by Jamie Begley
“Your adoptive father sounds like a remarkable man.” Desmond Beck broke the tension in the room after Ginny stopped speaking, and neither Soleil nor she made any further movement toward each other.
“He was.” Ginny tore herself out of her grief. She would mourn the loss of her mother when Gavin’s and her life didn’t depend on her playing a part.
“Hello, Soleil.”
“Evangeline.” Soleil probed her eyes, as if she was trying to determine if she recognized her own daughter.
Ginny intentionally pretended to misunderstand the calculating look, giving Soleil a compassionate one in return. “I apologize. It has to be hard for you to hear me talking about my family in Kentucky while you were mourning my loss all these years.”
“I lost two daughters the day your plane went down.”
“How did you lose Trudy?” Pretending confusion, she glanced toward where Agent Collins stood. “Treepoint is a small town. I would have heard if T.A. died.”
Furiously chewing what he was eating, it took a minute for Agent Collins to speak. “She hasn’t,” he confirmed.
“Trudy refused to come back to Clindale,” Soleil started slowly, as if it was painful for her to talk about. “The plane crash was too traumatic for her,” she explained.
Ginny nodded. “That’s understandable. Fortunately, I don’t have any memories of the plane crash.”
“For years, I’ve imagined how frightened you must have been, and I wasn’t able to be there for you. I regretted letting my babies go on that trip without me. You don’t know how much. Tragedy often brings families together or it can tear them apart. Losing you drove a wedge between Trudy and your father and I. I want us to find a new beginning, one where we can be a family again.” Soleil raised her arms as she drew close enough to touch her, but Ginny backed away, refusing the embrace.
“I think, to be on the safe side, we should keep our distance, don’t you?”
Soleil dropped her arms to her sides. “You’ve been in isolation. There’s no need to be worried about you giving me the virus.”
“I think it would be better for both of us to remain on the safe side, don’t you?” Ginny repeated.
Soleil gave her a considering look. She might have looked like Trudy in appearance, but the artificialness of her reactions were as real as a plastic doll—beautiful to look at, but without any warmth or softness.
“If that makes you feel more comfortable, then of course I’ll abide to your wishes. I just wanted to feel you in my arms once again. To know you’re really here with me.”
“I’m really here.” Ginny wasn’t afraid to touch Soleil; she just didn’t want to. Her father was the one who had arranged for her to disappear, to keep her and Trudy safe from Allerton. Trudy and she had always assumed Soleil had known Evangeline didn’t die in the plane crash. But did she? It was only a question her father could answer and he wasn’t here.
To see the mother she remembered as another carbon copy of the other women in the room was eye-opening to her. Her mother hadn’t stayed on the island because she was forced to; it was where she wanted to be—with or without her children. Trudy had figured that out long ago, which was why she didn’t like discussing their parents and spared her the pain by not telling her. If Trudy had known of her plan to take the DNA test, she would have forewarned her, spared her the painful discovery of the type of woman their mother really was.
“Mr. Allerton said you were talking to Jasper. When will he be coming?”
“Soon,” Soleil prevaricated. “At least a few more days.”
Stomach acid boiled in the back of her throat as Soleil curled her arm though Allerton’s, as if she needed his emotional support.
“Did he pass on any messages for me? You were on the phone for quite a while,” Ginny asked dispassionately.
Soleil removed her arm from Allerton’s, dropping the air of fragility. “I only spoke to Jasper for a few minutes ….”
Ginny sensed an undercurrent extending from Soleil to Allerton, then traveling around the room to his friends, as if they knew what was about to be said.
“I was talking to Trudy.”
Chapter Twenty
Soleil’s announcement had Ginny experiencing another spurt of fear. Was she about to be blown out of the water? The wrong word from Soleil could disclose that Trudy knew Evangeline was still alive before being contacted by the FBI. Retaining her composure, Ginny had to quickly think of the best way to respond to the land mine that Soleil could reveal.
Looking at Soleil and Allerton together, Ginny thought about their friendship from another perspective. Far from being a fragile flower, Soleil was a Venus flytrap.
“I hope she is doing well, because of the virus I haven’t been able to see her since I found out about our connection.”
“Yes. At least, that’s what she told me. We really didn’t get into the specifics of her health, other than her calling to inform me that Jasper and I are going to be grandparents.”
For a woman who had just found out she was about to be a grandmother, Soleil seemed remarkedly unmoved. Ginny had no doubt as to why Trudy called their mother. Her sister had to be frantic after finding out she was returning to Clindale. Finding out Trudy had called showed how desperate and concerned Trudy must be at not being to communicate with her. Her mother didn’t appear overjoyed by the call or the news.
“Aw … I’m happy for T.A. and Dalton.” Ginny didn’t experience the same problem, able to funnel the happiness she felt at Trudy’s pregnancy while trying to keep herself from being grilled alive if she said the wrong thing. “I’m acquainted with Dalton’s daughter. Grace has been concerned about her father since the death of his first wife. I bet she and Ice are ecstatic at Dalton’s impending fatherhood.”
“Ice?” Circumspect, Soleil looked at Allerton, as if for his approval.
