Chapter 29

JANIE

Early on Saturday morning Janie quietly let herself into the inn. After locking the door to the basement behind her, she tiptoed downstairs to her law office. Her goal was to finish putting everything away and be ready to open her office on Monday. She’d purchased ad space in the local paper and wanted to be set up and ready to meet with clients as soon as calls started coming in. Because her advertisement promised legal consultations at an affordable price, she expected to get results. However, knowing that Donna was still renting a room from Abby, she did feel uneasy about being in the house.

“How long is she going to be staying there?” Janie had asked Abby last night.

“On Thanksgiving I told Donna that I could only rent to her for one more week,” Abby said.

“So she has to be out by … when? Wednesday, Thursday, Friday?” Janie could hear the frustration in her own voice.

“I’m sorry. Maybe I should’ve said by Monday.”

“It’s just that I want to start using that space.” Janie told her about the ad.

“Do you want me to throw Donna out?”

“No, of course, not. I would think she’d want to leave now that Victor has made himself perfectly clear.”

Abby had told Janie about the conversation between Caroline and Donna on Thanksgiving night. “Caroline told me that Donna sounded hostile and angry—not just toward you, but all of us.”

“And yet she’s still here?”

“Apparently.” Abby had apologized again, promising to do all she could to get rid of her unwanted guest. Today Janie knew she was probably asking for trouble by being here, but she wanted to get on with her life. If that upset Donna, so be it.

Janie had finished bundling up the wires to her computer and printer and fax machine when she heard someone knocking on the door at the top of the stairs. Trying to ignore it, she continued tucking the wires out of sight, but then she heard what sounded like Caroline calling out her name. So Janie crawled out from under her desk and hurried to open the door.

“I saw your car,” Caroline said quietly as Janie let her in and then locked the door again. “I didn’t want to disturb you, but I think Donna knows you’re here. I have a bad feeling about that.”

“A bad feeling?” Janie frowned.

“I think that woman is on the warpath.”

Janie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Really? Is she carrying a tomahawk?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Caroline explained that Donna had gotten all dressed up. “I asked her if she was getting ready to head back to Chicago, but she said no, she still had some business to take care of here.”

Janie sighed. “What is wrong with that woman?”

Caroline pointed to the side of her own head. “I think she’s deranged.”

“So what do you think I should do?”

“I don’t know, but I just figured if you needed to sneak out, you know, while Donna was preoccupied, well, maybe I could help.”

Janie nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.” She glanced at her watch, surprised to see that it was nearly noon. “I promised to meet Victor for lunch at The Chowder House, so I really do need to go.”

“Okay. Let me run up there and distract her. Give me about five minutes, then get out of here as fast as you can go.”

Janie thanked her. Waiting behind the closed door at the top of the stairs, she kept her eye on her watch, and after five minutes she quietly slipped out of the house and into her car with no problem. Feeling pleased with herself, she made it to the restaurant and was seated with Victor a few minutes past twelve.

“It’s so good to see you.” He reached over and grasped her hand, smiling warmly into her eyes.

“And you, too.” But his smile faded when Janie told him about Caroline’s escape plan. “Otherwise I might not have gotten here on time.”

“I can’t believe Donna is still in town. She promised me she would leave.” Victor made a grim face. “Frankly she worries me a lot. She’s been calling the house regularly. I don’t answer when I see that it’s her. It seems pointless to talk to her. But that kind of behavior is unsettling.”

“Caroline seemed a little concerned too, but really, I think if we just ignore Donna and go about our lives, well, she should get the message. Eventually.”

“You’d think. Just the same, it might not hurt for me to speak to her again. Firmly, of course. Somehow I need to make it perfectly clear that it’s pointless for her to stick around.”

“That might be good.”

He squeezed Janie’s hand. “Let’s agree not to waste any more time talking about my ex-wife.” They enjoyed lunch and each other’s company, and because the sun was out, Victor invited Janie to walk down to the docks with him to check on the boat.

“I feel so badly about what Donna did to you that day, and how she took your key.” He pulled out a new brass key and slipped it into her hand. “I had a locksmith come out and change the locks.”

“Thanks.” She pocketed the key and paused to gaze at his boat. “She’s such a pretty boat, Victor.” She wanted to add that it would be a shame if Donna did something to mess it up. Janie wouldn’t have been surprised if Donna stooped to something that low.

He climbed aboard, then reached out to help Janie. “I also had a security system installed, both at home and here.” He opened up a small metal box by the cabin door. “Hopefully I’m not getting unnecessarily paranoid, but it seemed a good idea.” With her watching, he punched in the code. “Remind me to write down the numbers for you later, so you can finish outfitting the boat at your leisure. Of course, I want to compensate you for the things that Donna, uh, removed from here.”

Janie shook her head. “I still cannot figure how she did that.”

They went into the cabin, and to Janie’s relief everything looked perfectly normal. Janie still felt sad to remember how Donna had sabotaged her, but losing some silly material things seemed insignificant compared to what might have happened if she’d lost Victor. They poked around the cabin for a bit, and Janie was just explaining an idea for sprucing up the small eating area when someone began pounding on the door.

