Tidewater Inn

  “I can’t believe this,” Vanessa said. She turned to stare at Libby. “Tell me about our mother. And what was her name? I don’t even know her name!”

  “Her name was Ursula.” Libby held her gaze. “My childhood wasn’t like yours, Vanessa. We moved around a lot. Mom was always looking for the rainbow over the next hill. She married again and divorced, then we had a revolving door with men coming and going. She was never happy. She always wanted more and more but never got it. Possessions were important to her, maybe because of her childhood. Still, she loved me more than her things, more than her men. But maybe not more than her beer. In spite of that, my childhood wasn’t bad. Just constantly disrupted.”

  Vanessa winced and turned her attention back to Pearl. “Why did Tina agree to the deception?”

  Pearl patted her shoulder. “You started calling her Mama as soon as they were engaged. It just gradually happened. I think your father thought you’d be happier if you didn’t remember another mother and sister.”

  Alec had idolized Ray Mitchell forever. To find he had such feet of clay was indescribably shocking. This kind of tangle was going to be hard to unravel. Alec doubted the women would ever manage to be close. It would take a miracle from God’s hand.

  Vanessa jumped to her feet and rushed back into the house. Pearl followed, calling Vanessa’s name. The seaside cicadas filled the silence as Alec and Libby were left alone on the porch.

  Alec stretched his arm across the back of the swing, not quite daring to embrace her, though the thought strangely crossed his mind. “How are you dealing with this?”

  She leaned back and her hair brushed his arm. “I don’t quite know what to think. It’s hard to realize I have a family but that I’m about as welcome as a bedbug. But I don’t care about any of this, really. I’m finding it hard to care about anything since Bree found Nicole’s belongings. I don’t want to believe she’s dead.”

  He hugged her. “I’m sorry, Libby. I wish I could change things.”

  She swallowed hard and sighed. “Thanks for being here, Alec.”

  “Does Brent know yet? About you and Vanessa?”

  She shook her head. “He’s been gone all day. I suppose Vanessa could have called him, but if she did, I don’t know about it.”

  Headlamps pierced the darkness. “I think that’s him now.”

  TWENTY-NINE

  Libby could almost imagine they were friends, maybe more than friends, as she sat near Alec with his arm on the back of the swing. Did he feel the connection she felt? He’d offered to help her, and he’d kissed her. With a man like him, that had to mean something.

  Brent would be here any minute, but she’d rather sit in the silence than endure more confrontation. Her brother was about to find out he was more alone than he’d thought. Would this change his relationship with Vanessa?

  Brent’s shadow loomed in the glow from the lamps along the walk, then he walked up the steps to the porch. “You’re sitting here in the dark?”

  “We have the porch light,” Alec said, pulling his arm down.

  Libby felt cold without his warmth radiating to her back. Or maybe it was the way Brent’s lips pressed together at the sight of her.

  “Have a seat, Brent. You’ve been gone all day and a lot has happened,” Alec said.

  Brent still stood in the shadows. “I’ll stand, thanks. What’s up?”

  “Libby and Vanessa are sisters,” Alec said.

  “Sisters? That’s not news.”

  “Full sisters. Not half.”

  Libby listened to Alec explain what they’d discovered today. The deep tones of his voice soothed her. She was still jumping at every sound. Was her attacker out there even now, watching and waiting for the next time? And why had he targeted her? She eyed her half brother. Could Brent want her out of the way so he could inherit? She didn’t have a will in place, so by law he and Vanessa would inherit as her closest relatives.

  She hated to suspect her own brother, but someone in this town wanted her dead. That someone had already killed her friend, it seemed. Tears welled in her eyes at the likelihood that she would never see Nicole again. She became aware that Alec had asked her something. “I’m sorry?”

  “I wondered if you had anything to add?”

  She stared at Brent’s expressionless face. Though they had only been around each other a few times, she got the impression that he took in everything behind those calculating eyes.

