Rock Harbor Series - 03 - Into the Deep

  Timmy regarded her. “Are you my mom’s friend?”

  The children had begun to call her Mom, and at first Naomi had been taken aback, but Donovan thought they needed the stability of a mother and had encouraged it.

  Marika’s eyes narrowed, and her upturned lips went straight and white. Spots of red darkened her cheeks. Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m your mom, Timmy. Don’t you know me?”

  Timmy’s eyes grew large. He backed away from Marika, clutching at Naomi’s jean-clad leg. “I want to go home, Mom.”

  Marika swayed and grasped Steve’s arm to steady herself. “I’m your mom, Timmy. Me. You’ve seen my picture, haven’t you?”

  “I want my mommy,” he sobbed, reaching for Naomi.

  His tears broke the paralysis that had held Naomi in place. She lifted Timmy into her arms. He wrapped his legs around her waist and buried his wet face in her neck, jamming his dripping cone into Naomi’s braid. The warm, moist feel of his breath strengthened her.

  “Please. Give me my son,” Marika said, holding out her arms.

  “I think you need to take this up with Donovan,” Naomi said, starting for the door. “Timmy doesn’t remember you, and I’m sure you don’t want to scare him.”

  Crying now, Marika came after her. “Just let me hold him a minute.”

  The other woman’s pitiful plea did not match her stance—shoulders jutting slightly forward and fists clenched—and Naomi shook her head. “I’m sure Donovan will allow reasonable visitation.” She reached the door and pushed it open.

  Marika followed her outside. “I want more than visitation.” Her attempt at a smile was more of a grimace. “You’re Naomi, right? I’d like us to be friends, please. For the sake of the children.”

  Naomi would rather open her arms to a barracuda. She wanted to ask why Marika had abandoned her children, but Timmy didn’t need to hear them squabbling. His small chest was heaving. He needed to be out of this situation. She’d get Davy and head to the library, do whatever was needed to distract her son.

  Marika made no more move to stop them, and Naomi gained the safety of her car. She buckled Timmy into his car seat then sped away. She found it impossible to keep from looking in the rearview mirror. Marika hadn’t moved from her spot on the sidewalk and still stared after Naomi’s car.

  Naomi didn’t want to feel sorry for her, but she couldn’t help it. If Timmy had been her own child and he’d run from her into the arms of another woman, she would have been hurt too. Bree would have been crushed if Davy hadn’t recognized her when he was found in the woods after missing a year. But unlike Bree, Marika had brought this all on herself. Naomi didn’t want to think about what had coaxed the woman back into town. Whatever it was, it surely spelled trouble.

  The stereo was pounding out the “William Tell Overture.” The music was so loud, Cassie could feel it in her bones when she entered the house. Bubbles was cowering in the corner, her paws over her ears. Cassie stepped to the stereo and flipped it off.

  “Dad?” she called. Bubbles followed her to the living room, but no one was there in her dad’s chair. “Maybe he’s napping, though how anyone could sleep through that noise is beyond me,” she told Bubbles. The dog followed her down the hall to her father’s room. His bed was empty.

  So was his closet.

  Cassie stared into the room. Dresser drawers hung open, their contents missing except for a lone sock that lay draped over one drawer. Not again. Panic clawed at her chest. She ran down the hall to the family room. The sliding glass door stood open.

  She stepped onto the back deck. “Dad!” Only a crow answered from atop the phone line. Where could he have gone? She raced back inside, rushing to the refrigerator to see if he’d left a note. The smooth, stainless surface held no hint to her father’s whereabouts. She glanced in her office and found things out of order there with some of her files lying on the floor.

  Her hands shaking, she dialed Bree’s number. She should have called the nursing home after the last time, but he’d seemed so much better. She was dumped into voice mail. Her voice trembled as she left a message. Then she turned to her dog. “Come on, Bubbles, maybe you can remember enough to help this time.” She ran to her dad’s room. His hamper still held dirty clothes. She lifted Bubbles to the opening. “Sniff, girl.”

