Read Online Buried (Twisted Cedars Mysteries Book 1) by C. J. Carmichael - Free Book Online Page B

look-out for gray whales, even though it was too early in the season. A cormorant swooped past her, heading for the sea stacks that rose majestically through the water to her left.
    “Jamie?”
    Dougal’s voice. Her spine stiffened. She didn’t turn around, just waited for him to get closer. A few seconds later, her brother joined her on the log, stretching out his long legs and planting his heels in the sand.
    He put a hand on her shoulder.
    “I’m sorry.”
    She let the apology sit between them for a while. It sounded good. And sincere. Finally, she sighed.
    “I wish to hell I could understand you, Dougal.”
    “I think you’re lucky you can’t.”
    Dougal always said the most cryptic things. She knew better than to ask him what he meant. He never explained himself. Still, she found herself returning to the one thing she could never quite forgive him for.
    “I can’t believe you’re here now when you wouldn’t come for Mom’s funeral.”
    She glanced at him, saw his jaw grow firm.
    “I wanted to remember her the way she was in Maui.”
    That had been Dougal’s reaction to the news that their mother was dying. He’d sent the two of them tickets to Hawaii, where he’d joined them for a week in a luxury condo in Kaanapoli. It had been a lovely escape from reality, but in the end, it was Jamie who had returned to Twisted Cedars to look after their mother in the final stages of her disease, Jamie who had dealt with the doctor’s appointments and the respite center, Jamie who had arranged the funeral and settled the estate.
    “Maybe I would have liked to remember her that way, too.”
    Dougal lowered his head. “I—You’re right. It wasn’t fair. I guess I owe you an apology for that, too.”
    It was never satisfying giving her brother a hard time. No one could be harder on him, than he was on himself. Jamie let out a long breath and gave him a closer look. He’d aged in the two years since she’d seen him last, and he was thinner, too. She knew his lifestyle was crap. He never ate properly or got enough sleep. Chances were he was drinking too much, as well.
    “You look like shit.”
    That elicited a smile. “Gee, thanks, Sis.”
    “I guess I should thank you for at least showing up for my wedding. Though a little warning would have been nice.”
    “About your wedding...”
    Her back tensed again at the tone of his voice. She studied his face. Seeing his miserable expression, her heart grew heavy.
    “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing? Marrying Kyle?”
    She stared at him, dumbfounded. “Seriously?”
    He didn’t flinch from her gaze. “Damn it, Dougal. My wedding is in one week. Of course I’m sure. Why would you even ask me something like that?”
    “I know you don’t want to hear this. But Kyle is not the great guy he seems to be.”
    “You have a lot of nerve.” Her half-eaten sandwich fell to the ground as she scrambled to her feet. Glaring down at her brother, she wondered when he would ever be there for her. Supportive. Helpful. Caring.
    The way a real brother ought to be.
    “And I thought you were here to walk me down the aisle.”
    He blinked. “I’m telling you, Kyle is not a man you can trust.”
    “You haven’t seen him in fourteen years and you think you know him better than I do?” Kyle was right. Her brother was insanely jealous. How else to explain this strange attack?
    “He doesn’t treat women well, Jamie. He used to cheat on Daisy all the time when we were in high school.”
    He was going way too far, now. “Don’t talk to me about Daisy. She is long gone from here. And you can’t possibly paint Kyle as the bad guy in that. Kyle was a saint with Daisy. She went totally crazy after the twins were born. Kyle did everything he could to help her. He cared for the kids, did all the cooking, took Daisy to a bunch of doctors and followed all of their advice. And in the end, what did she do? She left him. And her kids, too. Do you know that she never calls or