Refuge on Leebrick (The Hills of Burlington Book 4)

by Jacie Middlemann

  “Personally,” Leslie began, scratching the little speech she’d worked out in her mind during the trip here, deciding instead to go for plain honesty. It was what she would have preferred if she were in Mary’s place. “I personally don’t agree with most of the innuendoes floating around about Liana’s writing. Unfortunately while I know Liana would just like it to simply go away, word of what’s been alleged about her has reached other ears that aren’t quite so willing.” Leslie studied the other woman trying to gauge what she knew. “Let’s just say that this person isn’t at all happy about what they consider to be slanderous statements about Liana and isn’t quite so willing to just let it go away as she would prefer. So I’m dealing with two situations, three if you count Liana.” She studied her coffee cup, wandered quietly around in her memories thinking her own children had rarely caused her this much grief. “I’ve looked at the pieces some are complaining about and googled some of the phrases that are being questioned.” She watched Mary’s expression shift and loosen. Plowed forward. “Some of those phrases have been used by hundreds if not thousands of people over the last many decades. And that is exactly what I told the little group of individuals who paid me a surprise visit a couple of days ago.” She knew by the suddenly arched eyes across from her she didn’t need to go into detail about the who and why. Mary might be quiet. She might have a dose of shy in her. But she had never been naïve. She knew the business, understood it better than many realized, and had a feel for the people who were thick on its landscape. Leslie took a deep breath and continued with her story. She had come here hoping Mary could help her resolve what as far as she was concerned should never have gotten to the point it had. “They in turn honed in on what I already knew after having googled it along with everything else they’ve been throwing out.” And from the heat in her bestselling author’s eyes she knew it had already been considered and very likely discarded as so much garbage. Unfortunately for both of them…and Liana…it just wasn’t going to be that easy. “One of the damn phrases that’s been brought into question comes practically verbatim out of one of your books and while it can be found in several other writings it’s not as common as the others.”

  “That’s just ridiculous!” Mary said with no little amount of heat in her voice. She slapped her cup down on the counter behind her and struggled to rein in her temper. It wouldn’t help. She was already angry she’d said so much already that made it very clear indeed she knew exactly what Leslie was talking about. Of course she knew. She’d been approached by most likely the same individuals who had gone to Leslie. Both individually and as a group they had tried more than once to contact her about their complaints. After giving up on trying to get a response from her by email, probably thinking she never read them in the first place, they had tried a more novel method. Daniel had forwarded their letter to her. A letter she didn’t respond to. She could only be grateful that both her phones were in her husband’s name instead of her own. “I just don’t understand why they are making such a huge deal out of this. It doesn’t involve them directly. Why should they care one way or another?” she asked the other woman.

  Leslie watched Mary pace the small kitchen. She wasn’t at all surprised by her reaction. She was also grateful. Very, very grateful that she’d been correct in her assumption of what her reaction might be. “I’ve long ago given up trying to speculate on why people do what they do. In this case I simply want very much to find a way to shut the situation down.” Leslie caught herself chewing on her lip, something she did only under the most strenuous of circumstances. This would certainly apply. “I’m not minimizing this, Mary. If I thought for a moment there was any basis to what they’re accusing her of I would be taking it very seriously. But I’ve talked with Liana. I truly believe that this is nothing more than a bizarre coincidence. Additionally, besides the fact that I don’t believe for a moment she ever meant to intentionally use the same wording buried in a single paragraph in the middle of her book as what can be found in one of yours, I also happen to know there’s a lot going on in her life the others aren’t aware of. Won’t be made aware of. Unfortunately though, because of that situation Liana isn’t interested in dealing with this one way or another. I’m not certain she’d care if a house fell on her the way she’s feeling at this point.” And in that moment she saw clearly in the other woman’s face that somehow Mary was aware of the situation Liana was going through. She didn’t know how because she knew for a fact that there had been no conversation between the two women. She wasn’t even certain the two had ever met. Mary had never been one of her most social authors. The woman could probably write a book on all the ways to avoid social gatherings a person didn’t care to attend. “You know.” It wasn’t a question.

