Page 166 of Our Little Secret
“That’s very nice,” she said, restraining her dog from climbing aboard the sled to greet the little dog. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Shep, tail wagging as he strained on the leash, whined loudly.
“Brooke?” She heard Neal’s voice.
“I guess I’d better get back.”
“And I need to deliver the rest of these before the snow gets too deep,” Gina said. “The Drummonds are here this year and they’ve got a new little granddaughter that I can’t wait to meet.”
“Brooke?” She heard her husband calling for her again, just as Neal’s dark figure appeared and Shep, with an excited bark, ran up to greet him, nearly pulling Brooke’s arm from its socket. “There you are!”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, no, the lights flickered again and I couldn’t find the backup battery charger we brought, the one that you can plug your laptop into.”
“It’s in the bedroom, I think, the small overnight bag. Neal, this is Mrs. Duquette. She owns the bakery and is out playing Santa Claus to the neighborhood.”
“Gina,” the older woman corrected as the terrier made circles before settling back in his bed. “Mrs. Duquette was my mother-in-law, God rest her soul, and she was . . . I guess a woman who knew her own mind is the best way to say it. Glad to see you back here.” She was smiling up at Neal.
“Back?” Brooke repeated.
“Yes, yes, I saw you at the house.” She was still grinning at Neal. “When I was walking Jasper here. Late last summer, when the weather was a lot warmer than this.”
“Last summer?” Brooke said and saw that Neal was standing stock-still.
“Yes, Labor Day, you were here with Leah!” She turned her eyes to Brooke. “Remember, I told you I saw her with a man. So how is she? I assume she’s here with you.”
“Leah’s here,” Brooke said, though her gaze was glued to her husband’s face. “But this is Neal,myhusband.”
“You must be mistaken,” Neal said to Gina. He was recovering a bit, but again Brooke noticed his telltale tic, pulsing at his temple.
He was lying.
Brooke knew it.
And if she remembered correctly, around Labor Day Neal had been in California, working with a client.... What the hell?
“Oh. Well.” Gina frowned. “I must be slipping. I’m horrible with names and I admit it, but I never forget a face.” Then, in the awkward silence that followed, she added, “Jasper and I’d better get running along.” Wiggling her gloved fingers, she added, “Merry Christmas,” then took up the handle of her sled again.
“What the hell was that all about?” Brooke said. “You were here in September? With Leah?”
Neal opened his mouth, about to lie, but thought better of it. “Okay, fine. Yes. You caught me.” He let out a long sigh, his breath fogging. “It’s about the money she owes us. You know money’s been tight, what with Marilee’s boarding school and college on the horizon. So Leah and I have been talking.”
“About?”
“About selling the cabin,” he admitted.
“What?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Nana’s cabin? My cabin? You’re kidding, right?”
“No.” He shook his head. “In September we met with a Realtor, over in Marwood.” He motioned to the bay. “Thought we might put it on the market in the spring, when the market’s good for vacation buyers. That’s why I was so insistent that we come here,” he admitted. “I thought it might be our last time.”
“And you didn’t think to talk to me about it. Your wife. The woman whose name is on the deed?” she said, stunned. “Instead, you went behind my back?”
“I knew—we knew you wouldn’t go for it.”
“Damn right I won’t! This is my cabin, Neal, and someday it will be Marilee’s! You and I—we agreed about that. Years ago. We wanted to keep it in the family.”
