“I went to Bedford with a girlfriend of mine to see a musical production by the Little Town Players. There he was. Two rows in front of me. With his lovey-dovey wife.”
“How did you know she was his wife? Maybe she was a sister or a business acquaintance.” King rested his head on the bed and looked at Aurora with pleading eyes. She rubbed his head.
“Nope. I saw a wedding band and a huge diamond on her left hand when she shooed a fly off the back of her neck. Then I asked the lady sitting in front of me if she knew them. She said yeah, that this was the first time in a couple of months that she’d seen them. Said they used to be in a couple’s bridge club together. After I recovered from the shock, I asked her to reach over and tap Fred on the shoulder. When he turned around and saw me, I thought he would choke on his own spit. Wish he had. Anyhow, I just stared at him, didn’t smile, cocked my finger at him like a gun, and mouthed ‘Gotcha!’”
Aurora struggled into her robe and asked, “When did this happen?”
“About eight months ago.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I was a big fool, but believe me—it won’t happen again.”
“Did you give the ring back to him?”
“Girl friend, do you think I’m daft? Of course not.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.
“I’d love to see what he looks like. Do you have a picture of him?”
“I had lots of pictures, but I ripped them all up. Now I’m changing the subject. Aurora, I called to talk over an idea with you. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Certainly. What’s up? Do you want me to help you murder Fred? Maybe stick matches under all his toenails, light ‘em and watch him burn in agony? Or slather honey all over his body and stake him out in the broiling sun near a big ant hill?”
“I wish.” Carole giggled. “Remember how much fun we had at the lake in our younger days? I’ll always have fond memories of our canoe adventures, especially the time we capsized and lost our paddles. We grabbed hold of the canoe and held on for nearly an hour until your mom rescued us in the speed boat.”
Aurora laughed, remembering how her mother had fussed over them and insisted they take long, hot baths. When the girls finally climbed out of the tub, Margaret fed them homemade chicken soup to ward off pneumonia. And it was summertime.
“You and your parents made me feel so welcome. Maybe that’s why I’ve always loved Smith Mountain Lake.
“Anyhow, a small real estate agency went up for sale here and I bought it five months ago. I’m beginning to think I lost all sanity, but I needed a challenge to get my mind off Fred.” Carole sighed. “I’m taking a big chance; the company was nearly bankrupt when I bought it. That’s why I’m calling. I need your help. Aurora, will you produce a promo for me? Please?”
“Carole, if it were any other time….”
“Aurora, please say yes.”
“Darn it, Carole, I hate this, but I just can’t get involved in something else right now. As much as I’d love to do it for you, I have to say no. I hate to, especially to you, but I finished a promotional piece for a town in North Carolina only days before Mother died, and I’m dog-tired. I’m trying to organize her legal affairs, and many loose ends still need tidying up. I’m not ready to tackle a new assignment. Besides, I don’t have all the necessary equipment with me. I’m sure there are many other qualified people around who could do it for you.”
“There’s something I haven’t told you, Aurora.” The smile in Carole’s voice disappeared.
Aurora groaned. This sounded like the Carole she knew so well, the Carole who never laid all her cards on the table at the same time. Aurora waited.
“I’ve invested every single cent I have in this agency. A good commercial that I could use as a promo would really help. You know, a CD or DVD, something I can send to prospective clients, a clip to put on my web site, maybe even a spot on TV. I don’t want a whole travelogue; just a three-minute piece would do. Guess I was hoping that since we’re good friends, you’d give me a price break. Besides, you’re the best in the business. And I need it in one to two weeks.”
“Carole, that’s not much time for anybody to put something together.” She stuck her feet in her slippers.
“You’re right, but I’m desperate. I need to recoup some of my investment as soon as possible. And that means contracting rentals and sales for this year if I can. I know it’s pretty late for this summer, but I need to try. And a promo might get me some business for the fall season.” Carole continued. “If anyone can do it, you can. You’d have complete control, and I’d help you get your resources together. I’d even drive to Roanoke and rent whatever equipment you need. Won’t you do this for me? Please?”
“Carole, I’m exhausted mentally and physically. It’s not a good time for me. I’m so sorry.” Aurora paused. She felt so guilty. “Can we get together for dinner some night, though?” she asked.
