Four Short Weeks

by Kay Correll

  “I’ll help you now, but I’m not sure about resuming CEO responsibilities.”

  “It looks like I’ll have a few days to convince you.”

  “How did you find me here, anyway?”

  “Small town, Dad. I asked around at a few places and someone at The Sweet Shoppe said you’d rented this place. Gotta love small towns. And have you ever had one of the almond scones at The Sweet Shoppe? They’re great.” Mason grinned at him.

  “Glad you’re here, son.”

  Jay met Lillian at the front door of the inn when Dorothy dropped her off after The Yarn Society meeting. She made sure her knitting was securely tucked away in her bag so Sara didn’t spy it. Sara was sure to be lurking around here somewhere, waiting to check on her yet again.

  “Lil, I need to talk to you.” He took her arm and led her over to a corner where they could have some privacy.

  “If you want to talk about Gary—Garrett—I don’t really want to hear any more.”

  “No, this isn’t about Gary. Well, it is, but this is different.”

  She let out a sigh and sank onto the overstuffed chair at the edge of the lobby. “What is it?”

  “The stairs collapsing? That wasn’t Gary’s fault.”

  She looked at Jay in surprise. “It wasn’t? But he built them.”

  “And someone sabotaged them. Made some cuts so that when someone put their weight on them, they’d fall.”

  “But who would do that? And why?”

  Jay’s eyes narrowed. “There’s talk around town that Vince is mad you fired him. Thinks that’s why he’s not getting jobs. And he’s made some threats against you.”

  “I can’t believe he’d do that. I thought he was just lazy, not evil.”

  “I called the sheriff, and he’s going to look into it.”

  “Did you tell Gary? Does he know it’s not his fault?”

  “He left the guest house. Maybe the island.”

  She stood. “I have to find him. I’ll call around and see if anyone knows where he is. He came by this morning to talk to me, so he was still here then.”

  Jay looked surprised. “He did?”

  “He apologized for not telling me about his past and for the stairs collapsing. But I don’t think he owed me all the facts about his past, and now he needs to know it wasn’t his fault that the stairs fell.” She whirled around to go drop off her knitting at The Nest and start making calls. It was hard to stay hidden in a town like Belle Island. Surely someone knew where he was.

  Chapter 29

  For the second time that day, Gary was surprised when he opened his door. “Lillian.”

  “Gary, we need to talk.” She brushed past him and walked inside, uninvited. She stopped when she saw Mason sitting at the table. “Oh, I’m sorry. You have company.”

  “Lillian, this is my son, Mason.”

  Mason rose and came over and shook Lillian’s hand. “Good to meet you.”

  “It’s good to meet you, too.” Lillian stared at Mason, then turned to him. “You two look so much alike.”

  Mason laughed. “I hear that all the time. A mini-Garrett.”

  Gary looked from Mason to Lillian, unsure why she was here.

  She stepped forward, standing right in front of him. “The stairs weren’t your fault.”

  That was an abrupt change in conversation, but of course, they were his fault. “Lil—I built them.”

  “You did. But it looks like Vince sabotaged them.”

  His eyes flew open. “He what?”

  “Jay found cuts in the supports. The sheriff is looking into it.”

  “Ha, I told you, Dad. You’d never, ever build steps that would fall. If anything, you’d have them over-supported.” Mason walked over and snapped his laptop shut. “I’m going to get some fresh air. Take a walk on the beach. I’ll leave you two alone to talk.”

  Gary stood holding onto the back of a chair, taking all this in. Vince had done this? Anger rushed through him. Lillian could have been hurt worse than she was. Why would he do that? He finally gathered his thoughts and his manners. “Lil, take a seat.” He motioned to the couch.

  She sat down and stretched out her legs. The ones with the bandages, but at least they weren’t taunting him anymore. He took a seat in the chair across from her.

