by Lyndsey Cole
“That’s interesting. Michael already called me and said to swing by for some beer and chit chat—his code for, you definitely want to hear what I know. I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“I can drive.” Hannah hated Meg’s truck but she didn’t want to insult her.
Meg put her hands on her hips. “No thanks. You can suck it up for one night and ride with me.” The edge of her mouth twitched a little. “Me, my truck, and my brother, or no deal.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “You win. I’ll be ready at seven.”
She picked up her tray and hurried through the door to find Cal. Of course, her expectation for a quiet and relaxing bite to eat crumbled like a delicate sand castle when she saw her father sitting next to Cal.
Luke’s finger stabbed repeatedly toward the parking lot. As she moved closer, she could see a vein pulsing on his forehead and his nostrils flared.
It was now or never to get some details from his interaction with Adele.
Hannah moved to the far side of the picnic table from her father even though she preferred to face the ocean.
Luke helped himself to one of the bowls of chowder before Hannah could claim it. Oh well; with her stomach in knots, food was not at the top of her needs.
Cal pushed the second bowl toward Hannah. “You take this one and stay here with your father. I can take care of myself.”
Hannah smiled at Cal but forced her face to keep the smile for her father, too. If she hoped to make any progress with him, it wouldn’t serve her well to put him on the defensive. Stroking his ego just might get him to let his guard down a smidge.
“Where’s Mom?” Hannah asked, hoping that was a safe subject to begin their conversation with.
“You know how Joanna is. With all the drama surrounding Adele, and that horrid police woman grilling us like we had something to do with her death, your mother is laid up with one of her bloody migraines. I doubt she’ll leave that stinking cottage for the rest of our visit.”
Hannah bit her tongue. Her father was waiting for her to take the bait after he insulted Something’s Fishy. “There are other places to stay in town if you aren’t comfortable in my cozy cottage. The Paradise Inn is more centrally located. Maybe that would suit you better?” she calmly suggested.
Luke waved his hand. “No, we want to be close to you.” He sipped the chowder and made a face. “This is much too salty.” He pushed the bowl away. “Haven’t you played long enough at this business thing, Hannah?”
She crossed her legs and took several big spoonful’s of the chowder to give herself time to control the pace of the conversation. Control was everything with Luke, and Hannah made a calculated decision to take control out of his hand. “Actually, this chowder wins every competition we enter. Maybe clam chowder just doesn’t work with your taste buds. Have you considered that?”
Luke softened his approach. “I understand that you love this ocean view, but wouldn’t it be better to build a big hotel here so more people could enjoy it, too? And you’d make so much more money. Your mother and I think you work much too hard.”
Hannah hated it when he brought her mother into the conversation when she wasn’t there. Did he think two against one would be more persuasive? “The way I look at it is that it isn’t really work when you love what you are doing.”
Luke slammed his hand on the table. “You’ve always done the exact opposite of what is in your best interest. This is all Caroline’s fault. Even with her dead and buried, she still seems to be controlling you.” He stood and almost fell when the heel of his shoe caught on the picnic table bench as he lifted his leg over. “Have it your way, Hannah, but you’re heading down a difficult path and I have no intention of bailing you out when this,” he swept his arm in a one hundred and eighty degree arc, “comes crashing down around you.”
Hannah stood, too, she would rather be close to his eye level rather than having him tower over her while she sat. “I don’t want—or expect—you to ever bail me out. All I’ve ever wanted from you was for you to accept me for who I am, but apparently that’s impossible. You always hoped Ruby and I would be more like Adele: a shallow, conniving, liar.” She turned and walked back toward The Fishy Dish before she said something she might really regret.
She wasn’t quick enough to avoid his stabbing words. “You will wish you never set foot on this piece of sand.”
9
“Did he just threaten you?” Cal asked when Hannah reached the safety of the counter where he had been watching the interaction. His hands were clenched and he took several steps in Luke’s direction.
