CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 

It was raining while they drove toward Whitehouse. The morning was a bit chilly, and Diana felt cocooned in the car as she could barely see the landscape through the window. Robert had tuned the radio to a local morning program, and the host was entertaining with his chatter. She was not in the mood to talk to Robert, and he seemed quite reticent, unlike his usual self.

Apart from, "You look beautiful this morning," Robert had not said a word.

“I wonder what he is like,” Diana said, breaking the silence.

“Did you talk to him?” Robert adjusted the volume on the radio and glanced at her.

“No, only to his wife. He was at some conference when I made the arrangements to see him. He’ll be at home today, though.”

“Well, according to the directions, we will be there soon.”

Diana was gazing at the landscape. “I think this place is more beautiful than Negril, even with the rain.”

Robert gasped. “How can you say such a thing?”

“Well, there is the sea, and if I am not mistaken, white sand beaches. The place is so unspoiled and so under-populated; it has nice views as well. If this were a movie, I would play Beethoven’s Fur Elise here. In Negril, I would use a Bob Marley song.”

Robert grunted. “Bob Marley wins for me anywhere.”

He turned at a sign that said “Seaview Castle” and drove up the winding road slowly.

“I told you the views are to die for,” Diana said as she stared out at the expanse of sea and sky.

“You are easily impressed,” Robert said laughingly. “I think this is it.”

They both stared at the modest dwelling beside the church. The rain had petered out to a drizzle and the place was foggy. The front door of the house opened and a stout woman waved for them to drive up into the yard. Robert parked in the yard beside a large bougainvillea plant.

He had mixed feelings about coming to meet Derrick. He had stayed up all night staring at the painting, the evidence that, as far as Diana was concerned, proved that they are siblings. If they were, then this brother of Diana was also his brother.

Diana got out of the vehicle and walked up the steps slowly.

“Come in, come in,” the woman said amiably.

Diana held out her hand. “I am Diana Boyd.”

The lady clasped it in her bigger hands and smiled. “I am Beatrice Lawson, Pastor Derrick’s wife.”

Derrick came to the doorway. He was a husky man with a neatly trimmed beard.

“My dear,” he said to Diana. “How are you?” He gave her a bear hug and then laughed. “I had no idea that I had so many siblings floating around until that detective came here; I was so happy to find out.”

Robert came up the steps and introductions were made.

“Come on inside,” Derrick said. He showed them to a sitting room and they sat looking at each other.

“I am so nervous,” Diana blurted out.

“Me too,” Derrick said. “Nervous and happy. After Kenrick and I were born, we were sent to live with our father. I have no recollection of Hanover. Until recently, I did not know that my mother was alive long enough to have more children. I always assumed that she was dead.”

Diana sighed. There goes another avenue to find out about the missing Flynn.

“I was next in line after you, or should I say after you and Kenrick.”

Beatrice got up and went for the albums. “Here are some family pictures. Your niece and nephews are already at school, so this might be your only chance to see what they look like before the family reunion,” she said.

“Oh yes, the family reunion,” Diana said, taking the albums, “that’s a splendid idea.”

“Well, I called everyone except Patricia, who is in Beijing, and Flynn, who cannot be found. I knew I would see you, so I didn’t bother to call. How does next week Friday sound to you? We could do it right here,” Derrick said.

“That’s fine,” Diana said, looking over at Robert and he nodded. “Tara should be back by then.”

“So I will get to meet everyone in the same place.”

Derrick nodded. “I hope by that time Flynn will be found, alive and well.”

Diana nodded, her troubled eyes seeking Robert’s. Troubling to them was the possibility that Flynn was already found, and that his name may very well be Robert Cassidy.