“I’m disappointed, Aurora, but I guess I understand. And yes, we can get together for dinner. We’re still friends. I just hoped we could be business associates, too,” she said as she hung up.
Relieved when Aurora finally opened the kitchen door, King dashed outside.
An hour after her conversation with Carole, Aurora phoned Sam. She heard voices in the background when he answered. “Sounds like you’re in the middle of a meeting, but I really needed to talk to you,” she blurted.
“Sam, I’m not returning to Augusta this week. I’m worn out and emotionally drained. The lake can heal me if I give it a chance. Tell Harold Johns that I won’t be there for dinner Saturday night. Okay?” Then she told him about Carole and the job offer.
“That sounds like a job made for you, Susie-Q. When do you start?”
“I don’t.” She could almost feel Sam’s disappointment. “I turned her down. Sam, I’m just not ready for more responsibility in my life right now. Besides, the promo needs to be completed in one or two weeks. And it would mean I couldn’t go back to Augusta soon.” She stared out the window at the lake.
“You’ll regret it if you don’t do this for Carole. Aurora, you love Smith Mountain Lake. You’ve always said you’d like to produce a lake travelogue. And a promo piece wouldn’t take nearly the time a travelogue would require. You could do this. You told me once that when you’re agonizing over a decision, you ask yourself if you will be sorry if you don’t do it. You need to ask yourself that question now.”
“My laptop with all the necessary software is in Augusta.”
“I can send your laptop and any other equipment you need by overnight delivery.”
Aurora didn’t reply. She needed time to rest, to mourn, to heal, to gain control. She liked Carole a lot, but darn her, why had she called now?
Sam continued, “And it would be a good distraction for you. Sure, you’ll have some down times while you’re working on it, but you’ll miss your mother for the rest of your life. Just like you do your dad.” Just like we both miss our unborn child. Then he added in the low, sexy voice she loved so much, the voice that never failed to send goose bumps racing over her entire body, “And I’ll come for visits every weekend if you want me to.”
“Sam, I’m too tired to argue any longer. Maybe you’re right. That’s probably the advice I would offer someone else. I’ll call Carole right now. She offered to drive to Roanoke to rent what I need, but I’d rather use my own stuff. I’ll work up a list of everything I want you to send me and e-mail it to you.” She opened the drawer and pulled out a pencil and note pad. “I know you’re having a business dinner with Harold and Melinda on Saturday, but would you please come to the lake the following weekend?”
The doorbell rang before Sam could respond. Over the din of King’s barking, Aurora said goodbye and opened the door. A man wearing tan overalls with “Tom’s Tidy Lawn & Lake Service” and “Biff” stitched in yellow on a dark green patch stood on the porch.
“Good morning, ma’am. Are you Ms. Harris?” He kept a w
ary eye on King who stood between them.
“Yes, I am. Are you here to cut the grass?”
“Yes, ma’am. I came to work on the yard and noticed your car. Didn’t want to startle you none, so I figured I’d just better let you know I was here. Actually, I was surprised to see your car; the Service thought y’all would be away longer.”
“I came back Thursday for my Mother’s funeral. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. Could you continue doing the yard work? It would be a big help to my husband and me.”
“Yes, ma’am, the Service will be happy for the business.” Biff walked off to start the push mower.
“By the way, the pot of pansies on the dock is a really nice touch!” Aurora hollered after him. Then she closed the door and phoned Carole.
“I’ll do it. That is, if you still want me,” Aurora said. Carole shrieked with delight.
“I think videotape will be fine for what you want. Then, if you wish, I can transfer the tape to CD and DVD. If I use 16mm motion picture film, the price will jump considerably. Is that agreeable with you?”
“Videotape will be perfect,” said Carole.
After discussing Aurora’s requirements, Carole agreed to have a boat with guide Luke Stancill at Aurora’s dock by 2:00 that afternoon. Even though the day had started out dreary and rainy, the sky was now clear. Carole and Aurora both knew good weather was iffy this time of year. With such a tight time schedule, they couldn’t waste a minute.
