Chapter 18 #2
"I've got it. You could probably use a break today after everything you've been through. We'll talk later."
"Okay." As I put the phone down, I felt a little disappointed in Tyler's cool tone. But I couldn't blame him for feeling blindsided by the secret I'd held back. Now he seemed to believe I'd somehow joined Ellen's team, which wasn't the case, although I could see why he would think that.
As someone who was committed to family, Tyler probably believed that blood trumped everything.
But while Ellen and I might be related, we didn't know each other.
If Ellen was involved in Natalie's disappearance, I wasn't going to defend her or try to save her.
In fact, it would just be corroboration for why my father had never wanted me to have anything to do with her.
A part of me wanted to pick up the phone and call my dad, but I knew I wouldn't get what I wanted out of that conversation. He'd be furious that I'd come to Stonecross, and he wouldn't tell me a thing. I would have to figure this out on my own.
I pulled into the lot next to Kelly's Pub just before one. It was busy, but a bunch of people seemed to be finishing up and heading out.
I slipped onto a stool at the bar, and as Finn came out of the kitchen to drop off a burger to a customer a few stools down from me, he gave me a quick nod.
After taking care of that customer, he came over. "How are you feeling today, Cassidy?"
"Better. I wanted to thank you again for saving me."
"I'm happy I was there." He paused. "Have you eaten? Can I get you some lunch?"
"That would be great. I feel like a cheeseburger."
"You've got it." He paused. "I'd like to talk to you. Maybe after this rush dies down, and you've had a chance to eat?"
"That sounds good. I'd like to talk to you, too."
"I'll put a rush on that burger."
As Finn disappeared into the kitchen, a waitress set down a glass of water in front of me, and I took a refreshing drink as my gaze moved around the pub. The only familiar face belonged to Margaret, the librarian. She and another woman were just getting up after paying their bill.
As she neared me, she gave me a surprised smile. "Cassidy, right?"
"You remembered.”
"Yes, and I've been hearing your name a lot today." She paused, turning her head to the woman next to her, an attractive blonde woman in her early fifties. "This is Cassidy, Ellen's granddaughter," Margaret said, then looked back at me. "And this is Joanne Garrett, our town doctor."
I straightened. "Dr. Garrett. I was just talking to Becca about you earlier today."
"Oh, why is that?" the doctor asked warily.
"Becca mentioned that you saw Natalie Warren when she was staying at the inn."
"Yes, I did. I already spoke to the sheriff about my very short conversation with her."
"Can I ask what it was about?"
"No," Dr. Garrett replied, her voice clipped and annoyed. "I believe very strongly in doctor-patient confidentiality."
"Of course. I'm just trying to find out what happened to her."
"Yes, I know. Margaret was just telling me about your podcast. I'll have to take a listen. I need to get back to work. It was lovely to meet you."
"You too," I murmured.
Margaret lingered behind. "Now I know why you were so interested in the history of the inn and Ellen and Richard's relationship."
"I would like to know more about my family," I said.
"I can't believe David had a daughter, although I don't know why that would surprise me. He left when he was eighteen years old. I'm sure he's had a complete and wonderful life since then."
"He's very successful. He runs an investment company."
"I always knew he was a smart kid. And he had big ambitions. Good to see they worked out for him. But sad that he doesn't ever come back to see his mother."
"When we spoke last, you said you thought he might have left because of the rumors about his father's death, but that doesn't explain why he stopped talking to my grandmother."
"I don't know, dear. Ellen is a closed book. It's very difficult to get her to open up about anything. But you might have the best chance of making that happen."
As the server dropped off my food, Margaret said goodbye, leaving me to wonder whether the doctor's visit to the inn could shed any light on Natalie's disappearance.
But Dr. Garrett wasn't going to talk to me, and whatever she'd said to the sheriff had no doubt been erased or made to look like nothing.
The cheeseburger was so delicious that I stopped thinking and concentrated on eating. It was the first real meal I'd had since lunch yesterday, and I was suddenly starving.
Finn came over when I'd finished. By then, the pub had cleared out with only a few tables finishing their meals.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Great," I said. "Best meal I've had in a long time."
"Good." His blue-eyed gaze clung to mine for a long second, sending an odd tingle down my spine. "So, you're full of surprises, Cassidy. I thought the podcast was your only secret, but you were holding on to a much bigger one."
