He went inside. She turned at the sound of the door, spotted him and smiled. “I’m so glad you came,” she said.
“No problem,” he replied, though in truth meeting her did take time from several chores he had on his list—ordering flowers for the service, finding a few pictures of his father to display and arranging for some food to be brought to the house. He didn’t know how many people would come. There were still doubts in his mind as to how many friends his father had made in Sweet Pine.
Edward slid into the booth across from her. She already had a coffee mug in her hands, but he offered to buy her breakfast.
“I had a muffin with Jeremy this morning,” she said. “But you go ahead.”
Her mention of the football star opened up a casual line of conversation. “So how did you two meet?” he asked, and then worried that he was coming across as invasive, especially if he didn’t end up being her brother.
She didn’t seem to mind and told him a story about her job at a television news network in Charleston and Jeremy’s attempt to become the next anchor there. “He worked hard, but to tell the truth, he had a few flaws, mostly with regard to his on-air demeanor. In the end he decided to become a sports broadcaster—” she paused, and smiled “—and to marry me. I’m becoming a wife and a mother at the same time.”
“You’re pregnant?” he asked.
She laughed. “No. Jeremy has two children. Their mother died in a skiing accident.”
“That’s rough,” Edward said, all too aware of the cost of losing a parent at any age.
The waitress brought him a coffee. He mixed in a teaspoon of sugar, took a sip and tried to soothe his jangled nerves. He could be staring at his very own sister. The idea was freaky. And yet, somehow intriguing. He’d never considered that his mother had had more children. Until the judge adopted him, Edward’s life had been a party of one. As was his custom growing up, he refused to allow himself to contemplate a happy ending, family-wise.
“Tell me about your life,” he said. “Were you raised in Charleston?”
She briefly filled him in on details of a life of privilege in a historic Charleston home with two loving parents. She ended with an emotional retelling of needing to find her roots. And when she discovered from their biological mother that Edward existed, she’d set about trying to locate him.
“Edward, I don’t want to give you any false impressions of our biological mother. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with any of us. It hurts, but that’s the way it is.
“I have no interest in trying to reach out to her,” he said.
“And Edward,” Brooke continued, “I know you’re not convinced, but I am your sister. When I saw you yesterday, I knew I’d found my brother.”
“I suppose DNA and blood tests will confirm that,” he said.
“Of course. We should do that. But may I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Does the name Jerry Miller mean anything to you?”
He almost choked on his coffee. Jerry Miller was one of the many aliases he’d used during his troubled teen years. He used a different name every time he was caught doing something illegal. “Maybe,” he said.
“I know you used that name when you were brought in front of a judge. I also know you had dark hair then and the beginnings of a chin beard. You were quite adept at disguises.”
Once again she was spot-on. He’d invested a lot in hair dyes back when he was in trouble. “It wasn’t much of a beard,” he admitted. “I was all of fifteen at the time. And it was easy to obtain a box of Just for Men.”
“You were on your own then?”
“Yeah. And believe it or not, I liked it that way. No one to answer to, no rules to live by, no foster parents threatening to toss me out.” He’d always said those words, but inside he faced too many lonely days. “And then I met Judge Smith, and he convinced me that my time as ‘King of the Road’ was over.”
“I’m sorry your life was like that,” she said. “I wish I had known you then. I wish you had known my adoptive parents. Your life would have been so different.”
Yeah, like her rich parents would have taken in a runaway with a record. “I don’t look back, Brooke. My life began in earnest when Judge Smith took me under his wing.” He nodded at her. “But maybe a new chapter is opening now.”
“You believe me?”
“I still want the DNA test, but yeah, you present a convincing argument.”
“I’m so glad you’re willing to explore this, Edward,” she said. “Tell me about your life after meeting your father?”
He told her about getting his high-school-equivalency diploma and registering at the University of Miami to study psychology. She listened as if every word he said was life-changing. That time of his life had certainly been life changing for him.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my... I mean your sister—Camryn,” she said. “We’re very different, she and I. I’m the driven overachiever and she’s Mother Earth. But I love her dearly and I bet you will, too. And you are uncle to two beautiful girls.”
She began to give details of Camryn’s life, including the mention of her husband’s two boys who now called Camryn their mom. Edward held up his hand. “Maybe we should slow this down a bit,” he said. “Let me adjust to one new family member at a time.” He wanted to let himself believe in this fairy tale, but it was all happening so fast. And fairy tales had never been a part of his life before the judge.
“Absolutely. We’ll take it slow.”
He called for the check just as the door to Harry’s opened and Monica walked in. She was in full working garb today—dark slacks and blue shirt, a ball cap covering that luxurious hair. She had a few pounds of equipment on her belt. She went to the cashier, spoke a few neighborly words and ordered a coffee to go. Then her gaze wandered around the restaurant and stopped when she saw Edward.
