by Melinda Metz
Did she wish she’d never met him? Or at least that she’d never slept with him? Did he?
“Maybe behaving badly is more the real me than I want to admit,” she went on. “I didn’t treat you the way I should have. Then last night, I was horrible to Caleb, and after he’d been willing to forgive me for everything.” She grabbed his hand. “Just know I’m sorry. If I could change the way I did everything, I would.”
She started to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t let her. “Hey, this is supposed to be my apology. That’s why I brought you out here.”
“Apology accepted,” Briony told him. She looked around. “You picked a beautiful place for it. Did you design the garden?”
“Yeah. I wanted to put it in myself, but—” He shrugged.
Briony gently pulled her hand away from him. This time, he didn’t try to stop her. It’s not like they were still . . . in a thing. “I saw the signs about the meeting when I was on my way to Gib’s,” she told him.
“Organized by Eliza,” Nate told her. “I think it’s going to be bad.”
“You have a lot of support here. You have to know that.”
“That was before so many people got sick, before the treadmill, and the ventilation problems,” Nate reminded her.
“Well, I visited a lot of residents yesterday, and I didn’t hear anyone bad-mouthing you or The Gardens,” Briony said. “I’d like to—Would it be okay if I came tonight? As a friend. I know I haven’t been around long, but I care about what happens.”
Nate realized that he’d like to look out at the crowd and see Briony there. “I’d appreciate that.”
“Good. Now I have an awkward question for you.”
“And all the rest of our conversations have been so smooth and painless.”
“Well, I remember a few that were.” Briony looked him in the eye. “Here’s the question: How would you feel about Caleb coming to the meeting, too?” She held up one hand to keep him from answering too fast. “He’s a lawyer. A good one. And it might be useful to have a lawyer listening to whatever Eliza is going to say.”
“I doubt he’s going to want to do me any favors,” Nate answered. And he wasn’t sure he was okay with Briony’s ex helping him out even if Caleb was willing.
“If you knew him, you wouldn’t say that. So, is it okay if he comes?”
He’d rather pretend the guy didn’t exist. But that would be impossible even if Nate never saw Caleb again. And a lawyer might not be a bad idea. He wouldn’t have to announce there was a lawyer present. He could just present Caleb as a friend of Briony’s.
“If he’s up for it, that would be great.”
CHAPTER 19
Nate’s coffee was so hot it burned his tongue, but after only a few seconds he took another sip, then muttered a curse at his stupidity. He didn’t need coffee at all. His nerves were already frayed, and he was so keyed up his blood pressure was probably high enough to give him a nosebleed. In a little more than two hours, the meeting at The Gardens was starting up, and even though he’d prepped for every question, it was easy to imagine the night being catastrophic for him and The Gardens.
He took another swallow of coffee. Still too hot. Because he’d only waited about another three seconds. He was an idiot. He had to get it together. If he was honest, he had to admit that a small part of his anxiety was coming from the fact that Briony and her ex should be walking in anytime for a strategy session. He wasn’t looking forward to spending time with Caleb, even though he appreciated Caleb being willing to help him out. He felt like Caleb had slept with his girlfriend, even though, one, Briony wasn’t his girlfriend, and, two, Caleb was engaged to Briony before Nate even met her.
He picked up his coffee again, needing to do something with his hands, but this time he stopped himself before he drank any. The door swung open, and when Nate looked over he saw Briony, Caleb, and his sister walk in. What was Nathalie doing here? He was stressed out enough. He didn’t need any of her drama tonight.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the meeting?” Nathalie demanded as soon as the three of them sat down at Nate’s table.
“That’s probably not the most important question right now,” Caleb answered before Nate could say anything.
“It’s important to me,” Nathalie protested.
“I didn’t tell you because I have it handled.”
“You have it handled? Then why were you meeting with these two?” Nathalie jerked her chin toward Briony and Caleb.
“I’m getting some legal advice. You’re not a lawyer,” Nate answered.
Nathalie crossed her arms. “I’m coming tonight. You can’t stop me.”
“Nathalie, do you realize you make everything about you?” Nate demanded. “Everything. I’m trying to deal with a crisis, and you’re about to throw a fit because you feel excluded. Which means I’ll have to do what I always do—talk you down. And I really don’t have time for that right now.”
“I’m not throwing a fit. All I was doing was telling you that I’ll be at the meeting. I can’t believe you’re getting mad because I want to show you some support.”
“Fine. Thank you. I’m happy you’ll be there.” He’d tried to sound sincere, but his words came out with an edge.
“Yeah, that sounds believable.”
“Drinks!” Briony exclaimed. “We need drinks. Nate, you already have yours. What does everyone else want?”
“I’ll have a caramel macchiato,” Nathalie answered. Nate knew there would be a lot more coming and told himself not to act annoyed. He needed to get in a good headspace before the meeting. “Large, skim, extra shot, extra hot, extra whip, sugar-free.”
“You might have to say that one more time,” Briony said.
“Just get her a caramel macchiato. She can—”
“Not a problem. I got it.” Caleb rattled back the order. “Skim, extra shot, extra hot, extra whip, sugar-free.”
