Barefoot Beach

by Debbie Mason

  “Don’t worry, my boy. We’ll uncover her secrets before she leaves the manor. Truth be told, I’m hoping she’ll stay when she discovers she’s one of us. She is, you know. One of us. I feel it down to my bones. She reminds me a bit of myself in my younger days.”

  Simon lifted his head and raised a white-whiskered brow.

  “I suppose you’re right. It might have been better if she’d fallen a little farther from the proverbial tree. She’s a bit too good at all this skulking about and hiding the truth, if you ask me.” She looked to where Theia pulled a large whiteboard from the closet, dragging it across the hardwood floor to rest against the bookshelves.

  Colleen’s smile broadened as she took in the photos, notes, and arrows on the board. “Yes indeed, she’s truly like me. She might be doing the devil’s dirty work, but she’s trying to do good while she’s at it. And not an easy task she’s chosen at that. Though it appears she’s making some headway in her Daddy Do-Over project. My husband would say she’s playing God like I used to. But her heart’s in the right place. Just like mine was. Though some people might not agree, I suppose.”

  There was a knock on the door. Theia grabbed a blanket off the couch to cover the board and then went to answer.

  “Oh ho, look who it is, Simon. I never thought Daniel would visit my room again. It appears he’s brought reinforcements. Marco’s mother, Tina, no less. I wonder what Theia thinks about that. Rumor among the waitstaff is that she and Marco are an item. I’m not sure if the credit goes to Rosa or Kitty, but whoever matched the pair deserves a gold star. They’ll be perfect together. Which should help in our bid to keep her around, Simon.” She was about to rub her hands together in glee when she remembered why Theia was here. Gallagher or no Gallagher, the girl was consorting with the enemy. And not just Colleen’s enemy. The entire town’s. If Marco discovered what she was really up to, Colleen could kiss any hope she had for the couple goodbye.

  “Granny, I’m just stopping by for a quick visit. So begone with you while I’m here,” Daniel said, peeking his head into the room.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s only me and Simon in the room,” Theia said.

  “You think that’s a cat, do you? Well, let me tell you, if that’s a cat, I’ll eat my hat. He’s Granny’s familiar. Does her bidding, he does.”

  Theia’s lips twitched. “I’ll have to remember that when I need a late-night snack. Now, get in here before you draw attention.” She pulled Daniel inside, offering his companion an awkward smile. “Hi. You must be Per—ah, Tina.”

  Tina DiRossi (although Colleen suspected she was going by her maiden name these days) looked more like a woman in her early forties than in her midfifties. She had on neon-purple spandex shorts and a top that bared a strip of tanned skin, showing off her flat stomach. Her pink-streaked blond hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, her pretty face glowing and makeup free.

  “I am, and you’re the woman who’s going to help me win back the love of my son.” She hugged Theia, holding up a small white ceramic bowl to the side as she did. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you would do that for me, a perfect stranger.”

  “I’m not sure what—” Theia said, looking a little panicked before Daniel cut her off.

  “You go about your cleansing business, love.” Putting an arm around Theia’s shoulders, Daniel walked her to the French doors that led onto the balcony. Theia had them open, a warm ocean breeze causing the heavy brocade curtains to billow and the papers on Colleen’s old desk to rustle.

  “Daniel, how could you promise her that? I’m not the relationship expert; your daughter is,” Theia whispered.

  “And a lot of good that did her. She’s getting a divorce.” He smiled at Tina, who’d just set a match to whatever she had in her bowl. “No. Best she puts her faith in you. Look at the fine job you’re doing with me and my daughters.”

  “Daniel, you’re the reason Penelope is getting a divorce. And her divorce is the reason she’s thinking of closing her practice.”

  “So you’re putting all the blame on me now?”

  “Pretty much. According to the experts, there’s a direct correlation between a woman’s sense of self-worth and her relationship with her father.”

  “There’s a lot of pressure being a parent. Had I known, I might have gone and gotten myself snipped.”

  “Thanks for sharing, but that isn’t something I needed or wanted to know.” She pointed at Tina, who was fanning a sweet-smelling smoke about the room. “That’s not weed, is it?”

