Midnight Sea (Aloha Reef Series) by Coble Colleen

Author:Coble, Colleen [Coble, Colleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2013-12-20T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Meg had finally fallen asleep, and Ben laid her down on a blanket under a tree before going to work on picking coffee cherries. Ben fingered his chin and glanced at Lani as she worked steadily at the tree next to him. The touch of her fingers on his face had been as light as fireflies yet had carried an impact that still shook him. Tearing his gaze away, he focused on his work. The plump cherries dropped into his hand and then into the bucket.

He’d told her he’d keep her in sight. In the meantime, he could check out some of the other Taylor Camp residents. He edged around the tree until he positioned himself next to Jerry. With a trunk nearly as big as the tree, Jerry scooped up coffee cherries in his big hands with calm efficiency. He didn’t look like a doctor today.

“Hot day,” Ben said. He paused and wiped his brow.

“Yeah.” Jerry’s thick black hair fell over his forehead in a shaggy style the ladies probably found attractive. About fiftyfive, he had a muscular build that showed he worked out.

“You all seem to have known one another a long time,” Ben said. “I lived at Taylor Camp when I was a kid.”

“No kidding?” Jerry’s hands paused, then he began to grab handfuls of coffee cherries again. “When?”

“Early seventies until they burned it. I was born there.”

“I had to have known your mom. What was her name?”

“Nancy Anderson. Peekaboo.” He was still rocked by the way Willie seemed to think his mother had something to do with the old murder.

Jerry appraised Ben. “You don’t look like her.”

“My mother said I looked like my dad.” Loser that he was. Every time he looked in the mirror, Ben thought of his dad and vowed never to be like him.

Jerry gave him a long, slow look. “You look like Ash.”

“So I’ve been told. I think he might have been my dad.”

“Where’s your mom now?”

“Last I heard she was in Michigan. I haven’t seen her in five years.”

“Hard feelings,” Jerry observed.

“You might say that.” Ben saw no reason to reveal that his mother had been distant at best and neglectful at worst. She’d never even sent a birthday or Christmas card over the years. “There’s so much water under the bridge I’d need a life jacket to survive.”

“When she comes back for your brother’s funeral, maybe you’ll be able to patch things up.” Jerry’s glance held sympathy.

“I’m not holding my breath. She hasn’t decided if she’s even coming, and the funeral is tomorrow.” Ben really didn’t want to talk about his mother. His chest felt hollow whenever he thought about her. He watched Jerry move off to empty his bucket into the burlap sack. His practiced bedside manner had Ben talking more than he liked.

He glanced toward Meg and saw she was stirring. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. At least she wasn’t crying. “Hey, baby girl,” he said in a soft voice. Her sweet smile broke his heart.

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