“Thank you.” Nathalie managed to beam at him and scowl at Nate almost simultaneously.
“And Briony? Flat white?” Caleb asked.
Briony caught her lower lip between her teeth. “I think I’ll go for a chai latte.”
“You know the powder they use—” Caleb started, then gave his head a hard shake. “Got it.” He stood and headed for the counter.
“I’ll help him carry.” Briony hurried after him.
It was obvious they were giving him and Nathalie some privacy, probably because they didn’t want a front-row seat to a brother-and-sister squabble.
“If you want to come, you should come.” He couldn’t stop himself from adding, “But you’ve never wanted to before. You saw me breaking my back trying to keep the place going right after Dad left and you didn’t even bother putting in an appearance at the holiday party.”
“That’s so not fair. I was only nineteen.”
“Obviously, so was I. Twins, remember?” She really did make him revert to an obnoxious kid.
“You told me it was okay to go away to school.”
“And it was. It was, Nathalie. I was always more interested in the place. I—”
“That’s so not fair!”
“I don’t mean it in a bad way. I just mean when I was a kid I liked hanging around over at The Gardens with Grandpa. When I wasn’t inhaling deeply while listening to Black Butterfly on repeat.”
Nathalie laughed. “I almost forgot you had that stoner metal phase. It’s like you were a different person.”
“I was. But I still listen to it sometimes,” he admitted.
Briony and Nate returned to the table. Nathalie took a sip of her drink. “Perfect,” she decreed.
“Nate, I invited Nathalie to meet with us this afternoon, and I told her it would be a good idea for her to come tonight. It’ll be good to remind everyone that The Gardens is a family business, and that you have the support of your family,” Caleb said as soon as he sat down.
“She’s welcome to be there.” Nate looked at Nathalie, so she’d know he meant it.
“Good. It’s important that neither of you appears upset when Eliza or anyone else is giving a negative opinion. I don’t want either of you to look defensive,” Caleb continued. “Now, Nate, I know that you’re letting Eliza run the meeting, and I think that’s fine. But I think you should introduce her, make it clear that you’re still in charge and that you’re allowing her to have her say because it’s important to you that everyone’s concerns are heard.”
Good advice, Nate thought. He was starting to feel a little calmer. Having proactive things to focus on helped. He pulled out his phone so he could take a few notes. When Caleb had been talking for about ten minutes, the cell started playing “Ghostbusters.”
“It’s my mom,” he said. “I need to take it. I’ll make it as quick as I can.”
“Of course,” Caleb answered. He was so polite. So helpful. Like he had no problem at all that Nate had slept with Briony. His attitude mystified Nate, but he was grateful.
“There’s someone in the house,” his mother said as soon as Nate answered.
“Where are you?” Nate managed to keep his voice calm. He didn’t want to panic her.
“I just got back from the store. I went to the kitchen door, and it was unlocked. I know I locked it. I know I did, Nate.” Her voice quavered.
“Where are you now?” he repeated.
“I’m in the garage. I don’t want whoever it is to see me.”
“Are you sure you locked the door? If you went out the front when you left, you—”
“I’m sure! And I’m sure there’s someone in my house.”
“Hang tight. I’ll be right over,” Nate promised.
“What’s wrong?” Briony asked as soon as he hung up.
“Did something happen to Mom?” Nathalie cried.
“She says someone’s in the house. I need to get over there. I know someone’s been watching the place, but I never thought they’d go in.”
When he stood, the other three rose as well. “We’re coming with you,” Nathalie told him.
He didn’t argue.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was close by. They were able to reach his mom’s house in less than ten minutes. Nate led the way to the garage. “Mom?” he called as he stepped inside.
“Did you check the house?” his mother asked.
“I wanted to check on you first,” he told her. “Nath, will you stay with her while I do?”
“Of course,” his sister said.
“You want me to come with you?” Caleb asked.
“No. I got it.” He could deal with Caleb helping him prep for the meeting. But letting him help with this? His ego couldn’t take it.
Nate hurried around to the kitchen door. He tried the knob. The door was definitely unlocked. But if someone had gone in to rob the place while his mom was out, they wouldn’t still be in there. He pushed open the door.
This wasn’t possible. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be possible. “Dad?”
His father sat at the kitchen table, in the chair that had always been his when he lived there. Nate had taken it over after his dad took off. Looking at it empty had gotten to his mother. “What are you doing here? You don’t get to just walk in like you live here!”
“When your mother went out, I couldn’t resist taking a look,” his father answered. “Spare key was where it always was. In the mouth of the little stone frog.” Nate couldn’t stop staring. His father looked almost the same. He had a few streaks of gray at his temples and maybe the lines in his forehead were a little deeper, but that was it.
“You’ve been in here before, haven’t you? Mom thought she smelled your cologne.” Nate could smell it now. He’d thought he’d forgotten the scent, but it was powerfully familiar. “I need you to leave. You completely terrified her. She called me hysterical because she thought someone broke it.”
“I want to see her,” his father said. He actually took a swallow of the coffee he’d made himself. “I want to see all of you. I was just trying to decide when would be the right time.” He shook his head. “You almost caught me the other night.”
“That was you?”
