Chapter Thirteen

Gina faced Kyle across a table at the prison the following day. “Tell me again about the day of the theft.”

Kyle crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “We’ve been through that already.”

“Humor me.”

He sighed. “Our three-man crew was working on the Vandenburg’s back deck when the old man took a header down the front steps. We heard him yell and hurried around the house to find him lying on the ground, moaning. So I ran upstairs to get the Missus.”

“Go on.”

His mouth contorted into a yawn. “Mrs. V. hurried downstairs and I followed. My snake of a boss took advantage of the confusion to toss her diamonds out the window and search the shrubs for them later. He claimed I did it, which is why I’m here now.” He glanced at the vending machines. “Let’s get some candy.”

“No.” She caught his arm when he started to rise. “Yesterday, I heard a different version of the theft. Someone told me the one who stayed upstairs and grabbed the jewels was you.”

He sank back into his chair. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I also heard you have a gambling problem.”

“Who’ve you been talking to?”

“Will Sinclair.”

Kyle’s jaw dropped as she went on. “I believed what you told me about being framed. So I got a job as Will’s nanny, in hopes of finding the missing jewelry.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding.”

She shook her head. “I would never kid about something this serious. And this is why.” From her pocket, she palmed a small photo she’d smuggled in of Harry and Ian, grinning as they held up their newly planted flowerpots in their brown-gloved hands. She placed the photo on the table, wanting her brother to see the boys’ sweetness and vulnerability. Kyle had once been sweet and vulnerable, too. He glanced down at the image then quickly away.

“Look closely. See how happy they are?”

He stared down at his hands; his face stiff.

“Ian and Harry were sad and confused when I started as their nanny because they’d just lost their mother. Will and I have worked hard to make them feel loved and secure. But yesterday he learned I was your sister and fired me.” She paused. “Leaving the boys so abruptly, with no goodbye, will hurt them all over again.”

She tapped the photo with her finger, drawing his reluctant attention. “So tell me I didn’t deceive Will and his boys because you lied.”

Kyle dropped his head into his hands, muttering, “Damn it, Gina…”

“What really happened? Did you steal those diamonds?” She held her breath, waiting for him to justify her faith in him.

He straightened, at last, and met her gaze. “You’re the best sister a guy could ever have. I never meant for you to get mixed up in this.”

“Just tell me the truth.”

“The truth?” He laughed harshly. “The truth is I never had the advantages Will Sinclair had. No rich family or doting parents. No sports fame.” His hands gripped the sides of the table hard.

Dread tightened her chest. “What are you saying?”

“There are things you’ve got to understand. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and a guy’s got to look out for himself.”

“So, that’s what you did?”

“Damned right.” Resentment flared in his eyes. “It’s different for you in your safe little niche. You can hide in your lab or lose yourself in the deep woods.”

“Kyle—”

“Hear me out.” He swiped at his mouth. “I owed money. The guys coming after me planned to hurt me bad. I was desperate and saw an opportunity.”

“So you did take the diamonds.” His so-called frame-up had been a lie. Sick at heart, she bowed her head and closed her eyes. Kyle’s excuses drifted past, blaming others and shattering her illusions. Her stomach cramped with shame. The brother she loved was a liar and a thief. And the wrong she had done Will and his boys was unforgiveable.

Hearing a sudden urgency in his tone, she straightened. “What?”

Sweat lined his brow, despite the cool room. “You’ve got to get me out of here.”

He glanced around quickly, then spoke in a near whisper. “You can help me by planting evidence in Will’s home.”

“Evidence.” She gasped. “You mean the diamonds?”

“Right. They’re no good to me now. They’re too damned hot, and I’m stuck in here.”

“You’re asking me to frame Will?” She stared in disbelief. “Do you have any idea of the harm you’ve caused?”

His face twisted, like he’d tasted something bitter. “The only one sitting in prison is me.”

She stood abruptly, outraged by his lack of remorse. “I lied for you, Kyle. I betrayed a decent man and two children I love.”

He stood, too, and caught her wrist. A guard moved toward them, drawn by the flare of conflict.

“Sit down for God’s sake,” Kyle hissed through clenched teeth. He let go of her wrist and sat back down. She hesitated before sinking back into her chair. The guard halted, still watching them closely.

Kyle lowered his voice. “I’m sorry about Will’s kids, but you and I are family. The bond between us is much stronger.” He caught her fingers in his. “I was trying to spare you, to keep your hands clean. Smitty would do this for me, if he was able. But now, there’s only you.”

She shook her head. “Forget it. I won’t ruin an innocent man for you.”

