Cass shrugged. “That isn’t up to me, but unless he actually did kill someone as part of the cover-up, probably not. He was just a kid pulling a prank. He couldn’t have known what would happen. And as for the cover-up, he was scared. Who amongst us hasn’t lied to an adult to cover up a mistake when we were twelve or thirteen? Having said that, I’d like to wait to speak to Colin about Austin’s death until I’ve solved Bobby’s murder. I’d really like to know for certain if they’re linked before I tip him off that I know about the drugs.”
Naomi took a sip of her wine. “I guess that makes sense. I won’t say a word about any of this, but you might want to bring Hope up to date. She’s actually done a lot of research of her own on the Austin Brady disappearance, and I know she’d like to be kept in the loop.”
“I’ll call her,” Cass promised.
“This whole situation is just so disturbing,” Naomi sighed. “I can’t help but think how terrified Austin must have been in those last moments.”
“It really was a terrible thing that was done to him,” Cass agreed.
“When I think about Colin and the man he is now, I have to wonder if perhaps he knew what sort of effect the drug would have on Austin. We’re all assuming that he really didn’t know, and what happened to Austin was just some huge accident, but was it?”
“You think Colin meant to hurt Austin?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t know him back then, but he does strike me now as being the sort who likes to have things go his way. If, as a teen, Austin was always challenging his right to control the group that had formed, I can see him doing something to squash Austin like the bug he probably considered him to be. I’m not saying he necessarily wanted to kill him, but putting the drug in his drink might have been more than just a joke gone wrong. It might have been retribution for the angst Austin had brought into his life.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when I speak to him,” Cass assured her.
Cass and I finished our wine and then said our goodbyes. We headed to a popular diner where we both ordered hot turkey sandwiches. I felt bad for Cass. He really did look exhausted. I was sure he had a million thoughts filtering through his mind. I figured it might be best to change the subject to something less angst-inducing, but for the life of me at that moment, I couldn’t think of a single low-key topic to introduce.
“While I was at Jack’s Place today, Alex told me about an arts and crafts event in town over Memorial Day weekend. She said there would be live music, wine and beer tasting, and all sorts of food trucks during the day, and then a barn dance and hayrides in the evening.”
“Sounds fun.”
“I know it’s a ways off, but she told me tickets for the dance are already on sale and moving quickly. I thought maybe you and I could go. Together,” he emphasized.
I paused. Together sounded like a date. I didn’t date. Well, actually, that wasn’t true. I’d dated in the past, but the men I’d dated were men I knew I would never fall in love with. I was about to make a statement about attending as friends when the beautiful redheaded Alex popped into my mind.
“Are you sure Alex didn’t bring up the dance because she wanted you to ask her?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I suppose that might have been her intent, but I’d rather take you. Alex and I are friends. That’s all.”
“You and I are friends,” I pointed out, wondering all the while why on earth I was practically pushing Cass into Alex’s arms.
“We are. So do you want to go?”
I smiled. “I do.”
He smiled back. “Okay, then. I’ll get the tickets tomorrow.”
Chapter 18
Saturday
Saturday was turning out to be a lazy relaxing day. It started with Alastair and me sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky, at which time we got up and headed downstairs for coffee and a lazy breakfast. After I cleaned up the kitchen, I headed upstairs to shower and dress, after which I joined Gracie and Tom in the garden.
“What a great day,” I said as I stood for a moment to appreciate the clear and sunny sky, blue lake, white ducks, and baby flowers just pushing through the soft earth.
“It really does feel like spring has arrived,” Gracie said. “I’m hoping to get the beds cleaned and weeded this week so they’ll be ready for the new flowers I plan to plant at the end of the month.”
“Are you going to do the barrels on the deck again?” I asked, remembering the containers overflowing with color that I’d enjoyed as a child.
“I do a different annual variety each year. It’s one of my favorite parts of the garden. That and the herb bed, of course. Any favorites you’d like to see included this year?”
“It doesn’t matter to me. I’m sure whatever you choose will be lovely.” I looked at Tom. “How is the fishing boat coming along?”
“It’s repaired and ready to launch. I need to pick up a can of gasoline for the little outboard engine, but I should have her ready to splash this week.”
“And the rowboat?” I added.
“Working on it. It should be ready to launch in a week or two.”
“I know Paisley is excited about learning to row, and I can’t wait to teach her. I have a lot of really fond memories of summers on the lake.”
“Where is Paisley?” Tom asked. “Didn’t she say she was coming over to help with the cleaning and weeding?”
“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Gracie answered. “I know she likes to be sure that her grandmother has been fed and has everything she needs before she comes over.”
“Maybe I’ll take a walk next door and see how she’s doing,” I offered. I figured a walk along the lake would be enjoyable, and if Paisley needed help with something, I’d be there to help.
“Sounds like a plan,” Gracie said. “Maybe you can invite Ethel to dinner while you’re there. We’re planning to BBQ those ribs you asked for.”
“I’ll ask her.” Ribs really were my favorite. I knew I, for one, was excited about the prospect of a meal on the lawn.
As I walked toward Paisley’s house, I’d let my mind wander. I’d actually spent quite a lot of time thinking about the fact that Cass had asked me out on a date. I could pretend it was a get together between friends, but I knew it was something more, and I knew he knew I knew it. As I was falling asleep last night, I let my mind wander to the inevitable kiss at the end of the date. I’d kissed Cass before. In fact, as a teen, I’d done a lot more with Cass than kiss, but as an adult, who was very aware of both my desires and my limitations, I’d never even let myself imagine where things might go with Cass if I allowed them to go anywhere.
When I’d lived in New York and had my career to focus on, my vow to remain single hadn’t seemed like a huge sacrifice. I’d dated from time to time when I had the time, which wasn’t often, but in all my time living in the city, I’d never met anyone I felt even remotely tempted to fall in love with. The Hollister family curse hadn’t been an issue, and I barely gave it a second thought. But now… now, I found myself on the verge of what might have been. Knowing I could never actually have what my heart desired was surely going to make me crazy if I didn’t put an end to it now.
Of course, one little date couldn’t hurt anything. Could it? Cass knew about the curse. He knew how I felt about the curse, and he knew we could never build a life together. At least not the sort of life other people who fell in love normally had with one another. We could be friends, and based on Gracie’s relationship with Tom, we could even spend time together, but taking that final step and actually vowing our love before family and friends, that was something I could never do with Cass or anyone else.