Page 69 of Escape to the Sun

He patted the older woman’s hand. “I’m sure you did the best you could, Val.” He soothed her, because it was clear that it was the only thing to be done. “Whatever happened between Heather and her husband had nothing to do with you.” She nodded, letting herself be comforted by him. “If it’s okay with you,” he changed the subject, “I’d love to show you a few things. Do you like beaches?”

She smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had my feet in the sand. I think I would like that very much.”

“Perfect, because we have some of the most beautiful beaches in Panama, right here. Let’s go.”

* * *

“Sherri?” Heather knocked on the door, lightly at first and then stronger. She wasn’t sure why she was hesitating. But something about the treehouse seemed very quiet and not quite right somehow. She hadn’t given it much thought as she’d climbed the stairs leading her away from the bungalows and her mother. All she could focus on was getting away from that woman.

She drove her crazy.

Her mother must be fully out of her mind if she’d gotten on a plane and traveled for almost eighteen hours just to fight with her. It was mind-boggling. She was crazy. She was controlling and delusional and…

She was hers.

Heather shook her head. Ash was probably right. If she’d traveled all that way, there was only one reason for it. She wanted to make amends. She wanted to fix things. After all, they were the only family the other had.

She should be more understanding. It was just so hard.

With a sigh, Heather knocked on Sherri’s door again. When there was still no answer, she tried the handle. She didn’t know what to expect when she walked into the treehouse, and Ash certainly hadn’t prepared her for anything. “Sherri? Are you here?”

“In here, dear.” The voice came from across the room. It was dim, with the shutters closed up. The air was stale and…something wasn’t right.

Heather stepped farther into the room and was finally able to make out what looked like a pile of blankets in the corner. The pile moved. “Heather. It’s so good to see you. Come closer.”

Something was not right. She crossed the room and dropped to her knees next to Sherri. “Are you sick? What’s wrong?” She scanned the older woman as best she could with the pile of blankets heaped over her. “What’s going on, Sherri?”

“He didn’t tell you.” It wasn’t a question and there was a hint of laughter in the woman’s voice.

“Who? Ash?” She shook her head. “No. He didn’t tell me anything.” Heather replayed all the conversations about Sherri they’d had. Ash told her nothing was wrong. He told her if there was a problem, he’d let her know. He’d promised her. “What’s going on?”

Sherri clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I asked him not to tell you, so don’t be mad.”

Too late.She was absolutely going to have words with Ash when she got down the hill. He’d flat-out lied to her. But one thing at a time. “Sherri?” She reached under the blankets and grabbed her friend’s hand. It was thin and boney and cold. Very cold.

“I’m sick, dear. I asked him not to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“I’m worried now.”

“I can see that.” She attempted a smile, but it didn’t have Sherri’s usual sparkle. “And that’s what I didn’t want. You had enough to worry about. After all, you were just getting your feet wet with Casa del Sol. Ash tells me you’re doing an amazing job, by the way.”

“Thank you. I—” Heather shook her head and refocused. “That’s not important right now.”

“On the contrary. It is very important. That’s why I brought you here, Heather. I needed someone with heart and soul. Someone who would care about this place as much as I did. Someone I could trust to keep the spirit of the place alive.”

“Why are you talking that way?”

“You are that person. You’re perfect for this place and I think it’s been perfect for you, too.”

“Sherri, I—”

“Am I wrong?”

Heather shook her head again. “It’s not that you’re—”

“Am I wrong?”

She couldn’t help but smile at the woman’s persistence. “No,” she said. “You’re not wrong. I love it here and you’re right. It’s been just as good for me to be here.”

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