“Oh no.” Victor looked troubled. “I’ll bet that’s—”

“Let me in,” Donna yelled. “I know you’re down there!”

Alarmed and imagining the worst, Janie pulled out her cell phone. “Do you think we should call the police?” she whispered.

“No, not yet.” Victor pointed to the bedroom as the pounding and yelling continued. “Go in there, lock the door, and be quiet while I try to reason with her. If it gets out of hand, go ahead and call 9-1-1. I hate to say it, but Donna is, uh, a bit unpredictable.”

Janie didn’t hesitate to do as she was told, but as soon as the door was locked, she had her phone ready.

“What are you doing here, Donna?” Victor asked in a firm tone.

“Looking for you,” Donna snapped at him. “I know you’re not alone.”

“Donna,” Victor said calmly. “I don’t know why you’re doing this. But you have to—”

“I’m doing this because I still love you, Victor. We belong together. Why can’t you see that?”

“I’ve told you, Donna. It’s over between us. You have to accept that.”

“I know you still love me, Victor. How can you say you don’t?”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Donna, but the truth is I do not love you. My love for you died a long time ago. I’ve tried to be patient during your visit, but it’s time for you to go home. There is no hope for us ever getting back together. You have to understand and accept that.”

Janie could hear Donna beginning to cry. “But … but … Victor! How can I go on without you? I know I messed us up. But we can fix that. Why can’t you just give me another chance?”

“I did give you another chance, but I can’t manufacture feelings I don’t have, Donna. It’s over between us. Now please go back home. Get on with your life. And get some help.”

Janie heard their voices getting quieter, and the sound of footsteps on the ladder. She waited for a several minutes, still hearing their voices on deck though she couldn’t make out the words. Finally Victor returned. “It’s okay,” he told her. “You can come out now.”

She cautiously unlocked and opened the door. Feeling uneasy, like she was actually doing something wrong by hiding in the bedroom, she came out and looked around. “Did Donna understand?”

“I hope so. I tried to be perfectly clear.” He put his arms around Janie now. “I was tempted to tell her everything, including how serious I am about you, but I didn’t want to make her too angry.”

“I appreciate that.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “I’m sorry this has been such an ordeal for you, Janie. I appreciate how patient you’ve been with me.”

She smiled into his face. “I actually appreciate how understanding you’ve been toward your ex-wife.”

He looked surprised.

“Okay, it took me a while to fully appreciate that, but after I gave it some thought, I realized it showed your integrity, and that you’re a gentleman. I think your sons appreciated it too.”

“I told Ben and Marcus the truth,” he said. “As soon as they arrived last week, I explained that I could never go back to their mother. They understood.”

“I’m glad.”

“They’re well aware that their mother is bipolar and—”

Janie blinked. “Donna is bipolar?”

He nodded. “I wasn’t going to mention it. It’s something she’s always tried to keep private.” He almost laughed. “Well, except when she’s in a manic state and out of control.”

“Does that happen a lot?”

“Not when she stays on her medication.” He grimaced. “I asked her about it specifically just now. She confessed that she stopped taking them several months ago. She claims she doesn’t need them anymore.”

“Oh dear.”

“I encouraged her to get back on them.”

They quietly talked for a while longer, then, satisfied that Donna had gone on her way, Victor cautiously went up on deck. “Coast is clear,” he called out.

Janie came out. Not because she didn’t trust Victor, but because she knew Donna was unpredictable and possibly mentally unstable, she went around the backside of the cabin and peered out from behind a pole to be sure Donna was really gone. She noticed something glinting in the water below her. Thinking it was a fish, she bent over to see better, but then she spotted a broken shard of what appeared to be a plate. It was resting on a lump of concrete right next to the pier post.

“Victor,” she called, “come see this.”

He came around to join her and she pointed out the broken dish.

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s from the things I’d brought over here that day. The things Donna took.”

He scratched his head. “You think she threw everything into the water?”

Janie couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think maybe she did.”

“That’s so crazy.” He hugged her close to him. “I’m just glad she didn’t try to toss you overboard too.”

Janie laughed. “I’m sure she wanted to. Poor Donna.”

“I told ‘poor Donna’ to make an appointment with her psychiatrist when she gets back. He’s an old family friend. In fact I think I might even call him and give him a little heads-up.”

Janie actually felt sorry for Donna. “You know, Victor,” she said quietly, “I can kind of relate to Donna.”

“You?” He looked surprised and slightly worried. “Don’t tell me you’re bipolar too?”

“No. But I do remember how mixed up I felt when I lost Phil. It was almost like I was suffering a form of mental illness.”

“You were grieving.”

“I know, but I felt lost and confused just the same. My grief over losing him was probably similar to how Donna feels about losing you. Well, minus the bipolar factor. Grief does funny things to a person, and I’m sure I acted a little crazy.”

“Maybe, but I doubt you threatened anyone.”

“Even so, I do feel sorry for her, Victor. I hope she can get her life leveled out again.”

He pulled Janie close to him. “I hope so too.”