Garden of Secrets
Page 1
Everyone loves Angel’s Bay!
AT HIDDEN FALLS
“Angel’s Bay shines in Freethy’s talented hands as she updates the lives of continuing characters, adds several memorable new ones, and dusts it all with magic and hope.”
—Library Journal
“Reading At Hidden Falls is like learning more about personal friends and close relatives, as they continue to reside in your thoughts long after the book is finished.”
—Single Titles
“A compelling, magical story of love, heartbreak, happiness, community, and courage . . . fast paced.”
—My Book Addiction and More
“Truly a work of art . . . a very satisfying read.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“A lovely romance. . . . It is always fun to visit the little town on the bay.”
—Romantic Times
IN SHELTER COVE
“A compelling story of intrigue, along with a romantic story of love, forgiveness, and faithfulness.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A good solid romance and a spine-tingling mystery all in a tidy package. . . . Freethy does a fine job of keeping us guessing [and she] continues several ongoing stories to keep things fresh. I can’t wait to see where they will lead as the series continues.”
—A Romance Review
ON SHADOW BEACH
“A lovely contemporary romance.”
—Romantic Times
“On Shadow Beach teems with action, drama and compelling situations. . . . A fast-paced page-turner that unravels small-town scandals and secrets.”
—BookPage
“On Shadow Beach has a fascinating touch of magic plus an abundance of genuinely heartfelt emotions, where everything is wrapped around an intriguing mystery.”
—Single Titles
“This compelling story is fast-paced, filled with renewed acquaintances, complicated relationships and plenty of mystery. You will love the story and be surprised on several accounts by the ending.”
—Fresh Fiction
“An excellent, easy-to-read novel. It flows beautifully with intriguing and appealing characters. It will grab you within the first few pages and just keeps getting better.”
—Romance Reviews Today
SUDDENLY ONE SUMMER
“Suddenly One Summer delivers a double whammy to the heart. Ms. Freethy cuts to the core with her depiction of a woman in jeopardy and a man who no longer believes that life has anything to offer. . . . A story that will keep you spellbound.”
—Winter Haven News Chief (FL)
“Intriguing, suspenseful.”
—Library Journal
“Suddenly One Summer transported me to be a beautiful place and drew me into a story of family secrets, passion, betrayal and redemption.”
—New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs
“Angel’s Bay . . . promises many poignant and heartwarming stories.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Freethy has written a suspenseful and captivating story, weaving in human frailty along with true compassion, making every page a delight.”
—Reader to Reader Reviews
“Angel’s Bay is a place I’ll want to visit time and again. . . . Freethy has done a beautiful job of weaving a compelling story.”
—Romance Novel TV
“A well-written, captivating story, with good pacing that will leave you satisfied as it unfolds . . . fascinating story.”
—Romance Reviews Today
ALSO BY BARBARA FREETHY
At Hidden Falls
In Shelter Cove
On Shadow Beach
Suddenly One Summer
Now Available from Pocket Star
Pocket Star Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Barbara Freethy
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsover. For information, address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Pocket Star Books paperback edition October 2011
POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Cover illustration copyright © by Thomas Szadziuk/Trevillion Images
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4516-3651-2
ISBN 978-1-4516-3653-6 (ebook)
To Terry for always being there!
Thank you for purchasing this Pocket Star Books eBook.
Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to bonus content, and info on the latest new releases and other great eBooks from Pocket Star Books and Simon & Schuster.
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EPILOGUE
‘THE WAY BACK HOME’ TEASER
Don’t forget
to click through after
Garden of Secrets
for an exclusive sneak peek
at Barbara Freethy's next heartwarming tale
THE WAY BACK HOME
Available from Pocket Books July 2012
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to thank my writing friends who provided wisdom and support during the writing of the Angel’s Bay series: Bella Andre, Jami Alden, Anne Mallory, Carol Culver, Lynn Hanna, Diana Dempsey, Kate Moore, Barbara McMahon, Monica McCarty, Tracy Grant, Candice Hern, and Veronica Wolff. And special thanks to Christie Ridgway for always answering the phone when I needed her. I’d also like to thank my family for participating in research field trips as I brought Angel’s Bay to life. And to the readers who fell in love with Angel’s Bay in the first book, Suddenly One Summer, and have read every one since then, I hope you enjoy reading Garden of Secrets as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Garden of Secrets
ONE
New Year’s Eve
It was a night for new possibilities, a night for dreaming. But would her dreams last past the stroke of midnight?
