“There’s no way I could be writing the kinds of articles here that I’m doing for Seattle’s Best.”
“Big disappointment to him, though.”
She leveled Mark a gaze. “But after I left, he found you, didn’t he?”
Mark frowned. “I guess you could put it that way. Or I found him. I was the one who came looking for a job.”
Eva just stared at him. “Whatever. Maybe we’d better get down to business. You want a big memorial, you said.”
“No question. If you don’t want to be involved, my staff and I can pull it off.”
“No, no, I’ll go along with that. There are other things to take care of, too, though.” She pulled her iPad from her purse and switched it on. “Forest Lawn can do the service and the reception. I’ll call them.” She tapped the keyboard.
“We’ll need an obituary. You’re the logical one to write that. We’ll put it on the website, too.”
She looked up and raised her eyebrows. “The Herald is online?”
“Yep. We’re not as backwoods as you think.”
“Good to know. Okay, how about flowers?”
Mark pulled a notebook and pen from his shirt pocket. “I’ll get April on that. She’s on our staff.”
Details about the memorial carried them through dinner. When they finished, they both had to-do lists. “I do appreciate your help,” she told him, slipping her iPad into her purse.
“You’re welcome.” Mark studied her a moment. “So, you’ll be here about a week?”
She nodded. “I can’t afford to be away any longer than that.”
“No, I suppose not.”
On the drive back to the Herald’s office, Eva gazed out the window at the growing darkness. Here and there, lights blinked on, but unlike in Seattle, they barely penetrated the rapidly approaching night. She’d forgotten how dark Willow Beach became once the sun dipped below the horizon.
When they reached Main Street and the office building, Mark drew up behind her car. Leaving the engine running, he stuck his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out a leather key ring. “This is for Seb’s house….”
At the sight of the familiar key ring, memories crowded her mind. She pressed her fingers to her lips. “Oh, no, I couldn’t…not tonight. Besides, I have a reservation at The Gables.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh, yeah, the fancy B and B off the highway. Okay, but take the key. You’ll need it eventually.”
He was right. Sooner or later, she’d have to visit the house where she’d lived with her family. So many memories. So much pain.
She took the key ring, slipped it into her purse, then opened the car door.
He snapped his fingers. “Oh, I almost forgot. Did you know Seb had a will?”
Eva frowned. “He never discussed a will with me. He and my mother always kept financial matters to themselves. I’m not surprised, though. Why do you ask?”
“His lawyer, Lawrence Prentiss, has a copy. His wife called this afternoon when she heard the news. She said Lawrence is out of town. He should be back in a couple of days.”
Eva shrugged. “I can wait. Considering how we parted, I doubt the will has anything to do with me.”
“Just thought I’d mention it.”
“Well, thanks for dinner and for all you’re doing for my dad,” Eva said as she got out of Mark’s SUV.
“Of course,” Mark said as he waved, then he waited for her to drive away.
As she headed out of town, Eva passed the road leading to the freeway. Her fingers itched to turn onto it. She’d drive all night, if she could, to get away from here and return to Seattle. To her condo, her job, her friends—to all that was familiar, all that mattered.
A heavy blanket of fatigue settled over her. How was she ever going to get through the next couple of weeks? Then she thought of her father, whose weeks, days and years were used up too soon. Oh, Dad, why…why did you have to die?
CHAPTER TWO
AS SOON AS EVA’S CAR was out of sight, Mark took a deep breath and leaned back against the seat. Even though their meeting had not been as stressful as he’d expected, his shoulders ached with tension. Probably an accumulation of the entire day’s events, beginning with the discovery of Seb’s lifeless body slumped over his kitchen table.
He straightened and slapped the steering wheel. Enough brooding. He had a daughter to pick up. He started the car’s engine and headed down the street.
Five blocks later, he reached the Dugans’ yellow frame house, the porch light sending a bright glow into the night. He smiled as he pulled to a stop at the curb. It had been one lucky day when he’d found Eileen Dugan. After Diane’s death, he’d had no one to care for Sasha, and then a friend introduced him to Eileen and her husband, George. Already looking after three grandchildren, Eileen welcomed his Sasha into her brood.
