28
Reese felt like a persona non grata as he parked his truck as close to the apartment over the garage as possible and got out. He’d received conflicting directions from Walker. His brother didn’t want him to upset Marlow or Eileen by making his presence known, and yet he expected Reese to check that they had what they might need if the coming storm turned into a hurricane. He didn’t know how he was going to do one and not the other. But he planned to pack up before he tried, so that he could make a quick exit if emotions ran too high.
He was taking the last load to his truck when he ran into Marlow. She was walking from the main house just as he was starting down the stairs outside his door with a big black garbage bag filled with shoes. He saw her first, but then she looked up and stopped dead in her tracks.
He froze at that point, too, and squinted against the sun while trying to read her expression. Was it hostile? Did it upset her to see him? They’d had fun at the bonfires, the meals they’d shared and the tennis matches. As far as he knew, they were friends. But now that they were half siblings, he wondered how that would change the way she treated him.
He was the first to start moving again. He finished going down the stairs and piled the garbage bag on top of all the other stuff he’d tossed into the back of his truck before crossing over to her.
She didn’t back away from him, and she didn’t tell him to get lost. But he had the impression she wasn’t happy to see him.
“Hey,” he said, coming to a stop several feet away.
“Hey.” Although her response was muted, it didn’t seem entirely unfriendly.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and used his foot to shoo away a mosquito that was hovering over the grass. “I’m sorry about what’s happened. I know...I know it must’ve come as a shock. It came as a shock to me, too. And to Walker. We had no idea.”
“It definitely came as a surprise.” One that was, no doubt, more unwelcome to Marlow than it was to him, which was partly what made everything so awkward now.
“I don’t know if you want to hear this, but my mother said it wasn’t something that went on for years. She told Walker and me that things got out of hand for a few weeks, that she and Tiller both regretted what they’d done almost immediately and backed off. But by then it was too late. She was pregnant.”
When Marlow blanched at his words, he knew how much it hurt her that her father had cheated on her mother—especially with his mother, because it made the betrayal even worse. But he thought knowing the circumstances might bring her some peace. It had to be far more painful to imagine they’d been living a secret life, cheating for years.
“How do you know what she says is true?” she asked skeptically.
Once a liar, always a liar. He understood what she meant but could only shrug. He had no way of being able to tell for sure. “I don’t,” he admitted. “I know you probably hate her now and might not want to hear this, either, but she seems really remorseful. I get the impression she’s telling the truth.”
“Okay.”
He glanced toward the house. “How’s your mom?”
“Not taking it well.”
“I’m sorry. I feel...terrible.” For them. For his mother. For Walker. For everyone except himself. The more he thought about being able to kick his difficult relationship with Rudy aside, the happier he became. It was almost as though the truth had set him free and he could now soar higher than ever before. Not being told earlier was still an issue for him. His mother had let him struggle through so many complicated feelings concerning Rudy. But it was hard to feel too bad about that when his future had grown infinitely brighter.
“So do I,” she said.
Fortunately, she didn’t point out that he had to be feeling pretty good about his own situation. He had far more pleasant memories of Tiller than Rudy. Although Tiller had been a busy man, he’d always been happy to see Reese and had taken great pride in his tennis ability. That made more sense now.
He reached up to scratch his neck. “Walker’s worried about you.”
Tears immediately began to fill her eyes, but she blinked them away. “It’s going to take some time to get used to this.”
“I understand. We both do. He...he wanted me to tell you about the storm that’s coming.”
She shoved a hand through her hair. “What storm?”
“It’s a big one. They’re not calling it a hurricane yet. But it could turn into one.”
“How long do we have?”
“They’re estimating two days.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course a storm would hit right now. That’s just what we need.”
“Hopefully, it’ll miss the island entirely. But in case it doesn’t, Walker asked me to make sure you have enough food and water. If you don’t, I could help you get anything you need.”