“An innocent man? Not likely. In college Will was the hero jock who had everything handed to him. He’s probably done things that would shock and disgust you.”

“No.” She wrenched her hand free. “He’s a good man.”

“Ahh, so that’s the way it is. You’re hot for him.”

“I admire his honesty and his love for his sons.”

Kyle snorted. “He’s a lady’s man, Sis, and he’s played you for a chump. You’re just his latest score.”

Stung by his sneer, she pocketed her photo and stood. “We’re done here.”

As she started for the exit, he called after her, “Gina, come back!” Fighting the pull of his plea, she bumped into a table but hurried on despite the pain in her leg.

“Please, Sis, I need you!”

The raw anguish in his tone tore at her heart. It was the voice of the scared and lonely boy from her childhood. She and Kyle had gone through hell together growing up, and walking away from him now was like ripping out a piece of her heart. But she didn’t stop or look back. The boy she’d loved had grown into a man with no soul.

…

Back home, Gina marched into her kitchen, filled the teakettle with water, and plunked it on the stove. Her life was a meteor crash site, and she wanted to throw something. Gut-punched and raw, she stared out the sink window. Everyone she cared about was lost to her now. Harry and Ian would never snuggle into her lap for another story or warm her heart with their laughs. She would never again look into Will’s eyes or lose herself in his kiss.

She wanted to blame it all on her brother, the liar with no conscience. But Kyle had been damaged goods since childhood. Deep down, she knew the fault lay with her and her desperate need for family. Wanting Kyle to be worthy of all the love she had to give, she’d been too easy to manipulate, too quick to side with him and rush to his rescue. She swiped at her foolish tears. No more.

The piercing whistle of the kettle cut into her gloom, and she prepped a steaming cup of tea. Seated at the kitchen table, she took a cautious sip and contemplated her long history of failed relationships. She’d been a child when her mother crawled into a whiskey bottle, and her stepfather bailed. Her ex-fiancé had gotten over her easily enough to make babies with another woman. Her brother thought she was dumb enough to break the law for his sake. And now, she’d lost Will and his boys.

She took another hot sip. Losing Will brought an ache she might never get past, for he was meant to be “the one,” the man of her dreams. Slumped at the table, she laid her head on her arms and closed her eyes.

She was half asleep when the kitchen phone rang. Startled, she jerked upright, spilling her tea. A glance at the caller ID brought a groan. The last person on earth she wanted to talk to was Kyle.

Ignoring the jarring summons, she walked outside and sank down on the porch step to look out at her garden. The tomato branches drooped with ripe fruit. The once-tall poppies had wilted and lay limply on the ground. They needed to be ripped up, yet she made no move. Dead poppies seemed in keeping with the death of her illusions about Kyle. Laying her head down on her knees, she had never felt so alone.

Lost in a blur of misery, she slept. And dreamed she fell into a gaping hole as black as night. Crying out, her hands grasping air, she plunged deeper and deeper until she woke with a start. Her foot had gone numb. She stood to wiggle her toes and scold herself for being a baby. It was time to suck it up and get on with her life. Starting with my garden.

She crossed the lawn with determined strides and knelt to part the dense branches of the tomato plants. The tart smell stung her nose, prompting a sneeze. Dirt therapy probably wouldn’t work today, for there was no way to undo her horrendous mistakes. But maybe she could learn something from all her bad choices.

Setting plump red tomatoes on the grass, she seized on one takeaway from her nanny charade. She’d helped Will win his sons’ love, and the three of them had formed a close-knit family. Filled with a bittersweet sense of accomplishment, she scooped up the tomatoes and walked toward the house.

Another plus from her nanny gig was the surprising discovery that she really did like children. She could be a good wife and mother someday, just not with Will. She sighed, still too hurt to be cheered by that now.

Setting the tomatoes in the garden window above the sink, she contemplated her bleak future. As Kyle would have said, “What now, Genius?”

She growled. Scratch thoughts of Kyle.

Now, she’d have time to finish her thesis. She could also apply for another position at the university and maybe even find a new man. But she’d never love anyone the way she did Will. Pain knotted her stomach. Scratch thoughts of Will.

Scrubbing her hands at the sink, she thought of Harry and Ian. Those sweet, rascally boys were like her own sons. Leaving them with no goodbye was hurtful and wrong. Would Will let her come by one last time?

No way. He was too angry. It made her heart ache.

Was there anything she could do to make amends? Toweling her hands dry, she stilled at the obvious answer. Well, yeah, Genius. You could find the damned diamonds.

