Page 60 of Between Two Shores

“You okay?” Lachlan frowned.

The sick disappointment must’ve shown on her face. “As can be expected.”

He unlocked his car with a remote. “Sorry.”

“You didn’t do anything. You’re my good Samaritan.”

He grinned. “Get aboard the donkey then.” He opened her door and closed it behind her.

As he reversed out of the parking lot and shifted to first gear, he glanced her way. “I have an address for a S.A. DeHann at Pacific Senior Village. It’s in Oceanside. Want to head on? If she’s not there, we can call and schedule a time to see her. I’d rather explain in person if we can.”

“Agreed.”

BETH

Susan DeHann placed the china tea set on the white-laced table, her movements fluid and unhurried. A fountain trickled in the corner of her delightful backyard, and wind chimes tinkled nearby.

“This is a lovely place you have here, Mrs. DeHann,” Beth said.

“Please, call me Sue.” The corners of her mouth creased as she smiled. “I’ve made many friends in the complex. I never feel alone.” A little tremor shook her hands as she unloaded the cups and saucers. She must be in her seventies. Waves of thin silver hair touched her drawn cheeks. Although her shoulders rounded, Sue could reach five foot, ten inches.

“How long have you lived here?” Lachlan asked.

“Eight years.” She poured the tea into three cups, then sat. “Help yourself.” She gestured to the cookies.

Lachlan lifted the milk jug and raised a brow at Beth. She nodded, and he added milk to her tea, and placed a chocolate-chip cookie on the saucer.

“So, you have some concerns about Nicholas?” Susan asked.

Beth flicked her gaze to Lachlan, and his eyes told her to be brave.

“Sue, I was engaged to your son. A swift engagement, mind you, but we had planned to get married in two weeks. Did he send you the details?”

“No. Nicholas is very protective of his personal life. He doesn’t like my nagging.” She rolled her eyes. “You said, ‘was’ engaged. He’s done it again, hasn’t he?”

Beth straightened in her chair. “He’s broken an engagement before?” She blinked. “Oh, Tracy. I didn’t know they were—”

“Married. She filed an annulment, and the court accepted her reasons.” Susan’s tone held no emotion.

Lachlan squeezed Beth’s hand under the table. He leaned toward Sue. “May I ask on what grounds it was approved, Mrs. DeHann?”

“Unsound mind. He became unwell and ended up in a hospital, a month after they were married. But he refused to stay on the medication when he got out, and Tracy couldn’t handle his moods. They hadn’t been together long before he’d proposed, and so the court accepted she didn’t know he had mental health issues prior to the marriage. He hadn’t told Tracy about past episodes.”

Beth’s pulse quickened. “He hadn’t told me either, and I didn’t know he’d been married before.”

“Annulment is as if the marriage didn’t exist.” Susan sighed. “But he should’ve told you. You can understand why he wouldn’t, though?” She shook her head. “Nicholas denies he has an illness.”

“I’m a qualified counselor, Mrs. DeHann. I’d imagine this has been difficult over the years, worrying about your son’s welfare?”

Sue’s eyes became glassy. “Yes. It breaks my heart. But he won’t listen to me. Says I’m judgemental and critical. At twenty-three, he first had clinical depression, and he wanted help then. But when the mania occurs, it’s a high he enjoys—until he crashes. And he will, eventually. Then I’ll get a phone call from someone. Pay for the damages or a hospital bill.”

Beth touched her lips. “I’m so sorry, Sue.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “He’s in Israel, I think. That’s the last conversation we had about his plans. Then he disappeared. He wouldn’t answer my calls, so I don’t know for certain of his whereabouts.”

Sue’s forehead wrinkled. “He’s visited there before, five years ago. But he ran out of money and begged me to pay for his flight home. I couldn’t say no. He didn’t sound well, and I worried he’d have an episode over there with no insurance.”

Beth bit her lip. Would Nick become unwell in Israel? She glanced at Lachlan. Concern lined his face too. He knew more about these things than she did. Lachlan had seen his neighbor go through it.

“I hope he’ll be okay.” What else could she say? Was it okay to ask more questions?

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