by Carol Henry
“Okay, so, tell me what has you so upset. Besides Sebastian.”
“Are you sure you want to hear this?” She took a long sip of tea and forked a portion of the pie into her mouth, stalling for time so she could pull herself together.
“You need to finally get it all out. And I have plenty of time today. So, spill.”
“The short version? I have twenty-four hours to decide whether to pull Sebastian’s life support before they take further action to keep him hooked up indefinitely even though they aren’t holding out much hope of him ever coming out of it, and Eugenia freaked out and called me a murderer. Oh, and the man we spotted at Mariner’s last night—the one everyone hadn’t been able to stop looking at, or gossiping about? The gorgeous hunk who looked familiar? He’s Sebastian’s half-brother—he’s Hunt’s son from another marriage. His name is—ready for this? Hunter McClintock.”
“No! Really? You’ve got to be kidding. What are the odds? What was Eugenia’s reaction?”
“Called him a liar and told him to get out. She lost it—looked as if she was about to have a heart attack. There was no consoling her. The doctor asked him to leave, and then ordered the nurse to administer something to calm her down.”
“Did it help?”
“I didn’t stay to find out. I was banished, as well. What am I going to do, Katelyn? How can I tell the doctors to take Sebastian off life support? It’s bad enough I contemplated asking the guy for a divorce, but to end his life? I may not have strong feelings for Sebastian any longer, but I don’t want to be responsible for killing him.”
“First off, you aren’t going to be killing him. He set sail in a company trawler of his own free will knowing full well there was a storm brewing. You did not cause the accident.” Katelyn sipped her tea and took another bite of pie. “A wave lifted the boat, it capsized, and he hit his head going overboard.”
“I know what happened.” Juelle hung her head. She’d lived the details over and over, again and again—while she sat at his side in the hospital, when she laid down at night in bed, when Eugenia bemoaned the fact every day. Juelle had done nothing but try and figure out why she suffered from a guilt that wasn’t hers. “I know you’re right, but that doesn’t make it any easier to have to decide on whether someone is to live or die.”
“Have you talked to your parents?”
“They’ve moved on to another missionary location somewhere in the back of beyond in Africa. They won’t be back for another six months. They’re in some remote area that doesn’t have modern communications.” It wasn’t unusual for her parents to be gone for long periods of time, they were dedicated to their missionary work. And she loved them for it, even though they hadn’t been your normal “raising kids” type of parents. They loved her and were very attentive when they were home.
“I’m the last person to give advice,” Katelyn broke into Juelle’s musings. “But you have to start thinking about yourself—and your daughter. You need to look for an apartment or a house. You need to get out from under Eugenia’s thumb.”
“How can I leave her at a time like this? She’s all alone.”
“There will always be something to keep you there. You need to make the break.”
“Sebastian…”
Katelyn leaned across the table and pointed her finger at Juelle, reminding her of Eugenia. She couldn’t help but smile.
“Sebastian hasn’t been a decent husband since Makenzie was born and you know it. You’ve spent more time with me than you have with him. You can’t let his death nail you to Eugenia’s side the rest of your life.”
Juelle’s smile faded, she rested her elbows on the table. “You’re right. Although to be fair, he had to take over for his father after Hunt died and worked overtime a lot. The fishermen in the community depend on his business for their employment.”
“Honey, you’re my best friend, but I’ve got to say, Sebastian is more like his mother than Hunt, and he was only ever concerned about himself. Face facts, it was never going to get better between the two of you as long as you lived under Eugenia’s roof.”
“I know you’re trying to help, and I appreciate it. I have twenty-four hours—the clock is ticking, and I’m so sick to my stomach I don’t know what to do.”
“Simple. Tell Eugenia she can be the one to make the decision. Lets you off the hook. Puts the guilt back in her court.”
“If I do, she’ll let Sebastian lay in that bed until the day she dies.”
“You could be right. But then, you wouldn’t be the one carrying the decision on your shoulders for the rest of your life. Sounds to me as if you’ve made up your mind.”