  He shifted and she saw what dangled from his hand. Tanks and a regulator. She caught her breath. “Where have you been, Brent?” she asked, noting his broad shoulders. Could he have attacked her himself?

  “What’s that got to do with anything?” he demanded.

  “I see you dive,” she said, pointing to his dive equipment.

  He glanced down at his equipment. “Yeah, so what? It’s the Graveyard of the Atlantic out there, remember? Diving mecca.”

  “Where were you diving today?”

  He gestured. “Out at a wreck offshore. What difference does it make?”

  “A diver tried to drown me. Right offshore here. He wore a black wetsuit.”

  If the thought of her being drowned bothered him, he didn’t show it. “Most wetsuits are black.”

  She stared at him. “Do you hate me, Brent?”

  “I don’t know you well enough to like or dislike you.”

  “Did you try to kill me?”

  “No.” His face was expressionless.

  “Can I see your arms?”

  He frowned, then shrugged and held both arms out where she could see them under the porch light. The skin was smooth and unmarked. “Samson bit my attacker.”

  “As you can see, I have not been bitten.”

  He could have hired someone, but she might as well let it go. Even if he was guilty, she’d never be able to tell.

  Tires crunched up the drive. Samson stretched and yawned, then bounded down the steps to meet his owners. Libby followed.

  Bree held out her arms. “I’m so sorry, Libby,” she murmured. “I wanted to tell you myself, but the sheriff wouldn’t let me.”

  “She can’t be dead,” Libby moaned, burying her face in her new friend’s shoulder.

  “Samson and I will do what we can,” Bree promised. “We’ll help you get to the bottom of this.”

  Libby lifted her head. “Someone tried to drown me tonight, Bree. A diver grabbed me and took me under. I’m frightened.”

  Bree went still. “But what could be the motive?”

  Libby pulled away. “Money, property? I don’t know.”

  “Don’t go anywhere alone until we solve this mystery,” Bree said. “I’m afraid for you.”

  Libby nodded and lifted Hunter from his car seat. “I’m going to stay close to Alec from here on out.”

  Libby sat on the porch by herself. It was well past midnight, but she couldn’t sleep. She’d seen light coming from under Vanessa’s door as well, so she knew her sister was likely just as conflicted. Libby rolled the bead necklace in her fingers. What would Jesus do?

  God had made it clear what she was supposed to do, but she didn’t want to. This necklace meant the world to her. Vanessa only wanted it because she didn’t have it. Be generous with Vanessa and Brent. Why did her father have to ask that of her? Why hadn’t he asked that of them? They were the ones being hurtful. Why should it rest on her shoulders?

  Alec’s figure loomed in the doorway as he stepped to the porch. “Can’t sleep?”

  “No. Too much to process today.”

  He joined her and put his arm on the back of the swing behind her. “Anything I can help you with?”

  “It’s my dad!” she burst out. “Why did he ask so much of me and nothing of Brent and Vanessa? Why am I the one who is supposed to be generous? Why do I have to extend grace? I’m being pummeled with more than they are.”

  “I wonder if he knew that you’re a Christian? I’m not so sure about Vanessa and Brent. Of course, it’s impossible to judge another m
an’s heart, but I’ve seen no evidence in their lives.”

  “To whom much is given, much is required.” She paraphrased the verse from the book of Luke with a sigh. “Sometimes doing the right thing is so hard.”

  “What’s the right thing you’re reluctant to do?”

  She pulled the necklace away from her neck and held it to the moonlight. “I have to give this to Vanessa.”

  “Ah.” Alec’s arm came down around her shoulders and he hugged her. “One thing I’ve discovered in my own walk with the Lord is this: when something is really hard but we do it anyway, the rewards are equally great. So if you just suck it up and do what you feel God is telling you to do, you’re going to be really glad in the end.”

  She leaned up and kissed his cheek. He smelled good with some kind of spicy cologne. “Thanks. You’re right. I have to do it.”

  His hand tightened around her shoulders, and before she could pull away, he brushed his lips across hers. The contact sent a warm rush through her. Surely he felt something for her. A man with his integrity didn’t go around kissing women willy-nilly.

