The Parker Women (Moonbeam Bay #1) - Kay Correll Page 0,2
her face. “This won’t go well…”
Olivia waved and caught their attention. Her mother and Aunt Evelyn walked up to them, and a careful, neutral expression settled on Heather’s face as she hugged her mother. Family dynamics were always difficult in her cousin’s family…
“I didn’t know you were back in town, Heather.” Aunt Evelyn frowned, an accusing tone in her voice. “Donna, did you know she was back? You didn’t tell me.”
“Just got here, Mom. Like minutes ago,” Heather assured her.
“What are you two doing here?” Olivia asked as she hugged her mom.
“We went to the new restaurant,” her mother said.
“How was it?”
“It was really nice. We enjoyed it.” Aunt Evelyn’s eyes still held a bit of a reproachful look for Heather. “I supposed you two were at Jimmy’s?”
“But of course.” Olivia nodded. “Got to welcome Heather back home in style.” Maybe if she just prattled a bit, Aunt Evelyn would quit frowning.
“Do you two want to get a drink with us? We were going to sit out here and listen to the music and enjoy a glass of wine.” Her mother offered up an invitation, either oblivious to the undercurrent between Heather and Aunt Evelyn, or, more likely, ignoring it.
“I’m pretty beat.” Heather shook her head.
“I’ve had a long day, too.” Olivia chimed in. “I think I’m just going to head home.”
“Okay, well, we should all get together while Heather’s back in town,” her mother insisted. “I’ll set something up.”
“That would be great,” Heather said unconvincingly. “Come on, Livy, I’ll walk part way home with you.”
They turned and strolled the rest of the way down the pier. Olivia wanted to broach the subject of Heather and her mother, but really, what was there to say? They’d never been that close. Aunt Evelyn was kind of a walled-off, self-protecting person. Her aunt had been that way for almost as long as she could remember.
She’d been the lucky cousin with her own mother, and she thanked her lucky stars every day.
“We could sneak a drink out on the lanai at my house.” Olivia tapped Heather’s arm. “They’d never find out. Or are you too tired?”
“You know, I’d like that. I love your view. You’re lucky to live on the waterway system.” A small smile lit Heather’s face. “And real life is over-rated. It can wait.”
“I am lucky. I love that it faces the sunsets and that Emily and I both have our own rooms. It is nice. But you have a view of the bay from your balcony.”
“Somehow a one-bedroom condo in a four-floor complex doesn’t really feel like a home like your place does.” Heather shrugged. “But it works for the small amount of time I’m in town. I just need someplace to call mine and have my mail sent to.”
They entered her home, and she grabbed a bottle of Pinot Grigio from the fridge. They headed to a pair of Adirondack chairs out on the lanai. The whole patio area was screened in—she was forever grateful for its defense against mosquitos and no-see-ums that plagued the area during the spring and summer months, especially when heavy rains and high tides would stir up the mosquitos in the mangroves lining much of the waterways.
She lived where two waterways converged, and one flowed on out to the harbor. Many of her neighbors had huge boats sitting at docks by their homes. She and Emily had an old fifteen-foot fishing boat that she constantly had to encourage to run. But she did like puttering around the canals. They often took it over to her mother’s house nearby, too. It was closer by water than driving, like so much in Moonbeam’s twisted canal system.
They settled into the chairs and Heather kicked off her shoes. “So, do you know if my dad is in town or not?”
“I haven’t seen him for months. Not that he comes into Parker’s much anyway. Mom hasn’t said anything about him.”
Heather sighed. “I’m hoping he’s out of town the whole time I’m here.”
“How long do you plan on staying this time?” Olivia crossed her fingers that her cousin was planning a nice, long visit.
“I’m not sure. A month or so, maybe.”
Olivia would take that. It was longer than she usually got with her. She raised her glass. “To a nice long visit.”
Heather nodded, touched glasses, and they both took a sip of the delicious wine. And somehow, things seemed right in the world, sitting here with Heather just like they’d done so many nights before.
Chapter 2
Barry Richmond strode into the