Always With Me

by Barbara Freethy

  Chapter Six

  Zach didn't answer right away. Finally, he drew in a breath and said, "I told you my fiancée died in a fire. That was Rebecca."

  "What?" She hadn't thought she could be more surprised, but she was. "You were engaged to Rebecca Carver? How did you not tell me that yesterday?"

  "It's complicated."

  "And she died? I can't believe I never heard that." Usually her mom kept her in the loop with town news, but she couldn't remember hearing that piece of information. Although, she'd been quite wrapped up in Jeff and wedding plans the last six months. Maybe her mom had said something, and it just hadn't sunk in.

  "Well, it's true. Rebecca is dead," he said grimly.

  She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I still don't understand. You said you hadn't been back to Whisper Lake since you were sixteen and at the camp. How did you and Rebecca even get together?"

  "We ran into each other in San Francisco four and a half years ago and we started hanging out."

  "Why?" she asked, confounded by the fact that Zach and Rebecca had been in a relationship. "I didn't think you liked her at all when we were teenagers. You said she was shallow and a mean girl."

  "When we met as adults, she was different. She had changed."

  "In what way?"

  "She was nicer, not as stuck-up, less cocky. I realized her teenage attitude had been her way of covering up her insecurities."

  "What did she have to be insecure about? She was tall and skinny with big boobs and legs for days. Her hair was shiny and smooth. She didn't have a zit to mar her perfect face, and she never even had to have braces. She was born perfect."

  "She wasn't perfect. She had a lot of problems, more than I realized until we got involved."

  She wasn't quite sure what to make of his words. "So, what happened? Why does Mrs. Carver think you're responsible for Rebecca's death? Did you set the fire?"

  "No. I wasn't there when it started. I'd been out of town on business. I actually came home early, because I hadn't been able to get Rebecca on the phone for a few days, and I had a bad feeling. When I arrived, the apartment was fully engulfed in flames. I tried to get to Rebecca, but the ceiling fell down on me. By the time the firefighters pulled her out, it was too late."

  She felt a rush of guilt at her negative thoughts. Rebecca was dead and that was a terrible, terrible tragedy. "I am sorry she died. I know I just went off on a rant, but I wouldn't wish what happened to her on anyone."

  "I know." He stared back at her. "There's more, Gianna. Do you want to hear it?"

  Her stomach tightened. "Yes. Tell me."

  "There were two other people in the apartment when the fire started—a man who was hooking up with Rebecca, bringing her drugs, encouraging her addiction, and Rebecca's seven-year-old daughter Hailey."

  She drew in a breath and let it out. "What happened to her little girl?"

  "I got Hailey out of the apartment first, but when I went back inside, that's when the ceiling came down. Rebecca and her male friend died."

  "He wasn't just a friend. She was cheating on you with him."

  "Yes."

  "Why? Were you not happy together?"

  He let out a breath. "It wasn't really about me. Rebecca had a drug problem. I didn't know how bad it was for a long time. She hid it really well. But it got worse and worse. The last year and a half were a nightmare. She went to rehab twice, and the last time, I thought she'd finally kicked it, but then she met this guy, and he got her back into it. Actually, I can't even blame him, because I'm sure the reason she was with him was to get drugs."

  "That's terrible. What about her daughter? Was Rebecca even trying to be a mother?"

  "She loved Hailey. But she was weak and when she was in a spiral, she couldn't see past her own needs. Luckily, I was there to pick up the slack. Hailey and I became very close."

  "What happened to Hailey's father?"

  "He was apparently a one-night stand when Rebecca was in college. He wasn't interested in being a father, so Rebecca was doing it on her own."

  "Where is Hailey now?"

  "She's with the Carvers. While I was recuperating from my burns, they came and got her. I haven't been able to see her since the night I pulled her out of the apartment. The Carvers believe that I'm responsible for everything that went wrong for Rebecca. They don't want Hailey to have anything to do with me, even though I was a father to her for four years."

