Twilight at Blueberry Barrens

by Colleen Coble

  He thrust the key card back into his pocket until next time. Next time maybe he’d get up the nerve to go back to his favorite girl’s. He loved everything about her—her courage and her astounding beauty. She belonged with him.

  FIVE

  Drake had never been to Downeast Maine, and the bickering between his nieces in the back of his Land Rover was enough to sap every bit of his enjoyment of the rocky coastline to his right.

  He passed a blueberry field and turned away from the water to take a better look. He’d always heard of the Maine blueberries, but he hadn’t expected the leaves to look red. He needed to get a picture.

  At least he’d made it out of Boston without a tail. He’d had the distinct feeling someone had been watching him for days, and he’d been careful as they packed up and left town. Now wasn’t the best time to leave someone else in charge of Newham Drones, but it couldn’t be helped. He had a great plant manager in place and good employees.

  A call from his plant manager rang through the dash of his vehicle, and he punched on the audio. “You don’t have to check on me every hour, Lakesha. The girls and I are all still alive.”

  He didn’t want anyone to know the real reason behind his decamping from his business—not even someone as trustworthy as Lakesha Lacy. In her fifties, she viewed herself as his surrogate mother. She’d be frantic if she knew someone had broken into his home, so he’d just told her he was taking the girls on an extended vacation and hadn’t even told her where he was headed. It was too dangerous.

  “Glad to hear it. This isn’t a great time to be gone though. You had a visitor this morning. A representative from the Fish and Wildlife Service was here. They’re interested in that new drone!” Her voice rose with excitement. “They have a few modifications they’d like, but it’s nothing you couldn’t do.”

  He straightened and his pulse kicked up a notch. “I thought it was a long shot when you suggested sending them a prototype. This is great news!”

  “But you need to turn right around and come back, Drake. You’re the only one who can make those modifications. This is your baby.”

  Everything in him wanted to do just what she said. A contract this big on this new drone was something most manufacturers only dreamed of. In a few years he’d be firmly established. He glanced in the rearview mirror. All his work would pay off with the ultimate security for him and his employees.

  “Where are you, Drake? I don’t get all the secrecy. You won’t even tell me where you’re staying.”

  He looked at his nieces. They had to feel secure while he tried to get to the bottom of what happened to their parents. He owed it to them. He couldn’t go back, not now. “I don’t know yet. I’m looking for a cottage to rent for the next six weeks, and I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” A shriek from his five-year-old niece punctuated his words. “Listen, I have to go. You can handle it, Lakesha.” He ended the call before she could protest.

  He probably should have tried to book something rather than just picking up and coming here without any planning, but he’d been afraid Lakesha would talk him out of doing what he had to do.

  He pulled the Land Rover onto the side of the road, then turned to focus on his nieces. His heart twisted every time he looked at them. Five-year-old Phoebe was the spitting image of Heath with dark hair and big blue eyes, while eight-year-old Emma had her mother’s blonde hair and hazel eyes. It was still hard for him to believe they were his responsibility now.

  He was doing a lousy job too. All his efforts to make up for their loss were getting him nowhere. They’d grown more fractious and hard to deal with every day of the past month since he’d gotten the call that Heath and Melissa had fallen off a cliff in Folly Shoals. He had a feeling their deaths were tied to the break-in at his house. And he wasn’t sure the girls weren’t in danger either. This was for the best for all of them.

  He saw a cottage with a steep-pitched roof and flowers in front of the porch that made him think of a storybook painting. Looking closer, he saw the lifted shingles on the roof and the peeling paint on the shutters, but at least it was empty. And its backyard should have a distant view of the ocean.

  A woman carrying a paintbrush emerged from the faded front door. About thirty, she was attractive enough that he noticed the streaked blonde in her short hair and the way her curves filled her jeans and T-shirt.

  He took the SUV out of park and drove to the edge of the driveway and lowered his window. “Good morning. I wonder if you know of any places for rent in the area? I’m looking for a rental for the rest of the summer.”