Hannah pulled on his arm. “Nothing I haven’t heard for many years. The difference now is that I refuse to feel even the tiniest bit of guilt for disappointing him. Now I see it as a badge of courage to finally be able to stand up to his bullying.”
“What changed?”
It dawned on Hannah that when Great Aunt Caroline came back into her life, appreciating her for who she was, it gave her a strength she didn’t know she had. “I see who he is and not what I hoped he would be.” She desperately wanted to tell Cal about Great Aunt Caroline, but the less people who knew, the better. She wouldn’t even tell Ruby.
“What are you going to do about him?”
Hannah shrugged. “Try to ignore him? Run my life exactly how I need to. Try to help Rory any way I can. Try to keep Karla from making the biggest mistake of her life by following Moe to Florida. And keep my fingers crossed that nothing else terrible happens between now and when my parents leave.” She probably should have left that last comment unsaid since Cal gave her a quizzical look.
“Reading between the lines, it sounds like you will be on guard until they leave. What’s going on? I don’t want to be worrying about you every minute you’re out of my sight.”
“My father hates it if anyone stands up to him and I’ve done it to varying degrees since I was a teenager.” She chose her words carefully. “What you just heard me tell him about Adele was putting words to her actions, and the truth hurts. He can’t admit he was wrong in his admiration for a person who he constantly held up as someone he thought should be a role model for me and Ruby.” Hannah felt tears threaten to spill over the rims of her eyes. Why did she still care what that man thought? She swiped the wetness away. She cared because, no matter what, he was her father. The only one she’d ever get.
Cal pulled her close. “What a fool he is, but you know what?”
Hannah sniffled.
“When Caroline left this property to you, she also left you with people who believe in you and see your strength and goodness, even if your own father can’t see beyond that wart on the end of his nose.”
Hannah pulled away to be able to look into Cal’s face. “He doesn’t have a wart.”
Cal smiled at her. “I know.”
They both laughed, and just like that, Hannah knew Cal hit the heart of Great Aunt Caroline’s gift to her—friends that would never let her down and would make her laugh when what she really wanted to do was crawl inside Olivia’s pink tent and hide from the world.
Olivia.
She had to take Great Aunt Caroline’s warning seriously. But, at the same time, she couldn’t expect Ruby to up and leave town, pulling Olivia out of school, without revealing the fact that Great Aunt Caroline was really alive. She would have to be smart and watchful with Meg and Jack’s help. And Nellie. And she couldn’t forget about Pam. She knew the truth, too. Maybe this could be common ground for the beginning of a friendship.
“I’ve got the answer to all your problems.” Cal’s eyes twinkled. “A prescription that works every time.”
Hannah couldn’t help but feel better with the anticipation of what he might be offering. He led her to one of the picnic tables and had her sit facing the ocean. “I’ll be back in less time than it takes for a few waves to crash on the beach.”
The surf crashed, kids screeched happily, and the seafood aroma wafting from The Fishy Dish all melded together to sooth Hanna
h.
“Close your eyes,” Cal’s rich voice sounded just behind her. She felt his thigh against her back. She closed her eyes.
“Open your mouth.”
She did as ordered.
A giant spoonful of cold, creamy, sweet vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce landed on her tongue. Cal plunked down on the picnic table bench next to her. “Here you go. I’m not feeding you the rest; you can do it yourself.”
Hannah took the cup filled with a hot fudge sundae and offered a spoonful to Cal.
“Okay, if you insist.” He took the ice cream and held the spoon between his teeth.
“Hey! Give it back so I can have a bite.”
They leaned against each other and shared the ice cream. “This is your prescription, Dr. Murphy?”
“Sometimes it takes drastic measures to melt away a funky mood. Is it working?”
“Uh-huh,” Hannah mumbled through a mouthful of cold deliciousness. “Sure is!”
“Now that you’re smiling, I can leave for the marina. I have some dock repairs to finish today. Do you think you can live without me for a few hours?”
