As they neared the table, unseen, Kelsey heard the last man at the table talking. He was very long and lean, but had a rich voice.
One that she thought she knew.
They should really just bulldoze that houselet a major-league hotelier come in and put up one of the mega hotelswell, you know, a within-limits mega hotel, he said, slipping an arm around the waitress who hovered by the table. No more than two stories, of courseyou cant ruin the horizon.
Jonas, Katie OHara argued, dont be silly. Thats an historic house. Why would anyone want to destroy it?
Well, please. Who would want to keep it? Jonas asked.
Liam, his hand at the small of Kelseys back, cleared his throat.
Actually, Kelsey hasnt decided what shes doing with it yet.
It was almost funny, the way the eight people at or near the table swung around to stare at them.
It was Katie who gasped, then leaped off her bar stool with pleasure. Kelsey! Oh, my God. You came home. How wonderful to see you!
Her eyes were sparkling, and her words were sincere. She came forward, offering a hug, and Kelsey was glad to accept it. She drew away. Im Katie. Im sorryyou might not have recognized me. Katie OHara.
Of course, Katie, I remember you well, and thank you for the greeting, Kelsey said. By then, the men at the table were standing.
Lets see who you remember, and who you dont, Liam said. My cousin, David. You cant miss Sean OHara. And I dont know if you ever met Vanessa, though shes been down now and again over the years. And these are our friends Ted and Jaden. And Clarinda, and Jonas.
David and Sean greeted her like a long-lost kid sister, Vanessa was charming but reserved, and Jaden and Ted were as loving as any good flower children might be. Clarinda welcomed her, and Jonas quickly apologized. Wow, Im sorry. I mean, it is my opinion, but He broke off and grimaced. You remember me, dont you? We had a house just across from you near the wharf. I still have it. Its called the Salvage Inn now. I run it as a bed-and-breakfast.
Kelsey grinned. Yes, of course I remember you. You groaned anytime I was over at your house with either of my folks.
Okay, well, Im afraid I have a few years on you. You were a pest back then.
Not that much of a pest, David Beckett said, I remember really liking you. I cant believe that youre an adult now.
Kelsey seldom flushed, but she did so. David Beckett had an amazing sense of class and kindness.
Like Liam.
But her mother had always said that their grandfather, Craig Beckett, was one of the most honorable men she had ever known. He had taught his progeny well, she thought.
She needed to take a step back; this did feel like old-home week. And she wasnt staying. She had started life over again, and she was comfortable where she was. She loved her work, her neighborhood, and she wasnt sure why she had come, other than guilt and a sense of debt, and she was very afraid of falling back intoshe didnt know what. Maybe the oddity of belonging to the house and being Cutter Merlins granddaughter.
Thank you, David. And Jonas, its really okayI wasnt so fond of you back then, either, she said, and the group laughed.
Have a seatIll get you a Guinness, Liam said.
Oh, wait! Im supposedly working, Clarinda said.
Its all rightI know the owner, Liam said laughing. He headed straight back behind the bar to pour the beer himself.
Were right across from you, Clarinda told Kelsey. I live with Jonas, and if you need anything at all, were really close.
Thank you.
Yes, honest. Now Ill be glad if you stop by, Jonas said. He made a face. And Ive got rooms if you want out of the old place.
Actually, I loved living there, she said.
Oh, I dont know, Katie put in. Liam said its in pretty bad shape. Although Ill be happy to come over and help you put things in order, if you like.
That would be great, Kelsey said. Could she really ask someone else to sweep up spiderwebs and dust with her?
I would absolutely adore getting into that house! Jaden said. Thats what Ted and I do. Well, not exactly. We own a place called Sunken Treasures. Most of what we do is restoration of things that divers bring up. Salvage restoration. But I worked at an auction house for a while before Ted and I opened our own place, so Im pretty good at assessing the value of old treasures.
Thats great to know, Kelsey said.
Liam returned with two pints of Guinness, setting one in front of her. She thanked him, and Ted said, Well, you do have an army here for help, if you want it. I must admit, Im fascinated by the prospect of getting into the house, too.
We could have a clean-the-house day, Liam said.
Do you all have a conception of just how bad the house is? Kelsey asked.
