Heritage Page 7

  The bag sat on her coffee table the rest of the day. Every time she glanced at it, which was often, it seemed to whisper open me. The sooner Will came home, the better.

  As the afternoon slipped away, she sat on the couch staring out the front window, waiting for Will. She wasn’t even going to wait for him to take off his coat. She wanted the gift gone. She glanced at it.

  Open me.

  It was in a bag after all. Will would never know if she peeked inside. She lifted it onto her lap. It was heavy for the size. What had he given her?

  She pulled out the tissue, then a book. The Holy Bible? Just when she was beginning to think he was sweet for thinking of her. All he wanted to do was change her. She opened it to the presentation page. To Rachel Coe, from Jesus Christ.

  Was that some kind of joke? Will didn’t even have the nerve to sign his own name?

  She sucked in a quick breath at the sound of the phone ringing. She set the Bible aside and answered it.

  She recognized the voice of Mark from the modeling agency she worked for. “How would you like to go to Europe?”

  Europe? She had always wanted to go to Europe. “What is this all about?”

  “I have been invited on a special European photo shoot in January, and I can bring any model of my choice. I want you.”

  “But we already have a January photo shoot there in Boston.” She stretched the cord into the living room so she could see out the front window. Will should be home any minute now.

  “We can move that if you still want to do it, or Ryan and one of the other models can work it.”

  “I don’t know. I was planning on taking some time off.” How had Mark gotten her number anyway? Probably from Christopher. She didn’t want to contract any more work right at the moment until she sorted out her personal life.

  “This is Europe, Rach. I’ve got to have you. You’re the best. You have the look I want to shoot over there.”

  If that look was Native American, then she definitely had it.

  Will drove up the street on his snowmobile. “Can I think about it?”

  “I’ve got to know soon to make the arrangements. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow in the Caribbean. I’ll convince you on that shoot that Europe will be the right choice.”

  She walked back to the phone base on the wall. “Fine. I’ll see you there. Bye.”

  She shoved the Bible and tissue paper back into the bag and swung on her coat. He’d had plenty of time to park his snowmobile and get inside. She knocked. When Will opened the door, she held out the bag. “I can’t accept this.”

  He slipped his hands into his pants pockets. “Does it say it’s from me?”

  “Well, no, but. . .”

  He kept his expression neutral.

  She couldn’t read him. “Who else would have given it to me?”

  “I don’t know. What does the tag say?”

  She gritted her teeth. “There is no tag.” And he knew it. But she couldn’t prove he was the culprit. “I know it is you. Just take it.”

  “I can’t take something that isn’t mine. I guess you’ll have to keep it.” He was infuriating. How could she get him to take it back? She probably couldn’t.

  She spun on her heels and went back to her house. He hadn’t said he didn’t give it to her, just that it wasn’t his. Just because she still had it didn’t mean she ever had to take it out again. She set the gift bag on the floor next to the entry table and hung her coat on the tree. She had packing to do if she was going to leave on the first ferry in the morning.

  Ten

  Two and a half weeks later, Rachel rode in a horse-drawn sleigh toward her house. Mark had talked her into the Europe job, so to honor their Boston January job, Mark arranged for them to do that shoot on the heels of the Caribbean shoot. She was exhausted. She’d made him promise he wouldn’t ask her to do any other jobs for at least three months. She knew taking time off was the right decision, regardless of whether or not it was a wise career move. She wanted to sort through the house and decide what she was going to do about everything. The house, Christopher, work, staying or not. And Will. She had thought about him a lot while she was gone. Wondering what he was doing, and if he ever gave her a second thought.

  He’d been right not to jump into a relationship with her. She needed time to really get over whatever it was she’d had with Christopher. She had liked the security of knowing she’d have a family if only by marriage. Now she felt lost and alone.

  The sleigh stopped in front of her house. She gazed at the little one-story structure. Home. It felt right to be here. Like a hug from the past. She stepped down. Snow crunched under her feet, and she hefted her suitcase off. “Thank you.”

  “Have a good day,” the driver said, then snapped the reins.

  As the sleigh jingled away, she looked at Will’s house. He was likely still at work. It was probably best not to get involved with anyone at this point, and Will obviously thought her lack of religious beliefs was some sort of flaw in her. Well, she could do fine without him or anyone.

  She noted that her walk had been shoveled. Will? He may not admit to anything, but she knew.

  She opened her screen to unlock her door and an envelope fell out. She picked it up. Nothing was written on it. Once inside, she set down her suitcase and sighed. Home. She hung up her coat on the tree rack and took the envelope to the couch. With one leg tucked under her, she pulled out the flap and took out the single sheet of paper. It was a list of names and contact information. The first name listed was Lewis Dubois, her grandfather’s brother. After his name was written, “lives with oldest daughter, Charlotte Smith (middle child), on mainland,” then an address and phone number. Next was “Gray Dubois (eldest) also on mainland.” The last name listed was Emily Newton with her full address and phone number—here on the island! Then at the bottom “Please don’t be disappointed.”