  "I don't understand. Why are they blaming you? You were a victim of their daughter's drug problem as well."

  "They don't acknowledge there was a problem. They said Rebecca was unhappy with me and I wouldn't let her out of the relationship. I had to be crazy to suggest she was addicted to anything."

  "Was the fire related to her drug use?"

  "It was; I'm sure of it. But the apartment was destroyed, so any evidence of drug use vanished, and the fire department wasn't able to pinpoint exactly how the fire began. The Carvers have convinced themselves it was faulty wiring."

  She shook her head as she tried to make sense of it all. "Can you go to court to get visitation?"

  "I'm talking to a lawyer, but I don't have the law on my side. Rebecca and I were not married, and she didn't have a will. Her parents have legal custody of Hailey. I just want to be a part of her life. I need to be a part of her life."

  Hearing the fierce passion in his voice, everything suddenly made a lot more sense. "That’s why you came back. It wasn't just because of the camp."

  "No. The camp gave me a good reason to be here for a while. I'm hoping I can change the Carvers' mind about me."

  "You didn't tell them you were coming, did you?"

  "They wouldn't talk to me. I did speak to Rebecca's brother, Mitch. He has been trying to act as a middleman."

  "I remember Mitch. He was several years younger than us."

  "He's a good guy. He knows who his sister was. But his parents won't let him say a negative word about Rebecca. There is a lot of dysfunction in that family, which is another reason why I want to be here for Hailey. I can't even imagine what she thinks about me now. She must feel that I abandoned her." His last statement was filled with intense emotion.

  "Wow," she murmured, her heart going out to him. It was a good thing there was a counter between them, because right now all she wanted to do was put her arms around him. "You've had a rough time. I'm sorry."

  "I thought about telling you last night, but I didn't know where to start. And since you'd just decided I wasn't as horrible as you thought, I didn't want to change your mind quite so soon."

  "I don't think you're to blame for Rebecca's death. Obviously, I don't know the whole story, but you didn't create her addiction, unless you were feeding her drugs?"

  "I wasn't. But maybe she was unhappy, and I did try to hang on to her for too long. I wanted to make our relationship work. I had fallen in love with her kid, and I had this vision of us being a family. I'd missed being part of a family." He drew in a hard breath. "I wanted something in my life to last. I kept thinking I could fix her. Maybe if I'd let her go…"

  "You don't know what would have happened. She could have ended up in exactly the same situation and her daughter might have died with her."

  "Maybe." He met her gaze. "It is good to talk to you again, Gianna. I always felt like we could be honest with each other. You were the first person I ever spoke to about my dad's death."

  "I remember," she said softly. "And because of that, I understand why you might have felt compelled to try to hang on to Rebecca. You always believed your dad should have fought harder for his family and not as much for his career."

  "Yes, I did. Anyway…now that Mrs. Carver knows I'm in town, I need to figure out a way to convince her and her husband to let me see Hailey."

  "After the way she reacted to you, I think you only have one choice."

  "What's that?"

  "Make them see Rebecca for who she really was."

  He immediately shook his head. "If I go negative, they'll
continue to shut me out."

  "What's the alternative, Zach? She called you a murderer. She won't change her mind without evidence."

  "Whatever I say about Rebecca could hurt Hailey."

  "Whatever the Carvers say about you could also hurt her. She has to think of you as her dad. She has to wonder where you are. Why haven't you seen her before this?"

  "I was recovering from my injuries, and I was trying to work things out with them by phone. But when that stopped working, I drove up here two months ago. The Carvers wouldn't let me through the front door, and then they sent me letters from their lawyer telling me they'd take out a restraining order if I tried to come back."

  "That’s crazy. Why the tough stance?"

  "Anger, grief, I don't know… That's when I got my own legal advice, which basically told me I had no rights. I continued to call, to send letters, but there was no response. I realized I wasn't going to change anything unless I was here in town. When Hunter offered me the job, I jumped on it. I thought it would be a good way to show the Carvers what kind of man I am and to prove that I can be trusted. But I have to be cautious and not give them any ammunition to keep me out of Hailey's life permanently."

