Page 47 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
After a flurry of hugs, last-minute reminders, and final waves, Finn watched the car leave the driveway. He exhaled slowly, not realizing he had been holding his breath, the departure of his kids leaving a bittersweet silence behind. Finn closed the front door and walked toward the kitchen to make some coffee.
He had just started making coffee when the doorbell rang. A worried frown marred Finn’s brow. He thought it might be Betty and Sam because his kids had forgotten something, but he was pleasantly surprised to find Harriet on his doorstep. Her appearance was a welcome sight, but the troubled expression on her face erased any smile that had begun to form.
“Harriet, what’s wrong?” Finn’s voice was tinged with concern as he stepped aside to let her in.
Without a word, Harriet handed him her phone open on a photo. Finn’s brow furrowed as he took the phone and saw the disturbing image of himself throwing a duffle bag into a wrecked, burning car. The photo was large enough that he could see where the duffle had burst open and looked to be stuffed with colorful dots in little plastic bags. “Where did you get this?” Finn’s voice was low as he looked into Harriet’s wide eyes.
“I just received this from Estelle, with a text saying this is only one of many she still has.” Harriet’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. “She was in my suite earlier and threatened me with…” She glanced at her phone in his hand, pointing at it. “This.”
Finn’s stomach churned as he took in the image—a moment from one of the darkest days of his life manipulated into a sinister narrative. He remembered the day well, and it was oneday that Finn wished he could forget. It was forever etched in his mind like a tattoo that you wanted, only to regret it later on. But it was too late. There was nothing you could do but live with it.
“I don’t understand?” Finn looked at Harriet, passing her phone back, and noticed how her hands shook when she took it. He realized there was a lot more going on with her. “Harriet, what’s going on?”
“I’m so, so, sorry, Finn.” Harriet’s voice dropped, and her eyes shone with unshed tears. “You thought you were doing me a favor, and instead, I’ve dragged you into the infinite drama, lies, deceit, and backstabbing that is a part of my world.”
“No!” Finn reached out and took the top of her arms. Sparks zapped his fingertips where they touched her warm, smooth skin. “Harriet, this isn’t your fault.” He glanced at her phone. “That also seems to be more a me drama than you drama.”
“It wouldn’t have come out at all if you weren’t trying to help me,” Harriet pointed out, closing her eyes and swallowing as she calmed herself.
“I was making coffee,” Finn told her, dropping his hands. “I have some mint tea if you’d prefer that. Let’s go to the kitchen, and you can tell me what’s going on.”
Harriet nodded and followed Finn to the kitchen.
“Your home is lovely,” Harriet commented. “The layout is similar to the holiday home, but the design is different.”
“I wanted each house to be a bit different,” Finn told her.
Harriet sat at the kitchen counter while Finn made some tea and coffee. “Want to tell me where you ran into Estelle and why she sent you that photo of me?” He stopped what he was doing, holding two mugs in his hands, and looked at her. “How did she even get that photo?”
Harriet told Finn about her encounter with Estelle, and by the time she was finished, he was seated in front of her on the opposite side of the counter, sipping some coffee.
“Wait!” Finn put the cup down. “Estelle wants Gloria Gladstone to become queen of Joyce Isles?”
Harriet nodded. “Yup!” She stirred honey into the mint tea. “I’m afraid it’s official.” She took a careful sip of the hot brew. “Estelle is delusional.” She shook her head. “Not only would my uncle not marry again, but there’s no way he’d even think of marrying Gloria Gladstone.”
“Doesn’t he like Gloria?” Finn asked.
“No, it’s not that,” Harriet explained. “He likes and respects Gloria just fine. Or at least I think he does. Uncle Titus has never said a bad word about her. Still, when my grandfather suggested after my father announced he was marrying my mother, my uncle apparently voiced his opinions on that rather strongly.”
“Ah!” Finn nodded. “So, Estelle doesn’t want to be a queen. She wants the woman she sees as her mother to be one so her future is secure.”
“I don’t know.” Harriet sighed. “I mean, why would she even think I’d be able to get my uncle and Gloria together?” Her face scrunched up in confusion before she looked at him with a glint of contemplation in her beautiful green eyes. “You know, I felt there was something else going on with Estelle.” She took another sip of tea before putting the cup down but leaving her hands wrapped around the mug. “Estelle’s whole attitude was wrong. She went from catty to spiteful. There were flashes of worry, and it was almost like her threat was more of a warning.”
“I still can’t believe she set her cousin up to get arrested,” Finn said, shaking his head a little. “It’s similar to what she did to Martin Atkins and my late ex-wife, Trudy.”
“Trudy?” Harriet frowned. “I thought you were married to Jessica Wyse?”
“Her full name was Trudy Jessica Wyse. She hated the name Trudy. Only I ever called her that,” Finn told Harriet, pausingas he sipped his coffee. “So she used her middle name as her professional one.”
“Ah!” Harriet nodded. “She was one of the best skiers I’ve ever seen.”
“Trudy was until she threw it all away.” Finn’s voice resonated with anger, disgust, and hurt.
“Wait!” Harriet’s eyes widened. “Her name was Trudy?”
“Yes.” Finn nodded. “Why?”
“I should’ve known!” Harriet said, rolling her eyes. “Why didn’t I put it together sooner?” She shook her head. “Trudy Taylor.”
