Summer Street Secrets (The Hills of Burlington Book 3) Read online

  "She's probably got another idea that's going to make more money and create more work." Mallie teased from behind her.

  Mary turned around to face her, a sigh escaping despite her best efforts. "You're probably right."

  

  Mary looked away from her brother for a moment. They'd enjoyed a huge lunch together in his office. The conversation had been mostly catch up and finally got to the point where she felt she could bring up the subject she'd wanted to discuss with him but not in the midst of their vast and very opinionated family members.

  "What do you think of the new website project?"

  Dave easily shifted gears from what they'd been talking about. "I think it's an idea long overdue." He turned from his study of the ever flowing Mississippi that never ceased to draw his attention when he should be instead focusing on any number of legal matters that had made it to his desk and waited to be dealt with. "Does it worry you?"

  Mary laughed lightly. Few knew her better than her baby brother. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't worry me some." And some of that tension eased just from being able to get it out in the open with someone she knew wouldn't pander her with meaningless assurances. "I guess if you cut all the garbage away it comes down to being concerned it could somehow come back on us and while I think most of us can deal with whatever comes our way I worry about the kids." She moved over to join her brother behind his huge desk to stand and gaze out over the hillside that led down to the water's edge and beyond. "Mallie might scoff at it outwardly but she's as sensitive as Beth and Addie." She looked over at her brother. "And Addie, for all her determination to be cool about this reminds me of a lost little girl waiting for the other shoe to drop."

  "Yeah." Dave rubbed the back of his neck. His sister's apprehension was beginning to rub off. "I know what you mean. I don't have any kids but even I can see it." He leaned back against the huge antique Partner's desk that he'd paid way too much for then put his own hard work and sweat into refinishing it himself rather than hiring someone else to do it. Never before in almost twenty years of practicing the law had he felt the pride that had once upon a time shimmered around him like it had that first year out of law school. "But I feel certain about a couple of things Mary." He looked up at his sister, made sure he had her attention. "Just because someone walks down the street or occupies any public space doesn't necessarily mean they’re giving blanket approval to splash their face or anything else all over kingdom come which is pretty much what’s happening to people these days on the internet." He stuffed his hands down deep into his pockets. This topic was one that had bothered him for some time. "And I sure as hell don't think every man, woman, and child should have to spend their lives looking over their shoulder for someone's camera when they're at home, whether their own or someone else's. Private property is private property."

  "What was done to Addie was done by people she knew, girls she thought were her friends."

  "Yes. Well you know the old saying about the friends that you keep." He still couldn't believe those kid's parents hadn't done something to stop the entire tragedy from happening let alone defending their kids once it had. He slapped his desk with an open hand, felt the zing rip along with the pain he knew couldn't be anything like what Addie had gone through. Was still going through, he had little doubt. "The law is not perfect but the entire internet world is a brand new world as far as legal precedence goes in many ways." He walked over to the small refrigerator he kept on the far side of his desk. There was another full size refrigerator in the conference room right off his office filled with just about anything anyone could imagine but he kept his own stash in here. He pulled out a Dr. Pepper for himself and handed another to his sister. While he took a long swig out of his he pondered the situation. "I don't always agree with the details of the law. I certainly wish it would move faster to catch up to the times we live in but I believe in the process of the law."

  "It's not always fair."

  "No." He looked at her. Knew they both thought of the same instance. It wasn't always fair. Worse, it wasn't always right. "But without the process there would be chaos." He sighed. "And that kind of pandemonium would be far worse than any injustice either of us can possibly imagine or care to." But he understood her concerns. His sister would always worry for those who stood the most to lose. And if those individuals just happened to be children or teenagers she would worry twice as much if not more. Addie, Mallie, and Beth might be at the upper end of that scale in terms of age but that wouldn't stop her. "I can't promise you that nothing bad will come of this but I can promise you that I'm going to do everything I can legally to prevent it and will do my best to lessen it if it does."

  "I know that most people out there are good people but it seems the ones that go out there to post bad stuff seem to suck all of the air out of all the rest of it."

  "They surely do." He knew exactly what she was talking about. "I've read stuff out there that I simply can't believe someone would think let alone write. The whole concept of do unto others.... it just doesn't exist for those people, Mary. We can't do anything about them, can't do anything for them for that matter. But we can make a stamp on doing our part to make people think twice about doing something like what happened to Addie. It may not save everyone, probably won't save many, but even if we can prevent it from happening to a couple of kids like her, or provide understanding and support to those who have gone through the same, doesn't that make the risk worth it?"

  "Yes. Oh, I know it does, Dave." She paced the length of the office and back. "I'm being silly. And stupid."

  "No, you're being cautious. And we'll need to be. The last thing I want for us is to replicate the callousness of those we're essentially trying to shame into stopping. We'll cross all our T's, dot all our I's and I can promise you in doing that we're doing far more than many do out there on the World Wide Web."

