Georgiana Daniels - A Daughter's Redemption

“If that’s what you need, fine. Don’t worry about Robyn. She seems friendly enough, but it’s not like you have to talk to her. Of course, she’ll probably have some ideas about what she’d like to have done, but you pretty much have a handle on the situation.”

“Her being friendly has nothing to do with how she’ll feel once she knows.”

“There are some things you can’t control.” Phil rubbed his temple. “I know you’re worried about what happened, but I’ve looked into the station’s policy myself. Legally speaking, you’re not necessarily in the wrong. There’s room for an officer to use discretion when a subject flees.”

Too bad Caleb’s discretion had led to Dan’s death—the worst tragedy in Pine Hollow’s history.

At the time, he was sure pursuing Aaron Dirkson was the right decision. How could he have known the teen would take the corner too fast and hit Dan? Still, he was compelled to defend himself. “The kid was a troublemaker. I was sure he’d been drinking that day, and I had a responsibility to get him off the street.”

“You don’t have to convince me.” Phil met Caleb with a soft look. “You may not have been officially cleared, but I have faith Aaron will be convicted, and you’ll be back patrolling the streets before you know it. In the meantime, give Robyn the benefit of the doubt. She might be surprisingly understanding.”

“I don’t want to borrow trouble.” Caleb rubbed the back of his neck to ease the building tension. “I know I need to tell her, but as soon as I do she’ll probably make me quit working on the cabins. I have to have something to keep me busy while I wait to hear whether or not I have a career left.”

“Giving up your work at Lakeside wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” Phil’s gentle tone burned like acid on an open wound.

Knowing his decision cost a man’s life slammed his conscience as much as if he’d been the one behind the wheel. How would he quiet the guilt if he couldn’t keep his promise to do everything he could for Dan? It was all he had left, especially if they stripped his badge.

“You don’t understand.” He paused for a deep breath. “I made a promise to a dying man, and if fixing up the cabins is all I can do to keep it, then that’s what I’m doing.” He gripped the back of the chair, knuckles white, and locked gazes with Phil. “Just give me a few days and let me tell her in my own way.”

The intercom buzzed. “Yeah, Marge.”

“Robyn Warner on the line for you.”

Phil shot a reassuring glance. “I’ll take it.” He picked up the phone. “Robyn, what can I do for you?” His forehead wrinkled. “Stuck? You haven’t been inside yet?”

Caleb shook his head as a warning.

“No problem. I’ll send Caleb out there right away.” The lawyer disconnected. “She needs help. The door’s stuck.”

“I gathered that.” He narrowed his eyes. “Look, I’ll figure out a way to talk to her. In the meantime, whatever you do, don’t tell her who I am.”

* * *

The sight of Robyn on the porch swing sent a fresh rush of adrenaline through Caleb. Though he’d driven all the way out to the lake with his sunglasses off, he slid them on before approaching her.

“Thank you for coming back.” The swing creaked as Robyn stood. Her wide and honest eyes, the color of robin eggs, perfectly mirrored her name. “I tried several times, but I couldn’t get the door open. So I hung out down at the dock for a while hoping you’d come back. Then when you didn’t, I called Phil. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Phil gave me a key for the side door.” Caleb motioned for her to follow.

The suitcase Robyn tugged clunked down the stairs. Without asking, Caleb grabbed the luggage handle from her and carried the suitcase over the stony ground to the side entrance.

“You don’t have to do that.” Robyn quickstepped to keep up with him. Her unassuming manner was refreshing, and for an instant, his mood lightened.

He caught himself before accidentally engaging in conversation. He yearned for the days when he could speak without measuring his words. When he could behave as though there wasn’t a millstone crushing his conscience. When he could wake without counting how many lives he’d destroyed.

In the distance, sunlight glinted off the lake and the chatter of birds filled the pine-scented air. The property had potential, and Caleb was determined to help maximize its value before he revealed his identity and Robyn booted him out.

He fished the key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock.

“Wait.” Robyn grabbed his forearm. “If you don’t mind, I’d...” She left her comment hanging.

Caleb stopped and dared to really look at her. Wavy, golden hair flowed freely down her back. Her shorts were faded and frayed. She wore sandals so flimsy they could hardly be considered footwear. Robyn Warner seemed to have just stepped off the beach, and the look suited her.

“I’d like to go in alone.” Her vulnerable gaze peeled back Caleb’s layers, softening his heart toward the grieving woman. “I need a few minutes to take it all in, if that even makes sense.”

“Of course. I should’ve thought of that.” He backed away from the door, allowing the key to dangle in the lock. “I won’t need those while you’re here.”

Robyn’s eyes moistened. “I appreciate your understanding.”

He nodded and started toward the front of the house.

“Wait,” Robyn called. “How well did you know him?”

The question sent a nervous tingle down his back. He refused to turn around. “Not very well.”

“It’s just that I’d like to talk to someone.” Robyn paused as though silently asking him to face her. “It helps, you know?”

The woman obviously had no clue who she was speaking to or she’d kick him off the grounds. Ignoring her was going to be a problem. How could he? She was Dan’s daughter. “I’m sorry about your dad.”

“I didn’t realize how much I’d miss him.”

Slowly, Caleb turned. “It hurts to lose someone you love.” He, more than anyone, knew how hard the unexpected loss of a parent was. And some days were decidedly harder than others.

“Most people don’t think I did.”

“Did what?”

“Love him.” She cast her gaze to the rocky ground. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“I’m sure it’ll take a while to adjust.” He closed the gap between them, rifling through his thoughts for something appropriate to say. “In the meantime, you’ll be hanging out here. It’s the perfect place to get away.”

“That, it is.” Robyn’s eyes locked onto him, as though seeing through the mask he’d donned every day since the accident. “What about you? Do you sometimes need to get away from it all?”

“I can’t,” he blurted before he could censor himself.

“Why not?”

Caleb shook his head and walked away. Answering the question was impossible. There was no way to explain to Robyn Warner that the one thing he wanted to get away from was the one thing he never could.

Himself.

Chapter Two

It wasn’t the memories inside the house that assaulted Robyn; it was the lack of them.

The night closed in, trapping her inside her father’s home. She moved from what had once been the check-in desk to the kitchen, from the living area to the bedroom, searching for evidence, no matter how minute, that her dad had loved her. She would have happily settled for a picture of them together, the clay handprint she’d made when she was nine or even the stash of clothes she’d left behind. But by the time she dropped to the couch to sleep, she’d come up with nothing.

It didn’t help that Brad and Abby had already stripped the home of all the valuables, including everything electronic or sentimental. Even the edibles were gone, except for an old can of coffee. It left Robyn with entirely too much time to think.