by Tijan
“Those people aren’t thinking that right now. What sits with them is that Jonah didn’t let them get more money. They like the water around here, but with being flooded and forced out of their homes—they’re not too caring about its quality and such. A lot of resentment is resurfacing.”
Talk about doom and gloom.
Jonah didn’t speak to the group. Dani didn’t think he was even there, but the mayor took the podium and announced everyone needed to stay together in the center. Flooding had increased more and more farther north, and that water would travel south.
Mae’s prediction turned out accurate. People stopped listening. Half the people left, and the ones who remained were becoming restless. Dani was playing cards with Aiden and Bubba when Robbie pulled up a chair. Mae had moved to a card game with Barney and Jeffries. Dani could hear their chatter. It became nice background noise.
Robbie turned to her. “Where’s Jonah?”
Aiden and Bubba looked up from their card game (they had folded).
“I don’t know.”
“The mayor didn’t really say anything,” Aiden spoke up. “Just that we’re supposed to sit tight, but Jonah texted me that if we get through the night, we should be okay.”
“The water’s gone down outside.”
“Flooding up north can affect us, too,” Bubba said.
“I know, but my home’s safe. I built it high enough.”
“Nothing’s safe,” Aiden muttered to herself. “You can’t expect anything to be immune to the weather, even if it’s got money behind it.”
Robbie stiffened. “What?”
“Nothing.”
Bubba didn’t say a word.
“No.” Robbie pushed forward. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.”
“This have to do with your dad staying at my place?”
“No.”
“Or was that some poke at me because I’ve got money?”
“You’ve got more than some.” Aiden sat up. “You took a pretty penny with that settlement you won.” She explained to Dani, “Robbie came to town to help with Julia’s lawsuit.”
Erica’s settlement.
She turned back to Robbie, “And you got partner because of that. You’re one of the few attorneys in town. You make more than all three of us together right here.”
“Not Dani.”
“What?” Aiden and Bubba looked up.
“Dani’s got near a million in the bank.”
They all looked at her, and Dani asked, “How do you know that?” But she knew as soon as she asked. Kelley Lynn. “Never mind. I didn’t realize your secretary came back into the bank. I thought she left. I love how everyone is connected in small towns.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
“You have almost a million dollars?” Aiden cried out. “Where’d that come from? Does Jonah know?”
“Is it any of his business?” Dani countered, but he did know. And she didn’t remember him having the same response. “Do you not like people who have money?”
Aiden frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Is it the money thing? Because you think they’ll turn into your father?”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me.” Aiden sucked in her breath, taken aback.
What she had in her bank account was her business and no one else’s, along with the reason of why it was there, too. “Yeah, well, my money is personal, Aiden. You don’t have a right to demand to know that or command me to tell Jonah.”
“I wasn’t—”
She was, and Aiden knew it.
“Maybe we should call a breather?” With his hand behind her, Bubba ushered his wife away.
“Don’t worry about Aiden. She’ll get over it. She’s just worked up ’cause her dad’s in town. A person can’t see straight when they’re all riled up inside.”
“Yeah, I’m seeing that.” Dani gazed around the center. “You think this is some government conspiracy, too?”
Robbie’s eyes rounded, but he didn’t pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about. He lifted up a shoulder, picking at some lint on his pants. “I wasn’t here when all that happened back then. Aiden said the town got pretty ugly when Jonah said no to some company’s building proposal.”
“Mae was hinting some people might be thinking that again.”
“Sometimes they think that. You know, the small guy gets worked over by the big guy. Do I think it’s some conspiracy? No, but do I think people aren’t thinking right? Yes. Some of ’em anyway. Small towns don’t like being told what to do, especially when it comes to their homes.”
“There’s gotta be some reason why we’re all staying here.”
“They aren’t sharing, whatever it is.”
“And there’s gotta be a reason for that, too.”
“I think there is, and you think there is.” Robbie gestured between them. “But I don’t think most of these folks agree with us.”
Dani sighed. “Everyone knows each other’s business and everyone’s got an opinion about it, no matter how wrong they are.”
“A lot of these folks didn’t get schooling past high school, and if it is, it’s from the local community college. They got their knowledge the real-world way. You and I, we left. We saw what else was out there, but people can get set in their ways. The world’s a lot smaller than people think. You get humbled when you realize how small you actually are. Folks who don’t realize that, they just have a different way of thinking. That’s all.”
