Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

Ash

We arrived at the marina to find a small crowd gathered under a bright yellow pavilion not far from the water.

Beneath the fluttering tent, folding chairs had been set out in rows. There was a table off to one side with food and a podium up front for a speaker.

The event hadn't started yet. People were still milling around with drinks and nibbles in hand, talking and laughing. I could tell just by looking that this was Rick's sort of crowd—lots of middle-aged men in chino shorts and Ralph Lauren polos that passed for business attire in the summer heat. A few women in capris and short-sleeved blouses.

Sawyer took my hand as we slipped inside. "You ready?"

"Not really," I muttered.

But Mom made a beeline straight for us, her hand hooked through Rick's arm.

"I'm so glad you made it!" she said, smile bright but a tad forced. "Right, Rick? Aren't you glad they made it?"

Rick bared his teeth in what could possibly pass for a smile. Did he think it was threatening? " S o great." His eyes narrowed in on Sawyer. "Too bad you forgot your glasses, huh? I hope you can see from the back."

"I've got 20/20 vision."

"Right, right. Well, that's helpful…to you."

Mom looked puzzled by his weak attempt to imply Sawyer couldn't see well enough to be a reliable witness.

She pressed on. "It's so good to see you again, Sawyer! I remember how close you and Ash were. He really missed you when you moved to Swallow Cove."

"Thanks, you too," Sawyer said. "Mom still thinks about you. You should give her a call. I bet she'd love to catch up."

Mom smiled. "Maybe I'll do that."

"Sawyer filed a statement against DreamBoats for an accident we didn't cause. An innocent mistake, I'm sure," Rick said. "Still, we probably shouldn't be talking with a witness in the case." He paused. "Unless Sawyer would like to amend that statement, now that he's so close to the family? It's probably a conflict of interest."

I snorted. "You don't quit, do you?"

"I can't exactly quit. I'm under investigation because of him."

"No, you're under investigation because you covered up a crime."

Rick shook his head, flinging a hand toward me. "You see what I'm dealing with? Just lie after lie."

He stalked off, leaving Mom flustered. "I…I'll talk to him." She lowered her voice. "You can't just toss around accusations like that though, Ash. You could really hurt his reputation."

"They're not accusations," I insisted. "Sawyer was there. He saw what happened."

Mom glanced sidelong at Sawyer. "I'm sure you're trying to do the right thing. But Rick told me none of the DreamBoats had a tour that night, and he wouldn't lie to me."

An older man was stepping up to the podium, calling for the crowd's attention.

"We'll talk more after the event," Mom said. "Don't leave."

She hurried toward the front row, joining Rick.

I turned to Sawyer. "Maybe we should leave?"

His attention was focused on the food table. Maybe he was hungry? "What are you…"

"Julian's here. He was driving the boat that night." Sawyer paused. "Or rather, not driving."

Julien stood with a plate in his hand, talking quietly with one of the other crew members.

I already knew Mom's family peace summit was going to fail. But maybe I could still do something useful while we were here.

"Come on." I headed for the table, interrupting Julian and Barry in a quiet argument over the best dip.

"Guac is made of fresh ingredients!" Barry said earnestly. "It's healthy."

"But it's green," Julian said with a wrinkled nose.

"Gotta go with queso," Sawyer interjected. "Someone once told me it's always about the butter or the cheese."

They both turned to us in surprise.

"Hey, Ash," Julian said. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"My mom wanted me to come."

Julian nodded.

"You know what's going on?" I asked.

He gestured toward the podium. "With this? Rick is getting some award for donating money to the community or some shit. Probably doesn't hurt he's now an investor in the Skyline casino project."

My eyebrows shot up. That was news to me.

"I didn't know that got off the ground," Sawyer said, voice flat. "Last I heard, its financing fell apart."

"Yeah, hence Rick getting a piece of the action," Julian said.

"That's not what I meant though," I said in a low voice. "I meant about the boat accident you caused."

His eyes widened. "I didn't cause any accident."