“That’s okay. We’ll be fine.” She gestured to his truck. “Do you have somewhere else to stay?”
He looked over his shoulder at the mound of bags peeking above the roof and sides of his vehicle. “Walker’s.”
“Is that where your mother is?”
“Yeah. It’s a family affair,” he joked, but felt embarrassed when she didn’t laugh and he realized how inappropriate the comment was.
“I’m sorry you had to move out.”
“No problem. It’s understandable, considering the situation.” He pulled his keys from his pocket, removed the key to the apartment and handed it to her. “Okay, well, I’d better go before your mother sees me. I don’t want to upset her. I just came to pick up my stuff.”
“Thanks for being sensitive to the situation.”
He paused before he turned to go, searching her face for...he didn’t know what. It wasn’t every day he learned he had another sibling. He supposed he was hoping for some hint that she might still welcome a relationship with him in spite of everything. He was also searching for any kind of resemblance between them. Did they look alike in any way? Should they have figured this out sooner? “Would you like your father’s ring back?” he asked. “After what’s happened, maybe you’d rather have it.”
He hoped she’d say no. It now held more meaning for him, so he was grateful when she said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that question at the moment. I’m shocked, and I’m exhausted, and I’m disgusted, and I’m...hurt,” she finished. “Can we talk about it another time?”
“Of course. I’ll get out of your way.” He lifted his hand in an awkward wave before turning to his truck.
“Reese?”
He pivoted to face her.
“If I have to have a surprise brother, I’m glad it’s someone I already care about.”
He suddenly felt a whole lot better. “Thanks,” he said. “I needed to hear that.”
When Marlow walked into the guesthouse, she found Aida and Claire pacing in the living room, casting worried glances at each other.
“What is it?” she asked. After a long day with her mother, she was finally starting to feel better, and Reese was the reason. As hard as it had been to say what she’d said to him a moment ago, she was glad she’d done it. The relief in his eyes and the cute smile he’d given her had melted her heart.
For the first time since she’d met with Sam, she understood on an emotional level—and not just a cognitive one—that Reese wasn’t to blame for any part of what she and her mother were going through. She was still thinking about what he’d said to her, too. That Walker was worried about her had cheered her up when she’d thought nothing could. It’d only been a couple of days since she’d seen him, but she suddenly craved his arms around her in spite of everything.
Or maybe because of it.
“We have a problem,” Aida said.
“What kind of problem?” Marlow didn’t think she could face anything else. Not now. She was eager to have a few minutes to herself so she could text Walker. She wanted to see him tonight, to get his perspective on what they’d learned. Reese had told her how shocked Walker was. He also had to be wondering if what they had was over before it really got started. When she’d left Sam’s office, she’d thought for sure that was the case. She couldn’t imagine letting him touch her again.
But she was beginning to think that her father’s terrible secret could only ruin her happiness if she let it. Walker wasn’t to blame for what his mother had done twenty-three years ago any more than Reese was. It was just a deep, dark family secret that had suddenly come to light and turned their world upside down.
Maybe there was some way to minimize the damage.
“It’s my fault,” Claire murmured.
“But she didn’t mean for this to happen,” Aida quickly added, surprising Marlow by being protective of Claire despite the tension that had developed between them since they’d arrived on the island.
Marlow eyed them curiously. “What are you talking about?”
“Dutton.” Aida said his name on a downbeat.
“He’s causing trouble again?” Marlow had thought they were finally rid of Aida’s ex. The divorce was behind them. The fighting should be over. But she understood all too well that wasn’t necessarily how things played out in real life.
“He’s threatening to take me back to court to renegotiate my spousal support,” Aida said.
Marlow scowled at her friends. “Why?”
“He’s angry again.”
Disgusted that he wouldn’t give up and leave Aida alone—after all, he was the one who’d lied and cheated for so long—Marlow shook her head. “There’s no way. If he goes that route, he stands to lose more than he stands to gain.”