  "Okay." She knew at least in part where her nervousness was coming from. And she selfishly had an idea that came to her while talking to her brother that might at least alleviate some of it. She could do this. Would do this. But she wanted to do it right so it would make a difference. She gave her brother a hug, surprising him with its intensity. "I need to go," she saw the bewilderment at her sudden departure. "I've got someone else I need to talk to."

  "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine. Better now after talking with you and I'll be even better after my next stop." And she was going to have to hurry if she was going to get home before Casey came by about whatever was going on in her mind.

  "If you say so." Dave spoke more to himself than his sister as she was already heading down the stairs. He shook his head, only slightly baffled. Once Mary got a thought in her mind there was no stopping her until she worked it out the way she needed. But the conversation with her had revved up his own thoughts on the issue. He sat back down and took out a clean pad of paper. With the conversation still fresh in his mind he began making notes of what he wanted to say in his own little claim to fame on the matter. And in this moment he knew exactly what that was.

  

  Mary let herself into the big house on Marshall Street quietly. She wasn't certain what Addie would think of her idea but wanted to at least put it out there for her. It would be totally up to her whether she wanted to go along with it or not. She knew there was just as much of a chance she might be out with Aunt Charlie and Mallie in the Carriage House as she would be up in her room but decided to try up there first. As she reached the top of the stairs she could hear the muted sounds of music coming from the front bedroom Addie had quickly made into her own. Because she hated to be caught off-guard herself she called out as she turned toward the bedroom doors.

  "Addie, are you up here?" She called out as she reached the opened doorway into her room. She saw her sitting by the window with a pensive expression on her face. Far too quietly thoughtful for anyone her age, Mary thought to herself.

  "Do you have a minute," she walked slowly into the room wanting to gi
ve her a chance to beg off if she wanted. "I wanted to talk with you about something before I head back over to meet with Casey."

  "Sure." Addie turned away from the window as Mary sat down in the chair across from her.

  "I want you to know right out front that if you don't like this idea that I'm not going to feel anything but exactly how I feel about you now if you say no." She reached over for her hands. "And I think you're pretty great and that won't change." She gently squeezed Addie's hands in hers. "Okay?"

  "Okay," Addie said curious despite herself especially after the long talk she and Mary had already had.

  "I think what we're doing is exactly what we need to do. Everyone does," she assured her seeing the worry in her eyes. "I was wondering how you would feel about being in the segment that I'm going to do for it?" She saw the surprise and rushed forward with what she had planned to say hoping to get at least part of it to sound the way it did in her head. "I know you're going to do your own segment and I don't know if you want to do yours at the same time or separately but I just thought," she paused, wondering exactly what it was she thought. It sounded so much better when it played through in her thoughts than it did out loud.

  "Mary," Addie interrupted, waited for the older woman to look back at her. "I really like your idea." And it was the answer to her prayers. She knew some would scoff at that but there could be no other explanation in her mind.

  "That's wonderful honey!" Mary hugged her then held her back away from her to look closely into her eyes. "Are you sure? You're not just agreeing with me?"

  "I'm absolutely positive." Addie felt like laughing. She'd just been sitting there wondering how she was going to get through it without breaking down. But now...now she knew she could. And would get through it. "I'd like to do mine at the same time." She wondered if the relief on Mary's face came close to what she felt. "Maybe we could work on it together. Practice it." She shrugged, uncertain how it was all going to actually come together. "Or something."

  "You bet." Mary's mind was in overdrive as she thought more clearly than she had before of exactly what she wanted to say. The words that wouldn't come before were flowing easily now. She gave the young woman another quick and heartfelt hug. "I have to go now and get home before Casey gets there but you come by anytime you feel like it and we'll talk it out and figure out how we want this to go." She stopped at the doorway before heading toward the stairs. "Okay?"

  "Thanks, Mary."

  "Oh, Honey. Thank you!"

  

  "Okay, Casey. What's up?" Mary set the pot of fresh coffee down on the table between them. That simple action brought back so many memories over the last year as the two of them had started out here again in Burlington. She sighed as she poured herself a cup and studied her cousin.

  "I have an idea."

  "You've always got an idea. Mallie said pretty much the same earlier when you left after the meeting." At her cousin's questioning look she explained. "She overheard that you wanted to talk with me and suggested in her way that it was probably about something that would bring us both money and work."

  "Ummm." Casey wondered what her young cousin would think when she got around to her.

  "So, is the young one right?" Mary teased lightly. She already knew from the look on Casey's face that she was.

  Casey cleared her throat, a habit she'd long ago given up trying to do just that. Give it up. "The sales of your cookbook are doing a bit better than what our financials illustrated this morning."

  "How so?"

  "There's a couple of orders that are going to be coming in for them as soon as we have the inventory available to fill them." She gave her cousin a pointed look. "Our inventory is currently depleted because of the demand. The demand you told me wouldn't exist."

  "Yes. Well, I've been known to be wrong now and again. Just ask my kids." She knew this was leading up to something but didn't know what. And was getting a headache trying to anticipate it.

