Page 8 of Wynns of Change (Wynn Harbor Inn #3)

“You can’t leave me hanging. What’s wrong with Dad?”

“While you were in Vancouver, we started taking morning strolls together. One day, while we were out, he seemed to be struggling and was unsteady on his feet. We had to stop so he could rest.” After questioning David at length, Birdie convinced him to go to the doctor to get checked out.

“The bottom line is your father is stressed out, and it’s affecting his health. ”

Harlow’s expression grew grim. “This is all my fault. He’s worried about me.”

“Worried about you, about the fines, although it appears he and Mr. Easton are making good progress. It’s a major undertaking, him tearing down the lodge and rebuilding, both emotionally and financially.”

Harlow thought about him sharing what had happened the night of the fire, not knowing how it started or how Ginger became trapped.

If they could get to the bottom of it, at least her father would have closure about the cause. She filled her aunt in on what he remembered. “I want to help Dad and was thinking about hiring an investigator to come here and take a look around before they bulldoze what’s left.”

“I would start with Caleb Jackson.” Birdie tapped the side of her forehead. “He’s smart as a whip. I bet he could point you in the right direction.”

“That’s a great idea. I’ll run into town tomorrow and track him down.” At her aunt’s insistence, Harlow promised not to mention her father’s health issue but assured her she would do whatever she could behind the scenes to relieve some of his stress.

Before she had left to fly to Vancouver, Harlow had reimbursed him for the scooter and wheelchair rentals and insisted on writing him a check to help pay some of the utility bills.

Even after the dust settled and she and Robert went their separate ways, she would be sitting pretty with a tidy balance in her bank accounts. Money wouldn’t be an issue. Harlow had several upcoming modeling and movie prospects on the horizon.

Attorney Beckworth was confident the judge and Robert’s attorney would agree to split everything. The only concern—and it was a biggie—was how she would handle having Robert as her manager for another year.

Harlow pushed the troubling thought aside. Somehow, some way, she vowed to get a clean break. Robert could go his way while she went hers. How she would accomplish her goal remained to be seen.

The rest of the evening was spent vegging out in front of the television with her father, exactly what Harlow longed for during the tiresome days spent working in Vancouver. Quiet. Peaceful. Tranquil. Serene.

The difference between island life and her Hollywood fishbowl existence was such a stark contrast, like living in two different worlds.

She thrived in the fast-moving, fast-paced megastar world, but her heart and soul also craved solitude and the laid-back island vibe.

“You’re deep in thought.” David clasped his hands, studying his daughter’s face.

“I was thinking about how much I was looking forward to this.” Harlow lifted her hands over her head and took a deep breath, breathing in the magic of Mackinac Island and Wynn Harbor Inn.

“How much I love the hustle and bustle of the make-believe world, but how I also need the peace and solitude of home.”

“Have you made any final decisions about what you’ll do once the divorce is settled?”

“Yes.”

“And?” he prompted.

Harlow thought about the piece of property her aunt had purchased, a place that held fragmented memories of her childhood. “After the dust settles, I’m going to figure out how and where I can set down some part-time roots here.”

“Part-time,” David said. “Meaning here and back in your other world.”

“I can’t give it up. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am. I would be crazy to walk away from it.”

“I understand. You need to follow your dream, follow your heart, wherever it takes you,” he said. “As long as you don’t forget about home, I’m good.”

“Following my heart will include being here.” Harlow changed the subject. “I’m going to track Caleb down.”

David’s eyes widened. “Caleb Jackson? Last I heard you wanted to avoid him.”

“It was Aunt Birdie’s idea. She thinks he can point us in the right direction as far as finding someone to investigate the fire.

” Harlow told him she wanted it done before the site was cleared.

“In case there’s something the original investigators missed.

I’m hoping if we finally figure out what happened, Mom will be able to rest in peace. ”

“Caleb is a good guy. He’ll help.”

“I have your approval to move forward?”

David paused, and Harlow could only imagine what was going through his mind. Digging up a painful, heartbreaking period of their lives would rip open old wounds.

As far as she was concerned, those wounds had never healed…would never completely heal until there was closure and answers.

“You have my blessing.”

Harlow sprang from her chair and hugged him. “Thank you. I know how hard this is, has been. I have a good feeling though. As long as we’re on the same page and in agreement, we’ll deal with whatever we find.”

“You’re right.” David hugged her back. “Have I told you lately how thrilled I am to have you home?”

She chuckled. “Maybe a time or two. Have I told you how the accident was a blessing in disguise and I’m almost glad I totaled my car?”

“Maybe a time or two,” he teased. “We’ll get through this, Harlow.”

“You bet, Dad.”

Later that night, long after Harlow went to bed, she lay awake, thinking about her marriage, her career, her aunt purchasing a piece of her past. A past and a new beginning, all wrapped up into a parcel of land.

Not unlike Wynn Harbor Inn. The inn’s past and future would blend into one, making the family stronger and better than ever.

*****

Harlow rolled over, slowly opening her eyes. She came chin to snout with Mort, who sat patiently waiting for her to wake up. “Hey, Mort.” She ruffled the pup’s ears. “Did you miss sleeping beside my bed while I was gone?”

He slid down onto all fours and let out a low groan.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” She flung the covers back and sprang from the bed, marveling at how good she felt.

No more leg pain. No more wheelchairs or struggling to get around.

Never again would Harlow take her mobility for granted.

And she would never allow herself to become distracted while driving down the road.

The day was shaping up to be a busy one.

While she flew through her morning routine, Harlow mentally ticked off her to-do list. Check in with Nigel to see if Robert and his attorney had finished going over the divorce agreement.

Run into town to track Caleb down. Both were tasks she wasn’t necessarily looking forward to.

At least her day would end on a high note… dinner with the Mackies.

Harlow couldn’t wait to catch up, to find out what she’d missed. Although she’d been included in several of the group texts flying back and forth, it wasn’t like being there and spending time with her friends.

First things first. She fired off a text to Nigel, asking for an update. He promptly replied he would reach out to his colleague in California and let her know.

She started to turn the phone off when a new text popped up. It was a message from Robert. We need to talk. Is now a good time to call?

“Great,” Harlow groaned, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. “Now what?”