“That can be dangerous sometimes.”
“You’re not getting an argument from me.”
“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Dani murmured as she watched the crowd. More and more small groups were forming. The whispers were buzzing. It wasn’t going to end well—whatever was happening.
“There’s Jonah.” Robbie gestured toward a side door.
He moved through the crowd, stopping to talk to his sister. The crowd moved away from him.
Robbie shook his head. “It’s never surprising how they’ll turn on someone they used to worship the day before.”
“Was this how it was before?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t here at that time, but it got ugly. Jonah only had a few friends, but when the report came out that the company actually would’ve poisoned the water supply, Jonah was hailed as the town’s savior.” Robbie stood up as Jonah headed in their direction. “The town’s not remembering that today.” He nodded in greeting. “Jonah.”
“Robbie.” Jonah did the same and settled on Dani. “You wanna get something to eat?”
“Sure.”
Jonah led the way into a private back room where food was waiting on a table. A buffet of meat, cheese, casseroles, bread, and even some lasagna was set out. Another table had drinks such as soda, water, and even some beer.
“What’s this?”
Jonah pulled Dani close, murmuring close to her ear, “Even the wealthy get benefits in times of disasters.”
“How are we privileged?”
“I got some benefits being the Water Whisperer. The mayor trusts me.”
“Even though everyone else forgets to?” She felt a twinge of anger.
“Jonah,” a voice behind them boomed with authority. Jonah stiffened beside her. A middle-aged man was crossing the room to them. Dani had one guess—Jonah’s father. He extended his hand to her. “Elliott Bannon.”
“Dad.” Jonah stepped forward. “I wasn’t aware that a boat was sent for you.”
Dani shook his hand, studying him a moment. “I’m Dani.”
He walked with purpose and a stride that told others to get out of his way. His hair was a rich dark brown, but there were graying hints scattered throughout the rich curls. His jaw was firm and pointed that told anyone who saw him that he had a purpose and he wouldn’t veer off his course, no matter who be damned.
“You’re the O’Hara girl I’ve been told so much about.”
Dani grinned, pul
led her hand free and tucked it behind her. “I wouldn’t believe anything that you’re told from Drew Quandry. He just found out about my existence a few days ago, and he’s not exactly a fan.”
Elliott took another assessing glance. “You’re spirited. That’s what Quandry told me, but he wasn’t the one filling my head. I heard about your courageous feat during the tsunami. You saved ten children, did you not? You were hailed a hero there. And yet, you’re here in Craigstown with my son?”
Dani didn’t reply. There was no point. He wanted her to know that he knew her in a way most didn’t. The message was received.
Elliott added, “You got a healthy award, too. Near a million, right?”
Jonah stepped between them. “Dani’s not going to be intimidated because you researched her.”
“True story. My dying aunt is scarier than you.’
“Dad.” Aiden was heading their way.
Jonah held a hand up to her. “Aiden, I can handle this.”
“You shouldn’t have to. Besides, I’ve got a few more things to say to him than you.” Aiden switched her focus. “Why’d you come here, Father? Was it really to spearhead for the Quandrys, or did you decide to call our bluff? Okay. That house you’re in. It’s not mine. I don’t live in a beautiful mansion. My husband isn’t an executive for a local business that trades internationally. We have an average home, and I don’t care what you think. I’m not moving into the city and working at one of your offices. I’d rather have my home flooded first.” She muttered under her breath, “Which just happened.”
Dani caught sight of the Quandrys. They were settling in the opposite corner of the ‘first-class’ buffet. Drew’s head was bent talking with another middle-aged man around his fifties or sixties. Dani guessed that was the eldest Quandry. Boone sat at a table with Jenny and another woman. Jenny scooted her chair close enough to nearly be on his lap, but he promptly scooted his chair away.
Dani couldn’t help wondering if Quandry, Inc. would still want to build here? Flooding could be damaging. Were the mussels worth it?
A new thought suddenly occurred to her.
Aiden was still lashing out at her father when Dani took Jonah’s arm. She pulled him away. Watching his sister, Jonah bent his head closer to Dani. “What is it?”
“That’s why he’s here.”
Jonah looked at her now. “What?”