  He pulled back and rested his head on the top of her shoulder. “I’ll pray for you.”

  “That means more than you know.” She kissed him again, relishing the stubble on his cheek. “I’m going to go do it now before I talk myself out of it.”

  “I’ll wait here and pray. Come back down when you’re done and let me know how it went.”

  “You’re a great guy, Alec,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I’ll be back.”

  Before she could lose her nerve, she hurried inside and up the stairs to her sister’s room. The light was still shining under the door. She knocked, hoping her sister wasn’t asleep. That would get things off to a terrible start. “Vanessa? Are you still up?”

  “I’m up.” The door swung open to reveal Vanessa in a red nightgown.

  “Can I come in for a minute?” Libby asked.

  Her sister shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She retreated to the bed, where she flopped on the edge and picked up a bottle of red nail polish.

  The room smelled of nail polish too. Libby shut the door behind her. “You’re up late.”

  “So are you. I imagine we’re thinking about the same thing.”

  Was that a hint of warmth in Vanessa’s voice? Libby decided to believe it was. “We’re real sisters. I can hardly wrap my mind around it.”

  “Me neither. You might want to see that.” Vanessa pointed to an old photo album. “Aunt Pearl gave it to me.”

  Libby picked it up and flipped to the first page. It showed a young woman smiling into the camera. She had a baby in her arms, and a little girl held on to her leg. “That’s Mom. I’m the little girl. You’re the baby?”

  “I assumed so.”

  Why hadn’t Pearl shown this to her? Libby tried to shove away her jealousy, but it crouched in her chest. She flipped the page to see several other photos. A baby in a crib with an older girl propping a bottle in her mouth, another with the toddler holding the baby on her lap on the floor, and one of a young man holding them both and smiling proudly. She recognized him as their father.

  “They look so happy,” she said.

  “Aunt Pearl says the reality was far different.” Vanessa looked up from painting her toes. “I don’t remember her at all. Our mother, I mean. You’d think I’d remember my own mother! Do you have any pictures?”

  For the first time, Libby looked at the situation from Vanessa’s point of view. She’d been abandoned by her mother. She’d even been deceived about who her mother was. At least Libby had known the identity of both parents, even though her mother had lied about her father’s death.

  She nodded. “I have some back in Virginia Beach. I’ll have some copies made for you.”

  Vanessa’s expression hardened again. “I guess it doesn’t matter. Tina was a real mother to me. She was wonderful. I still miss her.”

  “I’ve heard nothing but good things about Tina.”

  This wasn’t going as planned. Vanessa seemed almost unapproachable. Libby inhaled and squared her shoulders. “I came here to give you this, Vanessa.” She unfastened the necklace and held it out.

  Vanessa’s eyes widened and she held out her hand. Libby dropped it into her palm, and Vanessa’s fingers closed around it. “But I thought you loved it.”

  “I have to admit I didn’t want to give it to you, but God told me to.” Her voice broke and she cleared her throat.

  Vanessa frowned. “And you did it just because you thought you were supposed to?”

  “I’m trying to obey what the letters mean. What would Jesus do? Jesus didn’t care about possessions. The necklace is just a possession. So it’s yours.”

  Vanessa held the hand with the necklace to her chest. “Thank you.” Her gaze searched Libby’s face. “Do you think we can have a real relationship?”

  “I’d like that more than anything,” Libby said. “I’m willing if you are.”

  “I’m willing.” Vanessa fastened the necklace around her neck. “It’s going to take time though. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

  “I have all the time in the world,” Libby said.

  She couldn’t wait to tell Alec that he’d been right.

  THIRTY

  Alec gave the swing a push with his foot. Libby had been gone half an hour. He’d been praying that she would find favor with Vanessa, that a door to a good relationship might be opened between the two women. He had a sense that God was answering that prayer.