  Will strikes again. Who else?

  She waited until she heard his snowmobile drive up the street then waited another five minutes to give him a chance to get inside and take his coat off before picking up the phone. She pressed speed dial five.

  Will seemed relieved to hear from her. “You’re back. I didn’t know if you had left for good or not.”

  “I had to go to the Caribbean for work.”

  “I thought you were from Boston.”

  “I am, but I travel a lot for my job.”

  “I never asked you what you did for a living,” he said.

  “I’m a model, but I’m going to take a hiatus and sort through my grandfather’s things.”

  “I should have guessed you were a model. So are you going to be around for a while?”

  “Through the first of the year, then I have one last job in January before all my commitments are done.” She took a deep breath and bit her lower lip. “Are you going to be around?”

  “Only until Friday. Saturday I’ll head off the island and visit family over the holidays. What about you? You aren’t going to be alone are you?”

  Yes, she would. She had no family to spend it with, here or anywhere else. She looked at the paper in her hand. Unless this family would welcome her. “Don’t worry about me. I wanted to thank you for shoveling my snow and for the list. I’ll see if any of my family is free.”

  “Rachel, please don’t get your hopes up. I wasn’t sure if I should give it to you because I’m afraid you’ll be hurt.”

  “So why did you?”

  “I figured you would eventually dig up the information as I did.”

  “How did you get all this?”

  “I asked around and did a lot of digging. I eventually learned that Twin Bear’s youngest daughter lives on the island and has two children here at the school, elementary- and middle-school age, so I’ll eventually have them. I asked the older one about his family. I got enough info to look up the rest.”

  That was so nice of him to do all that work for her even after they’d fought before she left. “Thank you. I really a
ppreciate it.”

  “Have you tried to contact anyone?”

  “Not yet. I wanted to thank you first, in case I don’t feel like it afterward.”

  “Just promise me you won’t put too much hope into them accepting you.”

  Hope was all she had. “I’m a big girl. I think I can handle it.”

  After hanging up, she stared at the paper. Who to call first? She would start at the top and work her way down. She dialed Charlotte with excitement and trepidation, then bit her lower lip.

  “Hello,” a female voice came through the line.

  She released her lip. “Hello, is Charlotte there?”

  “This is she.”

  Her stomach flipped. “Hi, I’m Rachel Coe.” The line went dead. “Hello? Hello?” Had Charlotte heard her? She redialed. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.

  Yes, Charlotte heard me.

  She dialed the son. Maybe she would have better luck with him. No answer. Had Charlotte called to warn him? No. If she had, the line would likely be busy.

  She dialed Emily. A child’s voice came on the line. Was that the child who had been outside her house? Will said her children were young and went to the school. “May I speak with Emily Newton?”

  The girl practically yelled into her ear. “Mom! Phone!”

  She held the receiver away from her ear.

  Soon a woman came on the line. “Hello?”

  She took a deep breath. “Hello, my name is Rachel Coe.” She waited but Emily said nothing. “Hello? Are you still there?”

  “I shouldn’t be talking to you.”

  “You know who I am?”

  “We all do. I have to go.”

  “Wait, please.”

  “I’m sorry, but I really shouldn’t talk to you. Please, don’t call here again.” Click.

  She lowered her hand with the receiver in it. What should she do now? Call back? She said not to, so she probably wouldn’t talk to her. Wouldn’t anyone in this family at least talk to her?

  The next afternoon she tried the son again. A young male voice came on the line.

  “May I speak to Gray Dubois?”

  “He’s not available right now. May I take a message?” The words droned out of the teen as if they had been programmed in.

  If she left her name, he would likely not call back.

  “Hellooooo. Can I take a message?” the boy said.

  “No. I’ll call back later.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  “Wait. Why does your family hate me?” She cringed. She shouldn’t have blurted the words out, but now that she had, she might get an answer.

  “Do you want me to write that down word for word as a direct quote?”

  Smart-alecky kid. “I would like an answer.”

  “It all depends on who you are. There could be a variety of reasons why my family hates you. So many people. So much hate. Personally you sound like you could be cute, so I don’t hate you.”

  He may, after she told him who she was. “My name is. . . Rachel Coe—Please don’t hang up on me.”

  “No way!”

  “I called Charlotte Smith and Emily Newton.”

  “Don’t bother with them. My aunts won’t talk to you.”

  “Will you? Or are you going to hang up on me, too?”

  “Man, you’ve made my day. My enemy’s enemy is my friend.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I hate my dad, my dad hates his dad, and Grandpops hates you, so therefore you’re my friend.”

  That was a bit backwards. “Why does everyone but you hate me?”

  “Charlotte Coe.”

  The boy whose name she didn’t know told her about brothers, Charles and Lewis, who were in love with the same woman. It tore the brothers apart. Charlotte couldn’t stand to come between the brothers and left, pregnant with one of the brother’s baby.

  Mom.

