Unexpected Entanglement (Echo #3)

46. Chapter 46

forty-six

Bright Head Farm & Inn, Vinalhaven, Maine

“We can’t wait until Bright Head Inn is up and running again, Rowan.” Charlotte Gibbes patted Rowan on the arm. “Thank you for the lovely meal. Please tell Chef Oliver, his food was delicious.”

“We will, of course,” Rowan nodded.

“I love the idea of displaying our local arts in the inn,” Ada added, seconded by a few of her artist friends, who had joined them for the special lunch that Rae had organized. Rae had even persuaded Oliver to stay longer so he could cook for them.

“I’m so glad.” Rowan smiled happily. “We look forward to collaborating with all of you.”

“I am so sorry you have to push back your plan because of the fire,” Charlotte added as the group headed out.

Rowan and Rae exchanged bittersweet glances.

“It just gives us an opportunity to rebuild even better,” Rae said.

Charlotte nodded approvingly. “You have a smart sister here.”

“I lucked out,” Rowan agreed.

She and Kieran had started introducing Rae as their sister without giving an explanation. They decided they didn’t care about the speculations, and so far nobody had made a big deal about it. Not when they had Charlotte Gibbes’ nod of approval.

When the group of ladies finally left, Rae’s face broke into a huge, relieved grin. “I think that was a successful luncheon, huh?”

“Rae, that was a brilliant move.” Rowan hugged her sister.

“It’s not all my idea. Chris was telling me about your vision at Scent-sational last Friday, when Charlotte and Ada overheard us. I invited them to come, but Chris suggested they bring their whole group of friends. Wives of businessmen have more influence on their husbands than most people expect.”

“That’s true,” a masculine voice chimed in from behind them.

They both spun to Rae’s husband, Dean, and their one-year-old daughter, Maya. They had arrived on the island on Monday to a still chaotic situation.

“The ladies enjoyed their luncheon, I gather?” Dean asked.

“They did,” Rowan said.

“Many of those ladies are business owners themselves. They see the value that Bright Head can bring in,” Rae said. “Chris saw that.”

“He’s a genius in making connections with people,” Dean said.

The reminder of Chris clouded Rowan’s earlier sunny mood, but she covered it with another smile. She hadn’t communicated with Chris since he’d left on Sunday. But she’d heard enough of second hand news about him from either Kieran, Rae, or Dean.

It was naive of her to think if he wasn’t here, she wouldn’t feel his presence. Rae would always be a connection between Chris and Rowan. Even if they managed to avoid each other throughout their lifetime, there was no way she wouldn’t hear one thing or another about Chris Sullens.

Rowan wondered how she’d feel when she heard news of him being engaged for real in the future? Because that would happen, eventually.

You’ve made your bed, Rowan. Lie in it.

Brushing Chris from her mind, Rowan reached for the cutie-pie that was her niece. “Hey Maya, you want to see my kitty cats?”

“Kitty cats.” Rae laughed and nudged her husband. “You gotta see these creatures she calls kitty cats.”

Dean handed Maya to Rowan. “What’s so special about them? ”

“They’re super smart,” Rowan beat Rae to the punch.

“They’re huge!” Rae continued to say with a laugh.

“Let’s go look for them, shall we?” Rowan said to Maya. Before they could go too far, a utility cart rolled up.

Kieran jumped out and went straight to Maya. “How’s my favorite niece today?”

Rowan grinned, seeing how his brother had fallen head over heels in love with Maya. She’d never thought Kieran would gravitate to the child so much.

After he made Maya giggle, Kieran gave a nod to Dean and turned to Rae.

“How did the lunch go?” he asked.

“It went great. We got their support,” Rae reported.

Kieran nodded with an impressed smirk. “Not bad, sis.”

Rowan saw how the simple word made Rae beam a little brighter.

Dad, are you seeing this?

She couldn’t believe how their lives had changed so much in mere weeks. There were still three lives to weave together, trust to build, and love to nurture, but Rowan really thought they would be fine.

Unfortunately, a shadow had to darken the touching family moment.

“I got some updates from the police,” Kieran announced.

Rowan tensed at Kieran’s words.

It had been two days since the Rockland police had handed Gwen to their local police force. Rowan and her family had been on edge since, waiting to find out what the investigation uncovered. As of Monday, they only had Gwen’s words against Raven.

