Seaside Secrets (2 page)

Suzie laughed with her and they
clinked their wine glasses together in a toast to Mary's new life. Then Mary trailed her fingertip thoughtfully along the rim of her glass.

“
So, don't let another moment pass you by, Suzie,” she encouraged her friend. “This is a chance of a lifetime. Go to Garber and get to know the house that your uncle lived in, you might be able to get to know a little about him, too.”

“
Maybe I will,” Suzie nodded a little and then met Mary's eyes. “But only if you come with me.”

“
Me?” Mary laughed a little. “I don't know if I could do that.”

“
Why not?” Suzie pushed as her blue eyes began to shine with renewed excitement. “Like you said, you want to get away.”

Mary thought about it for a moment and then nodded slowly.
“You know, you're right,” a slow smile spread across her lips. “Let's do it,” she said, her smile becoming a wide grin. “It'll be so much fun!”

“
Yes it will,” Suzie agreed and they clinked their glasses one more time.

The next few days were a whirlwind of packing and getting things in place so that Suzie could be away for an indeterminate amount of time. More than anything she was thrilled to have the time to spend with Mary, and to get her away from the pain that Kent was insisting on inflicting on her. He called several times just to give Mary updates about the legal steps he was taking. Mary ignored the calls at Suzie's insistence. By the time they set out on their five hour drive to Garber, Mary was smiling more and seemed to be looking forward to the journey.

“
When was the last time we took a trip together, just you and I?” Suzie asked with a fond smile as they drove down the highway.

“
I think it was that cruise,” Mary cringed as she recalled the disaster of a 'girls' vacation they had taken. First there had been the fight to even get Kent to agree to it, then there was the inclement weather that left Mary holed up in the bathroom because of seasickness.

“
Ah, yes,” Suzie chuckled. “The cruise that shall not be spoken of,” she grinned around the name they had given it many years ago.

“
At least this one will be on dry land,” Mary pointed out with relief in her voice.

“
That's true,” Suzie laughed as she turned off on the exit that would lead them to Garber.

“
So, you've never met your cousin?” Mary asked as she gazed out the window. “How old is he?”

“
In his thirties, I think,” Suzie shook her head. “It's strange to think that I have a relative that I've never even laid eyes on. From what the lawyer told me, he's a police officer.”

“
Oh dear,” Mary frowned as she raised an eyebrow in Suzie's direction. “I can remember the last time you were in handcuffs.”

“
That was a simple misunderstanding,” Suzie insisted with an innocent smile.

“
Mmhm, it was a misunderstanding that got you a night in jail,” Mary reminded her with a soft laugh. “I can remember that phone call in the middle of the night. When I woke up, I thought uh oh one of the kids is in trouble, imagine my surprise when I heard your voice on the other end of the line.”

“
It was for a story,” Suzie giggled at the memory. The truth was she had been terrified at the time. She had let her role as an investigative reporter get a little out of control by impersonating a police officer, which apparently other police officers did not take kindly to. In the end she had been released because of her spotless record, but it had been a scary night of staring at the stark white ceiling of her cell and wondering if she was going to have to go before a judge. It had made her far more cautious about the risks she was willing to take to get a story, and what stories she was interested in investigating. After that she stuck to less dangerous stories, keeping her focus on politics and consumer issues.

“
Let's make the most of this,” Mary said softly as she continued to gaze through the window. “I'm ready to see what life has in store for both of us.”

“
Me too, Mary,” Suzie smiled to herself.

***

When they arrived in Garber it was early afternoon. The air was laced with the scent of salt, and a hint of rain hanging in the air. Suzie stepped out of the car and breathed in deeply. It made her entire body relax. She had always loved the beach, and had spent many summer days with Mary and her children exploring whatever beach they were close enough to reach. She had always found the sea and the mysteries it held to be enchanting. That was why she had talked Mary into the terrible cruise trip they had taken. Though Mary had sworn never to set foot on a boat again, Suzie actually missed being out on the open water. It had been very freeing to feel as if she was detached from dry land. Until of course, the storm had hit.

