“I don’t know, but I can try.”
“It’s a start.”
There was something so irritating about the smug look on Sean’s face. She wanted to slap it off, but she’d never been violent in her life. Her instinct was usually to run. She wasn’t sure where the anger came from, but it gave her confidence.
“Fine. I’ll see what I can do. But if I manage this, I want you to leave Coral Island and never come back.”
He laughed out loud. “I’m going to need more than that. Give me the keys to Mum’s house. I want to look for that jewellery.”
“I can’t give you the keys—someone’s living there. If you break in, the police will nab you for sure. They’re already looking for you over the bookshop fire.”
“I had nothing to do with that,” he spat, eyes flashing.
“If that’s true, I guess you won’t mind them asking you questions.”
“Not a chance. The hicks in this town would frame me for sure.”
By the time she reached the solicitor, who’d been out to lunch the first time she called, Charmaine had chewed through every single one of her fingernails. She sat on the couch, fingers drumming on the fabric, while she thought about her next step.
The solicitor had said it was up to the bank whether they’d allow her to take out another mortgage. The bank told her the loan was already set up to allow withdrawals up to a limit, so she could take what she needed. It was all much easier than she’d thought it would be. And now she had a cashier’s cheque in her purse, ready for her meeting with Sean.
She figured she owed him the money anyway — it was partly his inheritance. He’d left town before collecting, and her mother had given Charmaine power of attorney and the details of her bank accounts. If she paid Sean his portion of the inheritance, partly in a lump sum and then in a monthly stipend to entice him to stay away from her, it might just work.
When she’d asked the solicitor about the jewellery, he’d known nothing about it. The bank had assured her there was no safe deposit box in her mother’s name in their paperwork now or in the past. Charmaine had hoped to discover where they’d come from but the solicitor had been no help and neither had the bank.
She had no intention of ever selling the items. Even though she wasn’t sure where Mum had gotten them, or what they’d meant to her, they’d clearly meant something or she would’ve used them long ago to pay off their debts and to give them a better lifestyle.
With her purse tucked firmly beneath her arm, she headed for the Thai restaurant downstairs. She’d arranged to meet Sean there in an hour, but she wanted to get a seat early and calm her nerves with a Mai Tai cocktail before she had to face him. She found a table near the back of the restaurant so she could watch the door, then hunched over her phone while she waited for her drink.
Bea came through the front door and strode to the back of the restaurant with Aidan, Harry, Dani and a man Charmaine didn’t recognise trailing behind her.
“Chaz, I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I thought you’d be working,” Beatrice said.
“Mum, it’s too hot for Thai food,” Dani complained. She held hands with the man Charmaine didn’t know. He looked to be about twice Dani’s age. He had grey streaks in his dark curls, and his brown eyes were small and close set.
“You always say that and then you love it,” Bea replied. “Let’s get that table.” She pointed to one across from Charmaine, then sat down opposite her. “I’m going to sit with you for a minute while they decide what they want to eat. It can be a bit of an ordeal to order when we all go out together.”
“It must be nice to have Dani and Harry home for a little while.”
“They’ll be back at university in Sydney in no time. The summer holidays have gone quickly this year, since they both worked for much of the time.”
“Who’s the man with Dani?”
Bea’s lips formed a thin, straight line. She inhaled a quick breath. “That’s Damien, her architecture lecturer.”
“Oh, that’s right, I recall you mentioning that she was dating an older man. How’s that going?”
“According to Dani, it’s amazing.”
“And how do you feel?”
Bea turned her head away from the group and whispered. “I’m not so keen, but I’m working on acceptance and support.”
Charmaine laughed. “You’re doing great.”
“Thank you.” Bea dipped her head. “And how about you? Just having some lunch on your own?”
“I’ve taken a few days off work to deal with some personal issues. I’m meeting Sean here for lunch in a little while.”
