Chapter 12 Benny
Twelve
Benny
Present Day
Benny was scribbling notes and sticking them on her wall when her mom yelled up to her. It was time to leave for a party she didn’t want to go to.
“You look great,” her mom gushed when Benny begrudgingly came down the stairs in a new navy dress. “Let’s have Wally take a picture of us.” She handed him Benny’s camera.
Benny felt her stomach knot. The thought of having a photo of herself in Evelyn’s house when it wasn’t her own house yet made her uneasy.
What if Peter couldn’t stop Vivian from stealing the inheritance?
What if she couldn’t prove the island was real?
What if she lost Evelyn’s new game and everyone stayed cursed?
What if. What if. What if.
She could feel the bile rising in her throat when she thought about leaving, and then she remembered what Grams would tell her when she was being hard on herself. Winners never quit. Quitters never win. Benny smiled to herself. Winners never quit.
She took a deep breath, posed for the picture, and then they were off, her mom chatting away about somewhere Harris took her to lunch the other day as they drove to the vineyard.
Her mom smelled like fresh rain, laundry, and lavender.
Benny breathed the scent in and tried to relax.
It had been years since she and Mom had had a reason to dress up.
Before she knew it, they were pulling into Terry Estate Vineyards.
They drove down a long road, grapevines in neat rows as far as the eye could see on both sides of them.
When a parking lot finally appeared, Benny could see the vineyard overlooked the Long Island Sound.
Dozens of cars were already parked, each one more expensive than the next.
Benny looked out the car window at a beautifully dressed couple heading toward a large barn with one wall completely made of glass panes that overlooked the water.
From the website, Benny knew this was where the vineyard held weddings and events, and from the looks of the crowd, this was clearly an event not to be missed.
There had to be a hundred people there milling around the grounds, which were lit with lanterns on small tables.
It felt like a very adult party, and Benny felt weird being there.
“Ready?” her mom asked, swiping on lipstick in the rearview mirror of their very old car, which stuck out. “I told Harris we’d meet him inside.”
Harris had married a Rudd. He had to know the truth about Axel, the island, the treasure. Everything. Benny made a face before she could stop herself.
“What is going on?” her mom asked as she opened the car door, but Harris was already there offering his hand.
“Lynn,” he said, helping her step out of the car. “I thought I saw your car pull in.” He turned and smiled. “Hello, Benny.”
“Hello,” Benny said stiffly.
“You both look lovely,” Harris said with ease. “Ready for the party? Ryan was just looking for you, Benny.”
I’ll bet, Benny thought. Her mom looked at her worriedly. “You two head in. I’ll find Ryan on my own.”
And look for Kimble. Is he here? The band had just started playing something slow as waiters served appetizers in their penguin suits.
Across the lawn, Benny locked eyes with Vivian Rudd standing at a high-top table with a group of women.
Vivian spotted Benny and raised her glass in a toast. Benny nodded and headed in the opposite direction, wishing more than anything Zara was with her.
A waiter with a tray stepped in front of her. “Crab cake?”
When was the last time she ate? Was it Wally’s cookies? “Thank you.” Benny took a crab cake off the tray and headed to an empty high top to eat it and hopefully go unnoticed. It only took her a few minutes to realize that would be impossible.
“She’s here, you know. The heir.” She overheard someone say. “The one Evelyn Terry left her estate and the vineyard to.”
Clearly, being anonymous was going to be hard. Benny abandoned the crab cake and headed toward the water’s edge where there was an empty table aglow in lantern light. Welcome, Everly Benedict! Welcome home! She could hear the island’s whispers unmistakably as she neared the water.
“Hiding too?” someone asked.
Benny turned to see an elegant woman with red hair standing behind her.
She was dressed head to toe in white, in a fitted pantsuit and heels, despite the fact she was already taller than many of the men walking around.
Benny had to think this woman liked towering over people.
She had a confidence to her smile and stance that told Benny she was someone who liked to be in control, yet her demeanor wasn’t as off-putting as Vivian’s.
“Do you mind if I join you?” She stepped up to the table before Benny could answer, and Benny noticed the large diamonds in her ears. “If I have to make small talk with these cads a minute longer, I will stick needles in my eyes.”
Cad. Benny had never heard anyone use that word other than in books. “Of course,” Benny said, sliding over to make room at the empty table.
“Don’t get me wrong,” the woman continued.
