Barefoot Bay: Paradise by Design (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  Stunned, Drew could only stare at Keegan, seeking his reaction. His expression had grown stony, but he didn’t say anything. He seemed to be waiting for her to say something. “I can’t believe she went to her grave without telling me.”

  “Once I’d been cleared, she planned to let you know what she’d done, but her accident changed all that.”

  Her mother had been comatose for weeks. When she’d miraculously regained consciousness, she had been too weak for serious discussions. She never really recovered. “I sat by her bed for months and put my life on hold for her. Why did she tell you instead of me?”

  Her dad scraped a hand along the couch’s arm. “I can only guess. I’d like to think she was doing a trial run with me, attempting to find the right words to tell you personally. She, uh, expired the next day.”

  How could Drew respond to that? Lousy timing on her mother’s part, sure, but she suspected her mother had held onto her secret until the very end for fear Drew would leave her.

  The three of them remained silent, each cocooned in their own thoughts. Her dad and Keegan’s dad, whom she hadn’t heard from since she’d given back Keegan’s ring, had conspired to reunite them. She didn’t like to be manipulated, but then all they had done was move their respective chess pieces to the same place on the board and let her and Keegan take it from there.

  After what seemed like the rest of the day, Burgess Honeywell joined them on the couch, maneuvering himself between them with a little creative butt action. He placed one arm around her and the other around Keegan and exhaled, as if moving on. “Besides, your parents and I, Keegan, want grandbabies before we’re too old to get down on the floor and play with them.”

  That broke the mood. Drew shook her head, amazed at her parent’s resourcefulness. Keegan gave the man a bear hug.

  But Keegan still had a few questions. “What about that near-concussion in the storm? And getting me and the team moved in here with you? Did you plan those as well?”

  Drew’s dad shook his head. “Nope. Dumb luck with the first, my tripping and hurting my head. Well, dumb of me. Staying here in the same villa last night was Clay’s idea. Both sure helped get you together.” He eyed Keegan, then Drew. “Am I forgiven?”

  “No need to ask, Dad. You accomplished what our pride was preventing.”

  He put his hand over his heart. “That’s a relief. And you can forget about that make-work project I gave you.”

  “Actually, before I do, Keegan and I want to go over that Harvey Powell letter with you.” They shared their discoveries about the meaning of flowers and the code Powell likely included in the letter.

  Her father shook his head. “Besides bringing you two together, this make-work project may have actually solved the riddle of the funds that were never recovered.”

  Keegan handed him the letter. “We thought you’d like to be the one to contact the authorities. Even if our suspicion is incorrect, they ought to be aware of this document.”

  Tears came to the older man’s eyes. He bowed his head. “Thanks. Perhaps we can finally bring an end to this difficult time. Maybe even repay some of the money Harvey stole.”

  “That would be great, Dad.”

  His head shot up; his expression brightened. “Hey, you know, we still have a few days left of our stay. Maybe we can just sit around that pool and enjoy.”

  “Afraid we’ll have to do that another time.” She told him about their respective career plans. “You can stay, if you like, but the two of us should be heading back.”

  The three of them rose together and once again hugged.

  “Maybe I’ll just do that now that I’m up and about,” he said after congratulating each of them. “The two of you need some time alone. Without your team, Keegan, or the Casa Blanca crew, as great as they’ve been, and especially not me.”

  “Thanks, Dad. We’ll be there waiting for you when you return.”

  Keegan embraced his new old fiancée. “We should start packing. I’ve got an appointment with a certain bank box. There’s a ring that’s been waiting too long to be reclaimed.”

  “You kept it?” she asked, amazed.

  “A guy can always hope. You were the only one I ever wanted.”

  Funny, how they felt alike. “Oh, Keegan.”

  “My show may be called ‘Paradise by Design,’ but it’s time for me to design my own paradise. That’s anywhere you are, Drew.”

  About the Author

  Barbara Barrett is a Midwestern girl who prefers her winters without snow or ice. Since her retirement, she spends her winters in Florida and returns to Iowa for her summers (which can get just as hot and humid as Florida at times). After graduating from college with a B.A. and M.A. degree in History, she spent several years as a human resources management analyst for the State of Iowa studying jobs and working with employees. She is married to the man she met in floor counselor training at the University of Iowa. They have two grown children and eight grandchildren. When not planted in front of her laptop, she is playing Mah Jongg, knitting, or watching cooking or interior decoration shows on TV.

  Website: www.barbarabarrettbooks.com

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