Debra Burroughs - Paradise Valley 06 - The Harbor of Lies

by Debra Burroughs

  “I’m glad you all made it safely,” Susan responded. “How do you like the inn?”

  “It’s beautiful,” Emily said with a smile, “and the view from the inn is breathtaking.”

  The others quickly agreed. “Absolutely breathtaking.”

  Emily made introductions between her sister and the girls as they took their seats around the linen-covered table, her friends still commenting about the lavish inn and the remarkable views from the dining room.

  The restaurant sat on the side of the hotel that overlooked the water, less than fifty feet from the shore, facing Frenchman’s Bay. Massive picture windows on three sides of the restaurant offered stunning views of the sparkling blue waters, dotted with lobster boats moored out in the bay. The dock and marina were off to the left and several larger craft were berthed there—whale watchers, fishing excursion boats, cruising trawlers, and numerous private vessels.

  “It’s especially glorious on mornings like this, when the sky is clear and bright.” Susan’s gaze drifted momentarily to the bay as well, then she brought it back to the table. “But it’ll be turning gray and nasty soon enough.”

  Gray and nasty? It was just like her sister to turn something nice into something negative.

  “I’m glad we could sneak your wedding in before the first storm,” Susan continued.

  Sneak it in? Before the first storm? A chill rippled down Emily’s back and she reached across the table, toward her sister. “Is there a chance the weather will turn stormy by Saturday?”

  “No, not yet.” Susan patted Emily’s hand, as if hoping to calm her sister’s fears. “It’s still too early for a storm, but it won’t be far off. This whole island will be buttoning up before long.”

  “Are you certain?” Emily had forgotten about Susan’s talent for finding the worst in situations.

  Camille and Maggie exchanged nervous glances.

  “Don’t worry,” logical Isabel said. “Susan should know about these things. She lives here.”

  Emily didn’t need one more thing to worry about, one more thing to prevent her from marrying Colin Andrews. Rain or no rain, she was marrying him on Saturday—this Saturday.

  “After breakfast, Emily, we have an appointment with Reverend Kinney,” Susan continued. “He’ll be the one performing the ceremony.”

  Emily nodded, still unsettled by the storm comment.

  “Unless the bride and groom have their own choice, the inn has been using Reverend Kinney, from the Community Church, for all the weddings this past season. I think you’ll like him. I asked him to meet us here in the lobby, then we can—”

  “Susan.” Emily raised a hand, cutting her sister off in mid-sentence. “Why don’t we order breakfast first, then we can talk while we eat.”

  “Sorry, girls.” Susan’s gaze drifted from face to face around the table. “I’m just so excited to be able to do this for my little sister that I simply plowed right ahead without thinking. Yes, let’s order.”

  ~*~

  The food was delivered and the girls talked of the wedding while they ate. Isabel savored her eggs benedict while she listened to Emily and Susan discuss the ceremony, as Camille and Maggie threw in their two-cents. With all the chatter, Isabel’s mind soon wandered off, back to Emily’s wedding to Evan.

  Emily hadn’t known it back then, but Isabel had worked with Evan in Washington, DC. She recalled her fondness for him in those days, even though she knew he flitted from one woman to another as his work took him travelling around the world for the agency.

  Though Isabel would never think of herself as a runway beauty, she was aware that she was a good-looking woman. She had been told enough times how her long, brown hair, the color of rich espresso, emphasized her dark-chocolate-colored eyes. And, although she was only five feet five, she had a strong, lean body, which helped in her government job.

  One day, she had worked up enough courage to invite Evan to go with her to a concert. She had tickets to see El Divo and thought maybe they could grab drinks afterward, at least that was what she had planned to say. But that day, Evan had waltzed into the office, all lit up. He had met the girl of his dreams, he had said, a woman who turned out to be Emily. Isabel had been crestfallen.

  “Doesn’t that sound good, Isabel?”

  The question drew Isabel’s mind back to the conversation at the table, but she hadn’t heard a word of their discussion.

  Emily had a sparkle in her blue-green eyes. “Well, doesn’t it?”

  Isabel couldn’t admit she’d been miles, or rather, years, away, so she simply agreed. “Yes, Emily, great.”

