Iris Read online

  “Maybe. But I’m a good judge of character regardless.”

  “Up for company?” Cole and Lily walked up holding hands.

  Eric nodded. What was that saying about a multitude of counselors? On the other hand, there was the too many cooks in the kitchen thing.

  “I gather she didn’t bring good news?” Lily asked.

  “That’s still under discussion.”

  Lily and Cole sported mirrored looks of confusion.

  “Have we moved the party?” The General came up, a plate of cooked hot dogs in hand.

  “No, sir,” Eric responded. He may have been out of the Navy for a heck of a lot of years, but some habits died hard.

  It took a moment of long consideration before the General spoke again. “That look on your face doesn’t bode well.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to know a good family lawyer?” he asked, trying to project a little more self confidence than he was feeling.

  “Family lawyer?” The General’s gaze shifted from Eric to Iris and back.

  For the next few minutes, ignoring the bluster of activity around them, Eric filled the old military man in on what had just happened over the last few minutes.

  “You want to hand them over?” the General asked.

  “Absolutely not.” If he were honest, a few weeks ago he would have willingly let anyone else even slightly more qualified raise the children. But that was then and this was now. He was not letting his sister down and he was not letting anyone else raise these kids. Right, wrong, good, or bad, he would be doing his best.

  The screen door to Hart House slammed and Eric spotted the kids running down the path, Lucy and Grams behind them and Callie and Cindy behind them.

  Swinging his legs around, he came to his feet at the side of the table in time for Emily and Gavin to plow into him full speed ahead. “Where’s the fire?”

  “Oh, please don’t say that,” Cole teased. The mood at the table lifting instantly.

  “Is that lady gone?” Emily asked.

  Gavin gave his best scowl. “I don’t like her.”

  “You don’t know her,” Eric corrected. “It’s polite to refrain from judgments until you know a person better.”

  Gavin’s scowl deepened. Maybe Eric needed to work a bit on increasing the kid’s vocabulary or learning four year old speak.

  “I don’t want her to be my aunt.” Emily moved around to stand beside Iris. “Can you be my aunt?”

  Iris’s eyes rounded bigger than the painted rocks the kids had collected. “I, uh,” she looked up at him then back at the children, “I would be proud to have you for my niece.” Stretching her arm out, she pulled Gavin into her other side and ruffled his curly hair. “And you for a nephew.”

  And didn’t that create an interesting picture. Family picture.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Well,” the General looked across the lawns to the group of people tossing horseshoes, “I vote for now we enjoy the rest of the day and later we deal with this new situation.”

  Eric nodded and smiled. “I second that idea.”

  “Me three,” Iris chimed in. Not that anyone had asked her.

  The General slapped his hands together and leaned down in front of the children. “And I could use your help with this afternoon’s celebration.”

  Emily spun her head around and looked up at her uncle.

  “Sure,” Eric said. The smile on his face more genuine.

  “Great. Let’s go.” The General held his hands out and with a turn on his heel, the three moved merrily along.

  “I’m having a hard time picturing that man ordering young Marines around.” Eric kept his gaze on the General’s departing back.

  “I’m having a hard time processing that this sweet old man and the demanding general are the same person.” Cole wound an arm around Lily’s waist. “The guys at the station won’t believe what a teddy bear he’s become.”

  “Don’t let that gentle demeanor fool you.” Cindy came to stand beside Payton. “It’s reserved for pre-adolescents.”

  Payton looked from one person to the next. “Am I the only one worried about what celebration surprise the General has in store for us?”

  “Try not to dwell on it.” Cole smiled at his buddy. “It’ll only drive you crazy.”

  The group laughed loudly, breaking up the tension that had been hanging in the air.

  “Come on.” Cindy looped her arm in her cousin’s elbow. “Someone needs to find out what Lucy and Thelma are plotting.”

