Page 72 of Forged in Secrets

“Them cops have a boat that can get down there easy,” she said, waving a hand in the vague direction of the North Pier police station. “Go ask that Detective Hayles. Clearly he needs the help. Can’t find two missin’ girls but has time to be after me for nabbing a gator. Jus’ one! One gator!”

Ben stuck his hands in the pockets of his shorts, staring down at the worn wooden deck beneath his feet. They didn’t have time for one of her rants. “The police aren’t going to go storming Normandy on Federales turf.”

“Stormin’ what now?”

“1944. D-Day. The beach in–” Ben gritted his teeth. “It’s not important. I just want to get these innocent women home safe. Please.”

Connie pushed her hair behind her ears as the wind whipped over them again, her wrinkled face tight like an apple left out in the sun.

“Ben won’t say it, so I will,” Asher said. “He’s madly in love with Grace and desperate to protect her. Surely a ladylike yourself can appreciate how far a man will go for romance. ”

Ben’s eyebrows shot up. What was he going on about? There was no way that was going to work on Connie. Not in a million years.

To his surprise, he noticed the glistening of tears in the woman’s pale blue eyes.

“One time, my late husband sailed out into a hurricane for me,” she said, her voice suddenly gentle. “I got lost, ‘n even the Coast Guard was wary of the wind, but he didn’t give up on me. We coulda both died out there instead of just me, but we didn’t.”

Asher looked over at Ben, who could only shrug.

Truth was, he was amazed.

He remembered Connie mentioning her husband had died, but he hadn’t told Asher as much. Yet, somehow, his twin had known just the right words to say to tug at the woman’s heart.

Maybe, despite how badly he’d screwed everything up, God was still looking out for them after all.

“That’s beautiful, Connie,” Ben said, reaching over to rest a hand on the woman’s robe-clad shoulder. “I think–I mean, we’re not married, so I know it’s not the same, but I–I feel–”

“You feel the same way about that girl that my husband did about me,” she finished matter-of-factly.

“I do,” Ben admitted. “And you were right. I was a coward. I should have told her that a long time ago.”

“It’s not too late,” Connie said, standing to her full height. “I know a boat you might be able to borrow to make it to La Pesca in time. Let me give my son a call.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY

GRACE

“You can’t be serious, Dad,” Jade spat, closing the door to the cabin behind her. “Are you really this stupid?”

Grace shrank back closer to the desk. The room felt even smaller now with three people in it. The memories of being trapped beneath the rubble of the fallen church pressed at her consciousness, threatening to pull her under once more. She said a silent prayer to God for His protection, drawing in several gulps of air. She wouldn’t lose control. She had to stay right here in the moment. Katie needed her. And she needed herself.

“Was I supposed to let her starve, Jade?” Craig said, sounding even more meek than he had a few moments before. “Is that what you would have preferred?”

“You could have left the food outside. Why are you in here giving her more evidence? Why are you letting her see your face?”

“You’re showing your own right now.”

“She’s already seen me, and she knows you’re my dad,” Jade said, enunciating each word as though she was trying to ensure a young child’s understanding. “Not exactly difficult to puzzle out why I’m not bothering to hide. Honestly, it’s amazing you’ve held onto Lumen this long. I’m surprised the rest of the board hasn’t ousted you for someone smarter.”

Grace gripped the edge of the desk with her fingers, sure that if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up giving Jade a well-deserved slap across the face. Despite the circumstances, she actually felt a little bit bad for Craig.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, shaking his head. “Whatever Grace sees or doesn’t see, it doesn’t matter. We’re all walking away from this regardless.”

“What about Katie?” Grace asked, ignoring Jade’s hateful glare. “Does she get to walk away?”

“She’s none of your concern,” Jade snapped before Craig could answer. Despite the harshness of her words, Grace could see the sadness in her eyes. There were so many dynamics at play that she didn’t understand. Had Jade’s relationship with Katie been nothing but a very long con? Or had she truly seen her as a friend despite everything?

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