Rubbing her arms, she cursed herself for not playing along with Kyle’s scheme to implicate Will long enough to learn where the diamonds were stashed. But she’d been too upset by his lies to be clever.

She returned to the back porch and sat on the top step. Where could the diamonds be? Someplace where Kyle’s pal, Smitty, could get his hands on them. The faint wisp of an idea came to mind, drifting just past her reach.

At the time of the robbery, Kyle had been staying in her house, which meant the diamonds could be here. She gripped her knees hard, knowing there was a connection she needed to make. Staring out at Kyle’s dead poppies, she tried to get inside his head.

Kyle had never shown any interest in gardening, so the poppies had been a touching surprise on her return from Canada. Her brother made her laugh, but he never remembered her birthday, and his Christmas gifts were always last-minute cheapies. She’d wondered what had prompted him to take the time to plant flowers. The answer hit like a smack on the head.

She ran to the shed to grab the shovel, praying she was right. Reaching the dying blooms, she jammed her shovel into the soft dirt beneath them. Self-seeding, they would spring up new each year. Had Kyle used the bright orange poppies as markers? Like a treasure map where X marks the spot?

She dug furiously until she had a two-foot round hole. The digging grew harder, the soil more compact, but she kept tossing dirt until the shovel scraped something hard. Her heart racing, she snatched up a trowel and got down on her knees to unearth a black metal box. She swiped dirt away from the sides of the box, and then pulled it free. Roughly eighteen inches square, it felt surprisingly light. She set it down gingerly on the grass, then cursed the padlock holding it shut.

Another dash to the shed for a hammer and chisel, and moments later, she broke the lock and lifted the lid. Fingers shaking, she pulled out a gallon-sized plastic bag containing a rectangular object. Parting the re-sealable opening, she reached inside and eased out a burgundy velvet jewelry case. Oh God, this was it!

Scarcely breathing, she pried open the case and gasped. An ornately scalloped necklace and matching bracelet and dangle earrings encrusted with large stones sparkled in the late afternoon sun. “Bingo.”

Relief surged through her as she lifted her face to the sky and gave thanks for her find. This might salvage Will’s reputation and stop the lawsuit against him. Abruptly, her spirits plummeted. This discovery was irrefutable proof of her brother’s guilt. Shame washed through her, and she bowed her head. How could Kyle sink this low?

Sobered, she carried his stash back to the house and set it on the kitchen counter. Washing her dirt-covered hands a second time, she considered what to do next. Call Will? No, the police. I’ve got to handle this right.

The phone rang again as she dried her hands. Seeing it was Kyle, she caught her breath and debated answering. She let it ring several times before she picked it up.

After the recorded prison greeting, Kyle spoke. “Gina? Hey, I’m sorry I upset you today. I laid too much on you too soon.”

He was all charm and schmooze. She gritted her teeth.

“I should have played it cooler, but you blew me away with your nanny stunt.”

“We all have our little secrets.”

“Yeah.” He laughed nervously. “Don’t give up on me, Sis. I need you.”

Her grip tightened on the receiver. “You need me to plant the diamonds in Will’s house?”

“Hush,” he hissed. “This call could be monitored.”

“Don’t worry, Kyle. I’m taking care of it.”

“You mean, you’ll do it?” His hopeful tone pricked her soul, reminding her of the needy brother she’d lost.

“It means I’ve been digging in my garden. Guess what I found under the poppies.”

“Son of a gun,” he muttered. “So the plan is a go.”

“Not exactly.” Her hand tightened on the receiver. “When we’re done talking, I’m calling the police.”

“NO! You can’t do that.”

“Actually, I can.” Her voice remained steady, but she was trembling inside.

“Don’t do this, Sis. You’ll be sorry.”

“I don’t think so. This will let me sleep at night.”

“Not if Mr. Wonderful goes down just like me.”

She stilled at the sudden menace in his voice. “Will’s not going down.”

Kyle laughed. “He will if you turn the diamonds over to the police. Because then I’ll have to confess my good buddy Will planned everything.”

She gasped at his ridiculous claim.

“Will was the mastermind; I was the flunky,” he went on. “Who knows—he might get a sentence even longer than mine.”

“No one will believe you.”

“I’ve got nothing to lose. You’re going to do what I say and plant the stuff in Will’s house. If you don’t, I’ll roll on him with the belated confession.”

“He knows who I am, Kyle. He fired me yesterday.”

“Then get back to him pronto and apologize. Hop into his bed, if that’s what it takes. Anything to get back inside his house.” He paused. “My way, you can save one of us. Your way, we all lose.”

Hit by a fresh wave of despair, she closed her eyes. She’d thought she couldn’t feel any worse. She’d been wrong.

