Beach Winds (33 page)

“
I don’t know her name. My buddy told me she paid him, too. I don’t know what he did. Hey, he didn’t hurt anyone either.”

Brian really did want to bust his face. It
’d been a long time since he’d been in a real brawl, but this guy was too pathetic and this was Fran’s front porch. He didn’t think she’d be happy about blood spray on the deck boards. Then the thought of Fran and the potential for damage to her happiness made him even angrier.

“
Did she say why?”

“
No, she said to do a little somethin’ to make her nervous.” He waved his hands. “A practical joke, you know. Nothing big. Nothing like someone would call the cops for. Nothin’ that would hurt anyone.”

Brian held him by
a fistful of grimy shirt. He could feel the guy’s heart thudding against his fist. He smelled fear on him. It made him angrier, but in a different direction. He needed to think it out when he wasn’t so pissed.

“
I’m gonna give you a piece of advice. For free. When you leave—and yeah, I’m going to let you walk away—do not speak to that woman who hired you. You say nothing to her. Nothing. Got it?”

He nodded.

“Say it.”

“
You don’t want her to know that you know. I got it. No problem. Like I said, it wasn’t anything personal. A little joke.”

Now the man
’s hands were almost in praying mode. Brian willed his temper to stay in control. He put his face close to the guy’s and said, “You are never coming back here.”

The guy shook his head.
“No. Never.”

Brian stepped aside, trying to keep his fists from doing their own thing. The guy didn
’t move. “What are you waiting for?”

“
Can I go now?”

“
Go. Fast.”

Halfway down the stairs, he stumbled and fell. He scrambled back to his feet and was gone. Brian figured he
’d earned a few splinters for his trouble.

Brian was still angry and there was no one he could take it out on.

Then he remembered he had Laurel’s phone number.

He pulled out his wallet and searched for the slip of paper. With his temper still hot, still standing on Fran
’s porch with the ocean raging in front of him, he punched the keys on his cell phone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Frannie entered through the side door and, through the sliding door,
saw Brian on the porch. His back was toward the house and he appeared to be speaking on his phone. She approached the door quietly, thinking to surprise him, but changed her mind by the time she reached the door because his posture was tense and his movements were abrupt. Whatever the conversation was about, Brian wasn’t happy.

She stood at the glass, caught in indecision. Should she stay or go?
Maybe pretend she hadn’t noticed? Then he turned and his voice, loud and abrupt, came through the glass.

“
You said to call if I was concerned about Fran. Maybe you thought I could be bought like the weasel I caught on her porch.” After a pause, he continued, “No, don’t even try. All you need to know is this: if anything happens to her, or around her, Laurel, we’ll be having a conversation, possibly with the police.”

He saw her. The moment his eyes caught
sight of her there on the other side of the glass in the dim interior, his face went blank. He finished, “Remember what I said.” Slowly, carefully, he put the phone in his pocket.

“
Fran?” He reached for the door handle. “Let me in?”

Stunned, she shook her head.

“Fran, please.”

She spoke through the glass.
“Were you on the phone with Laurel? I heard you say her name.”

“
I can explain. Please.”

She reached across, tugged the drawstring and the blinds closed.

“Fran? You’re there. I know you are and you’re listening.”

True enough. She had paused a few feet away.

“Fine. You want me to shout through the door? I will. I promise I will. All of the neighbors will hear. But if you’re okay with that, then so am I because I’m not going to walk away.”

She faced the door
and the closed blinds. Her feet felt stuck. Betrayal tasted like blood. Bitter. She wanted to run. Maybe to shut herself up in the bathroom. Forget the world.

“
Fran. I called Laurel. I think I know about the noises you heard and all that crap. It wasn’t you. Well, maybe some of it was you because you have that freaking crazy imagination… No scratch that, I didn’t mean crazy. You have a strong imagination and you get all worked up over stuff. Stuff that doesn’t matter. Sorry. I don’t mean to say the stuff you care about doesn’t matter. That’s not what I meant.”

She was having a hard time staying hurt and angry. There was something especially pathetic
, yet incredibly adorable about a man like Brian groveling at her sliding glass door, trying so hard not to put his feet in his mouth that he sounded ridiculous.

“
I found a guy on your porch earlier. Minutes before you got home. He was sneaking around. Up to no good. I beat… No, I got him to talk. Laurel paid him. When you came home, you heard me on the phone telling Laurel not to even think of doing anything like that ever again.”

Frannie touched the blinds. She ran her fingers along the
edge of the vertical slats.

“
I know what you’re going to ask next. How did I have her phone number? Laurel asked me to meet her. I did. Curiosity, I guess. She gave me her phone number. Wanted me to call if anything happened…you know, with you. I walked out on her. I was going to tell you. Not that there was anything to tell, but I was going to tell you, but when I got to your house you’d found Juli’s birth certificate and I forgot. That’s all. I forgot.”

Silence. Did she hear him walking away? Anxiety gripped her.
Was he giving up? Frantically, she scrabbled at the lock and slid the door open.

He stood there, his eyes wide as if he didn
’t think she’d give in.

She looked at him and asked,
“Now what?”

