Page 40 of Steal My Heart
Brian chuckled. “You just can’t help it, can you?”
“What?”
“Do you take up every cause that crosses your path? Mine, the waitresses when we were out, those kids being cheated. You just have to help.”
Hilliard shrugged. “I became a lawyer to help others. It wasn’t for the money. I wanted to try to do good in the world, to help people who others wouldn’t. I sort of lost track of that the past few years. I was in Ohio. Alan and I got absorbed in building the practice. He used to tell me that we could help people once we built our reputation.” The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Alan cheating and eventually buying himout was the best thing that could have happened to him. If that hadn’t happened, he probably would have lost who he was completely and ended up as heartless and cold as Alan.
“You know that’s just cover for being selfish. Alan didn’t want to help anyone other than himself. He was a selfish jerk. Cheating on someone proves that.” Brian took his hand. “Come on. I want to play the candy game. It may not have skill, but it’s a lot of fun.” He pulled them over to a booth with four sides divided into colored squares. “Put a buck on the color you think is going to win. Someone throws the ball in the center, and if it lands on your color, you win.” Brian was so excited that Hilliard found himself fishing out some money.
“YOU’RE TOOdanged lucky,” Brian groused good-naturedly when Hilliard won for the fourth time. Granted, Brian had won twice, and between them they had a pile of bags of peanut butter cups and M&M’s.
“I’ll share with you,” Hilliard said with a wink, lightly bumping Brian’s shoulder. All the drama from earlier seemed to have slipped away as they played and laughed, teasing each other as they either won or lost.
“Okay, then.” Brian gathered their prizes and stepped back from the game. “Let’s get out of here before I’m tempted to break out more money to see if I can catch up.” They laughed as they headed away from the game and walked through the grounds. “We should check on Gran.” Brian led back to where they’d left her and found Beverly holding court with half a dozen ladies all riveted as she told stories—a group that included Violet Trainer.
“Well, look at that,” Hilliard said.
“They all flock to her. No one can stay mad at Gran for long,” Brian said. “Gran… are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but we could all use another round.” Clearly the ladies had moved on from tea to wine. “Could you go get some?We need three pinots, a chardonnay, and two rieslings.” She patted Brian’s hand, and he came up with a few bills. Brian headed away to get what she needed, and Beverly pointed to another chair that Hilliard pulled over to sit next to her.
“I’m told you’re making progress,” Violet said, finishing the last of her wine.
“I think so. Would it be okay if we came to see you tomorrow? I have a few questions that you might be able to answer.”
She nodded seriously, pursing her lips. “Do you think it was part of my family?”
Hilliard wasn’t sure how to answer. “I’m not sure, but my gut is telling me that it isn’t.” Well, that and his eavesdropping, but he was also being honest.
Violet seemed somewhat reassured. “Okay. I’ll hold on to that.”
“Don’t worry. Hilliard is smart, and he’ll figure it out.” Beverly patted her hand. “After all, what we all want is the truth.”
“Yes. That we all do.” She waited as Brian returned with a tray and glasses. He set it down, and Beverly passed out the various drinks.
“Thank you,” Beverly told Brian with a wink. “Now, Violet dear, do you think that you could arrange for Hilliard to talk to Kevin and Kendall?”
She set down her glass. “But you said….”
“I don’t think your grandsons would steal from you,” Hilliard clarified. “But they may have some information we can use. I’m not going to give them the third degree, and you can be there when I talk to them. But I need to hear what they have to say. I’ll even bring some coffee and doughnuts.” No one could be angry at that—he hoped.
“All right. Stop by tomorrow at ten,” Violet said before sipping from her wineglass.
“All you ladies have a good time.” Hilliard stood and led Brian away. Clearly the ladies had settled in for an evening of wine and gossip. They didn’t need him and Brian getting in the way. “What do we do next?”
“The Ferris wheel?” Brian asked, leading him over. Hilliard bought tickets, and they got in line.
The wheel wasn’t very big, but this close to the ocean, it didn’t need to be in order to provide a great view. As they rode toward the top, the entire town fanned out below them, then beyond that, the ocean, growing darker, lightened in places by the waves crashing against the rocks. As they came back to earth, the view faded, only to return as they made their ascent.
“I thought about leaving,” Brian said, shifting closer in the cooling night air. The clouds formed a roof above them, and at the wheel’s height, Hilliard almost felt like he could reach out and touch them. He tugged Brian closer, sharing his warmth as they continued their ride. “After I got out, I really thought about going to the city to try to escape. I probably could have hidden my past there and done better.”
“Why didn’t you?” Hilliard asked.
“Gran… and this is my home. I knew I didn’t do it. And I guess I was hoping that someone would believe me. Gran always did.” Brian turned toward him, and Hilliard leaned in closer. “Then this lawyer comes to town, and suddenly everything changed.” He smiled, and Hilliard kissed him lightly just as they crested the top. “I don’t know how you did it. I can’t believe Violet is having us over tomorrow, or….” His voice grew rough.
“Violet wants the thief caught, and she wants to get her things back, but that isn’t likely to happen. Most stolen goods are fenced and sold off in a matter of days. I doubt it’s that hard todo….” As soon as the words crossed his lips, he saw the fault in his logic.
“What is it?”