Chapter 7: After leaving the trailer, Brody noticed my limp and suggested I take the access road to the highway instead of climbing out of the gorge. This longer route meant a delayed arrival at my parents’ restaurant, but I appreciated the ease it provided. My arrival didn’t occur until nearly two in the afternoon, and just as I was backing out of the parking lot, I spotted my friend, the bartender, waving at me from the door. I felt a moment of relief, not needing to explain my presence there or the events that had unfolded.

When I finally reached Osprey Cove, the sight of a long line of vehicles greeted me as guests gathered for the wedding. The security team had their hands full, checking IDs, but Hugo recognized me immediately and ushered me through. He mentioned that Margaret had been asking about me, which made me feel a bit guilty for not having brought anything with me. Hugo, being perceptive, seemed to sense my unease, likely aware that I was hiding the truth about my findings in town. When I asked about Gwendolyn, the girl connected to a recent tragic event, Hugo revealed that the police had found xylazine—an animal tranquilizer—among her things. This revelation sent a wave of concern through me, solidifying my suspicions that something far darker was at play.

Amid the festivities, where guests were engaged in casual conversations and merriment, I couldn’t shake the gravity of what had transpired. While walking toward the lodge, I ran into Minh, Maggie’s old college roommate from Babson. This encounter stirred memories of Maggie’s college days, filled with both fondness and turmoil. Minh, ever the optimist, shared her hopes for Maggie’s bright future, but I couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling that something wasn’t right. It was a reminder that Maggie’s future might not be as secure as it seemed, with the complex web of relationships around her growing even more convoluted.

Tammy then shared her afternoon with Errol Gardner, waterskiing, and the surprising news that he had gifted her stock as a wedding present. This news left me puzzled about Errol’s intentions and his involvement in our family’s increasingly complicated dynamics. Just as things began to escalate in my thoughts, I saw Maggie leaving the cottage with lemonade in hand. I immediately asked to speak with her privately, feeling an urgent need to address the mounting concerns that had been plaguing me for days.

In our conversation, I mentioned meeting Dawn’s family, hoping to gauge Maggie’s reaction. She seemed taken aback, which only fueled my suspicions. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Maggie’s relationship with Aidan was far more complicated and potentially dangerous than she realized. I described the hidden threats I saw around her engagement, urging her to reconsider her situation before it was too late. Despite my warnings, Maggie stood her ground, asserting that everything was fine and that I was overreacting. I pushed further, asking her to trust my instincts, which seemed to be backed up by every piece of information I had.

As the conversation continued, Maggie recalled a photo that had raised questions about Aidan’s involvement. She mentioned how an intern had noticed an anomaly in the picture—Aidan’s thumb appearing on the wrong side, which seemed to suggest something was amiss. This seemingly small detail added weight to my suspicions, further complicating the already strained family dynamics. I was torn between respecting Maggie’s autonomy and protecting her from the dangerous situation she seemed to be walking into.

The conversation between Maggie and I felt like a tipping point. Her willingness to dismiss my concerns about Aidan and the increasing complexity of their relationship made me fear for her future. As the layers of secrecy and manipulation started to unravel, I knew that my role as a father and protector had never been more important. Despite Maggie’s resistance, I couldn’t stand by and watch as she made decisions that would likely lead to harm. The tension was palpable, and the stakes had never felt so high.

In the end, I knew that Maggie would have to make her own decisions, but I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of responsibility to intervene before it was too late. The truth, however painful, needed to come to light, no matter how many walls Maggie put up in the process. I walked away from our conversation, deeply unsettled, but also resolute in my determination to protect my daughter from the dangerous web she was entangled in. With each passing day, it became clear that the deeper I dug, the more I uncovered, and the closer I got to unraveling the tangled mess that was Aidan Gardner and his family.