9. Susannah

I n the nearly two weeks that had passed since Ivy Button appeared on her doorstep, Susannah had lulled herself into a sense of complacency. Not a false one, she hoped. But perhaps the stranger had been lying. Maybe it had been a bluff, or a bet, or a mistake.

Not that any of those options seemed likely, but since Susannah hadn't seen the woman or heard from her, it had become easier to forget that it ever happened.

Was it possible she'd never lay eyes on Ivy Button again? She hoped so.

Her afternoon appointment with a bride-to-be was coming to an end, and Susannah was sorry to lose the distraction.

Kara Cheswick closed her tablet and stood, taking another satisfied look around Wingate House's spacious dining room.

"I can't wait to bring my fiancé back here and finalize the date, Susannah," she said. "Please don't let that weekend in September get snagged."

"It won't last long," Susannah said, forcing herself to pay attention, something she'd had to do constantly these past few weeks. It had taken a physical effort and a busy schedule not to let her mind roam to the dark place of worry.

She'd kept herself so busy that she and the girls had yet to have more than the most cursory discussion about the double wedding.

They'd picked a date, smack in the middle of July, the only possibility, because July was hot . That meant it had to be an evening wedding, and it frequently rained on summer afternoons, so the weather was iffy at best. However, all the choice dates in the fall were taken.

"I mean, look at this room!" Kara gushed as they walked into the adjoining sitting rooms in the front of the house. She stopped, looking up at the needlepoint sampler of a stitched replica of Wingate House with a poem sewn into the canvas. "This is just adorable."

"That was handmade by Coraline Wingate, my husband's grandmother," Susannah said, her voice rich with pride. "We found it in the attic not long after I decided to transform Wingate House into a wedding venue, and it was perfect."

"‘Come live with me and be my love,'" Kara read from the top line. "Why, yes, it is perfect. Everything about this setting is ideal for my small but mighty list of family and friends." She impulsively hugged Susannah as they stood in the vestibule to say goodbye.

"Kevin and I will be back next week, as planned. We'll bring a deposit."

Susannah thanked her and said goodbye, lingering in the late afternoon shadows cast by the tall oaks in the front yard. There, she let her gaze travel over Wingate Way like a periscope coming up from the water to observe the seas.

Instead of hoping for a glimpse of one of her daughters or a familiar face from town, she was watching for…Ivy.

The street was empty but for a few tourists taking pictures of the Victorians and a teenage boy walking a dog.

Maybe Ivy was gone. Maybe the nightmare was over. Maybe Susannah could get away with not ever telling a soul she'd had the conversation.

With the exception of the discussion she'd had with Rex, the subject of Doreen never came up again. They'd slid right back into the rhythm of life, and she tried to put it out of her mind.

He was back in the office a few hours every other day or so, which was just the perfect amount of work for a man his age. He obviously enjoyed working with Chase, so spending some time at Wingate Properties was as much fun as it was work for Rex.

When she heard her cell phone ring, she rushed back toward the dining area so she didn't miss a call. Throwing a passing glance out the mullioned windows that lined one wall into the garden, she caught a movement that brought her to a standstill.

Was that…a person? A bird or stray dog? Goodness, could it be Sadie's missing cat? If not…who was on the property?

Ignoring the ringing phone, she walked to the window for a better look, easily able to see the paver-covered patio and small pool, the pergola with the vineyard lights, and the round gazebo. Everything was visible now that they'd removed the hundred-year-old live oak that had grown so big it dominated the yard and blocked the guest room water views.

Her jaw locked with nerves, she scanned the whole area, north to south and clear to the side yard and river. She squinted into the gazebo and bent down to look under the large table that had been made from the old oak tree.

Finally, she stared at the guest cottage, which now served as the dressing room and gathering place for groomsmen on a wedding day.

Wait—was that a flash inside? Had she left the light on when she and Kara toured the small house an hour or so ago? No, because the bride-to-be had commented several times on how bright and cheery it was, and Susannah had told her about the tree.

But she could have left it unlocked, so…anyone could be out there.

Not that Fernandina Beach was a hotbed of crime, but still. Should she call for help? She grabbed her phone and held tight, peering outside.

And then she saw someone move from behind the guest house window, sending a sliver of ice through her veins. Was it…a worker? One of her daughters? Could Grace's husband, Isaiah, be out there? He'd have a key, since he'd lived in that guest house when he managed the inn.

Oh, come on, Suze. Get real .

She knew who was out there. She knew who'd come back. Walking toward the outside door, she stepped into the sunshine and steeled herself, determined not to let one beady-eyed blackmailer scare the life out of—

The cottage door popped open and Susannah gasped noisily.

"Hey, Suze." Raina stepped out and squinted in the sunshine. "Did the client leave?"

For a moment, Susannah couldn't breathe, the relief was so palpable. It actually hurt her chest to not be looking at Ivy Button.

"What…why…"

"I saw the car and figured that your appointment was still here, so I just…" She thumbed at the guest house, a slight frown pulling as she regarded Susannah, who no doubt looked like she'd feared Jack the Ripper—or worse—had been hiding in the little house. "It was open."

"Oh…okay."