“I don’t know about that.” Hannah bumped her shoulder into Cal.
“The more important question is: Can you stay out of trouble?”
“That’s my plan.” But Hannah knew that plans didn’t always go as intended. Her first order of business would be to talk to Deputy Pam Larson to be sure Olivia was safe and possibly find some common ground in their relationship. And, of course, her visit with Meg to the Pub and Pool Hall would tie up her evening.
After Cal left, Hannah stepped up to help during the busy lunch time. Fried fish platters, heaping with hand-cut fries, lobster rolls, and steaming clam chowder flew from the kitchen as fast as Hannah and Samantha could deliver them. Ruby dished out ice cream without a break while Olivia sat at the counter with her coloring book.
While Hannah returned to the kitchen for a large order of Meg’s hand-cut French fries and fish sandwiches for a rowdy group of tourists, Meg signaled for her to check on her niece. “Get out there, Hannah. Quick!”
Hannah shoved her tray of fries and fish sandwiches into Samantha’s arms and rushed to the counter next to the ice cream window.
“And this is my favorite color, pink,” Olivia explained to her grandfather.
“I could take you to the store so you could—”
Hannah pushed in between her father and her niece. “I don’t think so, Dad. Olivia and I already have plans. Besides,” she turned to face Luke, “did you even think to ask Ruby first before you barge in and make a bunch of promises?”
Luke held his hands up. “Wow, since when did you become the protective mama bear around here? Ruby’s working and I thought it might help her out if I spent some time with Olivia. Besides, I’ve barely had any time with my granddaughter yet.”
“Yeah, well, she’s not going with you.” Hannah kept her body between Luke and Olivia. She knew it probably sounded ridiculous to anyone else, but after Great Aunt Caroline’s warning, there was no way Luke would have any alone time with Olivia.
“Hannah’s right, Dad. Olivia doesn’t know you at all. She was only four the last time you visited us.” Ruby stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Hannah.
“Fine. No loss to me. It’s your kid who would have benefited from my shopping spree.”
“Stuff isn’t what kids need. But, of course, that was always your solution to a guilty conscience—throw a gift our way. You know what happened to all those gifts?”
Luke’s jaw tightened and his face turned an ugly shade of purple.
“We threw every single one away. You didn’t know our favorite color, or our favorite food. You bought stuff you decided was good for us but it was never anything we wanted.”
Hannah’s eyes stared straight into her father’s. She refused to turn away first.
Luke smoldered. “You act exactly like Caroline. No concern for anyone else’s feelings or even for your own best interest. But, don’t worry, I promised your mother we wouldn’t leave until we get you to see the benefit of selling this business that is only a weight around your neck. Sell it before it drowns you.”
“There is nothing that will make me sell.” Hannah spit the words at her father.
Luke laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” He patted Olivia’s head before he walked to the parking lot and drove away.
Hannah’s legs began to tremble. She held onto the counter to keep from falling. Anger replaced her fear. What was he planning to do?
“Hannah?” Ruby gently pulled her sister out of hearing range of Olivia. “What is going on? I never saw you and Dad get into such a war of words.”
“You heard him, Ruby. He wants me to sell all this so I can use the money to travel. He’s deciding, like always, what he thinks is best for me and I’m not going to let him bully me.” Hannah stared at her sister. Would Ruby back her up?
“Of course you can’t sell. You love it here. Olivia and I love it here. Why does Dad care?”
“I’m not sure,” Hannah lied. She knew exactly why, and it was revenge against Great Aunt Caroline for leaving the property to her instead of to him. But she couldn’t tell Ruby that. Not yet, at least.
“What are you going to do?”
“It looks like the lunch hour rush has died down so I’m going to the police station and find out what’s going on with Rory. Dad came to town because he wanted to see Adele. She’s dead and I think Dad is going to do everything he can to make sure Rory is arrested and thrown into jail for her murder. I don’t know how that’s connected to this property, but I have a sinking feeling that I will find out sooner or later.”
