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“I explained to Ms. Jones that the money Nana Bee left her was nontransferable. Nana Bee did say, however, that whatever business you finished together could be transferred. Ms. Jones signed over her portion of the business. I just need you each to sign as well,” Mr. Lawrence stated.
“No,” both Rafe and Bass said.
He laughed. “I had a feeling that would be your answer. I suggest you speak with Ms. Jones.”
“Tell me where she is and that’s exactly what I’ll do,” Bass said.
“She didn’t leave a forwarding address, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Mr. Lawrence said.
Bass realized he wasn’t going to get any more information from the attorney so he left the office. Rafe joined him a few minutes later.
“What are you going to do?” Rafe asked.
“I don’t know. I have no idea why she felt the need to run. Things have been great between the two of us.”
“Well, I think a lot is guilt over her father. I made the mistake of blaming her for her father’s sins. If I did that with no emotional ties to her, imagine how much she blames herself. I think she left because she thought she was doing the right thing. You’re going to have to find her and set her straight,” Rafe told him.
Bass finally came up with a semblance of a smile. “I intend to do that. I’m at a loss right now on where to start.”
“When you calm down a bit, you’ll figure it out,” Rafe said.
“I need a drink. Do you have time?” Bass asked.
“I wasn’t there for you over the past six years. I’ll make the time,” Rafe said as he clapped him on the back.
The two of them walked to the local bar and ordered a drink. Bass had no appetite, but Rafe didn’t have a problem ordering greasy food. After an hour of sitting, Bass found a real smile. He then ordered another drink and food.
“What have you come up with?” Rafe asked.
“The letters,” Bass said.
“What about the letters?”
“She told Nana Bee everything. If there are any hints to where she’s gone, they will be in the letters.”
“Didn’t you give them back?” Rafe asked.
Bass gave him a guilty smile. “Well, I might’ve copied one or two before handing them over.” He looked down.
Rafe laughed hard. “Or all of them.”
“Maybe all of them.”
He’d gone from panicked to hopeful within a few hours. He would find Ella and make her listen to him. It was time he stopped being afraid. It was time he told her how he really felt. They were meant to be together, and he was going to make sure that happened. He realized he was more than ready for the eternity kind of love. There’d be no other women for him. He was officially a taken man.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ella
“Sittin’ on the dock of the bay, watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh, sittin’ on the dock of the bay, wastin’ time.”
Ella sang her heart out as she sat on the dock with her feet in the water. She wouldn’t stay here, but the coastal town of Florence, Oregon was exactly where she needed to be right now. A lot of horrific memories about her time with her aunt remained, but she’d loved Florence at one time. She’d spent as much time away from home as possible, so she pretty much knew the city inside and out. There were great people in the small community.
Her favorite place in Florence had been Wohank Lake. In the summer the place was crowded. In the winter very few came to the windy lake. It had a boat launch with a dock that was perfect to sit on and let your feet glide through the water.
Anytime her aunt had beaten her too hard or put her down, or kicked her from the house, she’d left and made the hour-long walk to the lake. Many times she’d sat there for so long, she’d fall asleep on the dock. She’d also taken her notebook and a pen with her each time just as she had this day. It was a good place to write letters or songs or stories. She felt free at the lake.
Even if she loved this place, she couldn’t make permanent roots in the town where her aunt had abused her for so long. The woman still lived here, and though it wasn’t a large place, the times she’d come back she’d never run into her. Ella wondered what kind of reaction she’d have to seeing her aunt. She hoped she’d walk past without a care in the world. She wasn’t sure she was that grown up though.