“The prints on the bottle Gwen handed to the police were Gwen’s and Raven’s,” Kieran said. “That was enough to get a warrant to search Raven’s properties. The police found similar tincture bottles.”

“That sounds circumstantial,” Rowan said, unconvinced .

“Listen to you throwing legal jargon around,” Kieran said. “But you’re right. Chief Bennet told me Raven wasn’t cooperative and denied Gwen’s story. She claimed she gave the bottle to Gwen for a home remedy.”

Rae frustratedly asked, “So, that’s it then? She walks?”

“I’m not done,” Kieran said. “Remember the piece of paper stuck to the melted gasoline canister they found around the fire’s perimeter?”

Rowan and Rae nodded, while Dean listened intently.

“The forensic lab they sent it to managed to separate the paper from the plastic. They could see enough that it was a matchbook from her pub,” Kieran said.

“Anyone who frequents her pub could have a matchbook,” Rowan said.

“True, but it wasn’t just anyone hiding a second-degree burn on her forearm.” Kieran smirked. “That’s pretty damning.”

“Seriously?” Rowan and Rae said in unison.

Kieran nodded. “They also found something in her house that links her to at least one incident on this property.”

“What is it?” Rowan asked impatiently.

“They found your hat. Dad’s hat, the one you lost after you fell. They discovered strands of red hair in it. Who wants to bet they would match your hair?”

Rowan gasped. “How did she...? Does that mean she’d been lurking around the property without us noticing?”

“There are plenty of access points through the woods. She could easily slip in during the night,” Kieran said.

“Sounds you might need to invest in more security measures,” Dean suggested.

“But I lost that hat during the day,” Rowan argued.

Kieran shrugged. “Gwen was working part time for us by then.”

Rowan shook her head in disbelief and started pacing. “I don’t understand what she has against me.”

“I think Chris is right,” Kieran said. “He thinks Raven is jealous of you and blames you for her divorce. Apparently, she hoped she and Greg would reconcile. But when you moved here, Greg finalized their divorce and started pursuing you. Then the vandalisms started.”

“The police are saying Raven did the vandalism?” Rowan frowned. “That makes little sense. I called Greg to fix those pipe issues. Wouldn’t she want to keep Greg away from me? ”

“I think she tried to tarnish Greg’s reputation in your eyes so you wouldn’t give him your business again. Except her plan backfired and gave Greg opportunities to be around you instead.”

“After the third pipe issue, the thought that Greg gave me faulty pipes crossed my mind. She planted that suspicion in me.” Rowan shook her head. “But Greg stopped asking me out when Chris came into the picture. You’d think that’d make her happy. Why did she escalate instead?”

“Can’t say she’s mentally sound,” Kieran said. “She might’ve wanted to hurt you because she blames you for her loss. Even when you were unavailable, Greg still wanted nothing to do with her.”

Rowan shuddered at the cold reality that someone had that much hate directed at her. She’d had always sensed hostility from Raven on the rare occasions they’d bumped into each other. But Rowan had never suspected Raven had harbored such deep resentment toward her.

Rae put an arm around her as if she knew Rowan needed a little steadying.

“But that’s not all,” Kieran added. “There’s another witness to Raven’s plan.”

All eyes were back on Kieran.

“His testimony is the final nail in the coffin,” Kieran said. “Apparently, he chatted with her when she bartended the wedding, exchanging stories about you and bonding over their bitterness toward you.”

Rowan’s breath caught in her chest.

“He rode back into town with Raven,” Kieran continued his story. “And this is why I both hate and love small towns. When Karen, who works the night shift at the Harbor Hotel, heard the police were investigating Raven, she told them she saw Raven dropped off a guest the night of the fire. Karen noted the guest looked shaken.

“That sounded innocent enough, but the police got ahold of the guest and questioned him. He admitted to riding with Raven, and during the ride, Raven said some damning things about her plans. He admitted to being intoxicated, but he realized she was trouble and bailed as soon as he could,” Kieran finished.

“And he didn’t report her?” Rowan questioned in frustration. “Who’s the witness? ”

The displeased expression on Kieran’s face made Rowan brace for anything.

“It was Richard.”