“Sure,” Ali said, taking the dark green Keflex with another soda. “I’ll wait until tonight to take the pain meds. I’m okay right now. I need to go to Val’s and see if she’s home with Renée. You want to walk with me?” Ali hoped if Val were home, she didn’t mind her bringing Tammy along.
“Sure, if you want,” Tammy said.
“I want to get my purse and keys to the Jeep so I can change into real clothes,” she told her. “I’m slow,” she warned as they headed toward the beach.
The sun was still out, yet not a soul could be found on the beach. Birds called, their wings fluttering above them. With a slight breeze, it was just the kind of evening one would spend walking along the beach. Ali took her time, not wanting to injure herself any further. She’d had enough. It was time to find out what the hell was happening on this island. As soon as she saw Kit, she’d let him question Tammy about the killing buckets, if they hadn’t already come up in his investigation.
As soon as she saw the blue beach house, Ali spied Renée sitting on the deck with Val and an unfamiliar man. When she reached the steps, she called out, “Is it okay if I come up? I need my purse.” She didn’t want to interrupt them if this was a private family moment.
“Thank God!” Val said, racing down the steps. “I’ve been worried to death about you. Come on, there is something I need to tell you.” She looked at Tammy. “Do I know you?” Val asked her. “You look familiar.”
“I work in town at the dollar store,” Tammy said. “You’ve read for me a couple times, though it’s been a while.”
“Of course! You’d think I would remember. Come on up, both of you,” Val insisted.
They followed her up the three flights of steps. When Ali saw who Renée was sitting next to, she shot Val a questioning look.
“Have a seat,” Val instructed. “Before I get started, do either of you need something to drink?”
Both shook their heads.
“Are you okay, Renée?” Alison asked her, though she looked just fine.
“I am fine, seriously. Mom can fill you in,” Renée said, giving her a smile that lit up her entire face.
“When I told you about him . . .” Val directed her glance to the still-silent man sitting on the deck with them—none other than John Wilson. “I wasn’t completely honest. With you, with Renée, and a lot of other people.”
“No, she wasn’t, and I should be pissed, but I’m not,” John said, then reached over and patted Renée on her leg.
Okay, this was weird, Ali thought. The longer she stayed on this island, the more baffled she felt. Wasn’t this guy a freaking pervert?
“John is Renée’s dad,” Val blurted.
“I . . . see,” Ali said, but she didn’t. It wasn’t what she’d been expecting to hear.
“It’s cool, huh?” Renée said. “Mom didn’t want me to know about her sordid past, so she made up a story about some French dude being my dad. John . . . Dad suspected I was his daughter, right?” She looked at him, love written all over her face.
Ali waited.
“We had a little romance when we were teenagers,” Val explained. “After my parents died, I was lonely, and Andre, my guardian, kept me under lock and key most of the time. When he found out I was pregnant, he forced me to marry him, and sadly, I’ve resented, or rather hated, John since. I thought he’d step up to the plate, take responsibility for his actions. We were both young. Andre told anyone who’d listen that Renée was his daughter. She was just a baby when he passed away. He was way too old for me. I’d convinced myself John was a sexual predator, because he allowed Andre to pretend he was her father. Hurt beyond words, every chance I got to bad mouth him, I did. Then he told Renée the truth.”
“I kinda resemble him,” Renée remarked.
Ali looked at John, then Renée. They did resemble one another. She hadn’t noticed this before, but there wasn’t any reason to, given the fact Val told her he was into little girls.
“John took her out of town for a quick DNA test. That’s where they were yesterday,” Val finished. “I hope you won’t hold this all against me, but I understand if you do. I’ve given John quite the bad rep with a few islanders.”
“Hey, I should’ve stepped up to the plate and acted like a man instead of a pissed-off teenager,” he said. “By the way, Alison, I’m sorry if I scared you. Really. I thought . . . well, it doesn’t matter what I thought, but welcome to the island, and all that jazz.”
“And to think I was ready to blow your balls off,” Ali said, a slight smile curving her mouth.
“Tell them about the killing bucket,” Tammy said out of the blue.
All three sets of eyes focused on her.
“I don’t think now is the time for this,” Ali said, then stood. “If you could just bring my things out, I’ll be on my way.”
No one said a word when Val went inside, soon returning with her purse and a shopping bag. “Your clothes,” she said to Ali.
“Thanks. I need to . . . go home. I’ll see you around,” she said to Renée. The hurt look on her young face stabbed her directly in her heart, but until she could make sense out of what she’d just learned, it was best she do this on her own.
Tammy followed her down the steps. As soon as they were out of earshot, she asked, “What exactly happened?”
Briefly as she could, Ali filled her in on what Val had said about John. “I suspected there was more to the story, but it wasn’t what I thought.”
“Tell you what—I’ll get your luggage from your Jeep, bring it to you, then see that you’re set up for the night before I go home. Peaches and the girls are probably wondering why they haven’t been fed.”
Ali smiled. “Poor babies. Of course, do what you need to. I’m fine. I have my phone and keys now. I’m all good. There’s a sleeping bag in the back of the Jeep. If you could bring that too, I’ll be set for the rest of the evening.”
“Absolutely,” Tammy agreed. “I’ll call you when I get home if you want, just to check in.”
“No, you don’t have to do that. Just take care of the kitties, and don’t worry about me. I’m going to take one of those pain pills, call Kit, and pass out.”
“I’ll get the rest of your things from your Jeep,” Tammy said.
Ali nodded. Back in the kitchen, she wiped the counter down with her good hand, trying to focus on what Val had told her, and why she lied about John Wilson. It made a sort of twisted sense, though she suspected there was even more to her story where he was concerned. What she didn’t understand is how Val could badmouth this guy all these years without proving he’d done all the wicked things she’d accused him of. Could it really be that John Wilson didn’t give a damn? But that was odd, too. Why would he allow her to spread such vicious rumors? Again, this island and its people baffled her.
Tammy tapped on the door, and Ali hurried over to help her. “You didn’t have to bring all of this in one trip,” she said, closing the door behind them. “Thanks. Again.”