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Lauren couldn’t see that happening. Especially not with Jessica as the lead council for Ted’s real estate group.
“At any rate, we do have a secret weapon.” Pilar snapped her fingers. “Next,” she barked. Shea clicked on the next screen. An image of Lauren popped up this time.
“Me?” Lauren said. “I’m your secret weapon?”
“You’re old Earl’s grandniece. Go reason with him. Kitty did it a few years ago when Ted Ferguson was trying to buy land before. It worked then and she’s not even related to him.”
She had no idea if Earl would see her. The last she’d heard he was practically a recluse. She could take Daddy along, but she hated to involve him in this. No, it was up to her to, as Pilar put it, “save Whispering Bay.”
*~*~*
Lauren pulled her car in front of the one-story cream colored stucco home. Mexico Beach was only an hour’s drive from Whispering Bay, but the traffic had been brutal. It was also full out summer now and the temperatures were in the mid-nineties. No wonder Lauren was sweating so profusely. Knowing that she was going to have to throw herself on old Earl’s mercy wasn’t helping her stay cool and composed, either. She hadn’t seen him in years. What on earth was she going to say to him to get him to change his mind?
The door was answered by a woman with short cropped gray hair. She wore Birkenstocks and had a kind face, but a direct approach. “What do you want?”
“Hi, I’m Lauren Donalan, but I used to be Lauren Handy. Earl is my great uncle and I was wondering if I could talk to him?”
She ushered Lauren inside the house. It was a nice house, simple, with terra cotta tiled floors and lots of pictures on the walls. Mostly of ocean views, but there were also lots of sailboats, as well. Lauren remembered Daddy saying Earl had been an expert sailor. A black-and-white photo on the fireplace mantel of a young Earl holding up a marlin caught Lauren’s attention. She’d seen a smaller version of the picture before in an old family album. The resemblance between Earl and Daddy was shockingly strong.
An elderly gentleman sat in a leather chair with a crocheted blanket over his knees. He appeared to be asleep.
“I’m DeeDee, Earl’s nurse,” the woman said. “I’m afraid Earl really can’t talk to anyone.”
“Because he’s sleeping? I can come by later, if that would be all right.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. He doesn’t make sense anymore and he doesn’t really remember anyone either. Not me, or even his own daughter.” She paused. “I’m sorry, I thought since you were family that you knew that.”
“I’m sorry, I did know that, but I had hoped maybe that…” Lauren stared at the sleeping man. He seemed so peaceful. She glanced back at the photo above the fireplace. Earl must have been around thirty when that picture had been taken. He appeared so strong. So full of life.
DeeDee noticed her looking at the photo. “Can I ask what this is about?”
“I
wanted to talk to him about some property he owns, but, I suppose that’s impossible.”
DeeDee nodded. “Vince, he’s married to Earl’s daughter, Lenore, is in charge of all of Earl’s business now.”
“Do you know where I can find him?”
DeeDee walked over to a small desk and came back with a business card. She handed it to Lauren. “His office is just a few miles down the beach.” Lauren took the card and was about to thank her when DeeDee added, “I don’t know what kind of business you have with Vince, but let me warn you, just because you’re related, he’s not going to cut you any kind of break. Vince is all about the bottom line.”
“Thanks,” Lauren said. She walked over to Earl and laid her hand across his. He woke up briefly, stared at her with filmy eyes, then closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.
*~*~*
Whispering Bay was totally screwed. Vince Palermo was worse than Tony Soprano. Tony Soprano, at least, had a heart. Well, somewhere in his twisted sociopathic self. The bottom line, as Pilar would say, was this: Vince wanted money. He didn’t care what happened to her business or anything else. The land was available to the highest bidder. Period.
Lauren was about to leave his office when the door opened and a woman came walking in, like she owned the place. Which, Lauren recognized immediately, she did. It was Lenore Handy Palermo, Earl’s daughter and Daddy’s cousin, better known to members of the family as Nora. Which made her Lauren’s second cousin, she supposed. Nora recognized her, too, and although, they hadn’t seen one another in a long time, Lauren gave her a hug.
Nora was close to Daddy’s age, maybe a couple of years younger. Vince was husband number two. Or was it three? Lauren couldn’t remember, but she knew Nora didn’t have any children.
“So, what brings you to Mexico Beach?” Nora asked.
“Actually, I need a favor.” A really, really big favor.
Vince made a scoffing noise. “She wants me to freeze out Ferguson on that beach front property. I did it once, but I’m not a charity here.”
Nora tossed her husband a look of extreme dislike, instantly shutting him up. She looked at Lauren and shrugged. “I’d like to help you, but I just don’t think we can pass this up right now.”
