Chapter Twenty-eight
The boat coasted toward The Grand Madrona Hotel’s dock and Claire stood, watching. It seemed like Hank wasn’t in any special hurry when he pulled up. He smiled and waved, the sun illuminating his face.
“Hop in!” yelled Margie. “It’s a little bumpy out there, but Hank thinks we’ll make it just fine.”
Claire forced a smile and stepped onto the boat with a hand from Hank.
“Now,” he said, crossing his arms. “Do either of you ladies want to tell me what’s going on?”
Margie tightened her scarf. “Why would you think something’s going on?”
“Well,” he said slowly, “your voice keeps getting shaky and I caught you staring off into the horizon with a glassy look in your eyes.”
Margie frowned. “I did not get a glassy look in my eyes!”
“It’s okay, Margie,” said Claire. “You can tell him.”
“Tell him what?” she asked innocently.
Claire took a seat. The choppiness of the water was making her feel ill. “I’m sure you’ll hear all about it soon, Hank. Lucy was just arrested by the FBI.”
“That’s a doozy,” he said casually. “FBI, huh?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
He looked down at her. “Does this have anything to do with that guy they’ve been looking for?”
Claire nodded. “It does.”
“That’s quite enough!” said Margie, pushing buttons until the boat’s engine started. “Hank, if you ask anything else then you’re going to be involved. I know you don’t like getting involved.”
He waved a hand, taking over the steering wheel. “I’m not going to ask any more questions. I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.”
Claire smiled. He seemed unworried by it all – so different from Margie. “Are you going to turn me in, Hank?”
“I can’t turn you in if you haven’t done anything – that I know about,” he said, throwing the boat into reverse and slowly exiting the harbor. “The truth is, if anything has happened, I know my beautiful wife probably had a hand in it.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Kowalski,” Margie said, hands on her hips. “Why would you assume it’s my fault?”
He laughed. “I didn’t say it was your fault. Just that you might’ve had a hand in it. There’s nothing that happens on these islands that you don’t know about – usually long before I do.”
She considered this for a moment and let out a little laugh. “Maybe people tell me things because I’m such a good listener.”
He beamed. “That must be it.”
Claire stared at them, watching this exchange. There was once a time when she thought she could do the same thing that Margie had done – that she could move to the islands, start a new business, and forge a new place in the world.
She’d never admit this to anyone, but she’d also hoped she’d get the chance to fall in love, too. It seemed silly, even immature to hope that. Her love life had always been disappointing in one way or another. There was no reason it would change because she moved.
Claire thought there might have been something between her and Chip, that they understood each other, that they had something…unique.
That, too, was silly.
As it turned out, Claire was the opposite of Margie. Instead of inspiring confidence and joy, Claire brought ruin to all. Instead of falling in love with a charming guy, she drove him away.
Claire sunk into her seat and focused on fighting the nausea.
They sailed on, Margie filling the conversation with stories about recent clients she’d had at Saltwater Cove. Hank added some details Margie left out, and Claire sat silently, listening.