They never have before.
Normally an optimist, Charlotte Adams didn’t usually worry about the future or think about the past. She’d deliberately lived in the present for more than a decade. But the past few weeks of hectic holidays, family changes, and now the flipping of the calendar made her feel . . . restless. She glanced around the crowded room, wondering if she could make an escape.
The mayor, Robert Monroe, and his wife, Theresa, had invited half the town to their
New Year’s Eve party so they could show off their new home, the stately Sandstone Manor. Sitting on a bluff on the north end of Angel’s Bay, the grand old estate had fallen into disrepair over the past thirty years at the hands of a wealthy, eccentric recluse. The hundred-year-old, seven-bedroom, five-bath house with the castlelike turrets, dramatic bay windows, and alleged ghosts had always fascinated the town, and when it had come up for sale two months ago, the Monroes had snapped it up. Everyone who’d been lucky enough to get an invitation to tonight’s party had accepted, dying to get a look inside.
Charlotte made her way through the living room, past the dining-room buffet tables laden with shrimp and crab, and into the kitchen, where a busy catering staff didn’t give her a second look. She slipped out a side door onto a patio overlooking the sea and reveled in the blessed quiet.
It was a dark night, the moon and stars hidden behind the fog that had rolled in after dusk. The cold, misty breeze felt good against her face. Maybe she could stay out here until the party died down. There would be questions if she tried to ditch before midnight. Most of her friends were inside, and they wanted her to be as happy as they were.
Sighing, she rested her arms on the wood railing, thinking about how many changes they’d all gone through in the last year. Colin had recovered from his shooting, and he and Kara were a family now, their baby getting bigger each day. Jason and Brianna were about to start the new year no longer enemies but lovers. And Lauren and Shane were getting married in two weeks.
Everyone was settling down, and this party was making her wonder what the hell she was doing with her own life. She had a good career and loved being an ob/gyn, but her personal life was another story. She’d always had great friendships with men, but relationships . . . She had trouble letting anyone get too close to her heart. She never wanted to get hurt again.
The door opened behind her, followed by Kara’s cheerful voice. “Charlotte, I’ve been looking all over for you. It’s almost midnight. What are you doing out here?”
“Getting some air,” she said with a smile, hoping her friend wouldn’t see past it.
“It’s freezing,” Kara said with a shiver as she wrapped her arms around herself, her dark red hair blowing in the breeze.
“It feels good,” Charlotte replied, although her short black party dress was no better defense against the winter wind than Kara’s turquoise mini.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Kara asked, giving her a speculative look.
She shrugged. “I don’t like New Year’s Eve. Everyone makes such a big deal about it, and the night never lives up to its hype. I’d just as soon skip the whole thing.”
“Would your cynical mood have something to do with a man?”
“No.”
Kara raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because I thought you were coming with Andrew, and he’s nowhere in sight.”
“Something came up. He said he’d try to get here before midnight, but who knows?” Having grown up with a minister for a father, she knew the demands of Andrew’s job. Her father had missed many important occasions in her life. She’d learned early on to lower her expectations.
“I’m sure Andrew won’t miss a chance to kiss you at midnight,” Kara said.
Charlotte smiled, Kara’s words triggering an old memory. “Actually, he missed a New Year’s Eve kiss once before. Senior year in high school, I was so excited to finally have a boyfriend on New Year’s that I spent all my money on an incredibly hot dress. But Andrew got the flu and spent the night hurling his guts, and I wound up sitting home alone. Just another example of New Year’s Eve not living up to its promise.”
Kara’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “That is a sad story, but you were never a loser.” She paused, her expression growing more concerned. “I hope someone isn’t in trouble and that’s why Andrew isn’t here.”
“He didn’t give me any details when he called.” When he’d suggested meeting here tonight, she’d been relieved. Coming to the party together in front of the entire town would have been quite a statement, and she wasn’t ready for that yet. Andrew Schilling was a big part of her past, but their future was still to be decided.
“You’re going to freeze out here,” Kara said. “You should have picked somewhere warmer to hide out.”
“It’s invigorating—the cold wind, the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below. It gets your blood pumping.”
