Harte's Peak Read online

  Vera had called ahead and heard the measure of surprise in her mother’s voice. They hadn’t spoken since the holidays, and those conversations had been strained. Pulling into the long circular driveway Vera held her breath.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

  But Mom had more money than she could ever possibly spend. She was a frugal woman, a fact she never hesitated to bring up around Vera.

  “Hi, Mom.” Vera hugged her mother in the entryway.

  “Let’s have some tea. I waited for you.” Mom led her into the elegant dining room.

  Vera glanced at the grandfather clock in the entryway. She’d arrived a few minutes after noon, and her mother, who fancied herself English, served tea at high noon. Though Mom never fully comprehended that high tea in the UK was served later in the day, the ritual used to comfort Vera. No matter what else happened in the world, she knew at noon they’d be having tea.

  Even on the day that Dad had left them once and for all, Mom had called her girls into the dining room where both Vera and Amy had sipped tea through their tears.

  “You look too thin,” Mom said through pursed lips.

  A new record. She’d been in her mother’s house less than ten minutes this time. “I’ve gained ten pounds in the past year.”

  “Well, it doesn’t look like it. You know how this makes your sister feel. She can’t help it if she’s meaty like me.” Mom dropped four cubes of sugar in Vera’s teacup without asking.

  “Mom, you’re hardly meaty.”

  “You’re naturally thin like your father.” Her mother winced as though the tea tasted bitter, but Vera knew the bitterness came from the memory her mother’s words had churned up. “I’m only asking you to think of how that makes Amy feel.”

  “Amy and I are fine. We talk every other day.” As usual, the problem was in Mom’s mind. A mind like a steel trap that couldn’t let go of the past.

  Vera had made a mistake coming here.

  Mom pushed the cookies in Vera’s direction.

  Vera wasn’t hungry, but she took an angry bite out of one.

  “So why are you here?” Mom’s brown eyes narrowed.

  “Can’t I just come by to visit?”

  “You can, but you don’t.” Her mother sighed. “How’s the man who escorted you to Christmas dinner? I can’t remember his name. Eddie?”

  Leave it to her mom to remember the exact name of the man she’d brought home for the holiday, someone she had not seen or heard from since that day.

  Vera chose not to answer. Instead, she shoved another cookie in her mouth.

  “Is he the latest casualty in your string of men?” Mom continued.

  “I haven’t seen him, and we weren’t serious anyway.” She didn’t need any man in her life, but no need to bother trying to convince her mother of that fact.

  “I’m not surprised. You’ll probably never settle down. You don’t want to meet the right man, do you? You’re just like your father.”

  Mom’s acid tongue burned into Vera’s heart. Mom never meant comparisons to her father as a compliment.

  “I did settle down once. Don’t you remember?” Mom never saw past Vera’s ex-husband’s money to see his faults.

  “He was a good man.” Mom poured more tea.

  A good man? Vera winced, her fists tightening. She took a deep breath and let it out. “I know how much you liked him.”

  “He took care of you, didn’t he? You don’t know how lucky you are.”

  “Lucky?”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t realize how beautiful you are. You could get a man anytime you want one. If only you would decide on one and stick with him. How hard is that?”

  “I did pick a man.” Vera held the fragile looking teacup so tightly she feared it might burst into a hundred little pieces.

  “Yes, you did do that. Several, in fact. Now if you could learn to hang on to one.”

  Like you hung on to my father? There was no point to this. She couldn’t ask her mother for help. She’d tell her to find another husband. She placed the empty cup on the table and stood. “I need to go.”

  “What did I say?” Mom’s eyes widened.

  “Nothing.”

  Her mother pushed away from the table. “Go ahead. Leave. You do that well. You shouldn’t be so sensitive when I’m trying to give you a little advice.”

  Vera bit her lip for a long moment, staring at her mother. Then she shook her head. “I can get advice from my friends. From Amy. When it comes to my mother, sometimes all I want is a hug.”

  And that wasn’t going to happen. Mom touched only when necessary: to straighten a flyaway hair, brush bangs out of eyes, flick away a piece of lint. The last time she’d embraced Vera had been on her wedding day.

  “I’ll call you later.” Vera’s eyes brimmed with tears as she walked out. She’d have to find another way to get out of her financial mess.

  3

  The next day, after the aspiring screenwriters and novelists powered down and shut their laptops, Vera shooed the last of her customers out the door and closed up shop. No matter how exhausting, work was her one saving grace—something she loved. Who would have thought that a former fashion model could be happy making coffee and sweeping floors? She’d built this business, it was hers, and no one could take it away.

  Not without a fight.

  Her friend Maggie had dropped off a brochure last week. Sure, they helped home and business owners stave off foreclosure, but the foundation was associated with the church. She’d have to find another savior. There was still one more person she could call, yet Vera’s stomach twisted when she thought of him.

  She climbed into the expensive sedan she would probably not drive much longer and drove the short distance home. Another storm front was expected to come in tomorrow, and the gray and stormy skies reflected her mood.

  Vera’s opened the door to her home, wondering how many more times she might have that privilege.

