Love at the Lighthouse

by Kay Correll

  He’d have to sort that out in a minute, for now he needed her help.

  “Adam, we need to talk.”

  “Okay, we will. I can see you’re upset. But it will have to be later.”

  “No, it needs to be now.” Jamie walked up to his mother’s side and placed an arm around her shoulder.

  Adam ignored the obvious fact that both of them were angry and blurted out his words. “Listen, I need your help. Have either of you seen my mother?”

  The hard edges of Susan’s expression softened into a look of concern. “Not this morning.”

  “I can’t find her anywhere. I’ve looked in the room, on the deck, in the restaurant.” He scrubbed his hand over his face and swallowed. “She’s not answering her cell phone, though that’s not unusual. The cell phone seems to confuse her a bit.”

  “She’s probably around somewhere. Let me call Dorothy’s cell phone and see if she’s with her.” Susan pulled out her phone and dialed. “Dorothy, we’re looking for Mary. Have you seen her?”

  Susan’s frown gave him his answer.

  “Okay, if you see her give me a call.” Susan slipped the phone back in her pocket. “Did you check the library?”

  “I did.”

  “Maybe she went for a walk.” Jamie didn’t look too worried about a grown woman being gone for a bit.

  Susan looked at Adam, searching his face, and he nodded. Susan turned to Jamie. “Son, Mary has Alzheimer’s. She’s already gotten lost once. We need to find her and make sure she’s okay.”

  A look of surprise spread over Jamie’s face. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. Of course, I’ll help look for her.”

  “I don’t know what to do.” Adam stood paralyzed with fear. Would she try to swim and get confused? Did she go for a walk and get lost?

  Susan placed her hand on his arm. “We’ll find her. Come on, let’s all split up.”

  “Jamie, you search the inn again then maybe look around town. Adam, you head down the beach, I’ll head towards Lighthouse Point. Call if anyone finds her.”

  Adam was grateful for someone taking charge. His mind was in panic mode. He hurried outside with Susan, and they took off in opposite directions. He quickened his pace into a jog as he hurried down the beach.

  * * *

  Susan walked at a brisk pace, looking up toward the homes and along the shoreline. The wind whipped her hair in her face, and she wished she’d brought a hairband to keep it out of the way. She rounded the bend to Lighthouse Point and saw Mary standing near the lighthouse. She hurried up the beach to reach her.

  “Mary, there you are.” Susan gasped her words and leaned over to catch her breath.

  “Why, hello, dear. Are you taking a walk, too? It’s a glorious day for it.”

  “I, uh. Well, I was looking for you. Adam was worried when he couldn’t find you.”

  Mary frowned. “I do wish he’d just… let me live a little. I know he’s worried about me. He means well, but he’s smothering me.”

  “I think he’s just concerned…”

  Mary looked directly at Susan and cocked her head to the side. “So, he told you, didn’t he? I asked him not to say anything. I don’t want people treating me differently.”

  “I think he just wants to make sure you’re safe. He told me so I would look out for you, too. He loves you. He’s trying to be a good son.”

  Mary sighed. “I know that. I did worry him that one day when I was so confused and got lost. But, really, it was an area I wasn’t familiar with and they’d done all this construction, and I couldn’t get my bearings.”

  Susan took Mary’s hand in hers. “He’s worried about you.”

  “I know. He’s a good son. I don’t know how to explain to him that I need to live my life as fully as I can… for as long as I can. And I don’t know how much longer that will be.” Mary’s eyes clouded over. “It’s scary, the not knowing what’s coming next and how it will be for me, but it has given me a strong appreciation for every single minute of the day. Today was so beautiful, I just wanted to wander down the beach a bit. I wanted to feel the freedom.”

  “Let me text Adam and tell him you’re okay. We’ll walk back together, okay?”

  “Okay, dear. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”

  “I know you didn’t. Maybe just leave a note for Adam next time so he doesn’t worry.”

  Mary sighed. “I should have. I just didn’t think of it. I will next time.” Mary paused and looked directly at Susan. “You don’t think I’m a silly old woman for wanting this time to myself… the chance to do what I want, when I want? The chance to have a little bit of freedom?”

  Susan hugged the older woman. “Not silly at all. I don’t pretend to know what you’re going through, but I think you have the right to deal with it in whatever way works for you.”

  Mary smiled a little smile. “I don’t suppose you could talk to Adam and convince him to give me a bit of space…”

  “I’ll do that, I promise.”

  Right before I kick his sorry carcass to the curb for coming back here and spying on us.

  Chapter 23

  Adam met Susan and his mother at the stairs to the deck and wrapped his mother in a big bear hug.

  “Mom, I was so worried.”

  “Adam, I am allowed to go for a walk. I don’t want you watching me like a hawk all the day long.”

  “But, Mom, you need—”

  “I think you should listen to your mother, Adam.” Susan looked at him pointedly. “She’s trying to make you understand.”

  He turned to his mother and held his words.

  “Son, I know you mean well, but you have to give me some freedom. But I will leave you a note if I leave the inn again. Is that a fair compromise?”

