by Wendy Wax
Annelise stiffened. Once again Renée braced for an explosion, but her sister said simply, “And how does one handle those memories?”
Joe’s smile was even, his eyes a bit less bear-in-trap as he focused on Annelise’s question. “Everyone does it differently, of course. Sometimes it’s by finding a way to honor the victim. Other times it’s a matter of toughing it out. At some point, from what I’ve seen, the good memories begin to outweigh the bad. You start to remember the people you lost as they were in life and not as they became in death.” The observation was no less comforting because of its straightforwardness. Annelise’s shoulders relaxed a bit, which made Renée’s relax, too.
“Well said.” John motioned Joe to a wing chair and took the one opposite. Renée leaned against the edge of Annelise’s desk.
“You know what I remember?” John asked quietly. “How much David Handleman loved the hotel. How glad he was to be home from Germany and a part of running it.” His smile was soft with memory. “And how much he wanted Ilse to love it, too.”
Renée nodded, caught her sister’s eye. “Do you remember the sunset walks?” Once again she waited for Annelise to freeze up, shed tears, or storm out, but once again she smiled.
“You would skip ahead of us. Daddy would carry me on his shoulders and point out the dolphins when a pod would swim or feed nearby. Sometimes he’d tease us with a horseshoe crab or a clump of seaweed.” Annelise laughed softly. There was a hint of her old childish breathiness, but this child had once been happy. “Sometimes we’d just sit under the shade of an Australian pine and have a picnic.”
“Australian pines?” Joe asked.
“Yep. They used to be all over the island until the freeze of 1961. Took me decades to get used to how naked the beach looked without them,” John said.
Renée looked at her sister and the faint smile that still lingered on her lips. “The beach is just as beautiful either way.”
Annelise got up but not in order to change the subject or escape. “I’m going to fill in for a friend at the Pass-a-Grille Historical Society this afternoon.” She gave Renée a fleeting kiss on the cheek, said good-bye to Joe and John, and left. No tears, no drama.
Renée and John shared a smile.
“That’s the first time she hasn’t spit nails at the mention of the hotel,” John observed. “I have wondered if she’d be any happier once the place was pulled down or if she might regret it. I feel bad about leaving the ladies in the lurch.”
“Me, too.” Renée checked her watch. “It’s a little early, but I think we’re entitled to a drink.”
“I’m in,” John said.
“Joe?”
“The man looks like he could use something with a bit of a kick. I’m guessing the Chivas Regal will do the trick.”
Joe nodded his agreement.
“Coming right up.” Renée went to put a tray together. “Neat or on the rocks?”
“Neat,” Joe said.
“Ah,” John replied. “I knew you were a man after my own heart.”
When Renée returned with the tray, the desk chair had been pulled over to join the wing chairs. She set the drinks tray on the low table between them.
“Salud.” They clinked glasses and raised them to their lips.
The warm liquid slid easily down her throat. John shot her a wink. Joe looked from one to the other.
“I wish I understood women half as well as you seem to, John,” Joe Giraldi observed.
“Ah . . . I thought you looked a little harassed. Is something wrong?”
“Shall I leave you two alone?” Renée asked, careful not to laugh at the idea of her husband as an expert on women. Despite the agent’s attempt at a light tone, it was clear he had something to discuss.
“No,” Joe said. “I think I may need a woman’s opinion.”
“Renée’s got no shortage of those,” John observed wryly.
“Now look who’s talking,” she retorted. Both of them were smiling.
Joe took a long sip of his drink.
John sipped along companionably. “I’m flattered, but I have to say I’m a little surprised you’ve come to me. It’s been a while since I courted a woman.”
Renée sipped her scotch and smiled.
“I considered talking to Maddie,” Joe admitted. “But I don’t think I’d be all that welcome at Bella Flora at the moment. Not if Nikki had anything to say about it.” He took another sip but didn’t seem to be finding it particularly soothing. “You and Renée have been married even longer than my parents. And, well, my parents would hardly be objective considering this concerns their son and their potential grandchildren.”
“You’ve got my attention,” John said. “And I think Renée’s eyes are about to pop out of her head. Don’t stop now.”
The agent shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “There’s a bit of a problem between Nikki and me.”
“Oh?” John asked. “Why’s that?”
“I may have accused her of sleeping with someone else.”
Renée was careful not to gasp.
“Do you have reason to believe that? That’s a pretty serious allegation,” John said quietly.
“No. I just . . . well, I found out completely by accident that she’s pregnant and I was so angry that she hadn’t told me that I started spewing whatever came out.” He looked down into the amber liquid. “And I may have thrown my weight around a little. Well, more than a little.”
Renée closed her mouth, but only after she’d taken a couple of large swallows. Nicole Grant was pregnant. And neither she nor Joe seemed to be celebrating.
“Thing is, I thought I understood women. I have dated a few in my time.”
“No doubt,” John said.
“So, I’m a little curious how you and Renée work things out when they get screwed up. More specifically how you apologize when you’ve been an idiot and then how you get Renée to do what you want her to.”
