Pity stirred and she banished it. It did no good to sympathize with him. Another rage would strike him again. “Look at me.” When he lifted red eyes her direction, she touched her belly again. “What man would look at me like this? I lumber like a beached whale, and I’m as fat as a toad. Your imagination takes you on ridiculous flights of fancy, Joshua. I am your wife. I would never betray you. Never.”
They’d had this conversation before, and it never went anywhere, but she always hoped he would listen. She’d be able to breathe again out of his constant scrutiny. And she would have her baby to occupy her time.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve seen tracks around the house. I must say, I’m rather worried. Who could be peering in our windows and checking out our property?”
At her question, his contrition vanished and he focused on the problem. “A thief perhaps?”
“Your money is safely stowed at the bank. We have nothing of real value here. Food, furniture. Nothing worth going to prison for.”
He rose from the side of the bed. “I don’t wish to make it seem an accusation, Georgina, but I found something in the yard.”
He walked to his bureau and opened the bottom drawer. Under his socks he pulled out a krama. He held the scarf out to her. “Can you explain this?”
She picked it up in her hands, and the scent of curry permeating the fabric wafted to her nose. “It’s Khmer.”
“I know. Has Chann been in touch with you?”
She held his gaze. “He has not. I haven’t heard from him since he was here four months ago.”
Then who had left this outside if not Chann? Her thoughts flew to the leather pouch she’d hidden. Her friend had been panicked that it remain safe. Could someone be after that? Or was Chann back to reclaim his property?
“So you have kept track of the time since you saw him last.”
She sighed. “Everything relates to my baby. I was about four months along. That is all, Joshua.” She threw down the cloth and moved toward the door. “I’m quite tired of trying to reassure you. Believe what you like.”
As she opened the bedroom door, a trickle of water between her legs became a sudden torrent. She stood staring at the puddle on the floor until she realized what it meant.
“The baby,” she whispered. “The baby is coming. Fetch the midwife.”
NINETEEN
Elin shut the diary and smiled at her mother, who had curled up on the bed with her again. She’d been listening with rapt attention to Georgina’s tale.
“I saw that pouch thing,” her mother said. “It was folded and wrapped with leather ties.”
Elin’s smile faded. “That’s not possible, Mom. I’m sure it’s long gone. She hid it over a hundred years ago.”
“I saw it. It’s about this size.” She measured about four inches by nine out with her hands. “I can’t remember where I found it though. Or what I did with it. I think it’s in the attic.”
Hallucinations were common, and maybe listening to the graphic story in the diary had made it seem real to Mom. Elin’s eyes burned, and she wished she could bring her mother back from the fog.
Her mother’s blue pajamas flapped when she leaped from the bed. “Let’s go look upstairs. Maybe I’ll remember where I hid it.”
No amount of persuasion dissuaded her mother when she wore that expression of obstinacy. “All right.” Elin dug the keys out of her bedside drawer.
Marc nearly mowed her down when she exited her room. His injured arm was in a sling, and his right hand shot out to steady her. The warm touch of his hand on her arm sent shivers up her back.
She didn’t move away. “Sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Her mother barely glanced at him and continued on down the hall to the stairway door. “Hurry up, Elin.”
He finally dropped his hand. “Where’s the fire?”
“Mom says she’s seen the leather folder Georgina describes in the diary. She says she found it and hid it again, even though she doesn’t remember where she found it or where she hid it. We were just going upstairs to look around.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have read her that diary.”
“I’ll help.” He continued to look down at her with an amused expression.
“Bored, huh?”
He grinned. “Nothing to watch on TV except home-improvement shows and a movie I’ve seen three times.”
“You should rest. You lost a lot of blood.”
“I’m fine. Knocked back three Advil and I’m good to go.”
He touched her on the shoulder as they turned to join her mother. It was crazy how she felt around him. Where were these feelings coming from? Maybe she was going crazy. With all she had going on, the last thing she needed was a romantic entanglement, especially with Marc, who was a complication in her life in so many ways.
She went upstairs first. “There are some halogen lights over there.” She pointed to the corner.
Marc went to drag them to the center of the space. The long cords reached the outlets, and Elin blinked when the bright lights flooded the room and pushed back the night shadows. The large room looked even bigger with the light reaching to all the corners.
She eyed him a moment. “I wanted to ask you something. Why didn’t you tell the sheriff you’d take care of forensics? I bet you could get results faster than he could.”
He hunched his shoulders. “It’s kind of a problem right now. I, uh, I’m not supposed to be investigating this. My supervisor thinks I’m haring off on a wild-goose chase.”
Her stomach plunged. “What do you mean? They don’t believe me?”
He straightened and his gaze held hers. “I’m positive Laura’s killer murdered my partner, but my boss thinks it was a mob hit. He told me to take some leave and let it alone.”
“So you could get in trouble for poking into this?” Warmth spread through her when she realized how much he’d put on the line to help her. “Thank you.”
His firm lips twisted into a wry grin. “Don’t thank me yet. He’s still out there.”
“You’ll find him.”
“I will.”