“He’s emphatic about it,” Claire insisted. “And knowing him, he won’t care if it costs every penny he’s got. He’s the type who’ll cut off his nose to spite his face if he’s angry enough.”
“He’s already spent a couple hundred thousand in legal fees,” Marlow said. “Now he wants to spend more? What’s gotten into him?”
Claire, who’d been biting the cuticles around her fingernails, lowered her hand from her mouth. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to tell you, not now, when you’re going through so much yourself. But...”
“But we don’t have a choice anymore,” Aida filled in. “Because he might not be making idle threats. He could really do something terrible before he leaves.”
Marlow sank onto the couch. “Leaves?”
“He’s on the island,” Aida blurted out.
Marlow jumped up again. “What?”
“I’m so sorry,” Claire said with a wince. “I can’t believe I dragged us into this.”
“What are you talking about?” Marlow asked.
Claire told her what had been going on, how he’d been texting her and calling her and wanting to see her—and that he’d rented a beach house on the island and flown in yesterday despite her many requests that he give her the summer alone.
“So you spent the day with him,” Marlow said when she was finished. “And it wasn’t until after you told Aida the truth that you let Dutton know you wouldn’t be seeing him anymore?” Marlow said, trying to get it all straight.
Claire nodded.
“And then what happened?”
“He exploded!” Aida nudged Claire. “Show her the messages he’s been sending you. Then I’ll show her mine.”
Marlow accepted Claire’s phone. The first thing she noticed was a great many missed calls from Dutton in the space of the past couple of hours.
“I didn’t want to talk to him on the phone,” Claire explained. “He’s so...intense and persuasive. It’s easier for me to work through things when I reply by text, so I didn’t pick up.”
“She was trying to keep him from getting too worked up, but as you’ll see, it’s definitely not working,” Aida chimed in.
Marlow began to read.
Dutton: What do you mean you’re not coming? You said you’d be back tonight. I’m grilling steaks for dinner.
Claire: I’m sorry. But I can’t. I don’t want to be the kind of person who would go back to you and hurt my friend.
Dutton: So this is because of Aida? I told you that she’d turn you against me.
Claire: It’s because of me, Dutton. Not Aida. I don’t think our relationship will work out in the long run, and I don’t want to lose Aida only to realize in a few weeks, months or years that I made a mistake.
Dutton: Don’t do this. You love me and I love you. I flew across the country to be with you, and now you’re not even willing to see me while I’m here?
Claire: I can’t! Don’t you understand? It messes with my head. Besides, I didn’t want to sneak around while you were here, didn’t want to lie to my friends. I tried telling you that in the beginning, when you first said you were coming.
Dutton: So don’t sneak around! Tell them you’re getting back with me and they can go fuck themselves if they’re not happy about it. We should be able to do whatever we want.
Claire: That’s just it! You want what you want no matter who ends up hurt.
Dutton: You’re listening to the wrong people, and you’re going to be sorry you did. Fuck you and your friends!
Claire hadn’t responded to that, so Dutton had texted again a few minutes later: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just upset. Will you come over so we can talk about this?
Again, Claire had given him no response.
Dutton: I’m trying to call you. Will you please pick up?
Claire: I’m done, Dutton. I can’t be part of your life any longer.
Dutton: Claire, calm down. Take a minute to think this through. You don’t mean what you just said.
Claire: I do mean it! Please let me go without all the anger and drama. It’s been such a hard year, and you’re part of the reason.
Dutton: Part of the reason? Who provided a place for you to live when your house burned down? Who helped deal with the insurance company and the contractors when it came to the rebuild? You have thanked me so many times for stepping up to help. Now I’ve made your year harder?
Claire: Everything we had was a lie, Dutton! You told me you loved me while you were going home telling Aida the same thing. And I thought you were meeting with various doctors across several states to sell them pharmaceuticals when you were gone! How can I ever trust you after that?
Dutton: Aida’s no longer part of the picture. You’re blowing up our relationship for no reason!
