(See the first chapter for disclaimer, notes, spoiler, etc.)

Chapter Seven: "And I Know"

Casey

He shifted on the lounge chair, watching the kids play on the lawn. Nicola's laugh hung in the air as the volleyball bounced off Lizzie's head before landing in the bushes. "Easy, girls! No trips to urgent care!

He heard them groan and, even from the deck, he saw Nicola roll her eyes. "What happened?" Meg asked as she came out, holding out a beer.

He shook his head and took a long sip. "I think…I think I'm the lame parent."

She giggled and curled up on the chair next to his. "You do have some awful dad jokes," she admitted before she glanced over with a sly expression.

"I always thought I'd be the cool dad." When she laughed again, he grinned and met her eyes. "Once Allie turned 13, I found out really quickly I wasn't."

"Teenagers are awful. Though it seems like Lizzie's been one since she was seven." She shook her head and looked back at their daughters. "Now, that she actually is one…well, I don't know."

He leaned back against the cushion and turned his gaze up to the sky. The late afternoon sun was strong, but comfortable as it draped over him. With a deep sigh, he let his eyes close as his ears perked. The girls laughing. The frond rustling in the wind. The waves crashing on the beach. His mother had always said he was a water baby…and maybe there was some truth to that. He never felt the way he did at the beach. The beach was home. But, not just any beach. This beach. The beach where he made sand castles with his mother. Where he learned to surf. Where he brought Diana to so he could propose. This beach was his beach.

"We've come a long way from Surf Central, haven't we?" he heard Meg ask.

He felt the smile stretch across his face as he nodded. "We're domesticated."

"Yeah, but you're the one with awful dad jokes," she teased.

He sighed and looked at her, squinting. "Whatever. But, you're the one with a college graduate." Meg's face turned and he immediately regretted bringing Benjy into the joke. He had always been a sensitive subject. "Sorry."

Her smile was forced as she looked back at him. "It's fine," she said quickly.

He opened his eyes all the way and pushed himself up. "How's it been? Having Benjy in town full time?"

With a deep sigh, she shook her head. "Oh, he's the usual source of trouble he's always been." He nodded as she rubbed her forehead and continued, "Of course, Ben doesn't see it. He never has."

"What haven't I never seen?"

He glanced up as Ben's heavy footsteps strode across the deck. Meg chuckled and quickly answered, "Seen how perfectly the pool fits into the design of the yard."

"Who wants to live steps away from the beach and have a pool?" Ben asked as he kissed the top of Meg's head.

"Oh, you know," he said casually as he raised the beer bottle to his lips, "lots of people."

Ben's gaze turned to his and he held out his hand. "Casey, how are you?"

He nodded, but said nothing as he shook Ben's hand. Meg flashed him a grateful smile as she said, "The girls are determined to make the spring volleyball team. They've been practicing all afternoon."

Ben nodded and looked up at their daughters for the briefest of moments before he turned back to him. "Casey, I'm actually glad you're here. You can save me a phone call."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I've been trying to get hold of Olivia for the last two weeks."

He sighed and swung his legs off the lounge chair. "Ben, she's not up for-"

"But, she must," he replied sharply and insistently.

"Ben!" Meg interjected at the same moment he said, "Now, wait a minute!"

As she shook her head, Ben continued, "I'm not insensitive to the fact that she's grieving." He sighed deeply and placed his hands on Meg's shoulders. "I remember all too well what she's going through," he said, his voice low. "But, Casey, do you realize she's the majority shareholder of Liberty now?"

His chest thundered as he shook his head dumbly. He didn't know a lot about Liberty, despite his minority stake in the company. But, he had wanted to. He wanted to.

He closed the door softly and walked across the patio. Gregory was sitting at the table, engrossed in the Wall Street Journal, as Harrison looked up. "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, buddy," he said, tousling his son's head as he passed his chair. "Morning, Gregory," he said, intentionally ignoring the way his son sighed as he recombed his hair with his fingers.

"Good morning," he murmured as he turned the page of the paper.

He reached for the plate of bagels as Rose suddenly appeared with the carafe of coffee. "Oh, it's ok," he said quickly, not comfortable with being waited on, as she filled his empty mug before he could take it from her. "Thanks."

She smiled in reply before she turned to Gregory. "Mrs. Richards said she'll be down in ten minutes."

"Which means she'll be down in half an hour," he said beneath his breath as he looked up from his paper and Harrison snickered. "Thank you, Rose," he said in his normal voice. He cleared his throat and glanced at him. "What are your plans for today, Casey?"

He reached for his mug as he shrugged. "Actually," he began, the rich coffee dancing against his nostrils, "I was wondering if I could talk to you about my shares in Liberty."

Slowly, the newspaper caved in as Gregory folded it shut. "Oh?" The simple and even-toned question hung in the sudden silence. Out the corner of his eye, he saw Harrison roll his eyes and push his ear buds into his ears.

He cleared his throat and leaned in. "Even before last year, I was never an active stockholder."

Gregory frowned. "You've participated in every vote since you inherited the stocks from Alex."