  ~*~

  After breakfast, Maggie and Isabel went off to spend the rest of the morning digging around in the cute little shops and boutiques on Main Street, assuring Emily they would be back in plenty of time for their massages and mani-pedis at the spa. As a caterer and wedding planner, Camille insisted on remaining with Emily to help Susan with any last-minute details.

  As best she could, Emily had tried to send Camille off with the others, knowing how territorial and commanding both Camille and Susan could be, but her friend wouldn’t hear of it, planting herself squarely in the thick of things.

  When the three women entered the grand foyer of the hotel, Reverend Kinney rose from one of the chairs. Susan led them over to him and extended her hand, which he took.

  “Reverend Ben Kinney,” Susan introduced, “this is my sister, Emily, the bride, and her friend Camille.”

  He offered his hand to Emily and then to Camille. He wasn’t at all what Emily was expecting. She assumed he would be older, maybe gray-haired and balding, with a round belly. But Ben Kinney was maybe mid-thirties, tall and lean, and not at all bad to look at. His brown wavy hair was a bit unkempt atop his long face, but his broad smile made up for it.

  “Why don’t we go out on the lawn, where the chairs will be set up?” Susan suggested. “We can talk there.”

  Everyone followed her out the glass atrium door that led to the expansive lawn, with yet another breathtaking view of the dazzling blue water as it reflected the color of the sunny sky. Numerous lobster boats, along with several sailboats, dotted the bay as small waves lapped at the shore.

  “The white arch will go here.” Susan motioned to the location as she spoke, drawing an arc with the wave of her hand. “And the white folding chairs will be set up here, with an aisle down the center. The wedding party will come out the door that we just passed through. And of course, Pastor, you’ll be standing inside the arch with the groom, as usual.”

  He nodded his agreement.

  Several large, oval-shaped flower beds, filled with colorful blossoms and shrubs, were artfully planted around the expansive lawn, adding to the natural beauty. But a constant flow of tourists were strolling by on the path that sat at the edge of the grass, cordoning it off from the shore.

  “Will all these people be walking by during the wedding?” Emily asked.

  “Well, actually, yes,” Susan mumbled, seeming to be taken aback by the question.

  Emily glanced at Camille, who was giving her the are-you-serious look.

  “I don’t like this, Susan.” Emily shook her head. “I’m not comfortable with people traipsing by and gawking while we’re saying our vows.” Although, at this point, what choice did she have? It wasn’t like they were going to screen off the walking path. Then, there were also the guests at the outdoor café beside the lawn to deal with, not to mention the hotel guests who might be on their balconies right behind them.

  Emily continued to shake her head as she took a deep breath then exhaled firmly. Her sister hadn’t explained that the wedding would be on display for any, and all, in the vicinity to watch.

  “Now, Emily, people do it this way every weekend from March to October, and they pay a lot of money for the privilege. No one has ever complained about it before,” Susan said. “Don’t be such a drama queen. It’s not going to be like when—”

  “Like when what?” Emily snapped.
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  “Like when you married Evan in that perfect little stone chapel in Virginia.”

  She had to bring up Evan. Heat began to rise in Emily’s cheeks. “It’s just that this is not what I had envisioned when you said we could have our wedding at the inn.” Emily worked to keep her voice calm and even. “I thought we’d have more privacy for the ceremony.”

  Tears rose in Susan’s eyes and she bit at her lip. “I’m doing the best I can. I’m trying to take care of my husband, who, as you know, is laid up in the hospital, and manage three kids and all their activities, all while trying to pull together a nice wedding for you at the last minute.” She wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “I’m sorry if it’s not good enough.”

  Now Emily felt horrible.

  She put an arm around Susan and hugged her, pushing a thick strand of long blond hair behind her shoulder. Emily glanced to Camille for support.

  “It’ll be lovely,” Camille jumped in. “Really it will.”

  Emily paused, considering the situation. “I guess I’ll just have to put the other people out of my mind and simply focus on my friends and family.”

  “And the groom, Emily. You’d better focus on the groom,” Camille added with a little grin.

  The comment elicited a small laugh from Susan as Emily released her.