Eileen answered the door. “Come in, Mark.”
He stepped inside and paused to sniff the air. “Ah, chicken and dumplings for dinner.”
Eileen chuckled and smoothed a lock of red hair from her forehead. “Your nose is right on, as usual. There’s plenty left over, if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already eaten. Eva Sinclair and I had a bite at Charlie’s.”
Eileen pursed her lips. “So she’s back, is she? Couldn’t be bothered to come while her father was alive.”
“Yep, she’s back. But not for long.”
Eileen harrumphed. “I don’t know all that went on between those two, but it seemed to me she could’ve been more of a daughter to him. Janice passing quick like she did, and then Brett’s terrible accident. Only the two of them left. And what’s wrong with working at a fine newspaper like the Herald? You work there. You like it.”
“I do, very much. And, no, I don’t know what went on between them, but at least she’s here now.”
Sasha appeared in the hallway, arms outstretched. “Daddy, Daddy!”
“Hey, sweetheart.” He leaned down and swept her into his arms. Smoothing back Sasha’s fine blond hair, he planted a kiss on her soft cheek, inhaling her sweet, little-girl scent. “Were you a good girl today?”
“I’m always good. Aren’t I, Grammy Eileen?” Keeping one arm hooked around Mark’s neck, Sasha looked to her caretaker for confirmation.
Eileen patted Sasha’s shoulder. “That you are, my dear.” She turned to Mark. Behind her rimless glasses, her brown eyes shimmered with tears. “I still can’t believe Seb’s gone.”
Mark nodded and shifted Sasha in his arms. “Shocking, all right.”
Sasha’s brow wrinkled. “What happened to Mr. Seb?”
“I’ll tell you on the way home, honey.”
While Sasha collected her backpack, Eileen bustled into the kitchen. She returned with a plastic container, which she handed to Mark. “We made chocolate-chip cookies today.”
“I put in the chips,” Sasha said, “and stirred, too.”
Mark exchanged a grin with Eileen. “Good for you, Sasha. These will hit the spot with a glass of milk when we get home. By the way, any news from Dan and Rilla and the kids?”
Dan and Rilla were Eileen’s son and daughter-in-law. They were on a road trip to visit Rilla’s parents in Montana.
Eileen grinned. “They’re having a great time. I sure miss my three grandkids, though. Good thing I have Sasha.” She gave Sasha a hug. “Bye now, darlin’. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Grammy Eileen.” Sasha planted a smooch on the woman’s cheek.
Eileen walked out with them onto the porch. Then Mark tucked Sasha into her booster seat and they were on their way. The clouds parted to reveal a half-moon on the rise. Tall evergreens were silhouetted against the silvery sky. The salty smell of the ocean drifted in through his open window.
“What about Mr. Seb?” Sasha asked from her seat behind him.
“He died this morning.”
“Why?”
“Well, because his body stopped working and the doctors couldn’t fix him.”
&
nbsp; “Like Mommy?”
Her forlorn voice tugged at Mark’s heart. “Yes, like Mommy.”
Sasha had been only three years old when Diane had died. He’d explained death as best he could, but doubted his daughter really understood. Then last year she began asking why she didn’t have a mommy like her friends. He’d given her a simplified version of the truth. The bus Mommy was riding in had an accident. Mommy was hurt so bad her body wouldn’t work anymore.
“I miss Mommy,” Sasha said now.
“I know, honey. I do, too.”
And he did. Even though she had betrayed him, he missed her presence, missed being part of a complete family. Since Diane’s death, he’d more or less stayed away from women. He had a date now and then, mostly when someone set him up and when accepting was easier than refusing, but nothing came of these encounters. He didn’t want to risk being hurt again. Or having Sasha hurt.
He’d never told their daughter why her mommy was on the bus or where she was going. No need to burden the child with the awful truth. Maybe when she was older.