“Maybe Jack can get that information for you from his daughter. You and Pam don’t have the closest of relationships.”
“I’ll definitely talk to Jack first.” Hannah couldn’t tell Ruby that her other motive for talking to Pam was to be sure the police kept an eye on her father with the hope of keeping Olivia safe.
10
When Hannah arrived at Jack’s house, she saw him through the living room window sitting in his comfy chair. She opened the door.
“Jack? Can I come in?”
“Sounds like you’re already in so why are you asking? And you’re probably expecting some coffee, too.”
Hannah chuckled. Jack certainly liked to sound tough. “You read my mind. Coffee sounds perfect. Thanks for the offer.” Jack’s coffee was strong, black, and rich. Exactly how she liked it.
She made herself comfortable at his kitchen table while he busied himself with his coffee machine. He spilled some grounds on the counter when he measured, the water splashed over the edge of the container, and he mumbled something about drop-in guests being a pain in the neck.
Hannah heard him and knew it was all a big act. He most likely was letting off steam from the stress of transporting Great Aunt Caroline.
“I’m glad you finally know about Caroline. It was killing me to keep that secret. Meg, too,” he finally admitted to Hannah.
Hannah gave herself a mental pat on the back. She called that right. “Yeah, Meg said the same thing.”
He turned around and looked at Hannah. “Are you okay? Caroline said you acted like you thought she was a ghost. You even had to touch her to be sure she was real.” His lips curled at the edges and grew into a big grin. “I wish I could have been there to see it with my own old eyes.”
“I’m not sure about the okay part, to be honest. I have to figure out what my father’s up to, watch over Olivia like a hawk, and keep Rory out of jail. How am I supposed to do all that?” Hannah rested her chin in her upturned palms, her elbows squarely on the table.
“I’m going to help with the Olivia part while you and Meg go to the Pub and Pool Hall. Whatever your father is up to will reveal itself in its own time.” He poured coffee into two mugs even though he set three on the table. “By the way, what did you tell Cal? He must have suspected something was wrong when he saw you after yo
u left Caroline.”
“I didn’t tell him anything. We talked about Karla and Moe.” She sighed deeply and shook her head. “I don’t know how you kept Great Aunt Caroline’s ‘death’ a secret. I hope I don’t slip up.”
“We came close to slipping up plenty of times but, really, who would believe it without seeing her with their own eyes? Everyone thinks she’s dead. You’ll be fine. Just try to forget about it for now and focus on the here and now.”
“You mean, murder and who done it?”
Jack chuckled. “Exactly.”
Hannah clinked her mug against the empty one. “Expecting someone else?”
“Uh-huh. Any minute.” Jack sat across from Hannah. Apparently, he loved secrets and had no intention of giving Hannah any more information about the mystery guest. “About your father. Have you asked him where he was after he had dinner with Adele?”
Hannah shook her head.
“He went to the Pub and Pool Hall, too. It doesn’t seem like his sort of place with his world traveling, better-than-everyone-else attitude.”
“Did my mother go with him?”
“Nope. I haven’t heard what she did; maybe she decided to have any early night in the cottage. Read a book or something.”
“That sounds like her.”
Footsteps sounded in Jack’s living room. Obviously, his guest felt at home coming right in.
“I smell coffee, hope it’s still hot.”
Hannah knew the voice. It probably wasn’t a coincidence that Jack’s daughter, Pam, arrived while Hannah was visiting. It was just like Jack to throw them together with the hope that Pam, being a Hooks Harbor police deputy, might shed some light on Adele’s murder. Not that Pam was usually very helpful, as far as Hannah was concerned.
“For the ghost whisperer,” Pam said as she plopped a pastry box on the table. “I couldn’t resist picking up some orange frosted chocolate cupcakes from Simply Sweets.” She sat in the third chair and adjusted her glasses higher on her nose.