  “Ah, it’ll all work out,” the young reverend said in an off-handed way. “Just zero in on what’s important, Emily, and block out all the rest. These people walking by here, they don’t really amount to a hill of beans in the bigger picture, do they?”

  “Uh,” Emily glanced at her sister, a little surprised at his irreverent manner, “no, I guess not.”

  “Well said, Reverend Kinney,” Camille stepped in. “I’m sure your wife appreciates your frankness.”

  “Oh, I’m not married.” He grinned. “And you can call me Pastor Ben. That’s what most of the folks around here call me.”

  “We won’t keep you any longer, Pastor Ben,” Susan said. “I just wanted you and Emily to meet. Sorry the groom hasn’t arrived yet.”

  “I’m sure I’ll meet him before the ceremony,” he remarked. “It was very nice to meet you, Emily.” He took her hand and cupped it in both of his. “I’m sure everything will work out…the way it’s supposed to.” He looked her in the eye, held her gaze uncomfortably long, then took a step back. “Nice to meet you too, Camille. Susan.” Then he turned and walked back to the inn.

  The way it’s supposed to? What did he mean by that? And what was with the long double handshake?

  Chapter 5

  After going over details of the wedding ceremony with Susan, Emily and Camille said their good-byes and hurried to the spa on the edge of the hotel grounds to meet up with Isabel and Maggie. Like giddy school girls, the four excitedly entered the spa for their pampering treatments and some much-needed girl time.

  Following their individual massages, they met back in the salon for their manicures and pedicures. The lively chatter reminded Emily of chickens clucking in a henhouse, everyone having something to say about what the others were talking about, sometimes animatedly talking over each other.

  Eventually, the conversation died down to a din and Emily dove in with a new subject. “Do you guys believe in ghosts?”

  The replies were varied.

  “Why do you ask?” Maggie blew on her wet fingernails.

  Emily hesitated. “I could have sworn I saw Evan on Main Street yesterday.”

  “Oh, Emily,” Maggie’s eyes widened, “and you think he’s come back to haunt you?”

  “Emily,” Isabel said in her matter-of-fact way, “like I told you before, it’s probably just your subconscious playing games with your mind.”

  Camille waved her damp nails in the air. “So this has happened before? Not just on the street yesterday?”

  Emily nodded. “In my dreams mostly.”

  Camille raised a brow at her. “Mostly?”

  “A couple of times last week I thought I smelled his aftershave when I woke up. Then, again this morning.”

  “This morning?” Isabel questioned with a frown.

  “Maybe you should talk to someone about this.” Camille curled her fingers inward and blew on her nails.

  “Like a shrink?” Maggie asked.

  “That’s not necessary,” Isabel argued. “Once you and Colin are married, I’m sure this will all clear up. You probably just feel like you’re being disloyal to Evan. After you’ve said I do to Colin, I’m sure it will all go away. Trust me.”

  “Perhaps.” Emily wasn’t so sure. “Well, ladies, after we’re done here, I think I’m going to drop by the hospital and check on my brother-in-law, then maybe take a nap before we go to dinner.”

  “When will you see Susan’s kids?” Camille questioned.

  “Probably not until the wedding. They’re in school and then they have sports practices and stuff.”

  “What about the guys? When are they coming in?” Maggie asked.

  Isabel glanced down at her watch. “Alex and Colin should be in the air by now and getting into Bangor early this evening, then they’ll drive up after that.”

  “You girls are so lucky,” Maggie moaned. “Peter and Jonathan won’t be here ’til Friday.” Maggie crossed her arms and gave them a fake pout.

  “No! Maggie, your arms! Don’t do that,” Camille gasped, wagging her hand at Maggie. “You’ll smudge your nail polish.”

  ~*~

  Before going back to her room to take a nap, Emily headed over to the hospital to say a quick hello to her brother-in-law, Brian. She stopped at the hospital gift shop and picked up a small, green plant with a shiny Mylar balloon attached that read Get Well.

  A young man in blue scrubs, standing at the nurse’s station, gave Emily directions to Brian’s room. She found it easily and pushed the door open, seeing the first bed empty and Brian laying in the other.