  “I was with the Yarnies—my knitting friends—and we were talking. My friend Ruby is very wise. She said you can get to know a person in a very short time. I feel like I know you even though it’s only been a few weeks. I know you feel guilty about Dale’s death and that probably won’t ever totally go away. But I think you need to find a way to forgive yourself. Know it wasn’t you who caused the accident. I know you feel responsible because you run the company. But you can only do so much. You have to rely on the people you hire. And sometimes we make mistakes on who we hire. Like I did with Vince. Luckily his sabotage didn’t result in someone getting killed. But it could have.”

  He took in the warmth in her eyes. There was not a hint of judgment in them and he felt the tiniest bit of guilt begin to ebb slowly away from the stranglehold it had on his heart.

  She leaned forward and touched his face. “I… I care about you. I really enjoy spending time with you. I’d like to spend more time with you.”

  He covered her hand with his. A bolt of electricity ran through him. Through them.

  His phone rang, and he wanted to ignore it, but maybe it was Mason. He glanced at it, leaned back and gave Lillian the just-a-minute sign, and stood, walking away into the kitchen.

  Mel’s voice came through the other end of the line. “I found him. Small island, actually not far from you. You can get to it by small plane or boat. I can send you all the info. Doesn’t look like he’s moving anywhere anytime soon. He’s got a villa there on the beach.”

  “Okay, thank you. I’ll take it from here.”

  He slipped the phone in his pocket and walked back over to Lillian. “I’ve got to go.”

  She looked up at him in surprise.

  “I’m sorry. It can’t wait.” He did want to stay and work things out with Lillian, but not now. Not until he did this.

  Lillian stood. “Okay. I just wanted you to know about the stairs.” He could see the hurt in her eyes like she wanted something else from him—needed something else from him.

  But he had something he had to do. To try to make things right.

  Mason walked along the beach, enjoying the sunshine. It had been raining for what seemed like weeks in Seattle. Cloudy, gray days. Day after day. But here the sun threw golden light around him and danced like diamonds on the gently rolling waves.

  He walked toward Charming Inn, intrigued by the inn and the guest house and the inn’s owner, Lillian. Who, if he wasn’t mistaken, his father was rather taken with.

  The blonde who had given him a piece of her mind when he’d gone into the inn looking for his father was standing on the beach, looking out at the waves. He considered turning around and heading back the way he came to avoid her.

  Too late. She spied him and waved to him, heading briskly in his direction.

  “Hey, I want to apologize,” she said as she stood next to him. “I was out of line and I heard I was wrong, too. The stairs weren’t your father’s fault.”

  “No, they weren’t. And neither was the collapse of the hotel we were building in Seattle.” He defended his father.

  “I know. I’m sorry. I just get overly defensive of Lillian. She means the world to me.” The woman held out her hand. “Robin. Robin Baker.”

  He took her hand in his, surprised by the firmness of her handshake. “Mason Jones.”

  “And that’s your full name, your real name?” She tossed him a teasing smile.

  “It is.” He grinned back at her, warming up to this woman he’d first thought was cold and aloof.

  “So you came to visit your dad?”

  “Actually I came to check up on him after that story broke again about the hotel collapse. I wish it would just… go away.�
��

  “I bet.” She nodded in agreement.

  “So, what’s up between Lillian and my father?”

  Robin pursed her lips and cocked her head to one side, letting her blonde hair spill across her shoulder and glisten in the sunlight. “I’m not sure. They’ve gone on a few dates. They’re friends.” She shrugged. “Or maybe more?”

  “I think he has a thing for her. I can tell by the way he talks about her. And the way his eyes lit up when she came over today to the cottage my dad is renting.”

  “He’s got a cottage here?”

  “Just down the beach.” He bent his head that direction then paused when his phone buzzed. “Geez, a guy can’t even take a little beach walk.”

  She looked at him, puzzled.

