I assumed Vivi was talking about Ann Williams, who had helped her out before. How many times, I had no idea.
“The good news is that military lawyers aren’t experts in the law in every state. The military just spends vast amounts of money on software that makes it possible for their lawyers to do wills in a number of different states. Still, the tiny details are important in a will, so maybe we can find something.”
I reached over and squeezed Vivi’s hand. “What kinds of mistakes could be made in a will?” I asked.
“Lots of things, but I’ll give you a couple of examples. State of residence is important. While Boone’s property was here in Florida, I believe he was a resident of Illinois.”
“He was,” I said.
“Different states have different requirements for the number of witnesses. If that wasn’t done correctly, the will would be invalid.”
My grandmother had a saying about grasping at straws. I feared that was exactly what George was doing, but if that made Vivi feel better, I was all for it. I glanced at her, and she looked a little less tense than she had when she walked in.
“Okay, then,” George said, “I’ll take extra care reading through this and I’ll be in touch when I have news.”
* * *
Vivi and I stood outside by her Mercedes. The sun was warm, with a gentle breeze. The palm tree leaves rustled against one another and the humidity was low, which was a relief after the long, hot summer.
“I’m going to go see Ann,” Vivi said. “I told her I’d probably be by this morning.”
“I can go with you. There’s time before we open.”
Vivi opened her car door and got in. “I’d rather go alone.”
“Where does Ann live?”
“You can ask her.” Vivi closed the door, started the car, and left.
I stared after the car. Vivi was so prickly sometimes. What did she want to say to Ann that she didn’t want me to hear? I could try to follow her, but my vintage red Beetle wasn’t really a stealth mobile. I’d track Ann down later.
CHAPTER 19
Twenty minutes later I was sitting on the deck of the Sea Glass reading the last chapter of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I should say rereading it, because I’d read it several times, but the last time had been years ago. Tonight was the first Spines and Wines Book Club event at the Sea Glass. I’d told Vivi and Joaquín in June that I wanted to make some changes. This was an easy one that everyone had agreed to. I’d thought I’d take baby steps before rolling out any bigger plans.
I sighed as I closed the book. I liked it because Darcy and Elizabeth didn’t have an easy path to love, which made the book more believable. Oh, but that ending. My love life had more or less been a disaster, with a broken engagement and then finding out about Boone’s feelings for me. Rip was intriguing, but I wasn’t sure I was in a good place emotionally to get involved with anyone. A fictional romance on the other hand . . . I’d also always had a book crush on Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s cousin. He was always kind and compassionate, where Darcy wasn’t. Even though Elizabeth Bennett forgave Darcy for what he did to her sister Jane, I’m not sure I could be as forgiving.
I’d like to laze around out here in the sun dreaming of finding my own Darcy or Fitzwilliam, but I had work to do. I went back into the bar and locked the doors behind me. Joaquín came in a few minutes later, and I filled him in about the papers I’d read last night and what the lawyer said this morning as we took the barstools down from the tables.
“Then Vivi took off to find Ann on her own and just left me standing in the parking lot.”
Joaquín chuckled. “I gave up trying to figure out Vivi a long time ago. And the stress of Boone’s death changed her. She’s quieter than she used to be and doesn’t laugh as much.”
“That’s understandable, and I guess I’m a poor substitute for Boone.”
“You’re not a substitute for anyone, Chloe. We love you just as you are.”
“Did you just quote Bridget Jones’s Diary?”
Joaquín laughed. “I did. You aren’t the only one who reads.”
“I love that book and how it’s a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.”
“The movie isn’t bad either.”
“It’s hard not to like a movie with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.”
“Agreed. But back to Vivi. A lot of her dreams, whether they were realistic or not, died with Boone.”
“Like him moving back here and running the bar?” I asked.
“I don’t think he planned to stray far from your side. So if you’d stayed in Chicago, so would Boone.”
I sighed. I’d lost a lot of nights’ sleep wondering about Boone and me. “Do you think Michael would be willing to help out with the will? He’s been in the military, so he might pick up on something George Colton wouldn’t.” Michael was former Navy intelligence and good with computers. Not to mention he still had contacts in the military world.