“No. I can’t do it. I would hate myself. Makenzie would grow up without her father. She’d hate me for causing her father’s death. No. No way. I couldn’t live with her hating me the rest of her life.”
Chapter Four
Eugenia entered Günter Jordan’s law office. Jordan and Jordan, Attorney at Law, had taken over the old Maynard home after his partner, his father Fredrick, died five years ago. She didn’t bother knocking, nor considered it necessary to stop at the receptionist’s desk. Günter expected her.
“Mrs. McClintock, if you’ll wait here, I’ll let Mr. Jordan know you’ve arrived,” Günter Jordan’s receptionist said, holding her hand up.
As if the woman could stop her. Still, Carrie Saunders rose to let her boss know she was there, but Eugenia stopped her before Carrie made it around the desk.
“Not necessary, my dear. I’ll show myself in. He’s expecting me.”
Eugenia wasted no time. She veered right and walked down the hall, turned the handle on Günter’s office door, and walked in before the receptionist could pick up the intercom to inform him she was on her way.
“Eugenia!” Günter jumped from behind his own desk, waving at Carrie, dismissing her with a shake of his head. “Have a seat. What can I do for you?” He circled back to his chair, waited for her to have a seat, and then sat.
Eugenia didn’t give him a chance to continue with pleasantries.
“What the hell is going on, Günter? Who was that man who showed up at my son’s bedside? If you tell me he is Hunt’s son and you contacted him, I’m going to sue the pants off of you—friend or no friend—he doesn’t belong here.”
“Don’t threaten me, Eugenia. Your financial weight has no effect on me, or this company. I am doing my job. Sue me if you wish, but it won’t do you any good.”
His half grin ticked her off. He was right, but it still stung.
“What the hell is he doing here? Just what is in Hunt’s will? What are you keeping from me? He was my husband, I have a right to know.”
“All in good time, all in good time. Take a deep breath and relax a minute, and then tell me what is it that really has you so upset this time.”
Eugenia huffed. The gall of the man thinking she was upset over nothing. Had the man never lost a loved one, and then another so soon? Did he know what it was like to be tossed from one foster home to another? To feel so alone? He might be a good friend, but this was business. She was tired of waiting around to put an end to the worry over Hunt’s last requests. She needed to put Hunt to rest. And to put the employees’ minds at ease over the status of the family lobster business. To move on with her own life and concentrate on her son’s health crisis.
“What is to become of the business? My son is incapacitated at the moment, and Coleman Baker is acting on Sebastian’s behalf until he recuperates and gets back on his feet.”
“Now, Eugenia, you know as well as I the doctors are not holding out much hope for Sebastian’s recovery. In fact, I understand your daughter-in-law has twenty-four hours to decide whether or not to pull the plug on his life support. It might not be my place to say so, but it’s probably for the best. The company, although a wealthy one at the moment, cannot continue to cough up the expenses needed to maintain life support indefinitely, and your insurance won’t cover it forever, either. So, unless you want to go b
ankrupt and lose everything you own, including your home, and whatever you might inherit from Hunt, you might want to think about the consequences of your actions.”
Eugenia stared at her clenched hands in her lap, her lips pinched tight, she shut her eyes and contemplated Günter’s words. He made sense. Still, it was her son they were talking about as if he was some unknown person and her heart wasn’t involved.
“Look, Eugenia, we’ve been friends a long time. I know how difficult this is for you, but you have to look ahead. What kind of life will Sebastian have? I’m talking quality of life? And what about you? You are young enough to get past all of this and get on with your own life. Have a life of your own again. You have a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter—Sebastian’s daughter…”
Eugenia remained quiet. Günter wasn’t telling her anything she hadn’t already told herself. Still, the fear of being alone, having everything taken from her was worth fighting for. Wasn’t it?
“If you are such a good friend, why won’t you do me this one favor and tell me what this man is doing here—what’s in Hunt’s will?”
