Chapter Sixteen

Kira had spent a lot of time with her aunt, and now she was running late. She didn’t get a chance to tell her about the ideas she had for the look/see event she wanted to plan for the inn.

There was a lot of buzz around the inn about the changes they’d already made. Most of the work had to be done at night so they didn’t inconvenience any of their guests. Since the night of the rotary club event, there’d been an increase in bookings.

Each day, she could see improvements, and she felt good. Even Gail mentioned how nice their great-grandparents’ antique clock looked in the parlor. Adding more modern conveniences like the turn-down service, free in-room wifi, and flat-screen televisions, along with more Davis family heirlooms and memorabilia, was making the inn unforgettable.

She stopped by her office and found Franklin sitting inside, looking up at the photos on the wall.

“Sorry, I’m late,” she said, walking into the room.

Franklin stood and pulled her into a hug, and she squeezed him tight.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, sensing that the hug was more than a greeting. He had something on his mind.

“I tried to talk to my father this morning, but…” He dropped his arms and stepped back. “I got nothing. I mean, he wouldn’t budge.”

Kira reached out and grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Don’t feel bad. I tried with my aunt, too, this morning, and like you, I got nothing. Nada.”

Franklin sighed. “What is going on?” He turned away from her only to come back. “What about us?” he said, pulling her flush against his chest. He stared down into her eyes.

Kira didn’t know why that when he looked at her in that manner, she always felt like he was boring into her soul. She felt her lips part, her mouth ready for his kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed.

It was light as a feather and felt like it ended as fast as it started. He surrounded her with his embrace. “It’s so complicated when it doesn’t have to be,” he whispered.

Kira had the same thought. They wanted a relationship but couldn’t with their family’s drama. Putting the whole feud to rest was the only way they would truly be free to love each other.

Kira took a tiny step back, stood on the tips of her toes, and kissed Franklin. “We haven’t played all our cards yet. I’m not ready to give up. I’ve got some questions of my own.”

Her thoughts went to the string of pearls that Charlie Bennett had given to Sophia as a gift. When had he given them to her? Did Charlie know that her aunt Mary Louise had them now? How would he feel if he knew?

Still, that was a piece of information she didn’t want to divulge to Franklin. It would only do for him what it had done for her—give him more questions than answers.

“I’ve got my own life to think about,” she said.

Kira went around and opened the desk drawer, then pulled out the attic key. “Let’s get up there and see if it holds any clues.”

“Cross your fingers,” he replied.

“Fingers, toes, and eyes, too,” she said, then laughed. She needed to bring some levity to the serious situation, which was consuming them both.

…

Kira handed the key to Franklin, and he unlocked the door, pushing it open, and the familiar creaking sound that followed made a chill run down her spine. She didn’t know why, because the last time they were up there late at night. It was broad daylight now, but somehow just as eerie. This time, though, light streamed through from the small window on the far side of the room. She still had to adjust her eyes and turn on the light to be able to see the area well.

“I think we should tackle the old-looking furniture over in the corner,” Franklin suggested.

They both moved closer to the shrouded pieces of furniture that had been collected in the corner, covered with what looked like dust cloths. He removed them, sending dust particles flying. She turned away momentarily—she didn’t want to start sneezing or trigger anything else with her allergies. “Man, that thing is filthy.”

Franklin nodded. “Sorry about that. I guess I’m eager.”

Kira sneezed. “It’s an old desk.”

“Bless you,” Franklin said, moving closer to the piece. “Have you ever seen this before?”

She shook her head. They started opening the drawers and little cubby holes and found nothing there but some old receipts and church bulletins.

Finally, Kira saw something wedged in the back of the desk. She didn’t care that it was covered in dust. She had to get it. “Franklin, can you pull this out a little?” She pointed. “It looks like something is stuck in the back. I want to see what it is.”

Franklin pulled the heavy roll-top desk out as far as he could from the wall. The back of the desk was covered with a piece of wood, but there were slits. “I think I can push it back in and maybe you can grab it that way.”

Kira watched as he pushed, but it wouldn’t move. “I think it’s stuck on something. Can we take the back off?”

“This is a beautiful piece of furniture, so I’d like to be careful with it. You could possibly use it downstairs.”

At this point, she only cared about the box, but she agreed. “Okay, just be careful. I want to know what’s inside.”

Franklin scanned the room, then walked over to pick up the handle to an old mop.

“What are you going to do with that?” she asked.

“It should fit into the slot, and I can push it toward you so you can grab the box.”

“Okay, cool. Let’s try it.”