  Daniel chuckled. “No. It’s sage. She’s cleansing the room of spirits.” He made the same sweeping motion with his hands as Tina did. “Go to the light, Granny. It’s time for you to join Granda and Da.”

  “I’ll cleanse the room of you if you’re not careful, laddie.” Colleen got up and slammed one of the French doors shut, chuckling when Daniel practically jumped into Theia’s arms.

  “You dig up bones for a living. How can you be afraid of a little ghost?” Theia asked.

  “You’ve seen her, then, have you? I knew it! I knew I wasn’t imagining things. And don’t let her fool you. She might be the size of a leprechaun, but she has the will of a giant.”

  “I’m four eleven, I’ll have you know. But I’ll grant you the will of a giant.” Colleen smirked.

  “I haven’t seen her, Daniel,” Theia said as if not completely sure that was the truth.

  “You haven’t seen me, but you’ve heard me. Of that I’m certain. I’ve been warning you about Ryan Wilson every chance I get.”

  “But…?” Daniel said, picking up on the lass’s uncertainty. He always was a canny lad. Too bad he was a Judas as well.

  “It’s nothing. Just some nights I wake up thinking someone is whispering in my ear.”

  “I’m not whispering. I’m yelling. And I’ll keep it up until you clue in.” She went to stand by Theia and shouted, “Ryan Wilson!”

  Theia rubbed her ear. “Daniel, do you know someone by the name of Ryan Wilson?”

  He went gray beneath his tan. “It doesn’t ring a bell. Why do you ask?”

  “He’s a security guard for Movie Night in the Park. He was there Saturday. I didn’t like the way he was looking at Penelope and Daphne. Marco said he had a grudge against the Gallaghers, but that’s all he knew. I couldn’t find out much about him.”

  “Are you thinking he might be the one working for Caine’s granny?”

  “Yes, but from what Marco said, he’s not the only one who has a problem with the Gallaghers. I need to find Colleen’s memoir. Caine said you mentioned something about the book. Do you have any idea where it might be?”

  “You don’t need the book. You just need Daniel to tell the truth.” Colleen went to slap her grandson upside the head for withholding important information from Theia, but her hand went through him. Still, he jumped, his gaze darting nervously about the room. “I’m right here you, lug nut. And you’d best start telling the truth.”

  “Jasper would be the one to ask about the book. He might know something about this Ryan character too,” Daniel said.

  Colleen blew the papers off her desk, and he yelped. “Okay, okay. I know the man, and he’s as bad as they come. But don’t go telling him I told you so or telling Caine so he shares it with his granny. Wilson has it in for me. I reneged on a deal. He’s got a past with my family too. Of that I’m certain. With Granny, no doubt. She was always putting her nose where it didn’t belong.” He looked up and around the room and practically shouted, “And don’t you—”

  In response to Daniel’s raised voice, Tina hurried from the bathroom to rush to his side. “Oh my.” She shivered. “The spirit of Mrs. Gallagher must be here. It’s freezing.” She stroked Daniel’s arm. “Don’t get yourself worked up. It’s not good for your blood pressure, Danny. Come with me.” She led him to the canopy bed and patted the red and gold comforter. “Sit.”

  He did as he was told, and she climbed in behind him. “There. Isn’t tha
t better?” she asked, massaging his temples while rubbing herself against his back. “Ohm.” She hummed, and he joined in.

  Theia went to slump on the couch beside Simon. “Caine can’t pay me enough for this job.”

  “Now, on that you and I agree, lass. I wonder how you’ll feel when you learn you’re one of us.” She sighed when Tina and Daniel’s ohms got a little lusty sounding. “And that he’s your father.” Colleen was just about to remind the pair they had an audience when the fire alarm went off.

  Tina giggled. “We’re so hot we set off the fire alarm, Danny.”

  “All right, you two. It’s probably a false alarm, but you know the drill.” Theia got up and walked to the door, holding it open. “And next time you want to make out, get a room. Preferably one without me in it.”

