“I thought he retired.”
My tone is rueful and I know it. “We might define that a little differently than he does.”
Luke is openly amused. “So, you’re telling me that being a golden boy had its price.”
“Absolutely.” I know I can’t let it drop there. This is as good a moment for an apology as I’m likely to get. “Though not as high a price as being the black sheep. I’m sorry, you know. I’m sorry that I was ever unfair or unkind to you.”
Luke averts his gaze. “You weren’t so bad, and you were just doing what you were told to do.”
“But still. On some level I knew. I’m sorry, Luke.”
His gaze bores into mine, so much like the reflection that I see in the mirror every day and yet so very different. His voice drops lower. “And I’m sorry that I took Sylvia away from the prom party when she asked me to. I never expected the repercussions to be so huge.”
There’s an understatement, but I don’t comment on that. We’re making a truce, after all.
“Of course not. We were kids. We never thought things through.” That’s not entirely true – I did – but right now, I want this feud over, if that’s even what it is. I’m too tired to argue with people and he’s done a lot to try to make things right by Sylvia. She seems happy with their agreement, whatever it is, so I’m on board, too. I straighten and offer my hand. “What say we try to be adults now?”
Luke grins and rises to his feet, putting his hand in mine without reservation. His grip is firm, as firm asmine. “I’d like that, Mike. I’d like that a lot.” He winces “I wish I could have gotten Patrick to release the land that Augustine Rhodes wants.”
“You and me both, but that won’t happen anytime soon.”
We nod and part, but I hesitate even as the text message comes in from Glen. I turn back to the stage. “Muriel Jackson,” I say and Luke looks puzzled before he obviously places her.
“The English teacher from Central High in Havelock?”
“Retired now. She leads an amateur theatre company. They do a couple of productions a year, usually at the high school in Havelock. Why not here?”
“Whynothere?” Luke echoes with satisfaction and delight. “That’s good, Mike. Thanks.”
My gaze falls on that wooden railing and I suddenly know where I saw it before. “Those missing sections of wood on the balcony.”
“Yeah.” Luke grimaces. “Such a drag. I don’t know how we’ll find anyone to replicate them and fill the gaps, but I don’t want to replace them with something modern.”
“You might not have to do either. I think the missing ones, or at least some of them, are in Jim’s barn.”
“What?”
“Jim Blackwell has a barn full of architectural salvage at his family farm. I was there a while back, helping Candace look for some doors for the entry to Casa Cavendish.”
Luke laughs so hard that workers turn to look. “Casa Cavendish?”
“You don’t want to see what she’s done to that house,” I tell him. “But I know I’ve seen those panels before, and I think it was there. Even if they have to be repaired, it would be cheaper than starting from scratch.” I have another idea. “Jim might even buy those theatre seats from you. Candace was looking fora dozen of them for the new home theatre at the house last year, and he had none. He said they’re a hot commodity.”
Luke looks at me with amazement. “Damn. I should have talked to you sooner.”
“I’m happier with a plan,” I admit.
“You and Daph.”
Maybe that’s the deal with Daphne Bradshaw. Opposites attracting.
I’m heading toward the stairs again when Luke snaps his fingers. “And thanks for not telling Patrick that I got busted at the beginning of the month.”
“Sounded like you had enough going on. The funny thing is I found out later that Dad had already sold the Foreman place.”
Luke chuckles. “To Richard Bradshaw. You’ll love this. He bought it for Daph, so she can start up on her own. I admit that was my original plan, too, but I loved how it came together like it was meant to be.” I see a light in his expression that wasn’t there before. “She is going to do well. She’s so brilliant. I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes.” He gushes for a few minutes about the incomparable Daphne Bradshaw, which is good because it spares me from thinking of the right thing to say.
Moments later, I head out into the sunlight, blinking as if I came out of a cave. Luke isn’t just dating Daphne – he’s infatuated with her.