  "That's for sure." Casey took a breath. She needed to approach this the right way if she wanted to be successful and getting worked up wasn't going to get her anywhere. "Anyway, I was thinking..."

  "We already established that bad habit of yours."

  "Anyway, you've gotten the girls all in a flutter now that you're going to teach them how to make their own jewelry instead of having to fight over who gets what when you finish a piece."

  "Casey..." Mary turned to face her cousin getting a very real sense now of where the conversation might be going.

  Casey held up a hand. "Let me finish and then you can tell me all the ways I'm wrong." She waited quietly for the expression of dismay to soften on the face in front of hers. "I know you, you're thinking I want you to make custom jewelry for me to sell at horrendously extravagant prices because Mary Lane made it." She smiled a little wistfully. "In truth I'd love to but I know you and the moment you were making it for someone to pay for you'd never get another moment's enjoyment from your new little hobby."

  "That's the truth," Mary mumbled to herself but loud enough for Casey to hear.

  "What I am suggesting is that you work on a book of jewelry patterns." She rushed forward when she saw the argument forming. "The necklaces you made for each of the girls were gorgeous. Addie tells everyone that walks by it was custom made for her. Heck, you could name them, Addie's Necklace, Beth's Necklace, Mallie's Necklace, and if you felt really generous you'd make me one and you could call it Casey's Necklace. I wouldn't mind, really." She splayed her hands palm up in a gesture so like ones from their childhood they both laughed. "Will you think about it at least?" Casey asked quietly.

  Mary found that she could. Already was for that matter. And it was more appealing than she would have thought. She eyed Casey speculatively. She also knew that given an inch her cousin would push for a whole lot more once she knew she had you on the line. "I don't suppose you would have something outlining exactly what you want would you?" She sighed knowingly as her cousin pulled a very business looking folder from her huge purse that could have doubled as an overnighter. "I figured as much."

  "Mary," Casey fidgeted uncharacteristically with her rings. Rings that meant more to her than just about anything else. They signified the promise she and Pete had made to each other. And to themselves. "Just think about it. Please."

  "I will." She took the folder and set it aside on the table knowing there would be plenty of time later that night to go over it. "Tell me something."

  Casey waited quietly knowing Mary would get around to whatever she wanted to know in her own time.

  "Why?" She read the questions and continued. "Why, when I haven't written a word in over a year and it's been almost that long since my last book was released, that people want these things. Or you think they will." She saw the arched brow and knew it for what it meant. The cookbook had sold just as she'd been told to expect. And she had no doubt if Casey thought a book on jewelry designs would sell they likely would. She wanted to understand her cousin’s reasons. Why she thought they sold. And waited.

  Casey recognized the expression looking at her as something she'd seen in her own mirror. Because of that she understood it. And because of it took the time to more carefully word her response. And because it was important she decided to begin with honesty. "I didn't read all your books when they came out. Fact is I only read just a couple of them." She wished she could change that. If wishes were dimes she'd be wealthy. "I could say I was busy but I could have found the time. Looking back I think it was because we're cousins. God, Mary, we're like sisters in some ways. I never felt separated from you even when we were hundreds of miles apart. I think it was because of that, because you were Mary to me and not Mary Lane that the books were just something you did." She sighed, wishful thinking didn't get anyone far but she surely wished she was better with words. "But I've read a couple of them in the last couple of months and I read a whole lot of emails from your fans who’ve bought the cookbook. And I think they say it best. You wrote about family,
friends, life, and living a way that people could relate to. You made hope and dreams something everyone who read your books could aspire for themselves. You're missed. The thought of Mary Lane never again bringing people another story of where we can all go when we think we're alone to find out we really aren't, well it just makes people sad. I think your cookbook and if you decide on it, a book of your own jewelry designs, they bring a bit of you to the people who miss you. And maybe for those who still wish for another Mary Lane story of hope and happiness in a world that doesn't always make it easy for the average person to find, well maybe it gives them hope their wish may someday come true."

  Mary blinked to hold back the tears that were brimming close to the edge. "As my youngest would say, you slay me."

  Casey looked at her cousin steadily, her normal lighthearted mood nowhere to be seen. "I told you once before you were the best of us, Mary. That hasn't changed. None of us would be where we are today if it weren't for you."

  "Casey," Mary tried to stop her, the tears falling steadily from eyes that continued to fill.

  "You are," Casey repeated staunchly unwilling to let her cousin make light of it. "Carrie would tell you the same. We don't always agree on much but we agree without exception on this. My brother would say the same and not give you a chance to argue with him should you hazard in that direction. Your own brother would say the same as well. He might have other complaints about his big sister but that wouldn't be one of them. You made all that we have here possible. Not just because you came here first and paved the way but because you welcomed each and every one of us without so much as blinking. Good Lord, I called you in the middle of the night and you made me coffee, listened to me whine, told me I was welcome for as long as I needed or wanted, then tucked me in for the night in the same room we slept in together when we were kids. I will never, ever forget that."