  Mary took a deep breath, then sighed. “I had Daniel check a few things out for me. You’re right. It is a petty thing. I wasn’t about to validate their accusations by responding to them one way or another. But I wanted Daniel to make certain they couldn’t carry it forward on their own.”

  “Your husband, the lawyer,” Leslie said with the beginnings of a smile. Many times over the years she had enjoyed hashing out Mary’s contracts with the man. It hadn’t always been easy but had always been entertaining. “And he found the other as well?” Liana’s recent divorce wasn’t a secret by any means. But some of the underlying reasons for it were.

  “Ummm,” Mary answered only half listening to her long-time agent. Her mind was on the situation and how best to defuse it. She knew the other authors Leslie had subtly referred to. They weren’t bad people. Some were very kind, some were less so. Some not at all. But all in all none of them were bad. Yet in this she could see how the group mentality might have taken over their actions that would have been far different had they each been dealing with this individually. She couldn’t condone it but understood it. She had no idea how the five word phrase ended up in Liana’s last book and honestly didn’t care. The theme and everything else about the book was entirely different.

  “What was Liana’s response when you talked with her about it?” Mary asked as she got the last of the coffee cake she’d made the day before out of her refrigerator.

  “Like I said, not much. I’d like to say it’s because she knows it’s not a big deal but I worry that it has more to do with the fact she doesn’t care much about anything right now.” Leslie watched her best-selling author slice each of them a piece of the cake and knew from the look on her face she was listening to every word she said and all the ones she hadn’t. “On the other hand there is this other person,” she watched Mary’s eyes squint slightly and knew they were both aware of who she was talking about. Liana’s ex-husband was one of the nicest people she knew…and represented. But he wasn’t someone anyone wanted to mess with. “When I made it known I was coming to talk with you about what’s going on he seemed willing to let you handle it.”

  “I see,” Mary said quietly. And she did. She knew Sawyer Farrell. Knew his work and admired it. She also knew him to be a good man. An honest man. She sat down and nibbled at her cake as she thought about the situation that had grown from literally nothing to what it was now. The very fact Liana wasn’t sharing her current situation with those who were making the allegations against her in an effort to temper their actions said a lot. In her mind it said even more about Liana. She looked across the table into the eyes of the woman across from her, waiting, and saw in her expression she felt the same. Whatever Liana had done, whatever had driven her, her silence said far more of her character than anything else that had come before. She sighed before speaking. “I think it would be nice if Liana could see Burlington. I would love to have her visit me for a day or two.”

  Leslie narrowed her eyes. She’d come here not completely certain what to expect and it certainly wasn’t this. When she finally spoke it was with a hint of caution. “I’m sure she’d find Burlington refreshing. I certainly do despite the fact that it took me two connecting flights to get here. Why?” She asked bluntly
.

  Mary smiled, almost sadly. “Because it would give us time to talk and it would give you the ability to go back to those who judge so easily and say that I’ve considered it and find it lacking in any real cause for action which they should have all known for themselves long before now. Should they at that point choose to further their complaints you could with my blessing feel free to send them in my direction. I’d be more than happy to take them on.” And if that didn’t take care of it she’d send them on to her husband. He’d relish it. “And while you’re at it I’d appreciate it if you would let the other interested person you’re dealing with know the same. I have no doubt he’d be happy as well to take them on though if they were smart they’d avoid that route.” While she avoided the press like the plague others knew how to manipulate them to their best advantage. Sawyer was one of those. Some would say he was a mastermind at it. They would be right.

  Leslie couldn’t have been more pleased at such an uncomplicated solution to her problem. She also wondered if any of those lodging the complaint would follow through. Approaching Mary directly once she’d made her position on the issue clear was a far cry from bringing their complaints to her in the first place. She had a feeling it would be a meeting none would ever forget if they did so. But in the big scheme of things she had a strong feeling none would take that step. Mary Lane was still a huge name and her books sold like hotcakes. Beyond that her reputation was like crystal clear water and just as pure. It would take a fool to go up against that.

