exposed (Twisted Cedar Mysteries Book 3) (25 page)

“But she was really trying to protect you.”

“I think so...” Charlotte drew up her legs and wrapped her arms around them. “Oh, God. I just want to curl into a little ball and disappear.”

Dougal brought her the glass of wine. “Drink this.”

She unwound one arm and accepted the glass. After a long swallow she gave him a small smile. “You’re right. Alcohol is the answer.”

He tried not to grin. “Get serious. This is a shock. But what your father did, or didn’t do, is his baggage. Not yours.”

It took her a moment to realize what he was doing. “Throwing my words back in my face, are you?”

“Why not? They’re pretty wise. As is the lovely lady who said them to me.”

Wade was in a pretty good mood when he showed up for work Monday morning, which made the letter of resignation he found on his desk extra hard to take.

“Marnie,” he barked. “Get in here.”

She sauntered to his door—there was no other word Wade could think of to describe the way she walked. She also happened to look fabulous. She was wearing a red dress, with matching heels and she’d done her hair and make-up.

“Yes, Sheriff?”

God, the lipstick she was wearing made her mouth look so...kissable. Wade could have sworn he’d never seen her wear that shade before.

He picked up the letter and waved it at her. “What the hell is this?”

“What does it look like?”

How could she sound so calm? As if her job with the department—and
him
—meant nothing at all to her. He waved for her to come inside and shut the door.

“I can see this is your letter of resignation. I just want to know why you’re doing it. And why
now
?”

“Well, I wasn’t going to quit when Chester was missing, was I? Not with everyone working flat out the way they were.”

“You mean you’ve been thinking about this for a while?”

“Last month Bailey Landax approached me about coming to work for her real estate company. Ever since Quinpool Realty shut its doors they’ve been swamped. She needs administrative help really badly.”

“So that’s what you’re going to do? Work for a real estate company.”

“That’s right.”

“But I thought you were happy here.”

“I was. Until you and I had that little conversation last week.”

Wade felt uncomfortably hot all of a sudden. “We had a lot of conversations last week.”

“True. But only one of a personal nature.”

She was smiling at him. Damn. She was actually
enjoying
this. Wade made a show of rearranging the papers on his desk. He needed a minute to gather his wits.

While he delayed, he glanced over her letter again, then read it all the way through.

“So. You’re giving two weeks’ notice?”

“I am.”

“Which would make Friday, October 1st your last day?”

“Correct.”

“Fine. Then I suggest Saturday, October 2nd we make a date to go fishing. How’s that sound?”

“Fishing?”

“Weren’t you pestering me a while ago about the location of my father’s secret fishing spot?”

She laughed. “I guess that’s true. Fishing it is. I’ll pack a picnic.”

She winked at him, then did that same sauntering walk all the way out of his office. He watched, enjoying the view and thinking he’d better buy a new ice chest before their date. And maybe a nice soft blanket to go with it.

* * *

Across a table at the Buttermilk Cafe, Jamie stared into the blue eyes of the man she’d once loved. Had Kyle’s good looks distracted her from seeing the character flaws her brother had warned her about? There was something about blond men with blue eyes and flawless smiles. They just looked so...wholesome.

But to be fair to herself, she hadn’t been won over by looks alone. She’d been pretty wowed by his devotion to his kids, as well.

Never guessing, at the time, just how far that devotion would extend.

He’d done so many terrible things—the fraud, the lies, burying poor Daisy and then lying to her family about her disappearance.

But now that she knew he’d done them to protect Chester, she just couldn’t hate him anymore.

“Thanks for agreeing to see me, Jamie.” Kyle’s voice was subdued. Even his posture was less confident than before.

“I hadn’t intended to. But after Chester dropped his bombshell, I felt we needed to talk one more time.”

Kyle scooted forward to the edge of his chair. “It’s so great to be home with them again. I can’t thank you—and Charlotte—enough for taking care of them while I was in prison.”

“Charlotte did most of it. She’s going to miss them terribly.”

“They’ve grown very fond of her, too. We’ve come up with a schedule—they’re going to spend every second weekend with her. And drop by the library after school, instead of going to Nola Thompson’s.”

