Prelude of Lies (15 page)

Granted, she tried not to sleep around, but still had her fair share of one-night stands and sex just for the sake of sex. She’d never done drugs. Never would. And she’d never found an obsessive streak about anything.

She was a bit odd, she knew that. Knew from the strange looks she sometimes received when talking about her interests. Maybe all photographers were just weird. She doubted that. She liked to take pictures others had told her they’d never thought of before.

At least, and it was a little comfort, she had talent and had managed to make a name for herself. Her work was requested and the few gallery showings she’d had sold out before the end of the first evening. Her repeat customer list grew all the time and she could now charge whatever she wanted.

Not that she would raise her prices to the level her agent wanted. Daisy consistently refused. Tripling prices over the span of two years seemed ridiculous to her. And vain. Somewhat calmer, she circled the pond. Wondering what her mother would try next stuck in her gut and she didn’t know how she could continue to survive the confrontations.

Once had been enough.

She’d be stupid to believe Nadine wouldn’t show up again. Not after some of the stuff she’d said. Obviously, Violet had painted Sydney as the evil step-sister. No big surprise there coming from The Vileness. They should have expected that. Jace hadn’t said anything, but then again, depending on where he got his information there was no way he could have known.

Sydney called her name. Daisy ignored her and kept going. Hopefully, she could get her train wreck of emotions under control before talking to Sydney. She wished she knew if she was normal, or if she was some freak of nature like her mother.

She watched the fish shadows moving under the now clear surface. Sydney waited by the benches for Daisy to decide she was ready to talk.

Daisy truly was blessed. She needed to remember that. She was part of a team with Sydney. Both equals, with their own strengths and the same vision for this beloved ground. Gramps had never once treated her like anything but a true granddaughter. He’d often tell her she was God’s gift to him because he had so much love to give his grandchildren and her parents hadn’t been able to have another child after Sydney.

With a sigh, she approached her sister, knowing whatever she waited to tell her would not be welcome.

“She left you this.” Sydney passed her an envelope.

Daisy opened it, removing the contents and dropping the envelope on the ground as she sat on the bench.

Baby pictures. The obligatory puffy newborn picture taken in the hospital when she was only hours old, and several snapshots over the next few days until Nadine walked out of her life. The last picture finally broke her and she sobbed in Sydney’s arms. A mother-daughter portrait obviously taken shortly before her mother allowed her addictions to take over.

CHAPTER 14

Sydney wasn’t sure what to do. Daisy’s shoulders shook. Out of rage, sadness, or both? She’d never been as close to physical violence as she’d been when Nadine demanded Daisy pay her for all the damage she’d done to her life and body. Sydney didn’t care about the nonsense Nadine spouted about her. Violet was good at rearranging the facts to suit her needs and obviously Nadine had willingly fallen into her trap.

Nadine cursed the whole way out of the campground. At least she’d left, crawling into the back of a filthy, dented van with the crappiest-looking guys Sydney had ever seen. She’d heard one of them ask Nadine if she’d gotten the money, but didn’t wait around to hear the answer.

The horrid woman would be back. And soon, too.

The way Nadine’s hands shook told the story. She was in need of a fix. Sydney seriously wondered if they should hire a security guard to make sure Nadine didn’t come back during the quiet of the night. Would that help Daisy sleep any better? Or would it make things worse?

She didn’t dare ask right now. Those pictures had sent her sister into an abyss she wasn’t ready to come out of yet. Nadine was either good at manipulating people, or had followed Violet’s sinister advice.

Drop off the baby pictures. Show the kid how great things had obviously once been. Give Daisy a link to a past she can’t remember and make her wish for things that never were. Bitch.

Nadine would not do Violet’s evil thing to Daisy. Sydney would make sure of it.

Daisy continued to squeeze her in a soul-crushing hug, the sobs wetting Sydney’s shirt and breaking her heart. That Daisy had grown up with all the love in the world didn’t matter right now. That her own mother had rejected her for a life of drugs, booze, and men hurt more than anything Sydney could imagine. She rested her head on Daisy’s, her tears wetting Daisy’s hair.

She was sure her sister knew how good her life was. That didn’t mean she couldn’t mourn how things should have been. How it would have felt to know your mother loved and cherished you no matter what. Not to have her dump you off, never come back, and then blame you for whatever destruction she imagined you performed on her body.

Sydney took a deep breath, wiping the tears away. “What would you think of going to meet your father? Maybe it would help?”

Daisy lifted her head. “How? To have one more person wanting something from me when they couldn’t be bothered with me my whole life?”

“What if he doesn’t know about you? What if Nadine never told him?” Sydney wasn’t sure if her idea was a good one.

