Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
K ristin introduced her sister, Claire, and niece Katie to Millie and Linda when they arrived and then Millie followed Kristin into the kitchen to put the apple pie on the counter.
“This is such a lovely house,” Millie said. “Oh, my goodness, look at that view,” she said, marveling at the backyard and ocean view.
“Thank you, Millie. I’m glad you agreed to join us. You have a good friend in Linda.”
Millie nodded as Linda came into the kitchen.
“Yes Linda always thinks of others,” Millie answered.
Linda smiled, aware that Millie’s response was a sarcastic one.
Linda watched Kristin as she hurried around the kitchen.
“Can we help you?”
Kristin shook her head, “No. Thanks. I think I’ve got it.”
Linda noticed Kristin seemed more jittery than usual. Her hands trembled slightly as she set the table, and she kept glancing at the clock on the wall.
“I know how overwhelming hosting a Thanksgiving dinner can be. Please don’t worry, everything looks wonderful.”
Kristin forced a smile, but Linda could see the strain in her eyes.
“Oh, it’s just the holiday stress, I suppose,” she replied, her voice a touch too high-pitched to be convincing. “It’s not just Thanksgiving. We should have maybe gone to a restaurant. I wasn’t thinking.”
“I don’t understand,” Linda said.
“Tomorrow is the day after Thanksgiving. I know Captiva isn’t the hub of Christmas shopping, but you’d be surprised how many people shop online. I swear, ever since I decided to open an online store, I get more business that way than during our peak season.”
Linda wasn’t buying it. She knew Kristin’s nerves were shot because her abusive ex-husband was about to get out of jail. Nothing could convince Linda otherwise.
Linda exchanged a knowing glance with Millie. “Why don’t you let the food wait for a bit? They say it’s always a good idea to let the turkey rest after taking it out of the oven.”
“Really?” Kristin asked.
Millie nodded. “I’ve heard that too. I think it has something to do with letting the juices soak into the meat.”
Linda nodded. “Leave it for twenty minutes or so, and let’s all go sit for a bit in the other room.”
They moved to the living room, where the atmosphere was more relaxed. They chatted about light topics, the latest books they’d read, Katie’s job at Marriott International, and their plans for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
When twenty minutes passed, Kristin suggested they eat.
“So your mother worked at the Key Lime Garden Inn in the 1960s?” Katie asked Millie as they walked into the dining room.
Millie nodded. “Not a coincidence. I came here specifically to find out who my father is…was. He passed away before I could meet him. But, I did find a half-sister. I’d be spending the day with them, but they chose to take a Mediterranean cruise this year.”
“Oh, I misunderstood,” Kristin said. “I thought when Linda said you were alone, that you didn’t have family here.”
“It’s an unusual situation. They’ve welcomed me with open arms, but I try not to be a nuisance. After all, they did just meet me.”
Kristin nodded. “Understood.”
The conversation flowed easily, and for a while, it seemed like Kristin’s tension was beginning to ease, until her cellphone rang.
Kristin jumped and put her hand to her heart. Her awkward laugh wasn’t a surprise to Linda, who laughed along with her.
“That happens to me every once in a while too. I hate hearing notification beeps, whistles, rings so I turned them all off—the best thing I ever did.”
Kristin didn’t answer the phone.
“Aren’t you going to get that, Aunt Kristin?” Katie asked.
“No, I’m not. You know I don’t answer the phone when we’re eating.”
The rest of the afternoon was peaceful, with no interruptions. However, Kristin’s anxiety seemed to creep back in, and now, her sister, Claire, seemed equally nervous.
Linda decided to address the elephant in the room.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t help but feel that we’ve come at a bad time.”
Kristin looked at Claire, and then at Linda. She took a deep breath before continuing.
Claire stopped her. “Kristin, you don’t have to…”
“No, I want to,” Kristin answered, reassuring her sister that she needed to talk about it.
“It’s no secret that my ex-husband, Nick Caruso, has been in the news lately. I’m not sure what you know, but he’s been involved in criminal activities involving drugs, money laundering, and that’s only the things I’m aware of, and what he’s gone to jail for. I can only imagine more, but they’ve not been able to arrest him for anything else.”
Kristin looked at Linda and Millie, waiting for them to say something. “We don’t want to lie to you, Kristin, Millie and I heard some of this. Of course, we don’t know everything.”
“You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to,” Millie added.
“I appreciate that. I assume you know that he’s being released from jail next week?” Kristin asked.
Linda nodded. “Yes, we heard about that. Is that why you’ve been on edge today?”
Kristin nodded. “He’s being released because he made a deal with the government to expose someone they wanted more than Nick.”
“Are you worried he’ll come here, Aunt Kristin?” Katie asked.
“I am,” she answered. “Not because I think he’ll hurt me, but because he’s going to have a target on his back, and I don’t want to be anywhere near that. If he comes to Captiva, surely there’ll be others to follow him here.”
Linda didn’t have to look at Millie to know her friend had already started to panic.
“Does he know where you live?” Millie asked.
“I don’t know. The authorities have already contacted me to let me know, so I assume they think I’ve something to worry about.”
Linda was angry. “You shouldn’t have to live in fear like that. At least you have your family near.”
“I hate to involve Claire and Katie,” Kristin said.
“Don’t be silly. We’re family and stick together, no matter what,” Claire responded.
“That’s right, Aunt Kristin. I’m off work until after Christmas, so you’ve got both of us.”
Linda looked at Millie, who smiled and nodded her support for what Linda wanted.
“You’ve got more than that, Kristin. Millie and I aren’t the only women on this island who’ve got your back. With your permission, I have a few more formidable friends who’d love nothing more than to protect you from anyone who wishes you harm.”