“And how is Chester coping? Is he having any behavioral issues? Nightmares?”

“He’s been surprisingly resilient. He even seems happy about being back in school.”

“If only you’d told the truth from the beginning Kyle…”

“That’s easy to say now. At the time, it seemed like the best way to protect my son. And who did I hurt, really?”

“How about Charlotte and her parents? If they’d known Daisy was dead they would have been able to mourn her properly and move on. Instead they lived in an awful purgatory of hope and despair for all those years.”

“Don’t talk to me about the Hammonds. They acted so high and mighty, but they were nothing but trash.”

Jamie shifted uncomfortably on her chair. Charlotte and Dougal had told her they had suspicions Daisy had been sexually abused by her father. Had Kyle known about that?

“What do you mean?” she asked cautiously.

“Daisy asked me to never tell a single soul. And I haven’t. But now that they’re both gone, there’s no point in hiding what happened. Her dad made sexual advances when she was fifteen. She told her mother, and Patricia supposedly put a stop to it.”

“Why do you say supposedly? Did she or didn’t she?”

“Well, she laid down the law and John never touched Daisy again. But he would give her looks and say rude things when he caught her alone. Daisy couldn’t understand why her mother didn’t leave him. And press charges. Instead, Patricia told Daisy she was to keep quiet and never tell anyone.”

“That’s so wrong. Poor Daisy. I wonder if the abuse—and her mother’s cover-up—contributed to some of Daisy’s problems later on in life.”

“I’m sure they did. And the twins and I paid for it.”

Kyle sounded so bitter, and Jamie had to admit, knowing this background, she felt less sympathy for the Hammonds than she had. “But Charlotte wasn’t a party to any of that.”

“No.” Kyle glanced away. “I suppose that’s why I tried to restrict her access to the twins. I felt like shit every time I saw her. Especially when she started talking about Daisy and asking if I’d heard anything.”

“What a mess.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “So how about you? You moving on with your life?”

“I’m trying. I bought a cute house on Horizon Hill Road.”

“That’s a good area. Nice views up there. A little pricey though.”

“Colin and Ben just gave me a raise. And I’m on track to be partner soon. Ben wants to push up his retirement.”

“Congratulations. I know your job means a lot to you.”

“Thank you.” Her career had been a bone of contention during their brief marriage. But none of that mattered anymore.

“And what are you doing for fun?”

“I’m hoping to do some traveling next year. I’ll start with Australia and New Zealand. And if I have time, Southeast Asia as well.”

“Very adventurous.” Kyle’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Jamie. I didn’t appreciate you when I had you.”

“I’m not sure that’s true. We were both happy. Once.”

He looked infinitely sad as he asked, “I don’t suppose, that in time you might consider...?”

“Oh, Kyle. I was crazy about you once. But never
that
crazy.”

* * *

On the first Sunday in November, Charlotte held a celebration of life service for Daisy.

“It’s time to move on,” she said.

And Dougal supported her in that.

He was trying to support her in other ways, too. Spending time with the twins every second weekend, doing chores around her house…most of all helping her deal with the skeletons they’d uncovered in the Hammond family closet.

Probably the biggest sacrifice of all—for him, not Borden—had been spending less time at the Librarian Cottage.

Although, to be honest, though he still loved the isolated A-frame, he didn’t feel quite the same hankering for it as he had when he first moved back.

Dougal didn’t know if it was writing his father’s book—which was still at the top of the bestselling charts—or his epiphany on the bluffs, but he was feeling a lot happier and optimistic these days.

Charlotte had even commented on it the other night in bed.

He’d pretended to be concerned. “Am I losing my edge?”

“If being unhappy, rude and sometimes selfish was your edge...I’m glad you lost it.”

It hurt to hear her describe him that way. But Dougal knew it was true and that over the years he’d caused pain to the people he loved the most.

If he could be granted a few do-overs, he knew how he’d use them. He’d have moved back home when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and he’d have helped Jamie plan the funeral and been there to support her afterwards, too. Maybe if he’d been living in Twisted Cedars all along Jamie never would have started up with Kyle in the first place.