  “We’d best hope it’s a false alarm like Theia believes, Simon. The fire at the carriage house two years past was no accident, as you well know. We’d best be on our guard.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Theia shut the door to Colleen’s suite and glanced at the elevator doors. She always took the stairs, but today she was willing to make an exception in order to get rid of Daniel and Tina faster. As the couple made their way down the spiral staircase, Theia weighed the odds of the fire being a false alarm or getting stuck in the elevator if it wasn’t.

  “Theia, quit your woolgathering and get a move on.” Daniel waved at her from halfway down the stairs. “Can you not hear Jasper? It’s no false alarm, lass.”

  She sighed and took the stairs. Because of the way the floors were laid out, she could hear Jasper calmly directing the guests to the exits. It was a beautiful morning, so many of them had already set off on their tours.

  The couple waited for her at the bottom of the staircase on the second floor. A family rushed past them with anxious expressions on their faces. “You two go ahead,” she said, waving Tina and Daniel on. “I’m going to make sure everyone’s out of their rooms.”

  “You know, I think the universe may have had a hand in this,” Marco’s mother said.

  Theia bit back another sigh as she ushered them to the stairs. “Why is that, Tina?”

  “Well, you just agreed to help me repair my relationship with my son, and the universe is about to deliver him to your door.”

  She was right about one thing. Marco was on the job, so he might very well be arriving at the manor any minute now. She looked down at what she had on and, in what she could describe only as a moment of temporary insanity, wondered if she should change out of her shorts and sleeveless T-shirt into one of the sundresses Daphne had insisted she buy at Merci Beaucoup.

  But even more terrifying than the idea that she was actually contemplating dressing up to see the man she’d agreed to fake date was the memory of the dancing-on-the-moon feelings she’d had when he’d kissed her. A kiss she hadn’t wanted to end. A kiss that felt all too real and all too wonderful.

  She looked up to see Tina staring at her with a hopeful expression on her face while Daniel was giving her an encouraging nod. Maybe Tina was right. Maybe this was the universe’s way of balancing the scales of justice. If helping Daniel rebuild his relationship with his daughters was her retribution for lying and spying on the Gallaghers, then helping Tina rebuild her relationship with Marco would be Theia’s penance for lying to the DiRossi family.

  “Look, I’m not promising anything, Tina. But I’ll see what I can do. Now, get going.” The beeping of the fire alarms throughout the manor hadn’t subsided and were now joined by the sound of sirens.

  “Thank you, Theia. Thank you. If you can get him to speak to me, that would be a miracle.”

  Whoa, she’d had no idea their relationship was that bad. Although there had been something about his reaction to her Perky Boobs comment that indicated it wasn’t great. Theia didn’t bother responding. She leaned over the rail. Jasper stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, cautioning people not to run.

  “Jasper, I’m going to make sure everyone is out of their rooms on this floor. Any idea how the fire started?”

  “Fires, miss. There’s one in an office and one in the study. They appear to be mostly contained behind the paneling. We have no idea how they started at the moment, but the sprinkler system has been activated in both rooms.”

  “Okay. I shouldn’t be long.” She ran down the corridors, banging on doors. They were all empty but two. A family of three who were looking for their son’s pet lizard and an older man with a walker. Theia insisted the family leave, reassuring the crying boy his pet would be fine.

  “Are you up for a piggyback, sir?”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time, miss,” the man said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “You need to get out more. I hear the Widows Club meets in the dining room on Wednesday night for wings. You definitely want to check that out if you’ll still be here.”

  “I just arrived yesterday for a ten-day stay.”

  “Great. I’ll have Penelope get in touch with you once the excitement is over for the day.”

  She’d suggested to Jasper that Penelope be put in charge of guest services to fulfill her mandated work experience at the manor. She thought it would help rebuild her confidence in herself. A lonely older man in need of some social interaction would fit the bill.

  It didn’t escape Theia that up until a few days ago, people might have said she was a lonely woman in need of some interaction. She’d certainly made up for lost time, she thought when one incredibly hot fireman strode purposefully across the lobby with his eyes locked on her.