  Adam took his mother’s hands in his. “Yes, it is. And I will try and give you your space. I will.” But it would be hard. Very hard. He wanted to wrap her up and protect her from what the future held in store for her.

  “Well, I’m tired now and I think I’ll go take a little rest.” Mary turned to Susan. “But I’ll be up and ready to help you this afternoon.”

  Adam took his mother’s arm and started up the stairs to the deck.

  “Adam, when you get your mother settled, can I see you, please?” He turned back to see the angry look plastered across Susan’s face again. He didn’t miss the icy tone in her voice either.

  He nodded. “I’ll come see you as soon as I get Mom all settled in. I’ll meet you at your office.”

  Susan nodded curtly, twirled, and walked around the side of the inn, disappearing between the palm trees.

  He sighed. He was bone weary from worry over his mother, and now something was obviously wrong with Susan.

  If life would like to show him just a little break today, that would be great.

  * * *

  “So was it all a game to you? Was it Russell’s idea for you to bring your mother so we’d accept you more readily?” Susan clutched the edge of her desk and faced down Adam.

  “What do you mean? I quit that job. You know that.” Adam wearily rubbed his face.

  “Really?” Susan snatched a paper off the desk.

  “You didn’t sign this request for an appraiser to come evaluate the inn for the company that bought our secondary loan?”

  “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Adam eyed her warily.

  She held out the crinkled paper. “Isn’t that your signature? Didn’t you authorize the appraiser?”

  Adam looked at the page. “Well, that’s my signature, but it was for a private inspector to come out and quickly appraise the inn for us if you signed the deal with Russell. I didn’t know anything about this secondary loan.”

  Susan wasn’t sure she believed him. She didn’t believe him. His name was right there in black and white. “Our secondary loan was bought out by a third party. They want an appraisal to make sure the value of the inn is greater than our loans.”

  “Who bought it out?” Adam scanned
the paper. She could tell the moment he grasped what was going on. He looked up at her. “You mean Russell bought out the secondary loan?”

  “Looks that way, doesn’t it?”

  She watched his face carefully the whole time, wanting more than anything to believe he had nothing to do with this, but unwilling to be made a fool. Again.

  “What can I do to convince you I didn’t know about this?”

  “The sad thing is, I’m not sure there is anything you can do to truly make me believe you now.” Susan walked to the door of the office. “I have work to do.”

  Adam walked up to her and brushed past, only a fraction of an inch away from her. Electricity crackled between them, but she convinced herself it was only from her anger and their confrontation.

  He handed her the paper and their hands touched ever so briefly. He looked directly into her eyes. “You should believe in me. I’m telling you the truth.”

  She watched him walk across the lobby with slow and measured steps. She wanted to believe him, she did. But how could she? She needed to be very careful or she was going to lose the inn. She had no room for missteps.

  * * *

  Tally sat in Susan’s office sipping a drink. The cubes clinked around in the glass of sweet tea. “I only have a few minutes, but since I was going right past the inn, I thought I’d drop in and see how you’re doing.”

  “You always seem to have an instinct for when we need you, don’t you? I’ve been better. It appears Russell bought our secondary mortgage, or the investment company he owns part of did.”

  Tally sat up straight. “No.”

  “Yes. So an appraiser is coming to look at the inn and guess whose name is on the appraisal request authorizing it?”

  “Russell’s?” Tally frowned.

  “No, Adam’s.”

  Tally set down her tea. “I thought he quit his job with Russell and came back to help.”

  “Well, that’s what he said, but now I’m not sure.”

  “Did you ask him about it?” Tally was all for taking the direct approach with people.

  “He said the request he put in was for an appraisal if we sold to Russell. He said he didn’t know about the buyout of the loan.”

  “And did you believe him?”

  “He looked sincere, but honestly, I can’t make any mistakes. We’re too close to losing everything we worked for. I’m thinking of asking him to leave, but I do hate to kick out Mary. She and Dorothy have really hit it off.” Susan jabbed a wayward curl back from her face.

  Tally looked at her friend and decided now was one of those times to speak her mind. “Do you think that maybe, just maybe, you’re thinking of asking him to leave because you’re afraid?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid I’ll lose the inn.”

  “No, I think you’re afraid you’ll lose your heart.” Tally leaned forward. “I think you’re falling in love with the man and that scares you just as much as losing the inn scares you… if not more.”

  Susan sat and tapped a pencil on her desk. “No, that’s not it.” She frowned. “At least I don’t think it is… is it?”

  “I think that you’re afraid of getting hurt. Afraid he’s one more man who is going to leave you. I think that you’re afraid to take a chance.” Tally stood. “I think you should listen to your heart. Adam is a good guy. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I believe you can trust him. Life is messy sometimes and we have to take that leap of faith. Take a risk.”

  “I don’t know if I can…” Susan’s voice was almost a whisper.

  “Only you can make that decision.” Tally spun around and walked out the door, leaving her friend alone with her thoughts and decisions.

