Jolene shot up and rounded the corner before she’d formulated any kind of a plan. The faces of the two surprised men stared at her with open mouths.
“Father, you expect too much from Craig. He is a man of honor and should not be forced to keep your dirty little secret. It involves me and Selene—yes? Otherwise Craig would not find himself trapped.”
Her father’s face drained white and he groped for the nearby stone wall. He leaned against it and Jolene could see his wobbly legs threatening to collapse. She rushed to his side.
“You should sit, Father.”
When the three of them sat around her dining table, Jolene bit her tongue so as not to race ahead of whatever caused her father such grief. She felt the caress of Craig’s hand on hers and never pulled away but basked in the comfort that they silently shared.
“This resort was a bad idea,” Trace suddenly said in a croaked voice.
“No use blaming it on the resort, Father.”
“I suppose not. The mess happened long before we all collided at Heritage Inn.” His chuckle was pathetic. “How appropriate is that? Even the name of the place mocks me.”
“You are talking in riddles,” Jolene said. “You just need to spit out the secret that seems to have you bound in knots and clear your conscience. Nothing can be so bad that it’s unforgivable.”
“You may be surprised.” Trace studied his daughter through misty eyes. “I need to gather the forces. Shall we all meet in my suite around eight o’clock?”
“We all?” Craig asked.
“I suppose you’ve gotten yourself tangled in this mess too, so come along and watch the show. It’s what you wanted, for me to spill the beans. Maybe you can bring some comfort to… well, to whomever you choose. See you at eight.” He held Jolene’s gaze. “Please, daughter, remember I love you, and have always tried to do the best for you. But you have glimpsed my human side in these latter years so you will not be surprised that the confused man has always lurked inside me.”
He stood, grabbed a mint from the center dish on the table, and left without another word.
Jolene’s hand trembled and Craig strengthened his hold on it. “I’ll be there for you, Jolene. Whatever this is all about you need to know I’m in your court. I love you.”
“You’ve said that many times, but your actions today have proven contrary.”
“Selene is begging, and it’s not like her. The unknown that she cannot control is her biggest weakness. She and her mother are at odds, even worse than usual, and I suspect it’s frightening her. I couldn’t find it in my heart to break up when she is broken and vulnerable for the first time since I’ve known her.” He sighed and fanned his fingers through his hair. “Call me an idiot, but…”
Jolene placed her hand on his arm. “You are not an idiot. Perhaps Selene and I are, but not you.”
“But I am returning to Sebring and I hope you will receive me when I come calling,” Craig said. “I can’t live a lie—I won’t live a lie. When Selene gets back to work, she’ll be stronger, and the leaving will be easier. She doesn’t need me, or even want me for more than the occasional distraction to her true passion, which is rising to the top of the ladder at Fashion Queen Magazine.”
“You appear to be attracted to career women,” Jolene said. “Such a troublesome burden for you to bear.”
“With you, I will gladly bear it—until death do us part—I promise.”
Was now the time to tell him of her dissatisfaction in choosing career over love? It might just complicate things, or it could clarify things. Not tonight, was her final decision. It would be enough to deal with this top-secret meeting with her father tonight.
“I’m going to my room and rest a bit,” Jolene said. “Might need additional strength for the upcoming reveal of my dad’s confused confession.”
“Wonder who else will be there,” Craig said.
“Besides you and me—probably Barbie, and most likely, Sheki, since she seems to be in the loop. And that will drag in Selene, as well.” Jolene laughed. “A rather full house of lit fuses, if you ask me.”
“I suppose.” His face displayed a depth of sadness she could not identify.
“Relax. It won’t be a big reveal for you, right? You already know—you’re just there to dry the tears.”
“If you need me, Jolene, just call out. I’ll be sitting on the sidelines.”
“And I will sit next to Father, in case that weakness overtakes him again. That scared me. He is generally strong in both mind and body. Goes to show you the destructive power of secrets.”
“Now would be a good time to make your escape,” Craig said. “The enemy approaches.”
Jolene looked up to see Selene headed their way. “She is not my enemy. I don’t even know her.”
“She does have good character traits, most of which are buried so deep, she doesn’t even know they exist. Rest well, Jolene.” Craig stood as Selene approached and turned his back to Jolene, making her departure easy.
The hands on the clock showed seven-forty-five, and Jolene felt no more ready for the meet-and-greet as she had earlier. Truth be known, she’d rather bury her head under the pillow and sleep it away.
An ominous weight bore down on her as she dressed in jeans and a light sweat shirt. The engraving on it read: “Sebring Sunshine” and she claimed the peace that thoughts of home brought. Her feet shuffled along the hallway as if attempting to drag her back to