  “Just got a text from my dad. Said he’s leaving right now and to stay at the cottage and he’ll get back with me. That’s cryptic.” He frowned, confused himself. “I don’t know what in the world would make him just take off like that.”

  He turned back to Robin. “So, it looks like I’m on my own for a bit and I know absolutely no one on the island.” He glanced at her ring-bare fingers and took a chance. “Want to show me this island that my father is so enthralled with? I’ll even buy you dinner.”

  She looked at him for a moment, glanced back at the inn, then turned back to him. “I’d love to.”

  Chapter 30

  Gary watched out the window as the small seaplane dipped down to land on the water near a long pier at this out-of-the-way island somewhere in the Caribbean. Looks like his friend must have done very well with the money he stole. He took a deep breath, gathering his courage for the upcoming confrontation. He disembarked and told the pilot he’d be back soon. Perks of having enough money to hire a private plane.

  And he hoped he’d be back soon. First, he had to find Brian. He punched in the address that Mel had given him and located the cottage where Mel said Brian was staying.

  He got a taxi—it was the only one on the island—and headed out. He rode along a twisty road with brilliant views of the turquoise ocean. It was beautiful here. And Brian was living his life, no consequences for his actions, living off the millions he’d stolen. That ended today. He had the phone number of the local police, but first, he wanted to confront Brian, face-to-face.

  Then he’d haul his sorry butt back to the states and have him prosecuted for murder.

  He noticed a few small cottages—some he’d almost consider huts—scattered along the dirt road as they drove along. Not exactly the rich island paradise he’d been expecting. They got to the address and saw a battered jeep sitting in the drive. Hopefully that meant Brian was here. He handed the driver a twenty. “Wait for me. I won’t be long.”

  He knocked on the door to the tiny cottage—much simpler and smaller than he’d imagined. When no one answered he walked around the side of the cottage. There on the beach was Brian… with a young girl and a woman he didn’t know. Brian was in the shallow waves, tossing the girl into the air. Her laughter rang across the distance. The woman sat on a chair, filming them with her phone. The perfect family scene, though as far as he knew, his friend didn’t have a family. But Dale had a family. One who missed him terribly now.

  With doubled resolve, he steeled himself and crossed over to the beach. Brian put a hand up, shielding the sun from his eyes and watched him approach. He set the girl down, took her hand, and walked her up to the woman. He said something to her, and she turned to look at him. He saw the raw fear in her eyes.

  She gathered up the girl in her arms and headed back to the cottage, passing by him on the beach. “Listen to him. Please. And I’m sorry how everything turned out. What happened.” She glanced at the girl, clutching her tightly against her. With one more beseeching look, she went into the cottage.

  Brian walked up to him. “Garrett. I can’t say I’m surprised to see you here. I knew it was just a matter of time.”

  “You stole from me and your actions cost Dale his life. He has daughters and a wife that miss him.” He stared at Brian. “How could you do that? I trusted you. I thought I knew you.”

  “I…” Brian turned and look out at the vast ocean spreading before them. “I needed the money.”

  “You needed the money? What for? To buy a place here on this island and enjoy your perfect life?” Anger flooded through him and he clenched his fists.

  “No, the cottage is Ellie’s—my wife’s—not mine. Her grandfather gave it to her to live in.”

  “You’re married?”

  “I am now.” He turned and looked at the cottage. “And that beautiful little girl? She’s my daughter. I only found out a few years ago. Ellie looked me up when she needed help. We’d had a thing—a fling—when I was down in the Caribbean in St. Thomas for vacation. It was before I joined your company. Anyway, Ellie told me then that Addison—Addy—was my daughter.”

  “What does this have to do with you stealing almost a million dollars?”

  “Addy was sick. She needed an operation—an experimental surgery that could save her life. No insurance would cover it and Ellie had no way to pay for it, so that’s when she came to me. I tried borrowing money and put everything I owned up as collateral. But the medical bills climbed. So… I started messing with the books at GJ Industries. I bought inferior materials but covered it up. I got some kickbacks on other things I ordered. Anything to raise money.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask me for money?”