His confident tone gave her courage. “Thank you for telling me.” She pointed out closed doors in two different walls. “There are more rooms than just this big room too. I hadn’t realized. When I was up here before, I was looking for the way up to the widow’s walk.”
Her mother wore a faraway expression. Holding out her arms as though embracing someone, she began to dance to imaginary music. Elin remembered her dancing with Dad when she was a child. They would turn on “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers and slow dance on the living room rug. Did Mom hear that old tune in her head now?
Elin touched her arm. “Mom?”
Her mother danced on, oblivious to her daughter’s presence.
Marc’s eyes were warm with compassion, and he touched Elin’s arm again. “Let’s look in the other rooms since you haven’t seen them yet.” He grabbed a halogen light in his good hand and carried it with him toward the first room.
She opened the door and flipped on the overhead light. The weak glow barely showed the floor right under it. Marc plugged in the halogen light and flipped it on. The bright light showed what was likely once a servant’s room. About fifteen feet square, it held an old iron bed and a battered chest of drawers. A small closet held dresses draped on hooks.
“It’s like a peek into another time.” Elin touched a gray flapperstyle dress in the closet and gazed at the T-strap shoes with their chunky heels so reminiscent of the early twenties. “The days of live-in help were pretty much over after World War I. I wonder who these belonged to?”
“And why didn’t the family get rid of all these old things?” He moved to the dresser and pulled open one drawer after the other. “Old pictures in here. Doilies too and some old teacups. Doesn’t look to be anything of value.”
In slim-fitting jeans and a black T-shirt, Marc stood with his hands on his hips and surveyed the rest of
the room. “What makes you think the pouch your mother has been talking about is the same Georgina mentions in her diary?”
“I don’t, not really. I think the diary has become vivid in her mind, but there is no way to distract her when she gets so obsessed with something. It’s easier to just play along until she loses interest.”
He nodded at the door to where the older woman still danced with an imaginary partner. “Like now. We could talk her into going to bed now, I think.”
“Probably.” Elin burrowed into the closet and began to pull out the long-dead servant’s belongings. “I’ll take her down in a minute.”
“I think you’re as obsessed as she is.” Marc’s voice revealed his amusement. “Here, hand some of that stuff to me.”
She dumped shoes into his outstretched hand. “What if something is worth finding up here?”
“You mean like the leather-pouch thing?”
“No, I think that’s long gone. But maybe there’s an old Van Gogh or Rembrandt up here. Or some fabulously valuable jewelry. Hidden treasure of some kind.” She shot him an impish grin to show she was only joking. But was she? The bigger treasure to her mind was finding out about the people who had lived in Seagrass Pier.
She stumbled as she exited the closet. Marc caught her with his one arm and snatched her to his chest to steady her.
“Thanks,” she mumbled through a mouth suddenly too dry.
His enticing masculine scent overpowered her reserve, and her hand stole up his chest. She stared into his face and willed him to kiss her. His hands held her tight against him. His eyes darkened, and his head started a downward trajectory before he jerked back and released her as if her skin had burned him.
Her cheeks went hot, and she turned her back on him. “I think I’d better get Mom to bed.”
The good scent of freshly turned dirt filled Marc’s nostrils on Saturday morning, and he stretched out his back, then dusted off his hands. He’d taken off the sling this morning, though Elin had protested. His arm was a little sore, but not that bad. The roar of the sea was muffled here behind the house. “I think we’re done. All the seeds are planted, and I’ll water the tomatoes and peppers.”
“You’re a good son,” Ruby said, her blue eyes vacant and watery.
His gaze locked with Elin’s, and he wished he could erase the pain he saw in her face. He’d nearly kissed her last night. It would be stupid to go there, but he could at least look. The wind lifted her long curls and swirled them around her head like a halo. His fingers itched to plunge into that red hair.
Josie tugged at the hem of his knee-length shorts. “Look, Mr. Marc, I have my own tomato plant.”
He touched her soft hair, marveling again at how much she looked like him. “I’m sure it will give you lots of tomatoes.”
When was Elin going to agree to tell her who he was? He glanced at her and saw from her expression she’d read his mind. Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head.
The screen door on the back entry banged, and he glanced over to see Kalianne heading their way with a tray of lemonade. She sent a smile his way that made him tense. He was decidedly not available to someone like her when he had a daughter to raise.
His gaze went back to Elin. And Kalianne definitely wasn’t his type. He preferred the tall, willowy type with legs that went on forever and a giggle that made him smile.
Kalianne reached him. “Thirsty?” Her smile insinuated something other than lemonade.
“I could use a cold drink.” He kept his tone light and avoided looking her in the face.
She moved to Elin and Ruby, and they both took a sweating glass of lemonade. There was a kid’s cup with a straw for Josie. Kalianne set the tray down on a tree stump at the edge of the garden and took the last glass for herself.
“I noticed the third-floor stairway was unlocked,” Kalianne said. “Tell me where to find the key, and I’ll lock it up for you. We wouldn’t want Ruby or Josie going up there by themselves.”
Elin took a sip of her drink. “We were looking around up there last night. I’ll lock it when I go back in. I’ve got the keys in my purse. I think Josie must have found them in my drawer because it was unlocked the other day.”