“That was me.”
“You can’t just arrive and announce you want to see us. You left. You’ve been gone for years. You can’t—” He faltered, unable to come up with more words. “You can’t,” he repeated.
Then the kitchen door opened, and Nathalie stepped inside. “Mom’s having fits out there. I told her she must have left the door—” Her hand flew up to her mouth, and for a moment she just stared at their father.
“I already told him he needs to go,” Nate said.
Nathalie lowered her hand. She took one step into the room. Then another. “Daddy?”
He stood up, opened his arms, and Nathalie raced into them.
* * *
“I think I should go back in there.” Nate picked at a splinter in the picnic table in his mother’s backyard.
“It hasn’t been very long. I’m sure it feels like it has, but it hasn’t even been fifteen minutes.” Briony felt like she was still trying to get her mind wrapped around what had happened since Nate went to investigate the situation in the house. She couldn’t imagine how he must be feeling.
“You should have seen Nathalie. She ran right over and hugged him like he’d been wrongly imprisoned the last ten-plus years.”
Briony nodded. It was the fifth time Nate had said something similar. She wasn’t sure how to respond, how to help.
“And then my mother saying she wanted to talk to him alone. My mother’s barely been able to do anything on her own since he left, because he destroyed her. But she insists she wants to talk to him alone.” Nate raked his hands through his hair. He’d done it so often it was almost standing on end. “I really think I should get in there.”
“Maybe give it a few minutes longer.” Even though Nate and Nathalie were grown-up, Briony was sure there were things their mother wanted to say to their father alone. “We’re really close. If she needs you, all she has to do is call out and you’ll hear her. She won’t even have to open the door.”
He stood up. “Nathalie should be here.”
“She’ll be right back.” Nathalie had been shaking with emotion when she and Nate came out of the house. Caleb had suggested a quick walk. He’d recently read an article about how a walk or jog activated what scientists called calming neurons. He’d tried to get Nate to come along, but Nate refused to let his mother’s house out of his sight and Briony had stayed with him.
Nate sat back down. “It never even occurred to me the man I spotted watching the house was my father.”
Briony nodded. He’d said that several times, too.
“What is he doing back here? Why now?”
“I don’t know, Nate. Maybe that’s what he’s talking to your mom about now,” Briony suggested.
“That bastard!” Nate was on his feet again. “He heard about the offers I’ve gotten on The Gardens. He came back because he wants the money! He’s behind the sabotage!”
“Wait. You’re going too fast for me. Why would he sabotage a place your family owns?” Briony asked.
“Don’t you get it?” Nate looked feverish, his eyes glittering. “I kept saying I wouldn’t sell. So, he’s sabotaging the place to force my hand. If people start moving out, The Gardens won’t be able to make a profit. He thinks that’ll make me take the offer. He’s here to get his cut—once I have no choice but to sell.”
“I guess it’s possible—”
“It’s more than possible. He did it. Nothing else makes sense.” He strode toward the house. Briony hesitated for a second, then chased after him. He burst into the kitchen. His mom and dad jerked their heads toward him. “Nate, your father and I aren’t—”
“Get out now!” Nate ordered his father. “If you do, I won’t press charges.”
His father slowly stood, raising both hands in a placating gesture. Did he do it? Did he actually sabotage the business Nate had worked so hard to ru
n? More than that. That Nate had made a home for so many people.
“I just wanted to see you, to see all of you,” Nate’s father said. “I don’t think I can walk back in like nothing happened. I didn’t handle this the right way. I should have called, written, asked permission. I guess I was afraid you’d say no. I almost chickened out. I tried to come a few times before. I actually—”
Nate cut him off. “This is bullshit. You didn’t come here for me or Mom or Nathalie. Not after all these years. You came here for money.”
Briony saw guilt on the man’s face but confusion, too. She put one hand on Nate’s arm, wanting to let him know that she was there for him.
“What money? What are you talking about, Nate?” his mother exclaimed.
“Ask him! He knows.”
“I don’t,” his father answered. “I honestly don’t.” Looking at his face, Briony was tempted to believe him, but she didn’t know anything about him. Wow, was the resemblance between him and Nate strong, though.
When Nate spoke, he looked only at his mother. “I’ve gotten some offers from a real estate developer on The Gardens. I turned them down. It’s ours. It’s our family’s. But he—” Nate gestured toward his father but still didn’t look at him. “He never cared about it. Somehow he found out about the offers, and he’s been sabotaging The Gardens so I’d have no choice but to sell. And give him the money. He still owns half the place, at least technically.”
“Someone has been sabotaging The Gardens?” Nate’s father asked. “What happened?”
Finally, Nate looked at him. “You know. You know exactly what happened.” He walked across the room until he was only a foot away from the man. Briony stayed where she was, wishing she could do something but feeling completely helpless. “Now, you are going to leave. Or I’m going to make sure you’re arrested. People could have died. Do you know that? Maybe you thought food poisoning wouldn’t really hurt anyone long term, but elderly people have died from it.”
“Nate! Stop it!” Nathalie cried. Briony hadn’t even heard her and Caleb come in. “Dad couldn’t have done that. He wouldn’t have.”