“Aw, Eugenia, you know I can’t do that. I have to follow protocol. Just know Hunt has made sure you will be well taken care of for the rest of your life. I’ve set the date for the reading of the will. Soon. It will all be over soon. Remember, I’ll be here if you need me.”
It had been forever since she’d shed a tear on her own behalf, but they threatened now. She had to leave before Günter found out what a fraud she really was.
****
Juelle pulled her car up to the three-car garage on the side of the massive Victorian style mansion overlooking the harbor and Frenchman Bay. She hit the button to open the end door and drove her car inside. She sat for a moment, anticipating the conversation she was about to have with her mother-in-law. It was never easy talking to Eugenia. Taking a deep breath, she got out and opened the back car door and lifted Makenzie out of her car seat, and then entered the house through the side door to the McClintock Estate.
The house was a sprawling, two-story mansion-type home with professionally manicured lawns. The house had been in the family for many generations. It sat high on a cliff overlooking the harbor. She kicked off her flats, headed for the parlor, and settled Makenzie in the playpen next to the window, making sure her daughter’s favorite cloth picture book, plastic alphabet blocks, and Tilley the teddy bear were tucked in the corners. She kissed the top of her daughter’s head, ruffled her curls, and went to the kitchen to warm a bottle of milk. When she returned, Makenzie was holding on to the edge of the padded playpen bouncing up and down. Her girl would be striking out on her own without the aid of an adult’s hand before long. Her toothless smile was Juelle’s undoing. She couldn’t resist a chuckle, which encouraged her daughter to laugh along with her.
“Ma-ma.” Makenzie clapped and reached for the bottle with anxious hands.
“Here you go, pumpkin. Something warm to drink.”
Makenzie latched on to the bottle, plunked down on her fanny, and started sucking. Juelle waited until Makenzie finished and was settled before she went in search of her mother-in-law. It was now or never—she had to get this conversation over with before she chickened out. The sooner she did, the sooner she could make peace with herself.
She found Eugenia in the atrium, a rather small room for such a big estate. Juelle found it to be a cozy and relaxing place for wishful thinking and day dreams. Would the surrounding plants and miniature waterfall against the outside wall have a calming effect on Eugenia so she would be in a receptive frame of mind? One could only hope.
“Eugenia, may I have a word, please?”
Eugenia jumped, turned toward her, and frowned. The startled look wasn’t encouraging. Nor welcoming. This was going to be harder than she’d anticipated, and she hadn’t anticipated a warm welcome to begin with. She took a deep reassuring breath and stepped forward when Eugenia spoke.
“I was just contemplating your dire dilemma, my dear. It hasn’t escaped me that you and Sebastian haven’t been the most enamored of each other since Makenzie was born. I’ve often wondered if in fact she was Sebastian’s child.”
“Excuse me!” Juelle jumped back in shock, her hands clenched against her chest, her head shot back. She wasn’t sure what to make of this turn of events. She definitely hadn’t anticipated this. “Are you implying what I think you’re implying? Oh, my, God. How could you?” Where was this woman coming up with such hogwash? “Of course Makenzie is Sebastian’s daughter. Why would I lie about Sebastian being her father?”
“You’ve got to admit, your daughter looks more like you than she does Sebastian.”
Juelle’s hackles rose to fever pitch. The nerve of this woman accusing her of being unfaithful.
“Yes! Eugenia. Makenzie is Sebastian’s child.” Juelle’s teeth gnashed, she bit her lower lip to keep her temper from overflowing. “Why would you even think otherwise?”
“These things happen. We are a wealthy family and you will more than likely gain a portion of the McClintock wealth if you pull the plug on my son. Am I right?”
“Enough, Eugenia! I’ve put up with a lot from you and your son over the last two years, and while I try to understand your point of view in order to keep the peace, I’ve done nothing but bang my head against the wall to no avail. What the hell have I ever done to you?”
“Don’t you use that tone with me.”
“Eugenia—”
“You really want to know?” She stood to face Juelle, her hands on her hips, her face scrunched up as if she’d bit into a sour lemon.
Juelle held her tongue and waited. The woman made her crazy.
