Cape Hope Capers

by Winnie Reed

  “I have a bad habit of steamrolling my way through situations, don’t I?” I cracked another claw.

  “You’re enthusiastic.”

  “You’re the second person in the past couple of days who’s said that. And I’m not sure I like it, to be honest.”

  Deke chuckled. “Why not? Do you know how rare it is, finding somebody who gets enthusiastic about things? We live in such a jaded world, full of jaded people. People who sink under the weight of their responsibilities. People who’re afraid to live with passion.”

  “You think I live with passion?” I asked with a soft smile.

  “Why do you think I had such a hard time staying away from you after we first met?” he asked. For once, he wasn’t teasing or trying to be cute with wordplay. “Why do you think I went through all the trouble I went through for you? People gravitate toward you. It’s a gift you have.”

  I fiddled with the crab claw.

  He went back to his platter of crabs with a shrug. “Granted, it can be infuriating at times.”

  “I knew it. You were being too nice.”

  “But I mean it. Really, I do. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, and certainly nothing to second-guess in your personality. You’re great just the way you are.”

  “Even if I upset a poor, old man?”

  “You couldn’t have known. Besides, the staff are probably trained when it comes to handling residents with memory issues. I’m sure they get upset regularly.”

  “Oh, awesome. I’m the girl who upset the guy with memory issues.”

  “You didn’t know he had memory issues when you first got there! Emma, give yourself a break. You can’t hold yourself responsible for everything that ever happens. Your heart is always in the right place, that much I know for sure. You’re a good person. Everybody does things they regret later on. People make mistakes. Nobody expects you to be perfect.”

  “Why does it seem like I make more mistakes than everybody else?” I wasn’t joking, either. In fact, I felt a little choked up as I stared across the table to Deke.

  “Because you actually try things. You’re always out there, trying your best. Other people live small. They’re afraid to try. They’re afraid to do something other people might call foolish. I admit, I thought you were a misguided fool back when you wanted to help Chef Robert. I thought, what good can one person do? It wasn’t like you were a cop. You had no real expertise when it came to things like that. The odds were stacked against him. I was sure you would end up regretting trying to help him. But here we are. Robert’s restaurant is going strong, and everybody knows he was innocent. Thanks to you. You didn’t give up, no matter how bad things looked. I know there’s a lesson in there somewhere for people like me who tend to be jaded, thinking we’ve seen it all and heard it all.”

  “My instincts are usually on point when it comes to people and situations like that,” I mused.

  “Okay, Emma Harmon. What do your instincts tell you about this situation? You met the lawyer. You’ve seen what kind of person he is. And you said it yourself, he was sketchy. He did everything he could to avoid giving you a straight answer when it came to what happened to Millicent’s money. What are your instincts telling you?”

  “They’re telling me he’s lying about something. He probably didn’t do the work it took to find Millicent’s son. Maybe he really was upset about not getting his name included in the will. The way he talked about himself? Their so-called relationship? How close they were, how she didn’t have any friends besides him? I can only imagine how he must have wormed his way into her life, hoping to earn her trust and respect and affection.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time a person glommed onto a wealthy, elderly man or woman.”

  “Which means if her son is out there somewhere, odds are he has no idea he has all this money waiting for him.”

  “If that son is still alive.”

  “Of course. I want to believe he is.”

  “So do I,” he grinned. “It would be nice to see somebody’s life change that way. It’s like something out of a book or a movie. A guy works hard his whole life, and then finds out he was the heir to a fortune for so many years.”

  I couldn’t help it. When he put it that way, my hands tingled. “I want to make that happen for somebody,” I admitted. “Not for myself. This has nothing to do with me. I want to help change somebody’s life for the better.”

  “Now, granted. I hate to be the rain cloud, but money doesn’t always change people’s lives for the better. It just gives them more money.”

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t expect miracles or anything like that. But it would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Then, I laughed. “I’m sure twenty million is a drop in the bucket to you.”

  “I wouldn’t take it that far,” he said, cracking a crab leg like an expert.

  Unlike me, he didn’t send little bits of shell flying in all directions. I’d been eating crabs this way my entire life, but I had never managed to find a way to not make a mess of myself and the surrounding area and maybe even people sitting nearby.

  “So. What do you think of this place?” I reminded myself that my entire life couldn’t revolve around other people’s problems. Here I was, with Deke, and we were supposed to be having an actual date this time. “Not as fancy as the place we went to before, but the food is good.”

  He took a look around the open restaurant, operating off what used to be an abandoned pier which sat out over the ocean. It wasn’t the least bit fancy. There wasn’t a tablecloth in sight. We both wore bibs to protect our clothes, so the romance factor was slim to none.

  “Honestly? This is much more my speed. Sitting here, with the breeze ruffling my hair, eating some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever tasted. Oh, and the company’s not that bad, either.”

  “Even if I keep hitting you with bits of shell?” I winced.

  “It’s part of the ambiance,” he laughed. “Really, I love it. This was a great suggestion.”

  “I’m glad.” It seemed like we did better together when we weren’t trying to be something, when neither of us was trying to put on any sort of pretense. All there was to do was laugh and enjoy each other’s company.

