Bree shook her head. “I sent a card and got the usual response: nothing. I didn’t expect anything other than maybe a request for money. I guess I’m surprised even that hasn’t come through. She hasn’t called in over a year.”
“Maybe she is sober now.”
Bree gave a short laugh. “I’ve been accused of being a Pollyanna, but even I know better than to hope for something like that.”
“God can transform even a life like your mother’s.”
Bree knew Anu meant well, but she’d never met the drunk who raised Bree. Bree usually thought of her mother as Dolores instead of Mom. Such a warm, fuzzy endearment like “Mom” or “Mother” didn’t apply to a hot-tempered woman who spent nearly every evening passed out on the sofa.
“What of your father? Have you been to see him?”
Bree shook her head. “I’ve been too busy looking for Samson.”
“You cannot search every minute, kulta. Take time for your father. You don’t know how long you have with him. There is much time to make up.”
“I don’t really know him. I’m not even sure I want to.”
“Did your mother ever talk about him?” Anu rubbed her thumb over Bree’s hand in a soothing motion.
Bree shook her head. “She flew into a rage whenever I mentioned him. I learned not to ask. What I hate him for is that he left me at her mercy. He couldn’t have loved me or he wouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m sorry, kulta. It is obvious the scars are still very painful.”
At the softness in Anu’s voice, a lump lodged in Bree’s throat and refused to be swallowed. She was turning into a regular fountain. This pain wasn’t something new to deal with—she’d lived with it for years. So why was it all of a sudden resurrecting itself like this?
Bree’s cell phone rang, and she answered it with a sense of relief.
Mason’s voice came over the line. “Denise just called. Philip’s papers are missing.”
Denise met Bree and Mason at the front door. Her hair looked like it hadn’t been combed all day, and the children were still in their pajamas. Bree scooped up Abby and followed Mason’s broad back into the living room.
It looked like an Ojibwa windstorm had blown through.
“Sorry about the mess,” Denise said. “I haven’t felt like cleaning.”
Bree looked around carefully and realized the disarray was simply from living with three children. “How do you know someone was here?”
“Because the file is gone.” Denise pointed to the table where Bree had seen it last.
“Maybe one of the kids moved it,” Mason said.
Denise shook her head. “It was there last night when I went to bed. And the back door was ajar when I got up this morning. Someone was here.” She clasped her arms around herself.
Mason glanced around. “I could dust for fingerprints, but there were so many people here the day Phil died, I’m not sure it would do much good.”
Denise pushed her tangled hair out of her eyes. “Are we in danger—me and the kids?”
“I doubt it. But I’ll have a deputy watch the house. Though it looks like the thief got what he came for. What was this file?”
“Just some formula notations Phil was working on.”
Mason frowned. “Why didn’t you give them to Cassie?”
“I’d been meaning to, but I never got around to telling her I had them.”
She hadn’t gotten around to a lot of things, Bree thought, looking around the dirty house.
Zane took a coiled whip down from the nail on the porch wall.
“What are you doing with that?” Jonelle asked, her voice rising.
“I’m going to teach that dog to fear me. He actually tried to lick my hand this morning. I don’t have much time to make him mean.”
Jonelle caught at his hand. “Please don’t, Zane. It’s my fault. I’ve been petting him.” She couldn’t let him hurt the dog.
Zane’s face flushed, and he clenched his fists. “You know better than that, Jonelle! I’ve told you to leave my dogs alone.”
“I know, and I will. Give him another chance, please. Don’t hurt him for something that’s my fault!” She grabbed the whip out of his hand and ran down the porch steps.
“Come back here with that!” Zane roared. His heavy boots thumped down the steps after her.
Jonelle put on another spurt of speed and reached the river behind the house. She hurled the whip into the fast-flowing river with all her might. Zane grabbed her and spun her around. She held up her hands in front of her face, certain he would actually hit her this time. Though he’d never raised his hand to her, she knew she’d pushed him past all reason this time.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said, dropping his hand from her arm. “I wouldn’t hurt you, Jonelle, don’t you know that?”
Tears spurted from her eyes at his suddenly gentle tone. “I know, Zane. I was just scared for a minute. I know I shouldn’t have bucked you like that. But I like Samson.”
He shook his head ruefully. “You’ll be the death of me. I’ll try cocaine and steroids instead. He won’t feel a thing.”
“Oh, Zane, give him back.” She caught at his arm. “Please, just let him go. He’ll be able to find his way home.”
He shook his head. “Sorry, Jonelle. He’s my ticket to a lot of money.”
Apolitical dinner was the last place Bree wanted to be. She knew it was important, but she was emotionally and physically exhausted. She entered the community center and glanced around as she listened to the excited buzz of conversation. The Rock Harbor Community Center had been built by early residents during the heyday of the Copper Queen mining era. Mine money showed in the elegance of the oak paneling and the coffered ceiling overhead. Crystal chandeliers shimmered above Bree’s head, and her shoes echoed on the marble floors.
She spied Anu at the punch table and made a beeline for her. Her mother-in-law looked slim and lovely draped in a blue silk dress that caught the light from the chandeliers.
