by Agatha Ball
"It's not... I..." He shifted his weight and looked around at the line of people behind him. "Could I talk to you for a minute?"
Granny at this point had figured out that something was wrong. She put her arm around my waist. "Paige? Is this young man troubling you?" Her eyes were ballistic missiles, warning him that she would destroy him if he tried anything.
He held up his hands. "I apologize. It's not like that at all." He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, I'm not sure whether from the summer's heat or the heat of Granny's judgment.
"We have customers," Granny stated, pointing to the line. "If you would like to buy something, you are welcome to make a purchase. Otherwise, I am going to have to ask you to step aside so we can serve all these kind, understanding people." She flashed a gracious smile at all of those behind Trevor, making it clear who were the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' of her affections in her shop.
"I just need a minute, Paige," he begged. There was a note of desperation in there that tore down all my defenses, the jerk. "Please."
I sighed. "Granny? Can you cover for me for a minute?" I made sure to emphasize the word so Trevor knew he wasn't going to get a second more.
"I'm going to need you back soon," she warned, motioning again to all the waiting customers. "Things are awfully busy."
Trevor got the hint. "I promise. Just for a minute. Maybe two."
"Oh, now he wants two minutes," Granny grumbled. "On one of the busiest days of the year, he wants two minutes. Why not take five? Why not take an hour? Why don't I just flip the sign to 'Closed' and we can all have a nice vacation?"
I gave her a smile that only she could see. It's nice knowing someone has your back. I knew Trevor would keep on his best behavior. I kissed Granny on the cheek. "I'll be back in one minute."
"I'm starting the timer now!" she shouted at me as I ushered Trevor to the table area to find out what he wanted.
He started sneezing violently. He looked around and spotted Captain, "Actually, could we step outside? I'm allergic to cats."
As if I didn't already know we were never meant to be, being allergic to Captain was the nail in the coffin. "Sure," I replied, opening the door for him.
The usually quiet main road was now filled with people walking and biking through the town. A great big banner hung over the street which read, "Seaside Summer Days – Founders'' Festival." Shade umbrellas dotted the beach, just visible over the top of the dune, and the sounds of a volleyball tournament and music floated in the air. The storefronts all along Main Street were painted white and fronted by a boardwalk. Red geraniums hung in planters suspended from the street lights. The crisp ocean breezes smelled of salt and the sea. It would have been quite lovely if not for the fact I was standing there with my ex.
I crossed my arms and squared off at him. "So, did you follow me all the way to an island in the middle of nowhere just to ask me if we could talk?" I asked.
"I am so sorry to have surprised you, Paige," Trevor began. "I swear, I was surprised myself. I mean, I just came over on the ferry and I needed a cup of coffee and there you were behind the counter and I just thought it would make things worse if I slunk out."
That made me laugh. "For future reference, I would have been totally okay with you slinking around without letting me know you were here," I replied. "You disappeared from my life months ago. COMPLETELY ghosted me. Why suddenly decide now was any different?"
"If I could disappear, I totally would have," he admitted.
"And why couldn't you?" I pressed, just waiting for whatever brilliant answer he thought he had.
"Well," he said, shifting uncomfortably again. "You see..." he continued, having a difficult time getting out the words.
"What is it?"
He pointed down the street to Jake's Place – the local watering hole that was too dive-y for any self-respecting tourist to hang out in. The windows were covered in wood, and it was kind of an eyesore on Main Street. The only thing that made it even more of an embarrassment was that its owner, Jake, was a murderer. He had killed a girl ten years ago and stored her body in the old cannery. He then killed Byron Edward and the surveyor when they discovered her. Then he framed Nate and tried to kill me.
The fact Trevor was pointing at it filled me with dread. "What?" I asked again.
He sighed, placing his hands on his hips. He kicked at a nail jutting out from the boardwalk. "Jake was my mom's brother. I think you probably heard that he... well, he made a pretty big mistake in the past and then made some bigger mistakes recently."
"He tried to kill me," I blurted out.
Trevor's eyes got huge. "Ah. Well, I had not heard that little detail."
"Yeah. He drugged me, followed me home, and then tried to strangle me," I informed him.
"I, really and truly, had no idea," Trevor said, looking absolutely aghast. "All I know is that he's in jail, probably for the rest of his life, and he owned the tavern, so... I came out to take it over. I didn't know—"
The whole world slowed, like in one of those horror movies. "Wait, you're staying here on the island?" I asked, really needing him to say it one more time to make sure I had heard him right. "Like, permanently?"
"Yeah," he confirmed. The silence hung between us as the nightmare of this situation came crashing down. Finally, he just gave an apologetic shrug. I could tell the horror movie was playing in Trevor's version of this conversation, too. "If I had any idea what had happened, Paige, I never would have come. I would have sold it and would have been done with it."
"It's not too late," I offered.
He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. "I'm starting to think that might be the right thing to do."
"Wait," I said, realizing that maybe there was more to this story. "I thought you were running for city council or something. Why would you even think about coming here?"
