To Be With You

by Daphne Abbott

  As she laid out the rest of the messy story, Olivia washed the dishes and set the kitchen back to rights. I sat at the cramped table and tried not to interject too many questions. I’d always hated Peter MacPherson. Not just because he’d captured Olivia’s attention at a young age, but because he’d been a spoiled bully. I found no joy in discovering how much worse his behavior had gotten as he became older.

  That Olivia had found the strength to stand up to not only her husband and in-laws, but her own father and divorce Peter was astonishing. It must have been hell to let all the details of her divorce filter through the town. Even more amazing was that she handed over details of the embezzlement to the authorities, despite knowing it would make her an enemy of one of the most powerful families in the area.

  “How did he avoid jail time?” I asked once she finished her story, and we’d moved outside to enjoy the unseasonably warm night.

  Olivia had pulled out the awning and turned on fairy lights that gave the entire area a soft, warm glow. My phone had buzzed in my pocket several times since we’d come outside, but I continued to ignore it. I knew it was Jo or Fabián, and there was nothing either of them could say right now that was important enough to take me away from this conversation.

  Olivia shrugged as she rocked in her chair. “I wish I knew. No one ever told me what happened with the investigation. I had this contact at the state bureau of investigation, but after a month, he stopped answering my calls.”

  “You don’t think the MacPhersons paid people to bury it, do you?”

  “Who knows? They certainly have the funds to do it. But by the time he stopped answering my calls, Peter’s parents had shipped him off to the Upper Peninsula and their dealership there. It seemed like a moot point.”

  It didn’t seem moot to me. The man had embezzled money and gave it to his nearly underage girlfriend. Someone who will do stuff like that was capable of much worse. Could there be more to the story she wasn’t telling me?

  * * *

  “I thought your appointment was with the tile guy, not a plumber.”

  I dropped my keys on the counter and walked into the living room, where Fabián was watching a baking show and eating from an enormous bowl of popcorn. “What?” I asked.

  “Your appointment this afternoon. It was with the tile guy, not a plumber, right?” His tone was casual, but I could see the gleam in his eye. He was working himself up to a joke at my expense.

  I sighed and resigned myself to what was sure to be hours of teasing. “Yes, I had an appointment with the tile guy—”

  “Then, why do you look like you got your pipes cleaned?” Fab collapsed into a fit of laughter at his own joke.

  “Ha-ha, you’re so funny.”

  “I can’t take the credit for that one. I got it from Lucy, who is also in the market for a plumber. If you’re interested in a two for one deal, she may be up for it,” Fab said with a positively evil smile.

  “I’m not interested in cleaning Lucy Mason’s pipes.”

  “That’s too bad. She’s got the look of a wildcat about her,” Fabián said, as he turned his attention back to the TV. “But then again, I bet the quiet Miss Olivia can hold her own.”

  “Are you done yet? Or do I need to get a drink, so I can drown out all these shitty dad jokes?” I asked.

  Fabián did a dramatic gasp and covered his heart. “Dad jokes? How dare you! I don’t do dad jokes.”

  “Could have fooled me,” I muttered. “How was lunch with Ida?”

  “That woman is a hoot. She talked my ear off for over two hours, and I didn’t even mind. Then that Ruby chick came and got her for some doctor appointment, and I got to watch them trade barbs like a seasoned comedy team before I helped Ruby get Ida in the car.” Fabián leaned forward to put the popcorn on the coffee table. Then he turned to give me his full attention. “She also gave me the 4-1-1 on your girl.”

  “I think I got the same story straight from the horse’s mouth tonight,” I said and steadfastly ignored the “your girl” comment. You didn’t call your summer fling your “girl,” did you?

  “That ex-husband is a piece of shit.”

  A startled laugh escaped me. “Yeah. He always was.”

  “Is he going to be a problem for you two?” When I only stared at him in confusion, Fabián continued, “Now that the two of you are cleaning each other’s pipes.”