  “So, what’s on the horizon for you? Any assignments coming up from Marsha?”

  I wiped my fingers with a wet napkin, nodding. “She wants to send me to Austin next, and I’m looking forward to it. After that, I think I’m going to the Vineyard.” I lifted my shoulders up near my ears, pursed my lips and batted my eyes. “Like I’m a fancy person.”

  “And we both know you’re not that,” he joked.

  “Hey.” I dropped the act. “I am, so. When I feel like it and the opportunity arises.”

  “Anyway, that sounds nice.”

  I nodded, grinning eagerly. “Yeah, I get to see how the other half lives. I told her I’m more open to the idea of international assignments, and she said she would pass one my way the next time something came up.”

  “That’s terrific! Maybe I’ll see if I can get in on the Vineyard assignment.”

  “That would be awesome.” And it would be. We worked well together, and any excuse to spend more time with him was a welcome one. Maybe that was how we were best, come to think of it. Just like tonight, in this casual setting, we meshed well without any expectations or pressures. It was better to go with the flow and enjoy ourselves and each other when we had the chance.

  I wasn’t sure what that meant for any sort of future relationship, but it made the present moment much more pleasant.

  Once we were finished eating and cleaned ourselves up as best we could, we went for a stroll on the beach. There were still a few people playing in the waves, relaxing on the sand, but for the most part the crowds had thinned to nearly nothing. At this time of night, people were more interested in getting something to eat and strolling along the boardwalk, which many of them were doing right that very minute.

  Deke bent to take off his shoes and roll up his pants. The wat
er was pleasantly warm, swirling around our feet as we walked the shoreline hand-in-hand. It was idyllic, absolutely perfect, the gold of the late sun matching the gold in his eyes.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking. Along the lines of what we argued about the other day. I know I already apologized,” he was quick to add when my mouth opened in preparation for an argument, “but I feel it bears repeating. You don’t owe me anything. I love spending time with you, that’s all I know.”

  “I love spending time with you, too,” I assured him. “Unless you’re giving me a hard time about something, in which case you can walk off into the water and never come back.”

  He burst out laughing. “You are so harsh.” He chuckled, shaking his head.

  “No. I’m enthusiastic, remember?”

  He stopped suddenly, pulling me close. The sea breeze teased strands of hair out of the braid I’d woven it into. He smoothed it all back, freeing my face before taking my chin in his hand. “And you’re a challenge. I’ve always been a sucker for a challenge.”

  I smiled up at him. “I wouldn’t want to make things too easy for you,” I teased. Anything else I would’ve followed that up with was cut short by Deke’s kiss. Talk about your idyllic moments.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “So, Raina’s on her way down to Maryland to see Nate.”

  “I’m so glad things are working out between them,” Mom gushed. “Raina is such a nice girl.”

  “She’s the best. And he’s a really good guy. How often do you think it works out that a person ends up with their childhood crush?” I mused as I pulled a cinnamon scone from the bakery case and handed it over to a customer.

  “More often than you might think,” she chuckled. That was when I remembered. Dad had been the older boy in the neighborhood, living across the street from Mom and her family. That was how they’d met, as kids.

  No wonder she still took their separation and divorce so hard. He’d been part of her world for literally almost her entire life.

  At least she managed to seem upbeat about it, like the reminder didn’t hurt her too badly. Was she starting to heal, finally? There was no telling how long it would take a person to heal from something like that. I definitely didn’t begrudge her the time she took.

  It would be so good to see her get back into her life, her full life. She was hardly an old woman. There was plenty of juice left. I’d noticed Nell walking down Main Street with Rance twice since we’d first met up after dinner with Deke. She wasn’t letting age hold her back. And Trixie dated regularly; men of all ages, in fact. She didn’t discriminate.

  I tried to imagine Mom in her place and that was a bad idea, so I redirected the topic. “Anyway, it was good to spend time with Raina. It’s not easy, maintaining adult friendships. Is it?”

  “Especially with the sort of friends you have, always running around all the time. I guess I have it easier with Trixie and Nell being here with me, settled down. Even so, I still have to remind myself to make time for them. You’re right, it isn’t easy.” Mom thanked the latest customer before smiling widely for the next in line.

  But he didn’t smile back. In fact, he was scowling. “I’m here to talk to Emma Harmon.” He had a rough sort of voice, like the sort of man who was used to shouting at people. That didn’t exactly endear him to me.

  I exchanged a worried look with Mom. “I’m Emma Harmon,” I murmured with my heart in my throat. What in the world could this be about?

  If he didn’t look like somebody who was out for blood, he would’ve been an attractive, older man. He had a nice, deep tan, which set off his silvery hair. His eyes were a pale blue, like they’d been bleached by the sun that had darkened his skin. He looked healthy, vigorous.

  Vigorously furious as he turned to me. “Just what business did you have with my uncle yesterday? What did you think you were doing, barging into his room like that?”

  “What’s this about, Emma?” Mom asked, taking my side in a protective stance. “And I would have you know, sir, that no matter what the situation is, you have no right to barge into my place of business and air your grievances in such a manner. If you can’t be polite, I would ask you to leave.”