Pad and pencil in hand, Aurora listed items she needed to take with her on the boat: video camera, 35mm camera, digital camera, tripods, lenses, map of the lake with locations of marinas and other points of interest marked, binoculars, water bottle. She admitted to herself that Sam was right. She could feel her creative juices beginning to flow.
Her stomach growled so she stopped and made lunch. King whined and scratched on the front door. Aurora let him out while she chewed on a peanut butter and peach jam sandwich. “Okay, King, go. Just don’t be gone too long.”
Years ago Aurora had been familiar with much of the shoreline; she’d explored many of the coves by canoe or kayak from above Hales Ford Bridge all the way to the dam. But new businesses and residential communities had cropped up since she and Sam had moved to Augusta, and the shoreline had changed. Taking advantage of the time remaining before the guide arrived, she opened the phone book to the yellow pages and jotted down names and addresses of waterfront locations unfamiliar to her. She would ask the guide about these.
Deep in thought, she opened the door at the sound of King’s “Here-I-am-let-me-in” bark. In he trotted, followed by a bedraggled dog hobbling on three legs. The small dog’s short coat was matted with burrs and mud, and his ribs were plainly visible.
“King, what in the world have you brought home?”
Aurora knelt down to get a closer look at the dog and King licked Aurora’s face with his big, sloppy tongue. Then he whined and nudged the filthy dog.
Gently she ran her hands along the dog’s body. He shook, and several times he whimpered and winced when she touched a sensitive spot, but never once did he growl or snap. “Hey, little guy, what happened to you?” She decided to call him Little Guy.
“Time for a bath, Little Guy.” Aurora carefully picked him up and carried him to the laundry tub. He shuddered when she cleaned the dried blood and mud from the large wound running along the left side of his body. She dried him gently with a thick towel, poured peroxide on a cotton ball, and dabbed at the inflamed and oozing cuts.
Aurora studied Little Guy as he sprawled on the bed of clean towels she’d piled up for him. He was mostly white with brown ears and brown around his dark, almond-shaped eyes. He had a large irregular tan spot on his right side. He had no collar or any visible identification tattoos. Little Guy ate a piece of dry dog food from Aurora’s hand and wagged his stubby tail.
Aurora smiled as she gently stroked Little Guy’s head. She’d always liked Jack Russell terriers.
CHAPTER NINE
Hallelujah! At last arrangements to fly Robert Reeves back to Washington were complete. Ten days ago he’d left on a cruise and wasn’t due back for another week. Jill had a devil of a time locating him; he’d neglected to leave the name of the cruise line. Not like it used to be. Six years ago she would have had no trouble knowing his whereabouts. In fact, she probably would have been with him. Only late last night had she been able to reach his sister-in-law and find out how to get in touch with him.
By age eight, Jill knew she wanted to go to college right after high school, but that wasn’t an option. She would still break into sweats when she remembered the sweltering summer day her Poppa came home with the precious, newborn baby girl. Jill and her brothers and sisters had kept watch all day, each hoping to be the one to yell, “Momma’s home!” Jill, sitting astride a limb high up in a maple tree, was the first to see their dusty old farm truck turn onto the dirt drive, and she scrambled down and hollered to the other children. But when Poppa drove up and got out of the car, Momma wasn’t there—only the baby. In tears, her father had knelt down on the ground, hugged his children close to him, and told them they’d have to be strong, that mother had gone to heaven and wouldn’t be coming home.
So at ten, Jill was forced to help raise seven younger siblings. She cooked, cleaned, washed and ironed clothes, bandaged the physical hurts and soothed the emotional ones. But she never complained. Instead she planned. When the last child graduated from high school, Jill, age twenty-eight, put herself through a community college near her home in upstate New York. After getting an associate’s degree in business, she worked as a secretary while attending night school. By the time she’d earned a B.A. in business management, she’d moved up the professional ladder. Then she left New York and joined Lampwerth International.
And met Robert Reeves.
