CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
To: Beautification Committee
From: Bruce Oakleigh
Subject: Banquet
Hello, fellow B.C. members,
Bruce Oakleigh, president, here. As you are aware, one of our founding members, Hazel Cardona, has returned to town. Some of you have expressed an interest in hosting a Beautification Committee Past and Present banquet. I feel such an occasion would call for an exciting interactive presentation on every match in our history.
Personally, I feel that if we are to do justice to all of our happy matches, we should spend a minimum of five minutes on each couple. Who in our little group is adept at PowerPoint and available to conduct interviews by say next Tuesday?
Yours in matching success,
Bruce Oakleigh
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Eva kissed Donovan good-bye after a naked breakfast of cold cereal while the world was still dark. It was barely five a.m., but he wanted to sneak home before his parents got up, and she had plotting to do. She’d slept without dreams, which was unusual for her. Even in sleep, her imagination usually worked in overdrive.
But in the cold dark of morning, her mind was clear. Today was the day she was getting rid of Agnes for good. She channeled her nervous energy into two hours of writing, and by the time the sun came up, she was stalling out. She got up to pace, mindful of the coffee table this time. The picture on the mantel caught her eye.
It was her graduation day. She and her father were grinning like fools at Emma who was behind the camera. Gia stood next to her, wielding the dozen roses they’d chipped in to buy her. She remembered that day vividly. Eva had always wanted them to be proud of her like she was of them. And that was the first time she’d felt like she’d really caught a glimpse of that pride.
She traced a finger over the frame. She’d do anything for her family. Eva guessed that made them her Achilles’ heel.
Her lips curved in a slow, fierce smile as an idea formed. It was more satisfying than figuring out the perfect plot twist. She was clearing the path to her own happily ever after.
Eva dressed quickly and applied make-up as if it were war paint. Satisfied, she gave her reflection a final nod and then marched out the door.
“You’re leaving today, mother. And you’re never coming back,” she rehearsed in the car. “No. Too personal. You’re leaving today, Agnes. Yeah. A little disinterested like she’s an annoying gnat.”
The B&B was just minutes from Donovan’s house, she noted, turning down the tree-lined drive. At the Y in the road, she followed the signs left toward the Blue Moon B&B. The right appeared to lead to the neighboring winery and the mysterious Davis Gates that the Beautification Committee was so enthusiastic about.
Interesting.
Eva’s Mini cruised up the paved path, and she brought it to a stop to gawk at the oddball splendor. The structure rose three-stories and sprawled over half the manicured lawn. Turrets, adorned with jewel-toned shingles squatted on the peaked roof. The porch, a wide avenue of stained wood, wrapped around both sides of the house. Stained glass, ivy, and a comical crescent moon weather vane were the icing on the sugary sweet cake.
She refused to be distracted by the whimsy of the place. Nope. Not even the fluffy dogs romping in the side yard were going to dull her temper. Her mother was inside this hippie fantasy, and one of them was leaving today and never coming back.
Eva strode onto the porch and pushed open the front door. A fairy bell tinkled above her head.
A door on the far side of the front desk swung open. “Oh, hey, Eva!” Eden’s bright greeting came from behind a mound of steaming biscuits. She wore a ruby red apron over slim black pants and a white button down. What kind of woman baked in a white shirt? Eva wondered.
Eva’s stomach growled, distracted by the heavenly scent of fresh baked carbs. She’d burned off the cereal hours ago thanks to her writing sprint and furious plotting.
“Hi, Eden. Is Agnes around?” she asked, staring at the platter of cloud-like biscuits.
“Sure. Follow me. She’s in the dining room. You can join us for breakfast.”
Eva, a sneaky observer of human behavior, detected the slight edge in Eden’s tone. Agnes had that effect on people.
“Okay. Sure,” Eva decided. She’d have to postpone the smack down until she could get Agnes somewhere more private. But at least she could eat one of those gorgeous biscuits.
She found Agnes sneering at The Weekly Monthly Moon at the far end of the dining table. She was dressed in a ratty off-the-shoulder sweater. Her denim-clad leg was jiggling, fingers were tapping a distracting beat on the hardwood. The rest of the guests seemed to pick up on the unfriendly vibe and hovered around the opposite end of the massive table.
Eva flashed an apologetic smile at them and took the chair next to her mother.
“About damn time,” Agnes rasped without looking at her. “You bring my money?”