I seemed to have hit a sore spot. His shoulders slumped and he motioned, again, to the bar. "It's because of Jake. It happened right at the end of my campaign. It came out and it doesn't matter that I barely knew my uncle, the guy I was running against grabbed it with both hands and started this smear campaign. 'Local councilman related to a mass murderer.' It happened two weeks before the election and there just wasn't time to recover. All anyone knew was what was splashed across the front page of the newspaper. I couldn't even get a job pushing pencils in a cubicle. Everywhere I went, it seemed like people were giving me dirty looks or crossing the street like 'mass murderer' was a genetic condition. So..." He crossed his arms and stared blankly at the abandoned building. "I decided to take over the business of the man who ruined my life. I was thinking it was like... a lemonade out of lemons sort of thing, but maybe I should have just acknowledged this whole situation is a lemon."
Despite everything, I felt bad for Trevor. I mean, all through our relationship, he had talked about how he wanted was to run for city council. Politics had been his life. And now? He was completely screwed.
"I'm sorry," I said. And I meant it. I reached out and touched his arm. "This entire place is the island of misfit toys."
"Yeah?" he laughed, ruefully.
I felt like I needed to just mention the fallacy of his plan. "But did you think it was going to be any better for you here on the island? On an island where all that awfulness went down?"
A little bit of his old self, the self I once really thought was pretty cool, peeked out from beneath the gloom. "I was thinking that I could change the story. Maybe if I could make Jake's place a happy place again, I could heal some of the stuff he did."
A light bulb went off in my head, and the little bit of tenderness I had allowed myself went skittering out of the room. "Which would make a great story for the paper..." I stated, crossing my arms.
He shrugged, not even denying it. "It wouldn't hurt."
A tiger can't change his stripes, as Granny used to say. I gave up. All that was left was to be a grown-up and make the best out of this lousy situation. "I'm glad you stayed and told
me what was going on. It would have been really weird to see you walking around day after day."
"We're cool?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said, giving him a smile. "Yeah, we're cool."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "So... are you seeing anyone?"
And this time, my smile got a little wider, because I had the best answer a jilted girl can give to a hot guy who treated her wrong. "I am, actually. He's really special and is really good to me. I feel very blessed to have met him. Oh! Actually, you might have heard of him. His uncle was your uncle's first victim. I mean, first recent victim. After the girl he killed in the cannery."
Trevor closed his eyes and shook his head. "I really need to think about selling his bar."
I patted him on the shoulder. "You really should."
Chapter Four
"Ready to go?" Nate asked.
I closed the door to Bitter Beans and waved goodbye to Granny. She waved back with her brightly manicured hand, but more in a "Shoo! Get out of here and have some fun!" sort of way.
The sun was starting to go down and the cold night air was blowing in. I tugged my sweater on as Nate held the sleeves where my arms could find them. We were off to a wild night at the Founders' Festival. And by wild, we had both sworn to try every fried item offered and work our way through the food trucks until we puked.
Nate was full of smiles, shaking hands with everyone in town as we walked down Main Street, completely being the host with the most. I couldn't help but make comparisons between him and Trevor. He had come to the island with everyone hating his uncle, but turned those feelings around. Now Trevor was trying to do the same thing. I wondered how much forgiveness this place had to offer.
As if my thoughts of Trevor summoned the question, Nate noted as we walked by, "Looks like the plywood is down at Jake's place and there's a light inside."
"Yeah..." I said, really not wanting to go into it all, but knowing that it was probably like a band-aid. The sooner I told Nate, the better off it would be. So I did. I told him all about Trevor and our conversation that afternoon. By the time I was done, Nate's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Wait. So your ex's uncle is the same man who tried to kill you?"
"Yeah..." I said, wrinkling my nose.
"I mean, I've heard about bitter breakups, but using your family to put a hit on your ex..." he half-joked, trying to put a humorous spin on things. "Is his last name Corleone?"
"Ha ha," I said, giving Nate a shove. I heaved a big sigh. "Truth be told, he actually broke up with me."
"AH!" said Nate. "The one who got away! And now you're mine!" He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and gave me a great big kiss on the cheek.
I leaned against him and we walked in silence for a bit.
"Are you okay with him being in town?" asked Nate.
"Sure!" I said, realizing I actually very much was, especially with Nate's arm around me. "It's fine."
"Is he... well... is he at all like his uncle?"
"He's suave and really good at talking to people, but I don't think he's going to kill anyone anytime soon."
"Well, that's a relief," said Nate. He smiled at me. "Just so we're clear, I'm actually totally okay with you liking the guys you dated before me. I don't even mind if you still have some warm, mushy feelings for the good times."
I looked up into his soft brown eyes. Just when I thought I couldn't fall even harder for this guy, he had to go and say something awesome like that. It felt so good to know I could talk to him about anything and that I didn't have to be scared. "Thanks," I said.
"Jealousy is for jerks, and I am not a jerk." He cupped my chin with his pointer finger and thumb. "I love that you are with me because you want to be. And it makes me glad when people can be friends when things end. It means they were together because they genuinely liked each other, and left without having to destroy one another."
