Epilogue. Jade #2
And then there’s Conrad … my father. He wasn’t in the tower trying to kill Elizabeth like Holly and Ethan believed—he was trying to save her from Dr. Hill.
He became suspicious of the doctor after the sudden increase in Elizabeth’s medications, along with my accusations.
And he was right. With Baxter dead, Maeve and Dr. Hill decided it was time to get rid of their Elizabeth problem for good.
I grip the stone pendant I’ve been wearing constantly since I got it back, good as new, from the jeweler. Sometimes I have flashbacks to those frightening hours in the wine cellar.
I should be angry, but honestly, I just feel sad for everyone involved.
Conrad comes over. He overheard me when I finally called Anna “Mom” for the first time.
“You know, I could be Dad,” he says hopefully, his dark eyes smiling.
Onyx eyes. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before. But in other ways, we have little in common. I’m in ripped jeans and a baggy T-shirt, and he’s wearing a polo shirt and khaki pants. But it’s what’s on his wrist that makes me cringe.
“Let’s just stick with Conrad for now. I can’t call you Dad until you get rid of that watch.” I roll my eyes in that way only teenagers can pull off.
His face gets red. “Oh yeah, for sure,” he says. “Sorry about that.”
He removes the watch and stuffs it into his pocket.
Maeve had allowed Dr. Hill—a collector of vintage items—to take whatever he wanted from Baxter’s closet before the items were given away.
And given Baxter’s habit of owning multiples of things he liked, both Dr. Hill and Conrad ended up with identical watches.
It was this odd quirk of Baxter’s that allowed me to identify my kidnapper.
Anna arrives with two glasses of lemonade. She brushes Conrad’s arm affectionately before heading back into the kitchen, not wanting to interrupt.
“Speaking of Dr. Hill, any word about his trial?” I ask.
Conrad shakes his head. “These things take time. Hill has good lawyers—but trust me, no lawyer or plea deal is keeping him out of prison. You have nothing to worry about.” But Conrad doesn’t appear to be at ease.
“What is it?”
He grimaces. “One of the things that bothers me most is how it was all so worthless. It was all for money. I should never have married Elizabeth, but I felt so guilty and responsible for taking care of my mother and keeping the Carmichael estate. I should have walked away from everyone except your mom. I loved Anna. I never recovered after I thought she died. I guess … I guess I just blame myself for what happened to you.”
He doesn’t realize he’s talking to Jade Jensen 2.0, the new and improved model. This version comes with a lot more wisdom and understanding.
“You were traumatized,” I say. “That made you susceptible to all the bullshit that Dr. Hill, Baxter, and Maeve piled on. You believed you were doing the right thing—caring for Elizabeth, following doctor’s orders. I don’t blame you at all.”
Conrad’s gaze travels up to the sky. He tilts his head back, probably to keep the tears from spilling out.
“She’s nearly made a full recovery, you know. I’m sure the investigators of this Lypotrel nightmare will want to talk to me, and I have to deal with the divorce settlement, too. I just want Elizabeth to be happy—and healthy—again. I’ll give her everything I have if it’ll give her a fresh start.”
“Good for you,” I say. “Money is just money. It’s people who give our life meaning. You’ll find a way to make it all work.”
I don’t share that Elizabeth and I are in touch. She told me “Clair de Lune” was the song they used for their wedding processional. So much loss. I just hope she’ll be able to move forward eventually.
I’m glad to know she’s living with relatives in Connecticut while she gets her health and her life back on track.
She and Conrad have a complicated dynamic to work through, and the same goes for Conrad and me.
He’s a good guy who got caught up in some terrible circumstances.
And yes, he shouldn’t have had an affair, shouldn’t have lied to Anna about being married.
But I shouldn’t have stolen a car, among my other crimes.
We all deserve a shot at redemption—except maybe Maeve and Dr. Hill.
Gail bursts onto the patio. She’s got her killer red business suit on. She’s been hunting. I can see it in her eyes.
“Guess what just sold for well above asking,” she says in a lilting, singsong voice.
“The house?” Conrad sounds hopeful.
“Sold. It’s going to be quite a windfall for you.”
She and Conrad share an embrace.
“I’m so excited. I’m ready for a new start. Goodbye to Miramar and good riddance, especially after all that happened there.” Conrad shudders.
He and my mom have been reconnecting. They have many years and a lot of pain between them, but I’m hoping they’ll eventually find their way back to each other. Conrad wants to stay in Beauport, even after he’s out of the mansion, and I believe that’s because of me, but also because of my mother.
Serena passes by, her face buried in a copy of Woof-Woof Well-Being, the latest smash publication from the author of Meow Mindfulness. She peeks over the cover. “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do for my own windfall. How about Canine Consciousness or Connect With Your Pet Psychically?”
“You may need a catchier title,” I suggest, and we all laugh.
Holly and Ethan come over, arms wrapped around each other. Scarlet notices, and from her smile, I can tell what she’s wishing for.
“You two lovebirds are in luck as well. That cute little three-bed I told you about? The owners will be putting it on the market soon. So get your checkbooks ready.”
“Thank goodness for Beach Thriller,” says Holly.
We’re all excited. The publisher’s advance was much bigger than any of us expected. The advance reader copies should arrive soon, and there’s already movie interest, too. I wonder who will play me? She needs to be a total badass, that’s all I can say.
Speaking of badass, I’m in the acknowledgments section of Beach Thriller.
And not just for being another victim in the story, but for helping solve the case and for editing Holly’s second draft.
I’m obsessed with writing. I’ve signed up to take the GED exam, and I plan to study creative writing.
But for now, I’m learning from one of the best and connecting with family at the same time. That’s the most important part.
After lunch, we all find ourselves on the beach, but Scarlet is the only one playing in the sand. Aunt Holly’s phone warbles. Yeah. She’s been Aunt Holly since I found out. It’s her friend Shae, calling from California.
“Let’s take a group photo,” Holly tells her. “I’ll hold up my phone so you can be in it as well.”
Shae has been helping Holly recover the money that Spellman stole. The good news is that Spellman kept various bank accounts, so Holly should get some of it back.
We gather for the photo with the ocean as our backdrop. Aunt Holly puts her arm around me. I rest my head on her shoulder while Ethan hands his phone to a kind man who volunteers to take our picture.
“I love you,” she whispers, squeezing me tight against her.
“I love you, too,” I say, and I mean it.
We break apart, and I wander to the shoreline, looking out over the water.
It’s a beautiful beach day, but I shiver.
Maeve Carmichael’s body has never been found.
Maybe the currents carried her away. But it feels strange.
I can feel eyes burning at the back of my neck.
I turn around, and no one’s there. I’ve had that feeling a lot lately.
Like someone’s hiding in the shadows, waiting.
And watching.