  “Oh.” I laughed again. “No, he doesn’t live in the state anymore. And I don’t think Olivia cares what people think of her.”

  “Ida seemed to think that the ex-mother-in-law would be a sticking point for the endowment project.”

  I shrugged and stood up. “She can try. But since she’s not on the board, there’s not much she can do. Speaking of that, Olivia has scheduled the first meeting for the board on Wednesday morning. She’d like us to come with some ideas, so let’s brainstorm tomorrow afternoon. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m exhausted.”

  “I bet you are,” Fabián said, and laughed again. “Have a good night, lover boy.”

  I flipped him the bird and walked out of the living room toward the master in the back of the cabin. I was too sex drunk to care that he was making fun of me. I left him to cackle so I could collapse and recover. Now that we had cracked the seal on our mutual attraction, I couldn’t wait to see what else Miss Olivia Van Ess had in store for me.

  Chapter 14

  Olivia

  The first meeting of the endowment board moved along better than I had expected. Of course, it helped that Rose had chosen good people that would be sure to take the town’s best interests into consideration rather than their own financial gains.

  Ida had volunteered to host the first meeting since it was just an informal get-together to organize ourselves. I knew as the project progressed, we’d need a more formal meeting space to interview applicants and deal with paperwork, so I had contacted my commercial real estate colleague to see if he could find us a short-term lease on some office space. Kevin had come back within hours with several options, and I’d asked him to come along to the meeting this afternoon to present them to the group.

  “I really like the old photo studio,” Priscilla said as she looked through the listings again.

  Ida snorted. “You just like that it’s next to the coffee shop.”

  “What can I say? I’m a sucker for Fika’s cheese Danishes,” Priscilla said with a serene smile.

  Little bothered Priscilla. She was what Rose loved to call a “free spirit.” She was a peace-loving-ethereal being who claimed she made her money as a fabric artist, but the antique shop she owned with her partner, Prudence, was her primary source of income. Her mix of hippy slash witch feminism was an oddity in the town, but almost everyone respected and loved her.

  “Stella?” I turned to the youngest member in our midst. She was the new librarian for the town, and how she’d made an impression on Rose. I still wasn’t sure. But she was who Rose picked, so I had no choice but to accept her role. “What do you think?”

  “I think the space above the yoga studio is more centrally located, but I agree with Ida that it’s likely to be distracting to have the noise of the studio below. The old photography studio is probably the better alternative.” Stella picked up a listing. “I think the others are too costly for how little we’ll be using the space.”

  “We may not be using it except for meetings and interviews of applicants, but I think we should offer the space to Callum and Fabián to work,” I said. “They’ll be offering their design services to those that need it and checking submitted plans for quality. I think it’d only be fair if we offer space to them to work.”

  “Fab and I can continue working in our rental,” Callum said. “Please don’t let us sway your decision.”

  Fabián nodded his agreement. “Don’t worry about us.”

  “Nonsense,” said Ida. “You’re
working for us. We’ll set you up properly.”

  “Agreed,” said Natalie Morgan, the fifth member of the board. “We’ve hired you as consultants, so we’ll make sure you have the space you need. I vote for the space next to Fika as well.”

  “Perfect.” I clapped my hands together and turned to Kevin. “How soon can we get the keys?”

  “As soon as you sign the lease, I can run to my office and get the keys.” He leaned in a little closer to me and said, “I could drop them off later. Maybe bring some dinner.”

  I felt my cheeks heat and forced myself not to glance at Cal, to gauge his reaction. Two years ago, Kevin and I had shared two dates and a disappointing make-out session before I decided we were better suited as colleagues. He’d appeared to agree with me, but occasionally he still made the occasional pass.

  I cleared my throat and said, “I’m cleaning out my desk at the office tomorrow. If you’re not in when I’m there, I can get them from the receptionist.”

  Kevin’s expression clouded for a second, but he recovered quickly and nodded. “Sure. That works too.”

