Page 22 of In the Pursuit of Haven
“Yes.” I had seen her wadded-up tissues. Forgetting my own troubles in the grief that we shared, I pressed my hand against her soft one. “Thanks for being such a good friend to my aunt. I know she loved you.”
“We all loved her,” Bette Ann said firmly. “Now let me know if you run into any trouble up there at the lighthouse; what with you finding buyers for her property, finding lawyers, the works. Haven might not be here for you now, but I am. Never forget it.”
Of everyone in Salem, I knew Bette Ann was always someone I could count on. “Thank you!” I whispered.
Sneaking in another quick hug, I rushed away with my new stash, almost afraid those letters had disappeared while I was out confronting my devil of a husband and going on chocolate runs.
Forget burying Haven’s secrets with her. They were mine now, and I needed to know everything that was going on.
Chapter Six
No one had stolen the letters while I was gone. At least that! The bundle of Haven’s correspondence was back in my hand. The knot in the twine was giving me problems until eventually, I found a knife and sliced it through.
The envelopes were different sizes, different shapes, different colors. I shuffled through them, placing them face up on Haven’s bed while I sat cross-legged on her brightly colored quilt, just like the old days, except… no Haven.
I let out a breath. Strangely, I still felt her with me.Sorry, about this Haven, I just need to know what happened. I want to be respectful, but this is just too important. It’s about Jessie…
And she probably already knew that he was behind all the trouble in my life, and she’d tell me to get over him, but I just couldn’t. In a way, I wondered if she understood me too well.
Not all these letters were from Matthew, but there were too many in here for me to think that Bette Ann was exaggerating.
What was the nature of their relationship, anyway?He owns her property!
Taking a steadying breath, I decided to start with the one on the top. It was from Felicity. I’d never met Haven’s cousin—she’d moved to Europe somewhere—but Haven always talked fondly of her. Folding open the worn paper, I saw that her cousin’s cursive was light and flowy:
“Haven, when Mother heard you were coming, she burst into happy tears. I think that was the most emotion I’ve seen from her in months. Things have been hard and… yes, that’s an understatement. Her friends from town are avoiding coming around here, even Sarah and Tammy don’t look at me the same anymore, and I’m lonely. You have no idea how excited I am to see you. Having you here will be like things are almost normal again.
“And I need to be normal again. Desperately!
“None of us can believe it. I feel like I’m in a daze, but… oh, it’s so terrible—Mother can’t get out of bed. She hardly makes a noise. Who could ever believe there’d be a time we’d lose my father? He was always so strong, so dependable. He had a smile for everyone. No one hated him at all. He was always giving people a chance—switching out our nice car for an old jalopy because the new family in town just had a baby and needed more room, or lending Samuel Johnson his hammer, knowing he’d never return it. He’d always smuggle a few coins into Mark’s hand when he thought we weren’t looking, even if he knew he’d just spend it on more booze. Father was already an angel, Haven. I guess that was his downfall, huh?
“But for him to… No, I can’t even write it. None of this feels real… it’s just that I don’t know why he thought we’d be better off without him. He always said we were his world, but the Crabbs ripped everything else from him.
“We’re ruined. His business partner took it all. Silos Crabb is as dishonest, as deceitful as everyone said he was. I’ll never forgive him or any of his sorry progeny. No, never! I can’t look at a one of them without shaking in disgust, not that we run in their elite circles anymore, and I don’t care if Larry dropped me after hearing of our scandal. To think he was only after me because of our family’s money? Well, it’s a blessing to be free of those fair weather friends. They’ve all shown their true colors.
“I need you, Haven. Come as soon as you can and lift this dark cloud. You’re stronger than all of us put together, only don’t turn into a cyclone of vengeance and take up the gauntlet on our behalf. All I want from you is your hearty laughter and robust cheer. I never want to cry again, and I know with you here that I’ll find something to laugh about every day.
“I love you, Cousin. Come quickly!”
Typical Haven—she always answered the call to come to the rescue. She was only nineteen at the time, the same age as her cousin Felicity. And when Haven had left Boston, she’d fallen in love with the lighthouse and this coastal life and stayed here for good.
That wasn’t all my aunt had fallen in love with, was it?
The next note in the pile of papers wasn’t in an envelope; it was a calling card from Matthew Crabb to pay his respects to the family.
Andthatwas also typical Crabb behavior—completely unruffled by other people’s sensibilities, doing exactly the opposite of what manners dictated, like the unfeeling sharks they were.
I turned the cardstock over curiously, not knowing they were so formal in the ’70s, but Felicity did mention something about running in “elite circles.” Matthew’s name was stenciled in gold.
Such arrogance wouldn’t go over well with Haven. The last thing the family would want was to have the Crabbs over for tea… or however they entertained visitors back then.
I could just imagine the fireworks!
Almost eagerly, I picked up the next letter addressed to Haven in Felicity’s handwriting. No envelope, the brightly colored paper was just folded into a tight square, the kind best friends passed to each other on the sly. I peeled it open.
“Don’t be mad, Haven! Matthew was only bringing Robert Corwin to see me!”
Corwin… Corwin? I lowered the note. Was Robert possibly related to that unfeeling Sheriff Corwin back in the 1600s, along with his corrupt cousin, Jonathan Corwin—the witch-hunting magistrate? The Corwins had a whole museum in Salem dedicated to them now.