“I’m sure if you asked him, he would.”
I called Michael right then, even though I should have been chopping fruit. “I have a favor to ask you,” I said after we greeted each other. I explained what I needed. “Also, I’m suspicious of the emails that Steve claims are from Boone. Although they aren’t as important as proving that the will is flawed and invalid.”
“Sure. It might take a few days,” Michael said.
“That’s fine.”
“Do you have the emails?”
“I have hard copies that either Ted Barnett or Steve printed out.”
“Send them home with Joaquín. But don’t get your hopes up. They might have scrubbed any information that would show where the emails really came from.”
Ugh. I hadn’t thought of that. “Okay, thank you.” I guessed if this battle went to court that the originals would have to be provided at some point.
After we hung up I chopped fruit while Joaquín inventoried the liquor or spirits supply, as he called it.
“Have you heard anything about your rescuer?”
“I’ve barely thought of him since Steve showed up.” I hadn’t thought of Ralph or the remains on the ship much either. Each dilemma had taken a back seat to losing Boone’s house and my share of the bar. I hated it when I turned into an “all about me” type.
Vivi walked in a few minutes later. She motioned for Joaquín and me to come into the office.
“George Colton just called and said Steve’s will does have a cancel-previous-wills clause. He was hoping it wouldn’t have one, because then we’d have better legal standing.”
“Has he found anything else?”
“Not yet,” Vivi said.
“The wheels of justice turn slowly, right?” Joaquín said.
Vivi nodded. “Let’s get back out to work.”
* * *
At nine that night I was walking the ten women who’d showed up to the book club out to the parking lot. We’d had a lively discussion about the book. I was pretty sure one of the women had only watched the BBC version with Colin Firth, because she kept talking about Darcy coming out of the lake. It was a fantastic scene in the film, but it wasn’t in the book. Fortunately, no one called her out on it.
I was standing talking with two of the women when someone called my name. I looked up to see Rip and another man walking toward us.
The two women looked at me.
“Oh, he is handsome,” one of them said, tugging my arm.
“Is he your Darcy?” the other woman asked.
“If he’s Darcy, the other one is Colonel Fitzwilliam.” They both giggled.
“Just imagine them in those tight pants like Colin Firth wore.” This time they faked fanning themselves. Then they climbed into their car and drove off with a wave.
Where was a sinkhole when I needed one? Or an alien spaceship that would beam me up? I didn’t think either of the two women had had that much to drink, but they were a lot louder than they thought they were and I was pretty sure Rip and his friend had he
ard every word. Good thing I wasn’t standing directly under the lights in the parking lot because my face grew warm. I was probably a nice shade of fire-engine red.
Rip and his friend stopped beside me. I recognized his friend as one of the firefighters who had been with Rip at the Sea Glass. He was the one called Smoke because women thought he was hot. I couldn’t disagree with that.
“Did they just call me Darcy?” Rip asked. “And Smoke, Fitzwilliam?”
“I’m not sure what they said,” I replied, lying my butt off. Rip’s friend Smoke wore a white linen shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders, making Rip’s almost look slim. It was tucked into dark, fitted slacks, and I confess I started picturing the two of them riding horses in tight pants like Darcy and Fitzwilliam did in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. I mentally smacked my face so I didn’t start drooling.
“Chloe this is my friend Smoke. He was at the Sea Glass with me.”
Smoke reached out and shook my hand. His big hand made mine feel almost dainty, and trust me, there was nothing about me that one would call dainty. My brothers had always teased me about my stubby fingers. I’d finally realized my fingers weren’t that stubby. Theirs were just longer and leaner than mine. Oh, boy, I was still holding Smoke’s hand. I dropped it quickly. Rip didn’t look amused.
“It’s nice to see you again, Smoke.” I hoped my voice covered my inner embarrassment. “What are you two up to?”
“Hopefully, no good.” Smoke laughed.
