Chapter Nineteen
Gus stood at the edge of the dock, coffee in hand, as he stared out over the quiet lake. It was cooler this morning, and small patches of mist hung above the water. In the distance, he heard a loon call. The melancholy sound fit his mood.
He’d slept like shit and had been up since four a.m., which was why he was early and had the place to himself.
Gus didn’t expect to see Walker or the crew for at least another hour or so.
His mind rolled back to the previous night.
He knew that he’d confused Faith and hated the way it made him feel.
But he had so much crap going on inside him he couldn’t deal.
He’d headed out for a run and then found himself at Walker’s.
His friend was out — no doubt with some lady — but his sister had been down for a beer and conversation.
“Why are you here and not with your girlfriend?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“No?” Iris laughed. “Fuck buddy then?”
He didn’t like that particular term — not when directed at Faith. “Let’s skip that shit, okay?”
Iris frowned. “What’s wrong?”
He sighed. There was no way around it. “Mom knows something’s up. She’s at my place in DC.”
“Oh.” Iris’s eyes widened. “Shit.” She took a sip from her beer and shook her head.
“I’m not surprised. She always likes to mess in our business, you know?
Doesn’t matter that none of us are kids anymore.
” There was a hint of bitterness in her words, and he knew that his sister was going to hate what was coming next.
“I haven’t told her where I am, but she knows I’m not out of the country and she knows you’re with me.”
“What the fuck, August? You threw me under the bus?”
“No,” he shot back darkly. “The clothes you left all over the floors at my condo told the story. She knows you’re not in Boston. Hell, by now she probably knows you got fired—”
“I quit before they fired me.”
“Doesn’t matter. She knows you’re with me.”
“Is she mad?”
“She’s not happy.” He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I’m going to see her on the weekend. I can’t put it off any longer. She doesn’t deserve to be kept in the dark and I don’t like lying to her.”
Iris tugged on her ball cap and tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. “What are you going to tell her?”
“The truth.”
“I take it you haven’t had a heart to heart with our father?”
He didn’t answer, which pretty much told the story.
“I saw Sunday the other day.” Iris’s voice dropped. “I know it was her because she looks so much like Mom.” She picked at the label on the bottle. “She’s really pretty.”
“Where?”
“Downtown at the café near the park. She was there with a woman and a kid.” Iris looked over the lake and shrugged.
“She walked by me when she left. Looked right at me and there was nothing.” Iris’s voice shook.
“I didn’t expect to feel anything, you know?
But it was weird, and I guess, I was kinda sad.
I have this beautiful sister who doesn’t know me.
” She looked at Gus. “Like, does she even know I exist?”
Gus wasn’t sure he had the words to make Iris feel better, so he stayed quiet.
“Our family is so fucked up. Like, royally fucked up. They could make a reality show about the Boones, and I bet we’d be number one.
” She played with that strand of hair. “She seemed so nice and normal and happy, but she also seemed sad or something.” She was quiet for a few seconds, then glanced up. “I want to meet them.”
Slowly, he shook his head. “You will. Give me the weekend to let Mom know what’s going on. No sense in jumping the gun now.”
“She’s not going to like it.”
“She’s going to hate it.”
Gus was done with his coffee. With one last look at the lake, he turned to head back to his truck.
He might as well grab his tools and get started on things.
He took exactly two steps when he spied Ford watching him from the upper deck off the kitchen.
There was no avoiding it, so he held up his hand in acknowledgment.
Ford waved him over and Gus walked up the stairs until he reached the main deck. His brother wore a T-shirt and sweatpants, and his hair looked like he’d just rolled out of bed.
“Morning,” Ford said. “Coffee?”
He should decline and go about his day but found himself agreeing. “I could use another.”
“I’m headed back for number two. Come in and fix yours. We’ve got cream, milk, sugar. Whatever you need.”
In the entire time he’d been at the estate, Gus hadn’t stepped foot inside the house.
He paused at the threshold, unprepared because it felt like walking back in time.
Nothing had changed. Not even the color of the paint on the walls.
The appliances might have been newer, but that was about it, as far as he could tell.
Gus caught sight of him and Ford in the mirror on the opposite wall. It was startling to see them together. Both built the same, and yet there were differences. Ford’s features were more refined, and his light hair and blue eyes lent an air of polish Gus would never achieve.
