Chapter 13 #2
“Surprisingly healthy,” Holly replied. “A few shingles were blown off here and there. The palms have all been pruned by Mother Nature. Plenty of typical smaller high-wind debris on the roads. I stopped by Billings Nursery to find Jess and Nina on the phones, coordinating requests for chain saws and debris removal,” she continued.
“They told me the only big issue was at Indigo Reef. Their husbands, Nash and Boone, are making their way over, but it’s not at the top of their list.”
“It shouldn’t be,” Roni said, sounding grumpy. “Don’t misunderstand. I mean, you know I’m not delighted with the developer, but I only meant it’s not a priority because no one’s displaced. The construction office is probably easier to replace than anything else out here.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Holly agreed. “Probably part of the normal contingencies they build into their budget. But it’s a true wreck.” She lifted her camera and showed them the pictures she’d taken.
It looked even worse in today’s bright sunlight. “Total loss,” Brayden muttered. He pointed toward the trees. “You can see where the live oak took a lightning strike and changed the shape of the canopy. Last night that big limb looked like a can opener cutting through the trailer.”
Holly whistled and settled her camera down by her hip again. “Close call for sure. I let the telephoto do the heavy lifting today. It was a dicey prospect getting through the mud and muck.”
“Smart decision. I’m glad the storm brought enough rain to prevent any further fire damage to the forest,” Roni said.
No one had to say the words, all three of them knew a fire would’ve been a catastrophe on many levels. Brayden could just imagine the pressure Indigo Reef might apply to the Hideaway if that kind of natural disaster had removed the environmental hurdle.
As the three of them joined the others cleaning up down at the shore, Brayden chided himself for underestimating a Hargrave sister-approved plan.
Bobby was remarkably precise with the backhoe and careful not to disturb the dunes.
The bucket held far more material than seemed possible and Cav coordinated the loading to protect both people and nature.
As Bobby drove away with the first load, the rest of them started filling tall paper bags that would be hauled out by the utility company. Soon it was clear they’d only need one additional trip with the backhoe.
Natalie invited everyone up to the firepit where she and Brian were serving coffee, bottled water, and fresh cookies while they waited for Bobby’s return.
“Y’all make this hospitality gig look too easy,” Brayden whispered in Roni’s ear.
He caught Nat’s knowing smirk from the other side of the fire pit.
Yeah, he was playing with fire, standing so close to Roni and not bothering to hide behind his typical stoic professionalism.
He’d been part of Roni’s life way too long to make that believable anyway.
Her sisters already trusted him, as her friend.
He wondered if that acceptance would change once he and Roni told them there was more than friendship between them.
“This is what I call front-page news,” Holly declared. “The Indigo Reef crew helping the Hargraves clean up storm damage.”
Roni tensed up beside him. “It’s really just neighbors helping neighbors.”
Brayden figured if she ran with that, Vanbeck would have a stroke over the next edition of the Bugle. He didn’t really want the man to suffer. Much. But he sure would like to make this problem go away for Roni and her sisters.
“That’s how we roll around here,” Holly agreed. She turned to Brian and Cav. “Tell me about last night. How did you get out of the office trailer?”
Brian shifted on his feet and Nat, closest to him, immediately helped him to sit down and elevate his sprained ankle.
“I’ll get an ice pack.” Roni dashed off, clearly eager to get out of the spotlight.
Brayden listened to the two construction workers tell the story, careful not to paint the developer in a bad light, but definitely labeling Veronica and Brayden as heroes.
Holly was using her recorder, nodding along, and asking more probing questions.
With so many folks listening in, the whole story would burn up the island rumor mill and be all over town by lunchtime.
At this rate, the town council would likely bestow a medal of honor on Veronica. If such a thing existed.
She managed to be absent for most of the high praise, bringing Brayden another cookie after she’d given Brian the ice pack. “What did I miss?” she murmured, leaning close.
“Only the campaign to declare you a citizen hero,” he whispered.
She wrinkled her nose, her cheeks going pink. “Stop teasing.”
“Not a chance.” He couldn’t get enough of this side of her now that she’d revealed it.
To him. She’d dated along the way, though she stopped confiding those details to him at some point in college.
He’d done better without knowing who she was enamored with and who had treated her poorly.
In both instances, he’d wanted to strangle the men privileged enough to be with her romantically.
Now he was the man in her life—and he intended to be her friend, the person who supported her, the one she could rely on, the man who loved her and romanced her for the rest of her days.
Based on the looks Natalie aimed his way, his intentions were clear to the youngest Hargrave. He had to hope the little sister wouldn’t blow it by broadcasting her correct theory to Roni too soon.
At the sound of another vehicle in the drive, Brayden excused himself from the refreshments, assuming it was Trent with the drone. He waved at Bobby as the backhoe rumbled into view, aiming for the beach and the load waiting.
But instead of Trent, it was Vanbeck stomping onto the property as if he owned it. Brayden changed directions to cut him off. “Can I help you?”
Vanbeck ignored him, shoving on by, though Brayden could’ve stopped him.
Grabbing his phone and starting a video, Brayden calmly said, “You’re trespassing, Mr. Vanbeck.”
Still no response. Brayden nearly laughed at the snub. He didn’t care about the overpriced attorney’s dismissiveness. “Sir, I’m asking you to stop and explain yourself.”
Vanbeck spun on his heel, his eyes wild, looking entirely unhinged.
His expensive charcoal suit was rumpled, his silk tie loosened, and his face a dark, dangerous shade of crimson.
“Get that camera out of my face,” he shouted.
Marching across the wet grass toward the backhoe, he walked into the machine’s path, pointing a manicured finger at Bobby perched in the cab.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Vanbeck’s voice screeched over the idling engine. “You cannot use Indigo Reef equipment on residential property.”
“You mean equipment that shouldn’t even be operational?” Brayden asked. The attorney was drawing a crowd as the others came to watch the commotion. Including Holly. “Seems too early to have new ECMs on site.”
“This is not your concern,” Vanbeck snarled. His gaze never left Bobby. “Stop this engine at once,” he demanded. “Why are you performing manual labor for the competition?”
“Mr. Vanbeck?” Cav walked up, relaxed as ever. Whether or not it was intentional, he managed not to block Brayden’s camera angle. “How about we discuss this elsewhere?”
“I’d love to. In fact, I was at the construction site. The abandoned site, since you are all here,” he screeched. “Explain yourselves right now.”
Bobby cut the engine and climbed down from the cab. “Why don’t you start?” He folded his arms across his burly chest. “We were told to stay on site through a serious storm.”
“A little rain—”
Cav and Bobby both advanced on him. “We didn’t have a little rain,” Cav stated. “If you’ve been over there, you know that. You saw the damage.”
Bobby wiped a streak of sweat from his forehead with his wrist and stared Vanbeck down. “Y’know, I’m all ears. Tell us why is it, when it all went sideways, no one even checked in?”
“We tried,” Vanbeck shot back. “No one has answered the phone.”
“Would that be the phone in the torn-up office?” Cav pulled out his cell phone. “Because we all have our personal cells with us and I don’t see any missed calls from Indigo Reef. How about you Bobby?”
Bobby made a show of checking his cell phone. “Nope. No missed calls. Brian, did you get a call from our employer?”
“One second!” Brian called out. Vanbeck was forced to face the small crowd as Brian limped forward, supported by Veronica. Natalie was behind her, carrying a folding chair for him. “No attempts to reach me either.”