I nodded. "Yes, I'm Ellen's granddaughter. My father is David Clarke."
"And Ellen didn't know? She didn't recognize you?"
"She didn't even know I existed. She told me she has never had any contact with my father since he left, and that she never looked him up. He knew where she was. If he wanted to get in touch, he would have."
"That's cold but also sounds like Ellen."
"I don't really understand her, but there's a lot I don't know or understand.
I didn't just come to Stonecross for the podcast; I came because I wanted to know who she was and why my father left.
But she told me I need to ask my father if I want to know why, and I've already done that, so I'm not sure how I'm ever going to get any answers. "
"I'm sure someone around here knows something."
"I doubt anyone will talk to me. I just asked Margaret, and she declined to answer. I'm an outsider, and, clearly, this town protects its own."
An odd light entered his eyes. "Well, I'm not an outsider, and I know some people who might be able to help."
"Really?" A tiny seed of hope took hold. "Who?"
"My father went to school with David Clarke. And I think my mom was a year or two younger but also in the same school."
"Would your father talk to me about him?"
"Well, he'd talk to me, and if you're there, too…"
"When can we go?" I asked impatiently.
He smiled. "Why don't we go now? I'm ready for a break. Just give me a minute."
"Of course. Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. We haven't learned anything."
"I'm just appreciative that you're willing to help me. I'm sorry I accused you of running me off the road."
"I can see how you jumped to that conclusion."
"It wasn't just that you were there so fast; it was also what happened with Tessa," I said honestly.
He frowned. "I get it. How is she doing?"
"She's hanging in there. Improving every day."
"Good. I'll be back in a minute."
"Let me pay for this."
He held up a hand. "It's on me."
"You don't have to do that."
"I don't have to, but I want to. Don't worry about it."
As he went into the kitchen, I wondered if I should leave with him.
While he hadn't run me off the road, I still didn't quite understand what had happened with Tessa and Nathan, who was his friend.
Maybe I'd take my own car, or at least my grandmother's car, just to keep a little more control over my circumstances.
When Finn was ready to leave, we walked out to the parking lot. "I can drive," he said. "You obviously don't have your car."
"Ellen lent me her car."
"Okay, but I can still drive. It's not far."
"I'll follow you."
Something flickered in his expression—understanding, maybe, or disappointment. He knew I couldn't entirely trust him. Not after everything that had happened.
"That works," he said simply.
I got into my car and followed Finn through town and up a winding road.
When he turned down Spring Lane, I realized this must be where my father had grown up.
Ellen had said they'd lived in a house on Spring Lane before they'd bought the inn.
Now, I wished I'd gone with Finn so I could have asked him which of the older, well-maintained, mostly two-story houses had been my father's childhood home.
Finn pulled over in front of a two-story colonial with blue shutters. I parked behind him and got out.
"That's your parents' house?" I asked, pointing to the blue colonial.
"Yeah. And there, the yellow Victorian—" He pointed three houses down. "That's where your father lived."
"So close."
"My parents moved into the house my father grew up in after his parents passed away. So aside from about eight years, my father has always lived on this street."
"It's pretty here. And this is where you grew up?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"You must have had a nice childhood."
"We did. But Sophie can't wait to get out of here." He gave me a smile. "I actually understand that feeling. I couldn't wait to leave, either. I enlisted when I was eighteen. Spent twelve years in the service. Probably would have stayed longer if my dad hadn't had a stroke."
"You came home for him?"
"I couldn't let the pub go under. He'd put his life into it."
"That's very admirable."
He shrugged. "Family is family. My mom still works, and she was busy juggling that job and taking care of him. Sophie helps out a lot, but she couldn't manage it by herself, so I'm here."
"Forever?" I queried.
"I don't think in terms of forever. Just for now."
"What does your mom do?"
"She's a seamstress. She works at the dry cleaners in town. Aside from the usual tailoring, she makes everyone's special-occasion clothes. She's actually been sewing a wedding gown this week, so she's been working from home. You'll be able to meet both of them."
"Is your dad up for this? If he's sick, I don't want to upset him."
"He's much better now. Almost back to his old self. He keeps threatening to come back and take over the bar."
"Would that bother you?"