Chapter Forty-Seven #2
Evie retrieved a cup from a dish rack beside the sink. “Is serving tea impressive?”
Eyes narrowing, Dominic said, “No, and you’re suggesting a cure for an ailment I don’t have.”
After opening two jars and putting a small amount of each in a cup, she poured boiling water in as well. “So, you don’t take antacids at night?”
Abby supplied, “He does.”
Evie held out the cup to him. “No special powers required to recognize that people in fancy shoes and expensive watches tend to have acid reflux.”
“Ouch,” Dominic said after accepting the drink. “I’m just another uptight suit?”
Evie shrugged and turned away.
Abby silently mouthed, “It’s okay. I still love you.”
Dominic made a sound of displeasure, but sipped the tea then paused. It was smooth and fresh in a way that perked his senses. “This is good.”
“Anything made with mountain water is,” Evie said as she busied herself.
Dominic scanned the single room again. “How do you support yourself?”
Evie measured dried leaves into a muslin bag with steady hands. “I grow almost everything I need, and what I can’t grow, I trade my lemonade and tonics for.”
He felt an unfamiliar prickle at the back of his neck. Most people, when faced with him, either groveled or postured. This woman did neither. She was unimpressed the way mountains were unimpressed by the wind. He liked that about her.
She tied the bag with a bit of twine. “Would you like a glass of lemonade instead of the tea?” Humor lit her hooded eyes. “I thought you might not after my poison comment.”
“That was a bit off-putting,” Dominic muttered.
“I’d love to try both.” Abby leaned forward, enchanted. “Thank you for inviting us in.”
“Inviting might be an exaggeration,” Evie murmured.
Dominic glanced out the window. The men were already removing some of the tiles and tossing them into travel containers. Efficient. Careful. The place would be immaculate when they left, and the roof would be done. Good.
“For you, Abby, rose petals and holy basil, with a touch of calendula.”
Abby rose to accept the cup. “Smells lovely. And what a unique combination. Do you mind if I ask if there’s meaning behind your choice?”
Evie leaned back against the counter. “It suits you. The rose is gentle. Then the basil flavor comes through a little spicier, but just as clean. The calendula gives a faint, honeyed brightness. Nothing sharp or bitter. It leaves one feeling refreshed.”
A smile lit Abby’s expression. “I am sweet, but a little spicy.” Then she took a sip and smiled again.
Dominic looked on with approval and in agreement but didn’t admit that his stomach was pleasantly calmer already. Firebrook Valley mountain water. I might need to look into investing in that.
Evie reached for a pitcher and started squeezing lemons with a wooden reamer. The sharp citrus scent cut through the sage and pine like a knife. She didn’t speak as she worked.
Abby filled the silence. “I wish we’d brought our children.
We have two. Our oldest is in college. Her name’s Judy.
She’s so smart, but also so much like her father.
And Leonardo . . . well, he’s still our baby even if he’s self-schooling because the tutors we hired for him couldn’t keep up.
So, we let him choose his own path. I’d love for them to see your place if only to understand that survival is possible without the internet. ”
“Well, before you tell them this life is better, remember that every path has its stones.”
Dominic’s gaze snapped to Evie’s hands. She was squeezing lemons, the juice running clear and bright into the pitcher.
Abby nodded. Evie rinsed her hands then poured some sugar into the lemon juice, a few pinches of some herbs, then stirred it, poured two glasses out then handed them to Dominic and Abby. “Here’s your—”
“If you say poison, I’ll fly my men back down the mountain without finishing your roof,” Dominic said deadpan.
Abby gasped, “We’d never!”
Evie surprised them by cackling. “I do like a man who can not only take it but dish it as well. My husband used to . . .” Her voice trailed off.
“I’m sorry,” Abby said quietly.
Evie shook her head. “He’s been gone a long time.”
“I know that doesn’t make it easier.” After a pause, Abby asked, “Do you have any children?”
Evie inhaled sharply before answering. “One daughter. We named her Hope. As soon as she was old enough to, she moved away. I don’t blame her. This isn’t a life most people would choose.”
“Do you ever see her?” Abby asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
“No.” Evie turned away, busying herself by cleaning up the squeezed lemon pieces.
“I’m sorry,” Abby said. “It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have asked.”
When Evie turned back, her expression was closed but calm. “No need to be sorry. You can ask whatever you want as long as you’re not offended when I don’t answer.”
“No, of course I won’t be.” Abby chewed her bottom lip. “People from the surrounding towns talk about you like you’re an urban myth. Why is that?”
One of Evie’s shoulders rose and fell. “My place is hard to get to. Dense woods. The weather is unpredictable. No easy trail. Most people give up before they make it here.”
“But your lemonade and tonics are sold in Firebrook Valley. How do you get them there?” Dominic demanded, not entirely certain he believed this woman.
If she sensed his doubt, she gave nothing away.
“Once a month, sometimes more, sometimes less, Weaver’s boys trek up here with their four-wheelers to restock.
I don’t need money, so they pay me in things I can’t get on my own .
. . salt, sugar, meats. I’m good at farming the land, but once I look in the eyes of an animal, it’s a damn pet.
So, if I want bacon, it’s coming up the mountain packaged like it never had four legs and a cute snout. ”
Abby twirled her glass of lemonade in her hand. “That sounds both beautiful and a little lonely.”
“Loneliness is a condition only people who want to be around other people suffer from. I prefer the quiet of my own company,” Evie said.
Abby sipped at her lemonade then exclaimed, “That’s so good!”
Evie nodded. “That’s why it sells.”
Dominic tasted his own and was impressed by the crisp flavor, but also by the unique warmth of the spices she’d added. “What do you put in it?”
She smiled rather than answering.
They drank in a relatively comfortable silence; only the banging of the roof being replaced broke the peace.