  I stood, eager to get him out of the house. “Thanks again for joining us. I’ll be in the office tomorrow at two.”

  Kevin looked around the room before also standing and shaking my hand. “Of course, always happy to help. Ladies, thanks for your time. Liv, you’ve got my number.”

  I didn’t miss the slight to Callum and Fabián, as I’m sure he intended, but I didn’t comment. Instead, I walked him to Ida’s front door and said goodbye once more before firmly shutting the door behind him.

  “Well, now that he’s gone, let’s get down to business,” said Ida. “I know you’re the benefactor, Liv, but I was with Rose when she had this will drafted, and I wanted to give you all some insights.”

  I sat down in my seat, surprised by this latest detail. Subterfuge wasn’t Rose’s usual persona, so why had she become shifty in her last days? “Is there some big secret she was hiding?”

  Ida laughed. “No, nothing as nefarious as that. Rose just wanted to give one last gift to the town. But she was very insistent to me that this gift was to only be used to improve the town, not to line the pockets of people like the MacPhersons.”

  “Ah,” said Priscilla. “That explains why Roger’s excluded from all of this.”

  “But what about Liam?” asked Natalie. “Why not include him?”

  “Liam’s got no patience for stuff like this.” I shrugged. My brother never shared an interest in the house or our name. He barely spared time for our once-a-month dinner.

  “Should we agree on what types of projects we want to approve? Or should we just let the town come to us?” asked Stella.

  “I’ve asked Callum and Fabián to come today with some suggestions. I think we as a board should propose one large town project for a set amount and then disperse the rest of the funds to applicants,” I said. It relieved me to see head nods all around.

  “Excellent idea, Olivia,” said Natalie. “That way, we provide not only a municipal benefit, but individual benefits. I think your aunt would approve of this plan.”

  My body flooded with warmth at the praise. “Thanks, Natalie. Cal? What did you bring us?”

  I listened and took notes as Cal and Fabián detailed three plans for improvements to the town. Each one had its pros and cons, and I could tell that my fellow board members also had a hard time choosing their favorite of the three. With the hour growing late and no answer in sight, I called the meeting, and we agreed to regroup the next week.

  “Well, that went well,” Ida said when everyone besides Priscilla, Cal, and Fab had left. “I think you two boys brought some good ideas to the table.”

  I grinned when both Callum and Fab appeared to blush at the older woman’s praise. Even though both men had more experience in projects like this, neither one of them had tried to take over the conversation. Instead, they offered opinions and suggestions only when asked. It’d been refreshing to work with two men that didn’t seem to need to show off their intelligence or experience.

  “You don’t have a timeline on when to spend this money, so don’t feel rushed,” Fabián said. “Even if we leave before you’ve decided, we’re only a phone call away.”

  He winked at me, and I knew he knew what’d gone on between Callum and me two nights ago. Not that I’d planned on hiding it, but I wasn’t sure I was up for teasing just yet. The whole “summer fling” idea had been an impulse brought on by my frustration and the simmering sexual attraction between Cal and me. In the light of day, I wasn’t as confident, and doubts were creeping in.

  No strings were easy with guys from out of town. I didn’t have to see them after the affair ended, which made things easier for me all around. I’d developed the rule of only out-of-town men after the disastrous dates with Kevin, and it’d been working great for me for years.

  But Callum wasn’t just some out-of-town dude. His family still had major roots in this town. He’d be back, eventually. What if he brought a girlfriend or a wife on one of those return trips? Would I be able to handle it?

  * * *

  Mojitos and an empty stomach were not a good mix if I wanted to keep my wits about me, but Pris and Pru seemed determined to get me drunk. Usually, my two favorite family members were not so blatant with their meddling, but I assumed they were tired from a long drive and looking for a shortcut.

  “Now,” Pris said as she perched on the edge of the coffee table and leaned in close to me. Her toffee-colored eyes looked too bright and interested based on how many mojitos I’d watched her polish off during dinner. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”

  “What beginning?” I wasn’t drunk, but the rum was putting some roadblocks in my neural pathways.

