, staring pensively out the window, wondering when she had become so distrustful. Would her entire future always be filled with doubts? The possibility depressed her. There couldn’t be much joy in success if it robbed her of the ability to trust, to care.

  She sighed as she caught a glimpse of a laughing Drew. He, Aunt Juliet and Billy were on the lawn playing croquet. Drew was leaning down to whisper in Aunt Juliet’s ear, probably suggesting strategy judging from the scowl Billy was shooting at them.

  “Hey, you guys, no fair,” Billy finally shouted, his voice drifting into the house on the breeze. Tina grinned at his indignation. Billy did everything with an all-out energy, and his desire to win reminded Tina of herself as a girl.

  From a very early age, she’d had ambition and drive. At first it had been evidenced by little more than the typical ten-cent lemonade stand, set up on the front lawn day after day until she’d had enough money for a bright green bicycle she wanted. As she’d grown older, her goal had been refined, her determination solidified: she was going to change her life for the better, to achieve the success that had always eluded her parents.

  She realized now it hadn’t been so much the money or social status that had motivated her. She’d simply wanted the respect that seemed to go hand in hand with them. In Palm Beach County the separation between rich and poor wasn’t a line. It was the whole damn length of the causeway. She’d wanted desperately to cross that bridge, just for the sheer joy of the challenge. Few people made it. She wanted to be one of them.

  Billy responded to challenges just as she had. Although life had become easier for him since coming to live with Tina, he hadn’t forgotten the past. Last night’s tearful conversation had been proof enough of that. Though he had the adolescent’s aversion to studying, he had enough street savvy to survive in school and the athletic ability to be a star. Billy would make a name for himself someday. She had no doubts about it.

  Tina grinned as Billy moaned loudly when Aunt Juliet, hooting with glee, drove his ball far from the next wicket. Drew threw his arms around Juliet and planted a kiss on her cheek. As far away as she was, Tina could see the older woman blushing with pleasure. When wisps of her hair fell loose from her bun, Aunt Juliet didn’t even notice.

  “Hey, Billy,” Tina called out the window. “Maybe you should stick to baseball.”

  Billy looked up and gave her a crooked smile. “Why don’t you get out here and help? These guys are teaming up against me.”

  “Hold them off awhile longer. I’ll be out as soon as I do something about lunch.”

  However, when she walked through the swinging door that separated the dining room and kitchen a few minutes later, she found that Grandmother Sarah was already pouring iced tea into a crystal pitcher and arranging sandwiches on a plate. Seth Landry was sitting at the table, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his fingers laced behind his head. As Tina watched, he reached out and snitched a piece of ham that had fallen onto the plate. Sarah smacked his hand. With a sense of amazement and delight, Tina realized that he looked perfectly at home, as though he’d been doing the same thing for years and years. The normally unflappable Sarah was as nervous and fluttery as a teenager.

  Tina smiled as she caught the sparks of interest arcing between the two of them. “Need any help?” she asked brightly.

  Startled, Sarah practically knocked over the pitcher of tea. She glowered at Tina. “Christina Elizabeth, stop sneaking up on me. You’re going to scare me to death one of these days and you’ll have that on your conscience forever. I’ll probably even come back to haunt you.”

  Seth’s blue eyes sparkled and, Tina noted, he never once turned away from Sarah. The man looked as though he’d been dazzled by a bolt of lightning.

  “I only asked if you needed any help,” Tina said with exaggerated innocence. She had to try very hard not to wink at Drew’s father. “Your mind must have been on other things.”

  Sarah’s scowl deepened. “Just take these things out to the others,” she grumbled. “I’ll be along with the pie in a minute. It’s warming in the oven.” Her glance skimmed over Seth, then focused on the oven door as she mumbled, “Maybe you should go on out with Tina.”

  “Nope,” Seth said, settling down more comfortably right where he was. “Think I’ll stay right here. Haven’t been around a kitchen that smelled this good in a long time.”

  “Sarah does bake a terrific pie,” Tina said agreeably, picking up the overburdened tray of food. “Take your time.”

  “Perceptive gal,” she heard Seth say after she’d left the room.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” Sarah retorted huffily, and Tina rolled her eyes heavenward.

  If the last few minutes were any indication, Seth Landry’s visit to Florida ought to be very interesting. She wondered if he needed to get back in time for the spring planting or, for that matter, the fall harvest. Sarah was not likely to be won over easily. She had an independent streak that went back more than sixty years and had survived the persuasive tactics of many an amorous suitor. Tina had no idea why she’d never married, but she knew Sarah was too warm and giving not to have had her share of love along the way.

  Still grinning at the thought of the fireworks to come, Tina went back through the living room, only to discover that the croquet game had apparently ended and that Dr
ew had come back inside. He was standing at her desk with a puzzled expression on his face, holding a piece of her stationery.

  “Who won the game?” she asked neutrally, not sure she was thrilled about being alone with him now that her mind was reeling with confusing thoughts and doubts.

  “What?”

  “Croquet. Who won?”

  “Oh. Juliet did.”

  “With a little help from you from the looks of it. I suspect Billy’s going to be out for blood after lunch.”

  “Hmm,” he muttered distractedly.

  “Drew, is something wrong?”

  “I wonder...” His mind was still a million miles away.

  “Drew!” Tina said in exasperation. “What is going on?”

  He looked up finally and caught the stubborn set of her chin. “Sorry. I was just trying to figure something out.”

  “So I noticed. Care to explain or would you prefer to keep this mystery to yourself?”

  “Give me a couple more minutes.” He noticed the tray in her hands for the first time. “Take that on out, why don’t you, and then come back. I need to ask you something.”

  There was an odd edge to his voice, an unfamiliar tone she couldn’t quite identify. Puzzled, she watched him for a minute, then shrugged. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  But Drew was already absorbed with the note in his hand.

  When she returned a few minutes later, her curiosity fully aroused, he hadn’t moved an inch and he was still scanning the same piece of paper. He held it out to her.

  “Is this yours?”

  She regarded him oddly, still perplexed by the intensity of his tone. “You mean the stationery? Of course. It has my name engraved on it.”

  He arched his eyebrow meaningfully. “I was referring to the handwriting.”

  Tina looked at it more closely. “No. It’s Aunt Juliet’s. She was answering some invitations for me. Why?”

  Suddenly, Drew’s eyes danced with amusement and his lips started twitching. Then they quirked into a full-fledged smile followed by a roar of laughter. “Oh my. This is too much. I should have guessed.”