"You let a drunk tourist drive," Sawyer said. "He caused the accident, but you're the one who'll take the fall for the hit-and-run."

Barry looked between us. "What the fuck, man?"

Julian slashed a hand at him, eyes narrowed on Sawyer. "I thought you looked familiar." He glanced at me. "So you brought the enemy to Rick's event? No wonder he can't stand you."

"Actually, he's my boyfriend."

"And I just happened to witness an accident," Sawyer added. "That doesn't make me the enemy."

"Whatever. We should go—" He turned to where Barry had been, but he was already gone.

I tracked his path, seeing that he'd gone straight to Rick and was whispering in his ear. Rick turned a murderous glare my way.

"Listen, Julian," I said. "I know you think Rick is protecting you, but he's only going to look out for himself. If the truth comes out, and it will, you're the one who'll take the fall."

"Fuck off."

"Just talk to a lawyer, okay? For your own sake."

He swallowed hard, looking from me to Sawyer. "That boat that got hit. The people. They're okay…right?"

"The boat owner, Noah Wells, ended up with a broken leg and three cracked ribs. We got him out of the water and treated fast. He's recovering up at the county hospital."

I had no idea Sawyer had checked up on him, but of course he had.

"You could have killed someone. And fleeing the scene like that? It doesn't look good."

Julian set down his plate, looking queasy.

"Do the right thing," I implored him. "Rick will throw you under the bus if he needs to. Trust me on that."

Applause echoed.

"Congratulations, Mr. Dixon, on being such an upstanding member of the community. Please come accept your award," the speaker said.

Rick jogged up to the podium, took the heavy crystal plaque, and flashed a smarmy smile to the crowd.

"Thank you. I'm only paying back the amazing success this community has given me. I am so blessed with a reputable business, a lovely family, and a town that is truly the best place to call home."

"Which he lives in for approximately three months a year," I muttered.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the development plan for the Skyline Casino, Retail & Resort development. I know it will only bring more tourism and prosperity to this amazing place. And hey, the more we prosper, the more we can give back, right? Thank you."

"He's not full of himself or anything," Sawyer said.

"By Rick standards, that was circumspect."

Julian had left our side during Rick's speech, and now he intercepted him. They stood close, intense expressions on their faces, and they both cast frequent looks our way.

"Guess we probably didn't help the situation with your stepdad," Sawyer said.

"Nothing would help that," I said. "He's got a lot of people fooled, including Julian. The guy is reckless and dangerous, but that's because Rick hasn't set the right standards. He trusts Rick when he says nothing will happen to him. If we achieved nothing else, I hope Julian really does go see a lawyer, because he's going to be fucked."

"Yeah," Sawyer said. "I'm not crying too hard for him. Not after what I saw that night."

I grabbed his hand and squeezed. "I get it. Believe me. I just want people to stop believing in Rick's act."

Rick brushed past Julian and headed my way.

"You and I need to talk," he said shortly. Then glanced at Sawyer. "Away from this crowd."

He stalked out of the tent toward the lakefront.

I hesitated a beat, but Mom motioned for me to follow with an encouraging nod. Her eyes were full of hope.

I grimaced. "If I'm not back in fifteen, send out a search team."

"Fuck that. I'm going with you."

I didn't fight him on it. It was reassuring to have some backup when facing Rick.

We followed him down to the path that ran alongside the marina.

"So, what is there to talk about?" I asked Rick.

He spun toward me, nostrils flaring when he spotted Sawyer. "What did you say to Julian? Huh?"

"Nothing that wasn't true."

"This shit has to stop," Rick said. "You can't go around telling people I'm some sort of criminal!"

"But you are," Sawyer said quietly.

Rick jabbed a finger at him. "You stay out of this! You don't know what you saw that night."

"I do know," Sawyer said. "I was there for an up-close view."

Rick turned back to me. "You go tell Julian you were full of shit, and you do it now, or I'll make sure your mom knows exactly what kind of manipulative liar you are. She'll cut ties with you."