“Grace’s husband,” Ginny informed Soleil and the onlookers watching the interchange. “Ice is the president of the Predators. Funny enough, Zoey’s husband, Stump, belongs to the Predators.”
“Who’s Zoey?” Soleil asked.
“Don’t ask,” Allerton told her. “Suffice to say, she a social influencer who won’t be able to spread her untruths about me, Abbott, and Emerson once our attorneys are done with her.”
“Good luck with that.” Ginny poured more salt on the egos of the three men.
“I don’t need luck.” Imperiously, Aaron gave her his pompous back, moving away.
To Ginny’s amusement, she saw him reaching for his phone.
Feeling the censure of the gazes around her, except from Gavin and Desmond Beck, she explained for her mother’s benefit, “I’m afraid I upset Mr. Emerson. I was discussing a friend of mine while you were on the phone. He didn’t appreciate being a hot topic on one of Zoey’s podcasts. I think he’s thinking of filing a lawsuit.”
“Darling—”
Ginny tried not to flinch when Soleil called her that, then proceeded to speak to her as if she had the mental capacity of a child.
“—Aaron has some very influential friends. Your friend would be wise to steer clear of using him as a topic to further her viewership.”
“She doesn’t do it to gain more viewers.” Ginny furrowed her brow, mimicking confusion, as if the thought hadn’t occurred her.
“Then I’m at a loss.” Soleil looked up at Allerton as if he could answer her question.
“Zoey isn’t afraid of lawsuits,” she answered. “In fact, the more the merrier.”
“Why not?” Allerton sent out the probing question, taking over the conversation.
“Zoey loves to drag big corporations to court to expose their dishonest business practices. Unlike the businesses, Zoey doesn’t have to pay high-price lawyer fees. Her father does the work pro bono.”
Allerton was too cultured to roll his eyes at her, but the dismissive way he curled his lip at her evidenced his scorn.
“Free means worthless.”
“Then you’re the only o
ne in the world who would consider Haden St. Clair’s work as worthless.”
Shoving his phone back in his dinner jacket, Emerson stalked back toward her. “Zoey’s father is Haden St. Clair?”
“Yes. Most people have heard of him. He just won a two-billion dollar lawsuit from a corporation that tried to take a farmer’s land away from him when the crops he planted cross-pollinated with another crop near his land. The corporation lost, and so have the other corporations. But don’t let me stop you. You could be the one who breaks St. Clair’s winning streak.” Giving Emerson fake encouragement and growing bored at antagonizing Allerton and his cronies, Ginny was ready for the small party to be over.
As far as she was concerned, the whole thing had been a bust; definitely unworthy of getting dressed twice. She wondered if it was too soon for Gavin and her to make their excuses and leave.
“Excuse me; my husband was hungry before we left the bungalow.” Taking Gavin’s hand, she led him toward the small silver trays of food.
“I’m starving. How about you?” Ginny gave Gavin a crystal plate before taking one for herself.
“Better fill your stomach, because if Allerton didn’t want to poison us before, he does now.”
Ginny gave him a mischievous glance. “You want to reconsider your role as my taste tester?” she teased.
“Where is Greer Porter when I need him?” Gavin ruefully joked, then proceeded to load his plate with the fancy appetizers that Ginny had no palate for and hoped she never would.
Ginny noticed while Gavin was eating, he had looked around the room to see if anyone recognized him. Ginny couldn’t understand why he would care if anyone recognized him or not.
Thinking she was imagining his concern, she chose a few things to put on her plate. She wasn’t hungry, finally settling on a few grapes, crackers, and a chocolate petit fours. Then she stepped to the side, popping one of the grapes in her mouth as Gavin placed a stack of honey-mint lamb skewers on his plate next to a mound of shrimp tartlets.
Swallowing the grape in her mouth, Ginny picked up the tiny, pretty chocolate cake, putting the whole thing in her mouth. As she bit down, the taste exploded, hitting her gag reflex. She wildly looked around, hoping no one was watching so she could spit it out.
“Just swallow it,” Gavin advised humorously. “The longer you hold it in your mouth, the worse you make it.”
As badly as she didn’t want to take his advice, she was left with no choice, other than making a fool of herself.
“What did I just eat?” she managed to croak out.
“I have no idea.” Gavin shrugged, going back to the table and taking one of the petite fours. He bravely put it in his mouth as he came back and waited until he swallowed to tell her what she’d eaten. “Chocolate-covered goat cheese.”
“Whoever made that has no taste buds.”
“It was pretty good. I’m going to grab a couple more when I finish this plate.”
“You thought that was good?” Amazed that Gavin liked the appetizer and wanted more had her reconsidering everything she perceived about his likes and dislikes toward food. Not only that, maybe her taste buds were off. To her, it had tasted hideous.
“You want to try one of the lamb skewers to get the taste out of your mouth?” Gavin offered.
“I’ll pass. I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Not very adventuresome where food is concerned, are you?” he teased.
“Not when it comes to chocolate-covered goat cheese,” she said stiffly, still tasting the cheese.
