“It’s good Galen went with you.” Wesley’s tone was unnaturally gruff. “If he’s going to court you he should be standing by you through the hard stuff.”
I couldn’t ever remember hearing that term in real life, which forced me to arch an amused eyebrow. “Courting? I feel as if I’ve been transported to Little House on the Prairie times. I’m not sure that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
“Really?” Wesley pursed his lips. “My understanding is that you’ve been out practically every night since … well, since you were taken. You’ve been seen at tiki bars … and on beach walks … and even just laughing at the lighthouse. In all that time, you’ve been seen holding hands and kissing. If that’s not courting, what is it?”
I was flabbergasted. “Do you have spies watching me?”
Wesley shook his head. “I have workers who live in town. They go to bars and restaurants. You haven’t exactly been discreet.”
“I guess.” I rubbed the back of my neck, uncomfortable. “We’re dating. It’s not serious or anything.”
“Oh, you’re cute.” Wesley’s lips curved as he shook his head. “If Galen is bothering to see you and only you – and to do it every night – it’s serious. The boy has a reputation for being good at his job and bad with female hearts.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning women go gaga for him and he loses interest after one date,” Wesley replied. “Apparently, if the gossip I’m hearing from my men is true, you’re different.”
“We’ve only been dating for a week,” I pointed out. “I think it’s a little soon to assume I’m different.”
“No, you’re different.” Wesley clearly wasn’t in the mood to argue. “I can see it. I could see it that day on the beach. He was worried about you above all else. He barely paid any attention to me despite the fact that I’d shot a man.”
Speaking of that … . “Yeah, um, I didn’t really get a chance to thank you for that.” I scratched my cheek, uncomfortable. “Everything happened so fast that day. You saved me and I never thanked you. That was rude.”
Wesley’s eyes were hard to read. “Aurora saved you,” he countered after a beat. “She got you back to shore, which was the biggest hurdle. After that, Galen protected you. He made sure you were safe and taken care of. I owe him for that.”
“You shot Ned Baxter.”
“I did.” Wesley bobbed his head. “I wish I could say my motivations for that were altruistic. It wasn’t just about saving you, though. Part of it was because of that. The other part, well, it was because of something else.”
Realization dawned. “May. You were getting revenge for May.”
Wesley shrugged. “Ned killed May. He poisoned her. We may never know how long she would’ve lived otherwise. He had what I dished out coming to him. I’m not sorry.”
“Did you think I expected you to be sorry?”
“I don’t know.” Wesley mustered a smile. “I don’t know you all that well yet. In some respects you remind me of your mother. In others, you’re different. I know better than to try to make you into someone you’re not. You’re a person of your own making. I’m fine with that.”
“You haven’t visited.”
Wesley sighed. “No, I haven’t. I thought about it but … I wasn’t ready.”
“May is at the lighthouse,” I reminded him. “You obviously miss her, and she’s there. You could visit, spend time together. You don’t need to even see me if you don’t want to.”
“Ugh.” Wesley made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat as he leaned back and regarded me with flat eyes. “Girl, I can already tell you’re going to be work.”
“Are you going to say I got that from my mother?”
“I’m going to say you’re that way because you’re a female,” he clarified. “I’ve yet to meet a female who isn’t work.”
I was amused despite myself. “I think most women feel the same way about men.”
“Probably. In any case, I didn’t visit for several reasons.” Wesley poured himself a glass of iced tea before continuing. “The first reason is that I didn’t want to interrupt you and Galen. It was obvious that day on the beach that you and he were going to … um … become close.”
I could tell Wesley was uncomfortable with the relationship, to the point that even talking about it threatened to make him run screaming into the night. “We’re just dating. It’s new … and not something to get worked up about.”
“I can’t help it. You’re my granddaughter even if I don’t know you all that well. You’ll have to forgive me for wanting to wrap you up and shoot any boy who comes sniffing around. That’s a grandfather’s job.”