Raina gave a dry laugh. "I've been calling you to tell you I was out here. But I figured you remembered that I was going to come over today to take some pictures of the cottage. Chase and Justin wanted to see the layout. Rose and her girls asked to babysit because it was a half…day…at school…." Raina's brow lifted as her words trailed off. "Am I ringing any bells from the conversation we had, um, two days ago?"

Not a one.

The adrenaline dump made Susannah weak and she walked to the gazebo to step out of the sun and sit, setting the phone on the table face down.

"Susannah Wingate, what is going on with you?" Raina demanded, following her into the shade.

"Nothing, you just…I saw someone and, yes, I forgot and…" She huffed out a breath.

"You're shaking," Raina said, sitting next to her and taking her hand. "And I'm not going to take one more brush-off from you. Something is up and if you don't tell me, I'm going to assume the worst."

"What would that be?" Susannah asked.

"That you're sick or dying, or Dad is. That someone is in trouble or some tragedy is about to strike or something…awful. I don't know, but you are acting Weird with a capital W, and you have to tell me what's going on."

Susannah swallowed, her whole body aching to tell Raina everything. Raina's purpose in life was to solve problems. Honestly, no one in the family did that better than this woman right in front of her. And this particular problem was even "real estate" related, which was Raina's specialty.

She desperately needed a second opinion, and Raina's voice was one of reason and love. Should she carry this burden alone? Or was sharing it with one of her daughters somehow stealing their joy and planting an ugly seed?

"Susannah." Raina leaned in, underscoring the rare use of the formal name with narrowed blue eyes that demanded the truth.

"I had a visitor a few weeks ago," she began, speaking softly. "A woman who claimed to be Doreen Parrish's niece."

Raina inched back. "She had…family? I mean, other than the one from the child she gave up for adoption."

"A different family. This woman is named Ivy Button."

"Ivy…" Raina's brow shot up with a judgmental arch at the cutesy name. "Okay."

"And she says that Doreen's sister is her mother. And she, the mother, whose name I don't think she gave me, is Doreen's heir."

Raina nodded, following the bread crumbs. "And she's furious we gave away all of her belongings," she guessed. "Well, we didn't know she had a sister. She never said a word to anyone—about that, or anything, to be honest. And there was nothing valuable in that apartment."

Susannah let out a shuddering breath. "Ivy claimed that Rex's father, Grandfather Regis, left her…well, he left her…"

Raina leaned in when Susannah didn't finish.

"Wingate House," she said on a quick breath.

Raina stared, then gave her head a shake as if she didn't quite get the last two words. "Pardon me?"

"She claims she has the paperwork—a contract and letters, but she never showed me anything—that prove Rex's father essentially promised her ownership of Wingate House."

"Why would he do that?" Raina asked on a disbelieving laugh. "It's ludicrous to even think about it, and why wouldn't Doreen mention it? Please, Suze. This is such a scam it hurts to think about it. Someone who read about her death and where she worked, and…I don't know. This screams of a swindle, and we will not fall for it."

Was it? Susannah closed her eyes. "Maybe, but…"

"But what?"

God, she hated this. Yes, the girls knew that Rex had a teenage indiscretion; that truth had come out when they found a photograph of Doreen holding a baby named Bradley Wingate.

That baby had become Bradley Young, adopted in Iowa. No, it was not easy for Rex's adoring daughters to think of him being quite so…human. And with someone they called "Dor-mean," too.

"Suze?" Raina pressed.

"She knew that Rex and Doreen…you know."

Her eyes widened. "Oh. That's a twist. But maybe Doreen confided in her sister. They found out there was a baby and she wants to meet Blake? But she certainly can't have Wingate House." She scoffed again at how preposterous that was. "If she wants to meet Blake, I'm sure we can…" Her words faded out. "Why are you crying, Suze?"

"I thought all that, too." She swiped a tear and sniffed. "This woman, this Ivy person…she…said that Doreen claims it…wasn't…consensual."

Raina jerked like she'd been slapped. " What ?" She breathed the word, blanching.

"And that if we don't honor this alleged ‘contract,' she will smear Rex's reputation and go to the press with a story that he, um, took advantage of a mentally disabled woman."

The color returned to Raina's cheeks. In fact, they deepened with a flush of fury. She opened her mouth to speak, but took a breath as if she couldn't quite seize the words.

"First of all," she finally ground out. "My father would no sooner assault a woman than he would jump off the Empire State Building and try to fly. He doesn't have a violent, mean, hurtful bone in his body and he would never, ever do that."

"I know, but she—"

"No but!" Raina barked. "It's not possible and I'll…I'll…" She pounded her chest with a tight fist. "I'll take on anyone who tries to say otherwise."

"I agree!" Susannah exclaimed. "But how do we prove that?"

"Well, what does Dad say?" Raina asked.

Susannah stared at her, silent.

"You didn't tell him?"

"No," Susannah sighed. "I always feel he's one measure of bad news away from a heart attack or another stroke or seizure."

"I get that," Raina agreed gently. "It's hard not to want to protect him after the stroke."