  He heard a car and straightened. His stomach tightened when he recognized his truck, driven by his nephew. He rose to confront Zach for breaking curfew. This wasn’t going to go well, but it had to be done. He waited under the security light.

  The interior light came on when Zach got out of the truck. His whistle died on his lips when he realized Alec was standing on the walk. “Hey, Uncle Alec.”

  “It’s nearly one,” Alec said. “Your curfew is midnight.”

  “I’m seventeen years old. I don’t need a curfew.”

  “Well, you have one anyway. Nothing good happens after midnight. Just things like this.” He held out Zach’s pocketknife. “I found this on one of the little islands. Along with beer bottles.”

  Zach snatched the knife from his hand. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You’re saying you didn’t have a little beer, have a little fun?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. You telling me you’ve never had a beer?”

  “You’re underage.”

  “And you never drank when you were my age? Come on, Uncle Alec. I’ve heard the stories about you. You were no saint.”

  “Which is why I’m trying to keep you from making my mistakes.”

  The security light illuminated Zach’s angry face. He clenched his fists. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

  Alec grabbed his arm as he started past. “You will listen. The next time you’re not here at midnight, I’ll come looking for you. I imagine it would be embarrassing to be hauled home in front of your friends.”

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “I would and I will. This is a small island. I know every nook and cranny. You won’t be able to hide from me.”

  Zach’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll run away.”

  “And you’ll end up in a boys’ home. Is that what you want? Look, Zach, I’m trying to help you. I know it hurts that your parents are gone. How do you think your dad feels when he looks down from heaven and sees how you’re acting?”

  Zach took a step back. “I’m trying to make sense of it, okay? I always wanted to be the kind of man my dad was. I idolized him. But what good did it do Dad to try to please God if he was just going to kill him?”

  Alec tried to embrace the boy but Zach shook him off, so he dropped his arms back to his sides. “Integrity has rewards that are more valuable than how many days we spend on the earth.”

  The boy’s face worked to restrain emotion. “If God cared, he
wouldn’t have taken both my parents. That’s just plain cruel. Mom and Dad always told me that God loves me. I wish I could still believe it.”

  “I can see why you think he doesn’t. Psalms says, ‘Blessed in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.’ I know we miss them, but now they are alive like never before. God doesn’t view death in this life the same way we do.” Alec thought he saw a sheen of tears in Zach’s eyes.

  “Is that supposed to make me feel better? It doesn’t. I want my dad. I want to come home and hear Mom’s voice. No one could make peanut-butter cookies like her. And she cared. So did Dad.” Zach’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t have anyone anymore.”

  Alec put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You have me. And your grandparents. Plenty of us love you, Zach. Don’t shut us out. We’re all in this together. We’re all hurting.”

  He opened his arms, fully expecting Zach to turn away. Instead, the boy buried his face in Alec’s chest.

  “I miss them,” Zach said.

  Alec hugged him. He struggled to speak past the lump shutting off his throat. “I do too. But we’re still family. We will get through this.”

  Zach pulled away, looking a little embarrassed by his outburst. “I’ll try to be home on time tomorrow.”

  “I’ll wait up.” He wanted Zach to know the rules still stood. “Time for bed, bud. We have church in just a few hours.”

  Zach made a face but said nothing as they walked to the porch. When Zach went inside, Alec settled back on the swing to wait for Libby. The front door creaked, and she burst through the opening with a smile on her face. He rose as she rushed toward him. She launched herself at him, and he caught her and hugged her. The scent of her vanilla shampoo filled his head. “I guess it went well?” He had to grin at her exuberance.

  Her arms went around his waist and she hugged him. “It went super, Alec. You were so right.”

  He didn’t want to let her go, but when she pulled away, he released her and led her to the swing. “So tell me about it.”

  Her face beamed as she told him about the pictures and Vanessa’s reaction to the necklace. “It was hard. Really hard. But you were right—my sacrifice opened a door between us. We may never be as close as typical sisters, but we’re on the right path. We have a lot to get caught up on. She’s going to tell me about Dad, and I’m going to tell her about Mom.”