  Her big blue eyes looked him over. “How soon do you need it?”

  “As soon as possible. Any chance this place is available?”

  “It will be. I have some painting and repairs to complete on it.” She shaded her narrowed eyes with her free hand, and her mouth pinched. “Are you from around here?”

  “No. Could I see it?” He shut off the engine before she answered.

  She took a step back. “I don’t think so.” The wary light in her eyes faded when Phoebe and Emma threw open the back doors and emerged from the SUV. “Your kids?”

  “My nieces.” He didn’t feel like explaining the whole situation to a suspicious stranger.

  Emma put her hands on her hips and stared at the cottage. “It looks like a Hansel and Gretel house.”

  Phoebe shuddered and sidled behind her sister. “Is there a bad witch inside?”

  The woman smiled. “No witches. I used to love to come here to visit my uncle. It’s got lots of great places to hide.”

  Phoebe stepped out from behind Emma and ran toward the house. “I want to see!”

  “Phoebe, come back here,” he called. To his surprise she stopped and retreated. He held out his hand to the woman. “Drake Newham.”

  She hesitated, then took his hand. Her fingers were warm but firm. “Kate Mason.” She released his hand after a quick shake.

  Hadn’t he heard the name somewhere? “About the house. Can we see it?”

  She nodded. “It’s got two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Come on inside.”

  He followed her up three steps to a front porch that held a worn swing and rocker. The red paint on the front door had faded to a dull reddish-orange, and the door creaked as she opened it. He stepped inside and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the lower light. The lingering odor of paint hung in the room, and his nose detected the scent of some kind of cleaning solution as well.

  His gaze took in the light pouring through the tall windows. “Good space. I like the high ceilings.”

  Kate showed him through the rest of the house. Both bedrooms were large and airy, though they needed painting. The oak floors needed refinishing, but they’d do for the summer. They ended up back in the living room with Emma and Phoebe both still in the guest room staking out their areas.

  “I think the girls have already decided. I’ll take it.”

  Her full lips curved. “It’s six thousand for the rest of the summer.”

  “That’s fine.” He almost smiled at her shock at his quick acceptance of her exorbitant price. She’d expected him to dicker, but he’d seen the decrepit Volkswagen sitting in the drive across the road. “When can we move in?”

  “I should have it ready in a week or less. There’s a nice hotel on Folly Shoals if you want to stay at the Hotel Tourmaline for now.”

  “I’ll do that.” He handed her his card. “Call me when it’s ready. And if you know of a good nanny, I’m looking to hire one for the summer as well.”

  He herded the girls back to the SUV. He had the rest of the summer to get to know more about her. Maybe she could help him search for answers. From her broad New England accent, she’d lived here all her life.

  * * *

  Kate watched Drake’s fancy gray Land Rover disappear in a cloud of dust down the dirt road. “Six thousand dollars.” Saying it aloud should have helped her accept the reality of renting the cottage, but it still seemed surreal. She was bound t
o wake up any moment and discover it had been a lovely dream. With that money she might be able to replace her wheezing refrigerator. Even better, she could afford a nice wedding gift for Claire. She hadn’t been too sure about him until the girls scampered out of the backseat. After the man appeared in her yard the other night, she’d been on high alert for the slightest hint of danger.

  Claire’s little white convertible pulled up in front of the cottage, and her sister climbed out. Her hair was in a careless ponytail, a look Kate found childishly adorable after seeing Claire so often with her hair in a prim updo, and she wore white shorts and a pink top.

  Claire’s gaze roamed over her. “You’ve got a silly smile. What’s up?”

  “I rented the cottage!”

  “Already?” Claire tightened her ponytail and dug out a stick of lip gloss.

  Kate settled on the settee on the porch and patted the cushion beside her. “Sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Claire’s eyes widened, and she paused in her lip gloss application as Kate launched into how the man had stopped out of the blue and asked to see the cottage. “The rest of the summer?”

  “I asked for double what I thought I could get, and he said yes. Six thousand dollars for six weeks!”

