by Kay Correll
“Mom, I don’t think that’s such—”
“Adam, don’t treat me like I’ll break. I can help. I want to help.” Mary’s voice was firm and confident.
“I don’t know…” Adam’s face was covered in doubt.
Susan stepped in where she probably wasn’t wanted, because it wasn’t her decision to make. “I’d love some help.”
Adam looked at her pointedly. She just as pointedly looked back at him.
Mary jumped up. “Great. Get me started on anything that will help you out.”
“Well, that table over there that just came in needs water. The glasses and pitchers of water are on the sideboard along with the coffee if they want that.”
“Perfect. And I see that table over there needs to be cleared. I’ll get that, too.” Mary hurried off to the sideboard.
“I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Adam looked at Susan.
“I think you should let her try if she wants. Everyone wants to feel useful. You said she was in very early stages of her disease. Let her help. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Adam still didn’t look totally convinced. He glanced over in his mother’s direction and sighed. “Okay. You both win. I know she does like to keep busy.”
“Great.” Susan started to walk away but felt Adam’s hand on her arm.
“Before you go. I was wondering where you keep the old records for the inn. I’d like to look at them. I might have an idea, but I don’t want to get your hopes up. Do you mind if I look at the records?”
“No, not at all if you think it might help. We keep them in file cabinets and boxes up in the attic area. There’s a small room up there with a window, but it’s kind of stuffy. There’s an old desk and lamp you can use. I’m not sure what all is stored up there.”
“Perfect. I’ll head up and poke around a bit.”
“Any idea anyone comes up with to thwart Russell is fine with me. I appreciate the help.”
“I’m your man.”
Susan smiled to herself. He wasn’t exactly her man, but she certainly liked having him around.
* * *
“Mom, I got the coffee.” Jamie set a large sack of coffee beans on the counter in the kitchen.
“Thanks.” One problem averted for now.
“We got Julie’s van towed and I told her she could use the inn’s van for a few days while they fix hers. I figured that was okay with you.” Jamie helped himself to a pastry on the counter.
“That’s great. She’ll need one for her deliveries. That van of hers is on its last leg, or last miles, or whatever a really-too-old-to-be-driving vehicle is. Of course, ours isn’t much better.”
Jamie poured himself a cup of coffee and lounged against the counter. “I talked to Harry, and he gave me the name of a contractor to contact to convert another room to handicapped on the first floor. Harry had a good idea. If we use that one guest room that’s beside the small storage area, we can convert the storage area into a bigger bathroom for the handicapped room. I’ll get quotes on it in the next few days. We’ll get the bigger doorway to the room that way, too. Harry says this contractor is really reasonable.”
“Thanks for checking into all of that. At least that will solve one of our problems.”
Jamie took a gulp of coffee. “I saw Mary out there clearing a table.”
“She offered to help and I said yes. We’re short staffed today, and you were gone helping Julie. Adam is off looking at old files in the attic.”
“Really? What for?” Jamie took another big swig of coffee and downed the rest of the pastry in two bites.
Susan rolled her eyes. The boy—okay, man now—could devour food like a hungry wolf. “I’m not sure exactly what he’s looking for. He just said that he had an idea on a way to stop Russell.”
Jamie shrugged. “Okay then. I’ll go set up the beach umbrellas and be back in to help in a jiffy.” Jamie pushed away from the counter and sauntered out of the kitchen.
Susan couldn’t help the swell of pride she felt at seeing the wonderful man he’d become. In spite of the mistakes she made as a mother, in spite of losing his father at such a young age, and in spite of the difficulties Jamie had had with Russell as a stepfather, he’d turned out fine. Better than fine. She couldn’t imagine a better future than sharing the responsibilities of running the inn with her son.
She turned back to washing the dishes, one other job on her to-do list today since the kitchen helper had called in sick. Her mind lost in a tangle of thoughts about Adam, Russell, and the inn’s problems, she methodically went through the motions of rinsing the dishes.
“Susan, we have a problem.” Dorothy stood by her side with a worried look on her face.
That look caused a momentary panic to race through Susan. Dorothy rarely let anything ruffle her feathers.
“I was opening the mail and sorting through it like I always do. You got this letter.” Dorothy held out a piece of paper.
Susan took it and saw the bank’s letterhead. She frowned. They weren’t behind on any payments. She unfolded the paper and stared at the words.
* * *
Your improvement loan was sold to an investor. According to the terms, an appraiser will be out to assess the property to ensure the value of the inn is greater than your outstanding loans.
* * *
Susan looked at Dorothy. “I’m not sure why they sold our secondary loan, but I don’t think this will be a problem. I know the value of the inn is greater than the loans. It always has been, and it’s not like all of a sudden it’s gone down in value.” Susan frowned. “I wonder why they sold the loan papers. I guess they’re wanting more capital. I’ll give Jim at the bank a call in the next few days and see what’s up.”
“So you think it’s just a coincidence that this is happening now?”