  “I’m not sure I want to know.” The same as all her cousins, Iris knew that whenever Lucy acted secretive or peculiar, it was rarely a good sign for some unsuspecting soul. Add Thelma into the mix and things could get hairy. Like a cue in a movie, Thelma came running up to Lucy. Each woman carried a dish of some kind. Heads together, the two friends murmured something, laughed, nodded and then Louise Franklin hurried from her car to join the group. Smiling like loons, the three women sprinted off toward the cabins on the far edge of the lawn. “I’m not sure what to make of that.”

  “Neither do I,” Cindy shrugged, “but if I had to take a guess, it has something to do with the old adage of the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Lucy is carrying a covered dish and Thelma should have a pie in her hands. Not sure why they need Louise.”

  “Pie? Thelma?” Iris clearly had spent too much time away from the lake. Then again, people don’t change that much. “That woman has trouble with pre-packaged strawberries and a canister of whipped cream.”

  “Was Louise carrying anything?” Lily asked.

  “Didn’t notice. If you join us that would even the odds. Three of them and three of us,” Cindy urged.

  “We might need reinforcements.” Iris watched the three laughing ladies disappear behind a thick of tree.

  “Do I want to know what you ladies are whispering about?” Eric came to stand beside them.

  “You know how Lucy tends to play matchmaker?” Iris asked.

  “Badly,” Cindy added.

  Eric nodded. In his time at the lake he’d heard the cousins explain, and occasionally complain, about Lucy’s misguided efforts at pairing people up. Too often against their wills.

  “She’s up to something and we were just debating if we should figure out what. If we’re right, warning the unsuspecting souls would be the honorable thing to do,” Cindy explained.

  “Or,” Lily stepped away from Cole, “we could mind our own business.”

  Iris shrugged. “They do say ignorance is bliss.”

  “Shall we flip a coin?” Cindy asked.

  Payton looked from one cousin to the other. “I think I may be put to better use over at the grill. If you folks will excuse me?”

  “Just save some for the rest of us,” Cole shouted over his shoulder.

  “No promises,” Payton called back.

  Eric scanned the area from the Point where the grills were to the road up the hill. “I don’t know about Lucy and her friends, but the crowd is growing.”

  “That would be Thelma and Louise.” Iris smiled at him. “And I vote we should go check on her.”

  “Did you just say Thelma and Louise?” Eric asked.

  “They’re harmless,” Cole added. “At least as far as I know.”

  “Yeah, but is Lucy?” Iris asked.

  Lily bobbed her head. “We need to boogie.”

  “Agreed.” Cindy nodded.

  “Yep. Let’s go.” Iris stepped closer to Eric. “Would you please come along in case we need reinforcements?”

  “Cole?” Lily asked and her fiancé nodded, following after her.

  “Wait.” Eric fell into step behind Iris and Cindy. “Why exactly are we following Lucy and her friends?”

  “You know,” Cole spoke softly, “there are times in life when it doesn’t pay to ask too many questions. Just remind yourself, ‘if mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.’”

  Iris quickly muffled a laugh at the utter surprise—and confusion—
that took over Eric’s face. Even so, he fell into step and didn’t question the intelligence of their decision. And just like that, all the troubles of the day slipped away, and Iris only had one thing on her mind. Sharing the lake she loved with Eric and the kids. Except, she wasn’t going to let herself consider how long that could last.

  ***

  How anyone expected five people to sneak up unnoticed on Lucy and her friends was beyond Eric, but what did this city boy know.

  “Shh.” Iris lifted her finger to her lips. “I can see Lucy and the ladies, which means if they hear us they’ll see us too.”

  Lowering his voice, Eric turned to Iris. “Remind me exactly what the plan is?”

  “We don’t have one,” Iris answered softly.

  Eric exchanged a baffled glance with Cole.

  “Oh look.” Cindy pointed. “Louise did bring something. As a matter of fact, it looks like a box from the Pastry Stop.”

  Lily grinned. “That makes me happy. I think.”