“
Wow,” Mary breathed out as she stared up at Dune House surrounded by the deep blue sky of the afternoon. “You weren't kidding about this place.”

“
I know,” Suzie sighed as she turned to face it. “It needs a lot of work,” she murmured as she looked from the dangling shutters to the sagging porch.

“
No, that's not what I meant,” Mary said quickly as she continued to stare at the building. “I meant it's as beautiful as you described it.”

“
You've been here before?” a voice asked from behind both of them, causing Suzie to jump slightly and Mary to squint against the bright sun.

A man in a police uniform was standing before them. He even wore a
hat, and a gun in a holster at his side. Suzie felt vaguely nervous when she spotted the handcuffs on his utility belt.

“
Once, when I was a child,” Suzie replied as she studied him intently. “You must be Jason.”

“
I am,” he replied in a clipped tone. His expression was calm, but his gaze was searching her curiously.

“
I'm sorry that I missed the funeral, Jason,” she said softly as she studied the young man. He was in his thirties and quite handsome in his uniform. Suzie could tell that he resembled her father a little around his bold blue eyes, and in the curve of his thin lips. He had that same calm and logical gaze that her father had often worn. She imagined that her uncle must have had the same expression, but she didn't recall it. The only thing unexpected about him was the thick, red hair that peeked out from beneath his hat, which Suzie recalled was the same shade as her Aunt Beverly's. He looked a little uncomfortable as he stood before her, and adjusted the gun in the holster on his hip.

“
It's all right,” he shrugged and then hesitated a moment. “I don't think I ever met you,” he said quietly. “I'm sorry I can't recall if I did.”

“
No, you didn't,” Suzie replied with a warm smile. “I lost contact with your father and his family after my father died.”

“
Oh,” Jason nodded and glanced away, still quite nervous. “I'm sorry for your loss.”

“
Thank you, and I'm sorry for yours,” she murmured in return. “Losing a parent is never easy.”

“
No,” Jason agreed, his eyes cold as they looked back at her. “It isn't, I'm just here to give you this,” he explained as he handed her a small envelope. “I had some of the keys to the house, and also there's some paperwork in there from Bill Cooper. He can't meet you this afternoon, but said he would be happy to meet you tomorrow.”

“
Thank you,” Suzie replied as she took the envelope from him. “It's good to meet you, Jason,” she said with a smile.

“
You too, Suzie,” he replied with a nod of his head.

“
Oh, I'm sorry,” Suzie laughed, feeling a little flustered. “This is my friend Mary,” she pulled Mary over beside her. “She's going to be staying here with me while we get everything straightened out.”

“
Nice to meet you, Mary,” Jason nodded curtly. Mary nodded and smiled in return.

“
I'll let you two get to it,” he said with a shrug and then started to turn away. He glanced back over his shoulder as if he had just remembered something. “The place, it needs a lot of work. I know there is an offer on the table, a very generous one,” he met Suzie's eyes. “It would be best if you settled things quickly.”

“
Oh,” Suzie nodded, a little taken back by his bluntness. He nodded again and then walked off to his patrol car. Suzie glanced over at Mary. “What was that about?” she asked with widened eyes.

“
Who knows,” Mary shrugged as she and Suzie began walking up to Dune House. “One thing about long lost family, Suzie, there are always things you would prefer not to find out.”

“
That might just be the case,” Suzie agreed as the patrol car tore off down the driveway.

***

When they made it inside of what was most recently a B & B, Mary and Suzie were both startled by the state of it. Although the outside was certainly untended, there was some expectation that the inside would be a little better. Instead they found layers of dust, furniture covered in sheets, and a kitchen that looked as if it hadn't been used for anything but the microwave and the trash can for years. There wasn't a dish in the sink, but there was still a trash can piled with paper plates, old dinner packages, and boxes from local take out places.

“
Hmm, looks like he didn't leave home too much,” Mary said when she opened the fridge and found it nearly bare, aside from a six-pack of beer, with two bottles missing. “Was he a drinker?”