“Why don’t we talk about this somewhere more private?” Eva suggested.
“What? You don’t want an audience,” Agnes sneered in the direction of the guests at the other end of the table. They studiously avoided eye contact, and Eden cheerfully distracted them by launching into the day’s weather report.
Eva rolled her eyes at Agnes and rose. “You know what? I don’t have time for this today. Or ever.” She grabbed a biscuit off the platter, hefted it in her palm. “I’m going to go talk to Eden about settling your bill, and then you can hit the road.” She headed for the door.
Damn if it didn’t feel good to be the one walking away for once. She took a victorious bite of the biscuit. It was hot and flaky on her tongue.
She made it as far as the front desk.
“That’s quite a mansion Emmaline got for herself,” she said casually. “Looks like she’s done well for herself,” Agnes said casually from behind her.
Eva said nothing. Usually, a vague threat like that would have her jumping for her checkbook. But not this time.
Agnes’s eyes narrowed. “I’m thinking about hanging around here. There’s this little yoga place in town. Maybe I should drop in?” Agnes let the comment hang there.
Eva casually took a bite of biscuit. “So, you’re into yoga now? Better than prescription drugs, I guess.”
The woman that gave her life scowled at Eva. “I saw that fancy husband of Gianna’s walking the kids to school. Maybe they’d like a visit from Grandma?” Her smile was mirthless. “They look like they got money.”
Eva laughed, a short sharp bark.
The woman didn’t even know the names of her grandchildren. Had no idea how many she had. To Eva’s way of thinking, it was a good thing. Those kids didn’t need to be tainted by this woman ever calling their name on the street, laying any sort of claim on them.
“Oh really?” she asked coolly. “What exactly are you going to do? Demand their lunch money? Because I don’t think Gianna raised any pushovers.”
Agnes gave a sullen shrug. “I’m family. Families take care of each other.”
Eva saw it clearly for the first time, in the moment. Agnes knew what her buttons were. Family. Responsibility. Guilt. Well, her mother wasn’t the only one who could push.
“You know, Mom. I couldn’t agree more,” Eva smiled sweetly, even though the word stuck in her throat. “That’s why instead of enabling you with another ten grand, I decided to do something even better.”
“Where’s my money?” Agnes demanded.
“Oh, you’ll get it. But this time you’re going to earn it.” Eva smiled sweetly, almost enjoying herself. Growing a pair felt pretty damn amazing after a lifetime of guilt-ridden people pleasing.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Agnes spat out the words.
“Well, family takes care of each other. So when I told Grandma and Grandpa that you were in trouble and needed help, well they drove straight down from Connecticut. We’ve lined up a sixty-day stay in rehab for you. Once you complete that and pass a weekly drug test for six months in a halfway house, then we’ll put you up in an apartment here in town. Maybe you can work part-time at Dad’s restaurant or with Emma? You’ll be surrounded by family, clean and sober, and enjoying your grandchildren.”
“I want my money!”
“You’ll get it as an investment in your healthy future,” Eva chirped. “We’ll cover rehab and your costs in the half-way house afterward. We’ll even help with the security deposit for your apartment. You’ll finally be part of the family again, a productive member of society.”
Agnes reached out, quick as a flash, gripping Eva’s wrist. “Just give me the money, and I’m gone. I won’t come back. Out of your life forever.”
“Oh, but Mom. We’re family,” Eva replied. “We’re going to get you the help you need. So, let’s get in my car, and we’ll drive to Dad and Phoebe’s. She’s really looking forward to meeting you by the way. Grandma and Grandpa are waiting. Let’s go.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you! I want my money!” Agnes howled. Her nails dug into Eva’s wrist.
Eva used the woman’s grip on her to start dragging her toward the door. “Now, I know a life of sobriety sounds pretty scary,” she said conversationally. “But I think you’ll find in the end it’s so rewarding.”
Agnes released her grip and took a step backward. “I want my money, and you’re going to regret it if you don’t give it to me.”
Eva plowed on as if she hadn’t heard her and opened the front door. “Naturally with your parents in town, I had to tell everyone about our ‘relationship’ for the past few years. And Grandpa thinks it’s only fair that you pay me back for all the loans I gave you. We can work that out later. But, just a head’s up, Emma and Gia have a lot of questions for you. Like a lot. So it’s probably best if we head over there now.”
Agnes’s crepey skin flushed an angry pink. “You’re going to regret this, Evangelina.”