  Her Beagle-mix rescue, Stin, met Vera at the door, jumping and spinning in circles. The only thing missing was the pink tutu, and then Stin could join the circus.

  No matter how long Vera would be gone, Stin greeted her as though she’d been missing for years.

  Vera picked her up and nuzzled her. “Hello, girl. I’m happy to see you, too.”

  She put Stin down and looked through her mail. A letter from the mortgage lender caused her breath to hitch.

  She tore open the envelope and read the official looking notice. The letter stated Notice of Default in bold letters. Dear Homeowner: Your loan is in default, and you must make immediate payment or face legal action.

  She skimmed over the paperwork before her mind shut itself off.

  Stin wagged her tail, jumped up, and licked Vera’s hand as though she sensed her distress.

  “I’m sorry, Stin. You can’t cheer me up today.”

  The bank would be closed already. Anyway, she had no idea what she could say. She didn’t have the money to come up with this month’s payment, much less bring her mortgage current.

  This home was too large for her, a fact she had realized only after purchasing and making numerous upgrades. She’d paid too much for the granite countertops, cherry wood cabinets, and kitchen island. It was beautifully and tastefully decorated, courtesy of her sister, Amy, who definitely had talent. She loved her home, but she certainly didn’t need four bedrooms or matching his-and-her sinks.

  Vera rummaged through her roll-top desk for the list she’d made the night before. She’d thought of every person she could ask for money and crossed off the majority of them within minutes.

  She couldn’t ask her sister. Amy and her new husband had married last year and joined their blended family. Amy clipped coupons and went to the spa only when Vera paid. If Amy had any inkling how much money Vera had spent in the past few years, their relationship might not be as harmonious as it continued to be.

  Still, there was one name that remained on the list. One she’d writte
n down and crossed off a half-dozen times. They hadn’t spoken in years, and she’d hoped to keep it that way.

  “Don’t look at me like that, Stin. I’m desperate.”

  Even Stin realized it was a bad idea as she cocked her head to the side. Sometimes, Vera swore the dog could read her mind.

  She stared at the name on her list. Kevin. Vera had to look in her old address book for his phone number. She’d long ago removed all traces of it from her cell. The bank letter convinced her of the seriousness of her situation, and she punched in the number.

  “Hello? Hello? Who is this?” Kevin sounded as brusque as she remembered him.

  Vera hung up before she could change her mind or listen to another word out of his mouth. The money Kevin loaned would come with strings of venom attached to it. She might never free herself again. No. She couldn’t have him back in her life no matter how bad things were. “You were right, Stin. Are you happy now?”

  Stin wagged her tail.

  Vera put her face in her hands. “Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.”

  

  “You’re a little later than I expected,” Annie said from behind the counter.

  “I had some errands to run.” After a couple of weeks of advertising, Vera had met with a prospective buyer for her car. One less payment to make would help ease her burden, and the vehicle was still in prime condition and only three years old. The man said he’d call her back after running the numbers. If he accepted her price and terms, she’d have enough money left over to buy a used car.

  She tied on her apron and stuck her hair in a ponytail. Thankfully, business had already picked up and hope seemed to lie just beyond the horizon. Some of the competitive skiers had arrived early.

  One of them had become annoying already, flirting with her daily. He’d introduced himself as Kyle, and he claimed he was going to win the title. Narcissism dripped from his pores like sweat, but Vera smiled and encouraged him. She couldn’t afford to alienate anyone now.

  Vera and Annie made a great team as they worked in synchronization, Vera taking the orders at the register and Annie filling them. The warm and rich scent of coffee, the hiss and steam of the espresso machine, reminded Vera that people still drank coffee in tough times. For that, she was grateful.

  The door opened.

  “Good morning, Katie,” she called out to one of her regulars, the owner of the small bookstore two doors down.

  She took the order for another one of her regulars, handed it to Annie to fill, then headed back to the register to get the next order.

  Her next customer stood in front of her and she almost didn’t recognize him at first.

  His hair was no longer only gray at the temples. The wrinkles on his face were a little craggier. He was impeccably dressed in what appeared to be a silk suit and staggeringly out of place in Harte’s Peak.

  “Kevin,” she managed. Why had he traveled from New Mexico?

  “Vera. Beautiful, as always.”

  “What are you doing here?” she snapped.

  “Visiting. Aren’t you going to ask for my order?”

  Vera blinked. “Of course.”

  Perhaps the best way to deal with him would be to pretend that it wasn’t at all unusual to see him for the first time in eight years, right after she’d made an ill-advised phone call. Apparently, like a shark, he’d smelled blood.

  She ignored him through the morning rush, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

  He sat at a table nearby, a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle in his hands.

  “Annie, I’m going to take a short break.” Vera took off her apron and moved to sit down across the table from her ex-husband. Sooner or later, she was going to have to deal with the elephant in the room.

  He looked up from the paper, a smug smile on his face. He obviously enjoyed her curiosity.

  “Kevin, let’s not play games. You and I both know you’re here for a reason.”

  He put down his paper. “You’re a business owner now?”