  “I’ll talk with Liana and let you know what she says.” Leslie thought about the last conversation she’d had with her. “She is not in the best state, Mary.”

  Mary could well imagine that considering what she knew. “All the more reason for her to get away for a while, Leslie. And I can’t think of a better place to get away to than Burlington.” She smiled and this time it reached all the way to her eyes. “Even if it does require two connecting flights.”

  ∞∞∞

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Mary listened absently to the conversation that was going on behind her at the kitchen table. She still had the earlier conversation with Leslie playing through her mind but not so much so that she hadn’t picked up on what Jake and Tom were discussing. Much of it included the more recent shenanigans in the world of politics. There had been a time in her life that she would have been right with them at the table with an opinion on every possible character who resided in that world. Not anymore. Since coming back to Burlington she’d been able to see things far more clearly. Had come to realize what was important and what was simply peripheral to her world.

  She turned towards the table carrying the large dish of her mother’s favorite baked Goulash. Almost immediately the talk subsided as both men caught sight and scent of the evening’s meal. The following moments were silent except for the sounds of the movement of silverware against their plates.

  Tom was the first to speak. “I have to say, Mary, and I can promise you I’m not just pandering for another dinner invite. This is the best Goulash I’ve had since my mother last made it for me.”

  Mary looked up, smiled at the simple but sincere words. “There is no better compliment. Thank you, Tom.”

  “Daniel doesn’t know what he’s missing,” Jake mumbled around his mouthful.

  Mary smiled knowingly at the comment about her husband. “I have a feeling he does. From what I hear he shows up for dinner at one of the kid’s places on a nightly basis. Almost like a rotating door.”

  “He ought to rotate his way up here,” Jake said just barely under his breath.

  “When’s the last time you talked to Dave?” Mary asked her cousin.

  Jake looked up, caught off guard by the question and the laughter he heard in her voice. He doubted Tom heard it. Mary didn’t have a mean bone in her body and laughing at anyone in any kind of public setting just wasn’t in her nature. “It’s been a bit.” He didn’t mean to sound defensive but knew he had. Knew too Mary wouldn’t take it in any way but in stride.

  “Daniel’s office furniture, or at least that which he wants for his office here, arrived a couple of days ago. I’m surprised you didn’t hear Dave from your place. He was swearing like an idiot at the weight of the desk he had to help haul up to the upstairs office.” She saw from the corner of her eye that Tom was trying to appear polite and unconcerned at being left out of the conversation, one of which he had no idea of what or who they were talking about. Since it didn’t appear Jake was going to enlighten him she did. “Dave is my younger brother who recently relocated to Burlington. He has a house over on South Third Street that he both lives in and works out of.”

  “He’s a lawyer. A good one, not slick.” Jake nodded at his friend. “If you get my drift.”

  Tom decided he wasn’t going to touch that with a ten-foot pole. Wondered silently if he’d need to take advantage of knowing the sister and cousin of a lawyer. He’d broken at least two contracts in recent weeks. He didn’t think either would come back to haunt him but he didn’t put much credence in assumptions of any kind these days.

  “And Daniel is my husband who is also a lawyer and hopefully soon to be relocating here as well.”

  “Our Daniel is a slow one,” Jake added.

  “Just as our Jacob simply loves to have the last word,” Mary said with a smile.