Why couldn’t she get rid of the aftertaste? She had been raised on goat’s milk, none of the goat cheese she’d ate before had that flavor. “Why did it taste like a flower?”
“There was a hint of lavender.” Gavin gave her a approving glance.
Ginny made a face at him. “A hint? What I ate was a flat-out assault.”
Remaining where she was when Gavin went back to get seconds, Ginny was debating whether she was brave enough to try a slice of cheesecake when she saw Allerton and Soleil making their way toward her.
“Your mother just came up with a brilliant suggestion.” Allerton maneuvered himself and Soleil closer, blocking her view of Gavin, just as Desmond Beck initiated a conversation with him at the buffet table. That certainly screamed setup.
“I wouldn’t call it brilliant.”
Ginny nearly gagged as Soleil practically preened under Allerton’s regard.
“But I believe it may solve the problem between you and Gabriel. I want all of us to get along. I want you to feel free to come visit your father and me any time, to make this island your second home.”
Gavin came up behind Soleil and Allerton, going around them to show he was near.
Soleil gave her a superficial smile, attempting to reach out for her hand. Again, Ginny took a step back, unable to stop herself.
“Sorry, it’s become a habit for being cautious. In the States, we’re terrified of getting the virus.” The thought of letting Soleil touch her made her skin crawl. The only thing worse would be if Allerton made the attempt.
“I would like for us to get along, too,” Ginny lied, continuing smoothly. “What was your suggestion?”
“You and I could go alone to Clindale Island and walk around. Maybe that would jog your memory.”
“That is brilliant, but I’m sorry, I can’t go along with your suggestion.”
“Why on earth not?” Soleil wasn’t ready to take no for an answer. “We could spend the day together. Those years when we lived on the island were some of the happiest moments of my life.”
Ginny had thought so, and sadly she was coming to the realization many of those memories had been centered on the islanders and few were of times she spent with her parents.
Was Soleil putting on an act in front of Allerton like she was? If it was just her life at stake, Ginny might have chanced lowering her guard, but she wouldn’t with Gavin’s.
“They may have been for me, also, but I’ll never know, because I was too young to remember.” Ginny gave a frustrated sigh. “I appreciate how difficult this has to be for you. You want to help Mr. Allerton find his artifact, which he believes your daughter stole from him. I truly wish I could be more helpful, but unless he has a magical reset button we can push, we have to accept what was done was done and move on.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” Allerton’s palpable resentment left a bad taste in her mouth, worse than the goat cheese. His anger must have been building all those years since discovering the artifact was gone, and then being denied access to the person who’d stolen it. His resentment may have stagnated, but like a fungus, it grew every time he thought of it. Gabriel Allerton was used to getting what he wanted. He was used to having money and erasing anything or anyone standing in his way. Except her. And no amount of money could buy the memories buried in the deepest recesses of her mind.
“I have another idea,” Ginny suggested. “Gavin and I could go over to Clindale Island, spend the day exploring on our own.” Ginny saw both Soleil and Allerton were going to nix that suggestion, but she hurried on persuasively. “Maybe something will come back to me, if I’m not being pressured. If something comes to me, I’ll make sure to tell you. You can search us both before and after to make sure we aren’t trying to sneak the artifact back. If, after I spend the day there and we can’t make any headway, I’ll consent to the polygraph test. Either way, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Allerton gave her a considering look. “My men will be stationed around the island with boats.”
“However you want to do it is fine. Is that agreeable?”
“Yes. Like you said, I have nothing to lose.”
Ginny felt as if a huge weight had just been taken off her chest. Afraid she inadvertently showed her relief, she sought to rectify her mistake by keeping them busy answering her questions.
“Is there someone who lives on the island who can act as our guide and interpreter?” She would have to co
ntain her excitement when she saw Manny’s family again ….
“No. The island is completely empty. A hurricane destroyed most of the homes and all of the villagers who had lived there for generations.” Pleasure dripped from Allerton’s forked tongue at imparting the horrendous information.
Ginny had to concentrate on her mother’s hand on Gabriel’s arm to keep from falling to the floor in heartbreak. “That’s terrible.” With a deadpanned voice, Ginny raised her eyes to Allerton’s, seeing the pleasure within his. Like the monster he was, he had sensed when his opponent was hurt. “When was the hurricane?”
“Three years ago.”
Chapter Twenty-One
He had been responsible for the casualties. Ginny felt it in her bones.
Wanting to run screaming from the room, she forced down the hatred and accusations that she wanted to hurl at him. She felt the expectancy from him as he watched her for any telltale signs that could prove she remembered the people on the island.
Ginny plucked one of the chocolate goat cheese petit fours off Gavin’s plate, shoving it into her mouth. She didn’t have to mask her reaction; it came as soon as the taste hit her tongue.
This time when she gagged, she didn’t fight it. Jerking a cocktail napkin from Gavin’s other hand, she started retching into it. The onlookers hastily moved away in disgust as Ginny retched louder, deriving a sick pleasure at paying Allerton back for the sadistic way he had told her.
A handful of napkins appeared in front of her face, and Ginny reached out to take them from Desmond Beck with her eyes streaming tears.
“Are you all right?” he asked courteously.