by Carol Henry
Before she could respond, he clasped her upper arms, his touch gentle, and stepped forward, pulling her forward into his space. Dazed, she wondered if he was about to kiss her. Her heart fluttered. She held her breath. Did she want him to? Inches taller than herself, he placed his warm lips on her forehead, and wrapped his arm around her, her own hands still dangling at her sides, and then gave her a gentle but all-encompassing hug.
“Anything,” he whispered. “Just call.”
Juelle shut her eyes. When she opened them, he was walking across the lawn. Shoulders slumped, she sat back down. Makenzie tugged on Tilley, giving her teddy bear hugs and slobbery smooches. Juelle opened a juice box and exchanged the bear for the drink, and then proceeded to finish feeding her daughter. She packed the rest of the baby food back in her bag, and then dealt with the remainder of the picnic items before moving Makenzie to the grass and folding the blanket. Makenzie rolled on her stomach and plucked at the grass. Juelle’s cell phone rang as she was about to pick Makenzie back up and head to the car. She propped her wiggly daughter on her hip, dumped everything back on the ground, and pulled her cell from her side pocket. She checked the number. The hospital. What the hell had Eugenia done now?
“Mrs. McClintock. You need to come to the hospital as soon as possible.”
“Is it Sebastian? Oh, my God. What’s happened?”
“His mother is already here. You need to come at once.”
Juelle’s mind went blank. Her legs gave out and she sat down on the lawn. She let Makenzie crawl onto the grass.
“It will take me a few minutes to get there. I’ll need to find a babysitter for my daughter. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She hung up, and with shaking fingers, dialed Katelyn. It took several rings before her friend picked up.
“What’s up? How’d it go with Eugenia?”
“Oh, Katelyn, I don’t have time to chat right now. The hospital just called. I have to get there as soon as possible. I don’t know what’s going on, but Eugenia is already there. Do you think you can take Makenzie for a few hours?”
“Of course. Save time. I’ll meet you at the hospital and pick her up there.”
Juelle hung up, gathered Makenzie and the picnic stuff in her arms, and make a mad dash for her car. She had Makenzie in the car seat, things stowed, and the key turned in the ignition in minutes. She didn’t have far to drive to the hospital, but her heart raced, her throat dry. Should she call Hunter, let him know…what? What could she say? She didn’t even know what was going on. Was Eugenia right? Was Hunter really not Hunt’s long-lost son? Would Hunter even care?
Katelyn was waiting in the hospital parking lot when Juelle pulled in.
“Go. I’ll transfer our darling girl into my own car while you go in. Don’t worry about a thing. I’m stopping back at the diner before going home to let the folks know I won’t be in right away. You can pick her up at the house when you’re done here. No rush.”
“Thanks, Katelyn. You’re the best.” She gave her daughter a kiss, her friend a hug, and then dashed into the hospital.
Eugenia waited outside Sebastian’s I.C.U. room.
“He’s gone,” she wailed. “My son is gone.”
Juelle ran to her side. “Did you have them remove life support?”
“Of course I didn’t. How could I? Did you? Did you call them? Did you murder my son?”
Juelle stopped in her tracks and stepped back in shock.
“Mrs. McClintock.” One of Sebastian’s doctors Juelle had met over the past two weeks, but couldn’t for the life of her remember his name at the moment, stepped between them. “I’m sorry, Mr. McClintock had a massive stroke a half hour ago. No one called to give orders to remove life support.” He looked from one to the other. “It wasn’t necessary. His vital organs shut down. I’m sorry for your loss. I’ll have someone help you with the necessary details. You can both go in now, if you wish. Take your time. Stay as long as you want.”
Once the doctor left, Juelle didn’t quite know what to do first. Wanting to console Eugenia, drained from the stress over the past two weeks, and having the decision taken out of her hands, she leaned against the wall and prayed for strength.
“I’m so sorry, Eugenia. And I’m sorry for the things I said earlier today.”
“Don’t think this is going to change a thing. If you think you’re going to gain from this, think again. As long as I have a breath left in me there will be nothing here for you. You won’t get a dime.”