“Be careful with your fingers,” he said. “We’re going to take it slow.”

Kira nodded as she got down on her haunches. “I’m ready.”

Franklin maneuvered the handle into the slot and caught the end of the box, then pushed…but it slipped. “Hold on, I’m going to do it again.”

Kira waited as he tried the same tactic. “Maybe I should pull it as you push.”

Franklin pushed once again, and Kira saw that it was stuck at the bottom. “Hold it, I think I see the problem.” She wiggled the free side and pulled. “Okay, Franklin, push.”

They finally got the box free, and Kira threw her hands up in victory, then put it to the side. She was both excited and anxious about the contents of the old, worn container.

“Are you going to take a look inside now?”

“Yes.” She pulled at the top of the lid.

“Wow, she looks just like you,” Franklin commented about the photo lying on top.

Kira didn’t say anything, only bobbed her head, because more dust had stirred up and her eyes were watering. After wiping her eyes with her sleeve, she looked down at her aunt’s high school photo. She’d seen so many images of her aunt during her young life, it was an undeniable fact that she could have been her twin.

“There’s a lot of stuff in there.” Franklin picked up a used movie ticket stub.

There was a report card, too, and underneath there was a photo of Sophia and Charlie together. “Wow,” she said, lifting the photo from the stack. “They look so young. I wonder what she’d look like today?”

She handed Franklin the box so that she could get a better look at the description on the back. “This was taken when they were in high school.” She handed it to Franklin.

“Look at Pop. He is sharp. They look so nice together,” he commented.

Just staring at the photo and the way that the couple was embracing, Kira could see that they really cared for each other. Poor Charlie.

“Well, Franklin, there they are, so we at least know that they were together.”

“Nobody’s disputing that, though. I think the problem is your family blaming my dad for killing her. The whole town was talking about it.”

Kira bristled. Did he really just say the problem is my family?

“She was in his car, Franklin. You have to remember that fact.”

“It doesn’t mean that he killed her. I know that you know that.”

“I’m just saying. He had to have some involvement.”

Franklin stopped talking, his eyes widened, and wrinkles formed on his forehead. “Really, Kira? We find one photo and you go blaming my father again? This was the problem in the first place. Your family going around telling everybody it was his fault. Now, no one wants to talk about it. That is wrong. Period.”

Why she’d suddenly become so protective of her aunt’s history, she didn’t know, but seeing her facial features, expressions, and staring at her eyes made her real. A young woman whose life was cut short, and it made her angry.

“I think it’s time for you to embrace the truth, Franklin.”

“You mean your family’s truth?” He shook his head. “No. That’s only one side of the story.”

“They’re the only ones who will speak up, so what is Charlie hiding?”

“You just told me that your aunt wouldn’t give you any other information.” He stepped closer to her. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but…” His words trailed off.

“Everybody can’t be lying,” she said. “It’s more likely that only one person lied.”

For several excruciating moments, Franklin stared silently at her. His steely-eyed gaze communicated his frustration to her, so she didn’t need to hear his voice. As good as he was at controlling his facial expressions, she could see that her statement caused him to struggle.

Lips tight, he finally handed her the box back before he turned and walked away without saying another word.

“Franklin,” she called out to him before he got to the stairs.

He didn’t turn around but said, “I need a minute.”

He closed the door behind him, and Kira was left in that dusty attic alone with memories of her aunt surrounding her. She stared down at the photo. She’d gotten caught up in the moment, and after everything she’d heard from her aunt Mary Louise earlier, anger and confusion consumed her. Having so many of her aunt Sophia’s features also made Kira feel responsible for defending her. She was a Davis. This was her family.

Family was everything.

Upset about her disagreement with Franklin, Kira didn’t feel like searching for anything else. She hated that as soon as they got a breakthrough, something tangible that could help them piece together Sophia’s life with Charlie, they end up at each other’s throats about it.

This situation was sucking the life out of her and her relationship with Franklin. She took one more glance around the room with the box under her arms and closed the attic door behind her. After all the trouble and hassle to show their families that they could work in harmony, now, Kira may have lost her good friend, a person she cared deeply about, because of an old story. God help her.

…

Franklin rushed down the stairs and walked out the back door of the inn. As soon as he got outside and headed to his car, he released a long sigh. He sat for several minutes to collect his thoughts. He tried to analyze what had happened and where it had gone wrong.

What had made her flip like that? Did she really believe in her heart the words she’d said? He noticed how quickly he and Kira’s conversation turned to accusations and hearsay. He had no choice but to defend his father. Reminding him of what she’d called the “facts” didn’t do anything but make him stand on that belief even more. It never settled in his spirit that his father was responsible, and until he found proof otherwise, he was going to stick to it.