  A frown crouched between Claire’s eyes, and she put the lip gloss back in her purse. “You don’t think he’s some kind of criminal, do you?”

  Kate felt a little prick in her bubble of happiness. She hadn’t thought of why the man might be so agreeable. Was it possible he wasn’t what he seemed? He was very attractive, but she wasn’t one to look at just physical appearance, and she hadn’t sensed any kind of danger swirling around him once she saw the girls.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. He had his two nieces with him, and he was driving a Land Rover. I figured he was a flatlander looking to get away from the city’s heat.”

  Claire’s expression cleared. “I’m sure you’re right, but I think I’ll have Kevin run a check on him just to be safe. You’re so isolated out here.”

  Kevin O’Connor was the area’s game warden and Claire and Kate’s second cousin. Because his mother and Kate’s mother had a falling out years ago, he and Kate had only gotten to be friends in high school when he was dating her friend Mallory. He’d be able to complete a quiet query that wouldn’t rile anyone.

  “You’re just overreacting because of that flatlander. He won’t come back here.” It was better to assure Claire rather than tell her how she’d checked the locks and the new security system three times before going to bed the past two nights. And she hadn’t slept well, jerking awake with every sound outside. “But it wouldn’t hurt to check him out. He didn’t wear a wedding ring.”

  Claire’s lips curved. “You looked?”

  “Well, yeah. He was about six-three with dark curly hair. Nice manner. A Captain America type. He seemed to be a professional of some kind. He sure had his hands full with the kids though. They’re going to run him ragged this summer, I think.”

  “Why’d he have them instead of their parents?”

  “He didn’t say. Maybe they’re out of the country or something. I could tell he wasn’t used to dealing with kids though. He wanted to hire a nanny, too, but I don’t know of anyone looking for a job like that.”

  Claire crossed her ankles and leaned back on the settee. “You could do it.”

  “Me?” The thought hadn’t crossed her mind. She studied her nails, which were in terrible shape from the painting. It would take some serious work to get them looking halfway decent.

  “You’re good with kids.”

  “And I’ll never have my own anyway, is that what you’re thinking?” The hot words burst out of her throat, and her eyes burned.

  Claire took one of her hands. “That’s not what I meant at all, Kate. You are good with kids. I’ve seen the way they flock around you at church.” She squeezed Kate’s fingers. “None of us knows what the future holds. Luke and I want children, too, but there’s no guarantee we’ll have them. But I want you to know that if it’s possible, I’ll be an egg donor if you want.”

  The offer lodged in Kate’s stomach, and the impact spread up to her chest as Claire’s words sank in. Egg donor. She hadn’t even dared to hope for such a thing. And it was expensive, but she knew Claire’s offer included the cost to accomplish such an unbelievable gift.

  Her eyes filled with tears, and her throat tightened as she clutched her twin’s hand. “I-I don’t know what to say.” She tried to laugh but it came out like a choked sob. “It’s not like I have a husband waiting in the wings, but thank you.”

  Claire gave a final squeeze to Kate’s fingers, then released her hand. “You’d do the same for me. But in the meantime, gather those kids you love close, let go of your fear, and embrace what you enjoy. The renters will be across the road, so it would be easy to care for them.”

  “And I could use the money. I suspect the pay would be really good. It would be better than trying to wait tables.”

  “It’s probably a better job than anything else you’d find right now.”

  Sticky fingers, crafts, swimming, and rafting combined to make an enticing kaleidoscope of a summer. Kate examined her hesitation and sighed. “The kids will be leaving at the end of the summer. I’m not sure I can handle the abandonment.”

  “We’re adults now. No one can ever split us up again. You can’t live your life terrified of losing someone, Kate. There’s no joy in that.”

  Maybe not, but there was safety. Maybe she was ready to risk it.

  SIX

  The view of the hotel from the water as Drake approached Folly Shoals by ferry didn’t do it justice now that he stood in front of the huge glass doors. With its gray stone walls and mullioned windows, the Hotel Tourmaline surveyed its Downeast Maine location of wind-tossed waves and rocky crags like the masthead of a great ship.

