Free Desperate Measures by Cindy Cromer Page A

house.”
    “Don’t worry. I talked to her earlier this afternoon.”
    Tomas put his briefcase on the dining room table and pulled out a mountain of documents. Linda, Drew, and Mitch left. Scott and Caitlin called it a night after tucking the children into their beds.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    At nine a.m. the next morning, Constance Spencer sipped her coffee and looked out over the Atlantic Ocean from the balcony of the penthouse. The phone rang and her husband picked it up. She heard him address his business partner.
    Constance frowned and struggled with her conscience. She should have told Jack about the recent encounter with Nick. If she didn’t believe her brother’s claim to turn his life around and make amends, why would Jack? It was better to keep it to herself, better for everyone.
    Constance picked up her cell-phone and dialed her son in California. She knew Dean would still be in bed but pressed send anyway.
    “Jesus Christ!” Dean screamed into the phone. “Dad, I got your message when I got home last night. I didn’t think you’d want me to call you back at midnight your time.”
    Constance flinched at her son’s greeting. “Dean, it’s Mom.”
    “Oh! Hi, Mom. Sorry I yelled but I saw caller ID and thought it was Dad calling to get on my case again. Is everything all right?”
    Her heart ached for Dean. Family and friends showed no respect for him, they laughed behind his back at his lack of achievements and stereotyped him as an immature beach bum. No one understood Dean like Constance did. She viewed him differently and thrived on each opportunity to guide and nurture him. Dean still needed her, Caitlin and Daniel didn’t.
    “No, Dean, everything’s not all right. Your sister’s been receiving threats and the Bucklin tie is about to become exposed.”
    “The Bucklins! Not that shit again. Mom, you’ve got to be kidding me? Years ago Caitlin told me how much she pissed Dad off after she tried to get more information. How the hell could Lukas Bucklin be Dad’s father?”
    “Dean, listen to me. Your sister received notes and magazine clippings about Lukas and James. What do you think that means?”
    Constance heard her son speaking to someone. When she heard a female voice in the background she asked, “Was that Rachel? You’ve been seeing her for a while, is it serious?”
    “No, Mom, it wasn’t Rachel, get back to what you were telling me. Who would send Caitlin notes about the Bucklins? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “I know none if this makes sense but I had a thought. I haven’t seen you in over six months. If you can get away from your shop for a few weeks, I’ll pay for your trip to Florida and you can go with us to St. Kitts.”
    With no hesitation, Dean agreed to the plan. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll clear everything up at the shop and put my bookkeeper Emily in charge. With her running the show, I’ll be in better shape financially than if I were here.”
    “Dean, don’t put yourself down. If you’d focus more, you could be very successful.” Constance attempted to build her son’s self-esteem.
    “Yeah, yeah, this sounds like a Dad and Caitlin lecture. Let me know when you have my flight booked, love you, Mom, and can’t wait to see you!”
    Constance frowned at the silent phone.
     
    * * * *
     
    Dean’s morning didn’t start off well. He rubbed his forehead and attempted to ease the throbbing in his skull. He stayed out way too late last night, drank too much, and now had a hangover.
    He wasn’t up to dealing with family drama and he certainly wasn’t up to the task of getting rid of the bimbo one-night-stand whose name he couldn’t remember. Last night was over. He made no promises of a future. Her words and gestures indicated she anticipated to see him again; possibly develop a meaningful relationship. Didn’t they always? Wasn’t going to happen. Not with him. For Dean, six months of dating equated to marriage; minus the ring and commitment.
    “Get up,” Dean