  "Sounds tricky. If you're not going to convince the Carvers their daughter was a drug addict, what are you going to do?"

  "I was thinking of a charm offensive," he said with a half-hearted smile.

  "You are pretty charming."

  "I was also hoping Mitch could smooth the way, that enough time had passed that maybe they were seeing things more clearly now. But obviously they still have very negative feelings toward me."

  "Clearly."

  "Do you know them, Gianna? Would you be able to put in a good word for me?"

  "Sorry. Rebecca never liked me, nor did her mother."

  "Okay."

  She saw the pain in his eyes and suspected that it probably ran deeper than anyone knew. While Zach had always come across as the happy-go-lucky, funny, charming guy, he'd also had a quieter side that he tended to keep hidden from most people. But he hadn't kept it hidden from her. She'd heard a lot about his dad that summer, about his heartache, about his mom and brother.

  "What about your family?" she asked. "Did they ever meet the Carvers? Would your mom have any input?"

  "No, she didn't meet Rebecca or her parents. I'm not close to my mother."

  "Why not?"

  "She remarried years ago and has a completely separate life."

  "What about your younger brother?"

  "He fits into her new life better than I do."

  Zach's words were cold and unemotional, but she had a feeling that was a cover for another deep hurt.

  "Anyway…let's change the subject," he said. "How are things going here?"

  "Fine. There have been quite a few customers up until now." She paused. "Why did you come here, Zach?"

  "I've been walking around town, reacquainting myself with Whisper Lake. I saw the sign and decided to say hello."

  She wanted to say she was glad to see him, but she feared she was walking a dangerous line. She was a little too interested in Zach for someone who was supposed to be off men.

  "I was also curious as to what you decided to do about the photo," Zach added.

  She let out a small sigh. "I'm still indecisive. I'm seeing my parents tonight for dinner. I'm thinking I should maybe mention it before I start asking questions that might get around town. But I'm on thin ice with my dad as it is. I have a feeling going on this quest will make that worse."

  "You could always take me to dinner at your mom's house. I could be a buffer."

  "I don't think my dad would react well to seeing me hanging out with another man quite so soon, even though we're just friends," she added hastily. "I need to simplify my life, not complicate it."

  "I understand. We both have a lot going on. But it's nice to know you're around."

  It was nice for her, too.

  As three women entered the shop, Zach tipped his head. "I'll let you get back to work. I'll see you soon."

  His promising words sent a shiver down her spine, and she found herself watching the door long after he'd left. Zach was going to be trouble. She knew that with utter certainty. She also knew she wasn't going to stay away from him, even though she should.

  After leaving the antiques shop, Zach walked downtown. He felt unsettled and uneasy after his encounter with Helen Carver. That hadn't been the way he wanted to see her, but he should have figured it might go down like that.

  He glanced down at his phone as it buzzed—Mitch.

  "Hello?"

  "I just got off the phone with my mother," Mitch said. "She was freaked out. She told me she's going to call the police on you."

  "For doing what? Walking into an antiques store?"

  "I tried to calm her down. I told her you were in town to work on the camp, but that set her off even more, because then she realized I knew you were coming and didn't warn her."

  "I'm sorry about that. I would have told her myself, but after calling me a murderer, she stormed out. What else did she say?"

  "That you were never going to see Hailey, that I needed to tell you to leave, that they want nothing to do with the person who killed Rebecca. I tried to tell her again that Rebecca's drug problems were not your fault, but she wouldn't hear me. She was completely panicked."

  He frowned, wondering why the Carvers were so shaken by his presence. "Why are they so upset? Your parents have legal custody. They have all the power."

  "They're afraid of losing it."

  "I just want to see Hailey. I want to spend time with her. She was my daughter for four years. I don't want her to think I abandoned her, even though I'm sure that's exactly what your parents have told her. But I need her to know the truth. I need her to understand that I will always be there for her."