He shrugged.
“Whatever you want. Whatever you want to do about Juli, about Laurel, even about Will, I’ll support you in your decision.”

“
That’s nice.” She stepped out onto the porch. “But it’s not quite what I meant.”

“
No?”

She shook her head, slowly and deliberately. Brian moved forward and caught her up in his arms. He lifted her off her feet. She
wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

“
Hey, not so tight.”

“
Oh.” She pulled back. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

He laughed, low and warm.
“No, just can’t reach your lips. Now I can.” And he did.

****

She dialed the phone with shaking hands. She breathed deeply, willing her nerves to settle, her stomach to behave.

“
Hello?”

“
Hi. Juli. Sorry to bother you. It’s Frannie.”

“
Frannie? Hi, yourself. How are you?”

“
I’m fine. I was wondering if I could stop by.”

“
Sure. When?”

“
Well, whenever it’s convenient? Maybe tomorrow?”

“
What about now? I’m home. Danny’s napping.”

Now. She thought of a thousand reasons why not now, and
none had any truth in them.

“
Now is fine, if you’re sure.”

“
I’ll be here.”

She was committed. No turning back.

The Winters’ home, for all that it was a simple, brick house, felt imposing, like a wall to be breached, or a trespass about to happen. Either way, it would be an action she couldn’t take back. Frannie held her purse tightly, all too conscious of the documents and the secrets securely tucked inside.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“
I have a question for you. It’s personal.” She shrugged. “It’s delicate. I don’t know a good way to ask this. But it’s important. It has to do with my mother.”

Juli
led her out to the deck and motioned toward the cushioned wicker chairs. They sat. Juli leaned over and patted Frannie on the arm.

“
You’re so pale. Can I get you something to drink?”

Frannie shook her head.
“No, please. You are so kind to me, and I hope you’ll still feel that way after this conversation.”

Her expression closed, becoming a
bit wary. “I can’t believe it’s anything so awful. You know, Fran, sometimes saying something out loud has a way of defusing it, of taking away its power.” She sighed loudly and with a rueful grin on her face, she said, “You didn’t know me before. It took me a long time to learn to trust other people, to find value in trusting them even though they will surely let you down. They aren’t perfect.”

Frannie drew in a deep breath
and then let the words out, “Can you tell me about your mother and father?”

Juli stared
, but Frannie couldn’t read her face. She put her hands together and gripped her fingers tightly. She hardly dared to breathe, afraid that Juli would change her mind, would reject the question. After all, who was she to ask such a thing?

“
Her name was Frances. I don’t know who my father was. Mama left that space on the birth certificate blank.” She shook her head.

“
Did you know her maiden name? Did you ever hear the name, Edward Denman?”

“
Maiden name? I don’t know. I presume it was Cooke since that was the name on the certificate.” Her eyes looked beyond sad and her voice was colorless. “I don’t know anyone named Denman, or didn’t until I met your uncle.”

“
I am so sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you.”

“
Hurt me? No, it’s just that I’ve never been curious. I was glad to be fed and warm.” Juli closed her eyes. “I was five when they took me away. I don’t remember much, but enough to prevent wasted sentimentality.”

Juli
pressed her fingers to her forehead. “I have a headache. It came out of nowhere. Will you excuse me while I go take something for it?”

Frannie
nodded and Juli went into the house.

The visit felt over.

Her purse was on the deck next to her chair. She wouldn’t be unzipping that bag today. With Juli unwell, it was better to wait.

Maybe Brian was right. Maybe what she wanted wasn
’t good for anyone else. Was it worth the angst? The risk of losing these new friendships? No one was going to thank her for upsetting Juli. Everyone loved Juli.

It wasn
’t too late. She stood, gathering her things. She turned. Juli was standing in the doorway.

“
What are you doing?” Juli’s eyes were red.

“
I’m leaving. We can chat another time.”

Juli stepped toward her.
“You said this was important.”

“
Only to me, I think.”

“
Please.” She took Frannie’s hand. “Forgive me for getting emotional. I never was before, but since Danny was born…to be honest, even before that. I cried about the least little things during the pregnancy.”

Juli sat, which effectively mandated that Frannie sit, too, or be rude.

“I meant what I said about mama, but now, having my own child gives me a different perspective on it.” She hugged her arms. “Maybe that’s why the memory has the power to overwhelm me.”

She stared
at the baby monitor with its bright blue light.

“
He’ll sleep a while longer. Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”

“
My mother’s name, my birth mother, was also named Frances. Frances Anne. That’s who I’m named for. She married Edward Denman, my father.”

Juli
’s lips curved in an unexpected, unsuspecting smile.

Frannie had a panicked thought,
Did she already know and hadn’t cared enough to say
. But that was silly. She drew the envelope from her bag. She removed the copy of her birth notice, which was photocopied on the larger piece of paper. She handed it, along with the envelope, to Juli.

“
Please take a look at this.”

Juli held the envelope in one hand while she read the copy of the newspaper clipping.
“Frances C. and Edward Denman. Your parents? Frances Anne Denman, that’s you, right?” She smiled at Frannie.

“
It’s a small world isn’t it? I have ‘Anne’ in my name, too. My name is actually Julianne.”