  “Let’s start with the old lady fight,” said Pru from her spot on the couch.

  I turned to grin at her. “You missed a good one, Pru. I thought Ida was going to tear Mary Beth’s hair out.”

  Pru snorted. “That’s not hair; it’s a helmet.”

  Pris rolled her eyes at us. “What started the fight?”

  “Mary Beth didn’t like the announcement that the board did not include her,” I said as I ran a hand through my hair. It felt hot in the living room, and because the home was a historical home, Pru and Pris didn’t have AC or even a ceiling fan.

  “It’s as if someone did that on purpose,” Pru grumbled and took a sip of her whiskey. Pru preferred the peaty burn of a Scotch over the mint and rum mojitos that Pris was pouring down my throat.

  To my horror, I giggled at her sarcastic joke. Then covered my mouth to stop any other embarrassing noises from coming out.

  “How did the Waite boy get involved?” asked Pris.

  “His mom asked him to come help,” I replied with a shrug. “He has an internet show, and it’s popular, so I said okay.”

  “Isn’t he–”

  “Yes,” I cut off Pris before she could say anything more. Despite our conversation, my embarrassment over the fight between Cal and I was still there. “We already cleared the air, and it’s fine.”

  “I’ll say it’s fine.” Pris turned to Pru with a gleam in her eye. “Even I noticed the way his shirt clung to his chest.”

  Pru frowned a little, but didn’t comment.

  “Are we done? I’m getting tired,” I complained. My head felt fuzzy and my toes tingled. I knew if I didn’t get home to bed and a gallon of water I’d be hungover in the morning.

  “Almost,” Pru assured. “First, I want to–”

  The guitar riff of The Edge of Seventeen cut off Pris’s next words, and I jumped up from my spot on the couch. “That’s my phone,” I said before I walked on wobbly legs to my purse on the entry hall table. The phone stopped ringing just as I found it in the bottom of my massive work bag. Before I could thumb it open to look at the missed calls, it began ringing a
gain, and Callum’s name flashed across the screen. My chest bloomed with warmth to see his name in bright, bold letters. “Hello?”

  “Liv! Shit, where are you?” Callum’s voice was frantic and not at all his usual calm and measured tone.

  Ice slid into my veins and my pleasant alcohol haze dissolved in a moment. “I’m with Pris and Pru at their house. Why?”

  “I’m at the mansion. Something’s happened. You need to get back here as soon as you can.”

  “What happened?” I asked. I stumbled through the hallway, frantically looking for my shoes.

  “The RV. It’s bad.” I could hear rustling and voices in the background, then the sound of a car door slamming, and the noises when quiet. “You need to get back here. I called the cops, and your brother and his partner showed up. They want to talk to you.”

  “Shit. The RV is Hunter’s. Has anyone called him?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he’s on his way.”

  “Okay, good. I’ll be there in five,” I said and hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

  “Which one of you is sober?” I called to Pris and Pru.

  “Neither of us,” replied Pris. “Why?”

  I found my heels tucked under the entry bench and slipped them on. “Because that was Cal. He’s at the mansion and says there’s something wrong with the RV I borrowed from Hunter.”

  “I can’t drive you. I’ve had too many drinks,” said Pru. “But Ruby and her fiancé, Gray, just moved in three houses down. We can ask them for a lift.”

  “Perfect. Call them,” I said as I headed toward the bathroom. “Can one of you get me a bottle of water? I need to sober up because apparently, when I get there, I have to talk to the cops.”

  Chapter 15

  Callum

  I stood ten feet from the RV and watched as Olivia’s brother, Liam, and his partner inspected the area and around the vehicle. Hunter, the owner of the RV, stood next to me, radiating frustration. I understood his attitude, but the predominant emotion I was feeling was fear, because the fifth wheel was barely recognizable under all the damage.