“You honestly want to know? I’ll tell you—you aren’t good enough for my son. You are only after his money.”
Her mother-in-law had always exuded strong negative emotions toward her—they weren’t hard to miss. But she had never verbalized her true feelings—face to face. And they stung. She’d had no idea this was why Eugenia was so hard on her. Marrying Sebastian had nothing to do with his wealth. In fact, he had never mentioned the family was wealthy until after he’d asked her to marry him. And not having lived in Lobster Cove or the State of Maine until they were married, Juelle had no way of knowing. The woman might just as well have slapped her silly, the shock reverberated clear to her toes.
“You’ve been trying to take my son away from me—make him move out of the only true home he’s ever known. You’ve come in here, taken over his life, and turned him against me. You want to leave? Go out on your own so bad? Then leave. Get out. You have my permission.”
Juelle’s head shot back, her eyes wide, she stared, open mouthed, at her mother-in-law. She hadn’t seen that one coming. Wasn’t prepared.
It only took ten seconds to regain her sanity. Despite the fact she’d just been labeled a gold-digger, there was the more urgent issue of Sebastian’s life support. She squared her shoulders and dug in.
“Eugenia. We have to discuss the situation in regards to Sebastian. I think you should be the one to decide. I know you’ve lost so much already. I don’t want to cause you any more heartache.”
Eugenia sat back down—actually plunked down as if her legs could no longer support her. If she didn’t know any better, she’d just taken the wind right out of Eugenia’s sail. It was a first. She’d been to too many committee meetings with the woman, and Eugenia always…, always came out on top—always in control and having the last word. And although besting Eugenia now should have made her ecstatic, it didn’t.
“I’ll contact the doctors and let them know the decision is yours.”
Eugenia remained silent. Juelle waited several long seconds, contemplating her mother-in-law’s next words, when it finally dawned on her that her mother-in-law had actually told her to leave, to move out of the house. Now that she had permission, she didn’t think it a good idea. Eugenia was not in a mentally stable condition to be alone. Still…she would seriously work on finding a place of
her own. She’d be ready when the time came.
When Eugenia remained silent, Juelle determined it was time to leave her mother-in-law to her own thoughts—to reflect on her decision in regards to Sebastian. It was time to pick up Makenzie and go cool off.
“I’m taking Makenzie to the park. Don’t hold dinner for us tonight.”
Juelle made it as far as the door before Eugenia stopped her.
“Don’t bother calling the hospital,” she spoke between tight lips. “You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? Make me responsible for my own son’s death?”
Juelle couldn’t listen to another word. She stiffened her shoulders, quietly shut the door behind her, and sucked in a deep breath as she propped herself up against the wall. She had to shake off the bad vibes before she picked up her daughter. She ran up the stairs to her room, restocked the diaper bag, and grabbed her purse off the dresser. Her sweater lay on the bed. She snatched it, and then ran back down the stairs to the parlor. She scooped up Makenzie, a few of her toys, including Tilley, and headed out the door.
Really. Could life get any more complicated?
****
Hunter sat on the blue Adirondack chair outside his motel room door. The sun had faded, although there was still much daylight and the Maine summer air was temperate and refreshing. The breeze off the bay was filled with the scent of the sea—the docks, the marine life, and the faint aroma of enticing foods from the various diners and family cookouts. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of the first-class meal he’d enjoyed the previous evening at Mariner’s Fish Fry. It was a bit early to eat right now, so he kicked his feet up against the chair’s matching foot stool, steepled his fingers in his lap, tilted back in the deck chair, and shut his eyes.
Big mistake. Juelle McClintock’s image popped up front and center. A warm feeling hit his gut and radiated to regions of his body it had no business radiating to. The last thing he needed in Lobster Cove was to have his manly parts go crazy for anyone, especially his half-brother’s wife—a very enticing woman with all her womanly parts in the right place. He rubbed his hands over his face as if that would wash away his uncalled for thoughts and his troubles. It didn’t do a thing to ease his anger.
