“It’s only late August, but I’m sure I can smell autumn in the air,” Kit said.
She, Adrienne, Drew, and Brandon sat in the gazebo at The Iron Gate. At eleven A.M., a cloudless sapphire-blue sky hung over them and a warm breeze wafted through the gazebo, a breeze rife with subtle smells that sent Brandon’s nose twitching furiously. Looking at him, Drew said, “I wonder if cats have as many olfactory glands as dogs.”
Kit laughed. “I have no idea, but speaking of cats, I really miss Calypso. I never wanted a pet, but I got used to her after just a few days. I didn’t tell Lottie that when I took Calypso home, though. I know Lottie and she’d want to give me the cat, but she needs Calypso for company more than I do right now.”
“At least Lottie’s safe. And unnecessarily apologetic for the shooting incident at her cabin. After all, she didn’t tell me where she was, but she did tell me absolutely not to look for her.” Adrienne sipped her mimosa, feeling relaxed and almost decadent Skye was at Sherry’s for the day. With Sherry’s help, and that of the good-looking Joel on whom Skye had developed a crush, she slowly seemed to be emerging from the depths of depression over her cousin’s death five weeks ago. “I’m surprised poor Lottie didn’t die hiding out in the woods for days. Instead, she came through it with only a case of bronchitis.”
“I told you she was tough” Drew said, smiling. “You’ll probably turn out just like her.”
“Living in a cabin by myself in the woods and having visions?” Adrienne asked in mock horror.
“Tough and wily,” Drew corrected.
“I don’t feel tough and wily. I feel like one big, dumb bruise. I can only imagine how Vicky feels, but she refused to let me go to Canada with her. She said if I was along, we’d just talk about Rachel and she wouldn’t even begin to heal. She thought she needed time alone.”
“And where is the ex-gubernatorial candidate?” Kit asked. “I know he fled town right after he made an obligatory appearance at Rachel’s funeral.”
“He’s touring Europe,” Adrienne said. “In his public statement he made a big deal about being unable to stay in the town where his ‘darling though troubled daughter’ had met her death, but he’s really just hiding.”
Drew scoffed. “Hiding from the Allards, no doubt. They want to sue him for the pain and suffering his daughter caused dear Bruce.”
“He’s alive, isn’t he?” Adrienne asked sarcastically.
“But she shot him in the leg. He might walk with a limp.”
“Which will no doubt affect him drastically when he takes over his father’s businesses, including the newspaper.” Adrienne grinned at Drew. “Just think of it. Someday Bruce will be your boss.”
“That is the day I resign as editor and begin work on the Great American Novel.”
“It’s too bad Miles didn’t fare as well as Bruce,” Kit said sadly. “But at least he’ll live, although his recovery will take months.”
Adrienne didn’t know what to say. She now knew Kit had loved Miles and she always would. Maybe someday Miles would turn to Kit, but the shadow of Julianna would always hang over them.
“But there’s one bright note,” Kit said suddenly. “Gavin’s near death scared my mother into realizing how much she still cares for him. They’re like teenage lovebirds. It’s almost sickening, except that I’m glad to see Mother so happy. I didn’t realize how much her depression affected me. Even considering all the awful things that have happened lately, not having to worry about her constantly has made my life easier.”
Brandon raised his head and barked. They all looked around to see Lucas Flynn walking by. He smiled, raised his hand in greeting, then continued along the sidewalk. He looked tall and handsome in his uniform, but even at this distance, Adrienne had seen the sadness in his gray eyes.
“That must have been awkward,” Kit murmured.
Adrienne shook her head. “Actually, it wasn’t. We had a long talk after Rachel’s death.” She looked at Drew. “I haven’t even told you all the things he said, but I think the time has come.”
She reached out and took his hand. “Lucas always knew Rachel was his child, but Vicky didn’t want him, so he went away. He never stopped thinking about Vicky or Rachel, though, so he came to Point Pleasant to be near them. He had no hope of Vicky leaving Philip for him, or even of her telling Rachel the truth about her father. He just wanted to be part of their lives.”
Adrienne smiled regretfully. “That’s where I came in. We met and really liked each other. In fact, he came to love Skye and me. Not in the way he loved Vicky and Rachel, but in a warm, caring way. And Skye and I were alone. He thought he could help us, provide us with a more secure life. But his real reason for wanting to be part of our lives was because we were part of Vicky’s and Rachel’s. He didn’t fully realize it at the time, but that’s what he wanted—to be close to the romantic love of his life and his daughter.”
Drew’s dark eyes gazed into hers, full of understanding. And love, Adrienne thought joyfully. At one time, Drew may have been selfish and careless, but almost twenty years had changed him. He was truly a man, now. A man full of generosity and capable of genuine love, both for her and for Skye.
“I’m sorry about Lucas,” Kit said gently. “I know you cared about him.”
“I still care,” Adrienne said. “But I’m not in love with him and he wasn’t really in love with me. He’ll always be a part of my life and Skye’s—I wouldn’t want it any other way and Drew understands—but there’s only one man for me.”
Kit smiled. “No disrespect to Trey Reynolds, Adrienne, but there always has been one man for you.”
Drew leaned over and kissed Adrienne, a gentle yet passionate kiss that didn’t embarrass her one bit even though her mother had always told her public displays of affection were vulgar. Then Drew leaned back, his smile growing even wider. “Hey, kid, we forgot why we came here this morning!”
“I thought it was because you couldn’t bear to go another day without seeing me!” Kit joked.
“Well, there’s that, but there’s also something else,” Adrienne said. “Come out to van.”
“The van?” Kit echoed. “When did you get a van?”
“I rented it for a special purpose,” Adrienne said. “It’s the red one at the curb.”
“It’s the only van at the curb,” Kit said. She looked down at Brandon asleep on her feet. “I hate to disturb your much-needed rest, but let’s see what Adrienne has hidden in that rented vehicle.”
They walked out to the van and Drew opened the rear doors, then looked at Kit. “I’m afraid I’ll need someone to help me unload this, so for now you’ll have to step into the van in order to view the surprise.”
Kit looked at Drew and Adrienne dubiously. “Are you sure you don’t have something horrible hidden in there? Something to scare the daylights out of me just for fun?”
“I swear,” Adrienne said, placing her hand over her heart. Then she gave Kit a little shove. “In you go!”
They watched Kit carefully climb into the van, then wait until her vision had adjusted to the dimmer light coming in through the van windows and the open back doors. Finally, she spotted a long object covered in canvas. With a cry of joy, she rushed to it, threw back the canvas, and revealed a six-by-three-foot oil painting of la Belle Rivière.
“Oh, Adrienne, it’s beautiful!” Kit exclaimed ecstatically. “You haven’t mentioned it for weeks and I thought you quit working on it. Then when Mother had the hotel demolished last week, I gave up all hope.”
Adrienne entered the van and stooped beside Kit, looking at the painting. “In spite of all the bad things that happened there, there were wonderful things happened, too. La Belle was a fabulous old hotel. I just couldn’t let it go unforgotten.”
Kit gazed at the painting, a genuine smile of pleasure lighting her face.
Adrienne stared at the painting, too. She looked at the graceful Georgian lines, the glass cupolas reflecting glints of the sun, the weather vanes, the large rooftop clock tower with its Roman numerals, the long porches with their hanging pots of colorful flowers, the glowing stained glass in the double doors. And for a moment, a moment Adrienne could have sworn was not an illusion, the hotel came alive again, its front doors swinging open as it welcomed guests into its beautiful, haunted halls.