Then again, maybe never.
Later, after they had their cookies and milk, Mark tucked Sasha into bed. He kissed her forehead and pulled the covers up around her chin.
She smiled at him. “’Night, Daddy.”
“’Night, honey.” He gazed at his precious child, his heart full of love.
In the living room, he settled into his recliner, the one Diane had insisted on buying because the blue upholstery matched the sofa she’d picked out. He’d rather have had a leather chair, but, no, blue cloth it had to be. After she died, he’d kept it, as he’d kept nearly everything else in the house that she’d had a hand in. For Sasha’s sake. He didn’t want her to forget her mommy, and having things around that reminded her of Diane would help to keep her memory alive.
Switching on the TV, he tuned in the local news to see what they said about Seb. The TV crew had been at the newspaper office that afternoon, interviewing him and the other staff. Sure enough, there he was, being quoted about what a shock Seb’s death was, and what a great newspaperman he’d been, and how much he’d be missed. Mark slowly shook his head. He still had trouble believing the man was gone.
He knew that despite their estrangement, Seb had loved Eva. He always spoke of her with pride and said what a good writer she was. But, as far as Mark could tell after meeting Eva this evening, she still seemed to harbor resentment toward her father. Indignation tightened Mark’s chest. Seb deserved better.
Yet, what right did he have to judge Eva? Wasn’t he still angry with Diane for what she’d done to him and Sasha?
He turned off the TV and headed for the bedroom. As he lay in bed, the thought of dealing with Eva, even for the brief time she’d be in Willow Beach, kept him tossing and turning.
*
EVA’S CHEST TIGHTENED as she watched the pallbearers lower her father’s casket into the ground at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Up until today, his death didn’t seem real, not even when she was making plans for this very event. It was as though she were talking about someone else, not her father, who had always been so energetic and full of life. That the life had gone out of him didn’t seem possible. Yet, this last goodbye was about to happen.
She let her attention stray to the nearby markers for her mother, Janice, and her brother, Brett. Her whole family gone now. Tears burned her eyes. She blinked them back. Now was not the time. Save that for when she was alone.
The pallbearers, including Mark, moved back from the edge of the grave. He walked over to join the rest of the Herald staff standing nearby. Eva surveyed the crowd gathered to pay Seb their last respects. At least four hundred people had been packed into the hall for the service preceding the burial, and more were expected to attend the reception following. Mark had been right: Seb had a lot of friends in Willow Beach. Eva recognized many of the crowd, including some of her old classmates at Willow Beach High, but there were a lot of mourners she didn’t know, newcomers to the town.
Pastor Jordan stepped forward. “Let us pray,” he began, and along with the others, Eva bowed her head.
Half an hour later, she stood in the middle of Forest Lawn’s reception room, holding a plate with an egg-salad sandwich and a scoop of pasta salad, refreshments provided by the funeral home’s catering service. Now that the burial was over, her tension had eased, but only a little. She still had to greet the guests and talk about her father and receive their condolences. They meant well, of course, but her alienation from Seb made talking about him difficult—and painful.
She looked over at the picture of him on an easel near the door. The Herald’s photographer, Cody Jarvis, had made the enlargement. The photo must have been taken recently because Seb’s hair had more gray than she remembered, and new lines bracketed his mouth and his eyes.
“He looks so lifelike,” said a voice behind her.
Eva turned to see her high-school friend Fran Oliver. “He does. Larger than life.”
“He’ll be missed.” Fran put her arm around Eva’s shoulder. “That was a beautiful service.”
“It was. Pastor Jordan did a wonderful job officiating.”
“It’s sure good to see you again, Eva.” Fran dropped her arm and stood back, regarding Eva with solemn eyes.
Eva nodded. “Good to see you, too. How’s the teaching going? Still love it as much as you did at first?”
Fran’s solemn expression relaxed, and she smiled and smoothed her short blond hair. “You bet. Chasing those high-school kids keeps me in shape.”