“Mom said he rejected Nadine when she told him. What if he’s like her?”

“What if he’s not? His business is successful. We saw that for ourselves. He was married for a long time according to Kay.” They’d driven by, on purpose, Sydney was sure of it, on their way back from Kay’s yesterday.

“I don’t know. What help can it be?”

“At this point, what could it hurt?” Sydney wanted her sister to have some peace. Maybe her birth father would turn out to be the one to give that to her.

“Let me think about it. Okay?” Daisy rested her head on Sydney’s shoulder with a sigh.

“Okay. Everything is up to you.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Sydney decided it was time to switch gears and get Daisy’s mind off of her parents.

“So we passed inspection.” Sydney jiggled her shoulder. “We’ve got the contracted work already paid for. The office is in good shape. What’s next?”

Daisy took a deep, shaky breath. “We have to pay for the rest of the stone. Maybe hire someone to spread it? What about the pool? One more good inspection and we should be able to have it fixed. Or we could get the activity building ready?” Daisy sniffed, but the excitement in her voice gave Sydney hope.

“How many more inspections do we have? Four? Six? We may not pass all of them. We have the money we set aside for our first two months in business and for taxes and enough to do half the pool. Violet comes in two weeks. What’s most important?” Sydney spouted off whatever thought came to mind, a normal brainstorming routine for them.

“With the money from today, we have enough to finish the pool. I think the pool is an important part of the campground. The estimate included some of the things we’ve already taken care of, like the electric and restoring the changing room. We might be able to knock a couple grand off the total. What if we wait until after the next inspection to start the work, then we’ll have enough cash available?”

“What will we have to show them before next week? Yeah, the stones will be done and the campsites are nearly ready. The electric will be finished and the bathhouses underway. We need something big though, or we could fail.” Sydney bounced her leg until Daisy dropped her hand onto her thigh and glared.

“Let’s do the activity building and the playground first. I wanted to show you my ideas about adding a room so I could maybe give photography classes.” Daisy grinned.

Sydney bounced with excitement. “That’s a great idea. What about a place inside the activity building for kids to play when it rains? What do you think of offering a few hours of childcare per day? We’d have to find out the legalities and hire someone appropriate, but it may mean the difference of a few bookings. Maybe by next summer?”

“And a mini-golf course. I wonder how much that would cost.”

“I have to meet with the plumber in ten minutes. Let’s go over this at lunch. Kay’s grandson is delivering. We need to interview him, too.” Sydney stood and stretched before hugging Daisy.

“Okay. Thanks, Syd. I do feel better,” Daisy said. At least Sydney succeeded in making her smile. That had to count for something.

After meeting with the plumber, Sydney found herself alone in the office. Alone with the weird box Marshal found in the hidden area. She’d searched the space and found nothing else. Why did the thought of opening the box make her want to do anything but?

Daisy would be here soon. She’d asked about the box twice this morning. Sydney had hated to admit she hadn’t opened it yet. Sure, she was dying to know what was inside, but fearful at the same time. And why had the box only been addressed to her?

Time to find out. She picked at the edge of tape and finally yanked. The inside of the box smelled like Gramps, taking her by surprise and filling her with nostalgia. She let the tears fall as she peeled back the rest of the tape.

There was a newspaper on top dated five years earlier, which was shortly before Gramps died. The headlines revealed nothing spectacular. She’d read it once she finished with the inside of the box. An envelope was next. She opened it with shaky fingers and read:

My darling Sydney,

I know you are wondering why this box is addressed to only you and not Daisy as well. I have always felt her mother would come back to find her should she know of the inheritance I’m destined to leave you both. I know I can trust you to handle
this with fairness and care. Ultimately, this will help you to overcome any obstacles in your path and reopen the campground.

My reasons for hiding this money are probably obvious by now. I cannot explain my actions to you. Suffice it to say I thought I was doing to right thing. Sometimes our path seems right and then we realize we’ve taken on more than we can handle. And sometimes we sacrifice much for the people we love. Right or wrong.

Leaving you this provides me much comfort. I can see your joy at realizing most of your financial problems are a thing of the past. If I could be there with you, I would. Maybe I am, but I don’t know how the afterlife works yet.

Brookside is full of secrets and mysteries. I know you and Daisy love this place as I do and I trust the two of you will do whatever necessary to reopen.

I am so very proud of both of you and am blessed to have been your grandfather.

All my love,

G.

Sydney sniffed as she refolded the letter. Standing up, she peered into the box and found the money Gramps referred to in the letter. Lots of money. Enough to take care of the pool and any other job they could think of. She covered her mouth to keep the scream of joy inside as she did a little dance around the office. She couldn’t wait to tell Daisy. They’d have no problems re-opening the campground now.