“Even though I’m an adult?”
Wesley shrugged, his eyes lit with amusement. “I can’t help it. I want to protect you. That’s something we’ll both have to get used to.”
“Fair enough.” I’d never had a grandfather who actually cared about what I did with my day, who I spent my time with. My father’s father was a gruff man who spent all his time hunting and fishing. I wasn’t even sure he knew my name let alone cared about the boys I dated. “Still, you could’ve stopped by the lighthouse. I was worried you didn’t want to see me for some reason and … well, I didn’t like it.”
“You could’ve come out here, too.”
“Yeah, I guess. The thing is … I don’t have a car. I don’t even have a bicycle. I might be able to ride a bicycle out here, but I’m not sure I wouldn’t fall over and die in a ditch due to the heat. There are three cabs on the island as far as I can tell, but finding them isn’t easy and it cost me fifty bucks with tip to ride one way out here. So, I don’t mind visiting, but … I’m going to have to figure out a better way to do it.”
Wesley’s mouth dropped open. “That shyster charged you fifty bucks to ride a few miles out of town?”
I held my hands palms out and shrugged. “He kind of had me over a barrel.”
“I guess so.” Wesley’s agitation was palpable as he shifted on the bench. “I should’ve considered that. I didn’t … and I’m sorry. We’ll figure something out about the visits. I agree that riding a bicycle out here isn’t necessarily a good idea. You’re not used to the humidity and if I’m not expecting you … well, you really could die in a ditch.”
“And no one wants that.” I offered him a cheeky smile. “You could visit me occasionally. I mean … you don’t have to do it on a regular basis or anything, but if you ever get a mind to do it, well, you’re welcome to drop in.”
Wesley’s smile was kind. “Girl, I have no problem visiting you. My problem is with seeing May. Er, actually, it’s seeing that lighthouse without May being alive and buzzing about. I know it’s hard to explain, but I’m not quite ready yet. It will happen eventually, but for now … .”
“Oh.” I felt inexplicably sorry for him. He seemed alone in a very big world. “I didn’t think about that. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your worry.” Wesley awkwardly patted my hand. “We’ll figure it out. This is new for both of us.”
“Yeah, but … it’s probably harder for you. I have so much going on it seems as if my head is spinning most days. It’s harder for you because nothing is spinning. The world is quieter for you without May, so time feels as if it’s slowing.”
“That was a very profound sentiment.” Wesley smirked. “Tell me what’s got your head spinning. Is it Galen? If so, I’ll have a talk with the boy. I’ve been meaning to track him down anyway.”
That sounded ominous. “You don’t have to track him down. He’s been nothing but a gentleman … and I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, well, that’s a grandfather’s prerogative and you’ll have to get used to it.” Wesley’s kind eyes twinkled. “Other than Galen Blackwood, tell me what has your head spinning.”
I related the events of the past two days, wrapping up with the intense fight between Gus and Henry in the police department. “I know I’m new to Moonstone Bay and don’t fully und
erstand all the relationships, but that seemed a bad deal.”
“It is a bad deal.” Wesley stroked his chin, thoughtful. “That whole situation has been a powder keg for years. I’m surprised it didn’t blow before this.”
“It seems to me that Gus and Henry disliked each other long before Trish Doyle turned up dead,” I noted. “Do they have a feud going or something?”
Wesley chuckled. “Oh, you really are cute. A feud. I want to laugh at how naïve you are, but that’s not exactly the worst word to use when talking about Gus and Henry’s relationship. They are, in fact, mired in a feud.”
“Why?”
“There are so many reasons I’m not even sure I can keep track. For starters, I believe their fathers were rival real estate agents and constantly going at one another.”
“I can’t exactly imagine real estate agents threatening to go all gangster on one another,” I mused. “Did they threaten each other with signs? Did they start a race to the bottom with escrow numbers?”
Wesley snorted. “That sense of humor you have is funny.”
“Did I get that from my mother, too?”