Ford poured Gus a cup and then leaned against the counter with his. “The cottages are well ahead of schedule.”
Gus nodded. “The guys have put in the time, and we’ve been lucky with the weather.”
“So, you’ll be wrapping up when exactly?”
“A few weeks, I think. We’ve got a fair bit of painting on the outside of the cottages so if the weather holds there should be no delays.”
“I see.” Ford stared down into his cup. “Are you sticking around Fire Lake after this job is done?”
“Unsure at this point.”
“Well, you’re doing a great job, and I know a lot of folks in the area if you’re looking to continue contracting. I’m more than happy to provide a reference.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” Gus tried his best to stay on an even keel, but something inside was shifting. Expanding. It made the guilt and subterfuge harder to deal with.
“Since our estate manager did the hiring, I don’t know that much about you other than the obvious. You’ve served our country and you’re good with a hammer.” Ford was relaxed, his smile easy. “Where are you from? I detect a bit of an accent.”
This was hitting close.
“Boston area,” Gus replied.
“And your connection to Fire Lake?”
Even closer.
“A friend mentioned the place.” Fewer details worked better when the lying thing came into play.
“Yeah?” Ford looked interested. “It’s a small town. Anyone I would know?”
Gus was saved when Sunday appeared. “Geez, Ford. It’s too early for an interrogation.” She walked past her brother and made a face before winking at Gus. “Don’t mind him. He likes knowing all the pieces of the puzzle. When we were kids, he’d do a puzzle a week.”
Gus blinked away a memory of a table set up in the living room. Four chairs. Puzzle pieces on the ground.
“I’m more of a come-what-may kind of gal.”
Sunday poured herself a large cup of black coffee and wandered over to the patio doors. “Looks like it’s going to be another gorgeous day. Are you taking Benjamin out on the boat?”
“That’s the plan.” Ford walked over to stand beside his sister. They looked easy together. Like they belonged together. Something about it pissed off Gus. And maybe it was reckless, but he was fine poking the bear to see what dropped.
“I’m told your family has lived here for generations.”
Sunday glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “Apparently.” Her tone was light.
“There doesn’t seem to be many of you around.”
Sunday’s posture changed a bit. Her shoulders tightened, and she turned back to the glass doors.
“There’s not.” Ford replied, finishing his coffee before walking back to the island where Gus stood. His eyes were touched by winter. “Why are you asking about our family?”
“Just curious.” Gus squared his shoulders. “You told me you had other siblings and it’s a big house. Figured there were more of you in the area.”
“You figured wrong.” He turned to his sister. “I’m going to shower and wake up Benjamin.” He gave Gus a curt nod and disappeared down the hall.
“Don’t mind him,” Sunday said softly. “There are things he doesn’t like to talk about, and family is one of them.”
“Sorry to hear.” Iris was right. She looked a lot like their mother.
“What about you?”
He wasn’t sure what she was asking, and it must have shown. She blushed and walked over for a second cup of coffee.
“Sorry. I gave my brother crap for interrogating you and here I am asking personal questions that are none of my business.”
“It’s okay.” Gus decided to stick as close to the truth as possible. “I have brothers and sisters.”
She smiled up at him. “I can tell you’re close.”
“How’s that?”
“When you mentioned them just now.” She shrugged. “The look in your eyes. The tone of your voice. Those things tell a lot.”
“You’re not wrong.” Gus set down his empty mug on the counter. “I have one brother who is a doctor. He’s an intern at a big hospital in the city and it’s his whole life right now so we don’t see him much. The other one is a dreamer. He travels the world and thinks he can make it a better place.”
“You don’t agree with him?”
“I think he makes a difference, but I’ve seen the other side of things, and the gap is a lot bigger than he thinks.”
“And your sisters?”
“She’s a pain in my ass.” He smiled at the thought. “Strong willed with a big heart that she generally gives to the wrong guy. And a nose for trouble.”
Sunday laughed. “She sounds like someone I’d like to meet.”
Guilt made Gus lower his eyes.
“And your other sister?”
He yanked up his head and frowned, which made Sunday look confused.
“You said sisters. Sorry I assumed there was more than one.”
Jesus Christ. He was smarter than this.
“Good morning, my girl.”
They both turned as Porter was wheeled into the kitchen by his nurse.
“Daddy.” Sunday smiled and walked over to give her father a hug. “You look good this morning.”