  The dog whined and wiggled to be let down, but Cassie pressed her head into the pile of dirty laundry. When she was sure Bubbles had gotten a good whiff, she put the dog down. “Find Dad, Bubbles. Find him!”

  The dog cowered on the carpet and whined again. Cassie felt like picking her up and shaking her, but it wasn’t the dog’s fault they hadn’t been to training in months. She ran her hand through her hair and went to call the sheriff’s office.

  While she was looking up the number, the phone rang and Cassie grabbed for it. “Bree?” she said breathlessly.

  The phone was silent, though she thought she could hear someone breathing. “Who’s there?” she demanded.

  “Cassie?”

  She closed her eyes, relief coursing through her. “Dad? Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

  “I need you to bring me my notes,” he said, his voice shaky.

  “We’ll worry about your notes later. Tell me where you are.”

  “They’re in an orange folder. Or was it blue?” her father continued, his tone worried.

  “Dad, where are you?” She heard a clatter; then the phone clicked. “Dad, Dad?” The phone was dead. Cassie threw it across the floor where it spun to a stop under the coffee table. Her blood was pumping along like a river to the falls. Wait, she had caller ID. She fell to her knees and scrabbled for the phone.

  Out of network. Where had he called from? She wanted to cry but knew she didn’t dare give in to the luxury of tears. She grabbed the phone book again to call the sheriff. The phone rang again, and her pulse raced.

  “Dad?”

  “Come get me, Cassie. Come get me now.”

  Bree felt afraid to leave Samson and had the dog shadowing her every minute, which meant Davy stayed close by her side too. Her appetite was gone, both from worry about her dog and the situation she faced with her newfound father and half-sister. She talked it over with Anu on the phone, though she’d known what her mother-in-law would say.

  “You must forgive him, kulta,” Anu had told her. “As a Christian, you are commanded to harbor no bitterness.”

  Bree wished she had Anu’s strength of faith. Bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, she drove to town. She pulled into a spot in front of Nicholls’s, then took Davy’s hand and skirted a motor home parked too far from the curb. She opened the door to the store and held it for Samson and Davy to enter. Her mother-in-law was on her knees arranging a display in the front window.

  “Grammy, we’re here,” Davy said.

  “So I see. Come give your grammy a hug.” Anu settled back into a seated position on the floor and held out her arms.

  Davy rushed to throw his arms around her, then smacked his lips against her cheek. “Me and Mommy are going to go see my new aunt and my grandpa. I didn’t know I had another aunt besides Aunt Hilary. And this isn’t Grandpa Abe.”

  Anu’s gaze skittered quickly to Bree’s face in a probing look. Bree smiled to hide the trepidation she felt, but Anu stood and dusted off her hands.

  “I have fresh pulla in the display case, my lapsi. Eino will give you some milk to drink with it if you ask.”

  “Yay!” Davy tugged on Samson’s collar. “Come on, Sam. You can have a bite too.” The dog looked as eager as Davy. The two moved quickly through the store to the back where Anu’s bakery case was filled with Finnish treats.

  Anu took Bree’s arm and guided her to a secluded corner away from the ears of the tourists who thronged the store. “You do not seem too sure of this sister, kulta. I see unease in those green eyes of yours.”

  Bree looked away. Anu sometimes saw too much. “I don’t think I could have faced seeing him until I talked to you and you helped me get some
perspective.”

  “It will get easier as you get to know them both.”

  “I don’t know how to get to know them,” Bree said. “I only have vague memories of Cassie and m—her father.” She couldn’t say the words “my father.” She’d lived so long with believing there was no father in her life that it was hard to even admit she might have one who had loved her.

  “Give them a chance, my Bree,” Anu urged. “They’ve come a long way seeking you. It took much courage for them to come here and tell you who you really are.”

  “I know, but what’s their goal? It’s impossible to recapture those lost years.”

  “You all carry much baggage. Perhaps together you can find healing.”

  “I don’t want them to hurt Davy.”

  “Such a loss not to know our boy.” Anu glanced toward Davy with a fond look. He was tossing bits of pulla to Samson and eating some himself. He wore a milk mustache. “I think they only want to be part of your lives.”

