Page 99 of To Catch a Thief

Carolina collapsed into a chair, staring at the door Dolley had closed. Would things have been different if they’d known they were related? Would she have been included in their family?

She shook her head. No. The connection that tied them together had been their father. Their mothers would have kept them apart.

She peeled off her wet shorts and shirt, leaving on her underwear. She couldn’t go commando in someone else’s clothes. The cracked paint on the T-shirt spelled out Institute of Culinary Education. She pulled up leggings that were more like capris on her. But everything was dry.

After bundling her wet clothes into a bag, she went looking for Mamá. She’d only been to the front of the house a few times. Fitzgerald House was huge. And beautiful. And classy. Soft music played from the library. She nodded as Amy checked in a family at reception.

Mamá held court in front of a gorgeous white marble fireplace, holding a glass of wine. A small plate of food sat on a table next to her. Her eyes sparkled, maybe too brightly, but she was smiling. A couple talked with her. People and kids milled around the buffet tables.

Why couldn’t this be their life? Not owning and running Fitzgerald House, she wouldn’t know a thing about that. But having her mother happy and smiling. Cancer-free.

There was a rattle of a cart and Abby set a hand on her shoulder.

“There are so many guests,” Carolina said.

“Evacuees,” Abby whispered. “I’ve brought them dinner.”

“I never thought…”

“Your mother can have dinner in here or with us in the kitchen,” Abby offered.

“You’ve been so kind.” Carolina sighed. “I was just wishing she was cancer-free.”

Abby’s hand moved up and down her back. “I wish that for you, too.”

“Let me check with Mamá on where she wants to eat.”

She stepped into the library. Abby pushed the cart in behind her.

“Hey, Mamá.”

“Here’s my beautiful daughter.” Mamá waved a hand. “She has the voice of an angel.”

Mamá made introductions, stumbling over the names of the couple she was with.

“Do you want to eat dinner with us in the kitchen or eat in the library?” Carolina asked Mamá after greeting the couple.

“Eat with us,” Mamá’s new friend Lila said. She looked up at Carolina. “If that’s okay?”

“Mamá?”

“I’d rather eat here.” Mamá waved her arms around the room like a queen to her subjects.

“If you get tired…” Carolina started.

“We’ll find you.” Lila caught Carolina’s arm, taking Mamá’s empty wineglass over for a refill. “Don’t worry. My mother-in-law had breast cancer. And brain mets. I’ll keep an eye on Rosa.”

“She told you?” Carolina worried what all her mother had told these strangers.

“Yes.” Lila sighed. “I loved my mother-in-law, but, lordie, what came out of her mouth in the months before her death.”

Carolina shivered. “I know.”

“Take a break. I understand you helped the Fitzgeralds prep for the storm.” The woman filled her wineglass. “I’ve got this.”

Lila turned around and described the pasta and salad Abby had brought in for them to Mamá.

Carolina brushed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. The kindness of strangers.

Her footsteps dragged as she headed back to the kitchen. Each breath ached. How could she ever repay all the people helping her?

“Are you all right?” Sage stepped around the corner.

Was she all right? No. “Overwhelmed.”

“You probably haven’t eaten since breakfast.” He put an arm around her shoulders and walked her through the swinging kitchen door. “Let’s get you fed. Should I bring your mother?”

“She’s eating in the library.”

Dinner was a blur. Exhaustion and emotions weren’t good companions. And she didn’t understand why everyone was being so…nice. And Sage. He made sure she kept eating. And even smiled at her.

The weather played in the background. The video of waves crashing on Tybee beaches and palm trees twisting in the wind drew her eyes back to the television.

“The house will be secure,” Sage whispered.

“I can’t thank everyone enough,” Abby said as they ate.

“Is there anything else that needs to be done?” Kaden asked.

Wasn’t it interesting that the men looked to the Fitzgerald women for the answers?

“Nigel secured the belowground windows this morning, in case there’s street flooding,” Abby said. Nigel waved from his end of the table. “Everything loose is out of the yards and courtyards. Thank you. Really.”

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