  He was talking to an older woman with a petite build. Her light brown hair was shortly cropped and she was dressed in a classic, tailored, navy-blue wool jacket and tan slacks.

  Brian’s left leg was encased and hoisted in traction and his right lay on the bed in a thick white cast. The side of his face was bandaged too, and Emily assumed it must be covering damage from the airbag exploding in his face.

  His gaze pitched past the woman as he noticed Emily enter, and his face lit up. “Emily.”

  The woman turned and smiled warmly.

  “This is my sister-in-law,” Brian introduced. “Emily, this is Mayor McCormack.”

  “Ella, please,” the woman said in a deep alto voice as she extended her hand to Emily. Her green eyes twinkled when she smiled. “Sorry, I can’t stay long. I just wanted to stop by and check on Brian.” She patted his shoulder and moved toward the door.

  Ella scooted past Emily. “It was nice meeting you.” She paused at the door and turned back. “And, Brian, Ben told me to say hello. Get well soon, dear. That’s an order.” The mayor grinned as she slipped out into the hall.

  “The mayor, huh?” Emily teased.

  “No biggie—not in this little town anyway.”

  “I can relate. The mayor of my town is my friend Maggie’s brother.” Emily glanced around for a place to set the plant down. Many of the horizontal surfaces were full of gifts and flowers from other well-wishers, so she pushed his half-eaten lunch aside and set the pot on the portable table at the foot of his bed.

  “Susan told me about the automobile accident.” Emily stepped to the side of the bed. “What happened?”

  “I don’t really know, it was so crazy. I was leaving Rock Harbor and going home one evening—you know we live on the other side of the island, near Seal Cove, right?”

  Emily nodded.

  “The road gets pretty winding going around the national park, and some idiot must have been drunk or something because he ran me off the road. My car flew down into a ravine. It’s a miracle I survived. Must have been the airbag.”

  “Susan sent me a p
icture of you right after it happened. Is that how you got the cuts and bruises on your face?”

  “I guess so. It’s all such a blur.”

  Emily rested a hand on Brian’s shoulder. “Did the cops catch the guy who did this?”

  “No. There was nothing to go on. Just headlights in my rearview mirror, then someone clipped my bumper and sent me over the edge.”

  “You don’t think someone did this on purpose?”

  “I can’t imagine why. I think the driver was probably trying to pass me and just got too close.”

  “Perhaps.”

  Her cynical instincts kicked in. Could someone have done this on purpose? But who would want to hurt a computer repairman? She reeled her suspicions back. “Down a ravine, huh? How did anyone find you?”

  “When I didn’t come home for dinner, and Susan couldn’t get me on my cell, she phoned the police and insisted they send someone out on the mountain road to look for me. You know your sister, she can be pretty convincing when she wants to be.”

  “That’s Susan.”

  “The cop they sent noticed my headlights shining, down, off the road a ways.”

  “Good thing Susan is such a bulldog.” Emily chuckled. “Just don’t tell her I said that.”

  They chatted a little while longer, until Emily began yawning. She made her good-byes and kissed Brian on his non-injured cheek.

  “It was nice to see you again, Emily. Sorry I can only attend your wedding in spirit.”

  ~*~

  With her muscles still relaxed from the massage, Emily easily fell asleep and napped for a couple of hours, snoozing longer than she had intended. When she woke and looked at the glowing digital clock, her room was dark. The sun had already set and it was almost time to meet up with the girls.

  She flipped on the lamp as she climbed out of bed, then hurried to change her clothes and get ready for dinner. Rather than meet in the lobby of the inn, they had decided to meet at another recommended restaurant, Paddy’s Pub & Grill, since all but Emily had gone out shopping.

  Instead of leaving her room by way of the exit that led to the interior hallway, Emily decided to go out through the french doors that led out onto a small deck with a view of the sparkling pool. All of the first-floor rooms on her side of the building had decks that faced the swimming pool area, along with two Adirondack chairs flanking the doors and low, white picket fences with small gates at the edge of each deck. She stepped over the gate and turned back to admire the inviting setting, feeling a lift in her spirit as she soaked up the charm.