Page 41 of Coral Memories

Blake greeted him with a confident, friendly handshake and reached down to pet Scout. “It’s good to see you, but what’s so urgent? Is it Heather?”

“She’s fine for now. But we need to talk. Marina and I met your parents.”

Blake shook his head. “They’re a pair, for sure.” His brow furrowed as he noticed Jack’s serious expression. “Wait, what happened?”

“You haven’t heard from your parents?”

“No. What’s going on?”

Blake looked like he had no idea what had transpired. “Let’s take a walk,” Jack replied. The sturdy wooden deck creaked under their weight as they set off.

Jack hated interrogating Heather’s fiancé, but the news was better coming from him than Marina or Heather. “Your father told us you’re engaged to another woman. Care to explain that?”

Blake’s face paled. “Oh, no. Did Marina tell Heather?”

“Not yet,” Jack replied. “I wanted to give you a chance to sort this out with your parents and Heather. But I’m not sure how long Marina can keep from saying something to her. She’s awfully upset.” He fixed Blake with a steady gaze. “What do you have to say for yourself? Is it true?”

Blake ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “It’s complicated. My father’s partner had a daughter, and we grew up together. Priscilla and I dated for a couple of months in high school, and it was sort of serious, but we went our separate ways for college. That was the end of it. However, our parents made assumptions, and Priscilla never corrected them.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this to Heather?” Jack asked, disappointed in his story.

Blake shook his head. “It’s been years now. I thought Priscilla would find someone and get married. I didn’t think it was important.”

“Well, it is now.”

“Yeah, I know. I guess Priscilla is still interested, but I’m not. That’s why I avoid events where I know she’ll be. Our folks still throw us together.”

Jack sighed. “So why are your parents—especially your father—so set on Priscilla for you?”

“Yeah. That’s where it gets complicated. It’s all about money and business.”

Blake’s tone had a bitter edge Jack hadn’t heard before. No, not bitterness. Frustration. “Explain it to me. You’re going to have to tell Heather everything.”

“I see that now.” Blake drew a hand across his face. “Dad’s been working on his estate and retirement plan. There’s a lot of money at stake, along with tax implications. If something happens to either partner, they don’t want an outsider coming in and taking over. Essentially, everything would be easier if Priscilla and I were married. We would inherit equally, and the business would go on.” He shook his head. “Her father isn’t well, so Dad is getting nervous.”

“That’s a lot to consider. I imagine it’s hard to turn your back on that.”

Blake met Jack’s gaze with fierce determination. “I don’t care about the business or the money. I love what I do, and it pays enough for me to be comfortable and have a family. I don’t need to throw money around on fancy cars and airplanes like my father does. I grew up with that. Why do you think I became an aquatic veterinarian?”

“Animals are nicer than people, huh?”

“Many of them. Not Heather, or you guys, though. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Hey, I know how that feels.” Jack nodded, processing this information. “For the record, your mother apologized. She seemed embarrassed by the whole situation.”

“She is,” Blake admitted. “She knows Priscilla isn’t right for me, but she has to live with my dad. Their marriage has been rocky for years. It’s a primer on what not to do in a relationship.” Blake scrubbed his face in irritation.

A heavy silence fell between them, broken by waves lapping the boats. Scout panted patiently beside them.

Finally, Blake asked, “So, will you tell Heather?”

Jack shook his head firmly. “That’s your job, my man. But you’d better do it fast and let her hear from you. This isn’t the kind of secret that stays buried for long.”

“I’m seeing her tonight.” Blake’s shoulders slumped with the weight of the task ahead.

If the younger man’s words were true, Jack was truly sorry for him. He’d hear about it soon enough.

Watching Blake’s retreating figure, Jack made a mental note to check in with Marina. They would have a difficult conversation ahead, deciding how to tell Heather if Blake didn’t come clean soon. Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a complicated situation.

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