John snorted. Renée thought he was going to spray scotch all over the place. “Well, at least you’ve got things in the right order.”
“Damn straight,” Renée said. “And the apology has to be sincere. And abject. Abject is good. And you might want to consider getting down on one knee and begging. With a ring in your hand.”
“Been there, done that,” Joe said. “I can’t believe I’m admitting this. But I couldn’t get her to say yes.”
“Hmph.” John took a drink, swirled the amber liquid around in his glass. “Women can be stubborn. Their reasons for things can be, well, let’s say men and women look at the world from different angles. You know, that Mars and Venus thing. But you don’t strike me as the kind of man who gives up just because somebody says no.”
“That’s true. But things are a little complicated. She’s not just pregnant. She’s having twins. You’d think she’d want to be married, wouldn’t you? Especially to someone who hasn’t been shy about telling her how much he loves her. And wants children.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“That’s life, son. It’s complicated and messy. But that’s what keeps it interesting.”
“This is way more interesting than I bargained on.”
They sat and sipped in silence for a few minutes.
“Sounds like you need to try again,” John said. “Do what Renée suggested. You tell her how you feel. Include the love and adoration. Then you add the abject apology. And maybe jewelry.”
“And what do you think the chances are that those things will work?” He looked to Renée.
“I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “There’s something missing here. I’m not sure you can convince her unless you know what it is.” The glass was wet in Renée’s hands, the alcohol warm in her stomach. “But you need to give it your all. You don’t want to be fathering those children from a distance.”
“No,”
Joe said quietly. “That’s not something I could do or allow.” He took another drink but didn’t seem to be enjoying it. “And if that doesn’t work?”
John considered this for a minute, then he looked at her. “Renée? Can you step out for just a minute? I don’t want you to hear all my secrets.”
“As if you have any left after all these years,” she retorted even as she got up and walked away. She stepped into the next room and pulled the door closed behind her, leaving it open a tiny crack as she had no doubt John knew she would. She had to hide her laughter when John told Joe Giraldi his never-fail strategy for “managing” her and convincing her to do what he wanted.
As if the old softy had ever tricked her into anything that she hadn’t already decided to let him think he’d tricked her into.
“I’m not comfortable about this, kitten,” her father said to Kyra. “Your mother won’t like it.” They sat at a table on the back deck of the Wharf restaurant, overlooking the bay and munching on grouper po’boys and fries. Given the veritable boat parade and view of Tierra Verde, it would have been a relaxing lunch if her father hadn’t seemed so intent on talking her out of the very decision he’d helped her make.
“But you said yourself that if I got a hard money loan, I’d probably need someone to guarantee it. You even suggested John Franklin, which I think is a complete stroke of genius.” They had an appointment thirty minutes from now to discuss the details of the loan with John.
“It would be safer to ask Daniel for the money when he brings Dustin back this afternoon. I’m afraid you don’t fully understand what can happen if you do this and become unable to pay off the loan.” Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. Kyra was pretty sure it wasn’t because of the heat. “You could lose Bella Flora.”
“I can’t ask Daniel, Dad. I don’t want to treat him like some sort of money train. And I wouldn’t even consider risking Bella Flora except we need to do a renovation and have enough left over to hire a good attorney to deal with the network for us. I just can’t see any other way.”
“But, sweetie. If things don’t work out and you can’t pay off the loan . . .”
John Franklin said the same thing an hour later after Annelise—Annelise—had shown them to the conference room and Renée had delivered cupcakes and soft drinks.
“I do understand the risk,” Kyra said again. “You and Dad have explained it about a dozen times. But we can’t wait around for someone to save us or the show. And I’m the only one with an asset large enough to borrow real money against.”
The Realtor steepled his hands on the table. His brown eyes were filled with concern. “I’m going to say this one last time. I don’t think you should do this.”
She nodded and smiled so that he’d understand that she’d thought this through. If she let herself think about the risks too much, she’d lose her nerve entirely. “I’m going to do this. Because I believe in Do Over and us. But if the worst happened and you had to pay off the shortfall, at least I’d be losing Bella Flora to you.” She looked at him. “And you’re the only person I know who loves her as much as we do. You’ve always said she was the best house on Pass-a-Grille.”
“Oh, she is,” he said, but there was no mistaking his reluctance.
For a moment she allowed herself to imagine the loss in vivid detail. Walking away with nothing into an uncertain future. But her mother’s words came back to her. Like her mother, she would be proactive and if she got taken down, she was going to go down fighting. She looked the Realtor directly in the eye, then did the same with her father. “I promise I understand what I’m doing.”
“All right.” John opened a folder and withdrew a typewritten sheet of paper, which he placed in front of her. “This is the current estimated value of the house and grounds. This is the amount of the loan plus interest that I’ve agreed to guarantee.” He pointed to each number in the column and waited to make sure she’d absorbed it. There were an awful lot of zeros.