"She won't."

He barked a laugh. "You really think she'll choose you over me? I pay her bills, you dumbass. She owes me."

"Excuse me?" came my mom's strident voice. "I owe you?"

Rick pivoted, looking chagrined. "Honey, that came out wrong. I'm just angry."

"You think I'd choose you over Ash?" she pressed on, voice trembling.

People were leaving the pavilion, and more than a few had drifted in our direction. Their whispers began to buzz around us.

"Ash is my son, " Mom said. "You're supposed to be making peace, not starting a war."

"He started it," Rick said.

Her gaze shifted to me, dubious. "Is that true?"

"All I ever did was tell the truth. I know you don't want to believe it. That you don't believe me?—"

My voice broke.

Sawyer spoke up. "I witnessed the boating accident. Julian was the tour guide when the hit-and-run happened. We just talked to him about seeking out a lawyer because he could be in some serious trouble if authorities confirm that Rick covered up the crime."

There were a few gasps from the crowd that had gathered to watch the drama unfurl.

The crowd's comments grew louder.

A crime?

Never trusted that guy.

He should be ashamed…

Rick's eyes darted around, taking in our audience, and his face reddened with fury.

"Slander is a crime," he bellowed. "Stop with the accusations before I have you prosecuted!"

"It's not slander if it's true," I shot back. "No one else sees you for what you are, but I always have. And now maybe some of these people will too. You're greedy, unethical, and corrupt ? —"

With a shout of rage, Rick charged toward me.

Sawyer jumped forward to block him, and he took a swing at him.

My vision went red. Fuck if I was going to stand by while Rick tried to hurt Sawyer.

"Don't you dare!" I shouted, shoving him.

Rick staggered sideways, tripped over his own feet, and fell headlong into the lake.

There was a loud gasp as everyone watched. Then Rick surfaced, spluttering and flailing.

"Someone call the cops on these assholes!" he shouted as he treaded water. "They assaulted me!"

"They'll do no such thing," Mom said firmly. "You tripped and fell. We all saw it."

Rick slapped the water. "Whose side are you on? It's him or me!"

My stomach tightened. This was exactly what I feared would happen.

Mom turned a pained look on me. I braced for the worst.

Sawyer wrapped an arm around me, holding me together.

"If you think I'd ever choose you over my son, you're out of your mind," Mom said. "You lied to my face about everything that happened. You've harassed Ash for the last time. We're over."

Mom pulled off her diamond wedding ring and threw it in the lake beside Rick.

He squawked and made a grab for it. "That's a $50,000 ring!"

What an asshat. Of course he was more worried about the ring than the marriage.

"And it's just the start of what this divorce will cost you," Mom said. "I plan to get a very good lawyer."

"You should probably get one too," Sawyer said. "Because I'll never recant my witness statement. The authorities will find out the truth and you'll get what you deserve."

Rick sputtered out more impotent denials and threats about slander, but no one was listening. Most people had turned to each other, speaking quietly, tsking and shaking their heads.

Mom pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you sooner."

"You chose me," I said, still shocked. "Your whole life is with him."

She pulled back and cupped my face. "You are my whole world, Ash. I love you more than anything, and I'm so sorry if I gave you any reason to ever doubt that."

My eyes burned. "I'm sorry. I know you wanted us all to get along."

She shook her head. "No. This isn't your fault, hon. Rick had his flaws, but I had no idea he'd ever stoop to this. You're saving me, because this isn't a man I want to stand by."

I glanced toward the lake, where a couple of men were helping Rick out of the water. He looked like a drowned rat.

There were a few snickers of laughter from the crowd. Rick had lost his dignity and his wife in one fell swoop. To him, humiliation was a far worse fate than an arrest would be—but I had no doubt that eventually would come to pass, too.

I sent Sawyer a smile, and he smirked, seeming to be on the same page with me as usual.

Finally, people saw Rick for who he really was.

And it was fucking glorious.