Oh, hey, well, it doesnt take a lot of talent to get entangled in spiderwebs, Katie told her.
Theres still a barbecue out back, isnt there? Jonas asked.
Oh, Lord, if there is, God knows whats in it, Kelsey told him.
We have an old portable barbecue somewhere, Sean said. Why dont we dig it out? I meanif you want an army trampling over on Saturday. Im thinking Saturday would be the best day? He looked at Katie and the others. Katie, you dont start until nine or ten on Saturday night, Clarinda can come in late, and Ted and Jaden can close early. Liam, you take Saturday off, dont you?
Unless someone calls in with a real problem, Liam said.
The pretty blonde at Seans sideVanessacleared her throat. Excuse meweve all just invited ourselves over, you realize.
Kelsey laughed. It sounds great. Sean, you can bring the barbecue, but Ill supply the food. If youre cleaning the house for me, the least I can do is supply the barbecue.
Its not that bad. The weather should hold, Liam said. We can cleanthen wash all the spiderwebs off by taking a dip. The water is a little cool right now, but not that bad.
HeyIve got to get started, Katie said. We have a group of coeds looking at the suggestion books, and Im not sure theyll like the choices.
Kelsey glanced over to the stage area. She smiled, as wellit looked as if the cast of a college comedy had just walked in. They were beautiful people; three girls who were blonde and slim and wearing tiny shorts and belly-baring ripped-up tees had come in with two young men who looked like linebackersyoung ones. They still had baby faces.
Katie slid behind her computer, politely salvaging her songbooks and apparently telling the crew that she probably had what they wanted right on the computer; they just needed to name their songs. She made an announcement using the microphone.
This is OHaras, and its Katie-oke here, four nights a week. Sometimes, its actually Clarinda-oke, but its all the same fun. OHaras offers twenty-five beers from the cleanest taps youll find from here to Canada, so enjoyresponsibly, please. Katie said the last with a hopeful but ironic twist in her tone. Key West and responsible drinking werent really known for going hand in hand. Luckily, partygoers usually stayed within walking distance of the bars on Duval, while a lot of the major-chain hotels farther around the island sent shuttles to drop off and pick up their guests in the Old Town area.
Katie slid behind her computer, politely salvaging her songbooks and apparently telling the crew that she probably had what they wanted right on the computer; they just needed to name their songs. She made an announcement using the microphone.
This is OHaras, and its Katie-oke here, four nights a week. Sometimes, its actually Clarinda-oke, but its all the same fun. OHaras offers twenty-five beers from the cleanest taps youll find from here to Canada, so enjoyresponsibly, please. Katie said the last with a hopeful but ironic twist in her tone. Key West and responsible drinking werent really known for going hand in hand. Luckily, partygoers usually stayed within walking distance of the bars on Duval, while a lot of the major-chain hotels farther around the island sent shuttles to drop off and pick up their guests in the Old Town area.
Katie started the music. The college crew whooped and hollered and began dancing energetically to the music.
It really wasnt that long ago, but I dont ever remember being quite so young, Liam said, his grin wry as he seemed to echo her thoughts.
Its a good-looking group, and they seem friendly and ready to have fun, Kelsey told him.
Liam nodded. Cheerleaders, he said solemnly. You can tell.
A bit too happy for me, Jaden said. She yawned. Ted, feel like calling it a night?
Ted nodded. Were still working on a lot of treasure recently brought up from that film shoot. He shuddered. Ugh. Well tell you all about it at the barbecue, Kelsey. He stared at Vanessa. It was bad. Very, very bad.
Hey! she protested. We did capture a pair of truly deranged murderers.
Thats true, Jaden said happily.
Oh! I did hear about that! Kelsey said. She stared at Liam. She had been so caught up in her own situation, she had forgotten that she had seen their names online, and one night on the news. Sean OHara and the Becketts had gotten involved with a film crew, recreating the situation in which two people had been brutally murdered on an uninhabited island. A documentary would air sometime the following year.
And its over, Vanessa said with a shudder. Next week, Im filming dolphins for a public-service feature. Im much happier!
That sounds great, Kelsey said.
Okay, were really out of here, Jaden said. Its wonderful to meet you, she told Kelsey. And thanks for letting us get in the place on Saturday.
