Troubles in Paradise (Paradise #3)(44)

Maia is at Joanie’s, which is good, Huck thinks, because they can talk freely. Irene hops out of the truck and goes around to grab the smaller cooler out of the back like she always does, leaving Huck to handle the bigger cooler. Jack and Diane took four pounds of the mahi, but there’s a lot of fish left. Huck needs to call the restaurants—La Tapa, Morgan’s Mango, Extra Virgin, Lime Inn.

But first.

“Irene,” he says.

She disappears inside and when Huck comes in, she’s standing in the hallway with the journals in her hands. She reads aloud. “‘I’m sex and lobster and champagne-drinking under a blanket of stars. Irene is home and hearth, mother of the boys, keeper of the traditions that make a family.’”

“Irene,” Huck says. “Please stop. I tried to warn you—”

“‘Can I lure Russ away from her? Can I make him feel his family is here? I can try. In the new year, I decided, I’m going to introduce him to Maia.’”

“I know, Irene. I read them.”

“You don’t know,” Irene says. Her voice wavers. “He was my husband. I trusted him. Rosie knew I existed, Huck. She knew about me, she knew about the boys from day one, minute one. She knew about the house I was building, she knew how I was decorating it. She thought I was some kind of…shrew who didn’t appreciate Russ, didn’t respect him or honor his sacrifices, didn’t love or worship him the way he deserved.” In a move so uncharacteristic that Huck can’t believe it’s happening, Irene throws the journals down the hall. They land at his feet, splayed open, like birds shot out of the sky. “She wanted him to leave me. She wanted him to propose.”

“For the record,” Huck says, “at the time, I had no idea any of this was going on.”

“Your wife did,” Irene says. “LeeAnn!”

“Watch it,” Huck says. “Please.”

“LeeAnn knew I existed. She knew my name!”

“Yes, and if you read carefully, LeeAnn said that if Rosie didn’t stop seeing Russ, she would call you.” Huck clears his throat. “LeeAnn didn’t condone the relationship for one second, Irene. She never would have. She wasn’t like that.”

“What about you, Huck? You expect me to believe that LeeAnn didn’t tell you what was going on? You weren’t informed that Rosie was seeing a married man?”

“LeeAnn kept her business with Rosie between herself and Rosie.”

“But you were her husband.”

Huck gives Irene a hard stare. “I’m not sure I owe you an explanation.” He sighs. “LeeAnn and Rosie’s relationship was tumultuous, Irene. It had deep fault lines that weren’t visible to the casual observer. Although most of the time things were fine between them, there would be tremors. And some of those tremors turned into earthquakes. I didn’t get in the middle. So, no, I didn’t know Rosie was seeing a married man.”

“And when she started seeing Russ after LeeAnn died? The Invisible Man, Huck? You didn’t ask questions?”

“After LeeAnn died…I was lost for a long time. I was self-absorbed. I knew Rosie was dating someone; I asked to meet him, and Rosie was dead set against it. I didn’t push. Maybe I should have, but she was a grown woman.”

“She was living under your roof! She was your—”

“Daughter,” Huck says. “Yes, yes, she was. But you have two grown children of your own, Irene. Are you accountable for their actions?”

“My sons are good people,” Irene says. “I raised them right.”

“Fine, I agree, you did. That’s not my point. My point is you can’t control how they act. Cash lost the stores in Colorado. Was that your fault? Both Baker and Cash lied to Ayers about who they were when they first got here. Was that your fault?”

“No,” Irene says.

“Rosie made a mistake, Irene, but as the saying goes, it takes two to tango. That affair was fifty percent her fault.” Huck feels his blood pressure rising. “I could just as easily be furious that Russ led Rosie on for so many years. That Russ’s business dealings got her killed. Leaving my granddaughter without a mother!” He’s losing control—and it feels good! Irene isn’t the only one allowed to feel angry and hurt. The affair was 50 percent Russ’s fault, but the illegal business was 100 percent his fault.

Irene stares at Huck for a long second, her eyes narrowed. “‘Love is messy and complicated and unfair,’” she says. “Quote, unquote, from Rosie herself, and I agree. It’s not fair that I have feelings for the man who should be my enemy. Your words just now crystallized our problem. You should be furious with Russ. He was to blame for their deaths, at least indirectly. We’re on different sides of this, Huck. And because of that, I can’t work for you and I can’t live here. I’m sorry.”

“So—what?” Huck says. “You’re quitting and you’re moving out? Where will you go?”

“To Baker’s for the time being, then I’ll figure something out,” Irene says. “It’s none of your concern.”

None of your concern. How can she say that? “What you told Jack and Diane is true?” Huck asks. “You’re striking out on your own? Getting your captain’s license? Starting your own charter? Any idea how difficult that’s going to be? You don’t know anyone on this island except for me.” This comes out all wrong; he sounds like a complete bastard when what he really wants to say is Please don’t leave me.