Isnt that water down the toilet? Oh, sure, Roland bellyached to his old cronies, although hes a loner, that one. If you ask meand no one doesRoland Dewalts becoming a hermit.
Lets go inside where we can eat and chat some more, Mary Louise. Todays my day off, so Im not in any rush.
Mine, too. Having a day off is new for me. Roland Dewalt expected me to work seven days a week, and for a lot less than Im making working a shorter week for Baumgartners.
The friends went inside and sought an out-of-the-way back booth.
Mary Louise lowered her voice further, mostly to avoid being overheard by a chatty group seated at a nearby table. Do you think Angelique knew her husband was playing around? Or would she ever tell you such a thing, since youre only a shirttail cousin?
Angelique didnt tell a soul. Truth is, I overheard Casey pitching a royal fit. I guess in some letter she and Jackson found, it more or less said their mother forgave Duke his little transgression. Know what else I heard, though? This tickles me pink. Betty gave a smug smile. Esme Fontaine had no earthly clue.
My, my. Considering how hard it was for her to swallow the idea of Jacksons love child, that little girl, showing up to live at Bellefontaine, Im surprised Esme didnt have a stroke over learning her brother had one of his own hidden away.
Well, she wont be hidden for long. Shes coming for the reading of Dukes will tonight. Id love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting. Which is why Ill bet you Esme arranged for Shelburne Prescott to read it on my day off. Mademoiselle Froufrou would like nothing better than to keep this secret inside the family. Mark my words, Esmell have that girl in and gone again before she can do any more damage to Dukes reputation.
Doesnt matter whether you get along with Esme or not, Betty, you cant fault her for feeling like that. Shes lived half her life with everyone in town snickering over the way Roland broke their engagement when he fell for Angelique.
If this was just about Esmes feelings, Id say tough. But Casey doesnt deserve to have this kind of shadow over her marriage. And poor Jackson. Now that Dukes dead, that boys been left in charge of an operation his father barely let him touch.
Its the same with Murray Dewalt, God love him. Duke and Roland, for all their petty squabbles, seemed to think a son proved their virility. Yet both of em were too stubborn and arrogant to equip their boys to take over if anything ever happened to them.
Aint it the truth. But Im sure Duke didnt plan on going.
Yep. I imagine hed have done a whole lot of things differently if hed had any idea he and Angelique were going to get killed in that plane crash. To make matters worse, the poor kids had to learn their papa was flying the plane that day. She shook her head. Still, any way you cut it, Duke left Jackson and Casey in a thorny situation.
The womens friendly gossip session ceased abruptly as a waitress showed up to take their lunch orders.
CHAPTER ONE
Maui, Hawaii
HI, MIDORI. NOELANI HANA breezed full-tilt into the executive offices of Shiller Cane Company, the same way shed moved through life for most of her twenty-seven years. Her long, straight hair settled like dark rain over her olive-toned shoulders as she skidded to a stop in front of Bruce Shillers secretary. Whats so urgent to make the boss send a runner to the mill to get me? Ill have our vat computers running fine before the first load of canes delivered, if thats what hes worried about.
He didnt give a reason, just opened his door and told me to find you ASAP.
Noelani peeled off her leather work gloves and tucked them into the back pocket of her khaki walking shorts. Guess Id better go see. Ohhas he met with those truck farmers again? You know, the ones who proposed turning the cane fields into a tomato patch or some ridiculous thing?
Bruce hasnt mentioned them in weeks. Hes still muttering about selling, though. You know this is the fourth year in a row our profits have dropped.
Noelani knocked on Shillers door. Pasting a smile on her face, she burst gaily into his office. You rang, oh great master?
Seated behind a huge mahogany desk, a gaunt, sixtyish man, with a weathered face and white hair, glanced up. Probably for the first time ever, he didnt return Noelanis smile. Take a seat. Rocking back in his chair, he idly twirled a pencil.
Unable to read his expression Noelani grew uneasy. If this is going to be another lecture about flagging profits, Brucedont worry. Ill coax more from our worn-out equipment. We havent given the new computer program I wrote a chance to show what it can do.
Sit, Noelani. I didnt call you here to talk about the mill. Tossing the pencil aside, he peeled open a creamy envelope and removed an official-looking letter.
She did as he asked this time, throwing herself into a chair. Bruces office was like home. Until her mother died of lymphatic cancer, Anela Hana had kept Shillers books. Noelani had barely turned thirteen the day Bruce informed her Anela had died. It was the only other time she recalled seeing such deep sorrow in Bruces eyes, and her stomach reacted accordingly.
Noelani, it grieves me greatly, but I have the task of telling you that Duke Fontaine and his wife, Angelique, died in a plane crash. Bruce Shiller pushed the letter toward her. This lawyer, Shelburne Prescott, says youre named in your fathers will, along with Cassandra and Jackson Fontaine. They, of course, live at Bellefontaine. Dukes plantationon the mainland, he clarified as Noelani stared at the letter without touching it.
He had other kids? Well, if theyre named Fontaine, I guess theyre legitimate.
Noelani!
She crumpled the page and threw it back across the desk. What am I supposed to feel, Bruce? Sorrowfor someone who didnt give a damn about me? Ive never even met the man!
You shouldve gone there after your mother died.
I didnt need him. I had Grandmother. And I had you. She shook her head. Did he come to her funeral or even send flowers? I know you notified him. Furious now, as she always was when she thought about the man her mother had thrown away her life for, Noelani twisted a lock of hair. The auburn streaks and her five-foot-six-inch height were attributes shed probably inherited from Duke Fontaine. If Noelani felt curious about anything, it was what traits, if any, she shared with half siblings she hadnt known existed until this minute.
Duke cared enough to name you in his will. His sugarcane operation makes mine look like small potatoes, kid. You think its not obvious that youre practically killing yourself in my mill, trying to achieve what Dukes children have by birthright?
The initial shock of Bruces news had begun to fade. In purely mercenary terms, Noelani considered what she could do with a windfall of cash. Do hereat Shillers, she hastily corrected. Exceptwasnt there always a catch when it came to money? In this case, shed have to admit she was Duke Fontaines bastard.
She eyed the balled-up letter belligerently. I cant imagine that Dukes legitimate kids want me appearing on the scene to muck up their lives. How old are they?
Cassandra is thirty or thirty-one. Jacksons a little younger. Nearer your age. Girl, you owe it to yourself to at least go see what this inheritance is all about. Who knows, you may like Louisiana and Dukes family well enough to stay.