Summer Secrets

by Barbara Freethy

  And hadn't she done the same in her own way, turning a simple bookstore into fantasyland? Turning her back on the water, and all that had happened out there? Forcing everyone to keep the promise they'd made no matter what the personal cost?

  "Stop it, Kate. Stop making this about you," Caroline said with irritation as she sat up on the bed. "It's about me. It's my problem. And I'll have to solve it myself."

  "When is your next AA meeting? I'll go with you."

  "Oh, sure, that's just what I want, strong, invincible Kate by my side, making me feel even more inadequate."

  "I wouldn't do that," Kate said, feeling hurt.

  Caroline made a face. "Dammit,. Kate, there you go again, making me feel guilty. I know it's not you. You can't help it that you're so good, so perfect. You can't help it that you're Daddy's favorite. Or even that you were Mom's favorite. After all, you're the one she asked to make a promise. Not me. Not Ashley."

  "You were too young. So was Ashley," Kate said in astonishment, then she started to get mad, too. "Don't you realize how much responsibility comes with all this favoritism that you see? Don't you think I ever get tired of worrying about all of you? Because I do, Caroline. I'm only four years older than you, but sometimes I feel like I'm a hundred years older."

  "I'm sorry," Caroline said.

  "You should be." She paused. "We should call Ashley. She'll want to help."

  Caroline rolled her eyes.

  "What does that mean?" Kate asked.

  "I think Ashley has her hands full at the moment. I saw her last night on the back of Sean's motorcycle."

  Kate sank back down on the bed and met her sister's knowing eyes. "Oh, dear."

  "I'm sure she won't say anything after all this time," Caroline offered halfheartedly.

  Kate hoped Caroline was right, because she wasn't sure of anything anymore.

  * * *

  "Hello, Ashley. Can I come in?" Tyler asked, as Ashley opened her apartment door. Dressed in slim-fitting denim shorts and a sleeveless top, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail, Ashley looked young and pretty, full of life. In fact, there was a light in her eyes that Tyler didn't remember seeing before.

  "What do you want?" she asked warily.

  "A few minutes of your time."

  She hesitated, then stepped aside. "All right."

  He was surprised at the chaos in her small apartment. She had obviously not gotten the same neat and tidy gene that Kate had. There were magazines, photos, and books spread out in the living room as well as a few items of clothing.

  "I wasn't expecting anyone," Ashley said apologetically, moving some clutter from the couch. "Do you want to sit down?"

  He paused by the coffee table and picked up some photos. They were pictures of boats and racing crews. "For the Castleton?" he asked.

  "Yes, I photographed each and every entry."

  "They're good. Nice light, excellent color, good angle."

  "You sound like you know something about photographs."

  "I've worked with a few photographers in my time."

  "Photos to go with your articles?"

  "Exactly," he said. "That's why I'm here. I was wondering if you might have any photos I can use."

  She looked taken aback by the idea. "I -- Uh, I don't know what you mean."

  He wondered if Kate had told Ashley he was dropping the article on them. It didn't appear that way, because Ashley suddenly seemed very nervous. She was fidgeting with a chain around her neck and looked like she wished him anywhere but here. "Do you have any photos of your race, shots you took on the Moon Dancer of you, your sisters, and your father?" he asked, figuring her answer would tell him just how much she knew.

  "I had some, but I don't know where they are."

  "It seems funny, you being a photographer and all, that you wouldn't have them displayed." He looked around her apartment. There were lots of photographs but none of the family. He couldn't quite believe that Ashley had spent nine months on a boat with a pregnant sister and hadn't taken one photo revealing that fact, unless she'd been the one who was pregnant.

  "I change my pictures frequently. That race was a long time ago. And I put a lot of stuff in storage when we got back."

  Tyler sat down on the couch, deciding to switch tactics. "I met your friend, Sean, the other day. He told me you two were high school sweethearts."

  "That's true." She perched on the edge of an armchair.

  "It must have been difficult for you to go to sea and leave him behind."

  "I didn't have a choice."

  "Of course." He smiled to ease the tension he could see tightening the muscles in her face. He sensed he would have to go easy with her or he'd get nowhere. "I bet the boys were all over you and your sisters at the various ports of call. Three good-looking, adventurous blondes. It doesn't get much better than that. You must have been beating them off with a stick."