I lifted my heels so I was on my tiptoes and gave him a gentle kiss. "You're a good man, Mr. Edward."
"Besides, if he decides to run for city council here on this island, it means I don't have to. And then you and I can go take that trip to Paris you've been dreaming about!"
I gave him a great, wide grin as I nuzzled into his neck. "I like this plan of yours."
A husky voice interrupted us. "Excuse me, are you Nate Edward?"
We both turned. Standing there was a woman who looked like a supermodel. She was probably six feet tall in her stiletto heels. Her smooth, blonde, highlighted hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Over her shoulder was a purse I'm pretty sure cost more than my entire college tuition. She held out a perfectly manicured hand, her long, scarlet nails shaped and even. "I'm Madison Jones."
The way she said it made it sound like the name should mean something to us.
Nate looked at me in confusion and then reached out to take her hand. "Have we met before?"
She gave him a simpering smile, the kind of smile you give someone who is showing off pictures of their children when you hate kids. "How silly of me! Of course you don't know who I am. I was the point of contact person for your uncle on the development project. Of the old cannery area? For the cruise port? I am so sorry for your loss."
I could suddenly understand why loveless old Byron was willing to sell out all his neighbors if this was the woman showing up on his doorstep asking for favors.
"It's been a very sad time for the entire island," said Nate diplomatically.
Madison reached into her purse and pulled out a great big envelope. "I hate to have to burden you with all of this in the midst of this tragedy. I'm sure you have so much to do, but you haven't returned any of our calls or emails or letters. Your uncle never signed the final documents, and I heard that you were his sole inheritor. So, if you just want to sign it, I'll get out of your hair."
"Ah..." said Nate, looking from her to me to her again. "I'm afraid I am still getting a handle on all his affairs and am not quite able to sign anything at this time. Especially not before I have a lawyer look at it."
Madison stuck out her red lacquered lip in a pout. "Oh no! I came all this way..."
"How about I just take those documents from you and I'll give them a look and get back to you?" he offered, reaching out for the envelope. "Things are just very complicated—"
"There's been a lot of chaos," I added. Madison was starting to purse her lips. The last thing we needed was her calling a lawyer. I tried to lighten the situation with some laughs. "I mean, there's even a woman named Georgia who thought Byron had amended his will to include her. There is SO much to sort through and it's really important Nate does it right without rushing into things."
"Paige is right. We're... I mean... I am just trying to get everything in order before I make any major decisions," continued Nate.
Madison reached out and rested her hand on his arm. "It really is so complicated. I completely understand. Perhaps we could meet for tomorrow over coffee and I could go over everything with you."
"That would be great," said Nate.
"There's a café and then the cutest little coffee shop called Bitter Beans—" The way she said the name of Granny's shop made it sound like it was the most hipster adorable name she had ever heard.
"Oh! That's where I work," I offered.
She glanced at me from head to toe. "There's also a place down the street owned by a lady named Yvette. How about we meet at her café at 11 AM?"
"I really don't think—" Nate began.
She continued on as if she hadn't heard his protest. "This is a huge project and a lot is at stake. Promises were made and I just want to make sure you don't make a decision that might put you in legal jeopardy. Just meet with me and we can talk through what was signed and what wasn't and how we can all best proceed. 11 AM at the café. Ciao!" She waved over her shoulder as she started to walk away. Then she stopped herself and turned back. "There was a woman named Georgia who said there was a second will?"
"She was just joking around," I answered, not su
re if I had just said something that was going to get Nate into big trouble. "She does that. She jokes around."
"How funny," said Madison, cocking her head and her hip. "And where does she work? At the Bitter Beans with you?"
"No, at the ferry terminal," I blurted out before realizing I needed to shut my mouth before I said anything else.
Madison smiled. "She sounds like a real hoot," she said. "I'll have to stop by and say hello. Ciao!" And this time, she really did turn and leave.
Nate and I stood there watching as she disappeared, both feeling like we had been hit by a steamroller.
"I don't like that woman," I said.
"I don't like her at all," said Nate.
Chapter Five
The next day was rough. We had stayed up late at the party and by the time I rolled into my little bed at my cottage, it felt like it was time to roll out of bed to start making cinnamon rolls.
Yawning, I went through the motions. The dough was as flat as I was feeling and about as tough as I knew the day was going to be. I sighed. I didn't have time to throw the pan away and start again. I'd make another batch later when I was feeling more with it. I guess the good thing about working in a coffee shop is that you have access to all the caffeine you need to survive.
Granny came down, dressed and ready to go for the day. She fired up the coffeemaker to make her morning brew and shook her head as she saw me. "You look like you had a little too much fun last night."
"That's about the size of it," I replied.
She smiled. "Good. That's exactly what someone your age should be doing. Once the morning crowd lightens up, you get on home and get yourself a nap this afternoon."
I flung my arms around her neck. "I love you so much right now, I can't even tell you."
She patted my forearm and pulled away. "Good. Because you're not going to love me so much when I tell you what I'm about to do."
"Oh no..." I said.