"Yes, but after I've always asked you, 'How would Mom have voted?'," he replied. He watched Gregory's head tilt, as if he needed to consider his reply. But, it was true. Whenever he received a thick enveloped embossed with the Liberty Corporation logo, he would never read the materials about the upcoming shareholders' vote. He would merely leave a message with one of Gregory's secretary to ask what Alex would have done. Before last year, it was the only communication he ever had with Gregory. "I've always participated, but I've been a disinterested stockholder. At best. I never even showed up for the meeting where we vote. I cast my vote over the phone."

His father nodded and reached for his mug. "So, what would like to know about your shares?

His voice dropped as he admitted, "Everything." Gregory's eyebrows raised, but that was his only response. "I know that's a lot to ask. And, I know I don't have much experience, but-"

Gregory took another sip of coffee as he held up his hand. "No one has any experience until they start," he replied with a small smile. "We'll get to work when Olivia and I get back from Italy."

"Casey?" He looked up into Ben's frustrated expression. "Olivia is the majority shareholder now. The Liberty Corporation needs to – must – go on. Business cannot go on without her and, right now, I cannot get hold of her."

He cleared his throat and said through gritted teeth, "She hasn't been up to it." He watched as Ben exhaled deeply and shook his head. A flood of irritation raced through him. But, it was true. She hadn't been up to it. And, between her secretary, Bette, and Evy, Olivia hadn't seen any message left for her or mail sent to her.

"Casey, things are at a standstill. Without Gregory, some of our business partners are…concerned. Frankly, they're nervous."

He stood slowly, shaking loose the tight fists his hands had become. "I'll talk to her," he said slowly, "when I decide she's up to it." It was firm. It was decisive.

It was the most like Gregory he'd ever felt.


Harrison

He walked in the foyer and dropped his gym bag onto the floor. Slowly, he pushed the heavy front door shut and turned to the right. Poppop's study was at the end of the hall and the door was closed tight. With a sigh, he looked down at his shoes. Nana went in there every day, but he hadn't gone in there in more than a month. Not since before Poppop and Nana went to Italy.

"Hi, Speedy!" He looked over as Bette came in from the kitchen. "How was practice?"

He nodded as he yawned and stretched his arms high over his head. "Good," he sighed as she looked up at him. "We're ready for Tuesday's meet."

"You'll be the fastest of them all," she said as she reached up and pinched his cheek, causing him to roll his eyes. She always treated him and Nicola like babies! Dad said it was because she didn't have any grandchildren of her own.

"Hope so." He glanced into the living room, but it was empty. "Where's Nana?"

Bette's smile faded. "She's sitting down by the pool. Why don't you join her? Tell her about the race. Your dad and Nicola are still at Meg and Ben's."

It's a meet, not a race, he thought to himself as he nodded and turned for the patio. The sun was strong, glinting off the pool's surface. The soles of his slides slapped against the stones as he walked down to the corner where Nana sat. Dad was worried about her. So was Evy. They didn't say it, but he knew. So did Nicola.

Nana was sitting on the wooden bench in the corner. She didn't look up until he dropped down to sit next to her. It was kind of incredible, the way her face changed from extreme concentration to startled surprise. A moment later, a tired smile came to her face as she rubbed her forehead. "How was your day, darling?"

He shrugged. "It was ok." She nodded, watching him closely. He thought she looked tired. Suddenly, he remembered Christmas Eve. How happy she was. How happy they all were. It seemed like a lifetime ago. "How was your day?" He was curious. Dad, Evy, and Bette were with her all day, every day. Now, this new guy, Morris, was hanging around. It was insane. She never had a moment to be by herself.

The corners of her mouth curled up as she leaned back against the bench. "Oh, I don't know, darling," she sighed as she reached out and took his hand.

He sat still, watching her hand in his. Her shoulder was a little better, just like Dad promised him and Nicola. "You," he began softly, "should rest. Rest and get better." His heart pounded in his chest as he thought of his next sentence. He squeezed her hand as he whispered, "Poppop would've wanted that." He heard her stop breathing as her eyes flickered to his. A moment later, her eyes shined as she nodded sharply. "He would've insisted on it." But, it was true. Poppop loved Nana more than anyone.

She sighed and looked back out at the pool. "You're right. He would have."

He nodded and looked out, watching the pool too. A tiny thought whispered from the back of his mind and he shook his head. Maybe he should've talked to Dad first. Nah. Poppop always said only losers second guessed themselves. If you know what you want Harrison, take it. Take it before someone else does. "Hey, Nana? I-I was wondering something." She looked over, her lips turned down into a frown. "Do you think- I mean, could I go to the club and play golf? Could I go wi-without…" His throat closed and he inhaled sharply, feeling hot tears burning at his eyes.

Her mouth tightened as she nodded, tears dulling her eyes. "Of course, darling. Poppop would've wanted that. He-he would've insisted on it." He nodded and reached up, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.


Evy

She stood by the front door, her hand on the knob. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Morris lead Mom down the hall to her office. She'd lost count of how many times he's been by since Dad's funeral. The door to Mom's office closed firmly and her frown deepened. What was his deal? And, what was he doing with Mom? Why didn't Mom want to talk with him in the living room?

