The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,104

and without windows but there were a couple of flickering candles on the table.

Lauren was mesmerized. “Sylvie, this is beautiful!”

“I thought it was best for today, since the garden is out of the question.” She flipped a switch and bookshelf lighting came on. “It’s a dark room but I find it cozy, especially in winter.”

“Do you use it much?”

“Not as much as I’d like,” she said. “I carry whatever book I’m reading around with me. I read in the living room, the bedroom, wherever I happen to be. Now and then I’ll come in here and just remind myself what books I’ve hoarded and kept.” She pulled one off the shelf. A copy of Treasure Island, tattered and yellowed. “I read this to the kids. I could replace it but is there anything quite as lovely as a book that’s been well read?”

“I read it to my kids, too,” she said.

“Sit down, Lauren. Did you drive into the city?”

“No, I took the ferry and a cab. The roads were destined to be clogged with traffic on a rainy day and I like the ferry, even in weather like this.”

“Well then, let’s have a glass of wine, shall we?”

“Perfect,” she said.

“And you can tell me the latest in your life,” Sylvie said.

“By now you should be afraid to ask,” she said.

“Oh no,” Sylvie said, pouring them a glass of wine. “Has something happened?”

Lauren first toasted Sylvie and said, “It’s so good to see you again.” Then she explained that Beau’s truck had exploded and that the police said it was a bomb of some kind.

“Oh dear God,” Sylvie said. “Do you suspect Brad?”

“I have no idea what to think, but to be safe, I’m staying at Beau’s house. I don’t know if it was meant for one of us—the truck was parked in my drive—or if it was just malicious mischief. It’s just that there’s so little crime on the island and we both have hostile exes.”

“And what of this man, Lauren?”

“Oh, you met him. It was almost a year ago at the fund-raiser. I had barely met him myself at that time—the landscape architect who creates rooftop gardens.”

“I remember him!” Sylvie said.

“After knowing him about six months and with my divorce dragging on and on, we started dating. He has two grown sons, I have two grown daughters and we have nothing and everything in common. He’s a lovely man. I certainly hadn’t intended to be living in his house, but circumstances being what they are...”

“Listen, if you ever feel vulnerable and without options, or even if this is merely the best option, you’re welcome to stay here. This house is a fortress.”

“That’s so generous, Sylvie. I also have my sister and she’s married to a police officer. She also has two messy, loud sons so her house is safe but crazy. But once I decided to take a chance on Beau, whose youngest son is still living at home, I realized this is an opportunity to really get to know him. The real Beau. Rest assured, one red flag and I’m gone. I am certainly not afraid to get out of a bad situation now. I so regret staying in a terrible marriage for so long.”

“Is there any hope of this being resolved anytime soon?”

“My lawyer has a court order for him to produce his financial records by the end of the month so in one respect, yes the end is in sight. In another—he might be a problem for as long as I live. But it wouldn’t be better living with him.”

Mary brought a couple of salads and ice waters, then quietly left.

“I have something to tell you,” Sylvie said. “I spent a little time at Merriweather with corporate officers I knew from my time on the board. I have no proof of this but I believe Brad convinced the VP of marketing to eliminate your position, a position he is now advertising to fill. There is no memo, no email chain, no witnesses that I know of. Just one very guilty and remorseful VP who has offered to get in touch with you and reinstate you to your former position.”

Lauren’s fork was on its way to her open mouth when it stopped. Her first bite of salad was hovering inches from her mouth. “Stu Lonigan? I can’t believe it!”

“Believe it.”

“I always considered Stu Lonigan to be a smart and fair boss. My boss also respected him. My daughter spent Christmas with her father and grandmother and she