  Silence fell again as each continued to eat the meal before them. Mary always believed that quiet during a meal was a good sign. She took the time to study her cousin’s friend a bit more closely without being obvious about it. She could tell he’d lost weight and most likely it had been recently considering the way his clothes hung on him a bit. He wasn’t gaunt around the face but there was a look to him. She could see it in his eyes. It was a look that made her wonder what he’d been through beyond saving people’s lives then essentially losing his job over it. She had a hard time believing either of those incidents would have instilled that almost haunted look in his eyes. He seemed very much like someone who would deal with whatever he’d seen and heard in life and somehow move through it. She also didn’t believe he was someone who would fall into despair over the loss of a job. Jobs could be replaced. Unlike lives. In many ways he reminded her a lot of Jake. And as that thought came to her so did another. Like Jake, had everything that had happened in recent weeks forced Tom to look at things differently? See things as they were and not how he’d believed them to be? She knew from her own experience as well as what Jake had been through that those kinds of realizations could put what she saw in his eyes.

  “So, Tom,” she began, wondering how to work around to her thoughts about the Summer Street house. They’d been brewing in her mind for a bit. Now it seemed as if everything was pointing her to the plausibility of her idea. “How do you feel about old houses?”

  “A person would have to have some kind of appreciation for them in this city,” Tom said easily.

  “True, but not all would nor care to,” Mary said gently.

  Tom slid the last bite from his plate then set his fork down on the now empty dish. Her words were thoughtful but he had a feeling something more was being said. He glanced at his friend only to see Jake was piling another helping of food onto his plate. He shook his head at the picture in front of him. You would think the man never got a decent meal in him.

  “I try to appreciate what surrounds me,” he answered her honestly. “At the very least I try to keep an open mind about things overall.”

  Mary glanced at her cousin, her eyes questioning him silently whether he’d said anything about their recent discovery at the Summer Street house. His quick and subtle shake of his head told her he hadn’t and that he wasn’t as caught up in his meal as one would think. He was listening to every word being spoken.

  “The Summer Street house was the home of both of our great-grandparents on our mother’s side. It’s been restored without being changed too much from how it was during their time.”

  Tom leaned back to listen and co
uld tell Jake had shifted slightly in his chair telling him that he too was listening. He could also tell the woman across from them was choosing her words carefully. What he wasn’t certain of was whether it was because of her own uncertainty in what she was telling him or her uncertainty of what he would think of it.

  “What’s bothering you, Mary?” Jake finally asked, interrupting Tom’s thoughts.

  Mary shrugged slightly. Something Jake rarely saw her do. Whatever this was about had to be something she struggled with for her to still be so uncertain about. Especially with him.

  “I’ve never been completely certain what to do with the Summer Street house. And now that I’ve come up with something I’m not certain how I feel about it.” She knew she sounded vague. Heard it for herself in her own words. “It was our great-grandparents home and I just don’t know how they would feel about it.”

  “Mary,” Jake paused, knowing this was delicate ground. Growing up with Casey underfoot had taught him girls…women…didn’t always see things the same way men did. This was possibly one of those things. He reached over to lay his hand over his cousin’s to still the nervous tapping on the table if nothing else. “Honey, they’ve been gone a long, long time.”

  “I know.” Mary sighed deeply. She’d said the same thing to herself more times than she cared to count.

  “Why don’t you tell me what it is you’re worried about?” Because at this point Jake felt like he was plodding along in the dark without a clue of what was in front of him. He had no idea what Tom was thinking because silence reigned from that corner of the table.

  Mary sighed again, took a deep breath and began talking. “I’ve been thinking about making it into a Boarding House. Like the way things were set up years ago before apartment complexes sprung up everywhere and anywhere.” She saw her cousin’s forehead wrinkle and his eyes narrow. She rushed forward with what had been brewing in her thoughts for months. The words tumbling out of her as they rarely did. “I think too many people are alone too much of the time. My own kids are a perfect example. Each of them goes home every single night from work to an empty apartment. They talk with people on the internet if that’s what you can call it. Then they go to work the next morning and start it all over again. I want to make the Summer Street house into a place where if people want to be alone they can be. Three of the rooms upstairs have their own bathrooms or can be connected to one. The downstairs could be the open areas for people to gather if they want. The kitchen is huge. If you wanted to make your own meal and take it to your room you could. Or you could sit in the kitchen and eat and maybe…just maybe get into a conversation with someone else staying there. I know it sounds crazy but I just….”