  Bree thrust out her chin. Maybe she was being overprotective, but Davy had gone through enough, and she didn’t want him to face more trials. A stupid wish, when she stopped to think about it. Life was full of battles and challenges. She couldn’t keep everything from him, no matter how hard she tried. The realization frightened her. “I don’t want him scarred.”

  “Nor do I,” Anu said quietly. “But there is never so much love in our lives that we can afford to reject it when it is offered.”

  “I don’t know for sure the Heckos are offering love.”

  “Try to hold your misgivings for now. Wait and see. I feel sorry for them both.”

  “You feel sorry for everyone,” Bree pointed out. She managed a smile. “I should be more like you. It’s hard to trust after being hurt.”

  “I am protective of you and Davy,” Anu said. “If I thought Cassie and her father intended hurt, I would tell you to stay far away.” Anu caressed Bree’s hair, and Bree leaned into the touch. “Kulta, it is time you let go of that bitterness. We have talked of this before, and I have backed down when I saw your pain, but no more. You must ask God to release it. He is with you, even in the deep places of hurt.”

  Bree pulled away and jumped up. “I’m going to be late to Cassie’s. I have to go.”

  “You can’t run when God is telling you to do something, my Bree. He will make you miserable until you give in. Your childhood is in the past. Let it go.”

  Bree didn’t answer. “Davy, it’s time to go meet your Aunt Cassie and your Grandpa Bernard.”

  Her son swiped the back of his hand across his mouth and stood. “Come on, Sam.” He and the dog scampered across the floor to where she stood. “See you later, Grammy.”

  “I will be praying for you, kulta,” Anu said quietly. “You know what you must do. I will pray God will give you the strength.”

  Bree kissed Anu on the cheek. It wasn’t her mother-in-law’s fault Bree’s childhood had been so miserable. “Love you,” she whispered before taking Davy’s hand and hurrying to the door.

  8

  Motor homes and trucks pulling campers plied the road in both directions as Bree drove her old Jeep out to Cassie’s house. It was hard to think of it as Cassie’s house when Steve and Faye Asters had built it and lived in it all the years Bree had lived in Rock Harbor. Standing on the front porch with Davy’s hand in hers, she told herself the only reason she’d accepted Cassie’s invitation was because she wanted to help protect the younger woman.

  Cassie answered the door only moments after Bree pressed the bell. Her expectant smile did much to lighten Bree’s anxiety. “I’ve had an awful week, but knowing you were coming helped. Dad wandered off yesterday again. He even took his clothes.” Her eyes watered. “I don’t want to do what’s necessary, but I have an appointment with the nursing home.” Her gaze dropped to Davy’s face, and she stooped. “Hi, Davy. Remember me?”

  Davy’s grip on Bree’s hand tightened. “Sam remembers you,” he said, running his other hand over the dog’s head. Samson’s ears perked, and he barked.

  Cassie laughed. “Samson and I are old friends. Come in,” she said, stepping aside. “I’ll tell Dad you’re here.” Bubbles scrambled to touch noses with Samson.

  “I almost didn’t come,” Bree said, following Cassie to the living room. “Anu convinced me it was what God would want, so here I am.”

  Cassie made a face, and Bree felt an inner urging to share her faith with this newfound sister. She tried to resist it, then thought that giving in might help justify her decision to come. “Davy and I would love for you and Salome to come to church with us on Sunday.”

  Cassie shrugged. “Thanks, but I’m pretty busy at work. I’ve been working seven days a week right now.” She told Bree and Davy to have a seat, then left to get her father.

  It was going to take more than a casual invitation to get through to Cassie. Bree smiled at Salome sitting in an overstuffed chair by the picture window that looked out on Lake Superior. “Looks like you’re in another world,” she said.

  Salome put down the book she’d been reading. Bree strained to see the title. What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck. “I loved that book too,” she said.

  Salome grinned. “A little chick lit angst makes my own woes seem small.” She stretched.

  “Any more threatening calls from wackos? I’m not sure Cassie is keeping me informed.”