“Oh, I don’t see how Russell could have anything to do with this. Why would he buy up the secondary loan if he wants to buy the whole inn? Makes no sense.” Susan shook her head. “Anyway, let me know if the appraiser shows up.”
“Will do.” Dorothy left, and Susan folded the paper and stuck it in her pocket. She made a mental note to call the bank.
* * *
Susan sat on the deck at the end of a long day. Hopefully, all the employees would be back tomorrow. She got so far behind on her own work when she had to fill in for missing workers.
She sat with her feet propped up on the railing, sipping a beer. The moonlight slashed a pathway of silvery light across the waves and spilled onto the beach. All was quiet now with just an occasional couple strolling by in the moonlight.
“May I join you?” Adam stood next to her chair, a beer in hand.
“Of course.” Susan’s pulse quickened as she motioned to the empty chair beside her.
Adam sat and stretched his long legs up on the railing beside hers. She noticed he’d switched attire from business slacks and button-down shirts from his working for Russell days, to casual shorts and sandals.
She watched while he took a swig of his beer from a longneck bottle. The moonlight illuminated him. A hint of a shadow of a day’s growth of whiskers covered the chiseled contours of his face.
“Long day for you, wasn’t it?” Adam’s deep voice rolled over her, and she pulled it around her like a security blanket.
“It was, but we got through it. Your mom was a big help. She just never quit. By tonight she was taking orders at the restaurant. She must be exhausted.”
“She is, but she was so happy when I talked to her this evening. You know, I think I’m overprotecting her a bit too much. I do worry about her ever since she got lost, but she seems to be doing okay. To be honest, she was in a new area of Atlanta and anyone could get lost there. I think she was as much overwhelmed with all the changes in her life as anything else. I do want her to have as normal a life as she can, for as long as she can.”
“Alzheimer’s is such an ugly disease.” Susan stared at the ocean, wondering what it would be like to know that you we
re going to lose your ability to remember things. To remember places. To remember the names and faces of the people you loved. To watch all that slip away. To know what your loved ones were going to go through watching you slip way.
“It is ugly and unfair. Mom is the best, kindest person. Life just throws you curves sometimes, and you have to deal with them as best as you can. I waver from being angry for her lot in life and feeling very sad. I plan on being there for her every single step of the way, though.”
“You’re a good son.”
“Well except for letting her get swindled out of all her money. No, if I’d been a good son and paying attention, I wouldn’t have let some shyster dupe her out of her life’s savings.”
Adam sat back and rubbed his face. “I was so busy working, and I didn’t visit enough or keep up with what was going on in her life. By the time I did, she’d lost everything.”
“That’s terrible when people take advantage of older people like that.”
“It is. I just don’t understand people sometimes.”
“Me neither.” Susan immediately thought of Russell. Speaking of not understanding people, why was he so intent of buying the inn? There had to be lots of properties better suited. Was it just his twisted revenge? But he was the one who had wanted the divorce. He’d basically gotten everything. So why couldn’t he just leave her well enough alone now?
“You okay?” Adam eyed her with concern. “You look… I’m not sure… upset?”
“I was thinking about Russell. He left me. He divorced me. He got everything. I don’t know why he now wants to take away the one thing that is mine.”
“He’s pretty ruthless.” Adam stated the obvious.
“I know you’re wondering why I ever married him. He wasn’t always like that. At least he wasn’t with me. After Jamie’s father died I really struggled. Emotionally and financially. I know it doesn’t make logical sense, but I was so angry that he left me. Not that it was his choice. He died in an accident at work. He did construction. They were working on a building and it collapsed and killed four workers.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been hard.”
“It was. I was young, Jamie was young. I had no family except for my brother. I worked long hours. I finally found the job at Russell’s company and started making better money. I guess I caught his eye, because he started asking me out. I kept saying no because… well, he was the owner. Finally I agreed to go out with him. He treated me well and showered me with presents. I liked him. I mean, I never loved him like I did Jamie’s father, but I cared for Russell.” Susan took a sip of her beer and couldn’t help the sigh that escaped.
“Russell asked me to marry him and I said yes. I knew I’d be able to give Jamie a better life. After the first few years, though, it got… rocky. He never did like Jamie much, which if I had known that before we got married, I never would have married him. He’d always been nice enough to Jamie when we dated, but he didn’t like having a child in the house. Jamie could never do anything right. I did my best to protect him from Russell’s thoughtless remarks, which got crueler as Jamie got older.”
Susan felt the tears at the corners of her eyes. “I should have left Russell years ago. Gotten Jamie out of that house. As it was, I sent him down here to Belle Island every summer. He loved it here. Then he went away to college and never came home except for an occasional holiday, and then he’d only stay a day or two.”
Adam reached over and took her hand in his. “We all regret some of the choices we make, the roads we take. But we all have to learn to live with our decisions.”
* * *
Adam couldn’t help but notice the tears glistening in Susan’s eyes. The full moon illuminated them like a silvery daylight.
He leaned over and trailed his hand up her arm and back down while she stared out to sea, lost in her thoughts. Her skin warmed beneath his touch. He looked around the deck and saw they were all alone.