“No. From me.” Wesley’s smile was so wide it almost split his face. “I’ve never been tight with Gus or Henry. I’m not privy to the inner workings of their relationship. I simply know they’ve never gotten along and they tried to teach their daughters to follow suit.”
I searched my memory of Ashley and Trish’s interaction before the latter turned up dead. “I saw them yesterday. I mean … before Galen stumbled across Trish’s body. I saw Ashley and Trish. I assumed they were old friends the way they had their heads bent together and were laughing. Maybe I misread the situation.”
“I don’t think you did. I’m not up on town gossip and even I heard the story about how Trish and Ashley decided to be friends to spite their fathers. They didn’t want to keep the war going so they started hanging out with one another. It drove their fathers crazy, but it’s my understanding that it grew into a real friendship.”
“They started yelling at each other after that,” I remembered. “They almost got into a fight. Galen broke it up. They were threatening to kill one another.”
“Do you know what they were fighting about?”
“Ashley said they were fighting about Booker.”
Wesley didn’t appear surprised by my answer. “Oh, well. That boy has broken more hearts than Galen. I guess I can’t be surprised about that.”
I wanted to shake Wesley until answers popped out about both Galen and Booker’s dating habits. That didn’t seem wise or polite, though, so I battled back the inclination. “I think the whole thing sounds crazy.”
“Welcome to Moonstone Bay.” Wesley winked. “This entire island is wacky, kid. You need to get used to that.”
“I know, but … I was there when Trish’s body was discovered. I kind of want to know why she died.”
“I’m sure Galen will figure it out.”
“I’m sure he will, too.” I meant it. “Can you tell me more about Gus and Henry’s feud? I feel as if I’m missing something when it comes to that whole story.”
Wesley stared at me for a long beat before exhaling heavily and nodding. “I guess I can do that. This curiosity thing you’ve got going for you, that you got from your grandmother. It’s an annoying quirk.”
I honestly didn’t care. “I can live with that. Tell me what you know.”
“Well, it started a long time ago. As I remember, it had something to do with a woman.”
Ah, that’s how all the best feuds started. “I’m not surprised. Lay it on me.”
8
Eight
Wesley dropped me back in town, admonishing me to call should I want to visit again. Then he asked a guy I didn’t recognize, who happened to be walking on the sidewalk in front of Lilac’s bar, if he knew where the taxi drivers were spending their afternoons these days. I had a feeling the driver who charged me fifty bucks to visit my grandfather was about to get an earful.
I offered Wesley a smile, internally glowing when he returned it, and then made my way into Lilac’s bar. My afternoon with Wesley allowed me time to come up with a plan and, unfortunately for her, Lilac was key to that plan.
“Hey, girl.” Lilac breezed past me, two beers in her hands, and headed toward a corner table. I kept moving to the bar, taking what was rapidly becoming my regular stool before Lilac returned to her usual spot behind the counter. “What will it be?”
“Iced tea is fine.”
Lilac flicked her eyes to the clock on the wall. “It’s almost five o’clock. You can drink without your mainland sensibilities guilting you if you’re so inclined.”
She wasn’t wrong. Still, I wasn’t ready for alcohol just yet. “Iced tea is fine for now.”
“You got it.” Lilac filled a glass and handed it to me. “Where have you been all day? Galen stopped in looking for you about two hours ago. I’m not sure he believed me when I said I didn’t know where you were.”
Hmm. That was interesting. “Did he seem upset?”
Lilac’s eyebrows winged up. “As compared to what? He seemed normal to me.”
I didn’t know whether that was good or bad. “Did he look as if he wanted to strangle me? Maybe he wanted to get in a good kick instead. I think that’s what I’m getting at.”
Instead of reacting with worry, Lilac snorted. “Oh, now things are getting interesting. What did you do to make Galen want to strangle you? Wait … do I want to know?” Lilac tilted her head to the side, considering. “Oh, who am I kidding? I totally want to know. I can’t believe I haven’t heard this bit of gossip yet.”