  Tally only hoped that Susan would listen to her. Tally knew what it was like to not take a risk, and to lose it all.

  Chapter 24

  The next couple of days were awkward. Adam tried his best to allay Susan’s fears and get her to believe in him. She’d even mentioned that it would be okay for him to leave and go back to Atlanta to search for work. She didn’t quite say he had to leave, so he didn’t. He wasn’t ready to give up on her, or the inn.

  He wasn’t ready to take his mother back to Atlanta, either. She was thriving in this environment. She helped around the inn and spent the afternoons or evenings knitting with Dorothy, depending on Dorothy’s schedule.

  He did the odd job around the inn to help out, but he wasn’t much of a fix-it man. He was a negotiator, a manager, and he knew a lot about running big resorts but nothing about running a small inn. He continued to sort through files up in the attic, not quite sure what he was looking for.

  His mother had gone to bed early tonight, so he grabbed a beer from the bar and went outside to sit on the beach. The stars were tossed like a million diamonds scattered across the sky. They never had views like this in Atlanta with all the city lights obscuring the night sky.

  He leaned back on his elbows and watched the waves slowly rolling up on the shore, one after the other, an endless pattern of perseverance. He should take a lesson from the sea and keep trying with Susan. He wasn’t ready to give up, but she wasn’t making it easy.

  He looked up and saw a lone woman walking in the moonlight. He’d know her walk anywhere, the way she swung her arms when she walked, the meandering pattern and stops to pick up shells, the way the breeze tossed the curls around her face. He sat silently and watched as Susan approached, her shadow following along beside her in the strong moonlight.

  Then she saw him and within seconds recognized him. He could tell the exact moment. She froze, looked back over her shoulder as if looking for an escape route, then slowly continued towards him.

  Her reluctant steps took her right to where he was sitting, as if the universe had decided to give him one more chance.

  And he was going to grab that chance with both hands and hold tight.

  “Will you join me?”

  “I should get inside.”

  “Just for a few minutes?”

  He watched as she hesitated, then nodded slightly and dropped to the sand beside him but keeping her distance.

  “The sky here is amazing. All the stars. The moonlight. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything quite like this.” He figured talking about the view was a safe subject.

  “It is beautiful.” Her words were low and hushed.

  He took a deep breath. “Susan, I wish you’d believe me. I had nothing to do with that secondary loan being bought out by Russell’s investment group.”

  Susan turned to look at him, the moonlit skies clearly illuminating her face. “I… I do believe you. At least I want to. I’ve been thinking some the last few days.” She picked up a handful of sand and let it slip through her fingers. “And Tally gave me a good talking to. She does that.”

  He kept silent and let her talk.

  “She thinks that maybe I’m pushing you away, not because I think you’re still working for Russell, but because I’m afraid to…” She looked right into his eyes, into his soul. “I’m afraid to let myself care about you.”

  She reached a hand across and touched his face. He was certain the touch would brand him for life. He reached up and covered her hand with his.

  “I am afraid to care about you. I’m afraid of my feelings for you. I’m afraid… because you’ll have to leave soon.” She continued to look right into his eyes. “But, the thing is, I do care about you, no matter how I try and convince myself that I don’t.”

  He reached over, pulled her close, and kissed her gently on her ever-so-soft lips. A growl escaped him. “Ah, I care about you, too. I care a lot about you. It’s messy and confusing, we started off wrong, and, yes, I need to go find a job. But none of that matters to me.” He pulled her close to his side and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into him and they sat silently watching the stars and the waves.

  He was certain it was the most perfect moment in his entire life.

  And though he wasn’t ready to tell her yet, he was also certain
he was falling in love with her.

  Chapter 25

  The next morning Susan stood in her office, sorting the mail. A letter from the bank caught her eye. Now what?

  She slowly slit the envelope with the letter opener and pulled out the page.

  * * *

  As you were informed previously, your improvement loan was sold to an investor. They are exercising their option to call the loan for payment in full, according to the terms you agreed to when you signed the callable loan. You have thirty days to pay off the outstanding balance.

  * * *

  Susan stared at the page. They’d been able to make the payments every month, plus some months even put some extra money towards the loan. But they sure didn’t have the cash to pay it off in full.

  When she’d taken the loan, she knew it was a callable loan, but the bank had insisted they rarely called a loan unless someone got behind on payments. It had been a gamble they’d taken when loans were hard to come by. Now they were paying the price.

  She sank into her chair, the paper mocking her while she clutched it tightly in her hand. While they could overcome Russell’s other shenanigans, this one would put them under.

  For the first time, Susan considered that maybe they should take Russell’s offer, if he was still even willing to buy the inn. At least that way Jamie would be protected. He’d have some money to get started on a new business. If they waited until the bank foreclosed, they’d get nothing.

  A surge of despair washed over her and pounded her like storm waves on the sand, breaking everything in its path.

  If only she’d never met Russell. This was all her fault, because she’d brought him into their lives.

  She released the paper and it floated down to the desk.

  Russell had won, and she had lost everything.