“Oh, not as much as you,” Eva promised. “But life is full of regrets, isn’t it? I think I’m done regretting things.”
“Is everything okay?” Eden asked. She was standing in front of the now closed door to the dining room.
Eva winced. She hadn’t meant to have her showdown so publicly in Eden’s place of business. “Everything’s great,” Eva said, trying to telegraph an apology to Eden. “My friend Agnes here is checking out today.”
“We’re sorry to see you go, Agnes,” Eden said without a hint of sincerity.
“Now, go pack your things. Everyone is going to be so excited to see you,” Eva promised.
“You’re going to be sorry,” Agnes said, pointing a jagged fingernail in Eva’s direction as she backed away from her. She turned and stormed toward the stairs.
“What. Was. That?” Eden asked, her eyes wide.
“I’m so sorry,” Eva whispered. “I can’t explain it yet, or possibly ever, but I’m so, so sorry for putting you in the middle of this.”
“Hey, everyone’s got shit, right?” Eden shrugged. “I’m not saying I won’t be throwing an internal party when that woman leaves. But I’m also not going to charge you the $500 penalty for her smoking in a non-smoking room.”
Eva winced. “I owe you so big for all of this.”
“Yeah, pretty much,” Eden agreed, leading the way to the desk. “I’m just glad I didn’t have to call the cops on the two of you or hose you down.”
Eva was glad too. Especially about the cop part. “Thank you for your restraint.”
“Well, I figured if you wanted the cops to be involved, there would be a very tall, very broad-chested sheriff already with you. Plus, your makeup is seriously flawless today. Hosing you down would have been a travesty.”
Eva laughed. “Thank you on the makeup. The rest of it is this planetary crossing. Everyone is insane,” Eva explained.
Eden printed out the room invoice, and Eva gaped at it. “Christ. This woman ate like a high school football team. Corn nuggets?”
“Yeah, I had to barter with Shorty’s to get them for her. She was very insistent. Traded him for my Belgian waffle recipe for an emergency delivery.”
“I think I owe you at the very least a really nice purse. This definitely feels like a purse-level apology,” Eva mused.
“How ‘really nice’?” Eden asked, swiping Eva’s credit card.
“I think we’re looking at a Michael Kors level.”
“I knew we’d be friends,” Eden laughed.
They both turned toward the front windows at the sound of tires screeching.
“There she goes,” Eden observed as a rusted out blue coupe careened around the first turn of the winding drive.
Eva grinned as she watched the little car disappear. She felt lighter than she had in years. She’d done it. Vanquished the enemy. Now the only thing to do was to come clean to Donovan. And if she could scare her mother out of her life, then she could be brave enough to give Donovan a real shot.
Eva scrawled her signature across the receipt. “We should go out for drinks to celebrate that thing that I can’t tell you about.”
“We definitely should. I’ve had a stressful day. A hard-to-please guest left under mysterious circumstances.”
Eva glanced around at the lobby’s soaring ceiling and thick molding. The staircase was a spectacular combination of ornately carved wood and plush carpet. “Can I have a tour while I’m here?”
“You going to write about an innkeeper?” Eden asked.
“Depends. How sexy is your life?”
“Well, I don’t bake biscuits naked. If that’s what you’re asking.”
Eva grinned. “I don’t know. You look like you’ve got some smolder in you.”
“The smolder died a long time ago,” Eden quipped. “It’s mostly smoke and cobwebs at this point.
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Eva was examining an oversized clawfoot bathtub in the third story of a fanciful turret listening to Eden describe the hand-painted wallpaper in the bathroom when her phone rang.
“Aunt Eva?”
“Yeah, Evan. What’s up?”
“There’s someone in your house.”
Eva’s stomach dropped. She held the phone in a white knuckled grip. “What do you mean ‘someone’?”
“There’s some weird lady. Frizzy hair. I heard glass break, and she went inside, and I don’t think she used a key. Roar’s at a sleepover and Mom and Beckett are out with Lydia and I—”
“Evan lock your doors. Right now.”
“Okay.” She heard the snick of a lock and Diesel’s big dog bark.
“All of them, okay, bud? I’m on my way.” She’d pushed too hard. She thought she finally had the situation under control, and she’d only made it worse. And now Agnes was striking back.
“Should I call the sheriff?”
Damn it all to hell.
“I’m calling him right now, and then I’m going to call you back. Don’t open the door for anyone, okay? And keep Diesel with you.”
