Noah’s forehead furrowed. “Have you had any contact with Leland King since then?”
“I haven’t seen or talked to him in years.”
“You mentioned money getting tight. It’s more than tight. You’re on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Darcie gasped and fired a questioning look at Noah. He’d known about this and brought her here without telling her about it. Did he suspect her of being involved, too? Would he start questioning her next? She now knew how Tom felt in the hot seat and she didn’t like it one bit, but she still wouldn’t help Tom.
Tom moved closer to Darcie, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you it was this bad, sweetheart, but I was embarrassed.”
“I’m not your sweetheart anymore. You saw to that.” Her tone was so harsh and bitter it scared her. She’d thought she’d put this behind her, but just like her loss of Haley, Darcie had to accept that she was still carrying around the baggage. One bag for Tom. One for her loss of Haley. Bags filled with rocks of pain and sorrow that she’d been hauling through life for the past six years.
Tom grimaced and the lips that she’d kissed for years narrowed in bitterness of his own. He stepped closer. “Can we talk alone for a minute?”
Noah shot out an arm, blocking Tom. “She’s not going anywhere without me.”
They both looked at him. His face colored red and he dropped his hand.
Tom tipped his head at the far wall. “Just over there. For a minute. That’s all.”
“Fine.” Darcie didn’t look to Noah for permission as she’d be within his line of sight, but wound her way through colorful bikes to the other side of the room.
Gnawing on his lower lip, Tom joined her.
She shoved her hands into her pockets to keep from crossing her arms. “What did you want to tell me?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, sounding honestly contrite. “Leaving you was wrong, but I couldn’t stop myself. The pain, our sweet Haley...it was too much. I started gambling. It was the only way to forget. To immerse myself in something so I could pretend life was normal. To go on, you know?”
She totally understood that losing himself allowed him to pretend for brief moments. That’s why she’d chosen the EMT job. She could forget her own misery during the intense callouts. Forget as she left the home where Haley had lived to immerse herself in life at the county fire station, where she worked and lived when she was on duty for that part of her job.
“I guess gambling was a better choice than something physically harmful, like drugs or alcohol,” she said.
He scowled and shook his head. “There was plenty of alcohol, too, but it’s the gambling that destroyed everything and put me so deeply in debt. I’m trying to get my life straight now. Guess I had to hit rock bottom to stop.” He leaned closer. “Part of my recovery is to ask for forgiveness. I know I hurt you, Darcie. Hurt you bad. If I could go back and change it, I would. But I can’t. I can only hope you’ll forgive me for bailing on you like that.”
She hadn’t forgiven him, that was clear, but could she manage to, someday? She had no idea if he really was in a program to stop gambling, but that was his business. Her business was deciding how to act. Here and now. Today. Did she hold on to the pain from his abandonment or let it go?
Letting go was the right thing to do. For him. For both of them. But could she shed his bag of rocks so easily?
God forgives you for every mistake. The thought came from nowhere. Why not offer Tom the same opportunity for redemption? And help yourself at the same time. Drop that burden once and for all.
She could do this with God’s help.
“I forgive you,” she said, and her heart swelled with emotion as she came to realize that there was honesty behind her statement. She really could forgive him and move on.
“Thank you.” Tom’s eyes glistened with tears. “I know how hard this is for you.”
For a moment, the man who’d hurt her disappeared and she saw the old Tom. The man she’d fallen in love with. Had a child with. She hoped he could move on, too, and wished him well.
“Are you really almost bankrupt?” she asked.
He nodded. “I can hold off for another month or two, but then I’ll be...” His despair took the last of his words.
She could help him by selling the house. Could she do it?
Please help me truly to let this hurt go. To help Tom.
The thought of doing so, after so many years of hating him, made her heart soar. They could end things on a positive note instead of with all the bitterness. “I’ll sign the house over to you and you can to do what you want with it.”
He held up a hand. “I can’t let you do that.”
“It’s time for me to let it go. To move on,” she said, feeling light as air. Free. Her heart filled with hope not only for Tom, but for herself, too, for the first time in years.
One of her favorite verses came to mind. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Father, please I want Your peace. Your hope.
“We should get going,” Noah called out.
Darcie looked at him. Felt the chemistry they’d built. Felt his care and concern. Could she trust God to control her life and let go of her fear of getting hurt again?
Their gazes met. An unspoken connection flowed between them. Her heart fluttered and time stood still, the moment precious and wonderful.
Tom cleared his throat, breaking the link. “If that’s all you need, I’ll...”
At his voice, the old hurts came rushing back and her defenses sprang back into place. Could she trust another person? Really and truly put all of her past in the past?
“Winnie’s waiting for us,” Noah said, pulling her back.
She said goodbye to Tom. It felt like a final farewell. A chapter closed in her life. As she walked away, tears threatened to flow and she took a deep breath to hold them back.
“Everything okay?” Noah asked.
