CHAPTER 41

Andrew stood before the mammoth family headstone in the St. James Cemetery. Dappled sunlight filtered through the remaining leaves on the trees, bathing the granite marker in a soft glow. He scanned the engraved names of his ancestors until he came to the one he sought.

Francis Oscar Easton
1891—1918
Killed in action
Taken too soon

Andrew removed his hat and stared at the stone, not entirely sure why he’d come, only knowing that he had to in order to finally have peace.

He hadn’t had the chance to reconcile with Frank before he went off to war, and even when he came home on leave, Andrew hadn’t made amends. Why hadn’t he tried harder to bridge the gap between them when he knew his brother might never return? He’d allowed years of bitterness and jealousy to harden his heart, when he should have put their differences aside and reached out to him.

“Forgive me, Frank. I never should have let my resentment come between us. It wasn’t your fault that Father loved you more. I always envied your charisma, your passion for life. But you broke our parents’ hearts, and I’ll admit I hated you for that.”

The wind picked up, blowing Andrew’s hair across his forehead. “I’d always lived in your shadow, and the fact that your death put me in Father’s good graces added to my guilt. Guilt that I was alive and you weren’t, that I actually benefited from your death.” A shudder went through him. “I should have tried harder to get Father to accept your marriage instead of basking in his attention for the first time in my life.”

He paused to watch a flock of sparrows fly by overhead and land in the nearby trees. Andrew clutched his hat harder as the wind whipped his overcoat against his legs.

“I hope you can forgive me too for not doing better by Rose. Maybe if I had, she’d still be alive today.” He brushed away the moisture gathering in his eyes. “I’ve kept one promise, though. I’m looking after your son. And no matter what happens, Christian will always be my priority. I love you, Frank. And I’m truly sorry. For everything.”

He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. So much wasted time. So much unnecessary anger and bitterness. If he’d realized this sooner, would things have been different?

Movement to the left caught Andrew’s attention. He turned, astounded to see his father coming up the path, a bouquet of flowers in his arms.

Andrew fought to push back his raw emotions. He’d barely spoken to his father since he’d quit his job and still hadn’t sorted out his feelings about him giving Edison the promotion.

“Andrew.” His father lacked his usual confident stride. “If I’m intruding, I can come back later.”

“No, I’m finished here.” Andrew stepped away from the headstone.

Father laid the flowers at the base of the stone, then shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “Your mother feels I need to make peace with Frank. She suggested I start here. I have a feeling she thought you might be here too. The woman has a sixth sense sometimes.”

An uncomfortable sensation fluttered through Andrew’s stomach. He’d had enough emotional disclosure for one day. “Well, I’ll give you some privacy.”

“Andrew, wait. Since you’re here, there are some things I need to say. Things I’ve put off for too long.”

His father motioned to a bench under one of the large oak trees. Reluctantly, Andrew followed, and they both took a seat. Above them, the leaves rustled in the fall breeze. A raven’s lonely cry rang out overhead, but no answering call sounded.

Father stared out over the rows of gravestones, the lines around his mouth making him look older than his years. “I want to explain why I gave Paul the promotion instead of you,” he said at last.

“I think you made that clear. Apparently, I’m not reliable enough.”

The comment still rankled, since Andrew had always prided himself on being the most reliable one in the family.

“That was said in the heat of the moment.” Father shifted on the bench. “The real reason, the one I couldn’t admit even to myself, is that I want you here with me. I lost Frank and Virginia. I can’t lose you too.”

Stunned, Andrew could only stare.

“I hope you’ll reconsider your resignation. The hotel needs you.” He cleared his throat. “I need you. I can do without Paul Edison, but I can’t do without you, son.”

Something uncurled within Andrew, loosening the tension in his muscles. He swallowed hard. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll think about it.”

A tentative decision now solidified in his mind. “I don’t need to think about it.”

“I see.”

“I never really planned on leaving. Like you said, it was the heat of the moment.”

The lines in his father’s face eased. His lips lifted in a rare smile. “I’m glad. Your mother will be relieved as well.”

Andrew looked his father in the eye. “You should know I officially ended my relationship with Cecilia today. Turns out she’s going to marry Edison.”

“I know. I spoke to Paul this morning.”

“This won’t hurt your friendship with Harrison, will it? He won’t pull his investment out of the new hotel?”

His father frowned. “You thought our alliance hinged on your marriage? I may be a ruthless businessman, but I’d never manipulate my own son for the sake of a deal. If you believed that, then I’ve been a worse parent than I thought.”

It seemed Andrew had been mistaken about a few things. “This isn’t all your fault. I’ve made some wrong assumptions based on issues from my childhood.” He twisted the brim of his hat. “All my life I’ve felt second-best because I thought you loved Frank more.”