“Geez. Okay. Okay. Is she crazy?”
“She’s not nice,” Eva said quickly. “And I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
With a rushed promise that she’d call him right back, Eva hung up and dialed Donovan.
“I need your help,” she said, choking on a sob. “Someone broke into my house, and Evan’s at home alone.”
“Eva—” he began.
But there was no time for explanations. Not with Agnes just steps from Evan. “Just please, Donovan, get there fast. I’m on my way now.”
“Eva, stay where you are—”
But she was already hanging up on his order as she pushed the accelerator down. She dialed Beckett and Gia’s house, but the line was busy. She alternated calling the house phone and Evan’s cell. The minutes dragged on, achingly slow. Even as she whipped the wheel around One Love Park, Eva felt as if everything was in slow motion. She couldn’t get there fast enough. She’d pay for this. That’s what Agnes told her.
Eva beat Donovan’s police cruiser into the driveway by half a second. She jumped out and sprinted for the back door of the house. “Evan!”
Donovan caught her around the waist, lifting her feet off the ground and spinning her around. “Stop.” He gave the order with a steely calm that had the fight leaving her.
He put her back on her feet, one strong arm still holding her around the waist.
“Trust me, Eva.” He started for the backyard, hand on his gun.
“I’m coming with you,” she announced, shadowing his long-legged gait.
He swore quietly. “Stay behind me.”
She heard more car doors slam in the driveway, felt her heart clutch when she saw the broken glass on her front porch, the door now ajar.
“Oh, hey guys.” Evan appeared on the back porch a cereal bowl and phone in hand. Diesel, fur still bristled, pranced down the porch steps to sniff Donovan’s pant leg and roll over on his back.
“Where is she?” Eva asked.
Evan shrugged. “She left about two minutes ago. Carrying a buncha stuff. She tried to get in the back door, but it was locked, and Diesel jumped at the window and scared the heck out of her.” He took a bite of cereal, milk dribbling down his chin.
“Oh, my God, Evan. I’m so sorry,” Eva said, wrapping him in a hug and spilling milk and cereal all over them both.
“Evan!” Gia and Beckett rushed around the side of the house with Lydia squalling on Beckett’s hip. Gia tossed her phone to the ground and hit them at a dead run knocking them to the porch boards.
“Everything under control?” Deputy Layla jogged around the side of the house.
“Clear the cottage,” Donovan said briskly, nodding in the direction of Eva’s house. He waded into the pile and pulled Evan to his feet.
“You’re going to interview me, right?” Evan asked. “Cause I’m a witness.”
“That’s right.”
“Who would do this?” Gia demanded as Beckett plucked her off the porch before he wrapped Evan in a tight hug.
Donovan stared down at Eva, slowly pulling her to her feet. Guilt had her knees buckling. He held her up, but she could see the hurt, the anger.
“Eva, you’d better tell me right now whether this had anything to do with your hypothetical bullshit last night,” Beckett growled, taking a step toward her.
She opened her mouth but found herself facing Donovan’s back.
“You’re gonna want to calm down, Pierce,” Donovan said, slapping a hand on Beckett’s chest.
“What’s going on?” an out-of-breath Emma demanded as she and Niko ran into the yard.
“Is everyone okay?” Niko asked, scanning the tense faces.
“Eva knows who did this,” Beckett said coldly.
“That may be,” Donovan said evenly. “But taking a swipe at her now isn’t helping me find whoever did this.”
Gia grabbed Beckett’s arm. “I know this was terrifying, but I can’t see how yelling at my sister is helping anything!”
“Eva, start talking,” Beckett demanded.
“Stop yelling!” Gia yelled.
“Back off,” Donovan warned him. There was no hint of the decades-long friendship between them in that order.
“If you all can sideline the pissing contest, the house is clear but wrecked,” Layla announced hopping off the cottage’s front porch and crossing the yard. She took an easy stance next to Donovan. But Eva noticed she kept her hand near her cuffs.
“This is all my fault,” Eva said, scrubbing her hand over her face.
“Eva, what are you talking about?” Emma asked, climbing the steps of the already overcrowded porch. “Do you know why someone would break in?”
Donovan, careful to keep himself between Beckett and Eva, turned to look at her.
“I know why, and I know who,” she admitted, her eyes welling with tears. She willed them away, but there was nothing she could do about the lump in her throat, the ice in her belly.
“Let’s go inside and talk,” Donovan said quietly.