“Listen to me, Gina. You do as I say, or else—”

She hung up on his threat and leaned her forehead against the wall.

…

Gina phoned Will the following afternoon. Waiting for him to answer, she stared out her kitchen. Small brown wrens were swarming her bird feeder.

Will’s hello was brusque, and as soon as she spoke, he cut her off. “Gina? Don’t call here anymore.”

“I only wanted to—”

“Apologize? Save your breath. Ian and Harry will have a hard-enough time forgetting you. Let them be.”

Stung by his reproach, she winced. But she deserved it. “I won’t call again. I just wanted you to know I found the diamonds.”

She heard an incredulous yelp. “You what?”

“They were buried in my garden under the poppies.” A pause followed, and she could almost see him rubbing his brow.

“How the hell did they get under the poppies?”

“Kyle lived in my house the year I went to Canada.”

“So you never thought to look for the jewelry there until now?”

“No.”

“Because you thought I had it.”

She sighed. “Yes…at first.”

“So, where are the diamonds now?”

“The police came by for them this morning.”

“I see.”

This wasn’t the fence-mending conversation she’d hoped for. “The Vandenburgs should have their diamonds back soon, and maybe they’ll call off the lawsuit.”

“Maybe.” His tone was grudging, but he hadn’t hung up on her. Yet.

Emboldened, she asked, “How are the boys?”

“They missed you today.”

“Did you stay home with them?”

“No, they went to daycare.”

“How did that go?”

“They had to take naps. They weren’t happy.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“I told them you were sick and might be gone for a few days. I was hoping to line up some potential nannies and let the boys help me choose.”

“Good idea. For what it’s worth, you really have become a wonderful father. Your boys are very lucky.”

“They don’t feel lucky. They’ve been asking all day when you’ll be back.”

Guilt engulfed her like a shroud. She’d made the boys unhappy. “I’d like to see them one last time to say goodbye.”

“Bad idea.”

Despite his firm resistance, she tried to stay calm. “You want me out of your life. I get that. But that might not be the best thing for Harry and Ian.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“I’m thinking of what happened with their mother. They never told her goodbye, and that became a problem.”

“You’re not their mother.”

“No, but I’m someone they care about. They need closure.” And so do I.

“It’s not going to happen, Gina. I can’t take chances with my sons.”

His anger was a wall, shutting her out. Hurt, she closed her eyes.

“Make this a clean break and leave us alone. The boys will get over you.” He paused before adding softly, “So will I. Goodbye, Gina.”

“Will?” But he was gone.

She sank into a chair as hope drained out of her. Finding the missing jewels hadn’t changed anything between them. She was just another woman like his ex who’d betrayed his trust.

…

Sitting on the back porch the following Saturday morning, Will broke the news about Gina to his sons.

Harry scowled. “Why does she have to go? She said she liked us.”

“She does like you,” Will assured him. “But her brother is sick, and she has to take care of him.” Will had chosen a family emergency as the reason she had to leave. Much preferable to the painful truth—she cared more about her brother than them.

“Is she coming back?”

He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Her brother needs a lot of help.”

“Why can’t he come here?” Ian asked.

“He lives far away,”

“Are you mad at Gina?” Harry asked.

“No, of course not.” He regarded Harry with surprise.

“You look mad.”

“I’m just sorry she’s leaving. I know how much you like her.”

“Can we go see her?” Ian asked.

“She’ll be far away.” Gina actually lived twenty minutes from their house. He hoped they wouldn’t run into her someday.

Ian touched his arm. “Who will take care of us?”

“I will, until we find another nanny.”

“We aren’t going to like her,” Harry warned.

“We’ll be bad.” Ian frowned fiercely.

Will put an arm around each of them and drew them onto his lap. “I know this is hard for you guys, but let’s make a deal. I won’t hire anybody you don’t like. We’ll find someone nice.”

Both boys remained stubbornly silent.

“You’ve got to help me with this,” he continued. “We need someone to be with you while I go to work. Otherwise, we won’t have money for food, or to keep our nice house. Do you understand?”

“I guess,” Harry said grudgingly.

“Ian?” Will prompted.

Ian’s lower lip had protruded since their conversation began.

“Ian?” He persisted.

“Ooo-kay.”

“Thanks, guys.” Will hugged them both, humbled by the trust they placed in him. They listened now when he talked and accepted his explanations. A short time ago, that wouldn’t have happened. He had Gina to thank for this amazing transformation, and he’d given serious thought to her comments about closure.