He held open his arms to her. “Come here.”
She looked at him, slowly got up as if warring with herself, then settled down on his lap. He pulled her close, stroking her arm, feeling her hair brush across his face like a silk scarf. He kissed her lips gently and she sighed, snuggling in closer.
If he could freeze this moment, freeze this feeling, then everything would be perfect.
But reality wouldn’t let that happen. There was the responsibility of taking care of his mother. One he didn’t mind, but always hung over him with the fear he couldn’t truly help her. There was Russell to thwart.
Then there was one more huge, scary problem. He’d heard the love and fondness in her voice when she’d talked about Jamie’s father. He wondered if she’d ever love another man like she’d loved her first husband.
And that thought made him incredibly sad, because as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he was falling in love with this woman.
Chapter 22
Susan sat at the dressing table in her room, brushing her hair. She swore she could still feel the heat of the kiss Adam had given her last night when he’d walked her to her door. The kiss had stirred up long forgotten feelings. Feelings she never thought she’d know again.
But, she needed to be careful. There was no way she was going through falling for a man who was just going to leave her. She’d done that. Twice. She didn’t intend to make it three times, and Adam would leave soon to take a job where he could support his mother and take care of her.
She reached up to touch her cheek. A flicker of happiness and a wash of melancholia hit her at the same time, if that was even possible. He made her heart flip when she saw him, and that scared her.
She could talk herself out of liking the man, right?
It had been years and years since Jamie’s father had died, years and years since she’d known that overwhelming and complete love. The kind that made you whole. The kind that surged through your entire being. The kind you were completely and utterly sure of.
The kind of love that she was deathly afraid she was beginning to feel for Adam.
* * *
Susan hurried down to the kitchen to make sure everything was running smoothly. She caught Julie as she was delivering their baked goods for the day. She gave her friend a quick hug.
“Things going better this morning?” Susan pressed a cup of coffee into Julie’s hands.
“Much. Thanks for the loan of your van. Mine should be fixed in a few days. At least I hope it can. I haven’t budgeted for a new delivery van, though I should consider putting it in next year’s budget. The old gal can’t go on forever.”
“Well, hopefully you can keep it limping along.”
“I’m going to keep my eye open for used vans for sale. Maybe I’ll find a good deal.” Julie sighed and sipped the hot coffee. “So good. I wonder who invented coffee? Whoever it was, he’s a saint in my book.”
Susan laughed. “Coffee is one of those gifts from the universe, isn’t it?”
“So what’s up with you and Adam?” Julie gave her the side eye.
“Nothing. Well, the same. I mean. I don’t know what I mean.”
Julie grinned. “That’s what I thought. You’re falling for him.”
“No, I’m being careful that I don’t fall for him.” Susan said each word with emphasis so that maybe she could convince herself along with Julie.
Julie shrugged. “If you say so. Sometimes our hearts don’t listen to our heads, though.”
“Mine will. I’m not going to go down that road again. I have a good life here. I don’t need any entanglements, especially with someone who is leaving soon.”
“Well, I’m not one to give you advice on that, since I fell for Reed within weeks, and he was supposed to leave Belle Island. Love does funny things to our well-planned lives.”
“Who said anything about love?” Susan glared at her friend.
Julie grinned back at her. “No one. But I’ve known you a long time. You can’t hide it from me, even if you can try to hide it from yo
urself. You’ve fallen for him.”
Susan scowled. “I have not.” She sighed. “Well, maybe a little.”
“Told you.” Julie shoved off the counter and put down her coffee cup. “I’ve got more deliveries. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
Susan watched her friend walk out to the van and drive away. She hadn’t been able to convince Julie that she wasn’t letting her heart get involved with Adam, but she sure as heck was going to convince herself of that very thing.
She turned at the sound of Jamie’s voice. “Mom, the appraiser guy is here. I have a copy of his work order… and I thought you’d want to see it.” He thrust the paper into her hand, a look of protective fierceness firmly in place on his scowling face.
She looked at the page. It was a simple request for an appraisal. As she scanned down the paper she froze.
Adam. It was signed by Adam. She looked up and searched Jamie’s face. “I don’t get it. Why would Adam’s signature be on the appraisal form?”
She bit her lip. “Unless… you don’t think he’s really still working for Russell, do you?”
“I did an internet search on this third party investment company. It’s one of Russell’s holdings. Not sure what other explanation there is.” Jamie’s eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t think he’s really here to help us. I think he’s here to throw us off track while they finish destroying us.”
Susan’s heart fell to the depths of her soul. She’d been so wrapped up in Adam’s interest in her, she’d convinced herself he liked her. It was probably all part of his plan. He’d tricked her again. When was she ever going to learn? A shutter dropped on her emotions and she closed them off. She was done with this nonsense. Done with men. Finished.
* * *
Adam rushed into the kitchen and pulled up short at the look on Susan’s face when she turned to him. Where he was used to seeing a welcoming smile and even a hint of a blush, he saw flashing eyes and a murderous expression.