  "I get it, Zach. I do. But my parents think you're the person responsible for Rebecca's death and they can't see you any other way. Look, I can't meet you tomorrow. It's too soon. Give me some time to talk to my dad. Maybe he can help get my mom off the ledge."

  "I won't push for tomorrow, but I've already waited a long time, Mitch."

  "I'm on my way over to my dad's office now. Let me see if I can get him to speak to you."

  "All right. I do appreciate your help. Thanks." He blew out a frustrated breath as he hung up the phone. He was in Whisper Lake, only a few blocks from his daughter, but he still felt a million miles away. But he wasn't giving up. And the Carvers would eventually realize that.

  He continued on down the street, walking more briskly as he headed toward the Firefly Inn. Work had been the only thing getting him through the past few months, and he needed to get back to it.

  The Firefly Inn was a two-story mansion at the far end of downtown. It had a sweeping front porch that wound around the front and side of the building, with buckets of flowers hanging from the eaves. The inside was charming and inviting with dark paneled walls, sleek hardwood floors, colorful rugs, and furniture that invited lounging and relaxation.

  When he entered the lobby, Lizzie stood behind the front desk, chatting with a dark-blonde woman. She motioned him over when she saw him.

  "Zach, I want you to meet my sister, Chelsea."

  Chelsea turned, smiling at him with light-blue eyes that reminded him of both Lizzie and Hunter. The Coles and their cousins, the Callaways, had apparently all inherited that particular shade of blue. "Nice to meet you, Chelsea."

  "You, too," she replied. "Lizzie filled me in on the camp remodel. I'm looking forward to the reopening. The kids in my classroom are very excited about it."

  "You're a teacher?"

  "Yes—at Powell Elementary. I have a few boys who would really benefit from some organized outdoor adventures. They come up with way too many bad ideas when left to their own devices."

  "Sounds like what my teachers used to say about me."

  "Do you want some coffee?" Lizzie asked. "I just made a fresh pot." She waved her ha
nd toward the nearby credenza. "There are cookies, too."

  "No thanks, although they smell delicious. From what I've seen, you're at the top of your game when it comes to hospitality and good food."

  Lizzie beamed at his words. "Thanks. The inn is still a work in progress. At some point, I'd like to add dinner, but we need a few more guests to make that happen."

  "This summer should do the trick," Chelsea put in. "Once people stay here, they'll become repeat guests."

  "I hope so."

  As Lizzie finished speaking, the front door opened. The man stepping into the inn had dark hair and blue eyes and wore a police uniform.

  "Well, look who's here," Lizzie exclaimed. "Another one of my siblings."

  "Lizzie, Chelsea," the man said with a nod. "How's it going?"

  "Good. Did you come by for afternoon cookies?" Lizzie asked with a sparkling smile.

  "No. I'm looking for one of your guests, and I think I may have found him."

  Zach started as the officer's gaze turned on him. "Are you looking for me?"

  "Are you Zach Barrington?"

  "I am."

  "I'm Adam Cole. Can I have a word with you—alone?"

  His gut tightened. "What's this about?"

  "Probably best if we speak in private."

  "I'm fine with you saying whatever you have to say right now."

  "Adam, what's going on?" Lizzie asked in concern. "Why are you glaring at Zach like he's some sort of criminal?"

  Adam frowned. "All right. If you want to do this here, we will. I got a call from one of our city councilmen, Ron Carver. He said that you're harassing his family."

  "What?" Lizzie exclaimed.

  Adam ignored his sister, his hard gaze focused on him. "Care to explain, Mr. Barrington?"

  "I'm not harassing the Carvers," he said evenly, determined to keep the anger out of his voice. After Mitch's call, he should have expected this visit from the police. "I came to town to see their granddaughter, Hailey. I've basically been her stepfather the last four years."

  "You were involved with Rebecca?" Adam asked.

  "Yes, I was."

  "Do you have a legal claim to the child?"