Claire: I don’t want to fight anymore. Why don’t we just let it go?
Dutton: You did this on purpose.
Claire: I did WHAT on purpose?
Dutton: Got me out here to break things off. This is revenge, pure and simple.
Claire: We’re not even together, so how can I break up with you? And I didn’t do this on purpose. I tried to talk you out of coming here, remember?
Dutton: You’re going to be sorry about this. You and your stupid friends.
Claire: What’s that supposed to mean?
Dutton: It’s time you and the bitches you call friends get what you deserve.
Marlow caught her breath when she read that. “There’s something wrong with him,” she said, more convinced than ever.
“He thinks he should have whatever he wants,” Aida supplied. “He doesn’t understand the word no.”
So what should they do? Marlow wondered. Was this all talk? Or did they have something to worry about?
“You don’t think he’ll actually do anything, do you?” Claire asked uncertainly.
Marlow had no idea. Seaclusion was so well-known on the island it would be easy enough to find. He was close, so he could certainly try to do something. And there was no guarantee they’d see it coming. Even if they did, she wasn’t sure they’d be able to stop it. They didn’t even have Reese on the property anymore, He’d just moved out, although Aida and Claire didn’t know that yet. “I want to say no,” she said, measuring the possibility in her mind as she spoke. “But I don’t want to dismiss it out of hand. The news is full of angry spouses and exes who do terrible things.”
Aida took Claire’s phone and held hers out instead. “Now look at what he sent me.”
Marlow didn’t want to read any more. She knew that whatever he’d sent Aida would be worse. After all, he wasn’t trying to win Aida back.
Dutton: You need to stay out of my life, or you’ll live to regret it.
Aida: I’m not in your life. We’re divorced.
Dutton: Then stop saying shit to Claire, trying to mess things up for us.
Aida: Anyone who gets with you is making a mistake. I have the right to warn my friend.
Dutton: If you think you’re clever and this is going to turn out in your favor, you’re wrong. I’ll take you back to court, and this time I’ll win. You’ll be left without a penny.
Aida: Why can’t you just respect what she’s telling you? Go home and leave her alone. That’s all she wants.
Dutton: That’s what YOU want.
Aida: I had nothing to do with it. She made the decision on her own.
Dutton: Sure, she did. It’s easy to guess what you and Marlow have been telling her about me. This isn’t going to end the way you want it to, though.
Aida: If you don’t stop threatening me, I’m going to call the police.
Dutton: Call them. There’s nothing they can do. 
The smile was the most chilling part of what Dutton had sent. Marlow remembered all the things he’d done to harass her in LA. He’d followed her around town. He’d shown up at the Starbucks where she got her morning coffee for several days in a row—was always there waiting to hold the door when she came out. He’d told her neighbors she was harassing him. He’d posted memes about attorneys on social media, like “A good attorney knows the law; a great attorney knows the judge,” trying to imply that she was somehow cheating the system. It was behavior that was well beneath someone who was so educated and successful, especially a doctor. But smarter and more successful people than Dutton had broken the law.
“What do you think?” Aida asked.
Marlow sighed. “I think you should both turn off your phones. Don’t give him the pleasure of having an audience with you.”
“I’m afraid if he can’t vent his fury, he’ll only get more dangerous,” Aida said ominously. “He’s like that—he needs a target.”
“He’s not scheduled to leave the island for almost a week,” Claire pointed out. “He just got here.”
That meant he’d be floating around for several days, and he’d have a lot of time on his hands. To Marlow, that was a recipe for disaster. “There’s a big storm coming in,” she said. “Maybe he’ll try to get off the island before it hits now that he knows there’s no reason to stay.”
“How big a storm?” Aida asked in alarm.
“It’s not a hurricane,” she said. “And it could easily change course or blow itself out before landfall.”
It could also get a lot worse. But she didn’t say so.
They had enough to worry about.