"I know he's healthy and taking good care of himself now, but…" She sighed and looked out at the garden, seeing only the sight of the man she loved crumpled on the floor. "I have some post-traumatic shock from that day he had the stroke. I thought I was saying…goodbye…"

When her voice cracked, Raina reached to hug her. "He didn't die, Suze. He didn't."

"By some miracle of God," Susannah said.

"No kidding," Raina replied. "I'm not much for taking the time to read the Bible, but you have to consider that someone incredible had a hand in what's happened the past year or so. Yes, Dad had to endure the stroke, but it brought unexpected surprises, didn't it?"

Susannah nodded. "It did. You came home, took over the business, bought a house, fell in love…"

Raina pointed to her. "And had two babies, which I honestly believe were conceived when I left here for that desperate act to save my marriage."

"Tori came back."

"And found Hottypants—"

Susannah snorted at Justin Verona's unfortunate—but forever—nickname.

"Seriously, Suze. He was Dad's neurologist . She'd have never met him if he hadn't gotten sick."

"And Sadie came home," Susannah said on a smile.

"Your chickens are all in the coop." Raina gave her hand a squeeze. "So no post-stroke trauma. It was all part of the Wingate plan, as they say."

"The grand Wingate plan," Susannah repeated. "You know, in my whole life, nothing has ever made me prouder than to be a Wingate and become the mother of you girls. Nothing. The greatest pride…" Choked up, she couldn't finish.

Raina wrapped both hands around Susannah's shaky one, holding tight. "Sometimes, in gooey moments like this, I want to call you Mom."

"You can."

"Can I?"

Susannah drew back at the question. "Raina! Of course. You can call me anything."

"It's just…" Raina inched back. "I was surprised that you so casually mentioned that you'd never remembered to, you know, adopt us." She gave a dry laugh. "Not something you forget."

"I've never forgotten it," Susannah said. "And it wasn't that I didn't ‘remember' to get it done, I merely put it off out of respect to Charlotte. It wasn't like she was a horrible ex lurking on the sidelines. I wanted to honor her memory as your… real …mom."

Raina smiled. "You are my real mom."

"Thanks." She blinked back a tear. "What are we going to do about…the situation?"

"Please." She rolled her eyes. "It's a fat scam, I'm certain of it. All we need is to threaten to report her to the authorities. No, no, better yet—let's let Madeline's ex-FBI agent husband take her down. She'll disappear so fast we won't remember what she looked like. No, Suze. I'm not afraid of some nitwit named Ivy Button."

"Oh, Raina. I wish I had your—" Susannah looked at the phone when it hummed and vibrated. She turned it over and stared at the screen. "Unknown caller. Should I answer?"

"Yes. It's probably a bride-to-be wanting our mid-July date. Do not give it away," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Or it could be…"

"Slimy Button. Good. Answer and I will make it my mission to ruin her. Go." She flicked her fingers at the phone. "Pick up."

Susannah touched the screen and tapped the speaker button so Raina could hear. "Hello?"

"Suze? Ivy Button here."

She inhaled sharply and shared a long look with Raina. "How did you—"

"It's on the internet. So's a lot of stuff about your family and businesses. Anyhoo, when can we meet so I can get the keys to my house? I imagine there's some paperwork to sign, so let's get this show on the road."

Susannah tried to swallow. "Um, Miss—"

"When and where?" she demanded, her voice harsh over Susannah's more gentle approach.

Raina leaned in and mouthed, "Tomorrow."

Suze's eyes widened, but Raina just kept silently saying the word.

"Tomorrow," Suze repeated.

"At the inn?"

Raina shook her head hard. "At Wingate Properties," she whispered.

At Wingate? What about Rex? But Raina pointed to the phone, nodding insistently.

Wasn't Raina afraid?

No, she realized. She was fearless. Suze had no idea if she'd learned that or had been born that way, but she'd always been fearless. Reaching out her other hand, she took Raina's and squeezed, so deeply grateful for this daughter.

"We will meet at Wingate Properties," Susannah said, channeling her inner fearless Raina.

"Should I bring my lawyer?" Ivy asked.

At Susannah's question, Raina give a "who cares" shrug.

"Bring whatever and whoever you want," Susannah said. "Be there at…"

Raina held up one finger.

"At one o'clock."

"Will Rex be there?" Ivy asked. It was the very first time Susannah sniffed a little fear from the woman. She looked at Raina, who shook her head slowly.

"No. I'll be there," Susannah said.

"Alone?"

She looked at Raina, who lifted a brow and said the unspoken family motto with just one glint of her deep blue eyes.

"A Wingate is never alone," Susannah said, squeezing Raina's hand.

For a few beats, Ivy was silent. Then she huffed out a breath. "Whatever. I got this in the bag, so you can pack the room with people, if you want. That inn still belongs to me and my mother."

We'll see about that, Susannah thought as she looked at the steely expression on her daughter's face.

"Goodbye, Miss Button."

With that, they both hung up and Susannah quietly placed the phone on the table, staring at it for a beat before looking up at Raina.

She'd never in her life seen such fierce determination, pride, or…yes, fearlessness on a woman's face.

"I might not have legally adopted you, Raina Wingate," she whispered. "But I couldn't love you more."