“The fog is frizzing my hair.”
“So go inside.”
“Not without you. I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine tomorrow,” Charlotte reassured her.
“Will you be? Or will you just have your guard back up?”
They’d known each other since they were kids, and Kara was very good at reading between the lines and seeing the truth behind a lie.
“If you don’t go back in, your husband will send out a search party,” she teased.
“He’d need one in this huge place. It’s even more spectacular than I imagined,” Kara said. “Theresa certainly got everything she ever wanted.”
Charlotte nodded. “I knew Robert came from money, but I didn’t realize the Monroes were this wealthy. This house must have cost a fortune.”
“One of Robert’s uncles recently passed away and left him a bundle. Did you see the diamond necklace Theresa’s wearing? It originally belonged to Edward Worthington’s wife; it was still around her neck when she washed up dead onshore after the shipwreck.”
Charlotte made a face. “Thanks for the visual.”
Kara grinned. “Sorry. But I just think it’s interesting that Theresa bought herself a link to the shipwreck. She always hated that her family wasn’t connected to the survivors who founded Angel’s Bay.”
“Whatever it takes, I guess.”
“I’d feel happier for her good fortune if she’d been a little nicer to us in high school.”
Charlotte nodded in agreement. Theresa and her beautiful band of cheerleaders had been a year older than Charlotte, and they’d ruled the school with their own brand of meanness. But Theresa’s younger sister, Pamela, had been Charlotte’s personal nemesis.
“So can we go in now?” Kara pleaded.
“Sure,” she said. “But I’m going to leave. If anyone asks, just say I had a patient to check on.”
Kara sighed. “Fine, but I wish you would wait. You could miss out on an awesome kiss.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
When they returned to the party, Kara was swept into conversation with Colin and another couple, so Charlotte slipped through the crowd.
As she turned into the hallway, the front door opened, and Andrew walked in wearing gray slacks and a white button-down shirt under a dark sports coat. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the tall, lean, golden man with bright blue eyes and an irresistible smile. The first time she’d talked to him, she was sixteen; he’d asked her for a pencil in math class. From that moment on, she’d spent hours doodling their names together and trying to run into him accidentally on purpose.
Andrew had been one of the most popular guys in high school, and dating him had seemed like an impossible dream. She wasn’t one of the cheerleaders or the wild girls who seemed to surround him. But somehow, on one of those “accidental” meetings, they’d started talking, and he’d asked her to hang out after a football game. From there, they’d become inseparable. With Andrew, she’d felt prettier, smarter, more self-confident, and wildly in love. Then the rug had been pulled out from under her. Sixteen and on top of the world turned into eighteen and as sad as could be.
She watched as Andrew made his way down the hall, hampered by the effusive Kelleher sisters, who smothered him with hugs and kisses and high-pitched conversation. The sisters were both divorced, in their late thirties, and they hung out in the local bars on Saturday nights trolling for eligible men. Apparently, they had Andrew in their sights.
Before she could make a move to rescue him, the front door opened again. Joe
Silveira entered with a purposeful step, dressed in black slacks, a dark gray shirt, and a black leather jacket. The sexy chief of police was night to Andrew’s day. Joe had thick dark brown hair, olive skin, intense eyes, and a rough edge that had been sharpened by his career as a cop. He was more rugged and less polished than Andrew. And where Andrew was talkative and outgoing, Joe kept most of his thoughts to himself.
Living in Angel’s Bay almost a year now, Joe was well respected but kept most people at a distance. He rarely let down his guard, but on occasion she had seen the simmering passion just beneath the surface and wondered what he’d be like if he ever let go of the tight control he exercised over his life and his emotions.
It had been weeks since she’d seen him. He’d gone to L.A. just after Thanksgiving, when his father suffered a stroke. She’d almost forgotten how attractive he was, how her stomach flipped every time she saw him, how his smoking-hot body made her face flush and her heart race. Definite heartbreaking potential.
She should have left the party sooner—both men’s gazes were in search of someone, and she knew that someone was her.
A man in the crowd suddenly shouted, “One minute to midnight.”
She felt an overwhelming desire to run for her life.
“Thirty seconds!”
Andrew and Joe were moving down the hall, drawing closer. What was she going to do? Kiss one, then the other? She’d been caught between the two men before, and it was not a happy place to be.