CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The next morning, I drove Vaughn to the airport.
He could easily have taken an Uber or limo, but it had become a routine for us because it gave us a special time alone.
After the scare I’d had, I was more than happy to do it.
His trip wouldn’t be for long, but I always hated to see him go. The house was so empty without him.
As he kissed me at the drop-off spot, he murmured, “Stay out of trouble. Promise?”
I laughed. “I’ll do my best. Don’t worry. Everything is under control with Osteria Arno. Enrico stopped in the office yesterday to tell me he’s a silent partner in the restaurant. He wanted to say how sorry he was for all that had happened to Rhonda and me regarding incidents at our hotel.”
“Interesting. I like him and appreciate that honesty,” said Vaughn. He kissed me again, retrieved his luggage from the backseat, and waved goodbye.
I drove directly to the hotel anxious to thank Rhonda for a fantastic dinner and to tell her about Enrico.
When I walked into our office, Rhonda held a finger to her lips as she listened to someone talk on the phone.
“I see. Ann just walked into the office. Hang on, and I’ll tell you what we decide.”
She turned to me with a grin. “Vinnie is on the phone. The FBI has been interviewing Brock about his participation in the defacing of our property, and he’s wondering if we want to bring charges. Brock is the person who recruited someone to spray paint our building.”
“You know what I’d like?” I told her, and chuckling softly, Rhonda went back on the call.
“You’re on speaker phone now, Vinnie.” Rhonda glanced at me. “Ann and I don’t want to press charges. However, we’d like Brock to make a formal apology to us in your presence. Can you do that?”
“You bet. I’ve never met such an egotistical jackass. That’s a better punishment for sure. I’ll bring him around sometime this afternoon.”
“Call us first, so we’re ready,” said Rhonda. “And, Vinnie, from one neighborhood kid to another, thank you.”
She ended the call, and we gave each other a high five. How many times would it take for Brock to understand he couldn’t bully us or try to hurt our business without our fighting back?
###
We’d just finished lunch when Vinnie called to tell us that he and Brock were on their way to the hotel.
“I can’t wait to see and hear him grovel,” said Rhonda, rubbing her hands together enthusiastically.
“We can’t appear too smug,” I warned her. “It might backfire on us.”
“Aw, Annie, you take the fun out of it,” Rhonda complained.
“Brock is capable of anything.” I shuddered at the memory of how he’d accosted me on my one and only date with him when I was new to the area.
Rhonda sensed my worry. “Okay. I’ll be good.”
A knock sounded on our door and then Vinnie led Brock inside.
“’Afternoon,” said Vinnie. “Thank you for being so kind as to not file charges against Brock Goodwin. I’m sure he’d like to say a few words.”
Brock’s cheeks turned bright red. He shuffled his feet and looked down at the floor.
When he raised his head, I saw defiance, not defeat, and I felt my hands grow cold even as heat burned in my belly.
“I think it might be better if we filed charges after all,” I said, surprising Rhonda.
She looked from me to him. “I like that better too. It’s much easier than listening to this liar.”
Brock’s eyes widened. He took a step backward and turned to Vinnie. “They’re just saying that because I’m the president of the Neighborhood Association. They never want to listen to me.”
“Can’t say I blame them,” said Vinnie. “You arranged to have graffiti painted on their property.”
“Well, I … I had an investment to protect,” said Brock.
I shook my head. “We know how you made that investment by trading imported goods from your business for a percentage of the restaurant.”
Vinnie’s eyebrows lifted. “We haven’t discussed that, Brock. But I’m sure the tax people will want to.”
Brock’s shoulders slumped. “All right, all right. I’m sorry I did that. Satisfied?”
“I’m not,” said Vinnie. “You have to do a lot better than that.”
“Okay,” groaned Brock. “I won’t do anything like that again. I promise.”
“Do you promise to be a good neighbor?” asked Rhonda, enjoying his discomfort.
Vinnie nudged Brock.
“I promise,” Brock said.
“Vinnie can be our witness,” I said. “Time for you to stop interfering with our business.”
“Thanks, Vinnie,” said Rhonda as they turned to leave.
Brock whipped around. “You know this guy?”
Rhonda gave him a smug look. “I know lots of people. Goodbye, Brock.”
We waited until they’d left before allowing ourselves to release our laughter.
###
For the next few days while Vaughn was gone, I devoted time to Robbie and to babysitting Liz’s children whenever I could fit it into my schedule. Olivia, Emma, and Noah were so more grown-up than a few months ago when they’d left pre-school and entered kindergarten.
Being with them filled me with joy. Having had only Liz, it was fascinating to see how they interacted and talked to one another. Gabe tried to be part of the trio but was still too young to compete. But not too young for cuddles from me.
One afternoon, I sat on the patio with Liz watching the children play in the backyard.
“Did you ever think you’d end up with four children after trying so hard for one?” I asked her. “It seems like such a miracle.”
“Definitely,” she said. “But as tired as I get, I realize they’re growing fast.” She looked at them and grinned. “Can you imagine them as teenagers?”
I laughed. “That will be a challenge.”
“Still, it will allow me to be part of the hotel operation,” said Liz.
“Are you and Angela really going to be able to take over for Rhonda and me one day?”
“Yes,” Liz said with no hesitation. “Right now, it’s difficult to give the time to it. But I figure in a year or so, we’ll be able to maintain a real schedule there. Now, with Harper gone for a few days, we’ve had to put our new plan on hold.”
“Harper is away? Where did she go?” I asked.
Liz clapped a hand to her mouth. “Maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but she and Luciano flew to Ohio so he could meet her parents.”
“Oh, my! Does Rhonda know? She’ll say it was all her doing.”
Laughing, Liz said, “No. I don’t think she knows. Angela’s better at keeping secrets than I am. You can’t say anything to her, Mom.”
“I won’t, but you know Rhonda and I normally share any news we can,” I said. “Do you think this trip is part of an engagement? They’ve only just met.”
“I think it’s more an old-fashioned thing, like asking if he can court her. They’re both shy talking about it,” Liz said. “But all you have to do is look at them together to see there’s something real there.”
“What about Philippa and Chet?” I asked. “Any news there?”
Liz shook her head. “Harper didn’t say anything to me about them.”
“Time will take care of things,” I said. “It’s been a very interesting fall so far.”
“When is Vaughn coming back? Will you be able to take some time off?” Liz asked.
“He’ll be back tomorrow,” I said. “We’ll relax at home, and then we’ll see.”
Liz took hold of my hand. “It’s wonderful to see you two happy together. I remember how it was with Dad.”
“Me too. I’m lucky to have found Vaughn,” I said. “And if you hadn’t roomed with Angela at college, where would we be?”
“Probably not in Sabal, Florida,” she said smiling and waving to her children.