Page 85 of Saltwater Memories
Epilogue
The view from his new house was perfect; he couldn’t see anyone or anything at all. It was wooded bliss, completely secluded, just the way that he liked it. No one could get within five hundred feet of the property without Mike knowing it, and considering the year he’d had, that was exactly what he needed.
Margie was convinced that he’d want his old house back, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, Mike had liked that house, back in the day. But it made him too vulnerable to be on the water. His new place was much more secure, and he told her that much.
Besides, Mike wasn’t going to challenge Hank and kick them out of their marital home. He was lucky that Hank didn’t try to drown him after Amanda ended up in Lenny’s line of fire again.
It wasn’t Mike’s finest moment; he could admit that now. Though he hadn’t expected Amanda to go barreling into danger on her own. He also just wasn’t used to working with people – non-professionals in particular. Perhaps he should’ve paid more attention to her romantic feelings; that would’ve given him a hint of what she was willing to do. It was all part of the process of getting used to living amongst regular people again.
It was odd having obligations, like Sunday dinner. He sighed as he got dressed for the event. He was never one for big gatherings – there were too many competing voices for his taste.
Yet this was life with regular people – with family. When he got to the house, he maintained his quiet for most of the dinner and watched the ones he didn’t know. Tiffany had flown in from Olympia with her fiancé Sidney. He was a clean-cut sort of guy, and also a man of few words.
Mike monitored him carefully. Though he had insisted that the only people he wanted to talk to were his sister, Hank, and Amanda, Margie shot that down quickly.
“We’re afamily,Mike. You have to include everyone. Otherwise you just cause trouble and confusion, as you’ve seen.”
“The boyfriends aren’t family. I can’t even do proper background checks,” he complained.
Margie ignored his protests, so there he was, watching them all and scowling.
No one seemed to take much notice of him. They were focused on Tiffany and Jade announcing their plan to have a joint wedding, right at Saltwater Cove.
Margie was ecstatic. “This is the best news I’ve had all year!”
“Are you sure that you don’t mind?” Jade asked.
“Mind? This is wonderful!
“And,” added Tiffany, “It’ll save me a lot of work in planning.”
Hank nodded. “It’s economical, not just with money, but with everyone’s time.”
Margie shot him a stern look and he retreated into his slice of apple pie. Mike caught Sidney’s eyes, and they both stifled a laugh.
Maybe this guy wasn’tsobad. Hank seemed to trust him.
“Congratulations to you all,” Mike finally said, breaking his silence.
“Can we expect to see you there, then?” Amanda asked.
He smiled. It was nice that Amanda was speaking to him again. She’d given him the silent treatment, followed by an earful about his “poor communication skills” after Lenny shot up that house. “I think so, yes. I plan to stay here for a while. At least until I figure out exactly what interest a New York City mob family has on San Juan Island.”
Hank laughed. “Then you’re gonna be here a while.”
“Wait!” Morgan held up a hand. “So you’re finally admitting that Lennyisin the mob?”
Jade smiled. “Play it alittlecool, Morgan.”
Morgan was beside herself. “Iknewit!”
“Don’t make me regret this,” Mike said as he set down his napkin. Morgan quieted and he briefly considered if he needed another piece of pie. He decided against it and kept talking. “Thanks to Will and some investigating, I know what Lenny was doing with those properties.”
Now he had everyone’s interest.
“Really?” Amanda leaned forward. “Because I’m dying to know.”
“It appears that the Sabini family decided to get involved in real estate here to launder money.”