With that, her mother-in-law swung around and marched across the room and knelt beside her son’s deathbed. Juelle walked to the glass enclosure and touched the window.
“Goodbye, Sebastian,” she whispered. “I hope you are at peace and in a better place.”
A single tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away, took another moment, then left. There was nothing more to be done here. In any case, there was nothing Eugenia would allow.
Juelle sat in her car in the half empty parking lot, eyes closed, head resting on the back of the seat. What to do? Where did she go from here? She wanted to call her mother, but the only way to contact her parents was by mental telepathy. She wasn’t ready to talk to Katelyn—her friend would analyze the situation to death and she wasn’t in the mood. Should she call Hunter? Tell him Sebastian had died? She pulled his card out of her purse and rubbed her thumb over the front of the raised palm tree fronds…
And dialed his number.
****
For the first time in his adult life, Hunter was completely helpless. He wanted to go to Juelle, comfort her. She needed someone to be by her side, and he knew it sure as hell wasn’t going to be her mother-in-law consoling her. The old battle-axe was probably blaming her for Sebastian’s death, tearing up the hospital and ready to sue everyone in sight. His heart went out to her, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it at the moment. His presence would fire up a storm, and Juelle didn’t need any more stress in her life. The best thing he could do for her was stay away. Let things run its course.
He shoved his cell back in its holder and strode to the end of the pier and didn’t stop until he reached the very end. He stood, hands in pockets, and looked out over the water at the many sailboats, yachts, kayakers, fishermen, and lovers walking hand in hand along the rounded shore line of the harbor. He needed to talk to someone. Someone who would understand his position. He’d been within days of meeting a half-brother, face to face, and even he was dead. Just like his father. Although his buddies back home would be understanding, and several of their female friends would love to comfort him, he wasn’t up to being pacified. He thought about calling his mother, but he didn’t want to upset her long distance.
God, he could use a drink. There had to be a bar around this town somewhere. Hadn’t he seen a sign advertising a local wine bar that had a coffee shop, too? He certainly didn’t need coffee to keep him awake, but hopefully, there would be one within walking distance of his motel. He hung his head, turned, and headed back down the pier.
He spotted Merlots Wine Bar up ahead. It was open, but he decided against drinking away his problems. He knew it would only lead to more heartache—regrets. And right now he needed a sober brain if he was going to get through the next few days.
Chapter Six
Thick Maine fog swirled around Lobster Cove’s cemetery, cloaking Juelle in a heavy, damp blanket. A sigh escaped her trembling lips. She wasn’t supposed to bury her husband after only two years of marriage. She bowed her head, her daughter Makenzie tucked close against her aching chest, asleep, and oblivious to her surroundings. Eugenia sat in the chair to her right, sobbing like a banshee. Irish mourners everywhere would be proud of her grieving mother-in-law. Dressed in black from her Jackie Kennedy style netted hat, to her fashionable black Jimmy Shoo shoes, the woman was in total mourning. She didn’t own a black dress, but to appease her mother-in-law’s sensibilities, she had worn a black pant suit, and black low-heeled shoes. She drew the line wh
en it came to dressing Makenzie in mourning. She refused to dress a one year old child in black.
Juelle’s own heart was numb, her concern at the moment was more for Eugenia than herself. After all, Eugenia had not only lost her husband months ago to a heart attack, but was in the process of burying Sebastian. Her only child. Her world.
She shifted her daughter to her other shoulder, moving her away from the keening Eugenia. The scent of damp, open earth mixed with floral fragrance of the many flower arrangements overpowered her senses. Between the howling going on beside her, and the heaviness of the air swirling around her, Juelle’s head pounded.
She’d met Sebastian at university, fell in love with his easy charismatic charms, and married right after graduation. Her dreams of starting a career, having her own home, and working together with Sebastian to build a new life fell apart when he’d insisted they live with his parents. After all, the McClintock Estate was plenty big enough for two families. Eugenia was ecstatic, and had taken over, expecting her to join the chamber of commerce, the garden club, the church’s Ladies of the Rosary Society, and the Lobster Cove Historical Society. Sebastian sided with his mother, telling her it was a great way to meet the ‘right’ people of Lobster Cove. Not wanting to make waves, she caved. And she hadn’t been sorry. Lobster Cove turned out to be one of the most caring communities around.