She swallowed, gave one last nod, then signed and dated the document. Her knees were slightly wobbly as she stood and followed John out to the front room. There Renée stopped them. “Hold on just a second. I’ll send the rest of the cupcakes back with you for Dustin.”
“You must be looking forward to having him home,” Annelise said as Renée went to box up the cupcakes.
“That’s for sure. Bella Flora has been really quiet without him,” Kyra said.
“It certainly has,” her father agreed.
Annelise smiled. Kyra realized there was something new in the smile, something that hadn’t been there when she’d yanked the hotel renovation away from them with no thought of anyone or anything but her own feelings.
Kyra pushed away the resentment that still lingered. She was speaking before she’d even thought what she might say. “We have the money to finish the renovation now. It would mean so much to all of us if you would reconsider letting us bring back the hotel. Or at least show you and explain why you should reconsider.”
Annelise began to shake her head. Was Kyra imagining that there was regret, even apology in the movement? “Couldn’t you just agree to listen?”
The “no” was not immediate, but Kyra could feel it coming.
“Listen to what?” Renée asked, returning with the bakery box.
“We have the money for renovation, and we’d really, really appreciate a chance to discuss all the reasons why renovation makes sense.”
John and her father remained silent. Renée’s reaction was everything Kyra had been hoping for, everything Annelise’s was not.
“Oh, please, Annelise,” Renée said eagerly. “Couldn’t we just agree to listen?” She placed the box in Kyra’s hands.
Annelise said nothing for what felt like an eternity. Kyra held the box so tightly she feared for the safety of the cupcakes. She held her breath when Annelise turned and met her sister’s eyes. “All right,” Annelise said finally. “But I’m only agreeing to listen.” It was clear she didn’t believe there was anything they could say that would sway her. “But you better make it soon. The bulldozers are already on-site. Demolition is set to start on Monday.”
“Oh, thank you!” Kyra said. “Thank you so much.” She left immediately, pretty much dragging her father out, afraid to give Annelise a chance to change her mind.
She practically floated to the car, her feet barely touching the sidewalk. Dustin would be home soon, Daniel was bringing him, and she was about to deliver not only the money they needed but also the chance to win back the renovation.
“Well done,” her father said as they climbed into the minivan and headed back to Bella Flora. “You’re not afraid to go after what you want. I’d like to say you’re a chip off the old block. But in truth you remind me of your mother.” Kyra knew from the way he said this that it was very high praise. “But I don’t think I’d mention where the money’s coming from just now. It would only upset her.”
Kyra nodded. The last thing on her mind was giving anyone anything else to worry about.
Chapter Forty-five
Kyra basked in her father’s compliments all the way back to Bella Flora. A good deal of her rosy glow faded when she discovered Troy Matthews lounging by the pool. As if he had every right to be here.
“What are you doing here?”
“Sunbathing,” he replied. “Do I look like I’m getting burnt to you?” He sat up and handed her the sunscreen. “Will you put a little on my back? I should probably flip over.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “I’m thinking sugar water would be better.”
“Sugar water?”
“Yes, we could slather it all over you.”
“Really? We?”
“Yes. It would probably take a few of us to get you staked to the nearest ant pile.”
Her father laughed and excused himself.
Troy sighed in feigned disappoint
ment. “I think you’re going to feel bad about this latent hostility you have toward me when I tell you what I have for you.”
“My hostility is not latent,” she said. “If it feels that way, I’m doing something wrong.”
“Seriously, Kyra.” He looked up at her. “I’ve got some really good news.”
“For who?” she asked. “Because in my experience, the person you care about most is you. And your good news is not necessarily our good news.”
Her mother came out bearing glasses of iced tea.
“Please don’t feed and water him,” Kyra said. “Once you do they never really go away.”
“Troy says he has an offer of some kind for us and I think we need to hear what it is,” Maddie said.
“An offer?”
“Yes, I was just getting to that when you threatened to stake me out to an ant pile.”
“Well I have news, too,” Kyra said.
“You can both fill us in,” Maddie said. “Avery and Nikki should be out any minute.” She pulled two straws out of her pocket and set them next to the iced teas. “Have you heard anything from Daniel, Kyra?”
Troy’s cocky smile slipped slightly at the mention of Daniel Deranian.
“He texted before takeoff that he thought they’d be landing at Albert Whitted around four P.M.”
“Perfect,” Maddie said. “I thought we could have a welcome home picnic for Dustin. It’s too hot to even fire up the grill, so I’m making ‘handwitches.’” Her smile turned slightly dreamy. Kyra imagined she was remembering William and Dustin eating smooshed PB&Js together on Mermaid Point.
“He’ll love it,” Kyra said. “And I agree, it’s way too hot to fuss.”
Avery and Nikki came outside blinking against the harsh sunlight. The five of them settled at the table on the loggia.
“All right, let’s have it,” Avery said. “But I only want to hear good news. If anything else goes wrong, I plan to throw myself into the Gulf and start swimming to Mexico.”