“So you’re a volunteer fireman too, Smoke?” I asked.
“Fitzwilliam here is full-time instead of a volunteer like I am,” Rip said. This time they both laughed.
It sounded like Rip was trying to change the subject. If they wanted to go out and do whatever no good entailed, it shouldn’t bother me. But it did. Ugh. How to get out of this gracefully? “How do you two even know who Darcy and Fitzwilliam are?”
“Any man with a mother, sister, or who has had a girlfriend knows the standard for all men is Darcy,” Smoke said.
“I’ve heard from many a woman that Fitzwilliam here looks quite dashing in a wet linen shirt,” Rip said.
I bet he did.
Smoke bowed toward Rip with a hand flourish. “Ah, but not as many as have said that about you.”
They both laughed again. I laughed too. It was hard not to around Smoke and Rip.
Even eighty-year-old women liked to see Rip without a shirt, and who could argue?
“It was nice meeting you, Fitzwilliam and Darcy. I’ll see you around.” I headed back to the bar to help finish closing.
* * *
“It seems like your book club was a success, Chloe,” Vivi said. “Well done.”
I still wasn’t used to getting praise from Vivi and it always made me a bit suspicious. I had to remind myself that I’d met Vivi at one of the lowest points in her life. The woman I met then and the woman I’d heard about from her friends over the past few months were two very different people.
I’d seen peeks of the old Vivi during the summer, but most of the time we’d been so busy there wasn’t much time to think about it. I’d been shocked when she offered me a place to live if Steve’s will turned out to be legal. It was a generous offer, but I couldn’t imagine that happening. What would I do if I didn’t own part of the bar? Stay here and find another job, or head back to Chicago, or move somewhere new?
“Thank you,” I said. Vivi didn’t usually stay to help close, but we’d both seen how tired Joaquín was and sent him home early. “I was wondering if we could put up some shelves and add some books, like a lending library or take-a-book, leave-a-book kind of arrangement.”
“This is a bar, not a library, Chloe.”
It was worth a try, and I’d bring it up later or just start bringing in books. I’d moved more books than clothes down here and more were being shipped to me. I’d lived with Rachel, and her apartment had been filled with books. I’d never realized that most of them were mine. “That reminds me. I’m volunteering at the Emerald Cove Library tomorrow morning at ten, so I’ll be a bit late.”
“You can take the librarian out of the library . . .” Vivi said.
She wasn’t too unhappy about it. In fact, when I first told her I wanted to start volunteering at the library, she’d said, “Fine. Whatever. I hope you worked it out with Joaquín.” But she’d said it with a hint of a smile, so I thought she was pleased. I’d overheard her telling Joaquín about my volunteering, and Vivi had said something about being happy I was putting down roots.
“How did your talk with Ann Williams go?” I asked. Vivi hadn’t shown up to the bar until noon. And although Ann often made an appearance in the bar, she hadn’t come in today.
“She’s willing to help.”
I was surprised. First that Vivi had actually told me and second that there was a possibility Ann would have said no.
“Vivi, I can finish up so you can go.” I had an ulterior motive for wanting her out of here.
“Thank you, I’ll take you up on that.” Vivi swept into her office, came out with one of her trademark designer handbags—pink this time—and went out the back door.
After I finished cleaning I would track Ann down. Hopefully, she’d be at her usual spot at Two Bobs.
CHAPTER 20
The air was nippier than I was used to it being; for now the humidity was almost nonexistent. I wished I had a sweater and almost laughed out loud. It was over seventy. In Chicago I’d never think of wearing a sweater in this weather. I must be going native already. I loved hearing the gentle slap of the water against the boats and dock as I walked toward Two Bobs.
I went in, ordered a beer, and started the hunt for Ann. She wasn’t in her usual spot. A plump man with long, blond hair was out there, smoking away. I wondered if Ann would kick him out if she showed up, or if he was a placeholder for her. He looked a little shady to me.
