“Have you eaten yet?” Dick asked.
Peggy shook her head.
Elizabeth didn’t want to be a third wheel, plus she knew Peggy would want to tell Dick the news about the skeleton, so she begged off eating with them saying she wanted to see some of the venues first.
There were four performance areas. At one she watched flamenco guitars, at another a poet was reading his work, a third had a band playing a song she didn’t recognize. The fourth had a ballad singer.
When they met up at the truck Elizabeth was ready to leave. This fair was very lively but she really wasn’t in the mood to party.
“Dick has offered to drive me back to the B&B,” Peggy said, with a smile.
Chapter 15
Elizabeth let Chevy out of the Tracker, laughing as he bounced up and down against her leg barking before heading off to a bush. While she watched, her phone rang. She knew who it would be, her father making his nightly call.
He didn’t go through the preliminaries. “Did Sherry tell you about her lump?”
“Yes.” Elizabeth said, talking into the phone while she and Chevy headed inside.
“At least her doctor was smart enough to try and get her into a specialist immediately. Not like that idiot doctor of your mother’s who wouldn’t listen to her,” he said bitterly.
“Yes. The fact that there is now a history of cancer in our family helped,” she replied, climbing the stairs to her room.
“I don’t know if I can go through this again.”
She could hear the heartache in his voice. “We don’t know for sure it is cancer.”
“It will be.” His voice was subdued.
“Then we’ll all be there for her,” Elizabeth said.
“What good will it do her if it has spread? It didn’t help your mother that we were there for her.”
Elizabeth knew he needed to talk so she lay down on her bed and gave him her full attention. When they were finished she dropped the phone on her bed, and rubbed her eyes, again feeling guilty that she wasn’t there with her family. She just wanted to crawl into bed and make it all go away.
Chevy jumped up on the bed and whined. When she didn’t move he put his front paws on her chest and gazed down at her. She smiled and scratched his ears. He always had a way of cheering her up. She climbed off the bed and went into the bathroom to wash her face. She snapped the leash on Chevy’s collar and they headed down the stairs. Just as she stepped out on the verandah, Peggy and Dick climbed the steps.
“Would you like to join us for a piece of apple pie before going on your walk?” Peggy asked her.
Elizabeth realized she needed some comfort food and something to distract her for a while. “That would be great!” she said gratefully.
She turned to go back the house. Chevy stopped and looked up at her. “Come on,” she said, ruffling his ears. “I just want one piece.”
She unhooked the leash and draped it over the banister as she followed them into the kitchen.
“I’ll put on the coffee,” Shirley said, when she heard. “Elizabeth, would you get the plates and cutlery?”
It was a relaxed group that sat around the table. They laughed and talked and Elizabeth was happy to see them as they really were when they weren’t dealing with murder investigations or prank callers. Stormie sat at the table dressing the doll her parents had bought her at the fair.
The friendly banter was interrupted by a sudden knock at the back door. Elizabeth looked up in surprise. This was the first time she had heard someone come to the back since she’d arrived.
Shirley rose to answer it.
“Let me,” Al said. He went to the door and they could hear it opening. “Yes?” Al asked.
“I’ve come to see my wife and daughter.”
Elizabeth felt an instant drop in the mood of the room. Everyone turned to the doorway, their faces registering shock, dismay, and a little fear. They all stood as if preparing for an onslaught of some sort.
“Oh, no,” Peggy said, under her breath.
“And who are they?” Al challenged, in a voice full of bravado.
“You know who they are.” The man pushed past Al and stepped into the room.
An older man in his early sixties, he had broad shoulders that suggested he’d been a large man at one time. But the rest of his body was thin almost to the point of emaciation. His hair was gray and his skin was pale.
His eyes went straight to Peggy. “Hello, Peggy.” His voice was deep and sounded strange coming from such a shrunken body.
Peggy could only stare at him, her mouth open. She closed it several times and swallowed but no sound came out. Shirley hurried to her side in support. “Harry,” she finally managed with a tremor in her voice.
“Yes, it’s me, my dear.”
“What are you doing here?” she whispered, ashen-faced.
“Is that any way to welcome your husband back after all this time?” He turned to Shirley. “And how is my little girl? It’s been years since we’ve seen each other. Don’t I get a hug?”
She didn’t answer, just stared at him stonily.
Harry looked from Dick to Elizabeth and back again. “I hear you’ve been helping my wife a lot lately. Still in love with her, are you?”
Dick reddened but didn’t say anything.
“What do you want?” Al demanded.
Harry only glanced at him for a second and then looked away. He started to speak to Peggy again.
“I’m Shirley’s husband,” Al said more loudly. “And I want to know what you are doing here.”
“I told you. I’ve come to see my wife and daughter. Do you have a problem with that?” He stared at Al.
“When it’s in my house, I do.”
“Some welcome this is,” Harry looked around the room. “I thought you’d all be happy that I came and saved Peggy from being charged with murder.”
“Everyone knew she hadn’t killed you,” Shirley said. “The police even know it wasn’t your body in the tank.”
Stormie who had been watching from the table suddenly asked. “Are you my grandfather?”