  "Sometimes. But racing men are different. They're so focused on their boats, the other competitors, the weather, the course that everything else is unimportant. Besides, we were pretty young."

  "Jailbait," he agreed. "Everyone but Kate." He paused. "What happened with you and Sean when you got back?"

  "Nothing. I mean, we broke up."

  "Why?'

  "Because," she said with a helpless shrug. "It just wasn't going to work anymore. It's hard to come back and start over with someone you haven't seen in a few years."

  "True. He still seems very fond of you, though."

  She flushed. "I care about him, too."

  More than a little, he suspected. "Maybe you'll get back together someday."

  "I don't know." She paused, looking decidedly uncomfortable. "Is there something else you wanted? I have some things I need to take care of."

  "Well, I know you said you don't have photographs of your race, but I wondered if you have anything of some local sailors or past Castleton races that might be a good accompaniment to my article. I would be happy to pay you for their use, of course."

  "I have lots of photos from last year's race week. Let me get my file."

  "Sure, take your time," Tyler said as she walked into her bedroom. He didn't really want any photos, but he needed a moment to think about how he could win her trust, and maybe look around a little. Surely this investigator who was communicating so avidly with Mark's attorney would be copying one of the McKenna sisters on what was happening.

  The coffee table didn't boast anything personal, so Tyler got up and walked over to the desk where Ashley's computer was located. His gaze caught on an envelope on top of a stack of bills with the return address CASTLETON FAMILY HEALTH. The envelope was open, so he pulled out the bill. It was dated a month ago, an office visit, patient Ashley McKenna, physician Dr. Myra Hanover. That didn't tell him much. He turned to the accompanying letter, which was much more interesting. In the letter, Dr. Hanover referred Ashley to two different psychiatrists specializing in anxiety and depression, both located in Seattle. That confirmed his earlier suspicion that she had mental health problems. He slipped the bill into his pocket, doubting she'd miss it, since she'd obviously already paid it, and he might just need it.

  Hearing Ashley, he turned away from the desk and returned to the middle of the room.

  She handed him a thick manila envelope. "You can have these from last year. I have to warn you, though, that they're not action shots. There's another guy in town, Nate Raffin, who takes shots out on the water. He might have better photographs. In fact, he's doing this year's races, so you might want to talk to him."

  "Thanks, I will." He took the envelope out of her hand. "How come you don't take the action shots? An experienced sailor like yourself, I can't imagine that anyone else could do a better job."

  She paled at his question. "I just don't."

  "Oh, that's right. You don't like to go out on the water anymore, do you?"

  He could see that she remembered their first meeting at Kate's house when she'd confided her inability to get on the boat
and take a picture.

  "What happened to make you feel that way?" he asked, pressing deeper. He was running out of time, with Mark's threat to take Amelia and run hanging over his head.

  "I ... It's a long story."

  "Was it the storm? Were you traumatized? Or was it something else? Someone you left behind, perhaps?"

  Her face turned completely white. "What do you know?" she whispered.

  His heart sped up. Maybe it was Ashley. Maybe she was Amelia's mother and she was traumatized because she'd left her baby behind.

  He started as the phone rang. Ashley hesitated. "Aren't you going to get that?" he asked.

  "I'm sure the machine ..." Her voice trailed away as they listened to the message: Ashley, it's Kate. I'm at Caroline's. You need to call me or come here as soon as possible.

  Tyler frowned at the concern in Kate's voice.

  Ashley grabbed the phone. "Kate, are you there? What's wrong? Is Caroline okay?" She paused then said, "Why can't you just tell me now? Fine. I'll be there in a few minutes."

  She hung up the phone and turned to Tyler. "I have to go."

  "Is everything all right?"

  "I doubt it. Things haven't been all right in a long time."

  She picked up her purse and keys and headed toward the door. Tyler had no choice but to follow.

  "I'll bring these back later," he said. "Maybe we can finish our conversation then."

  "I won't be here later. Just leave them by the door. No one will take them." She hurried down the hall before he could say anything more. Short of running after her, there was nothing more he could do. Damn. He'd been so close to getting somewhere. Now he would have to wait.

  Unless he went over to Caroline's apartment. All three girls would be there. But they would undoubtedly form a united front, he realized. He would have more success when they were apart. He would simply have to divide and conquer, one sister at a time.