A pained expression flitted over his father’s features. “Not more. Just differently. I always knew you’d have a fine career ahead of you. You were smart, studious. You had a college degree. Frank was a charmer, but could never seem to commit to anything, to settle into a job. I tried my best to mentor him, but nothing worked.” Regret shone from his father’s eyes. “If I made you feel inadequate, son, I’m sorry.”

Warmth spread through Andrew’s chest, clogging his throat. Had his own insecurity colored the way he’d viewed his brother and his father? “I’m sorry too, Dad.”

His father grabbed him in a rough embrace and clapped him on the back. “What do you say we mark this day as a fresh start—for all of us?”

“I’d like that.”

Father gave him a long look. “I’ll say one thing about that nanny of yours. At least she owns up to her mistakes—something I’ve been too stubborn to do until now. And she gives some pretty good advice.” He smiled. “Let’s go home and spend time with Christian. I’ll have your mother invite Virginia and”—he rolled his eyes—“Lafferty for dinner. We can celebrate a new beginning for the Easton family.”

All of Andrew’s pent-up guilt and resentment finally evaporated in the crisp fall air. “That sounds like a good idea.” He rose from the bench. “I’ll see you back at the house. There’s something I need to take care of first.”

When his father left the cemetery, Andrew went back to the family plot, an idea taking shape in his mind. With a final glance at the names on the stone, he knew what he needed to do to make amends to Frank.

A gesture he hoped might please Grace as well.

Holy Trinity Church was as small and quaint as the cathedral was grand. With its plain wooden benches and simple altar, Andrew could immediately see how it would appeal to Grace and remind her of her hometown. He scanned the length of the main aisle, wondering if she still worked for Reverend Burke or if she’d found a new job yet.

His heart ached just thinking about her. Andrew’s anger had faded once Christian was back at Fairlawn, and without his righteous indignation to cloud his judgment, he found he could empathize with the desperation that had fueled Grace’s actions. If he’d been faced with similar circumstances, would he have done the same thing?

He’d like to think not, but he couldn’t be one hundred percent certain.

Figuring Reverend Burke would be at home at this time of day, Andrew headed over to the rectory and knocked on the door.

The man himself answered. “Mr. Easton. This is a surprise. Please come in.”

“Thank you.” Andrew stepped into the narrow hallway. “I’d like to speak to you about a somewhat delicate matter.”

“Is this about Grace?”

Even just hearing her name sent more shafts of regret searing through him. “Actually it’s about her sister.”

The minister gave him a puzzled stare. “Why don’t you come in to the parlor and we can discuss what brought you here?”

An hour later, Andrew found himself on the sidewalk in front of Mrs. Chamberlain’s boardinghouse, indecision wreaking havoc with his nerves. He had not intended to see Grace again, but the unsettling news Reverend Burke had told him mere minutes ago had shaken him to the core.

Grace’s mother was dying, and she was leaving to return to England.

For good.

That knowledge had unleashed something inside him. Something he hadn’t taken time to examine, instead rushing right over to the boardinghouse. All the way over, Cecilia’s words kept running through his mind. Don’t let a mistake on her part rob you of the life you could have together.

Now he halted outside the small gated walkway. Insecurity held him rooted in place. Perhaps it was the fear that he might have missed his chance to see her before she sailed across the ocean. Perhaps it was the uncertainty of what he’d do if she was here.

His insides twisted. The tea and scones he’d eaten at Reverend Burke’s threatened to come back on him. He raked a hand through his hair, his coat now making him overwarm in the mild September afternoon.

“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Easton?”

Andrew froze.

Mrs. Chamberlain came down the stairs, peering at him. “You’ve been pacing back and forth for nearly twenty minutes.”

Andrew squirmed in his shoes. The only time he’d met the woman, he’d been less than cordial, grilling her about Grace’s whereabouts when Christian was missing. “I was wondering if I might speak with Grace.”

She reached the gate and swung it inward. “I’m afraid she’s not here.”

His spirits sunk faster than a lead-bottomed boat. He licked his lips that had gone bone dry. “She hasn’t left for England yet, has she?”

“Not until tomorrow.” She wiped her hands on her apron, frowning. “I hope you’re not here to make her feel worse. She’s been terribly hard on herself already.”

A flush of heat rose in his cheeks. “No, ma’am.” He exhaled. “I’m not entirely sure why I’m here. Except that when Reverend Burke told me Grace was leaving, I couldn’t not come.”

Not even to please his father. Surely his family would understand when they found out why he hadn’t made it back for dinner.

Mrs. Chamberlain nodded. “I think I understand.” She leaned closer. “If you really want to see her, I happen to know where you might find her.”

“You do?”

“She’s out at Hanlan Point. Seems she has fond memories of the place and wanted to visit it again before she left.”

His heart threatened to burst from his chest. Did that mean Grace still cared for him, despite everything that had happened between them?

“It’s a lovely day for a ferry ride, don’t you think?” She winked at him.

He smiled as hope bubbled to the surface. “It is indeed.”