“I put myself in this situation—donating this and that, paying for the food for this party, since Harris Gale seems to have lost his shirt on the stock market of late.” She raised one elegantly plucked eyebrow and looked straight at Benny, her eyes glowing in the lantern light.
Benny couldn’t help but notice the large green gem on her index finger.
“But that’s just idle gossip to enjoy at a party, I suppose. ”
Benny tried to keep her face neutral. Harris’s money troubles weren’t anything new, but she had no idea they were this well-known around town.
The woman smiled, her red hair blowing in the breeze. “You’re new to town, aren’t you? I am good with faces but hate names.” She shrugged. “I find names useless. I change my nickname as often as I change my clothes,” she said with a laugh.
This woman wanted something. There was no other explanation as to why she’d be talking to a kid at an adult party. Benny would wait her out and see what it was.
Without another word, the woman removed her heels, placing her bare feet in the grass. Her toes were painted a pale blue. “Forgive me, but I have to take these shoes off. Don’t listen to what anyone says about heels. They’re torture devices. I promise you.”
“Noted,” Benny said.
“So who are you, my dear, if you don’t mind my bluntness?” The woman’s voice was smooth and soft, her eyes never leaving Benny’s face. “Live here as long as I have, and you’re bound to know everyone.” She extended a delicate hand. The green gem glittered on her hand. “Catherine Cannon.”
Benny remembered Vivian mentioning her. “I’m Everly Benedict, but everyone calls me Benny.”
“Benny,” Catherine said with just a hint of an accent. “A nickname riffing off your last name. I like that too. Clever.”
“There she is!”
Two men rushed toward the table, one older with a walking cane. Catherine’s face fell.
“Everly!” the younger man said, extending his hand. “We’ve been dying to meet you, young lady. Aaron Tapper, board member for the Terry estate. And this is Roger Kellman, another board member.”
“Hello,” Benny said awkwardly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
Mr. Kellman’s smile seemed genuine. “How are you getting along at Evelyn’s house? We just had the air redone a few years ago, so I hear it’s much cooler now.”
“It’s great,” Benny said as Catherine watched her. “Thank you.”
“Wally Ingram must take good care of you,” said Mr. Kellman. “His family has been working with the Terrys for generations.” He turned. “Good evening, Cora.”
“I’m sorry, I thought your name was Candace,” Mr. Tapper asked.
Catherine laughed. “You’re both wrong. My name is Catherine Cannon.”
Benny froze. They both had her name wrong? Catherine winked at her, and all Benny could think was, Who are you really?
“Catherine! Tonight’s generous benefactor,” Mr. Tapper shook Catherine’s hand harder as Benny tried to make sense of what was going on. “Thank you for stepping in. With so many people in town for the lighthouse fundraiser, we had to scramble to find a new venue after the storm.”
“Saving the lighthouse Evelyn Terry built is a worthy cause,” Catherine said. “I’m happy to help however I can.”
Benny side-eyed Catherine, trying not to seem obvious.
Hadn’t she said she knew everyone in Greenport?
Why did everyone have her name wrong? Benny felt a strange flutter in her stomach.
This situation reminded her of Charlotte/Calia in Evelyn’s diary.
It wasn’t possible they were all the same person, was it? Her heart began to thud in her chest.
“What about you two gentlemen?” Catherine placed a hand on Mr. Tapper’s arm and smiled at Mr. Kellman. “I doubt being on the Terry estate board is a paid position. How do you both spend your days?”
“I’m a retired lawyer who is also on the Harrison School board of directors.” Mr. Kellman smiled at Benny. “You should consider going there, young lady. Best school on the East End.”
“I will mention it to my mother,” Benny said politely. She wouldn’t. Private school? Her? She didn’t even know if she’d be here next week.
“Ahh, school. What grade are you in, Benny?” Catherine asked.
“Did you call her Benny?” Mr. Kellman asked, confused.
“That’s what Everly chooses to be called,” Catherine told him.
She clearly had been paying attention. “What do you prefer to be called, Mr. Kellman and Mr. Tapper? I’ve always found names so tiresome.
Who wants to be one person their whole life?
” Her voice was almost a purr. Benny recognized her technique.
The hand touch. Standing close. Showing interest. Her mom did the same thing.
Mr. Tapper and Catherine started talking closely.
“You remind me of someone,” Mr. Kellman said suddenly.