  “Lucy, Louise and Thelma are definitely up to something.” Cindy marched forward.

  “Hang on a minute.” Eric came to a stop. “Louise and Thelma? Lucy actually has two friends named Thelma and Louise and we’re stalking them?”

  Iris dropped her hands on her waist. “We are not stalking. We are doing a public service.”

  Cole tilted his head, facing Eric. “Do you think the judge will see it that way?”

  This was by far the most ridiculous thing Eric had been a part of in a very long time. He simply did not understand what these women intended to accomplish. Or what they were trying to prevent. But he was fairly sure that whatever it was, it would not be the end of the world, and he had enough of his own problems to figure out.

  Lucy and her friends came to a stop at what looked to be one of the last cabins on the resort portion of the property and knocked on the door.

  The five of them continued walking along the edge of the grassy area until Cindy, leading the way, held out her hand to slow them. “I’ll be darned. There is not one, but two men standing in the doorway.”

  Iris leaned over Cindy’s shoulder. “Oh, we definitely need to save them.”

  “From what?” Eric asked.

  “Whatever scheme Lucy has up her sleeve,” Lily explained.

  “Maybe they’re just being neighborly?” Cole suggested

  The three cousins turned and glared at him as though he had just suggested the world was flat.

  “All right,” Eric said, “if we’re going to knock on the door and drag Lucy and her friends away from the two unsuspecting men, do we at least have an excuse for being here?”

  “Oh.” Iris frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

  “Me neither,” Cindy and Lily echoed.

  “Any suggestions?” Lily asked.

  Iris waved her arms. “We’re simply being cordial. We’re here to invite them to join the fun on the Point.”

  “Perfect.” Cindy high-fived her cousin. “Let’s go.”

  Falling in step beside Iris, Eric grabbed hold of her hand. When Iris’s fingers laced with his, a smile touched his lips. The simplest of gestures, a throwback to teen years when a mere touch kept a guy on cloud nine for days, was enough reason for Eric to follow this woman anywhere she wanted him to go.

  Iris leaned into him. “Tonight, we’ll sit down with my grandfather and go over the new dilemma of Adele’s in-laws. He’ll have an old buddy somewhere who will steer us through this.”

  “Thanks.” He most likely knew someone who knew someone, but he liked the sound of us. Not to mention, quite frankly, he’d spent enough time in the Navy to appreciate the idea of having an entire family at his back. And Eric was quite sure, if nothing else, the General and his clan would have his back.

  Cindy rapped on the door and took a step back.

  The purple cabin door drew open, and Lucy stood in the doorway looking about as surprised as Eric must have just a short while ago. “What are all of you doing here?”

  “We thought we’d invite the guests to join the fun on the Point.” Iris waved her thumb over her shoulder. “Help celebrate the guys’ triathlon success.”

  “Who is it Lu…cy?”

  Eric had to blink at the sight of the older, balding man in jeans and a t-shirt emblazoned with Never underestimate an old man who defended your country. “Gramps?” he managed to eek out.

  His grandfather sighed. “Nice to see you.”

  Lucy’s head snapped left to right and back, taking in the two men. Clearly she was as surprised by the recent revelation as Eric had been. “Then that means…”

  Another man stepped into the light and Eric figured he had to be dreaming.

  “That would make me Eric’s dad. Yep. I see you’re holding up pretty good, son.”

  Eric looked from his father to his grandfather standing on either side of Lucy. “What the hell are you two doing here?”

  “You didn’t think we were going to leave you alone, did you?” His grandfather turned to Iris. “And thank you for being so helpful with my grandson and great grand children. This hasn’t been an easy time for any of us.”

  Iris bobbed her head. “I’m sorry for your loss, but it has been my pleasure. Emily and Gavin are lovely children.”

  “I don’t understand.” None of this was computing for Eric. “How long have you been here?”

  His grandfather had the decency to look contrite. Eric wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what the answer was going to be.

