When she got outside, she had a feeling of freedom. For days she’d wanted to go to the little cottage that was on the edge of the property. She didn’t want to just look at it but to sink down into the memories it held. So far, she hadn’t had time to risk an escape for fear someone would find her and ask, “What do you want to do with...?”
Endless questions were an introvert’s nightmare.
So now, maybe a big deal movie star would keep everyone busy for at least an hour. Sara hoped the woman was a drama queen, asking them to fetch and carry for her. That might give Sara two whole hours of peace.
She had to push her way through the tough stems of plants. A couple of iguanas sauntered away. They were about four feet long and glistening colorfully in the bits of sun that came through the tall palms.
When she got to the front door, she had to stop to calm herself. She hadn’t been here since she’d been with Cal. Even though it was long ago, she could still feel all those emotions.
He’d had a key made for her, and he’d hidden it rather cleverly in a metal box he’d made in his father’s car shop. She hoped it was still there. As she bent to retrieve it, she heard a noise and saw a movement. Someone was there!
“Damn, damn, triple damn,” she said under her breath, while thinking that she should go get Lenny or Jack to deal with the trespasser.
“Oh!” said a male voice.
She stood up to see a man, probably forties. He was dark and good-looking.It’s funny how you more easily forgive beautiful people, she thought. She smiled at him.
“I’m sorry I startled you. I shouldn’t be here,” he said. “I just wanted to see the place again. Are you Miss Medlar?”
“Sara,” she said. “Are you Reid?”
“Yes.” He smiled at her. Nice teeth. “I’ll go and leave you alone. You must want to see the place. Cal used to say—” With a hand wave, he took a step back. “I’ll see you later.”
“Wait,” she said. “You knew Cal?”
“Yes, I did. Not well, but he came here to help Roy with the maintenance work. Roy had, uh, well...other things to do, so Cal did the yard work for him.” Reid looked up at the cottage. “Cal said this was a...” He frowned in memory. “What was it he said? Oh right. He said this building was ‘a precious place.’”
Sara nodded in agreement, unable to say anything.
“You probably know that my sister and I stayed in here during the week of the house party.”
“Yes.” His words reminded her that she needed to get back to the business of why they were there. She cocked her head to one side. “Was Derek Oliver blackmailing you too?”
He seemed shocked at her bluntness but he recovered quickly. “Blackmail? Is that what he was doing to them? I guessed it was something nefarious. It certainly wasn’t friendship.” He smiled. “But alas, I had nothing he could have wanted. He hired me to take care of the house and do anything that was needed. To tell the truth, I was quite young and pretty worthless, but Billy told Mr. Oliver that I was part of the tradition of the house so I had to be hired.” He gave a sheepish grin. “Actually, Cal covered for both Roy and me.”
They stood there for a moment, listening to the breeze and the iguanas slowly moving about. “I can go get the key if you’d like to go inside.”
Sara bent, pulled up a slab of slate, removed a key from a metal box, and held it up. “I have one.”
“So that’s how Cal got in.” He took a step back. “I’ll leave you then.” His eyes twinkled. “And I won’t tell anyone where you are.”
That he understood made her smile. Part of her wanted to ask him to stay, but the bigger part wanted to see the cottage by herself. “They’re inside the house. Barbara Adair arrived minutes ago.”
“I’ve seen many of her movies. When I knew her, I never guessed she’d became famous. All she seemed to want was—” He broke off.
“Roy?”
He grinned. “You have been doing your homework. After Mr. Oliver left, she said her life had changed. We all thought she and Roy would stay together, but...” He shrugged. “Sorry, I’m gossiping. It’s going to be interesting to see everyone.” He took another step back. “Not to be nosy, but has Rachel arrived?”
“She has.” Sara looked at him. “Do you mind staying in the guesthouse?”
“I would love that. It gives me privacy.” He waved his hand to indicate the cottage. “I’d like to make up for the work I didn’t do before. I’ll go buy a weed whacker and you can tell me how you want this place landscaped. Or—” he paused “—I could just do it the way Cal did it.”
“Yes,” she said. “The way Cal wanted it done.”
“I’ll see you soon.” He turned away and went through the shrubs toward the house.
Sara watched him go. The key was tight in her hand and when she looked at the door, she changed her mind.Not yet, she thought. She didn’t want to see the inside now—and maybe she didn’t want to do it alone. She’d like Kate to be with her. Sara feared that the memories of what did and what didn’t happen might overwhelm her.Age did that, she thought. Memories of long ago were stronger than what happened in the last years.