Kristin’s eyes widened. “You do?”
Linda smiled. “Do you have any more of this lovely Sangria?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. If you don’t mind, I’d love another, and then Millie and I will explain.”
Jacqui wanted to wipe the smile off Clayton’s face. She was prepared for anything, especially her brother’s attitude, but she had little patience for it today.
“How about you knock it off, just this once? I’ve got my hands full with Dad, and Trevor’s not here to help me. I’d ask Wyatt to be my support system, but, as usual, he’s got his own battles with Dad to deal with.”
“How much?” he asked.
“How much, what?”
“How much will you pay me to help you?”
Jacqui rolled her eyes. “Like you need money. Don’t be a jerk.”
“You’re right. I don’t need money. What else can you offer me?”
“Clayton, it’s not like I have any influence over Dad. He does and says what he wants to. If he won’t listen to you or Trevor, what makes you think I’d have any leverage?”
“It’s simple. All I’m asking is that when the time comes, you give up a share or two. What’s the harm in that?”
“No deal, and you can forget I asked,” she said.
“Fine by me,” he said, walking away from her.
Joshua came out of the bathroom and smiled at Jacqui. “Everything okay?”
“Same dysfunction, different day,” she said, slipping her arm in his. “Let’s head into the dining room, I believe dinner is served. Are you ready for this?”
He smiled at her, and all Jacqui could think of was that she was dragging the love of her life into the lion’s den.
As they walked into the dining room, Jacqui felt the weight of the impending confrontation settle in her chest. Joshua gave her a reassuring squeeze, sensing her tension.
They took their seats, with Clayton smirking from across the table. Wyatt, ever the charmer, was already entertaining their father, Devon, with tales of his latest escapades. Her sister, Carolyn, and their mother, Eliza, were already seated, exchanging polite conversation.
“So, Joshua,” her father began, leaning back in his chair with an air of authority. “Tell me about this business of yours.”
“My family runs a water sports business on Captiva Island. We specialize in rentals and tours—kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis. We’ve been successful, and now my brothers and I are talking about expanding to other locations.”
“You mean you’re ready to expand right now?”
Joshua met Devon’s gaze and didn’t flinch. “No, not right now. We know it’s what we want to do, but I currently work for my father, so money is tight. He plans to leave the store to us when he retires. We’re confident in our growth plan.”
Devon raised an eyebrow. “Sounds ambitious, especially without much capital.”
Clayton chimed in with a sarcastic grin. “Sounds like a real moneymaker.”
Jacqui glared at Clayton, but his smile broadened.
Wyatt chuckled, sipping his wine.
Joshua remained calm. “I appreciate the concern, Clayton, but…”
“Oh, Clayton isn’t really concerned, Joshua. Don’t let him fool you,” Jacqui added.
Eliza, ever the diplomat, leaned forward with a kind smile.
“It’s good to hear you’re so dedicated, Joshua. Determination can take you far.”
Carolyn, who had been quiet so far, finally spoke up.
“Joshua, I’ve heard a lot about your business, but I’m more curious about you and my sister. How did you two meet and what attracted you to Jacqui?”
Joshua smiled and looked at Jacqui. “If memory serves, I believe your sister didn’t like me much at first.”
“Oh? Why not?”
Jacqui answered, “Let’s just say Joshua had a lot of female fans. That’s what happens when you’re the hottest guy on the beach.”
“I don’t know about being hot, but the guy with the jet skis and parasailing boat is always the most popular.”
Jacqui burst into laughter, and then added, “Especially with the ladies. But, whatever I thought of him at first, he proved there was much more underneath the playboy persona.”
Joshua put his hand to Jacqui’s face, forgetting they had an audience.
“All that went away when I met Jacqui,” he said, and then looked at Eliza. “I fell in love with your daughter soon after we met, but I knew she wouldn’t fall for me as fast.”
Jacqui nodded. “We agreed to be good friends. That was it. It was all the commitment either of us would admit to. But, I think we knew it would grow fairly quickly…and it did.”
Joshua smiled. “And she’s still my best friend.”
“Beautiful…just beautiful,” Wyatt said, clapping.
“How is it that you seem to have had too much to drink already?” Jacqui asked.
Wyatt shrugged. “Can’t answer that,” he answered.
Dinner proceeded with more jabs from Clayton, who seemed to relish the tension. Wyatt continued to play the playboy, charming everyone and laughing off his own troubles. Carolyn and Eliza tried to keep the conversation light and Devon held court at the end of the table, nodding here and there, and barely saying much.
Jacqui could feel the scrutiny but was impressed that Joshua remained steadfast in his answers, and unfazed by the antics of her brothers.
After dessert, as they prepared to leave, Jacqui turned to Joshua. “I’m sorry about all of this.”
Joshua shook his head, smiling at her. “Don’t be. I knew what I was walking into. If you’re worried, I’m not going anywhere.”
She didn’t expect much from Thanksgiving dinner with her family, but in the end, Jacqui felt a surge of love and newfound respect for her boyfriend.
Despite the bruises inflicted by her family, she knew they would walk away stronger, and more in love than when they first arrived at the Hutchins’ mansion.
They were almost in their car when Clayton called out to them.
“Jacqui, wait!”
“What? Did you forget to say something hurtful and completely without added value?”
Clayton laughed and shook his head. He held out his hand to Joshua.
“It was nice to meet you, Joshua.”
He then looked at Jacqui and smiled. “You didn’t need my help after all.”
She laughed and hugged him.
As Clayton walked back to the house, Joshua looked at her and asked, “What was that all about?”
“I think my big brother might be growing up.”