Harry started as if seeing her for the first time. He kneeled down beside her. “You must be Stormie,” he said. “I read about you in the newspapers.”
“Are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
Shirley reached over and picked Stormie up. “You stay away from her,” she said abruptly.
“My Grandma says you aren’t as nice as my other grandpa,” Stormie said over Shirley’s shoulder. She was still holding her doll.
At that moment, Reverend Raymond came through the kitchen door. He stopped when he saw Harry. If he was caught off guard, he covered it well. “Now, isn’t this a nice little reunion. The only one missing is Julia.”
“Yes, and I see the police are looking for her on our old place,” Harry said. He seemed quite comfortable given the situation. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
“I just thought if someone murdered you, he or she might have killed Julia, too.”
Harry laughed. “I know lots of people who have wanted me dead but as you can see, no one has killed me yet and as far as I know, Julia is still alive. The police are wasting their time.”
“I had you declared legally dead,” Peggy said.
“So I’ve read. But since I’m standing here, I guess that makes me illegally dead.”
Elizabeth quickly suppressed a totally inappropriate chuckle. No one else seemed to see the humour of Harry’s comment.
“I’ve also read that you made a lot of money off the place you didn’t even want.”
“She worked hard to pay the mortgages after you left,” Shirley said, angrily. Stormie’s eyes went big and round, and she shrunk further into her mother’s arms.
“Yes, I didn’t know she had it in her.” He looked at Peggy and Elizabeth could hear a hint of admiration in his voice. “I thought you’d have lost everything the first few months.”
“She’s entitled to that money.”
“We’ll see,” Harry said softly. “We’ll see.”
“Leave, or I will call the police,” Al’s voice was tight. His fists were clenched at his sides.
“I like it here.” Harry’s look was almost a dare.
“Get out, Harry!” Peggy startled everyone with the forcefulness in her voice. Even Harry looked at her, astonished.
“My, aren’t you the feisty one,” he grinned.
“You heard me. Get out!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t welcome me with open arms.” Harry saluted her. “But I’ll be back again soon. We have a lot to talk about.” He turned and left the house.
In the silence that followed Raymond said. “Looks like you’ve got a fight on your hands. You won’t be doing any travelling for a while.”
People around here sure knew what everyone else was doing, Elizabeth thought.
No one commented. They all looked at the floor or walls. There was no eye contact.
“I don’t like him,” Stormie said suddenly. This galvanized everyone into action.
“I’m putting Stormie to bed,” Shirley said, and carried her out of the room.
Dick stood. “I have to get home. Ben is coming to pick up the keys for my truck tonight.”
“Yes, and I have a meeting to get to,” Raymond said.
They both left at the same time. Elizabeth hesitated then exited the room also. The family had a lot to think about.
Chevy still wanted his walk. Elizabeth took his leash off the banister and hooked it to his collar.
Dick was driving out of the yard when she stepped out onto the verandah, but she was in time to overhear part of the conversation between Harry and Raymond.
“Where’s Julia?”
“I keep telling you I don’t know. We parted ways a few months after leaving here.”
Raymond stood a few moments. “I should have killed you years ago. I still might do it.”
“Sure, Raymond, sure,” Harry said.
* * * *
Brian and Cindy drove into the yard. “All these cars, looks like there’s a party going on,” he said, trying to lighten the atmosphere in the car.
They pulled up and parked beside the two men who were talking at the foot of the steps. Brian recognized Raymond as one of their fellow guests, whom he’d met, and there was something familiar about the other man too. Raymond went to his vehicle, giving a nod as Brian and Cindy climbed out of their car, but the other man stayed put by the steps.
“Hello, Mike or is it Brian now?”
Instantly, Brian was on the streets of Fort Macleod seventeen years ago with Harry yelling and swearing at him. He cringed, fully expecting to be punched at any moment.
Harry Wilson laughed. “So, you do remember me.”
Brian’s breathing increased and he felt his hands go clammy as, head down, he tried to walk around Harry, but he stepped in front of him. “Have you come to screw my daughter again?”
“Dad, what’s going on?” Brian heard Cindy’s voice from a great distance and it pulled him back from the past. “Why is he calling you Mike?”
“Just ignore him and go inside,” Brian said, lifting his eyes to Harry.
“But …”
“Just go. I’ll explain later.” In his peripheral vision Brian saw Cindy run up to Elizabeth. Elizabeth said something to her and put her arm around her.
“What do you want, Harry?” Brian needed to stand up to this man.
“I just want to know why you are here at my daughter’s place.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Ah, you’ve gotten a bit of spine since I saw you last.”
Brian wanted to laugh at that. It was taking all his willpower not to run and hide. This man’s threats had scared him many years ago and apparently that fear was still with him. Right now, he wished he had gone along with Cindy and planned a holiday in Hawaii.
“Harry, get off this property!” Peggy yelled.
Both men turned to see Peggy, Shirley and Al coming down the steps towards them. Elizabeth and Cindy stayed on the verandah.
“Do you know who this guy is?” Harry asked.