  Her knees wobbled, and her heart picked up speed. And no matter how much she’d like to blame her reaction on the physical exertion required to carry the little old guy on her back, she couldn’t. And that right there was the reason she did not date serve-and-protect men, especially handsome men like Marco. He’d looked great in his jeans and his black Henley the other night, but right now, in his turnout gear, he was to die for.

  To die for, really? Since when did she say stuff like to die for? All she needed now was to faint at his feet. She frowned. Her legs didn’t exactly feel steady.

  “You doing my job for me now?” Tall, Dark, and Irresistible asked with a smile that didn’t help with her wobbly knees.

  “Yes, I…” She cleared her throat. “I checked the rooms on the second floor.”

  “You can put me down now, miss.”

  She briefly closed her eyes. She’d forgotten her passenger. Forgotten him because her mind and eyes were filled with Marco DiRossi. She felt like dying when Marco took the walker from her hands, his lips twitching as if he held back a grin.

  And if she had any doubt that was the case, she heard the amusement in his voice. “Let me help you down, sir.”

  After thanking Theia and Marco, the older man made his way across the lobby, barely avoiding the firemen who were coming in and out of the rooms. “I should probably go help him,” she said.

  Marco nodded. “I have to get going too. I’ll see you—”

  She frowned as he began walking toward the back of the grand staircase. “Where are you going?”

  “Down into the tunnels.” He frowned and came back to her.

  She’d been down there once before, and it wasn’t an experience she wanted to repeat. Images of the dark, dank tunnels with their narrow openings, the sound of the ocean pounding against the outer walls, of gas leaks and explosions, filled her mind with worry. Worry for him. She swallowed past her suddenly dry throat. “Let someone else go. Someone who knows the layout. Someone—”

  He lifted a gloved hand to her cheek, interrupting her babbling. “Hey, you don’t have to worry about me, okay? I know the tunnels as well as the Gallaghers do. This place is like my second home.”

  Listen to her. She barely recognized herself around him. She cared what he thought about her looks, what she wore, how she kissed. She had this odd compulsion to make him smile, to make him laugh. She wanted to please him, protect him.
She didn’t scare easily, but these feelings terrified her.

  Her greatest fear had been that she’d lose herself to love like her mother. That one day a man would come along who would turn her emotions inside out and upside down, and she’d never recover. She’d spend the rest of her life trying to recapture feelings that only a once-in-a-lifetime love can evoke. A love that breaks your heart and your spirit and shatters your soul. A love that consumes you every second of every day and makes you forget to take care of yourself and your daughter. A love that no child can compete with.

  She had to stop the charade before it was too late. “Right. I don’t know what I was thinking. But, Marco, we—”

  Can’t fake date was cut off by Penelope, who ran across the lobby, crying, “My babies! My babies are missing!”

  Theia, who was trained to deal with life-and-death situations in a calm and decisive manner, went to take control of the situation, but Marco beat her to it.

  “Penelope, look at me. Take a couple of deep breaths. That’s right,” Marco said when she did as he directed. “Where was the last place you saw the boys?”

  “Beside…They were beside me,” she said on a desperate sob.

  “Okay, that’s good. Now, can you give us an idea where you were standing?”

  “With everyone on the front lawn. Near the bench under the tree. I remember because I helped an older woman…” Her face crumpled. “They must have run off then.”

  “We’ll find them. They’ll be okay,” Marco said in a confident, reassuring voice, his gloved hand resting on her shoulder.

  Her eyes fixed trustingly on him, Penelope nodded. He even had Theia convinced, and she wasn’t nearly as gullible as the other woman.

  As he spoke into his radio, alerting everyone to the situation, Marco held Theia’s gaze and then lifted his chin at the door. She nodded her understanding. She’d start searching outside.

  She gave Penelope’s arm a reassuring squeeze and headed across the lobby as Marco waved over a couple of firefighters, instructing them on what to look for in the tunnels. Jasper and Daniel were hurrying inside as she ran out. She was heartened to see the genuine concern on Daniel’s face. He was worried about his grandsons and his daughter. He loved them; she was convinced of that. Now they just had to convince his daughters.