I risked a glance around the bar and was thankful that the other patrons were in booths along the back wall. I was the only one at the counter, which allowed me to talk freely. That was also a good thing if I wanted to enact my plan.
“I didn’t technically do anything wrong.”
Lilac bobbed her head. “It’s always good to lead with a denial.”
“I just … well, I might have picked up lunch at the grocery store and surprised Galen with it at the station.”
Lilac’s face remained expressionless. “If that’s the height of your gossip I’m going to be really disappointed.”
I sighed. “I wanted to feel him out for information,” I admitted. “I’m dying to know what happened to Trish Doyle, so I took him lunch as an excuse to question him.”
Lilac’s lips curved down. “You are the worst manipulator ever. That’s not a fun story. I was expecting so much more. I’m disappointed … to say the least.”
I tried not to take the comment as an insult, but it was difficult. “I was totally on top of my manipulation game,” I argued. “We were having a great time. He was opening up. Ashley Conner is in custody, by the way, although she hasn’t been charged yet. Then something happened to derail things.”
“I’m waiting with bated breath.”
I didn’t like her tone. “Trish Doyle’s father came into the station and picked a fight with Ashley Conner’s father. Galen had to physically break them up. He kind of ordered me out of the station so he could deal with them.”
Lilac blinked several times in rapid succession. “Huh.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
Lilac shrugged. “I’m not sure what else there is to say. I didn’t hear anything in that story that would suggest Galen was angry with you. In fact, I’m betting he was more resigned than anything. As for Henry and Gus, that’s no surprise. They’ve been one argument away from blowing each other’s brains out for as long as I’ve known them.”
She was so blasé I couldn’t help but wonder if I was looking in the wrong spot for investigation inspiration. “Well, I’m glad Galen isn’t angry with me.”
“I don’t think he’s likely to get angry with you for a bit. You’re still in the honeymoon phase of your relationship. It’s all longing looks, linked fingers and long kisses that promise more down the line.”
; I was dumbfounded. “That was a little … .”
“Romantic?”
“I was going to say Lifetime television for women.”
“Fair enough.” Lilac shrugged. “But he didn’t seem angry, and I can always read Galen. In fact, he seemed more worried than anything else. He said you weren’t at the lighthouse and May said you hadn’t been back.”
“Oh, so May is talking to him but not me, huh?” I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was agitated all the same. “Why is that so … May?”
“I have no answer for you.” Lilac dropped a lemon wedge in my iced tea. “Where did you go?”
“I went out to see Wesley.”
“Oh.” My answer obviously took her by surprise. “What did Wesley have to say?”
“Not much.” That was the truth. “We talked about a few different things. We didn’t have a chance to talk after … well, after he shot Ned Baxter.”
“I didn’t even think about that.” Lilac turned sympathetic. “Have you been upset about that?”
“I’ve been confused about that,” I clarified. “I thought he didn’t want to visit because of me. It turns out he didn’t want to visit because of May … and Galen … and a little bit because of me.”
Lilac snickered, genuinely amused. “That sounds about right. Wesley is a complicated man. He’s probably not ready to see May’s ghost. He was absolutely crushed when she died. He went on a three-day bender … and he did it in town. He’s usually more for drinking at home.”
For some reason, that made me unbelievably sad. “Well, he’s a little irritated that I spent fifty bucks for a cab ride to his place this afternoon. I think that driver is probably hearing an earful about now. He says he’s going to come up with a way to fix that, although I have no idea what that is.”
“It sounds like you had a nice chat.”
“We did. He gave me the lowdown on some of the history between Gus and Henry. It was eye-opening, to say the least.”
“They’re a colorful duo,” Lilac agreed. “This situation will only make things worse. Ashley and Trish managed to overcome the feud for years, but they eventually succumbed – or that’s how it seemed yesterday – so I think things will get worse before they get better.”
Witch Out of Water Page 7