She smiled, lighting up the room and softening the stark appearance of her uniform. For just a flash, Edward remembered what she’d looked like last night, her hair in a cute ponytail, her olive skin tanned and healthy against her white shorts. And he remembered holding her hand.
She walked over to him and then focused in on Brooke. “Oh, I’m sorry to disturb you,” she said. “I didn’t know you were with someone.”
Edward stood. “It’s no problem, Monica. Can you stay a while?”
“No. I’m on duty. Just needed a little midmorning pick-me-up.”
He introduced Monica to Brooke. “This is the lady I told you about,” he explained. “Looks like we might be related after all. At any rate, we’re getting to know each other.”
Monica gave Brooke a top-to-bottom scan. Then she held out her hand. “Wow, this is exciting for Edward.”
“It definitely is for me,” Brooke said. “You don’t know how long I’ve been searching for this guy.”
“And to think you found him in Sweet Pine Key.”
“Yes, it’s strange. I suppose it proves that one should never give up. I never knew where to look until I heard about a judge adopting him and moving to the Florida Keys. But I’m so glad we’ve found him.”
A waitress delivered Monica’s coffee to her in a cardboard cup. Monica slipped her a couple of dollars and returned her attention to Edward and Brooke. “I’ll leave you two alone to catch up on the years you’ve missed. Nice to see you, Edward, and nice to meet you, Brooke.”
Still standing, Edward said, “Wait, Monica. Mind if I talk to you for a minute?”
“Not at all.”
He walked her toward the door. “I had a thought last night. It’s about A.J., the local guy my father hired to work at the marina.”
“What about him?” Monica asked.
“He sometimes sleeps at the bait shack on the property. If he was there on Friday night, I thought maybe he might have seen something. Might b
e worth talking to him.”
“I agree,” she said. “That’s why I spoke with him this morning.”
“You did?”
“I saw him riding his bicycle and I stopped him. He claims he stayed in his tent Friday night. He sometimes sets it up on the shore in a remote area of Sweet Pine. We don’t bother him, though camping on the beach is a misdemeanor.”
“Oh.” Edward was disappointed, but not in Monica. She’d recognized a lead and followed it. “One other thing...”
“Sure.”
“I’m just curious. Have you contacted your brother yet?”
“I’ve got the number and am planning to call him on my lunch break,” she said. “I’ll let you know if he agrees to be interviewed.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll let you go. Talk to you later.”
After Monica had left, Brooke waited for Edward to sit again. “What was that all about?”
Edward thought a moment and decided it wouldn’t do any harm to tell Brooke what was going on. “Monica—or Detective Cortez—and I are working on the case involving my father’s death. She’s the homicide investigator for this part of the Keys.”
“Homicide?” Brooke sat up straighter. “You think your father was murdered?”
“I think it’s possible, but so far I’m the only one who thinks so. Everyone else down here has been quick to call his death an accident.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why is that so? And why do you disagree with them?” She smiled. “Maybe those questions are too pushy, but I’m a television-news producer. I can’t help myself.”
He briefly explained his concerns, then said, “At this point I mostly have a lot of questions.”
Brooke reached across the table and covered Edward’s hand with hers. “Oh, Edward, be careful. If there’s a murderer in the area, you don’t know what he could do to you.”
“In fact, I do.” He told his sister about his education and his position as a criminal-psychology consultant. “Believe me, I’ve had lots of experience with the criminal mind, and I can handle myself. But thanks for your concern.”
He left a few dollars on the table and stood to leave. “I’ve got a long list of things to do before my dad’s service tomorrow,” he said.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like you to add one more thing to that list.”
“If I can. What?”
“Ask your detective friend if she can get one of those official DNA kits. We might as well settle this sooner rather than later. Like you said, you don’t like living in the past, and I’m looking forward to a future with you in it.”
“I can do that,” he said.
“One more thing...”
He waited.
“Will you include my name as a guest at the service? I’d really like to be there.”
He didn’t explain that there wasn’t an official guest list. But if there had been, he wouldn’t have minded adding her name. Yes, she’d been a complete stranger yesterday. But today, he felt differently. Albeit, he still wasn’t sure about all of these people popping up in his life right now, but the first one he’d met had come across as legit, and more. Besides, it might be nice to have a sister...or two.
“Sure. Fisherman’s Chapel is about ten miles south of here. Six thirty.”
“I’ll be there,” she said.
CHAPTER SIX
MONICA DROVE TO a local beach for her lunch break. She needed a few moments to compose herself, and a view of the turquoise water usually did that for her.
The parking lot was nearly empty, so she chose a spot, left the air conditioner on in her car and took out the sandwich she’d brought from home this morning. Before she opened the plastic container, she thought about her reaction at seeing Edward with a young woman this morning. Not just any woman—a classy, well-dressed, pretty woman.