“Looking around?” Kalianne’s eyes still flirted with Marc.
“Mom was talking about having seen an old leather folder that rolls up. She insisted on going to the attic to look for it.”
Kalianne straightened. “How interesting. Maybe she was just dreaming it.”
“Probably, but we went up to explore.”
“So you don’t think she’s actually seen something like that? She mentioned it to me too, and I told her I’d help her find it.”
Elin lowered her voice. “Try to distract her. I’m sure there’s nothing to her story.”
“I’ll do that, and if she won’t be distracted, it won’t hurt to look around with her like you did last night. Could you put the key somewhere I can find it?”
“I’d rather you didn’t go up there at all if I’m not here. I’m happy to unlock it for you and go along if she wants up there. I’m just afraid she’ll wander off and climb the stairs to the widow’s walk. It’s not safe for her. Or for Josie.”
A look of displeasure flitted across Kalianne’s face. She turned away to look at the garden. “Whatever you say.”
Ruby moved closer to Marc. “My son here is a good gardener. Have you met him?”
Kalianne looked over and smiled. “I sure have. Though he’s not your son.”
Confusion filled Ruby’s eyes, and Marc sent Kalianne a warning frown. “She’s just teasing you, Ruby.” He patted the older lady’s shoulder, then moved closer to Kalianne and spoke in an undertone. “Don’t argue with her.”
“I don’t believe in lying to patients.”
“She doesn’t understand. You don’t need to correct her when she’s confused.” When Kalianne shook her head and started to reply, he held up his hand. “Just do what you’re told, Miss Adanete.”
Her brows drew together. “I don’t believe you’re my employer.”
Elin joined them. “Is there a problem?”
“I was just explaining to Kalianne that she shouldn’t argue with your mother when she’s confused. You don’t do it. She doesn’t think I have the authority to give her an order.”
“No, the doctor said not to.” Elin looked hard at Kalianne. “And Marc can give any orders he pleases. He’s only looking out for Mom’s best interests.”
Kalianne’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparked fire. “Whatever you say.” She grabbed up the empty tray and stalked back toward the house.
“Sorry if I was out of line.” Marc wasn’t sure if she’d stood up for him because she believed it or because she wanted to save face in front of Kalianne.
“You weren’t. I trust you, Marc.”
Her words warmed him until he remembered she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him about Josie.
TWENTY
Mommy, we’re home!” Josie’s voice carried over the water as the boat docked. Abby had taken her and Mom to a festival at Kill Devil Hills right after they’d planted the garden.
Elin waved from the shore as her sister took Josie’s hand and disembarked the ferry. Josie smiled hugely as she ran to her mother. Elin scooped up her daughter. “I missed you! Did you have a good time with Aunt Abby?”
Her daughter nodded and planted a kiss on her cheek. “We had a pedicure. I got five different colors.” She pointed at her toes peeking from the ends of her sandals.
“Very nice.” Elin put her down, and Josie ran to hug her grandmother, who was having a pretty good day from the clarity of her blue eyes.
Elin let her gaze sweep the passengers hurrying down the plank to shore. Could any of them be responsible for Lacy’s death? Most seemed to be with families, but there were one or two men who ambled off by themselves.
She shivered and turned her attention back to her sister. “Thanks for taking her. She was very eager, and I just wa
sn’t up to it.”
Abby studied her. “You look a little pale. Have you heard anything else about the murder?”
Josie had dragged her grandmother over to the water to peer at a tide pool. They would be busy for at least a few minutes.
Abby looked over to where their mother crouched over the pool with Josie. “I think I should keep Josie for now. It’s dangerous for her, Elin. Surely you can see that. Let me take her with me.”
“I don’t dare let her out of my sight. I know you love her, Abby, but I’d die before I’d let anything happen to her.”
“So would I.” Abby looked fierce.
Elin hadn’t expected to be arguing with Abby over Josie. “Listen, let’s not fight about this. We’re safe. Marc is here. You have to admit he’s quite capable of protecting all of us.”
Abby’s fists unclenched, and she gave a reluctant nod. “I always thought there was something between the two of you. You could cut the chemistry with a knife. Are you dating him?”
“What? Of course not.” She would have to tell Abby the truth. “But he does have a vested interest in keeping Josie safe.”
“I don’t get it.”
“He’s Josie’s father.”
Abby’s eyes went wide, then filled with certainty. “I knew it! Why on earth didn’t you marry him? Did he leave you when he found out about Josie?”
“I never told him.”
Abby gasped, and she shook her head. “I don’t understand. You never looked at another man but Tim.”
Elin looked down. “It’s not something I’m proud of. The night Dad died, I kind of lost it. Drank too much. We both did. One thing led to another.” Her face burned. “I ran out of there and wanted to forget it. He tried to talk to me a few times afterward, but I was so ashamed.” The memory of that night still brought a lump to her throat.
Abby frowned. “You cried for days after the call came in about Tim’s injury, and I thought it was because you were worried about him. It was because you were pregnant? Did you tell Tim?”