Read Online Permanent Sunset by C. Michele Dorsey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: C. Michele Dorsey
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else I can stay? It’s going to be awfully crowded there with the girls and Lisa,” Gavin said as Henry hit the code to open the gate to his complex on Gifft Hill.
“No, we’re full. And so are the Westin and Caneel Bay, mostly because of the wedding. We’re lucky to have Bella Vista for the rest of the family. Besides, won’t your family want you with them during such a difficult time? Elena’s death has to be a shock for everyone.” Henry led Gavin up a slight hill to his unit, where the Ten Villa van awaited them. He hadn’t liked Gavin from the first time he met him, when Gavin arrived by helicopter two days before atVilla Nirvana. Seeing the bruises on Lisa’s arms this morning didn’t improve Henry’s opinion of him.
“Our bags are in the rear,” Gavin had told him, ignoring Henry’s “Welcome to St. John” greeting. Gavin had gotten off the helicopter without bothering to assist Lisa or his three little girls.
“They’ll be fine. The kids barely knew her. Lisa thought she was cold. My mother only met her once. I’m the only one who really knew Elena.”
Henry let Gavin into the van, starting the ignition and getting the air conditioning going. The late afternoon sun was relentless, and Gavin was definitely the kind of guy who didn’t like to sweat.
“So how well did you know Elena? Did you work with her at the company?”
“I’m the one who hired her. I knew she had what the company needed the moment I met her,” Gavin said. Henry was surprised to detect a note of sadness in his voice, although Gavin was probably mourning not Elena but her value to the business.
“Where did you find her?”
“We met at a business conference about exploring borders for companies looking to expand. She had some great ideas. Actually, in many ways, they were quite simple, so much so that they were easy to overlook,” Gavin said, as if off in another world. The incongruity between Gavin’s callous initial reaction to Elena’s death and now his nearreverence for her business acumen confused Henry. The guy was odd, at best.
“So how is it your mother came to St. John if she wasn’t invited to the wedding?” Henry asked, knowing it was a question Gavin probably wouldn’t like, but not really caring much about what he thought at this point.
Gavin surprised him by chuckling.
“One thing I do know, Henry, is this—I have no idea why my mother does anything.”
They pulled into the Westin complex, stopping at the gatehouse to find out where Anneka’s unit was. Henry stopped at the curb outside of the condo and got out of the van to properly dispose of his human cargo. Gavin was about his age, Henry figured, but they had absolutely nothing in common, and he had no desire to spend more than another second with the man.
“There you go, Gavin. We’ll be in touch about what happens next and when you can get your stuff out of Nirvana,” Henry said, opening Gavin’s door.
Gavin stepped out and reached over the door to pluck a piece of paper from under the van’s windshield wiper.
“Looks like you got yourself a ticket somewhere, Henry,” Gavin said, giving him a smug smile and handing him a scrap of yellow paper.
Henry stepped back into the van, wondering what he’d done to earn the ticket, especially one he hadn’t noticed. He and Sabrina had been careful not to get tickets because they were very expensive on island and almost impossibleto appeal in Superior Court, but they had gotten a few unavoidable ones that cost them about seventy-five dollars each. This one didn’t look anything like the others he’d gotten. Henry unfolded the ticket to see it wasn’t a ticket at all.
On island. Staying at the front cottage at Gibney Beach Villas while I look for long-term housing. Would love some company. Have so much to tell you. Love, David
Chapter Fourteen
Sabrina was looking at the mountainous trays of food scattered across the blue-and-white Scandinavian tiled kitchen counters, wondering
“No, we’re full. And so are the Westin and Caneel Bay, mostly because of the wedding. We’re lucky to have Bella Vista for the rest of the family. Besides, won’t your family want you with them during such a difficult time? Elena’s death has to be a shock for everyone.” Henry led Gavin up a slight hill to his unit, where the Ten Villa van awaited them. He hadn’t liked Gavin from the first time he met him, when Gavin arrived by helicopter two days before atVilla Nirvana. Seeing the bruises on Lisa’s arms this morning didn’t improve Henry’s opinion of him.
“Our bags are in the rear,” Gavin had told him, ignoring Henry’s “Welcome to St. John” greeting. Gavin had gotten off the helicopter without bothering to assist Lisa or his three little girls.
“They’ll be fine. The kids barely knew her. Lisa thought she was cold. My mother only met her once. I’m the only one who really knew Elena.”
Henry let Gavin into the van, starting the ignition and getting the air conditioning going. The late afternoon sun was relentless, and Gavin was definitely the kind of guy who didn’t like to sweat.
“So how well did you know Elena? Did you work with her at the company?”
“I’m the one who hired her. I knew she had what the company needed the moment I met her,” Gavin said. Henry was surprised to detect a note of sadness in his voice, although Gavin was probably mourning not Elena but her value to the business.
“Where did you find her?”
“We met at a business conference about exploring borders for companies looking to expand. She had some great ideas. Actually, in many ways, they were quite simple, so much so that they were easy to overlook,” Gavin said, as if off in another world. The incongruity between Gavin’s callous initial reaction to Elena’s death and now his nearreverence for her business acumen confused Henry. The guy was odd, at best.
“So how is it your mother came to St. John if she wasn’t invited to the wedding?” Henry asked, knowing it was a question Gavin probably wouldn’t like, but not really caring much about what he thought at this point.
Gavin surprised him by chuckling.
“One thing I do know, Henry, is this—I have no idea why my mother does anything.”
They pulled into the Westin complex, stopping at the gatehouse to find out where Anneka’s unit was. Henry stopped at the curb outside of the condo and got out of the van to properly dispose of his human cargo. Gavin was about his age, Henry figured, but they had absolutely nothing in common, and he had no desire to spend more than another second with the man.
“There you go, Gavin. We’ll be in touch about what happens next and when you can get your stuff out of Nirvana,” Henry said, opening Gavin’s door.
Gavin stepped out and reached over the door to pluck a piece of paper from under the van’s windshield wiper.
“Looks like you got yourself a ticket somewhere, Henry,” Gavin said, giving him a smug smile and handing him a scrap of yellow paper.
Henry stepped back into the van, wondering what he’d done to earn the ticket, especially one he hadn’t noticed. He and Sabrina had been careful not to get tickets because they were very expensive on island and almost impossibleto appeal in Superior Court, but they had gotten a few unavoidable ones that cost them about seventy-five dollars each. This one didn’t look anything like the others he’d gotten. Henry unfolded the ticket to see it wasn’t a ticket at all.
On island. Staying at the front cottage at Gibney Beach Villas while I look for long-term housing. Would love some company. Have so much to tell you. Love, David
Chapter Fourteen
Sabrina was looking at the mountainous trays of food scattered across the blue-and-white Scandinavian tiled kitchen counters, wondering
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