“Thanks so much for coming. I appreciate your and Jason’s support.” Eva looked around. “Where is your husband? I should thank him in person.”
“He’s over there talking to Mark. They’re basketball-team buddies.” Fran nodded toward the other end of the room. “But we’re not your only support. Alison and Trudi came, too. And some of the others from our class.”
“Yes. I spoke to them at the service.”
“You have more friends here than you might think.”
Eva looked away. “I know I haven’t been in touch much since I left….”
“I understand, but you’ve been missed.” She tilted her head. “Any chance you’ll be coming back?”
“No. I love my life in Seattle.”
“I’m glad you’ve found the place you want to be, hon, but that doesn’t keep me from wishing you were still here. Uh-oh, Jason’s waving at me. We need to pick up the twins from the babysitter’s.”
After Fran moved off, a man about her father’s age, with thick white hair and black-rimmed glasses, stepped to Eva’s side. “Hello, Eva, do you remember me?”
“Of course, you’re Hal Barnett. I’ve been in your drugstore many times. Your son was a year ahead of me in high school.”
Hal nodded. “I haven’t seen Carson for a couple years. Left town, same as you. What is it about our town that makes our kids want to leave?”
Eva shrugged. “Some of us just want to explore the rest of the world, I guess.” She thought of Brett, and her stomach twisted. That was what he’d wanted to do, but tragedy struck before he had the chance. Thinking of her brother prompted her to reach up and finger the silver chain that held his medal.
“We’ll sure miss Seb.” Hal slowly shook his head. “He did so much good for our town, ’sides publishing the news. Will you be comin’ back to help out at the paper? Not that Mark isn’t doing a bang-up job, but it’d be nice to keep the newspaper in the family, doncha think?”
“’Fraid not, Hal. I’ve found my place elsewhere.”
Hal’s mouth turned down. “What’s gonna happen to the Herald?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”
She spoke the truth. She hadn’t been involved with the Herald in the past, so she hadn’t given any thought to its future.
They chatted for a few more minutes, and then Hal excused himself to return to the buffet table. Eva finished her food and set the plate on a nearby cart. She tu
rned to see Mark and a tall, slender man in his fifties heading toward her.
“This is Lawrence Prentiss,” Mark said when the two men reached her side. “He was your father’s attorney. I mentioned him the first night you were here.”
Ah, the man who had Seb’s will. She’d been so busy with other matters she’d all but forgotten about that. “Hello, Mr. Prentiss. I don’t think I remember you….”
Lawrence Prentiss extended his hand. “You wouldn’t. My wife and I moved here from Portland three years ago. I took over Sam Lambert’s business when he passed away.”
“I do remember the Lamberts.” Eva shook Lawrence’s hand, which seemed more bones than flesh.
“My condolences for your loss, Eva. Your father was a fine man.”
“Thank you, Mr. Prentiss.”
He cleared his throat. “As you undoubtedly know, Sebastian left a will.”
“I didn’t know until Mark mentioned it. My father was a very private person. There was a lot he didn’t share with me.”
“I understand, but now that I’m back in town, we need to schedule a time when the three of us can sit down together and read it.”
Mark raised his eyebrows. “The three of us?”
Lawrence nodded. “You need to be there, too, Mark.”
“Why do we need a reading of the will?” she asked, folding her arms. “I thought that was something done only in the movies.”
Lawrence’s thin lips cracked a smile. “I know it sounds dramatic, but your father requested that you and Mark meet with me. I’m only following his instructions.”
“But I’m leaving for Seattle as soon as this reception is over. Can’t you just send me a copy?”
Lawrence shook his head. “No, I’m obligated to honor Seb’s wishes.”
Eva was tempted to stand firm on her “no.” But the man was only doing his job. She heaved a sigh. “Can you see us tomorrow?”
“I can. How about one o’clock?”
“Fine.”
Lawrence turned to Mark. “How about you, Mark?”
Mark rubbed the back of his neck. “Saturday? I’d planned a hike with Sasha, but, yeah, I’ll be there.”
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