Unexpected Entanglement (Echo #3)

49. Chapter 49

forty-nine

Osterville, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Rowan stared at the big iron gate in front of her, hoping she was at the correct address. White stone wall enclosed the property, and she could only see a long driveway behind the still secured gate.

She’d already given her name to whoever answered the call box, and now she was just waiting. Her heartbeat echoed louder in her ears with each second her car stood there.

“This is a mistake,” Rowan murmured to herself.

“Stay your course, Ro!” Alex’s voice came loud through the speakerphone. “You’ve come this far. You’re going in there and say what you need to say.”

“You’re not seeing what I’m seeing,” Rowan replied, her voice hitched high.

“Well, show me,” Alex reminded with an eye roll.

Rowan, in her nervousness, forgot Alex was on video. She flipped the camera to show the view in front of her. Alex whistled in amazement.

“I can’t wait to see the house,” Alex said.

“I’m turning around.” Rowan grabbed the gear handle, ready to put it into reverse.

“Don’t you dare!” Alex warned her. “Coward!“

Rowan froze. “Take that back. ”

“Not until you act like the Rowan I know. Don’t you be the woman Richard molded you. You’re a go-getter. You’re fearless.”

“I’m not fearless,” Rowan told her friend. “I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“Of what I might lose.”

Alex took a beat before saying, “Let me see you.”

Rowan flipped the phone camera again. At the same time, a mechanical whirling sound jolted her. The iron gate split open, beckoning her to enter.

“Shit. The gate’s open,” Rowan said.

“Go. You can do this,” Alex said. Her voice was gentle. “You’re just there to talk. That’s all. You got nothing to lose.”

“Right.” Rowan nodded as she drove the car slowly up the long driveway.

It wasn’t unlike driving into Bright Head, Rowan reasoned. Except this driveway was made of uniform gray cobble stones laid down intricately by hand. The trees and flowering shrubs growing alongside it must’ve been meticulously designed and manicured.

Then there was the house. It was like Bright Head’s main house, but this eggshell blue-gray house somehow stood grander. It wasn’t just beautiful, but also elegant. And it screamed money.

Holy shit.

Alex must’ve seen Rowan’s jaw fell to the floor of the car. “Rowan, Chris is still the same Chris you knew last week. Just because his house is bigger than yours doesn’t mean he’s any better than you or me.”

“I know that.” Rowan nodded to psych herself up as she put the car into park in one of the designated parking spots not too far from the front door.

“You got this, girl,” Alex said. “Remember, you are a woman who knows what she wants. You are a woman on a mission. You might not be fearless, but you are not a coward. You go for what you want despite the fear.”

“Right.” Rowan was thankful for her friend’s coaching. She would never let herself forget that again. “I’m going in.”

“Atta girl. Knock him dead,” Alex said with a grin, and hung up.

Rowan quickly stepped out of the car, straightened her dress, and walked to the front door. She released a controlled exhale and was about to press the bell when the door opened .

An older woman with neat shoulder-length hair smiled at her. “Rowan?”

“Yes.”

“Please, come in,” the woman moved aside and let Rowan walk into the foyer.

The house immediately opened up to a large sitting room. Rowan would kill to have the beautiful, classic furniture decorating the space. But on second thought, she’d probably freak out whenever a guest’s child sat on it with a crayon or a drink. No, comfortable and sturdy were more Maine.

“I’m Rosemary. I’ll take you to Mr. Sullens,” the woman introduced herself. Rowan remembered her from Chris’ story about his childhood. She looked and sounded as kind as he’d described her. That eased Rowan’s nerve a bit.

Rosemary led Rowan to the left side of the house, through a gorgeous kitchen, out a glass door to a patio that led to a beautiful swimming pool.

Rowan braced herself to see Chris again. But it wasn’t Chris who stood up from a chair under an umbrella. It was an older version of Chris, with dark streaks in his gray hair. A pair of shades covered his eyes.

“Miss Kelly?” The man approached her.

Rowan shook his hand and went through the pleasantries in auto mode.

