Page 165 of Always Be an Us

I don’t blame him. Rick’s crime shook a lot of people in this town, perhaps especially Lou. I saw her a few days ago at her restaurant during closing time, and she was standing at the counter staring into space.

Her eyes were tired and red, her cheeks streaked with tears, her face swollen. I had no doubt she had been crying the whole day, which was a difficult thing for a tough woman like her to do.

When our eyes met, I didn’t say anything. I simply walked to her and gave her a hug from behind. She held herself stiffly at first, too proud to break, but finally the sobs tore from her throat and she sagged against my body.

“He said he did it for me,” she cried as she turned around to hold me tight, shaking like she was going to shatter into pieces. “When I went to see him in jail, he told me that he wanted us to have money to retire, so I wouldn’t have to work so hard. What a fool!”

“It’s okay,” was all I could say as tears jumped into my eyes too. Rick’s situation hurt me too, as much as I tried to hide it and hold it together for Grandpa. I still had a lot of affection for him but that kind of betrayal, I wasn’t sure I could get over it. I could deeply relate to how Lou was feeling.

“It’s not your fault,” I tell her. Because even though Rick might have had a few altruistic reasons for what he did, it doesn’t take away the fact that he committed a series of crimes that could have killed or at least seriously injured Declan’s daughter. It also led to the deaths of several members of this town. As much as we love him, he needs to pay the price for that, even if we all suffer as a result.

Just like Grandpa is suffering now.

"Are you okay?" I ask him, my words somewhat muffled by another gust of wind.

He turns to me and smiles sadly. "I’m okay, kiddo. It’s just Rick I’m thinking about. I’m pissed at him, and the Mayor Duncan. But I mean with Mayor Duncan, I always knew he was kinda shifty even though we were pals. But Rick…I never in a million years thought he would end up there."

“Me either.” I lean my head against his shoulder. "You’re worried about him?"

"He’s always been chasing something." Grandpa murmurs as though talking to himself. "We both grew up poor but Rick was worse off than I was. And he hated it, especially when he saw how the other half lived, whenever they would come to the hotel for their vacations and he would be stuck catering to them. He started chasing that one thing that would make him a millionaire, like them. I thought he’d grown out of that as he got older. After we opened the bar, I hoped he was content and had settled down. So I didn’t see the signs that anything was wrong.

I take his hand and squeeze it. "I’m sorry Grandpa."

"It’s alright, darling, it’s not your fault. It's not mine either. I just wish I saw it before it was too late."

A distant lark chirps and Grandpa lazily swings his fishing pole.

"If it makes you feel better, Declan isn't pressing any charges against Rick," I point out, straightening. People died in his cabin and Rick has to face the consequences for that but Declan is dropping the kidnapping and breaking-and-entering charges

"That’s nice of him," Grandpa says, tugging his pole halfheartedly. "He’s a good man."

"He is," I say. "I’m in love with him, Grandpa."

"I know." My grandfather gives me a droll look that reminds me of Amelia. "I may be old but I’m not senile. Anyone with two working eyes could tell you were in love with him. And he’s in love with you too, even though he may not know it."

"Oh, he knows it. He told me."

"Well, that's good." Grandpa chuckles. "I guess you finally picked one right." He throws me a sidelong look with a smirk.

"Grandpa." I groan.

"Sorry hon. I couldn't resist."

I also finally reminded Grandpa of who Xavier is and explained how he was involved in this whole thing. Apparently, he'd found out about the Rainbow Pearl business through his uncle, when Xavier showed him the pearl I gifted him.

Xavier's uncle had then told him of men who dealt in pearls, and Xavier's investigation of this led back to Rick. Xavier eventually went to Rick in person and asked to be included, starting a very messy business relationship.

It’s also why he wanted to get back together with me even after we broke up. It had nothing to do with his feelings for me. He was just determined to use me to get more information on the Pearls and ensure that Rick didn’t sideline him.

For some reason, that particular piece of news relieved me. It’s nice to know that the pearl exchange curse isn’t real. Xavier was never obsessed with me in the first place. He simply was obsessed with money.

Like Rick, Xavier was also sitting in prison, which is strange because I expected his family to bail him out by now. Then again, according to Jensen, Xavier's family had fallen into debt, which is why he took on this crazy scheme in the first place. I haven't spoken to Xavier since everything happened, not wanting to waste any more time on him, but I know Declan in particular is eager to have his charges stick.

"At the very least he has to pay for what he did to you," Declan said. And while I don't encourage vengeance, it's sweet that he's so mad about the stalking on my behalf, especially since I was afraid for so long that no one would believe me.

"We have to go soon," I point out to Grandpa. "Declan is expecting us at the Pink Hotel." Today kicks off the beginning of the fall festival, and Declan has generously agreed to let the town use the hotel front lawn for the fair, even though the hotel isn't renovated yet.

Unfortunately, the Tiki Bar is closed for the time being until the FBI's investigation is over, but at least we can have some fun at the party.

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