“He’s here to get in your head and mess you up.”
“I know.” There was movement at the door, and they both looked over. Trenton was there, his hand raised to get Jonah’s attention. “I have to go.” He pulled her to him, his mouth close to her ear. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’d run from here. Run and hide.”
Dani chuckled. “I’ll hide behind Mae’s skirt.”
Mae had never worn a skirt in her life—unless it was a miniskirt.
Mae had enough around ten that night.
Jeffries, who’d been explaining what the dolphin on his wedding band symbolized, turned from Barney to Mae. “What’s wrong?”
Dani saw her aunt stand up. “Oh, no.” A pit began to form in her stomach
Robbie turned to look where she was. “Huh? What’s happening?”
“Mae.” Both Jeffries and Barney were waiting.
“Nothing. Everything.” She chewed on the end of her mouth, her eyes closed to slits. “This is enough. I’m done waiting. The water’s almost completely gone. I’m going to make sure my livelihood is still standing. I’m a bit more worried about that than whatever secret plan they got cooking here.”
“Mae.” Dani stood, too.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re invested here, but I’m going. We’re going to be wasting an entire night, and they’ll only come in the morning to tell us to leave. I’m going to save myself the wait and leave now.”
“They told us to stay here for our safety.” Robbie rose.
“From what? We’re in the clear. The flooding is up north, and the water’s not coming down or it would’ve been here by now.”
“The topsoil is eroding up there. They’re worried about what that’ll do to the river down here.”
Mae could’ve rolled her eyes, her tone gave the same effect. “The river hasn’t flooded since the dam was built. We’re fine. We’re always fine. I’m going.”
Barney and Jeffries stood, too.
“Let’s go, guys.” Mae motioned and followed behind. Jeffries offered Dani an apologetic smile, but fell in line.
Robbie shook his head. “Huh.”
“What?” Dani asked, but her attention had just left the building. If they left, she knew the ones who remained would follow. It only took one pebble to fall down for the whole pile to crash. This so wasn’t good, and she had no idea where Jonah was.
“I didn’t know Jeffries was married.”
“There are some secrets that are just meant to be. I’m sure that’s what it is. I’ve learned that much since moving home.” She had to find Jonah. He’d know what to do. “I have to go. I’m not going far. I’ll be back.” She patted his arm. “Make a list.”
“For what?”
“For Kate.” They’d been discussing his love life before Mae decided to lead a revolution. “If she’s the one for you, start making a list of nice things to say and do for her. Trust me. Tell her she’s beautiful and give her gifts. Lots of gifts. She’ll melt.”
“You sure?”
“Oh, yeah.” She gestured outside the center. “I need to find Jonah. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
But going outside, she couldn’t find him. He wouldn’t have been in the center, or he would’ve found her instead. The town was near vacant. Everyone left for their homes while the others remained inside. She walked around, hoping to see something or someone who might know where Jonah could be.
She found herself in front of the boat store.
“Dani?”
She turned around. “Jake.”
“I saw you, and I figured you were out for a walk, to clear your head or some sorts.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Folks can’t get arrested for going to their homes.” Jake shrugged. “I saw you leave. Figured I should try to protect someone tonight.”
Dani knew it was time. It was the conversation and the person they never talked about. She knew this talk would happen, and on some level, she’d been waiting the entire time. Almost everything was done. She made peace with Julia, and said her goodbye to Kathryn. It felt right to have this talk now.
It was time.
“Did Erica say anything? When she died? Like—” Dani had no idea.
“No.” His eyebrows bunched together, and his head fell abruptly. “She did say some things, but…”
“It’s okay.” Her throat tightened with emotion. She felt something. Something was awakening inside of her.
“She was so much like you, but she was different, too.”
“She was stronger.”
“No.” His response was swift. “She was different. That’s all.”
Dani swallowed.
“She was funny. She was sarcastic, opinionated, thoughtful, regretful. She had the hardest times with Aunt Kathryn, but she knew that Kathryn needed her and Julia. She sucked it up and was dutiful.” Jake laughed. “That was the only time—or the only person—that I ever saw her be nice for them, not for her. I know that makes her sound like a horrible person, but she wasn’t. I swear, Dani. She wasn’t a bad person at all. She turned different when she was around Julia and Kathryn, around some of her friends. But that wasn’t all of her.”