She and Robert were attracted to each other the first day they met. Soon they spent every spare minute with each other, even took vacations together. Jill, age thirty-two, and Robert, eight years older, fell madly and passionately in love. Then J. Melton Lampwerth IV enforced his company’s no-dating policy. Robert, already vice-president of the firm, begged Jill to resign her position and marry him. They didn’t need the money, he’d said. But she said no. She’d dreamed too long and sacrificed too much to throw it all away. She vowed to put her hard-earned education to use. After only two years with the company, Jill earned Lampwerth’s trust and respect. She soon became executive secretary/assistant to the president, number one employee. She remained single and lonely, while Robert became one of D.C.’s most eligible bachelors.
When she finally talked with Robert early this morning, he hadn’t seemed the least bit worried about Mr. Lampwerth. “He’ll either call you soon or walk through the door any minute,” he said. He assured her that Mr. Lampwerth was taking some much needed R&R. Two hours later he called back and instructed Jill to arrange his transportation home to Washington ASAP.
“Why did you change your mind, Robert?”
“I’ll tell you when I see you at the airport.”
A private helicopter would pluck him from the cruise ship on Wednesday and fly him to a little airport on the Australian coast. From there he’d take a puddle jumper to Sydney, and then catch a commercial flight to D.C., arriving at Reagan National Airport at 7:39 p.m. Thursday. None too soon for Jill.
Nan tapped on the door, then entered Jill’s office. She hesitated in front of Jill’s desk and fidgeted with her jacket sleeve. “Miss Hathaway, there’s something you should know.” Jill waited. “Mary Ellen Bagby from accounting said there’s a rumor going around that Lampwerth International is broke. She said Mr. Lampwerth and Mr. Reeves have taken all the money and have fled the country together.”
“That’s absurd. I’ve talked with Mr. Reeves twice today, will pick him up at the airport Thursday night. So you can tell Mary Ellen Bagby to go to—uh, well, that she is incorrect.”
“But what about Mr. Lampwerth, Miss Hathaway? Have yo
u heard from him yet?”
“Nan, I’ll be honest with you. I haven’t talked with him, and I’m worried. So is Mr. Reeves. But I can tell you this much; Mr. Lampwerth loves Lampwerth International. It’s his baby, and he would never steal from the company he started. I’m sure there’s an explanation. When Mr. Reeves arrives, we’ll get to the bottom of this.
“And now, Nan, I have a stack of work to do and phone calls to make. Please shut the door on your way out.”
Jill hoped Robert’s presence would squelch the rumors before they spread. She and Robert would consult with the accountant first thing Friday morning. She reached for a cigarette.
CHAPTER TEN
Three short barks from King announced a boat’s arrival. Aurora glanced at the waterproof watch Sam had given her two years ago for her birthday—1:50. Good, Luke was punctual, even early, and she liked that. Grabbing her water bottle and slipping her arms into a red, white and green plaid windbreaker, she rushed out the door, onto the deck and down the steps. On ground level, Aurora paused to give King a quick pat, then grabbed the video camera and other equipment. She looped the 35mm and digital cameras over her neck and shoulders. Then she hurried on down the winding path to the dock.
“Hi, I’m Luke Stancill. You must be Aurora.” He was young, thirtyish, good-looking with curly brown hair. His big, dark eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled. He wore faded Levi’s, a white turtleneck shirt, and an unzipped red, white and green plaid windbreaker. Both burst out laughing as they realized they wore matching jackets.
“Yes, I’m Aurora, and we both have excellent taste in clothes.” She took his steadying hand and stepped into the boat. “Do you mind if King comes? He loves riding in a boat.”
“Love to have ‘im. He’ll add some class.” Luke held onto the dock and asked, “Carole told me to drive you around so you could videotape the lake, but what specifically do you want?”
“Good footage of several residential areas like Mountain View Shores, Cedar Key, Mariners Landing, Waverly and Waters Edge, marinas, the State Park, and Hales Ford Bridge would all be great. I’d welcome any ideas you have, too.” Aurora handed him her list. “Also some shots of the mountain and dam, the cliffs, wide-water views, and quiet coves. And shooting from Saunders Parkway Marina is an absolute must. Maybe we could even photograph a fisherman reeling in a bass or a striper. I’d really love to get a shot of a bald eagle gliding just above the water and an osprey diving for his dinner. And it would be great if we could find a great blue heron waiting patiently for a fish to swim by.”
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