Slugs.

Bette was right.

They were all slugs.

The front door opened quickly and slammed into her right shoulder. "OW! What the- oh, Casey. It's you."

She rubbed her shoulder as Casey and Nicola walked in, radiating pain shooting down her arm. "Sorry," her older brother replied. "Why were you standing in front of the door?"

"I'm going to find Harrison, Daddy."

He nodded as Nicola ran up the stairs. "Morris got here a few minutes ago. He and Mom just went into her office.

He sighed deeply and pushed the door shut. "Him. Again."

She spun around, watching as he stalked into the living room. He was in a bad mood. Instantly, she forgot the pain in her shoulder as she followed him over to the sofa. "He bugs you too?"

He exhaled deeply and flung his arm over his eyes. "Not bugs. Just…something. I don't know what. But, there's something."

She flopped on the sofa next to him and hugged one of the pillows to her chest. "You know, Dad never mentioned him. Not once. Neither did Mom until he showed up here a few weeks ago." But now, suddenly, this man – this stranger – was a constant fixture at their house. Dad's house.

"Cait said she remembered him," he sighed as his face turned. "Well, sort of. She remembered playing with his daughter, Maya."

Slugs. "That was how many years ago?"

Another sigh. God, all Casey did anymore these days was sigh. "I don't know. Bette said he was ok. Said he was the best man at Gregory and Olivia's wedding."

Well, that she knew. She and Nicola had gone searching in the attic for old photos of Dad. She had found a box of photos from Mom and Dad's wedding and seen Morris standing with them. She frowned. "You were at their wedding too. Want to vouch for him too?"

His arm fell away as he sighed again, deeper this time. "Evy…"

She reached out and swung the pillow into his chest. "Snap out of it, Casey!" He pulled the pillow out of her grasp and shoved it into the corner. She frowned and reached out, putting her hand on his arm. Her brother's face was pale as he glared up at the ceiling. She had been so worried about Mom since getting back from New York. But now, she wondered if her older brother didn't merit the same level of concern. "Hey, are you ok? What's wrong?"

He shook his head and turned to her. "Ben wants Olivia to turn her attention to Liberty."

She nodded, forcing the sudden memory of her conversation from the other day with Benjy out of her mind. "Bette told me he's left her a couple of messages. I told her to give them to Mom's secretary. Liberty is the last thing she needs to be thinking about right now."

"Well, Ben disagrees," he said softly and she frowned.

"Well, that's just too bad," she sniffed, folding her arms tight against her chest. "He's just going to need to deal." She cleared her throat and forced a smile to her face. "Hey, let's do something. Tonight. Let's go out." He started to shake his head and she grabbed his arm, shaking it energetically. "No, really! You and I haven't been out since I got back and…and I think we need it. Come on, one drink! Two tops!"

A ghost of a smile danced through his beleaguered expression. "Since when do you drink?"

She punched him playfully in the shoulder. "Since I became a college freshman. Obviously." He chuckled, a tired one that segued into a sigh, but it didn't matter. She got him to laugh. Now, if only she could get Mom to laugh too.

But, that…that would take far more work.


Morris

He placed the thick accordion file folder on the coffee table. Olivia's eyes flickered to it as he explained, "I called UCLA. Spoke to a secretary named Debbie in the Department of Linguistics." She nodded, but said nothing else as she continued to watch the file. "She gave my information to a graduate student who was taking on extra work doing translations."

She cleared her throat. "A student?" she asked softly.

He chuckled, the tips of his fingers pressed together. "Rebecca. She was so grateful for the work, she did her own research and found additional articles about the accident." Slowly, she reached out with her left hand and gently unwound the string holding the cover down. Like an avalanche, sheets of white paper spilled out and fanned across the table. He heard her sigh and his own hand came out. With his palm splayed on top of the file, his voice was low as he asked, "Are you sure you want to read these?"

Her face turned as she sighed his name. "I want- I need to remember." She shook her head as her expression collapsed and she gasped, "I can't think of anything else. I've imagined dozens of-"

He frowned as her eyes burned into his, imploring him to understand. With a sigh, he pulled his hand away from the file. "Before you read them, let me tell you what I'm doing next." She nodded slowly and sat up as he continued, "I reached out to an old friend of ours. She's going to use her contacts to expedite our request for copies of the Italian police reports." A moment of silence passed, long enough for confusion to replace the pain crinkling at the end of her eyes. But, only slightly. "Jeannie Harris. She's long retired, but-"

"Jeannie Harris," she repeated softly. She lowered her head, turning her face into her left shoulder. As she looked up again, she exhaled deeply as she looked back at the folder of articles. As her fingers pulled the top one from the pile, she asked, "Will you stay with me while I read them?"

He nodded and sat back against the sofa. A tiny, but sad, smile curled her lips as she settled into the opposite end of the sofa. He watched her begin to read the article and that's when he realized.

It was the first time he had seen her smile since he reentered her life.