“Ah, kulta, I was wondering where you were.”
“Lauri was a little late from picking up a pizza for supper for her and Davy.”
“I was almost late myself. Abraham called.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Very well, I think. I worried when he was transferred to Detroit, but it seems to be the best place for him. He has begun to attend a Prison Fellowship service and is asking even more questions.”
Bree tried to hide her surprise. She’d thought Abe Nicholls was too hard-hearted to ever admit he needed the Lord in spite of Anu’s assertions that he was listening to her witness about Christ. But she knew nothing was impossible for Jesus. “Has Hilary agreed to see him yet?”
Anu shook her head. “Abraham writes her every week, but I believe she has thrown away all the letters.”
Bree understood how her sister-in-law felt. The man who’d deserted Hilary as a small child had returned only to try to take possession of a fabulous green diamond, not to see his daughter or wife. It was hard not to be bitter. Her gaze wandered to Hilary, in a dress the same color as the infamous diamond. She had a hard edge about her tonight, just like the stone too. The mayoral reelection would be here in a few more months, and Hilary was determined to win her third term. Sometimes Bree wondered if it would be the best thing for Hilary to lose the election. She depended too much on it for her sense of who she was.
“I’m surprised the doctor let her attend this little shindig,” Bree said. “She’s still not herself since the miscarriage.”
“You know my daughter. She promised to sit and rest, but look at her.” Anu made a sweeping motion with her hand. “She hasn’t sat down yet.”
“We’ll have to take care of her.”
“I see she has managed to bring most of the new residents into her camp,” Anu said, nodding toward the group of researchers from Cassie’s lab. “Steve Asters seems quite smitten with Cassie Hecko. She looks lovely tonight.”
“At lea
st she’s not in her fatigues and army boots,” Bree agreed, watching Cassie smile up at Steve. “Steve could use some female companionship. He’s been alone too much since Fay’s death. I wouldn’t mind having Steve as part of the family.”
“It’s nice to hear you admit you have a family now,” Anu said.
“I’m going to follow your advice and take time to get closer to them. I told her I’d come to Sunday dinner this weekend.”
Anu smiled her approval, then she nodded to the left. “I see you have had much male companionship,” Anu said. “The young fireman seems to be following you everywhere. I see him now looking for you.”
Bree saw Nick scanning the room and stepped behind a pillar. Anu raised her eyebrows. “You are avoiding Nick?”
“Just for a while,” Bree said. “I wanted to mingle, and Nick demands too much of my attention.”
Anu was silent a moment. “So you aren’t in love with him?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t been around much since Samson disappeared. And Kade . . .”
“You know with your heart.” Anu’s voice held a touch a humor.
“Maybe.” Bree brushed a curl out of her eyes. “But Nick’s good husband material.”
“Why do you think so?”
Bree shrugged. “Don’t you think so too? He loves kids, he’s got a stable job, he is very attentive. When we’re together, I mean.”
“I thought you said he was too attentive.”
“That too.” Bree laughed, but Anu didn’t smile.
“What about Kade?”
“What about him?” Bree looked away.
“Don’t try to hide your eyes from me. Have you considered the real reason you want to avoid Nick?”
“And what’s that?”
“Because you’re in love with Kade.”
Bree finally met Anu’s gaze. “Maybe. I’m feeling I might be ready to face the future now. And I always thought Kade would be a part of that. I just don’t want to make a mistake. Davy and I are getting along fine, but I know he needs a father.”
“And you need a husband.”
“I don’t want to need a man though. I think that’s what I’m struggling with the most. Am I ready to go into a life where I have to answer to someone else?”
“You answer to God now,” Anu pointed out.
“And I still struggle with that. It’s a trust issue. I always knew I couldn’t trust my mother. My father wasn’t around, so he was obviously untrustworthy too. It’s hard to believe even God won’t fail me someday.” Bree could hardly believe the things she’d been thinking about had really come out of her mouth. She bit her lip and wished she could take them back.
But Anu just smiled and squeezed Bree’s arm. “We all struggle with that. How can we trust someone we can’t see or touch?”
“Exactly! My parents in this life have failed me. It makes it hard to think of God as a father.”
“That’s what faith is all about. And our struggles with that issue can make us stronger for the battle. As long as you keep asking questions and looking to God for the answers, your faith will grow. Never be ashamed to admit you have questions. God is big enough to handle them.”
Bree hugged her mother-in-law. “You always make me feel better,” Bree said.
“Now about Kade,” Anu began.
Bree released her and stepped back. “I still need to do some thinking about that issue. And praying.”
Anu looked like she had more to say, but Hilary joined them. “What are you two doing hiding over here?”
“Just gabbing. You look great.” Bree kissed her sister-in-law.
“Thanks. I’m tired though.”
Now that she was closer, Bree could see Hilary’s pallor under her makeup. “You need to sit down. Now.”
“I know. I probably shouldn’t have come, but I don’t want to lose the election.”