  Salome shook her head. “Just the one. I told Cassie it was a prank call.”

  “I hope this isn’t just the lull before the storm,” Bree said.

  “Terry said . . .” Salome began then stopped.

  “Terry Alexander?”

  Salome flushed and nodded. “I was talking to him at the Suomi. He said he got a prank call like that the other night too. Just kids.”

  Her manner seemed too diffident to Bree. Was she hiding something? Surely a young woman as beautiful as Salome wouldn’t have a romantic interest in Terry. He was older and starting to lose his hair. And he was also married.

  Salome stood. “I think I’ll send my brother an e-mail before lunch.” She smiled at Davy. “I have a collection of Star Wars figurines you might want to play with,” she told him. “They’re in the chest over there.” She pointed to an intricately carved Chinese chest in the corner. Davy’s face brightened.

  “What do you say?” Bree prompted.

  “Thanks, ma’am.”

  Salome laughed. “I think I feel insulted. It’s the first time I’ve ever been called ma’am.” She went toward the door while Davy opened the chest and began to pull out Star Wars toys.

  Cassie came back in the room. “Have a seat. Dad will be out in a few minutes. He’s just finishing his bath.” Cassie sank into the chair Salome had vacated and pointed to the love seat across from it.

  Bree perched on the edge of the seat. “Is your dad okay?” She still couldn’t say “my dad.”

  “He seems fine. But I’m going to have to make a decision. I’ve been afraid to even leave the house; he’s been wandering lately. I can’t put it off much longer.”

  “I’m sorry.” Bree wanted to feel some connection to Cassie and Bernard, but the old resentment kept rearing its head. “Um, how’s progress on your project?”

  “Phil’s death set us back a bit.” Cassie shrugged. “But there have been no more calls at least.”

  “Do you think the calls might be related to Phil’s murder?”

  Cassie looked away and played with a strand of her hair. “No . . . yes . . . I don’t know. Some strange things have been happening at the lab.”

  “Like what?” Bree leaned forward. This was more up her alley than facing the relational issues between them.

  “Some environmentalists have been hanging around for one thing. Asking questions, poking around the perimeter, that kind of thing.”

  “Have they threatened you?”

  Cassie shook her head. “The media has been crawling all over the place. My neighbor, Marika Fleming—she’s with NAWG—has offer
ed to help. I’m thinking of letting her. She doesn’t seem to be like the rest in her group.”

  “Marika is your neighbor?”

  Cassie nodded. “You know her?”

  “I’ve heard the name.” Was it coincidence that Marika had moved in next door?

  “Maybe she could funnel some of the media attention away from us. There is one other thing,” Cassie said. “When I was looking for Dad yesterday, I noticed my office had been searched. But it was probably just Dad.” She looked uncomfortable. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “What could anyone want from you?”

  “I have no idea. I asked Dad about what he was looking for, and he said they were looking for his notes, that he hadn’t been in my office.”

  “Who are ‘they’?”

  “I have no idea. I never know what Dad’s thinking anymore.” Cassie smiled through a pained look. “He’s good, but he hasn’t worked on the project in three months, and the work he did six months before that was pretty jumbled.”

  “Could someone really want his notes?”

  Cassie hesitated. “I think he’s just rambling. He claims he’s come up with something special, but when I question him about it, he forgets. I’m sure it’s nothing. I think both he and I are imagining things.”

  “I could have Mason run a fingerprint check.”

  Cassie shook her head. “I’m being silly. I didn’t ask you here to talk about that anyway. I want to talk to you about us. And Dad.”

  Every muscle in Bree’s body tensed. She had been hoping to avoid this conversation.

  Kade rode Moses toward the Ten Mile Peak campground. There had been reports of a marauding black bear rummaging in the trash, and he had just enough time to check it out. He carried a tranquilizer gun with him. If the reports were true, he might have to move the bear to another area of the park. Most bears would take whatever food was easy to get, and the park had installed bear-proof dumpsters a couple of years ago to discourage the animals from coming into camping areas. It had been working so far.