  “Grandpops never got over losing Charlotte even after he married Grandma. It broke her heart when he insisted on naming Aunt Charlotte after his old love. Aunt Charlotte bends over backwards to please the old coot. Dad thinks she is trying to make up for not being Charlotte’s child.”

  “That is so sad.”

  “This whole family is one big mess.”

  “Would your grandfather see me?”

  “Why in the world would you want to see him?”

  “You are the only family I have.”

  “You’re better off without.”

  She didn’t think so. Wasn’t even a dysfunctional family better than no family at all? “I’d like to try.”

  “You must be really hard up if you want anything to do with this family.”

  “I just want to know my family.”

  He heaved a sigh and was silent for a minute. “We are all meeting this Sunday at Aunt Charlotte’s for a big get-together for Grandpop’s seventy-eighth birthday. You could come as my guest.”

  Everyone all at once? That might be a little much, but if it was her only opportunity to meet them and let them see that she was no threat to them. “Where should I meet you?”

  “I’ll meet you at the ferry dock at one.”

  “I’ll be there.” She went to hang up but then stopped herself. “Wait. What’s your name?”

  “Hayden.”

  “Thank you, Hayden.”

  “It’s your funeral, but having you come will give me something to look forward to.”

  ❧

  Rachel opened her front door and sucked in a breath. She smiled. “Christopher.” Had he come back to her? Did he care so much for her that he really did forsake his family? That thought made her feel good.

  “Rachel.” He wore his tan designer trench coat and dress slacks.

  Why hadn’t she dressed better today? Jeans and a baggy sweater? “Come in.”

  He took in her appearance as he stepped over the threshold.

  “I’ll quick go change.” She stopped at the touch of his hand on her arm.

  “You don’t have to.” He slid his hand down and took her hand. “It’s not the same without you. Would you please reconsider? You really got under my skin. I haven’t told Father and Mother anything yet. Mother thinks you just need a little time, that you are having cold feet.”

  “I can’t lie about my heritage.” Even if they could keep it from his parents, Christopher would come to resent her. “Eventually someone would find out.” Then he would hate her for destroying everything. They had to be honest with his parents from the start, or they could build nothing but a house of cards. That kind of house was never meant to last.

  “Then. . .” Christopher slipped his hand from hers. “I need Mother’s pearls.”

  Her heart dropped to her stomach with a thud, and the air was suddenly sucked from her lungs. It was really over between them if he wanted them back.

  “They weren’t with your other jewelry at your apartment.”

  He’d searched her apartment? She mentally shrugged. It didn’t matter. There was nothing there that she cared all that much about. “I’ll get them.”

  She went to her bedroom and removed the necklace and earrings from her jewelry case. She held them tight in her fist and squeezed her eyes shut. She hated to give them up, but she couldn’t, in good conscience, keep them when she wouldn’t be marrying him. Maybe she could change his mind. Or could she live with ignoring her heritage? Christopher’s family could be her family. But what of her real heritage? She wanted to know more. She needed to know more. She fingered through the rest of her case and took out her three-karat engagement ring, a diamond tennis bracelet, a ruby pendent necklace, and matching dangle earrings.

  She returned to him and dropped the pearls into his hand. She held the other jewels in her hand at her side just in case. . . in case what?

  He lifted the bottom of his coat and slipped the pearls into his pants pocket.

  She watched them disappear. Her heart sighed. She held open her other hand. “Here.”

  He stared a moment at
the jewelry she held. “Keep them.”

  She took up his hand and dumped the contents of her hand into his.

  “I bought these for you.” He set them on the side table by the door. “For when you come to your senses.” He put one hand behind her head and kissed her forehead, then walked out.

  ❧

  Rachel opened her door Saturday morning to find Will standing there. “I thought you were leaving today.”

  “I am.” Will stepped inside and closed the door. “I wanted to wait until I knew you were up, so I could come over. Do you need anything before I leave?”

  “No. I should be fine.”

  “I don’t like you being here all alone. Garth and Lori have gone to visit family, as well.”

  “Actually, I’ll be spending some time with family, as well.”

  “Really.”

  “I talked with my second cousin, Hayden. He’s Twin Bear’s grandson. The family is having a birthday party for Twin Bear’s seventy-eighth birthday. Hayden invited me to come.”

  “That’s great. So the family is welcoming to you.”

  “Not exactly. Charlotte and Emily both hung up on me, and Gray doesn’t know I’m coming. No one knows I’m coming except Hayden. But I’m sure once they meet me, we’ll work everything out.”

  “You are going alone into a den of people who don’t want you there?” He shook his head. “I’m going with you.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll meet you at the dock.”

  That’s just what Hayden had said. It would be nice to be with at least one person she could count on who was glad to be with her.

  Eleven

  Rachel disembarked the ferry on the mainland and waited by the ticket booth under the awning, just slightly out of the wind. Who would arrive first? She’d come early to make sure she didn’t miss either of them, but now she wished she hadn’t. The cold was biting her exposed skin.