“Would you like some venison jerky?” she asked. “I also have berries and dried pears.”
Dominic and Abby exchanged a look. He responded, “Another time perhaps, but that’s kind of you to offer.”
Abby placed her nearly empty glass down. “Is there something we could send you as a thank you? A special treat you crave?”
Evie looked toward the window as if looking back in time. “I used to love soda. It was all I’d drink. Any flavor. My parents used to say my sweet tooth would be the death of me. Sadly, I’ve outlived everyone I loved, so perhaps it’s time to take up that vice again.”
Looking across at Dominic, Abby said warmly, “We’d love to send you some.”
Dominic nodded.
Rising to her feet, Abby inhaled deeply. “I’ve heard people say that coming to see you changed their life. Could you tell me something like what you told them?”
After wiping her hands on her apron, Evie asked, “What is it about your life you want to change?”
Dominic’s attention whipped to Abby.
She took a moment to consider the question. “Nothing big. I love my life. It’s better than I ever dared dream it could be, but . . .”
“But?” Dominic uttered.
She took his hand in hers. “But I worry about the kids. Are we holding them back? Pushing them too hard? Giving them too much or not enough. I don’t care what they choose to do as a career, I just want them to be good people.”
Pulling her to his side, Dominic murmured, “You’re an amazing mother.”
“Thank you,” Abby said almost shyly, but then turned to Evie. “It’s Judy I’m mostly worried about. Maybe it’s because she’s not living with us anymore, but sometimes I have nightmares that she’s not safe at school.”
“Abby,” Dominic growled her name. “I’d never let anything happen to her.”
Abby nodded. “I know that, Dom.” She met Evie’s gaze. “I’m probably just paranoid, but do you sense anything?”
Evie folded her arms in front of her chest. “I’m not psychic.”
Abby nodded but waited.
Dominic was about to suggest he and Abby leave when Evie added, “Sometimes dreams mean nothing, but other times they’re the mind’s way of working through a puzzle. You might have noticed something concerning without being aware that you did.”
“So, I should go see her, even though she asked for us not to? She’s using a fake last name because she wants to experience school as a ‘normal’ person.”
“I don’t know you or her, so I’m not suggesting anything.”
“Right.” Abby nodded. “She won’t even allow us to have security there for her.”
“Abby,” Dominic said clearly. “You know me. She’s being watched over.”
“Of course,” Abby hugged him. “And even though that would make her so angry if she knew, it makes me feel better.” After a moment she said, “Evie, do you mind if I use your bathroom?”
“Outhouse,” Evie said blandly. “Go out the front door, take a left. It’s on the tree line.”
“Thanks,” Abby said. “I’ll be right back, Dom.”
After she left the room, Evie’s eyes sharpened. “Bennett is a good boy.”
“Bennett?” Dominic echoed.
“The boy who took your daughter to a wedding last year. I hear they’re still friends.”
“Did he tell you that?”
Evie continued, “You’d be better off asking Mabel about him. He’s her son.” When Dominic still said nothing, Evie added, “Unless you don’t want people to know that you’re here to find out about someone your daughter is spending time with.”
“I’m not,” Dominic said in a cold voice.
“Normally I don’t care, but Mabel’s family is the heart of Firebrook Valley. If you mess with any of them, I’ll—”
“Curse me?” Dominic asked with some sarcasm.
“Kill you,” Evie corrected and held his gaze. “The great thing about being my age is I’m not afraid of consequences. So, be real careful how you treat anyone from Firebrook Valley.”
Abby re-entered the room in a happy rush. “Well, that was invigorating. Nothing like a mountain breeze on your bum to wake you up.” She looked from Dominic to Evie and back. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Dominic assured her. “Ready to go, Abby?”
“Sure,” Abby responded. After thanking Evie, she walked out with Dominic and paused halfway to the aircraft. “Did she do a reading on you?”
“No.”
Abby planted her feet. “Dominic Corisi, she said something to you that you didn’t like, didn’t she? You have that little worry line between your eyebrows.”
He shrugged. “She knew something I didn’t expect her to, and it was unsettling.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“Does that mean you’re doing something I wouldn’t approve of?”
Dominic made a pained face.
Abby shifted her weight and placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me.”
After releasing a growl deep in his throat, Dominic said, “Do you remember the boy Judy brought to Jared and Michawn’s wedding? The one she said was only a friend?”
“Of course. Bennett something. He had no idea who she was and looked shell-shocked. Did he spill her secret?”
“I don’t know, but your oracle knows about them.”
“Well, she is an oracle.”
Dominic didn’t believe in oracles. He didn’t believe in magic.
But he believed in information. And this woman, living in a cabin with no electricity and no fear, had just revealed that she knew something he’d hoped to keep concealed a little while longer.
Firebrook Valley and the billionaires who lived there had hit his radar as soon as he’d learned where Bennet was from.
Two things could be true at once.
He liked Drew Burke and now considered him a friend.
But the reason Dominic had sought out Drew originally was because Judy had never brought a boy to a family event before.
His team was finishing up, but Dominic was done so he told them he’d send an aircraft back for them.
As the rotors started spinning again and the ridge fell away beneath them, Dominic looked down at Firebrook Valley. The more he learned about the town, the less he liked Judy associating with someone from it.
Small towns didn’t normally contain the kind of mysteries this one did.
And if there was one thing he didn’t like it was secrets.
Why had two billionaires chosen this place as their battleground?
And what kind of person was Mabel Weaver, Bennett’s mother?
Abby’s head rested on Dominic’s shoulder. “Evie was amazing, wasn’t she?”
Dominic kissed her temple. “She was something.”
He didn’t believe in oracles.
But there was no denying that she knew things.
So, he’d be back.