  * * *

  Kate had tidied up Caroline's apartment, put on some hot water for tea, and checked on her sister for the third time in a half hour when there was a knock on the door. Ashley, she thought with relief. Maybe it wasn't right to burden Ashley with this problem; she had enough to worry about. But Kate needed to share it with someone who would understand. Maybe someone who could tell her that it wasn't that obvious, that she had also been fooled by Caroline's behavior.

  Kate opened the door and let Ashley in. "Thanks for coming so fast."

  "What is it? What's wrong now?"

  "Caroline is ..." How could she say it?

  "She's what? Is she sick?"

  "Not exactly." Kate closed the door behind Ashley.

  "Why are you being so mysterious?"

  "Because she's trying to find a nice way to say it, but there isn't any," Caroline said from the doorway of the bedroom.

  Caroline looked like she was feeling better. She'd changed into a pair of leggings and a T-shirt, and there was color in her cheeks now. But as she sat down on the sofa, Kate could see how thin her baby sister had gotten. Too much booze, not enough food, another sign she'd missed.

  "Does someone want to tell me what's going on?" Ashley asked..

  "I'll say it. I think I can do it." Caroline took a deep breath. "I'm an alcoholic, Ashley. There I did it again. It's getting easier."

  "You -- you're what?" Ashley stumbled over her words.

  "An alcoholic. A drunk. A boozer. Whatever you want to call it."

  Ashley stared at Caroline for a long moment. "I don't understand."

  "Do you want me to spell it out for you?"

  "I understand what you're saying; I just don't understand how it happened." Ashley looked at Kate. "Did you know?"

  "Not until an hour ago. Although, maybe I did notice but I just didn't want to see it."

  "Well." Ashley sat down in the chair across from Caroline. "What do you want me to do?"

  "Nothing. Kate was the one to call you, not me."

  "We need to support one another," Kate said, sitting down on the couch. "We're still a family." A family that had given Caroline that first drink, Kate realized. How old had her sister been then? Fourteen, fifteen? "It was that champagne we opened the first day we set sail," she murmured. "Dad wanted to toast our trip. That was the first time you ever drank, wasn't it?"

  "Probably."

  "You liked it a lot," Ashley commented. "I remember you sneaked back into the galley and finished it off later that night."

  "Busted," Caroline said. "I guess you two are to blame for my bad habit."

  "Yes," Kate agreed.

  "I'm just kidding," Caroline said. "No one held my head and forced me to taste that champagne, and it's not like either of you turned into drunks because of it."

  No, but that had opened a door they'd never closed. It had been easy to get alcohol on their trip. When they'd hung out with their father, there had always been glasses left unattended and sailors eager to give you a taste of this or that. Caroline had loved to sit by their father's side and listen to him tell stories. She'd always been the closest to the booze, and to the boozers, for that matter.

  "You can't blame yourselves. This is my problem, and I'll fix it." Caroline stood up. "First I'm going to take a shower, then I'm going to work for a few hours and hope they won't kill me for blowing off this morning's appointments."

  "You're going in to work?" Kate asked in confusion. "I thought we could spend time together."

  "I need to work. So do you. Don't you have a bookstore to run?"

  "Theresa is there," Kate replied, but in truth she did need to get to work.

  "Look, I'll be okay. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. Mike said it will take awhile. In the meantime, I have to live as normally as I can. If you want to have dinner or something tonight, I guess we could do that, but oh, damn, I almost forgot, the charity picnic auction is tonight. I promised I'd put in a basket this year, and I don't have a thing in the refrigerator."

  "I promised as well." Kate added that to the rapidly growing list of things she had to do. The annual picnic auction was a big fund-raiser for the local library. All of the eligible women on the island made up big baskets of food that were auctioned off to participating bachelors. The couples would then share a picnic supper together. Kate had always enjoyed the event, although some of her bachelors had been better than others. A shiver ran down her spine as she thought about Tyler. Would he come? Would he bid? Would their self-control be tested once again?

  "Kate?" Ashley asked.

  "What?" She suddenly realized she'd been daydreaming.

  "I said that I made extra chocolate cookies if you and Caroline want to put them in your baskets."

  "That sounds great." Kate looked at Caroline. "Do you think it's a good idea for you to go? It's usually traditional to include a bottle of wine in the basket."

  "I can't avoid every situation where there's alcohol, or I'll never go anywhere. I'll just clue Mike in and ask him to bid on my basket. That way I won't have to pretend with anyone else."