Lavender Beach (20 page)

“That’s just it. If I don’t do it, who will? Who better to write this book than me?”

“Okay. As long as you’re prepared for the hits it will take in your personal life and all the fame and fortune that goes with it.”

Ethan chuckled. “I imagine fame and fortune all the time. Did you know, according to Sydney, Doc Prescott is thinking about retiring at the end of the year?”

“River mentioned it when she took Seth and Luke in for their checkups last month. No one’s blaming Doc for wanting to call it quits after all these years. But I’d hate to see this town lose its only doctor.”

“Nick and Murphy are already putting out feelers for help on that score. They’ve sent inquiries to Seattle and as far away as Chicago. Word is that the pharmacist, Ross Campbell, has a friend, a general practitioner, who runs a private practice in Portland, Oregon. Ross is hoping to talk him into relocating.”

Ethan took a seat on one of the barstools and gawked at his brother noting the bags under his eyes. “What’s troubling you other than lack of sleep that comes with having a newborn in the house?”

Brent took his coffee over to the kitchen table, laced it with plenty of sugar to boost his outlook. “You remember when we finally nailed the meth dealers Harley Edgecombe and his sons, sent them away for a long time?”

“You bet, hard to forget the way I felt taking down that whole compound near San Sebastian. It’s one of the highlights of my brief stint in law enforcement. Why? Has Richardson finally decided to go after them and now’s begging your cooperation?”

“I wish.” Brent told him about how the Thorwalds had now taken over the lucrative enterprise and Eastlyn’s offer to scope it out. “Trouble is, the first time we went in there, I was sheriff. Here in Pelican Pointe as police chief I have no reason to officially be in that area. Yet, knowing that compound is still out there, knowing what crystal meth does to kids, or anyone else for that matter, how can I sit on my butt and do nothing?”

Ethan knew his brother. “I can see the war going on in your head from here. Especially when a private citizen offers to put her ass on the line to make it go away and you stymied.”

“Exactly. It makes me question why I took this job if all I plan to do is write speeding tickets and hassle the occasional transient trying to catch a few winks on the bench along the pier.”

“It isn’t like you to question yourself. So don’t hand me that hangdog attitude by selling yourself short. You do a helluva lot more around here than that. Do I have to list everything so you’ll quit feeling sorry for yourself?”

Brent lifted his cup and said as only a brother could, “Screw you. With kids I’d think you’d be as concerned as I am with the idea we didn’t completely put an end to the drugs coming out of that compound.”

“Okay, now that you’ve opened that door, there’s been an ugly rumor floating around for several years now that the drug trade in the area has managed to infiltrate our own quaint city limit borders.”

Brent sent him a knowing look. “I’ve heard that before. For some time I’ve had my eye on McCready’s, maybe because I live practically across the street from the place. Rowdy weekend crowds are becoming more and more routine and there’s something about Flynn’s clientele I find…questionable.”

“I know you’ve been suspicious of that place for a long time because of the seedy crowd.”

“When it’s the only local watering hole for miles around that tends to be the norm. Up to now, I’ve given Flynn some leeway, or tried to, often times cutting him some major slack with the noise ordinance.”

“Hey, during the time the town was my turf, we managed to drive many of the criminal types away for good. No one gave us a medal for it, but then, we weren’t looking for one either. ”

“Those were the days.” Brent sat back, sipped his coffee. “So if I could find a link here in town to that compound, I’d be justified in going after the Thorwalds?”

“I’m no legal eagle, but I’d say if you made a connection like that, you’d be able to justify following any suspect. If that suspect just happened to lead you to Thorwald’s front door, you’d have plenty of reason to kick it down and see if the operation has been revitalized. But having a civilian do your intel is risky and dangerous. This woman wouldn’t do it on her own, would she?” 

“Nah, I don’t think she’s that wound up. I’m pretty sure I discouraged her from going near that place on her own.”

“You know, big brother, if you ever need backup, I still keep my .45 locked and loaded.”

“I can see it now at the family barbeque, Hayden giving me hell because I dragged you into that role and back into the danger zone.”

Ethan let out a whoop of laughter. “Chances are if I went charging out the door to help you in a firefight, she’d definitely have something to say about it. But I can still handle my wife.”

Brent found humor in Ethan’s bravado. “Yeah, right. As far as Hayden’s concerned, I’ve seen you cave at the slightest little thing. But you’re entitled to keep your ‘king of the castle’ delusions.”

Ethan raised his middle finger toward his brother in response. “You’re as prone to caving in to River as I am to Hayden. Don’t pretend otherwise. So what do you intend to do about the ex-pilot?”

Brent rubbed the stubble on his chin. “I’m not sure exactly. Maybe emphasize again that she should avoid the area. Make sure she understands how dangerous it is.”

“What prompted her to make such an offer?”

“Honestly, I think she’s bored. She reminds me of when I left the army. Do you remember how long it took me to get comfortable in civilian life? I think it’s hard for her to leave behind that search for an adrenaline rush. I think she’s going through several kinds of withdrawal other than the pills.”

“Sounds like a tough place to be. Have you thought of bringing her on as a police officer, at least part-time?”

Brent’s eyes widened. He started to speak but then sat back and thought about that. “I could, couldn’t I?”

“There’s your built-in backup.” Switching topics, Ethan wanted to know, “Are you babysitting the kids next Saturday when our wives take the mother’s day out excursion to Promise Cove?”