If they could just keep Violet and Nadine off their backs.

She didn’t want to move the stacks, but had a feeling there was more to this box than the cryptic letter and a wad of money. She reached to the bottom, her hand closing around what felt like a book. Gramps' journal? Oh man. Sydney had expected to find this inside the house.

She rubbed her fingers over the embossed initials of her grandfather. A folded paper stuck out of the top and she sat down as she opened the note, her hands shaking.

We’ve never spoken of it, but I see the gift in you. Open your mind and heart and truly great things can happen.

Gramps had been big on the cryptic stuff. Sydney sighed, wishing she could ask him exactly what he meant. Seemed like everything was a huge puzzle and most of the pieces were lost or broken.

Opening the journal, she read the first entry dated fifty years earlier. Gramps’ handwriting was strong and bold. He wrote of his experiences as the new owner of Brookside and his excitement shone through the aged words.

Wishing she had time to read the journal cover to cover, instead she paged to the middle and found a passage than made her sit up straighter.

The woman in the bathhouse hears me. I know she does. She just won’t listen. I keep trying to help her find her way to where she needs to be, but part of me wonders if this is who she was in life. Someone who loved drama and pity. According to the
records left to me by my father, she died in there shortly after Brookside opened. I wonder why she refuses to move on.

Creepy. And exactly what Sydney thought.

She flipped to the back of the book, noticing the weakness of the formerly bold handwriting mirrored the decline in Gramps’ health. Choking back the tears, she read his last entry.

I want to say I’m sorry, but I am not. I can’t be. I have loved two women in my life. Each has enriched my life in ways I cannot describe. I have been truly blessed. May I be further blessed with a quick death and not this illness that ticks years off my body with each breath I take.

Footsteps sounded on the porch and she wiped away the tears, then quickly scanned to make sure she hadn’t left any of the money out. Tucking the journal into her briefcase, she stood and leaned over the top of the box, impatient to show Daisy their treasure.

Only it wasn’t Daisy, but a harried-looking Tucker.

“Is Daisy in here?” Tucker’s clipped tone unsettled her.

“No. She’s supposed to meet me here. What’s wrong?” Sydney straightened.

“We were supposed to meet. She didn’t show. I thought she got tied up with the plumber, so I waited but she never came. She doesn’t answer her phone and I can’t find her.” Tucker left the door open and glanced outside every few seconds.

“Daisy wasn’t meeting the plumber, I was. She was getting her sketches together for the activity building and meeting me here for lunch.”

“That’s another thing. Lunch never came. The guys were waiting, but the order never came. Daisy called me and said she’d be late because the plumber had a few more questions.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. I watched him drive away and he didn’t come back. Besides, he knew where to find me and I have the paperwork. He was told he was to only deal with me. That’s how we split up the chores.” Worry settled in her gut. “Call Kay and I’ll find Marshal. Maybe she’s with him going over footage or something.” She tried not to worry.

Daisy’s car was still parked beside Sydney’s. Nothing to worry about. Except it was too quiet. Even the birds had stopped singing. Something wasn’t right. Locking the box in her trunk for safety, Sydney rapped on Marshal’s door. He opened it bare-chested and sleepy-eyed.

“Is Daisy here?” she fired off before he could even process who disturbed his sleep.

“No. I’m sleeping.” Marshal stretched.

“We can’t find her.” She told him what Tucker said about the plumber.

“Some guy knocked on our door about an hour ago. Said he was the plumber and was late for a meeting with Daisy.”

Sydney’s stomach dropped. “What did he look like?”

Marshal’s description didn’t sound like the plumber or anyone she’d ever met. What the hell?

The entire cabin was up and searching the woods within a matter of minutes. Sydney found Tucker taking to Kay on his cell phone in the parking area. She watched him, wanting so badly to interrupt and ask every question roaming through her mind.

Finally, he hung up and turned to her. “Kay sent the lunch delivery with her grandson. He left an hour ago.”

“Daisy doesn’t answer her phone.” She paced, trying to keep the fear away as she called Daisy’s name out toward the pond.

The sheriff and his crew arrived. Several trucks and cars followed, the parking lot filling in a matter of minutes.

“We usually don’t do this unless it’s been over twenty-four hours, but with all the weird shit you two have dealt with here, I’m not taking any chances. Frank filled me in on everything. He’s in Florida, but he checks in frequently. He’s worried about you two.” The sheriff had four search parties organized and sent them out with specific instructions leaving Sydney with the impression they’d done this type of work before.