  “I couldn’t do that. I’d already been cheating you. I thought it would be a onetime deal. But the bills kept coming. How could I then ask you for money?” Brian raked his hand through his hair, his eyes tortured with pain. “But I had no idea this would happen. I thought the building would be fine. Just not made to quite as high standards.”

  Gary turned and looked at the cottage and saw Ellie staring out the window at them. He turned back to Brian. “So you stole for Addy?”

  “I did. Ellie would have sold this cottage if she’d owned it. But she doesn’t. And her family doesn’t have any money, either. I was desperate.”

  Gary stood there watching the raw pain slash across Brian’s face.

  “Then the building collapsed, and I knew I had to get out of there. Addy was having a difficult time with her recovery and it was touch and go. If I stayed and owned up, got arrested, I couldn’t be here for Addy and…” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “She needed me. She still does. Her health is fragile, but that surgery gave her the only chance she had at life.”

  “I wish you’d come to me.”

  “I wish I’d done lots of things differently and I’ll be haunted by Dale’s death until my own last breath.” Brian turned and stared at him. “I’m so sorry for the consequences of my actions. Though I’d do it all over again if I had to. I’d do anything to save Addy’s life. Anything.”

  Gary stood there facing the stranger who had once been his friend. “I’ve thought so many things about you over the last few years. I’ve been so angry. Hurt. Furious. And mostly I’ve wondered how the man I thought I knew could do this. Steal the money.” He turned and looked at the little girl standing at Ellie’s side in the window. “But now, I can see why you did. At least understand a little bit. But it was still wrong.”

  “I know that. But… Addy is scheduled for another surgery next week.” Brian looked at him, an imploring look in his eyes. “I need to be there with her. Be there for her.”

  Gary turned and looked out at the sea. Choices. There were always hard choices to be made in life. What would he have done to save Mason’s life? Probably just about anything. Though hopefully not something that had such deadly consequences.

  He turned back to Brian. “I’m heading back now. You go be with your daughter for her surgery.”

  “Really?” Brian’s eyes filled with gratitude.

  “I don’t see what good it would do to have that little girl go through something so scary without her father at her side.”

  Brian reached out and
clasped his hand. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say that eventually you’ll make this right. You’ll come back and face the consequences. Come back when Addy is out of the woods. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

  Brian shook his hand. “You have my word.”

  Gary turned around, hoping that Brian’s word was as good as it used to be. He waved to the little girl in the window, and she gave him a shy smile.

  He walked away, hoping that Addy’s surgery was successful, and she’d live a long, happy life. But for now, this secret was his to keep, until Brian came back and faced the music.

  Chapter 31

  Lil sat in her recliner, reading more entries in the journal, trying to keep her mind occupied. Gary had just jumped up and left earlier today. They’d been talking, and she’d basically put it out there that she didn’t judge him for what happened back in Seattle. She’d said she cared for him and wanted to spend time with him.

  And he’d gotten up and left. No explanation.

  She was such a fool. It had only been a few weeks. She didn’t know him at all.

  … though she’d felt like she did.

  She set the journal down. This was not the time to concentrate on it and figure things out. She’d get back to it after Sara’s wedding. After things settled down. After… she wasn’t so hurt.

  Her heart twisted in her chest as she got up to make a cup of hot tea. She’d taken a chance. She’d tried. Evidently Gary wasn’t on the same level as she was. He’d been so eager to leave after he’d gotten that phone call. Fine. Go take care of whatever. Right when she’d placed her heart out there in the open for him.

  She made the tea and sat back down. Then got up to adjust a picture that wasn’t hanging straight on the wall. Then decided to fold her teal throw neatly and put it on the back of the couch. Then the magazines needed straightening.

  Then she couldn’t see anything else that needed to be fixed. Except maybe her heart.