He kept looking in his rearview mirror in case Kira came out to the car to talk, but she didn’t. He supposed she was just as angry, and knowing her as he did, she was probably stewing. It was okay, he needed to put some distance between them for a minute. He never liked losing control of himself, but if he’d stayed, he might have said something he’d regret.

Starting the car, he gave the place one last look before pulling out of the parking lot of the inn. He needed something to take his mind off the situation that was going nowhere.

Once again, he fell for someone he couldn’t trust. He’d protected his heart for years by not getting involved with anyone. The moment he let his guard down, it was decimated once again. All this time, he’d thought he and Kira had been on the same page. But when push came to shove, it was clear now—her family would always come before him.

What had made him think dating Kira was going to be any different? He got too comfortable and had relaxed that wall he’d built around himself.

It seemed as if she was on her family’s side. Again, no surprise there, since blood was always thicker than water. Their families would continue to feud, so he needed to leave well enough alone. He had his own life choices that he needed to make.

On his drive, he thought about his choices since he’d come back to Clover. Because of his responsibilities at the inn, it helped him with transitioning from the military to civilian life. It had been over three months and he hadn’t revisited the scenario of whether he was going to stay in Clover Creek. The thing he struggled with most of all was the feud and relating to his father. Maybe I should have looked into volunteering at a veteran’s organization instead of trying to work at that inn.

His mind had started its analysis, and he hated when he got on that merry-go-round. In hindsight, there wasn’t anything merry about it at all. He’d taken the job at the inn because he saw it as an opportunity to right a wrong. Thinking about Kira and how well they were together made him lean toward being more likely to stay. He loved being around his siblings and their families, too. He wanted a more well-rounded life for himself and to not just be known for one thing.

But would staying in Clover keep up the old feud? Would his presence remind everyone of his family’s connection to the Davises?

Pulling up to the business his family owned, he saw his brother backing up the truck in front of the doors of the workshop. He parked and jumped out as fast as he could.

“I’m glad you came,” Aaron said, grinning from ear to ear. “Help me get this crib onto the truck. It’s delivery day.”

“Of course,” Franklin replied, following him into the workshop.

“Hey, I’m glad you spoke to Pop on my behalf. He’s leaving the decision up to me.”

That was the best news he’d heard in a long while. Usually, his father always had to have his way. But allowing Aaron to add custom furniture-making to their list of offerings was a big win for his brother.

“Did he mention anything about you running the place?” Franklin asked.

“He said that the three of us would work that out. He wanted to make sure that you were staying in Clover first.”

Franklin sighed. “I haven’t decided yet.” It was the truth, and now hearing this from his brother and knowing his father’s expectations were complicating things even further.

“Why the long face? We both know that it’s not easy for Pop to let things go.”

Yes, Franklin knew that, and it was only making his decision harder. Continuing the family business would be great, but he didn’t want to step on his brother’s toes. Aaron could easily run the construction business just as well, if not better, than him.

“How long before you need to decide? I know my answer if you need help making a choice. And you’ve got that fine Kira Davis as your girl.”

That was a big question mark, but Franklin didn’t want to bring his brother into it. He didn’t want to hear his father say “I told you so,” that anyone with the last name Davis would betray him. It was overwhelming and sad at the same time, because he really wouldn’t have put Kira in that category, but he was wrong.

“Frankie,” Aaron yelled.

Hearing his nickname jerked him back as his mind had drifted into uncharted territory. “I haven’t heard that name in forever.”

“Should I have said, Command Sergeant Major Bennett?”

Laughing at Aaron’s antics, he said, “My mind drifted a moment. Now, let’s get back to work, little brother.”

They loaded the heavy piece of furniture onto the truck, and then their father came out.

“I thought you were working over at the inn today?” he said when he walked up to the truck.

“Uh…yeah. I was. I mean I am. I’m going back later. I just wanted to stop by.”

His father stared at him for a long moment. “Umm hmm. Is that right?”

Franklin turned to his brother when he heard him clear his throat. “Are you coming with me to deliver this?”

“You were going alone? This thing is heavy, Aaron.”

His brother opened the driver’s side door of the truck. “Then let’s go.”

He climbed inside. “We’ll be back later, Pop.”

His father waved at them, and Franklin looked in the side mirror until he couldn’t see him any longer. Sitting in this truck with his brother, traveling through town, helping him deliver something that could become a family heirloom, it was clear—relationship with Kira or not, he was leaning toward staying in Clover.