“How about some punch? You could sit over on the couch and I’ll bring people to you.” She cringed inside at what she’d have to do, but Hilary needed to rest. Her eyes looked droopy and almost feverish.
“You hate to mingle,” Hilary said.
“I can do it when I need to.”
“I might take you up on that,” Hilary said. “I didn’t get rest today with getting ready for tonight.”
“You will take her up on it.” Anu took Hilary’s arm and steered her toward the sofa.
Bree smiled and began to move around the room. She saw Chito in the corner looking lost. “Seems like I’ve been seeing a lot of you scientist types lately,” she said, joining him.
He didn’t look at her and shoved a piece of cheese in his mouth. “Yeah, I guess.”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you, and this seems as good a time as any.” Bree leaned against the marble post. “I heard you often argued with Phil. What were your disagreements about?”
Chito scowled. “I don’t know who told you that, but it’s wrong. Phil could be opinionated and didn’t like it when anyone disagreed with him.”
“Funny, I heard he was very congenial.”
He stuffed another piece of cheese in his mouth. “It was a facade. He thought he was another Einstein.”
“And you didn’t think so?”
“I may be young, but I have a good mind,” Chito snapped. He put his empty plate on a table. “You’ll have to excuse me. I need to talk to someone.”
Bree watched him hurry away. She could see he might be difficult to work with. And he had a temper. Could Phil have pushed him too far? Though it was hard to imagine any of Phil’s friends could have killed him, most murders were committed by someone known to the victim.
She shook her head and started toward the punch table. Nick fell into step with her.
“There you are,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“I was talking to Anu. I need to mingle and direct people over to Hilary. She’s resting.”
“I’ll help you.”
“Thanks. You know how I hate crowds.” He was a good man. She just wished she could feel about him the way he seemed to feel about her.
They moved through the crowd, talking with bankers, lawyers, and just good, middle-class people, urging them to stop by and chat with Hilary. Nick’s lighthearted banter flowed like Rock River in the spring rains. He made it look so easy. Bree watched him as he talked. He moved his hands, touching people on the shoulder and looking them in the eye. He gave every person he talked to his undivided attention.
Then Bree caught sight of Kade’s dark head at the door. She hadn’t thought he was coming. Her heart seemed to shift into slow motion, pumping first ice then heat through her veins. Didn’t her reaction to him tell her something? Nick, sweet as he was, had never affected her the way Kade did. The way Kade had declared his love for her had kept her awake at night.
Kade saw her, and the way his lips turned up in a slow smile was for her alone. She’d never seen him smile like that at anyone else. While Nick made her feel special, he could do the same with anyone in the room. Kade kept his special glances and smiles just for her. She knew she shouldn’t blame Nick for being charismatic, but she couldn’t force her heart to stop responding to Kade.
She left Nick chatting with Barbara McGovern, the bank owner’s wife, and moved to meet Kade. She caught the scent of his spicy cologne. Though he was dressed in a dark blue suit, he had his hands shoved in his pockets, and the familiar stance heightened the sense that he would never change. He was like Three Indians Rock, solid and standing firm against the winds and waves that battered his life.
“Hi.” Kade’s smile reached his eyes.
“Hi yourself. I thought maybe you’d be the only resident to miss this bash.”
“Landorf wanted to chew me out. He must have been hungry.”
“Want me to yell at him?”
“Nah, I can handle him. We’re getting along okay for the most part. He’s mellowed. Maybe I have too.”
If he continued to look at her like that, she was going to
melt into a puddle on the floor. She couldn’t look away from his gaze.
He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Where’s Hilary? I should say hello.”
“On the sofa. She’s feeling tired.” They started across the room. “Anything new going on out at the forest?”
He frowned. “Still no sign of who dumped the chemicals that killed the fish. My money is still on the environmental group. Maybe not Marika herself, but her group.”
“She’s too pretty to be guilty, is that it?” Bree laughed.
He grinned. “I didn’t say that, but she’s quite a looker.”
Was the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach jealousy? Bree curled her fingers into her palms. “She’s suing Naomi and Donovan for the kids.”
“She’s never far from trouble, is she?” Kade said, shaking his head.
“And we’ve been having plenty of it. Speaking of which, I’ve started wondering if someone is intentionally targeting the lab.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Phil’s dead, and someone has broken into both Cassie’s home and Denise’s home, looking for something. Whoever it was stole some of Phil’s notes. And what about Cassie’s medicine? It would take a person with a special knowledge of computers to change that prescription, especially from the outside.”
“Who would have that kind of knowledge about computers? It almost sounds like it could be a prank, and Cassie was just unlucky.”
“I’m more inclined to think it might be another brainy scientist.”
They started toward Hilary again. The mayor smiled warmly when she saw Kade with Bree. “I wondered if you were coming, Kade,” she said. She patted the seat beside her. “Sit down and talk to me for a while.”
Kade settled on the sofa beside Hilary. Bree marveled at how far the two had come in the past nine months. Hilary had been violently opposed to Bree dating Kade. Now she’d accepted him fully and disliked Nick. If only she could get all members of her family to agree, maybe her life would be easier.