Letting her come say goodbye to Ian and Harry had seemed unthinkable when she’d mentioned it on the phone. He’d been angry and determined to shield his sons from further hurt. But Gina been right about so many things with the boys, he’d decided she was probably right this time, too. So he’d texted her: The boys want to see you one last time. No drama, no tears. Please come. She’d responded immediately.

Praying he wasn’t making a mistake, he tousled Ian’s hair. “I have some good news. Gina is coming to tell us goodbye.”

“She’s coming here?”

“We get to see her?” They were off Will’s lap in an instant, wriggling with anticipation.

“Yes, she’ll be here soon. You might want to draw her a picture to take with her as a reminder.”

Watching them dash into the house, he prayed Gina’s visit would bring the healing his boys so badly needed. I might even stop thinking about her every day. He missed hearing her talks with Harry and Ian, and how welcome she’d made him feel each night when he came home.

Vibrant images from the night they’d made love were forged into his brain. He’d known for the first time how good love could feel. Foolishly, he’d envisioned a long future together, possibly with more children. Until she’d cruelly reminded him how much betrayal hurt.

The doorbell rang, and he tensed. Walking through the house, he vowed to keep his feelings in check. Gina had promised to do the same. For the boys’ sakes, there must be no tears or sadness.

He opened the front door and met the scared-puppy look in her eyes. Did she think he planned to scold her or make a scene? The thought rankled.

“Hello,” she said. “Thanks for doing this.”

He nodded. “Come in.”

She brushed past him carrying a flat of vibrant purple-and-yellow plants. “I brought pansies for the backyard.” She studied them intently, as though reluctant to meet his gaze. “The boys love picking flowers, and these will grow lots of new blooms.”

She knelt to place the box on the floor. Will watched with the painful awareness he was seeing her for the last time. She wore snug jeans that revealed her shapely legs and a pink flowered T-shirt that clung to her breasts. She looked hot, and he fought a traitorous urge to move closer.

Facing him finally, she squared her shoulders. “I want to tell you again how sorry I—”

“Why did you make love with me?” His words spilled out, bitter and harsh.

Her eyes widened in alarm. “I tried to tell you who I was. But you said you wanted a time just for us, and…I wanted it, too. More than you will ever know.” Her mouth tightened. “I know it was wrong.”

“No man likes being played for a fool.”

She laid a tentative hand on his arm. “The only fool was me. Lying to you was the worst mistake I’ve ever made.”

He wanted to believe her. She was one of a kind—funny and smart and achingly lovely. Thanks to her, his sons called him Dad. He stood motionless and stiff, fighting the strong urge to take this beautiful woman into his arms and kiss her soft, lying lips.

Hands clenched, he stepped back and moved to the foot of the stairs. “Harry, Ian, come down. Gina’s here.”

Thumping sounds came from the bedroom overhead, and seconds later both boys ran down the stairs, each of them carrying a plastic sack.

Gina grinned and knelt to put an arm around each of them. “Hi, guys. I’m going to miss you terribly, but I brought you some flowers. I know you’ll take good care of them.”

She showed them the plants and talked about their care. Will watched her with the boys, relieved by her cheerful, matter-of-fact manner. Tears and melodrama were the last things Ian and Harry needed. She was keeping her promise.

Things went well until the boys opened their sacks and presented her with gifts. He watched in astonishment as Harry gave her his new compass.

“It shows you where north is,” he explained. “And you can wear it around your neck.” He held it up by its lanyard.

Not to be outdone, Ian handed Gina his Green Dragon kite, the one he loved flying when they went to the beach. Will was touched by his sons’ generosity, knowing how much each item meant to them. Gina was dearly loved.

When she stood and their eyes met, he knew she shared his awareness. His chest tightened, and his vision blurred. He had never felt this connection with a woman before, and the need to let her go was a knife thrust to his heart.

Gina’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Thank you, boys,” she said. “I’ll take very good care of these things.”

Her voice wavered, and he feared she was going to lose it.

“Are you okay?” Harry asked.

“No.” She pulled a tissue from her purse. “I’ve got something in my eye.”

She dabbed her face with the tissue, then smiled and bid them a brisk goodbye. Hugs for the boys, a handshake for Will. She stepped back to survey them one last time, and for a moment she seemed to have something in her eye again. Then with a cheery wave she was out the door.

Will watched her from the porch, Ian and Harry clinging to his legs. He felt empty inside, like a chunk of his soul had been ripped out.

“I want her back,” Harry said mournfully.

“Me, too,” Ian echoed.

Me, three. Gina’s visit had brought no closure for any of them, only regrets. He loved her, God help him, but he could never take her back. She’d cut him so deep he might never heal.