Chapter 15 #3
“Nothing at all. When you think about it, how would anyone know what the right thing to say or do is after hearing that story unless I tell them?”
“When Linda first told us about you, we talked about how best to approach you out there all by yourself in the lighthouse. I remember thinking about what I would want before I went to see you. I volunteered to go because I understood what not to do better than the others could have.”
“I’m so glad it was you who came, and that you shared your story with me. Right away I felt comforted to know that I wasn’t alone with that kind of pain—not that I’d wish it on anyone. But that you understood so well made it easier to accept your offer of friendship.”
“We’re all thankful you accepted the offer.”
“No one more so than me.”
“Awww, shucks. You’re a perfect fit with us, kiddo. We’d have badgered you until you had no choice but to join our happy clan.”
“It is a happy clan, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.” Her phone beeped. “Oh, that’s my mom.”
“I’ll let you go. Glad it all went well.”
“Thanks again for today, Syd.”
“Any time. Talk soon.”
Jenny pushed the button to end her call with Syd and accept her mother’s call. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. Hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”
Jenny thought about where she’d been forty-five minutes earlier and held back a nervous giggle at the thought of her mother calling then. “Nope. Good time. What’s up?”
“Dad was able to score three full days off next week—Tuesday through Thursday. We were thinking of flying up Monday afternoon and leaving on Thursday. Would that be okay?”
Guilt flooded through her, because her very first thought was three days with no Alex. “Of course,” she said to her mother. “That’s absolutely fine.”
“I looked on a map and I saw that the McCarthy’s hotel is fairly close to the lighthouse, so I booked a room there hoping you’d say yes to a visit.”
“You can stay here.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but we’ll be very happy at the hotel, and you won’t have us around your neck the whole time. I’m sure you’ve got your own things to do.”
Images of what she’d done with Alex in the garden chose that moment to pass through her mind like an erotic movie. Jenny cleared her throat. “A few things here and there.”
“So we’ll be on the eight p.m. ferry on Monday. Should I try to get the rental car on the boat?”
“No need. I’ll pick you up at the ferry, and you can use my car while you’re here.”
“I can’t wait to see you and your lighthouse and meet your friends.”
“I can’t wait either. I’m really glad you’re coming, Mom.”
“So are we. See you soon, hon.”
Jenny tucked the phone in her purse, grabbed her keys and headed out to check in with Paul Martinez, who was working at the retail store today. She wished she’d asked Alex what his brother knew about the two of them, but she hesitated to interrupt his work again with a phone call.
“I guess I’ll find out soon enough,” she said as she drove down the long driveway from the lighthouse to the road.
A short time later, she pulled onto the grounds of Martinez Lawn & Garden and realized she was strangely nervous about meeting with Alex’s brother.
“You’re offering to help him. What do you have to be nervous about? ”
Not knowing if Alex had told his brother that he was seeing her fueled her anxiety as she grabbed her purse and headed inside. Paul was at the counter, huddled around a computer terminal with Adam McCarthy.
Both men looked up at her as she came in the door.
“Hey, Jenny,” Adam said.
“Hi, Adam.” She shifted her gaze to Paul, who was every bit as handsome as his brother. “Paul.”
“Hi, Jenny. Good to see you again. Thanks for the offer of help.”
“Sure. Happy to do whatever I can.”
“It all depends on Adam, the computer magician. Sharon’s parting shot was to password-protect the system, and naturally we can’t reach her to find out what it is.”
Incensed on his behalf, Jenny said, “Have you reported that to Blaine?”
“Filed a report this morning. He’s issuing a warrant for her arrest on charges of malicious mischief. We won’t actually press charges if she gives us the damned password.”
The poor guy seemed exhausted, stressed out and frustrated, but who could blame him? Like he didn’t have enough to deal with without a spiteful ex-employee tampering with his business.
“I hope you’re also withholding her final paycheck,” Jenny said.
“Haven’t done that yet, but you’re absolutely right. I’ll call the payroll company and get that done. Thanks for the reminder.”
Jenny didn’t know him at all, but she suspected the computer situation was about to take him over the edge. “While Adam does his thing, maybe you could show me around and give me a sense of the routine so I can get to it as soon as we have access to the computer again.”
“You’re going to work here, Jenny?” Adam asked, his gaze never wandering from the computer terminal.
“I’m helping out until things settle down.”
“And we’re extremely grateful for the help,” Paul said. “Come on, I’ll give you the tour and introduce you to some of the employees.”