by Jean Oram
Daphne’s cell rang, and hoping her Bluetooth was working properly, she hit the connect button.
“Daphne Summer,” she said. She always felt a bit silly talking alone in the van, as people passing by might think she was talking to herself, and therefore a little off her rocker.
“Daphne! It’s Nate Rockerfield from Environment Canada. How are you?”
“Oh, Nate. How are things with the oil sands?”
He groaned. “Don’t ask.”
The man had wanted to leave a legacy, but energy resources were always a tough battle. Again, finding balance between two parties and their disparate needs.
Daphne checked her rearview mirror for signs of Evander. It wasn’t as fun evading him if he didn’t put an honest effort into catching up again. She took a side road, leading to another highway. Ten minutes until her shift: she had time to extend the game. In fact, Evander could already be outside her place of work, arms crossed, scowl in place, foot tapping at her delay.
“We were wondering if you would be interested in coming in for an interview?” Nate asked.
“Job interview? As in nine-to-five for the government?”
He laughed. “What you do for the environment on your own is unprecedented.”
“Aw. Thank you.”
“We offer pensions, health plans, child care, family days, the works.”
But she’d be stuck behind a desk for very regimented hours.
“Signing bonus?” she asked. The idea of a regular, decent paycheck was tempting.
“We’re not a big department. Taxpayers pay our wages.”
“Is that a no?” she teased, turning onto another secondary highway. Almost there. A Hummer had been following her and she slowed to let it pass. She hated it when vehicles blew past on a solid line. It seemed as though everyone was in a hurry these days and didn’t pause to think of the safety of others, just themselves getting ahead.
“I can ask,” Nate said. “Remember, we hold a different form of clout than private firms. We can extend our influence internationally. I think you could make a real difference working with us rather than a private firm.”
“When do you want me to come by?”
“Next week?” The hope in his voice made her feel pretty darn good. Environment Canada wanted her. Her!
“Sounds good, Nate.”
He gave her the date and time. Her birthday, the appointment time within an hour of her birth. It had to be a sign. Her life was about to pull into focus and order. Maybe a real job would be okay, after all.
Feeling jazzed, she hung up and pulled over, allowing the Hummer to pass as she stopped to dial Mistral. Ensuring her Bluetooth was still working, she pulled out again.
“Mistral Johnson, please,” she said when his secretary answered.
“One moment, please.”
There was a series of clicks and then Mistral was on the phone.
“Hello.” His voice was crisp and professional.
“It’s Daphne.”
“I know, my secretary has caller ID.”
Well, that was probably a good thing. The secretary knew to let her through. Things were progressing in the right direction there, at least.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he said, sounding rather grim. “I heard the news.”
“About the break-in?” she clarified.
“Yes. I’ve talked to Aaron. I think the man is feeling rather desperate after what your sister threw at us. Any chance to figure out what your next move might be.”
See? It wasn’t Mistral. It was Aaron. It was her sisters. She was on the right track. Meaning Evander was wrong. She stuck her tongue out at her rearview mirror, even though it was only the Hummer behind her and not Evander.
Wait. The Hummer was back?
“Actually, I’m calling about the development,” she said, feeling distracted. “You don’t know anyone with a gold Hummer, do you?”
“No, I don’t think so. Why?”
“No reason. Anyway, I was thinking we could figure out a way to work together with that development.”
Mistral sighed. “I think we have very different ideas on what should be done on the island.”
“True. But I also believe we can work together. And let’s be honest, if it isn’t us giving you pressure about the environment, then it’s going to be someone bigger, such as Environment Canada. So who would you rather have? Us or them?”
“Are you threatening me?” His voice had a steely edge.
“No, I am being realistic.”
“Really? Because it sounds as though you’re saying if I won’t work with you, you’ll go tattling to Environment Canada.”
She almost laughed. She was going to be Environment Canada. Possibly.
“I want you to succeed, Mistral, and I know how important this development is to you.” She refrained from saying how this whole project was an obvious cry for approval from his father. “I think you could create a nature preserve like you used to dream about.”
“Daphne, I grew up. I know now that a nature preserve would be a money pit.”
“So, money is everything?” She knew it was an unfair jab, but he had it coming. He’d been adamant when he’d told her only a few years ago that he never wanted to become that man where money was everything. And now he was. It made her angry. The man had no backbone of his own.
“Daphne, you don’t understand.”
“And what is it that you’ve learned in the past five years that I am unable to comprehend?”
“Don’t pull the past into this.”
“You can have it all, Mistral. You can have it both ways.”
Something slammed on his end of the phone and she imagined him smacking his desk in frustration. “No, I can’t have it both ways. I tried and I failed. And now I have to live with that. Out here in the real world we have to make money, and so that’s what I’m doing.”
She fought to stay calm. “I believe you can have your development, stay within environmental protocols, as well as preserve the environment. Your development could be a nature preserve. A nature retreat. A green vacation spot. Eco-tourism. It’s the wave of the future. Don’t you want to be the one to start the trend here in Ontario?”