  “You didn’t honestly think we’d leave you to deal with everything on your own? Your dad and I got here the day after you did. We’ve been keeping an eye on you. Wanted to be near if you needed us.” The man lifted his chin and smiled. “But you didn’t.”

  “Well. I think it’s time we get back to the Point. People are probably looking for us. Don’t you think, Cindy?” Lily elbowed her sister. “Cindy?”

  “Oh.” The startled blonde took a step in retreat. “Yes, of course. Payton is probably eating the last of the hot dogs and hamburgers as we speak.”

  “No sense in hiding out here anymore now that the cat is out of the bag.” Eric’s father stretched his arm out the doorway and looked to the three women still standing in the cabin. “We might as well all join the party now.”

  Eric’s grandfather, father, Thelma, Louise, and Lucy walked past him and out the door. Cindy, Lily and Cole were several steps ahead when Iris turned to him. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  His gaze followed his father and grandfather walking down the hill. None of this made any sense to him. Not his family hiding out to spy on him, and not Richard’s sister coming to warn him about her parents. All in all, he wasn’t sure who had the crazier family. Squeezing Iris’s hand, he shook his head. “I honestly haven’t a clue.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Today was proving to be a very odd day indeed. This morning when Iris woke up, the day’s plan was clear. Eric and Cole and Payton were going to run and swim and bike the morning away. She and the kids would cheer them on, and her family and friends would be there for him the same way they’d been there since his arrival as he grew more comfortable in his role of uncle to two kids.

  Now, not only had the children’s paternal aunt come to meet them, the aunt had dragged Richard’s parents into the mix. Not a pleasant mix either. And then, before they even had time to process what the anticipated appearance of the British grandparents would mean to Eric and the kids, his dad and granddad showed up. Well didn’t actually show up, apparently they’ve been here all along. And didn’t that confuse everything. But it did explain why the guests in the Hickory cabin were keeping a low profile. What she hadn’t a clue about was exactly who Lucy was trying to match up with who, because Iris had no doubt that woman had a plan. The last thing Eric needed now was Thelma and Louise for step-parent and grandparent.

  “A penny for your thoughts?” Eric asked quietly.

  Iris hefted a lazy shoulder. “I’m confused.”


  “Join the club.”

  “Is this typical for them?”

  He shook his head. “For one thing, they haven’t left Florida in ages. If they’re not home, they’re in the Keys fishing. We see each other every year at either Christmas or Thanksgiving unless I get called away, but not much more than that. This last year we did Thanksgiving the three of us. Adele and Richard spent Christmas with them. I was able to visit for a couple of days at the end of their trip. We rang in the New Year together.”

  “Was that when your sister told you about making you the children’s guardian?”

  “Actually, it was last summer. I suspect after visiting this place.”

  “Really?” Iris wondered if he was correct in his assumption.

  Eric slowed his steps, letting the others get a head start. “I think deep down I noticed that there was a difference in the tone of our conversations after their vacation here. Of course at the time I just knew they’d gone to a lake in New England. Richard had mentioned more than once what a lovely time they’d had. I have to admit, the last conversation I had with him, he was obviously less uptight. I suspect this place turned the tide for him about life in the United States verses life in England and his kids’ upbringing.”

  “What are you going to do now?”

  “Talk to Dad and Grandpa. First chance I get, we’re going to slip away and I’m going to get some answers.”

  “Left, right, left.” The General’s voice carried from Hart House to their right. “That’s it, troops!”

  “Uh oh.” Iris rolled her eyes. “That’s his footlocker. Is it a full moon or something? Maybe it’s written in the stars that grandfathers are supposed to drive their grandchildren nuts today.”

  “In my case that would be fathers and grandfathers. What’s the General doing with his foot locker?”

  “That’s what I want to know. But like we all can read Lucy, I can tell when that old man is up to something.”

  “Give me a hand here!” the General called to Eric. “Been saving this for the right time. I think this is it.”