The afternoon tours were still out, leaving the dock empty and quiet. She found Miss Molly inside the building, hanging life jackets to dry. Jenna joined her, grabbing vests and hooking them on the pegs.
“How was your last tour? They seemed like a lively group.”
“They were fun. A girls’ trip, Pennsylvanians who take a short vacation without their kids and husbands every May. One of their grandmas had readMisty of Chincoteagueto herwhen she was a child, and she’d always wanted to see our wild ponies. She talked her friends into it.” The book by Marguerite Henry, published in the forties, had made the ponies famous.
“I had a friend group like that back in the day. We still keep in touch, but everyone’s moved away.”
“It’s good that you stay connected, though.” Jenna had kept intouch with a few girlfriends from high school, but most of them had moved off island except Sofia. Since this trip was turning into quite a bit more than a weekend, Jenna should reach out and see if they could get together.
It had been five days and Jenna still couldn’t figure Gordon out. His life back home sounded rather boring. He was retired from a career in forensic accounting with an insurance company. He’d been married twice. The first wife divorced him after seventeen years, and the second wife passed away unexpectedly after two years. He’d been single for a few years and had gone on the cruise because he’d always wanted to and neither wife had enjoyed traveling.
He seemed like the perfect gentleman, pulling out Mom’s chair and helping around the house. Mom was eating it up, gazing at him with sparkling eyes, lighting up when he entered the room. It all seemed too fast and a little too good to be true.
Miss Molly hung the last vest, then turned her way. “The boy who didn’t show up to work wouldn’t answer my calls all morning. Then this afternoon he quit via text after working for me for only two weeks.”
“Sheesh.”
“Don’t suppose you’d like to fill in till I can find a replacement? I’d take the tours, but there really have to be two of us working the office and dock.”
Jenna hadn’t imagined working on Chincoteague during this break, but then, she hadn’t known this would turn into an extended stay. With Gordon showing no signs of leaving and with him and Mom gallivanting all over the island, Jenna might as well stay busy. She shrugged. “I guess I could fill in for a bit. I really enjoyed the tours today, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be on the island.”
“I’ll take whatever I can get. Thank you. You’re a godsend. I’ll get right on finding a replacement.”
“It’ll be nice to have a purpose while I’m here.” Other than making sure her mom was safe. Though unfortunately there was no way to protect her heart.
Miss Molly gave her a side hug. “It’ll be like old times.”
Jenna dropped her clothes into the washer and added detergent. She needed to make a trip back home for more of her things. The little bits she’d brought weren’t going to cut it. After starting the load she was grabbing two used fabric softeners off the floor when she saw a piece of folded paper next to the dryer.
It was a piece of her mom’s lined stationery. Before tossing it, Jenna opened it to see a list written in small, fine print.
Wildlife Refuge $10.00
AmaRin Coffee $17.23
Mister Whippy $9.52
Ropewalk $62.48
The list went on. Since the handwriting wasn’t Mom’s, she could only presume it was Gordon’s.
Jenna frowned as she entered the living room where her mom was eating a bowl of cereal for her evening snack. Gordon had already turned in, saying he hadn’t slept well the night before.
“Is this yours, Mom?” She handed over the paper.
Mom took the sheet and gave an indulgent smile. “It’s Gordon’s.He’s so cute. He’s keeping track of what I spend so he can pay me back.”
A red flag waved, bold and foreboding. “Pay you back?”
“He didn’t bring enough cash for an extended time away, so I’m covering for him. He uses a local bank.” She smiled adoringly at the list. “Right down to the penny. It’s such an accountant thing to do.”
Even if Gordon did bank locally, what about credit cards? And surely the bank gave him access to ATM machines. She wanted to ask more questions but risked alienating her mom.
“Thanks, honey.” Mom set down the list and returned to her cereal and the reality TV show featuring newly married couples.
Taking that as a dismissal, Jenna went out to the porch and settled on the swing. Maybe the rhythmic motion would soothe her nerves. She glanced up at the garage attic where the one window was darkened. Who was this guy who’d followed her mom home from a cruise, stayed at her place for free, and mooched off her day after day?
An itemized list didn’t prove he intended to pay her back.
