Chapter 5

 

When Amy’s alarm sounded the next morning, she couldn’t remember dreaming, but the aftermath weighted her emotions. Or maybe it was just the overload from yesterday.

It didn’t take long to pack up at the gallery. More paintings had sold than she expected. They’d leave some smaller ones on consignment with gift shops on the way home, along with some of the new art products.

What could have been two solid days of driving became a week-long working holiday. Amy had contacted the gift shops ahead of time, so Michael knew which owners wanted to see him.

Mornings and evenings in the campgrounds were the best part of the trip. With the light at its best for pictures, Michael led Amy on a hunt for water scenes. They found tiny streams, raindrops on leaves, a raging waterfall. Michael snapped photos and sketched rough pencil details. Over the winter, he’d paint the best images.

Amy loved watching him work, seeing the before and imagining the after.

He chose areas with easy access and short walks. What kind of inspiration might he have found if he’d left her behind with the tents?

Late Friday afternoon, Michael pulled the van into the studio driveway. Emilie’s bright blue Honda sat beside Aunt Bay’s purple four-by-four.

Amy’s chest tightened. Might as well stamp The End in all caps. “Michael, this has been so good. I know I slowed you down, but thank you.” She clicked open her seatbelt and turned toward the door. “I wish we could have tried the jazz club.”

The key scraped as he pulled it from the ignition. Amy opened her door, keeping her face averted.

Michael let out a slow breath. “You were a big help. I know it was hard. Thank you.”

Emilie raced toward them from the house, as if Michael might change his mind and drive away. Aunt Bay followed more slowly.

Amy climbed out of the van, testing her hip, just in time to see Emilie launch herself at Michael with a squeal. Amy caught Aunt Bay’s eye, and the older woman shook her head.

Michael disentangled himself and hauled open the side door of the van. Amy did the same on the passenger side. The sooner they had everything unloaded, the better.

Emilie grinned at her across the boxes. “Hey, Amy. Welcome back.”

“Thanks.”

The girl reached for one of the smaller boxes. “I came to help Michael unpack. You can’t carry much.”

Aunt Bay spoke in Amy’s right ear. “We’ll all help.”

The bare gallery walls gave Amy a creepy feeling, but it didn’t take long to unwrap the paintings and restore the room’s atmosphere.

Michael stacked the extra boxes of notepads and other products in the office, and spread his hands to his helpers. “All set to re-open. Thank you. Did we miss any customers this week, Aunt Bay?”

“I returned a couple of messages and said you’d be back on Monday. Didn’t notice anyone come to the door, but I’ve been on the go a lot.”

The phone rang, and Aunt Bay picked it up. “I was expecting a call. You three go relax.”

They settled in the living room. Emilie tucked her feet under her and fixed Michael with a bright stare. “So tell me all about your trip. I wish I could have cut classes for a week and gone, instead of poor Amy having to do it.”

Michael’s lips quirked. “She didn’t have to do it. I could’ve gone alone again.” The look he gave Amy soothed the prickle from Emilie’s words. “Amy’s a great assistant. She made the trip a lot easier.”

“What are you going to do when she finds another bank position?”

“Sell her a painting for her office.”

The girl tossed her head. “If you let her go. Honestly, Michael, sometimes I think you’re keeping her prisoner, like some kind of weird memorial to my brother.”

Amy lifted one foot, then the other. “No ball and chain. You’re as bad as the conspiracy speculation about Gilles’ and my accident.”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “In Toronto, you sounded like you believed it.”

“I got caught up in the puzzle. The what-if. But there’s no motivation, not even money. Any life insurance Gilles had would have gone to his parents, or to the company if it was a work policy.”

“He should have transferred it to you.”

Amy blinked. Michael never criticized his best friend. They’d been inseparable — until whatever happened to separate them. Even then, each spoke well of the other. She shrugged. “I’d be surprised if he had life insurance. Gilles was too alive to think about death.”

Emilie shrugged. “He had no one depending on him, until you came along.”

“I didn’t come along. He found me.” The whirlwind romance and engagement. Leaving everything to start fresh here in Halifax with this captivating Québécois. He’d carried her away from a carefully-ordered life like some dashing — but good-hearted — pirate.

He’d said he was running away. Amy looked from Michael to Emilie. “Gilles left something here, something that upset him. He sorted it out and came back, but what was it? Could that be the clue?”

Michael’s hands slapped his thighs. “Not again!”

Emilie shot him a glance. She faced Amy, eyes slitted as if to see the past. “He was furious with Papa. He shouted and stormed out. I didn’t see him again until he came here with you. I’d been counting on him to help me move into my dorm.” She grinned at Michael. “But Michael helped me instead. And bought me pizza.”

Amy resisted rolling her eyes. “Do you know what upset him?”

“I couldn’t catch the words. Papa had appointed him manager of the Halifax dealership, and Gilles had been here a few months. He flew home to Montreal for the weekend. We could tell he was upset about something, but he’d only speak with Papa, in private.”

“Would you ask your father about it?”

Emilie’s mouth turned down. “I don’t know. He’s different now. So sad.”

Michael groaned. “Leave the man alone. Please say you don’t suspect him of killing his son.”

“Of course not!” Heat swept Amy’s face. “But whatever upset Gilles might be important.”

“You don’t think Luc could see that for himself?”

“Maybe he’s too broken to care.”