“Fine,” she said and shut him down. She certainly didn’t need to talk about her ex with the man who had found a way to break through her defenses.
They silently climbed into the car and didn’t speak again until they headed up the sidewalk to Winnie’s home.
“Nice place,” he said, looking up at the large, traditional home in the West Hills of Portland.
Two stories with white columns out front and a wraparound porch, the house looked like it belonged in a setting for Gone with the Wind rather than in the rustic Northwest.
“It’s beautiful, but Winnie’s thinking of selling it. She only hangs on to it because her sons were raised here. But now that they’ve essentially abandoned her, she’s ready to let go.”
“Like you,” Noah said, grabbing her attention. “That was quite a thing you did back there with Tom.”
“You heard?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the room was small.” He smiled. “I’m impressed with you, Darcie Stevens. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” She rang the doorbell. “Took me over six years to get to this point.”
“So what? You got here and that’s all that’s important.” He frowned. “You inspire me to move on, too.”
She wanted to ask him from what, but decided to wait him out and see if he would volunteer his story.
He bit his lip, shuffled his feet, looked down then back up at her. “In college. I was young and foolish.”
She laughed. “Aren’t we all?”
“Yes, but not all of us make life-changing mistakes.”
“What happened?”
“My girlfriend. Ashley. She and I...we—”
The door swung open.
&n
bsp; “Oh, good. Ms. Darcie.” Winnie’s rotund housekeeper of thirty years smiled at Darcie from the open doorway.
Disappointed in the interruption, Darcie forced out a smile. “Good to see you, Harriet.”
“The missus has been waiting for your arrival.” Harriet didn’t linger but went back into the house, her serviceable shoes squeaking on the gleaming marble floors.
Darcie followed her through the impressive two-story foyer with mahogany steps winding up to an open landing. She heard Noah trailing behind her and she wanted to turn. To ask him to finish his story, but it wasn’t the right time. She’d have to hope he’d continue it later.
They entered a cozy sitting room, where Winnie sat overlooking a perfectly manicured garden. She started to rise from her favorite chair, but Darcie held up her hand to stop her and rushed across the room.
“My sweet child.” Winnie smiled, her eyes crinkling below a cap of silvery curls. “I can’t wait to tell you all about my trip.”
“And I can’t wait to hear about it.” Darcie hugged Winnie’s fragile shoulders.
Winnie leaned back, looking frail and small in the big chair. Darcie knelt by Winnie’s legs that were covered in an old quilt made by her mother.
“Oh, but you brought a young man.” Winnie stared up at Noah. “He’s a fine-looking one, isn’t he?” she whispered. “Is he married?”
“Don’t start with the matchmaking again,” Darcie whispered back, then turned to beckon Noah over and introduced the pair.
Noah joined them and took Winnie’s hand. “Darcie’s spoken so highly of you, I feel like I already know you.”
“She has, has she?” Winnie eyed Darcie. “This one’s usually so quiet you have to pry things out of her. You must be special if she shared anything about her life with you.”
Noah glanced at Darcie, and she noticed that his face had colored. His embarrassment over something so simple endeared him to her even more.
“Please sit down, Detective, and tell me what this meeting is all about.”
Darcie and Noah both sat, and Noah shared the details of Darcie’s attack.
“Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry.” Winnie ran her gaze over Darcie. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, and before you start worrying, I have Noah looking out for me.”
Winnie’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, I see how closely he’s looking out for you.”
Darcie shook her head, but didn’t want to mention Winnie’s penchant for matchmaking in front of Noah, so she let it drop. Winnie finally moved her attention to him, her focus sharp and intense.
“So. Let’s come right to the heart of your visit, shall we,” she said, seeming unaffected by the topic. “You think my sons are upset at me for adding Darcie to my will and they might be involved in these terrible attacks on her.”
“It’s a possibility,” Noah said.
“I can’t for the life of me disagree,” she said directly.
Darcie swiveled to look up at her. “Really?”
“After what they’ve been up to, I can’t rule it out.” Winnie sighed, her disappointment as a mother clearly visible on her face. “Now what else do you need to know, Detective?”
“Would you mind sharing the reason for changing your will?” His tone was gentle and Darcie made a mental note to thank him for the kindness he was showing Winnie.
“About a month ago,” Winnie began, “my accountant told me my sons were involved in moving money to hide losses of underperforming locations. He suspected it was so they could inflate company profits for our annual reports. I spoke to the boys about it. They claimed they were doing nothing illegal, but I don’t hold with even a hint of impropriety and insisted they stop.”
“And did they?” Noah spoke calmly, but Darcie saw a spark of interest, likely over the close relationship between creative accounting and money laundering.
“They refused, but as the Chairman Emeritus, I have no control of their actions other than to bring it to the board’s attention.”
“Emeritus?” Noah asked.