But now Sebastian was gone—the boating accident had left him paralyzed, in a coma, and on life support. He had hung on for two very long stressful weeks. She’d spent those two agonizing weeks sitting by his bedside—and having to deal with Eugenia’s angst. And her best friend, Katelyn—what would she have done without her? She was her rock, her sounding board, and always willing to babysit Makenzie at a moment’s notice. Thankfully, Makenzie was a godsend, and a happy baby.
Father Zack, an older priest with gray hair, a full gray beard, and slightly overweight, had served in the Dominican Republic, was well liked in the Lobster Cove community, especially by the teenagers. He stood in front of those assembled and gave the final eulogy. Eugenia’s wailing crescendo became a low moan as those gathered echoed Father Zack’s Amen. Eugenia’s eyes locked on the casket hovering over Sebastian’s final resting place alongside her husband’s, hanky in hand. Juelle mumbled Amen along with the others, looked up, and scanned the mass of mourners, well-wishers, Sebastian’s schoolmates, fishermen, and friends, as well as a few who showed up at a McClintock funeral just to remain in the wealthy McClintock’s good graces. All heads were bowed, except one. Her gaze settled on the tall man in the far back, standing apart from the group. The man exuded a confident, regal presence—and was the spitting image of his father. There was no disputing Hunt McClintock was Hunter McClintock’s father, and Sebastian his half-brother—a fact Eugenia tried her level best to dispute.
Hunter acknowledged her with a brief nod, and then disappeared in the crowd. He’d caused such a stir in town already, everyone was abuzz with the news that Hunt McClintock had had a love child before he married Eugenia. How do such rumors get started, anyway?
The crowd broke up. Eugenia leaned over, clutched a handful of fresh soil, hugged it against her chest, then released it and with the help of Günter Jordan, walked out of the cemetery. Several acquaintances stopped by to offer their condolences. A loud burst of uncontrollable sobbing, almost as pathetic as Eugenia’s, drew Juelle’s, and everyone else’s, attention to the left of the mourners. Nora Spears, tall, willowy, blonde, blue eyes, was surrounded by a group of young ladies all trying to console her. Bent over, the woman’s beautiful, blemish-free skin was streaked with black mascara and eyeliner from her hysterical sobbing. Juelle didn’t know Nora Spears, but had seen her around town with the others—she ran with a different crowd.
Nora broke free and flew at her, arms waving like a madwoman—her long, ruby-red polished nails like talons ready to strike. Juelle stepped aside. What was wrong with this woman? Was she in pain? Did she need someone to call 911?
“You killed him,” she shrilled. “You bitch! You killed my Sebastian. You didn’t deserve him. You deserve to die for what you did to him.”
A bomb had exploded inside Juelle’s brain. She couldn’t breathe. What the hell was Nora talking about?
Two of Nora’s friends surrounded the sobbing woman, tugged on her arms in an effort to hold her back.
“He was going to divorce you and marry me. If you hadn’t pulled the plug on him, he’d be mine. All mine.”
From out of the blue, Katelyn was by her side. “Let me take Makenzie. Let’s get out of here. You don’t need to stand here and listen to this.”
“You think he worked late every night? Taking care of business?” Nora screeched. “Don’t kid yourself. He was with me. He told me everything. Everything!”
“Get your facts straight, Nora. Juelle did not kill Sebastian. He suffered a stroke before anyone had to make that decision.”
Juelle found her tongue. “It doesn’t matter, Katelyn. It’s over. Nora’s reaction explains so much. I might have been blindsided by her outburst, but thanks to her, I no longer have to feel guilty about why our marriage fell apart. Why it wasn’t working. It wasn’t me after all. Let’s go before Makenzie wakes up to this sordid scene.”
