Page 72 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“You remind me of Alex,” Finn told her. “He, too, changed for someone he loved.”
“That boy is like the male version of my Harriet.” Julie’s brows raised, and her eyes shone with despair. “Those two together were a complete nightmare. Alone, their intelligence level is usually way above most people around them. Together…” She harrumphed. “They ruled their little kid’s empire. Trust me, theywill tell you that there were no alpha’s in their little pack, but they’re lying. Every bit of mischief that gang got up to…”
Finn laughed, picturing a young Harriet and Alex thinking of bundles of mischief to get into.
“Pat, myself, the Blackwells, Danes, and Vanderbilts learned early who to keep an eye on and how to give Harriet and Alex invisible boundaries,” Julie told him.
“I have a Maggie,” Finn told Julie. “She’s the brainy one of our family and rules our household, and she’s only eleven.”
“Well, Finn, if you can get my daughter to marry you,” something flashed in Julie’s eyes that made the warning bells that had been ringing in his head start resounding as alarms, “I’d say you’ve found the perfect mother for you little girl in my daughter.” She grinned and shrugged. “And we all get to watch a little payback where my daughter is concerned.”
“Sorry?” Finn’s eyes narrowed.
“Finn!” Julie leaned on the desk. “I’m Harriet’s mother. I’ve just told you that we learned a long time ago about giving herinvisible boundaries. I still keep a very close eye on my daughter.“ Her eyes narrowed. “While she thinks her father and I just turn a blind eye, she doesn’t realize we’re right there picking up the pieces and making sure whoever hurt our little girlneverdoes it again.”
Cold fingers crept up Finn’s spine at the look of warning in Julie’s eyes. “What are you trying to tell me?”
“That Iknowwhat you and Harriet are doing,“ Julie told him. “I admire you for what you are doing, and if I had thought for one minute you were in this for anything other than love, you’d have known by now.”
“I…” Finn swallowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I love Harriet, and we’re engaged.”
“I know you love Harriet.” Julie nodded. “That’s why, while you’re helping me get payback from Gloria, I’m going to helpyou win my daughter’s heart.” She grinned. “Which, by the look of it, won’t be that hard. I’d say she’s already fallen for you.” Her words made Finn’s heart slam against his rib cage. “We just have to make her realize it and then admit it.” She gave a soft chuckle.” The last part is going to be the most challenging because Harriet is weary of giving away her heart.”
Finn stared at Julie in surprise while tiny pinpricks of shock zapped at his nerves. He wondered if he was so exhausted he’d fallen asleep, and this was a crazy dream.Did Harriet’s mother just offer to help me win her daughter’s heart?He swallowed. “Does… uh… Does your husband know?”
“Of course,” Julie told him. “We have no secrets.” She grinned. “Well, not many anyway.”
“And King Titus?” Finn’s eyes widened.
“Oh, no!” Julie shook her head. “He’s too excited about finally getting his hands on the Gladstone property. Let’s just say even if he found out, he won’t do anything.” A flash of triumph sparked in her eyes. “And I’ll soon have control of Gladstone Acres, so Titus willnevertry to sell off one of my children for his gain again.”
“Do you know that the olive trees in Joyce are all sick and have to be destroyed?” Finn blurted.
“What?” Julie’s eyes widened. “No, I did not.” She looked at Finn curiously. “Go on.”
“I’m going to be beheaded!” Finn said, throwing his hands in the air. “I’ve already broken King Titus’s trust and told you far too much.”
“Don’t worry, Finn,” Julie promised. “It won’t go further than the two of us. And I’ll do some digging into that because if that’s true, he had to tell Pat about it.”
“Oh, great!” Finn hissed. “Now I caused a family spat.”
“No, not at all.” Julie smiled reassuringly. “I’ll look into things quietly. I keep track of all activity on Joyce Isles.”
“I’ll have to tell Harriet that I’ve told you,” Finn told Julie.
“No, you don’t.” Julie shook her head. “In fact, you can’t tell Harriet, Pat, or Titus… or anyone about our meeting.”
“Which parts?” Finn asked.
“All of it,” Julie told him. “Titus thinks I’m using Harriet’s trust from my parents, which unbeknown to her, I still control, for you to pay for the land which will be given back to him eventually.”
“I think we’ve veered way off topic here,” Finn’s mind whirled as he eyed Harriet’s mother. “You were telling me why you and Harriet show such sympathy for Estelle?”
“She’s been manipulated and groomed into a Gladstone puppet since she became one of them,” Julie told Finn. “All the woman has ever wanted was to be free of them and live her life her way. But Gloria and Leon Senior have always controlled her purse strings and everything she does.”
“What about Leon Junior?” Finn’s brow furrowed as he remembered something Alex said the other night. “Why did Alex accuse the man of hitting Harriet?”
“How much has my daughter told you about her relationship with Leon?” Julie sat back as she asked Finn.