“It’s an honorary or ceremonial position in recognition of my work in the past, but I have no real standing now.” Sadness extinguished Winnie’s earlier twinkle. “I didn’t want to report them for the scandal it would create. So since money is the only thing they think about, I hoped a change in my will would get their attention and motivate them to mend their ways. All it’s accomplished is for them to try to have me declared incompetent.”
Darcie took Winnie’s papery soft hand. “You can take comfort in the fact that they aren’t doing anything illegal.”
“Perhaps,” she said. “At least nothing they’ll admit, or that they’ve been caught doing.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to look into their backgrounds, including their finances,” Noah said.
Winnie’s expression firmed. “You’ll get no fight from me. In fact, unless or until they are successful in having me declared incompetent, I have access to the company’s financial reporting system so I’ll make sure you have access, too.”
“What exactly are you expecting to find?” Darcie asked Noah.
“I’m not sure, but we’ll get a forensic accountant to review their books. If they’re involved in anything illegal we’ll soon know.”
Winnie gave a firm nod. “I’d rather it didn’t have to happen this way, but they chose this path.”
“I hate to ask this, Mrs. Kerr,” Noah continued, “but do you really think your sons might harm Darcie?”
“I don’t think they would personally attack you, honey.” Winnie looked at Darcie, a note of apology in her gaze. “But connections they’ve established with questionable people could give them access to someone who would hurt you for the right price.”
Noah worked his jaw hard. “Then I suggest that at the minimum you bow out of testifying for Winnie.”
“Not happening.” Darcie crossed her arms.
“He’s right, honey,” Winnie said. “I can defend myself.”
“I know you can and you really don’t need me, but I won’t back down under their threats. I’m helping you win this battle no matter what your sons might do.”
Winnie squeezed Darcie’s shoulder, then sat back, looking defeated.
“I’m so sorry this is happening, Winnie,” Darcie offered.
“You think you’ve raised your children right. Raised them to fear God.” She tightened her hands into fists. “Then the world, specifically money in this situation, blinds them to their faith.”
“I’m sure they’ll come around.”
“I hope so. And I hope it’s quick. I worry about them. About the way they’ve turned their back on their faith. They know about God...believe in Him. I made sure of that. I honestly don’t understand their choices. It’s like knowing how to swim and choosing to drown.” She shook her head. “Why would they do that? What has money given them? A life of worry, when God’s peace is available, that’s what. How foolish.”
Knowing how to swim and choosing to drown. The words hit Darcie hard and she sat back, stunned. Winnie always retained her peace. No matter her circumstances, she remained calm. She’d weathered storms of health. Loss. Loneliness. And now her sons’ betrayal, and yet she always had a smile and a pleasant attitude. Was never rattled and stood unwavering in her faith.
Darcie was just the opposite. She was like the Kerr brothers. She continued to worry. Continued to run from deep, intimate relationships. She was choosing the worry. Choosing to let her loss control her actions. And she’d been drowning.
Slowly but surely.
Day after day for six years. Keeping her head just above water. Ignoring God and His wishes for her life. Ignoring the opportunities to build healthy, happy relationships.
One of these days, oh, yes, one of these days, if she didn’t make a c
hange, she was going to sink, and then what?
THIRTEEN
Noah now knew why Darcie liked Winnie so much. She was kind, sweet and wise. Very wise. Her comment about choosing to drown—a priceless nugget. One he planned to give further thought to later tonight when he spent some time figuring out how to finish telling Darcie about Evan. But now he needed to wrap up the interview and then get Darcie safely back to the firehouse.
“I was wondering how involved you are in the leasing of your malls,” he said to Winnie.
“Interesting change in topic.” She smiled. “I once was very involved, but as I said, I’m more of a figurehead now, attending a board meeting or special event here or there and not involved in the day-to-day business at all.”
“So you don’t know anything about the vacancy rate at the malls?”
“I do know we have higher than average occupancy.” She narrowed her eyes and Noah saw a keen mind observing him, not a woman suffering from dementia. “Suppose you come right out with your question.”
“I’m not sure I really have a question, but we’ve checked into the business, and like you said, you report having a high occupancy rate, but the malls have many vacant storefronts with For Rent signs in the windows.”
“Now that I didn’t know.” She paused. “Doesn’t make much sense, does it?”
He shook his head. “And what makes even less sense is when we called the phone number on these signs, we’re told that they’re not available for rent—that they’re already occupied.”
Winnie shot a questioning look at Darcie.
“He’s right,” Darcie said. “After Archer told us about it, I tried calling on a few locations myself.”
“Then that is most peculiar.” Winnie pursed her lips for a moment, then looked at Noah. “Would you like me to ask my sons about that?”
Noah shook his head. “I’d rather you didn’t give them a heads-up that we’re investigating them until after we review the company finances.”
“Because you think they might try to hide something.” She tsked. “I can’t say as I disagree.” A look of resolve passed over her face. “I’ll make sure you have access to the finances as soon as possible.”
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