  How she managed to deliver that little speech in such a deceptively calm tone of voice was a mystery to me. Then again, she wasn’t the one he was angry with.

  And she definitely wasn’t the one still carrying guilt after the debacle that was the visit to Frank Welburn’s room.

  The worst of the morning rush had passed, so I turned to Mom with an apologetic smile though I knew she could handle a crowd. “I’ll step outside with him,” I whispered.

  “What is this all about?” she hissed, shooting the man a dirty look. She’d gone full Mama Bear.

  “I’ll explain later, I promise.” I then followed this perfect stranger out to the sidewalk. At least he would be less likely to do anything dangerous while we were out in public. Or so I hoped.

  “Okay, first let me apologize.” I sat on a bench near the curb, under the shade of a leafy tree. We were still in plain view of everyone inside the café. I knew that would make Mom feel better, if she could keep an eye on me. “I never meant to upset—”

  “I don’t care what you meant to do. What you did took the staff an entire day to calm him down. You had no right to be there. You don’t even know him.” He wouldn’t sit, choosing instead to stand like the difference in our heights would intimidate me. If that was what he intended, he managed it pretty well, since I couldn’t shake the feeling of getting yelled at as a little girl by my dad.

  I pressed my palms together, tucking them between my knees. They were slick with sweat. What did I think would happen? Did I imagine I would be able to get away without explaining myself to somebody? That aide at the retirement home had mentioned a nephew. I should’ve known she would’ve called him. And just my luck, she remembered the name I gave her when Joe and I first entered the lobby.

  “Can I ask your name, please? It’s just that I like to know who I’m talking to.”

  “Charlie.” His voice was gruff, his brow furrowed like he didn’t really want to tell me his name but felt like he didn’t have a choice.

  “Thank you, Charlie.” It took an effort to make my voice stop shaking. I was never very good when it came to this sort of thing. Being yelled at, being the villain even when I had decent intentions. “I am so sorry that I upset your uncle yesterday. Really, that was the last thing I wanted to do.”

  “What did you do? He couldn’t even tell anybody what it was that got him so upset. What did you do to him?” His voice rose in volume with every word until he was practically screaming in my face. I shrank back out of pure reflex, wondering if it was such a good idea to talk to this man at all.

  A glance inside the café showed Mom watching, furious. She held up the receiver to the café’s land line, eyebrows raised. Did I want her to call the cops? I shook my head.

  The cops came, anyway. Rather, one cop.

  “Hey! What are you doing?”

  I had never been so glad to see Joe in my entire life. Which was saying something, since he tended to show up just when I needed him.

  “What’s it to you?” Charlie demanded, whirling on him. “Why don’t you mind your own business?” He spoke and carried himself like a man who was uses to taking care of business. He dressed well enough, but there was something course about him. The sort of guy who made his living working outdoors, joking and laughing with the guys, cracking open a beer at the end of the day.

  “This is a friend of mine, and while my jurisdiction is up in Paradise City, I am a police detective.” Joe stared him down, his jade green eyes narrowing dangerously. Your move, he seemed to say without speaking a word.

  Charlie backed down, but just a little. “I just want to know why she was there yesterday. That’s all. My uncle cried the entire rest of the day, it took hours to calm down. I finally had to go and do it myself. And even then, it took me ages. I’ve never seen him like
that, never in my life.” He was shaking, enraged.

  And scared.

  That was what cleared everything up for me, when I realized how scared he was for his uncle. He cared about the poor old guy.

  “Sir, I didn’t mean him any harm. All I did was show him a picture of him and a girl from a long time ago. That’s it. I wanted to know if he remembered her. Granted, I didn’t know when we arrived that his memory is failing. I’m so sorry I intruded on him, really.”

  “We both did,” Joe piped up. “I know this girl. She never meant any harm.”

  The man’s shoulders sank. He rubbed his face with one hand. “I’m sorry. I’m not a bad guy, and I don’t go around yelling at girls. If my wife was still alive, she would’ve stopped me from driving down here. I saw red. There’s lots of people who’d like to take advantage of an old man who can barely remember what day it is.”

  He sat on the other end of the bench, leaning forward with his head in his hands. “You don’t know the stress I’m under sometimes.”

  “I can’t imagine. I’m sorry I added to it.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t mean to.” He turned his head slightly. “Why’d it matter if he remembered the girl in that picture? What, was she your grandmom or something?”

  “I wish,” I snorted. “No, she was Millicent Montbatten, who used to live here.”

  “Montbatten.” He frowned, straightening. “Yeah, I’ve heard that name. I think my granddad worked for them.”

  “As a gardener, I heard.”

  “Right, right. Third generation, right here.” He held up a hand, smirking. “Though I prefer landscaper.” No wonder he had that killer tan.

  “I’ve been researching Millicent’s life,” I explained with a look to Joe. “I found that photo of her, along with another one, tucked into books that must’ve belonged to her but ended up donated to my sister’s shop after Millicent died. It’s really as simple as that. The two of them were on the beach together one day. They both looked happy and young and carefree.”