“Who else? The nanny?” He squirmed in his chair. “We should start a father’s day out.”

“Yeah, you be sure to mention that to River when you get home.”

“Only if you’ll bring it up to Hayden.”

“I’m not stupid. Hayden already believes she has it tough stuck at the store all day with the kids while I try my damnedest to write.”

“Who are we kidding? Marriage is complicated. We’ve been ruled by our wives since the day we said ‘I do.’ Women are sneaky. They’ve brought allies into the mix—our own kids.”

Ethan snorted out a laugh. “Ain’t that the truth? It’s a foregone conclusion we’ve been domesticated by sexy females who invaded the town and took us by storm.”

Brent peered at him over the rim of his cup. “Do you use that kind of crap in your books?”

“Not until now, but I’m desperate enough to try to work it into the storyline somewhere.”

“Lots of luck with that.”

Landon Jennings, owner
of The Plant Habitat, studied the hard-working Eastlyn Parker as she zipped the forklift around the warehouse, moving empty pallets from the dock to where the stacks were stored overnight.

After an exhausting day spent landscaping Ina Crawford’s front yard, Caleb came up to him, wiping the sweat off his forehead. “It’s a hot one today. Despite the heat I finished the job in three days as planned.” He handed Landon an invoice, all the while tracking his uncle’s line of vision. When they landed on Eastlyn, Caleb added, “You know, Cooper’s been out with her a couple times.”

“Yeah, word gets out. The other day I stopped by the store and caught Coop humming along to a tune by James Taylor.”

“No way. Are you sure it was our Cooper? Maybe aliens took over his body.”

A smile formed at the corners of Landon’s mouth. “It gave me hope that he’s finally in a place where he can put the past behind him. It’s significant, too, because he’s right back in the town where it all started.”

Caleb rested his hand on Landon’s shoulder. “Sometimes I wish I had memories of my father like Cooper has. But all I remember is you being there for me in that role. What I recall most is how you and Shelby would always show up at assorted school events for all three of us, right on time, never late. Whether you were swamped at the nursery or not, you’d take the time for us. Those first few months had to be a confusing, awful time for Coop and Drea. I was younger. It didn’t affect me the way it did them. I only remember you and Shelby as my mom and dad.”

Landon’s eyes misted up. He laid a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “It’s good to hear you say that. You’re my son and that’s the truth of it. Shelby and I thought of all three of you as our own from day one. I don’t know. Maybe it was from guilt because we didn’t see Eleanor’s mental illness as that serious, certainly had no idea she was ever capable of murder. Poor Layne and Brooke, trying to turn to each other for a little happiness in life and getting killed for it.”

“It’s amazing that you’d see it like that.”

Landon swallowed hard. “It wasn’t easy. But you don’t remember how cruel and vicious Eleanor could be. The woman used her tongue like a weapon. She’s my sister but I swear after she left her kids out in the middle of the water that night, I was done with her.”

“But everyone thought she’d committed suicide.”

“I’ll be honest. I never thought she did. Eleanor was too narcissistic to take her own life. Anyway, I never mentioned your mother to any of you kids after that and you guys never really asked. It was as if all of you were happy to be rid of her. I know I was.”

“No one would blame you for that.”

“Doesn’t matter. I blame myself for what you guys went through. I should’ve intervened long before I let it get that far. I didn’t. I have to live with that every time I see the sadness in Cooper’s eyes, the way he’s wary of connecting with anyone on a deep emotional level.”

“You’ve noticed that, too. I thought I was the only one who picked up on that in him.”

Landon shook his head. “That’s why if Eastlyn Parker can bring Coop some level of happiness, I’m all for it.” 

Not knowing the
seriousness of the conversation between her brother and uncle, Drea glided into the warehouse with problems of her own. All she saw were two men lazing on the job, staring off into space. “What are you guys doing? Why are you standing around watching Eastlyn work?”

“What does it look like we’re doing? We’re standing here working on world peace,” Caleb said good-naturedly.

In response, Drea gave him a light punch to the shoulder.

“Is that all you got?” Caleb teased in challenge.

“What is it with men these days?” Drea sighed. “I’m fed up with all of them.”

Caleb exchanged a look with Landon before holding up his hands in surrender. “Uh oh, that sounds like there’s trouble in paradise. Is that statement meant for men in general or Zach in particular? What did he do this time?”

“I’ll tell you what he did. He forgot our one-year anniversary. He’s been acting strange now for some time. But when a guy you’ve been dating for a year doesn’t even bother to remember the dinner I’d planned to celebrate the occasion, I’d say it’s time to take a serious look at what’s not working. When I moved into his house I expected a little attention. Is that too much to ask? I knew how busy he was at the time with his business so for months and months, I cut him some slack. But I draw the line at completely forgetting the reason we made dinner plans.”

“He didn’t even think to bring the florist a flower?” Landon asked.

“No. Not a card. Not an email. Not a text message. No lunch date. No dinner date. He didn’t even plan a movie at home. In fact, he went off by himself. God knows where.”

“He went off by himself? Is Zach having an affair?” Caleb asked.

“Maybe. Who knows?” Drea grumbled.

Ever the practical cynic when it came to affairs of the heart, Caleb reasoned, “Then I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t find a renter for your loft.”

Drea’s face went white at the prospect of that. “I packed my things up already and slept there last night. So I hope Coop and Eastlyn have a lot better luck at love than I did, because I’ve decided to break things off with Zach for good.”