  “That’s right. I own this café.” She crossed her arms. “I answered your question. Now you answer mine.”

  “Fine. How much do you need?” Pleasure lilted from his baritone voice. He wanted an opportunity to throw his money around, to feel important. And he obviously thought she was about to give him one.

  “You think I need money?” One lousy phone call in a moment of weakness and he’d tracked her down like a bloodhound.

  “Why else would you call?”

  A memory flashed in her mind of his last words to her. Someday, you’ll need something from me. You’ll call and I can’t wait for that day.

  “Let’s get this straight. I didn’t call you. I dialed your number. And hung up. It doesn’t count.”

  Knowing that he’d looked her up and tracked her down felt like a violation. Her address wasn’t a state secret, but they weren’t pen pals, either. She’d wanted a clean break, and he hadn’t had a choice in the matter.

  Kevin folded his paper perfectly in half, pressing the ends down like it was an origami project. “I forgot how smart you are. It was much easier when you played dumb. Anyway, it only took me a few phone calls to find out that you’re hopelessly over extended. You’re about to lose your house.”

  Under the table, Vera clenched her hands into fists. “And how is that any business of yours? You didn’t hear me ask for money, did you?”

  “No, I realize you’re still too proud to do that, so I thought I’d save you the trouble.” His voice rose above the din of the café.

  She couldn’t get into a war of words with Kevin now. If she challenged him too much, he’d make a scene. If she didn’t challenge him enough, he wouldn’t get the message. “Lower your voice. If I’m over extended, it’s only a temporary thing. I can take care of myself.”

  “I don’t doubt that’s what you think. But the truth is, you’ve got a nice little operation going here. I checked that out, too. This café has great potential, like this little town does. Once we drag it into this century.”

  Finally, the real reason he’d come. “This café is not for sale.”

  Kevin curled his lips. “We’ll see about that.”

  “No, we won’t.”

  “There it is. Your least attractive quality. Stupid, stubborn pride. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have children. But you were such a lousy wife you couldn’t even get that most basic function right.” Kevin’s voice was loud enough that several of the patrons turned their heads in his direction.

  Still, she hoped they hadn’t heard his stinging words.

  No matter how many times he said those words, they never stopped having the power to take her breath away. She stood and gathered every ounce of her courage. “I’d like you to leave. Now.”

  “Is there a problem?” Ryan approached, coffee mug in hand.

  Vera narrowed her eyes at Kevin and then glanced in Ryan’s direction. Ryan was on duty, armed, tall, strong, and able. For once, he was right where she wanted him to be and not right behind her with his flashing lights.

  “No, officer. I’m leaving.” Kevin stood and smiled as he walked toward the doors.

  Ryan looked at Vera, his eyebrows knotted together. “Who was that guy?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  

  The guy’s hair was Wall Street gray, and he looked like he bled money. Ryan didn’t know much about fashion, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the suit the man wore cost a grand.

  But what concerned him the most was the look in Vera’s eyes. He’s seen that same apprehension on the faces of victims. Something was definitely going on.

  Ryan stepped closer to Vera. “You didn’t answer my question. Is there a problem?” The way the guy had looked at Vera was a problem for Ryan. He wanted to wipe that leer right off his face.

  “Not anymore.” Vera smiled, but the look was forced, and the smile didn’t reach her eyes. In fact, her blue eyes were a little swollen almost like she’d b
een crying.

  “You doing all right?”

  She looked smaller and even thinner than normal.

  “I’m fine.” Vera turned away. “Back to work for me.”

  “I see you have a crowd here most mornings.” Hopefully, she was happy about that. He’d made sure to tell Kyle about the best coffee in town and encouraged him to tell his fellow competitors.

  “And afternoons,” Annie said from behind the counter.

  “Get them coming and going?” Ryan approached the counter. “Have you met my friend Kyle yet?”

  “Kyle is a friend of yours?” Vera asked. “I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” As if he didn’t know. Kyle was a flirt who loved women and usually had two or more with him. Vera probably still thought of Ryan in the same way even though he hadn’t flirted with her in months.

  “Nothing. Kyle’s a good guy. Always tells us how he’s going to win first place. Not shy at all.” Vera laughed.

  “He’s always got a joke for me,” Annie said.

  “Yeah, well, twenty-five thousand dollars is his primary motivation for being here.” Ryan shrugged.

  “What do you mean?” Vera leaned in across the service counter.

  “Twenty-five thousand dollars. It’s the purse offered for first place in the skiing tournament next month. Granted, it’s a drop in the bucket for him.”

  Vera folded her arms across her chest. “That much money for skiing? Who are you trying to kid?”

  “These tournaments draw competitive skiers from all over. Kyle lives in Colorado.”

  “I can’t believe they’ll give someone that much money to ski,” Vera said.

  He didn’t like the look in her eyes. Not at all. “Not to ski. To win. It’s an open, but you still have to qualify to enter.”

  “This is interesting. As it happens, I love to ski. I always have.” Vera wrapped her arms around her small waist.

  “Vera, you don’t mean it,” Annie said.

  “No. Don’t even think about it,” Ryan added.