Charlotte had chosen the library, of all places, to hold the memorial service. She’d asked the local Anglican priest to say a few words and to give a speech. Then she’d given a reading and invited the guests to stay and watch a slide show of Daisy’s life.

Dougal had put together the photos for that, and he’d selected the music, too.

Once Daisy had been a friend of his, and he found himself remembering times when she’d seemed disturbed and had wanted to talk.

But he’d been afraid Kyle would be jealous, and so he’d pushed her away.

There were beverages and sandwiches to snack on later. Dougal was standing next to Charlotte when Stella came to pay her respects.

“I’m sorry for everything that has happened,” Stella said, after giving them both a big hug. “I’m afraid Daisy was someone who needed help—and never found it.”

“I agree. It’s very sad.” Charlotte had been battling tears all afternoon, and a few more fell then.

Stella leaned in closer. “All these years, I never said anything. But I saw things when I was cleaning, that made me wonder about your father...and Daisy.”

Charlotte looked from Stella to Dougal, then back again. “I’ve begun to have those same suspicions Stella. And Jamie had a conversation with Kyle last month where he pretty much confirmed it.”

“Evil man,” Stella said. “I’m sorry, I know he was your father, but it’s true.”

“Yes. And unfortunately evil has a way of spreading, unless you shine a good hard light on it.”

“Thankfully we have our sheriff to do that,” Dougal said. Wade and Marnie had attended the celebration of life, earlier, but had disappeared about twenty minutes ago.

“And you,” Charlotte insisted, giving him one of those sweet, yet sexy smiles that he supposed would always make him grin back like a love-sick fool.

An hour later, most of the guests had gone, and Dougal was trying to usher the few that were left out of the door. Chester and Cory were totally bored by this point, as well, and Charlotte had resorted to letting them play games on their iPads in the back office, since they were having a sleepover with them tonight.

Finally, only Amos remained, at which point Dougal registered how odd it was that the handyman should be the last one to leave. Social gatherings like this one were hardly Amos’s favorite thing.

“Thanks for coming Amos,” Charlotte gave him a hug.

When Dougal offered his hand, Amos raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Could we maybe have a minute?”

“Sure.”

At Amos’s insistence, Dougal stepped outside with him, at which point Amos clasped him hard on the shoulder. “I want to thank you for what you wrote in your book.”

“What do you mean?”

“I supposed I should say what you didn’t write. About how I stole the library fund after I reported finding Shirley’s body.”

Dougal sighed. “I considered putting it in. But I didn’t see the point. It was a long time ago. I wish you could forgive yourself at this point. I know you’ve lived an honest life since then.”

“Scrupulously,” Amos said. “But...the bad stuff you do...it never goes away Dougal.”

“No, I don’t suppose it does,” Dougal agreed. Through the glass door he could see Charlotte and the twins gathering the last of the sandwiches to take home. They had plans to order pizza and watch a movie later that night.

Once the kids were asleep, he hoped to make love with his librarian. And if not tonight, maybe in the next week or two, ask her to marry him.

“But maybe the good stuff never goes away either.”

THE END

I’d like to thank the people who helped me with this novel, my editor Linda Style, formatters Meredith Bond and Lee Hyat, proofreader Marlene Engel, and cover designer Frauke Spanuth from CrocoDesigns.

For help with my research, I am indebted to Corporal George Simpson (who has moved to a new job and been given a promotion since the last time he helped me with a book!) I am so grateful to friends Sue and Greg McCormick who introduced me to the Corporal, as well as shared impressions and memories of their years living in Oregon. Thank you also to District Attorney Everett Dial who patiently answered many questions over the phone and to Dr. Gordon Bird for being my medical resource.

I’m very grateful to the friends and family members who have read preliminary copies of my Twisted Cedars Mysteries and provided much needed feedback: Mike Fitzpatrick, Susan Luciuk, Kathy Eliuk, Voula Cocolakis, Lorelle Binnion, Susan Lee, Brenda Collins, Donna Tunney...thank you all!