Brian looked at Peggy and then at Shirley. With each woman he locked eyes for a few moments and he could tell that the answer was yes. How long had they known? Why hadn’t either of them mentioned it?
“We know,” Shirley said. “And now you can leave.”
“Does your husband know?”
Shirley blushed and Harry laughed. He looked at Al. “Didn’t she tell you that her old boyfriend had come to visit her?”
“What?” Al looked at Shirley.
She shook her head. “Don’t listen to him.”
Al looked at Brian. “Are you Mike Altman?”
“It’s him,” Harry said, “in the flesh. Do you know that he seduced my daughter and got her pregnant?”
Brian could feel his face reddening. Hearing it come out of that mouth made it sound so sordid.
“That’s enough!” Peggy gave Harry a shove. “Get out of here right now!”
“All right, all right. I just wanted to make sure Shirley’s husband knew what type of a woman he married.”
Harry got in his rusty old car. It took a few tries before the starter caught. He put it in gear and drove away.
Brian stood speechless, as did the others. Eventually, Peggy said. “Let’s go in the house and sort this out.”
* * * *
Elizabeth spent the next hour listening to Brian explain to Cindy who Shirley was, Shirley tell Brian that their baby had died, Brian, Shirley and Peggy discuss why none of them had admitted knowing who the other was, and Brian explain why he wasn’t Mike Altman any more. Al sat with his arm around Shirley. His face was a pale mask as he listened quietly. Elizabeth could tell the news about Brian being in his house was a shock to him.
When they were talked out, Brian and Cindy went to bed. Elizabeth let Chevy out for a few minutes. After he had visited the bushes, he sat at the bottom of the steps reminding her that he still hadn’t had his walk. She called him. He refused to come. Finally, she had to go and pick him up and carry him to their bedroom. As she prepared for bed, Chevy glared at her.
“Sorry.” She patted his head. “It’s too late now.”
She climbed under the covers and he began whining. When that didn’t work, he jumped on the bed and turned his back to her.
“You’ll get over it,” she said.
Elizabeth lay in the dark. She was tired but her mind wouldn’t quit going over and over the events of the day.
* * * *
Peggy, too, was wide awake. She couldn’t believe that Harry had really returned. She’d been expecting it, waiting for it to happen, but hoping it wouldn’t. After all, he could have died, could have left the country or found a rich wife to look after him. But, he hadn’t done any of those things. He was alive, here, and looking in very sad shape.
She would have to wait until Monday to call her lawyer, but call him she would. If he said there was a chance that Harry could get half of everything she would have to decide whether she’d rather give the money to Harry or to a lawyer. Either way, she knew she wouldn’t end up with much. And that was just so unfair.
But then, she had brought this on herself. If she hadn’t sold the acreage, the skeleton wouldn’t have been found, the story wouldn’t have been told across the country, and Harry wouldn’t have heard about it.
What bothered her was that her travel plans had to be called off. Once that sale money was gone, she would only have her pension to live on. After property taxes, the monthly bills and all the extras that made up living, there wouldn’t be much left over for pleasure. She could live comfortably, but not extravagantly.
Try as she might to think of some other solution, when it came down to it there was only one way that would keep him from ruining her plans. After all, he was already legally dead.
Chapter 16
Brian Sinclai
r sat on his bed. He hadn’t slept at all last night because his mind had kept reliving the past few days. So much had happened in such a short time: his foster mother had died, he’d met Shirley again, he’d been scared by Harry Wilson again, and he’d learned that Shirley never did give birth to their child. There was just so much to deal with, and he still hadn’t learned anything about his father.
There was a knock at his door. “Come in,” he called.
“Dad, I want to go home.” Cindy said, as she entered the room. “This morning. Right after breakfast.”
“I’d like to stay another day or two,” Brian said. He realized his shirt was still unbuttoned and began doing it up
“Why?” Cindy pressed. “Because of Shirley?”
“No.” He looked at her. “She has nothing to do with my life anymore.”
“Is that why you never told me about her and the other child you thought you had?”
“I’m really sorry about that,” Brian said. And he was. It was something he had often wanted to do but the time never seemed right. “I was waiting until you were older.”
“Did you at least tell Mom?”
“Yes, she knew everything.”
“So why can’t we go home then. What’s so important about Fort Macleod that you don’t want to leave?” Cindy asked. “Does it have something to do with that letter you received from Ontario?”
“How did you know about the letter?” Brian was dumbfounded. He thought he’d kept that hidden.
“So, I am right. It does. Is that another secret you’ve been keeping from me until I’m older?” The sarcasm was heavy. “I saw it on the cupboard one day and noticed that it was from some place in Ontario. The day after I saw it you said we had to come here.”
“That would have been the day I learned Betty Altman had died.” Brian tried to keep his voice steady. Her death still bothered him.
“Betty Altman? The woman who raised you? She died?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you the one who has always told me there are no secrets between us, that we can tell each other everything?” Cindy’s voice was angry. She collapsed onto the bed. “Is there anything more that you haven’t told me? Like are you my real dad? Did Mom really die or is she living somewhere else and wants nothing to do with me?”
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