My pleasure. If anyone is allergic to dust, theyre in trouble, Kelsey warned as Ted and Jaden left.
It was a warm group, and she was apparently accepted.
Sean and Vanessa decided to brave the bouncing coeds and dance; Liam looked at Kelsey. Want to try it?
Dance. He was asking her to dance. Just dance. And yet
Do you remember grade school? Mrs. Miller insisted we have something like a cotillion! she said, grinning.
We can probably still manage.
Clarinda was busy taking drink orders at another table; Jonas and David were deep in conversation. She still hesitated.
It was a dance, just a dance. She wasnt being sucked back into this actually being her home.
Sure, she said with a shrug.
By the time they reached the floor, however, Katie was singing at the request of the coedsshe was doing a Shakira number, and Liam told her, Salsa!
Oh, Lord! she said.
Youve been gone too long. We have a major-league Cuban influence down hereeverybody salsas. Youll be fine!
Oddly enough, it all kicked in. Maybe it was like riding a bike.
Liam knew what he doing. She remembered in ballroom dance, her job was to follow. He led well. And it was fun, exhilarating. She didnt remember the last time she had been out like this.
By the end of the number, they had the floor. The bouncing coeds came over and hugged them enthusiastically, then decided to drip their inebriated adoration on Katie.
It was too easy to have too much fun. To feel his hands on hers, and his arms around her, and feel as if time had evaporated. Theyd never taken a step past friendship, but then, theyd still been so young
This has been wonderful, she said. I think, though, Liam, if you dont mind, I should get back home.
Hey, I can take you, Jonas said. Im a stones throw from you.
Clarinda is still working, David pointed out.
Im fine taking Kelsey home, Liam said. I want to walk around the place a bit, too.
The new locks are on, right? David asked.
Yes. I just want to take a walk around the place, Liam repeated.
Sure, but, Kelsey, dont forgetthe Salvage Inn, right across from you. Clarinda and I are in room oneits the left half of the house. Our breakfast chef and server are in at five-thirty in the morning, and we have a bartender at the tiki bar until two a.m., so if youre ever nervous at all, someone is there. And, of course, dont hesitate to wake us up! He rose.
Thanks, Kelsey said. Thats really nice. Especially since I was such a pain in the ass as a kid!
He laughed. Hey, David, tell Clarinda Ill be back. Im just going to go home and check on the B and B for a few minutes. Make sure we dont have any calamities going on.
Will do, David said.
When they walked out to Liams car, the coeds decided that they were all best friends, too. Kelsey endured a round of hugs from the cheerful cheerleaders and their bruiser dates.
At the cars, they waved good-night to Jonas.
Liam turned down Simonton rather than Duval, knowing that Duval would be filled with jaywalkers. It was seldom an easy street to traverseexcept maybe at five in the morning.
But the backstreets could be quiet and pretty. There were so many fine Victorian houses, since the great age for Key Westwhen the city had boasted one of the highest per-capita incomes in the country during the age of wreckershad occurred when building had been seen as artistry. There were bungalows, shotgun houses and many a grand dame in Old Town.
Have you missed the place? Liam asked her. He had apparently been watching her as she surveyed their surroundings.
Of course, Ive missed it. I mean, I thinkunless a place were absolutely terribleyoud miss it if youd basically grown up there, Kelsey told him.
But you like where you live now, he said.
Yes.
And youre in Hollywood, he said.
Yes, but its not asAll right, well it can be plastic, but my neighborhood is great. My dad worked at UCLA, and so I went to UCLA, and they have a great school of art and animation.
Ive seen your column. But you do gaming, too?
I dont. My partner, Avery, does.
Ah.
When they pulled in front of a house, he turned off the cars engine and sat staring up at it for several moments.
My grandfather was not some kind of evil wizard who cursed the house and set a dozen demons loose in it, she said, surprised that she sounded so resentful.
He flashed her a smile. I wasnt afraid of demons. Im afraid of real people breaking in to steal things and not caring much if they take a human life in order to do so.
Liam, honestly, if there was some kind of really terrible thief who knew about the strange treasures that might be found here, they could have easily broken in while my grandfather was alive. He was an old man living alone.