“I’m Chris’ father. My son told me about you.” He gestured to another chair where he was sitting, facing the ocean view.

Rowan sat down and accepted the cold limeade Rosemary offered her. “I’m afraid to ask about what he said.”

Rowan looked at the older man studying her. Though dressed in a beach leisure outfit, George Sullens looked as intimidating as she’d imagined a business conglomerate would be. He still looked tall and large for someone in his mid-sixties. His direct gaze—even through the shades—could make anyone squirm in their seat.

“Did you come straight from Vinalhaven?” Rosemary asked and lightened the atmosphere. “I hope the drive wasn’t too bad.”

“It was fine.” Rowan smiled at the matronly lady.

“I heard you inherited an old inn on Vinalhaven,” George stated .

Rowan turned her gaze to Chris’ father. Though his expression looked benign, she heard a patronizing tone, which made her shoulders tense up.

“My family has owned and operated Bright Head Farm & Inn for more than a century,” Rowan started. “It has an old reputation, but we have fully renovated and updated it.”

“That must’ve taken a lot of investment,” George commented.

“It did.” Rowan turned to Rosemary. “I’m sorry. Where is Chris? I need to talk to him.”

“He’ll be home soon,” Rosemary said.

“What is it you need to talk to my son about, Miss Kelly?” George questioned.

Rowan knew enough about Chris’ strained relationship with his father that her instinct warned her to tread lightly. “It’s a private matter.”

“Is it now?” George took his sunglasses off and looked at her, his eyes sharp. “Haven’t you troubled my son enough? Now you had to chase him down after he left your little island?”

Rowan leaned back, aghast by the evenly delivered attack. It was a punch coming out of nowhere.

“George?” Rosemary’s surprised gaze flew to the man.

“Stay out of this, Rosemary,” George said. “I’d like to get to know this woman who’s brazen enough to show up here after putting my son in a questionable situation.”

Rowan abruptly got up. “Mr. Sullens, I’m here to return something that belonged to your son. If he’s not here, I can return another time.”

“Sit down, young lady.” George Sullens’ voice didn’t rise, but it was commanding.

Rowan didn’t move. “I don’t think I will, Mr. Sullens. Good day.” With a last-second glare at Chris’ father, she headed to the door.

“You’re not leaving here with that ring,” George Sullens warned.

Rowan froze. She felt the ring heavy on her finger.

“Why do you think you’re worthy to wear that ring?” George stood.

Feeling her jaw locking with anger, Rowan consciously loosened it before she turned to face George. “Your son put this ring on my finger,” she simply stated .

“For a fake engagement.” George shook his head in disgust. “What an elaborate scheme you’ve concocted, Miss Kelly.”

“What are you implying, Mr. Sullens?” Rowan narrowed her eyes at him.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he challenged. “My son went to Vinalhaven to investigate your inn for a friend, and you saw an opportunity. Why else would you announce that he’s your fiancé? And like the gullible boy he always is, he fell for it.”

Rowan saw red.

She stalked back to George Sullens, and all of her five-foot-five—plus a couple of inches of her heels—squared up to the old man, who was almost as tall as his son.

“First, your son is a man, Mr. Sullens. Not a boy. And not a gullible one at that,” Rowan hissed through her teeth. “He is a good and kind man—none of these qualities came from you, I’m sure.”

“And you take advantage of his kindness,” George shot back. “To the point he gave you his mother’s ring. Is that why you’re here? So you can claim your fake engagement is real all along?”

“I came to return the ring!” Rowan’s voice rose.

“What do you want for it? A couple of million to bankroll your inn? I’ll write you a check right now if you leave my son alone. It sounds like you’re in over your head with that project, Miss Kelly. You couldn’t even get through a wedding without my son’s help.”

Rowan balled her hands into fists and held herself rigid. “I don’t need your money. And my siblings and I can take care of Bright Head. Your son knows that. I don’t give a fuck what you think of me. But I find it comical that you’re suddenly this concerned father when you’ve never shown him you care about him.”