“
Honestly, I don't know,” Suzie shook her head as she glanced around. “I was thinking perhaps we could salvage it, but...”

“
But what?” Mary asked as she wiped her finger through a layer of dust on the refrigerator door. “Nothing a little elbow grease won't cure,” she smiled.

“
Seriously?” Suzie scrunched up her nose. “I can only imagine that the rest of the place is just as bad.”

“
Don't think of it as a whole, we'll just take it room by room,” Mary insisted and then reached down to pick up some trash from the floor. “Trust me, I've seen worse disasters than this.”

“
Well, if you're game I am, too,” Suzie said with renewed confidence. They worked on the kitchen for a few hours, and then moved into the living room. When it began to grow dark they decided to call it a day. Since there was currently no power to the house they retired to the motel room that Suzie had booked for them. The motel was on the outskirts of town, and there were only a few other cars in the parking lot. It was quaint, clean, and most importantly had comfortable mattresses. They were both worn out from the day and eager to get some good sleep, but the moment they lay down, they also realized they were starving.

“
I think I spotted a vending machine in the hall,” Suzie said as Mary sprawled out on her bed. “I'll go grab us something to munch on.”

“
Sounds perfect,” Mary agreed with a smile.

As Suzie walked out into the open air hallway that led to both the ice machine and the vending machine she noticed how quiet her surroundings were. She hadn't heard such comforting silence in a very long time. Though the motel was not on the water, she could hear the distant crashing of the waves. She was so distracted by the peacefulness of her environment that she didn't notice a discarded ice bucket in her path until she struck it with her foot which became entangled in the handle.

“Oops,” she gasped out as she fell forward and braced herself to strike the cold concrete. Instead she landed against the firm chest of someone who caught her in mid-fall.

“
Careful there,” he murmured in a deep, smooth voice.

“
Oh, thank you,” Suzie said as she straightened up quickly and brushed back a few strands of her hair. She smiled as she looked up into the man's cool gray eyes. They gazed out at her from beneath bushy, brown eyebrows, set on top of a face weathered by sun and wind. He looked to be in his fifties, and though his dark brown hair was thick it only covered a portion of his scalp.

“
Are you all right?” he asked with concern, his hand lingering on her elbow as she pried the bucket off her foot.

“
I'm fine,” she promised and blushed at the same time. “A little embarrassed, but fine.”

“
You're not from around here, are you?” he asked as he took the bucket from her and set it beside the ice machine.

“
Is it that obvious?” she asked with a sheepish smile.

“
No, it's just that I know every beautiful woman in town, and,” he paused a moment as he looked back at her, “I've never met you before.”

“
Aw, quite the charmer,” she smiled at him and shook her head. “My uncle, Harry Allen, was from here,” she explained.

“
Oh, Harry was your uncle?” he asked with surprise. “He was a good man,” he said in a softer tone. “I'm sorry for your loss.”

“
I appreciate your sympathy,” Suzie replied as he finally released her elbow. “I didn't have the chance to know him well. Were you friends?”

“
Not exactly,” he replied and ran a hand along the grizzled slope of his chin. “Harry wasn't really friends with anyone after Beverly died. He kept to himself mostly. But he was always willing to give a helping hand to those in need. At least, before he holed himself up in Dune House.”

“
He left Dune House to me,” Suzie said with a slight frown. “I still don't understand why.”

“
Oh, I can tell you why,” he said with a nod of his head. “It's to keep it out of the hands of his boy, and that greedy fool we call a mayor.”

Suzie raised her eyebrows with surprise.
“Why would he want to keep it away from Jason?”

“
He wouldn't, I'd guess,” the man shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. “It's just that Jason has become very close to the mayor, and the mayor wants that property. I'm sure if Jason had inherited it, he would have handed it right over. It's a shame what happened to Harry. He was healthy as a horse the last time I saw him. It's hard to imagine that his heart just gave out.”