Katelyn took Makenzie and headed to the parking area. Juelle squared her shoulders, raised her head and faced Sebastian’s mistress—the person responsible for ruining her marriage. Although to be honest, Sebastian was as much to blame.
“For the record—Katelyn is right. I did not request the hospital to remove Sebastian’s life support. From your reaction, I no longer have to carry the responsibility of my broken marriage. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Nora fell to the ground on bended knees, gulping for air between sobs, her friends by her side. Stripped of any heartfelt emotions for her cheating husband and his mistress, she followed her friend out of the cemetery.
“I’m so proud of you, girlfriend. I guess you told her.”
Katelyn tucked the sleeping Makenzie over her shoulder and rubbed her back. Together, they walked side by side and wound their way along the rutted walkway to the edge of the small cemetery.
Up ahead, on the other side of the church’s parking lot, Eugenia was being ushered into the church for the luncheon the St. Joseph’s Ladies of the Rosary Society was putting on. With any luck, her mother-in-law had missed the entire scene with Nora Spears. Was her mother-in-law aware of Sebastian’s affair?
Nora’s outburst left her even more drained than she’d been over the past several weeks. How was she supposed to cope with this new turn of events? Nora’s public outburst? Their affair which had taken place right under her nose? And now everyone else knew. How long had it been going on? She must be in shock because she didn’t feel a thing—nothing. Tired, maybe, but not as broken-hearted as she should be about Sebastian’s death—or the affair. Although she was saddened at the loss of life. Her daughter would never know her father. Was that how Hunter felt, not having known his father all these years?
Where to turn, who to turn to? Zapped of emotion, she wanted to go home. But where was home? She didn’t know. Her parents’ home was rented while they were in some godforsaken dot on a map in Africa. And living at the McClintock Estate was uncomfortable at the best of times—it was Eugenia’s home, not hers. Eugenia telling her to leave had almost been a blessing, but now that she had no one and nowhere to go, she wasn’t so sure.
“I’m so sorry you had to deal with Nora.” Katelyn broke her contemplations. “I didn’t know. Honest. There had been rumors, of course, but no concrete evidence to substantiate the rumors. If I’d known, I would have told you—you know that, don’t you? No matter how hard it would have been for me to tell you, even if it meant our friendship—I would have told you. Honest.”
Juelle tugged on her friend’s arm. “Katelyn. Stop. I believe you. I trust you. None of this is your fault. I should have known. Suspected something. Unfortunately, I trusted Sebastian and look where faith in our ma
rriage got me. People around here must take me for a fool. How many others were aware of their relationship?” A deep sob escaped. She held her breath, trying to hold her emotions in check, then said the hell with it and let go. “I just don’t know where to go from here. What to do. Right now, I want to get away from all these people, all their prying eyes. Their pity. I need time to think and decide what I’m going to do.”
“Can I help?” Hunter’s words had Juelle and Katelyn swinging around in surprise. His handsome face was pinched, his lips in a straight line, his dark eyebrows shadowed narrowed eyes. How long had he been standing there listening? Had he heard everything? Nora’s outburst?
“I couldn’t help but overhear the commotion.”
That answered her question. She wanted to crawl under a rock and disappear. Could her dismal life get any worse?
“Do you have a magic wand to transport Juelle out of here?” Katelyn asked.
“No, but I can offer my best traveler’s escort service and whisk her out of here in my rental chariot. I could use someone to show me the Island while I’m here—check out Cadillac Mountain…”
“Perfect. It will help her unwind, clear her mind. She needs the break.”
“Really? People? I’m right here. I think I can talk for myself.”
“It’s about time. So, I’ll take Makenzie home with me and the two of you can make a quick escape before anyone’s the wiser.”
“But…”
“Go. I’ve got this covered. Besides, after Nora’s outburst, I doubt if any of Eugenia’s friends would be surprised if you failed to show up at the luncheon. I know there is no way I’d show up.” Katelyn hefted Makenzie up in her arms, turned, and left without another word.
“Wait,” Juelle called. Her friend stopped, but didn’t turn around. “Let me get the car seat for you. And you might want the diaper bag.”