“There’s no money in it.”
“Then maybe you need to start talking to me.”
He gave a derisive laugh. “And you suddenly know about money?”
“I guess that’s for me to know and you to find out. Are we on to meet up with Tigger again in a few days?”
“I’m pretty busy.”
Daphne bit back her disappointment. “You said you wanted this, Mistral.”
“I do, but I’m tied up.”
“You know where to find me.”
She fumbled for the button to end the call, but Mistral said, “Do you really think you could get your sisters off my back?”
“Everything except the legal stuff Melanie started against the municipality for failing to follow protocol, but everything else, yeah. I think so. We could create a solid compromise that’s fair to both sides.”
“Fair for both sides?”
“Yup.” She could almost hear him thinking how unlikely that was.
“Let me think on it, but this sounds incredibly unrealistic.” He let out an uncertain laugh. “Daphne, as crazy as it is, I still trust you. I know everyone’s telling me not to, but you’re still the same woman you always were. You haven’t changed despite everything. I’d like for some big pipe dream to work out, but I can’t help but feel it’s highly unlikely.”
Daphne sighed. Same old Mistral. All talk and dreams, but no balls to take action.
“If anyone can bring a pipe dream to life, it’s probably you, Daphne.”
They said goodbye, and while Daphne knew that changing Mistral’s mind was still a long shot, she felt better about where the two of them stood than she had in a long time. Smiling, she turned up the music and concentrated on the Hummer, which was finally pulling out to pass once more. Pan
ic reared up like a wild horse as she realized the vehicle was passing on a solid line, with a ten-foot-high rock cut coming up fast on either side.
She tapped her brakes to let the Hummer get by safely, but it dropped back alongside her. When she waved at the driver, the vehicle just crept closer to her van, and she laid on the horn.
Daphne finally slammed on the brakes, and the Hummer zipped on ahead. She drew a deep, calming breath That had not been someone simply forgetting to shoulder check after passing.
On the other side of the rock cut, the Hummer was waiting, and Daphne had to swerve to avoid a collision. Panicked, she sped on past, pulling visuals on her location. She was only a minute from town. One long minute. Then she could find Evander and have him help her figure out what was going on.
When she checked her rearview mirror again the Hummer was back on her tail, following too close. She sped up, freaked out.
“Call Evander,” she said, slapping off the radio and hitting the Bluetooth button.
“Look up colander, is that correct?” her phone asked through the speakers.
“No.” She kept an eye on the vehicle behind her, keeping her speed constant. They wouldn’t hit her. They were just trying to scare her. It would be okay.
“Call Evander,” she repeated to her phone.
The Hummer slammed into the back of her van and she screamed, fighting to control the vehicle as it swayed and swerved.
She heard a dial tone, then ringing through her speakers.
She glanced behind her, expecting another hit. The Hummer was gone, replaced by Evander’s truck.
Blinking, she looked back again, not believing her eyes. The man must have superpowers.
Slamming on the brakes, she went to pull over, never so relieved to see the muscle monkey in all her life. Evander came up fast, waving at her to keep going. She could see him mouthing, “Go, go, go.” Or maybe that was him through her phone, which had finally connected.
“Don’t pull over,” he commanded. “Go straight to the police station.”
“I have to go to work.”
“Don’t start with me, woman. That was not a friendly bumper tap. Get your ass to the station or I swear I’ll run you off the road myself.”
* * *
Daphne made it all the way to the police station before breaking down. But as she turned off her Caravan, Evander’s black truck stopping beside her, she lowered her head to the steering wheel and let it all out. Great big van-shaking sobs.
What if Tigger had been with her? What if the Hummer had succeeded in knocking her off the road? As the what-ifs flooded her, she gave over to the terror.
Her door opened and Evander was there, talking to her in a calm, low voice as though she was a spooked animal.
“It’ll be okay, Daphne,” he said.
She lashed out, trying to hit him with her left hand and failing. “This is not my world, Evander. Not my world! Mistral’s a nice guy. He has to be. I let him in. I let him be the father of my baby girl.”
Evander shushed her sobs as he eased her out of the van. A police car sailed past, sirens and lights going, and her legs grew weak with the severity of the situation.
“You okay?”
“No.” She let out a small sniff, laughing at herself and the truth. She was not all right. She turned into Evander’s warm strength, hugging him.
“I’m sorry I ditched you,” she muttered.
“I’m glad you did. If you hadn’t, how would I have been in position to knock that guy off your tail?” With an arm around her shoulders, he guided her into the station. The officer seemed to know Evander and they began discussing the incident as though she wasn’t there.
She had no control over her life any longer.
She stood. “I need to go get Tigger. No, I need to get to work. I need to…” She swallowed hard, feeling dizzy.
Evander caught her, lowering her into the chair across from the detective, pushing her head between her knees. Moments later, the officer handed her a cup of ice water.
“Shock,” he said.