I walked through the bar and up to the outdoor rooftop deck. Music was playing, and the white fairy lights danced in the breeze. It was mostly couples up here. A few were dancing in the middle of the space. High-top tables lined the perimeter. Window boxes filled with flowers topped the deck rails.
As I scanned the deck, I noticed a man waving to me. Smoke. I smiled and waved back. He gestured for me to come over. I did an inner shrug and decided why not. Ann wasn’t here. Sticking around waiting for her would be a lot more fun with company.
“We meet again,” Smoke said.
It might have sounded cheesy from anyone else, but he sounded happy to see me. I slid onto the barstool across from him. Well, slid would be a stretch. It was more of a hop and a wriggle. Smoke had deep blue eyes that were almost violet. His thick lashes were blond at the tips.
“If you’re looking for Rip, he decided to call it a night.”
“No. I was looking for someone else.” That sounded odd, but not as odd as calling Ann Williams a friend. “She’s not here.”
Smoke held up his beer and said, “Well then, here’s to us.”
We clinked the necks of our beer bottles.
“And to new friends,” Smoke said.
I nodded, wondering why no words were coming out. It was so unlike me. “Are you from Emerald Cove?” Whew, finally I’d remembered how to talk. But talk about cheesy lines. If I wasn’t careful, I’d be asking him what his sign was, the way my mom said people did when she was young.
“Nope. I’m from Minnesota. My parents vacationed down here after they retired. I came to visit a couple of times and decided I’d had enough of the cold. I’ve been here two years.”
“I just moved here from Chicago. I’m afraid I’ll miss the cold. And the snow.” I liked snow. It was frozen water and gave me whole new ways to be out on the lake. If I was careful—and I always was—there was much less chance of drowning when things were frozen solid.
“If you’re like me, like most people down here, you’ll soon think fifty is chilly. Kids don’t get to go out to recess here if the temperature drop
s below forty. In Minnesota we went out unless the windchill dropped below minus twenty.”
“I’m already adjusting. I had actual goose bumps earlier.” We both looked down at my arms. I was still covered with them.
“Want to dance? That should keep you warm.”
I loved to dance. I wasn’t good at it, but I still thought it was fun. “Sure.” We made our way out to the dance floor. Smoke was a good dancer. He didn’t just shuffle his feet back and forth. A couple of times he took my hand and give me a twirl. By the time the song was over the goose bumps were gone.
A slow song came on. Smoke lifted an eyebrow in a do-you-want-to-dance-to-this look.
“Sure,” I said again. I was glad he didn’t just assume I would want to.
He pulled me to him, leaving a few inches between us. I closed my eyes and followed his lead. When the song was over I stepped back.
“Thanks for the dance. I need to get going.” I needed to look for Ann. “I’m volunteering at the library tomorrow before work.”
“No problem. Thanks for the company.”
“Anytime.” Ugh, that came out wrong. “See you around.” I walked off. Did I hear him say, “I hope so?”
* * *
I walked around the bar again. Still no sign of Ann. Did her not being here mean something? I was being ridiculous. It wasn’t as if she’d ever said, If you need me, you can find me at Two Bobs. It might have only been a coincidence that I’d found her here the other times. Although that would be a big coincidence. I had only been here a few months, so the locals like Ann didn’t really trust me yet. I’d earned a bit of respect when I’d helped Vivi out in June, but only a bit.
I left through the back door and walked along the harbor toward the Sea Glass. I turned up the dock that led to Rip’s boat. It was three boats up on my left. Lights were on, so maybe I’d stop to say hi. It was only ten thirty. As I drew closer, though, the shy side of me kicked it. What was I thinking, stopping by an attractive man’s place at this time at night? I might as well scream, Booty call.
I heard low laughter. First Rip’s and then, if I wasn’t mistaken, Ann’s. All my old insecurities came screaming back. I loved my brothers now, but our growing-up years had been difficult for me. They called it teasing when they commented on my chubby thighs or told me I was dumb. But I remembered a story our minister had told about words being like nails. You can pound a nail in a fence and you can take it out, but the hole is still there.
A Time to Swill Page 11