“Don’t turn this around. I love my son.” George’s expression of schooled disdain fell.

“Did you ever actually tell him that?” Rowan demanded. “Do you even know your son thinks he’s a disappointment to you because he wants to go his own way instead of staying in your shadow?”

“I am proud of my son and everything he’s done with his life.”

“Then why don’t you tell him that instead of lashing baseless accusations at me?” Rowan exclaimed. “And while you’re at it, why don’t you start respecting your son by not trying to pay off women behind his back?”

Rowan pulled the ring off her finger and slammed it into George’s hand.

“Please give that back to Chris,” she added. “Unlike you, I don’t want him to feel obligated to commit to something he doesn’t want.”

Rowan stormed her way back through the house. Angry tears blurred her vision, and she ignored Rosemary calling out to her. She needed to get out of there before losing it and throwing a punch at Chris’ father.

Chris parked behind a rental car in the driveway and wondered who came to visit. He hung the suit he’d picked up in the hallway closet and walked into the kitchen, then heard a commotion by the pool.

What the hell is going on?

On the patio, Rowan stood toe-to-toe with his father. A horrified Rosemary stood back, unable to say anything, while the two exchanged heated words. The next thing he knew, Rowan rushed inside, wiping tears from her eyes, while Rosemary and his father hurried after her.

“Rowan.” Chris stepped into her path and stopped her from running out. “What’s going on?”

Rowan looked up at him—a mix of outrage, regret, and shock on her tear-streaked face.

“What are you doing here?” Chris held her arms.

“She came to return this, son.” His father produced his mother’s emerald ring in his hand.

Chris searched Rowan’s face for confirmation, and his heart sank. He cast his gaze on his father and Rosemary. “What were you arguing about?”

“Miss Kelly here was just telling me what a horrible father I’ve been to you,” George started as he came closer. “And she is absolutely right.”

Rowan glared at his father with daggers still in her eyes .

“I’m sorry that got out of hand, Rowan,” George said. “I had to see for myself what kind of woman got my son all twisted up.”

He looked at Chris and continued, “I told Rowan I’d cut her a check for the ring back—”

“And I told you to kiss my ass,” Rowan snapped.

His father smiled. “Essentially.”

“What the hell, Dad?” Chris stared at George in disbelief.

Rowan wriggled out of Chris’ arms. “I don’t need to hear this again. You have your ring back. While I still retain my dignity, I’m leaving.”

“Rowan, please stay,” George asked. “My method wasn’t ideal, but it was effective. I meant nothing I said. I only did it to rile you up. Please forgive a concerned father. I genuinely did it out of love.”

“Oh, George,” Rosemary clutched at her chest, looking appalled. “That was a terrible ruse.”

Rosemary looked at Chris and Rowan. “I thought that was so out of character of him.”

His father handed Chris the ring. “She’s a keeper, son. Maybe you want to do it right this time?”

Chris searched his father’s face and saw approval. He hadn’t needed his father’s approval for years, but this felt right. Chris accepted the ring.

“Let’s leave the kids alone to work things out, shall we?” George offered his arm to Rosemary.

Rosemary smiled apologetically to Rowan and Chris before walking out back with George. But apparently, Rowan had a different idea. She moved around Chris and headed to the front door.

“Rowan!” Chris quickly went after her. “Where are you going?”

“Home,” she said shortly.

“You just got here.” He walked backward, facing her, since she wouldn’t stop.

“Obviously a mistake. I should’ve listened to my gut and just mailed the damn thing. I could’ve avoided that theatrical performance. Like I don’t have enough drama in my life.”

“You were going to put my mother’s ring in the mail?” Chris almost choked.

“I didn’t know it was your mother’s ring. I didn’t even know it was real until last night!” Rowan stared daggers at him. “That’s cruel for you not to tell me, not to mention stupid. What if I had lost it? What kind of joke are you playing?”

“Please, let me explain.”

When she still wouldn’t stop, Chris took a desperate measure. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into whatever room they passed by.