  He turned his SUV over to the valet and stepped onto the pink granite floors inside the lobby. The lavish hotel rivaled anyplace he’d stayed in London or New York. The domed ceiling soared high above his head, and skylights let in the Maine sunshine.

  His aunt hailed him from the bank of comfortable sofas and chairs clustered around a fireplace that ascended to the roof. “You should have called me sooner, honey.” Dixie Carver was his mother’s only sibling, and after his parents retired to Costa Rica, he’d seen her more than he’d seen his mother. The girls shrank behind him at Dixie’s loud voice.

  She threw her arms wide and clutched him to her ample chest. “You don’t have to stay here. I could squeeze you all in with me.”

  He’d been to her one-bedroom house many times, and it wasn’t an option. “Thanks, Aunt Dixie, but we’ll be fine here. And I’ve rented a cottage, so you’ll see a lot of us this summer.”

  A carefully penciled-in brow over her hazel eyes rose, and she adjusted her small round glasses. “What aren’t you telling me, young man? A man with your kind of busy career doesn’t bury himself in the north woods without a good reason.” Her gaze softened as she stared at her nieces. “Though the good Lord knows you’ve got your hands so full it would take two helpers to carry all the burdens.”

  He rescued a glass bowl full of enamel balls on the beautiful table from Phoebe. “Phoebe, this is your great-aunt Dixie. Emma, come say hello to your aunt too.”

  Emma shuffled her backpack off her shoulder. “Aren’t you too old to be wearing overalls?”

  A laugh from Dixie turned into a snort. “I always say a woman should speak her mind, little girl. You’re well on your way to running your own company.” She gravely shook hands with the two girls. “I’m sorry about your mommy and daddy.”

  Whoa, most people ignored the girls’ loss. Drake took note of the way both his nieces sidled closer to their great-aunt.

  Emma’s eyes filled with tears. “Did you know our daddy?”

  “Honey, he spent every summer with me. He and your uncle here used to go fishing off my dock every day. They’d
bring home the biggest fish you ever saw. Your daddy was a good man.”

  A lump formed in Drake’s throat. He remembered those summers spent at Dixie’s. She’d moved here from Georgia when he was ten, and he’d been over every inch of her barn and property. He and Heath had slept in the attic under the eaves and listened to the owls in the trees outside the window. They’d roped everything from cats to squirrels in the yard and had learned to swim in the cold water of Sunset Cove.

  It wasn’t right to be here without his brother.

  Phoebe slipped her hand into Dixie’s. “I miss him. And Mommy. Could you show me how to fish?”

  “I’d be as tickled as a monkey with a new banana. You have your uncle Drake bring you over. I’ve still got your daddy’s fishing rod in the barn.” Her eyes were wet when she looked up at Drake. “You bring these young’uns by to see me, young man.”

  “I will.” Most days he was uncertain how to cope with the girls. They cried often for their parents, and he didn’t know the words to comfort them, so he usually tried to change the subject and distract them. He saw now that they needed to be heard, to be able to talk about their parents.

  It was going to be hard to dredge up those memories and face the ache of missing his brother, but he had to do it.

  A pert young woman dressed like Steve Irwin in khaki shorts and shirt approached with a smile. “I’m Lisa Greenhill, the children’s activity director. We’re about to go on safari and look for wild animals in the area. Would your children like to go along?”

  Phoebe pulled away from Dixie. “Can we go, Uncle Drake? I want to find a penguin!”

  It was the first thing she’d shown interest in since her parents died. He looked at his aunt.

  “Lisa will take good care of them. I’ve known her from church since she was a sprout.”

  He grinned and nodded. “I’m not sure you’ll find a penguin, but you can go. Leave your backpacks with me.”

  Both girls dropped their packs at his feet and went off with the activity director. He watched them go with a strange sense of déjà vu. A summer of exploration and new beginnings, just like he and Heath had. Please, God, let it be so. The children needed a way to start over after such a horrendous loss.