Deep Waters

Landing.
    "Now that Leighton isn't fighting with us anymore about Crazy Otis Landing, it didn't take him long to find these two new tenants." Charity said.
    "It's the least he could have done. He certainly owed you big time." Phyllis downed a glass of punch and made a face at the taste. "If it hadn't been for you and Elias, he'd be getting ready to stand trial for murder. Personally, I think he's going to make a comeback. The man knows real estate."
    Charity laughed. "You'll never turn Crazy Otis Landing into a collection of boutiques and art galleries, but I think we can make the pier work. Right, Otis?"
    Otis, ensconced on his perch, which Elias had moved to the doorway of the shop, cackled malevolently. He sidled along the fake tree limb, beady eyes intent on Charity's crystal-encrusted sleeve.
    "Oh, no, you don't." Charity stepped back quickly when she realized that Otis was preparing to pluck a glittering bead from her wedding gown. "Don't you dare. This dress cost a fortune, even if I did get a deal because I got it through Truitt. I'm not going to let you ruin it."
    Otis contrived to look hurt and offended. Charity wrinkled her nose at him. Elias hid a quick grin as he watched the pair. He could not remember a day when he had been happier or more content with life. Charity was breathtaking in the glorious, full-skirted wedding gown. He had been unable to take his eyes off her for more than a few seconds at a time since she had walked down the aisle on her brother's arm two hours earlier.
    She was sunlight on a silvery sea, he thought. Moonlight on a lake. Everything he had ever wanted or needed. He wondered again at the twists and turns in the river of his life that had finally led him to this woman who had changed everything.
    Phyllis heaved a sigh and looked wistfully at Elias. "I suppose this means that all the summer rumors about a rich off-shore client building a world-class resort here in the cove were just pipe dreams?"
    "All I can tell you for sure;' Elias said, "is that none of my old clients is planning a resort here. At least not as far as I know. But, then, I'm out of the consulting business these days. I'm too busy with Crazy Otis Landing to worry about off-shore investors."
    Yappy appeared at Elias's shoulder. "Well, you might want to worry about that guy coming toward us. Ted spotted him a minute ago. It's the same dude that tried to beat you once before."
    Charity whirled around. "Not Justin Keyworth? Good grief, it's him, Elias. What's he doing here?"
    Elias watched as Justin walked slowly through the crowd. "I'll go find out." He set his punch glass down on the nearest bench.
    Yappy squinted. "Want some backup?"
    "I think I can handle him this time," Elias said. "If I need help, I'll let you know."
    Ted and Newlin materialized at Elias's elbow.
    "We'll be right here if you need us," Ted said.
    "Thanks." Elias started forward to intercept Justin.
    Charity grabbed fistfuls of her voluminous skirts and hurried after him. "I'm coming with you, Elias."
    He did not argue. If Justin was here to tell him that Garrick Keyworth had finally succeeded in killing himself, it would be good to have Charity at his side.
    He reached out to take her hand. She gave him a reassuring smile that said more than words. It said he was no longer alone.
    Justin stopped when he saw Elias and Charity coming toward him. He glanced from one to the other, frowning slightly.
    "What's going on here?" Justin studied Charity's gown. "You two just get married?"
    "Yes." Elias brought himself and Charity to a halt. "What do you want, Keyworth?"
    Justin looked uneasy. "This is sort of private, Winters. Can we go someplace and talk? I won't keep you long."
    Charity scowled. "No, you cannot go someplace alone. For all I know, you've come here to beat up Elias again, and I won't have it. Not on our wedding day."
    Justin flushed a dull red. "I didn't come here to beat up anyone. I just want to talk to Winters."
    "This is about your father, isn't it?" Elias said quietly.
    "Yes."
    "It's all right," Elias said. He felt Charity give his hand a small squeeze. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Charity."
    Justin took one last look at Charity's stubborn expression and apparently accepted the obvious fact that she was not going to quietly disappear. "I came to tell you that Dad's . . . getting better. He's in therapy. Taking medication. Starting to ask questions about the business."
    Relief swept through Elias. He drew a deep