She’d been surprised—no, shocked—to see him sitting in a booth with her. After all, just the night before, Edward had held her hand and looked into her eyes. She’d felt they connected somehow, but not romantically, exactly. She’d only known him for less than a day. But an emotional jolt had passed between them. The sensation had left Monica restless and wondering. Had Edward felt it, too? Surely a man as handsome, educated and sophisticated as Edward seemed to be had experienced many such jolts in his life. The feeling was new to Monica.
Monica wouldn’t have approached them in the diner, but once her eyes had met Edward’s, she had to go over and speak to him. When he introduced the woman as his sister, the one he’d told Monica about the night before, her heartbeat had slowed to a normal rhythm and her breathing returned to normal. Silly. She and Edward were just acquaintances, two people searching for the truth.
Monica dated...enough. She’d never found the right man for her, but she hadn’t given up hope. Her goal with regard to finding a man she could spend her life with was complicated by having Emilio in her care. The right man for her had to be the right man for Emilio, too. So Monica never allowed her own needs, or any thought of a lonely future, to influence her relationships. When the right guy came along, she would just know. And one day was certainly not enough time to start thinking about having Edward in her life.
She turned her thoughts to Emilio, so she took her cell phone from her pocket and punched in the speed-dial number for her brother. She spoke to Miguel on occasion, maybe six times a year since he’d left his son with her and their mother. Sometimes she had a question for Miguel. Sometimes he called to see how his son was doing—not to say he was coming to visit, though. That was just fine with Monica. Emilio knew he had a father who lived in another city, but so far he hadn’t asked many questions about this stranger who never showed up in his life. Monica had answers prepared for when he did.
After four rings, Miguel answered in a sleepy voice. “Mon, is this you?”
“Yes, it’s me. How are you, Miguel?”
“I’m okay. Still working in the body shop, if that’s why you called. You need money? I don’t have much extra right now.”
“No. We’re fine.” He sometimes asked this. She’d never taken any from him so far and didn’t intend to in the future. Selfishly, she didn’t want him to have ties to Emilio, especially monetary ones.
“The kid okay?”
“He’s great. Enjoying summer camp.”
Miguel yawned. “So why did you call? Mama okay?”
“She is, but I have to tell you something.” She paused. Miguel remained silent. “There was an unexpected death in Sweet Pine a few days ago.”
“No kidding? You doing some real police work now, eh, Mon? Who was it?”
“Judge Smith—you remember, the man who owned the marina?”
Several uncomfortable seconds passed until Miguel finally processed what she’d said. “How could I forget? He screwed our father out of a future. No big loss if somebody finally did the old guy in.”
“Preliminary findings point to an accidental death,” she said. “But the judge’s son suspects foul play. He’s asked me to investigate.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Nothing. At least, that’s what I want to believe.”
“Want to believe?” Miguel’s voice rose. He was obviously waking up enough to listen intently. “What does that mean?”
“The son, his name is Edward, knows about the judge’s promise to our father. He also knows the promise was never kept.”
“He should know it,” Miguel said. “Maybe he will do something to make it right.”
“That’s not the point, Miguel. The promise was made to our father, not us.” She decided to tell Miguel the whole truth. He had a right to know. “The man is compiling a list of suspects,” she said. “Anyone who might have had a grudge against the judge.”
“Hope his pen doesn’t run out of ink. Could be a long list. As far as I’m concerned, Smitty was a class-A jerk
—”
“I’d advise you to keep such opinions to yourself, Miguel. You sound like you did have a grudge against William Smith. Anyway, the son wants to talk to you.”
“Is this guy a cop?”
“No, he isn’t. He’s just wanting to get to the truth.”
“So exactly how does this guy know about my feelings, Mon? You tell him?”
“I mentioned it, yes. It’s no secret. You were only too happy to tell everyone you met how you felt about the judge.”
“That was a long time ago, Monica. It’s been years since I was in town. If I was going to off the judge, I would have done it before now.”
“I’m not sure there’s a time limit on the kind of hatred you felt for Judge Smith,” Monica said. “At any rate, Edward wants to talk to you, and I think you should plan to come down here and answer a few questions. I’m confident this matter can be cleared up if you just speak to Edward.”
Miguel chuckled with bitter sarcasm. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
“That would be a mistake, Miguel. One day out of your life and you can be eliminated as a suspect. Otherwise Edward will track you down in Miami, maybe even come to the body shop. You don’t want that, do you?”
“Sounds to me like this friend of yours is going to a lot of trouble...and yet you say he’s not a cop.”
“Anyone would. The judge was his father.”
“I didn’t kill the judge,” Miguel said.
“I don’t think you did.”
Miguel breathed deeply a couple of times while Monica waited for him to make the right decision.
“Thanks for that, anyway, Mon.”
“So you’ll come?”
“Looks like you’ve roped me into it. Thursday is my day off. I can be there about ten o’clock. I’ll give this guy an hour and then I’m out of there.”
“Okay. That’s fair.”
“Maybe I’ll see Mama and the kid while I’m in town,” he said.
A Family Man At Last Page 6