“This is not my life!” She tried to stand again, but strong hands held her head down. “I need to get Kim—my daughter—Tigger.” The hysteria in her voice was unnerving, even to her own ears. They were going to give her a shot of something to knock her out if she wasn’t careful, then make decisions that weren’t theirs to make. This was her life, and as Evander had said, she needed to be the one in control of it.
She pushed the ice water away and shrugged off Evander’s hand, which was resting at the nape of her neck, way too powerful to feel as comforting as it did. “I need to get my daughter.”
“A patrol car has already been dispatched,” the detective said. “In case.”
“I need to tell my boss I’ll be late.”
“I’ve already called,” Evander said.
There was nothing left for her to do. To take care of. And that’s what she did. She took care of things in her life. And they’d taken it all away from her.
All of it.
Even her freedom. A sob escaped her chest, pulling the muscles tight as she fought it with all she had.
Everything had gone chaotic. And not in a, “it will all work out if I give it space” sort of way like usual. It was a destructive energy. Negative, toxic, and contagious.
Everything happened for a reason. So why was this happening? Why had someone tried to push her off the road?
She looked at Evander, who was calmly sorting things out on her behalf.
Everything happens for a reason.
Hailey burst into the large room, her boyfriend, Finian, two steps behind, and was pulling her out of the chair for a hug in a matter of seconds. Daphne felt like a teenager whose parents were about to fuss over her, then scold the heck out of her.
“Thank goodness you’re all right.” Hailey smoothed Daphne’s hair, looking around. “Where’s Tigger?”
“They’ve gone to get her.”
Her sister sagged. “Thank goodness she wasn’t with you.”
Next, Maya and Melanie came blasting in. More hugs, a few more tears.
“I’m sorry for everything. I really am. I’m so sorry,” Melanie said.
“Why? Did you plan this?” Daphne joked.
Melanie paled. “For starting everything. I should have kept my mouth shut. I’d rather have Rubicore’s nasty development across from the cottage than lose you.” She gave Daphne another squeeze, then let out an “oomph” when she squeezed back. “Forgive me?”
Daphne nodded.
“Does Mom know?” Maya interrupted.
“She’s going to panic!” Hailey said, clapping a hand to her mouth.
“I don’t even know how you know,” Daphne said, wiping at her eyes. Connor and Tristen, who’d come in behind Maya and Melanie, were looking as though they were ready to rip someone apart on Daphne’s behalf. She’d never felt so loved as she did in that moment.
“Evander called,” Maya said.
Daphne turned to him. “Thanks.”
“You’re going to be stuck with these sisters nagging you now, too, I hope you know.” There was no way she was getting her family off her case now that they knew just how bad things seemed to be getting.
The detective took down Daphne’s side of the story, shuttling everyone else into a private waiting room down a short hallway. When she finished, an officer came in with Tigger, who had a huge, dripping ice cream cone grasped in her sticky hands. She was grinning and looking immensely pleased with herself.
“Mom!” She came running over. “I got to ride in a police car. I asked for an ice cream and he said yes!”
Daphne laughed, hugging her daughter tight.
“Oof! That was a big hug, Mom.”
“Does she know?” Daphne asked the new officer, as he led them to the room where her sisters and the men were waiting, Tigger bouncing along ahead of them.
He shook his head. “I told her it was a surprise field trip. I hope that’s okay?” He
opened the door, where everyone but Evander was present, all leaning forward in case there was news.
“Was the man in the Hummer…?” Daphne began.
“Still working on that. Hey, Tigger. Want to see the holding cells?”
“What’s that?”
“The jail.”
“Cool!”
“Don’t worry,” the officer said to Daphne, “they’re currently empty.” Before he closed the door behind him and Tigger, he leaned in to say, “Take as much time as you need.”
A moment later, Evander joined them in the room, saying, “They arrested him.”
“They just took Tigger to go see the jail!” Daphne stood.
“It’s okay, he still has to be processed and interviewed first. It’ll be a while before he makes it as far as a cell,” Evander assured her. “The man driving the Hummer works for Aaron Bloomwood. Apparently no connection to Mistral.”
Daphne shut her eyes. “I was just talking to Mistral before the incident. He swore he had nothing to do with the break-in, and he said he talked to Aaron. I don’t get it.” Tears threatened to fall. She still wanted to believe that Mistral had nothing to do with this attack, but how could he be that clueless about what his project partners were up to? Was everything he said to Daphne just a lie? Or was his life so out of control that he thought he was telling the truth?
“The break-in?” Her sisters stood as though connected by a string, their heads turning to her.
“When?” Maya asked.
“Are you okay?” Hailey asked. “What happened?”
They crowded around and Daphne sighed at letting that tidbit slip.
“Her house was broken into by a man sent by Aaron Bloomwood,” Evander said. “He was looking for any plans you might have against the Baby Horseshoe Island development.”
As the women gasped at the news, their boyfriends stepped back, heads down.
“You told the men, didn’t you?” Daphne asked Evander, staring at Finian, then Connor, and finally Tristen. They knew and had obviously kept it a secret from her sisters.
