Stay With Me

by Kathryn Shay

  “Hi,” Alexis said. “Want to talk?”

  For once, Portia appeared small and fragile, not her usual take-charge self. But she raised her chin defiantly. “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “All right. Tell me why you let me serve you Mexican food the night you came to dinner.” Her eyes narrowed on her cousin. “Why didn’t you tell us you have an ulcer?”

  Alexis grasped her cousin’s hand and drew her to the bench near Clare’s chair. “I owe you both an explanation.”

  “Only if you want to, dear,” Clare insisted.

  “I do.” Her look encompassed both women. “I developed an ulcer three years ago.” She stared over Portia’s shoulder and could hear again her cousin’s warning. Lexy, don’t do this. You’re going to get an ulcer. “You were right, Porsche. All those years ago.”

  “I didn’t want to be right.”

  “I know.”

  “Is that why you didn’t tell me?”

  “Yes. Stupid pride, I guess.”

  “Why do you have to be so tough, Lex?”

  “I always have been.”

  “Not always. Just since Brody died.”

  Brody’s laughing green eyes just minutes before he swerved on the snowmobile still haunted her. “I never saw it that way. In any case, I should have told you.”

  “That’s water under the bridge, now,” Clare put in. “We only want you to get well.”

  Alexis pressed a hand against her stomach. “Me, too. It’s why I came here.” She looked over her shoulder. “Where is everybody?”

  Portia filled her in. “Jamie and Max scuttled over to your place to watch TV. I gave them a light snack.” She nodded to the lake shore. “Your dad’s down there.”

  “I spoiled supper, didn’t I?”

  “Nope. It’s on hold. Spaghetti sauce keeps, and I hadn’t cooked the noodles yet.” Portia grinned. “Which you’ll have with butter.”

  “Thanks” Alexis stood. “I need to see Dad.”

  “Talk to him, dear,” Clare urged. “Let him know his family is worried about him.”

  Family. It had been a long time since she’d thought of herself as part of a larger family. Alexis trekked down the grassy slope to the lakefront. Her father was standing on the shore gazing out over the water Small waves lapped softly and the sound lulled her as she watched him. His six-foot frame was dwarfed by the backdrop of the lake and wide blue sky. Funny, she’d never considered Austin Castle in anything other than grand proportions, but here, he looked smaller and more vulnerable.

  Coming up behind him, she put a tentative hand on his back. In the past, they hadn’t touched a lot. It had been her mother who took care of all the warm fuzzies. “Dad?”

  He didn’t turn right away. Still staring out at the lake, he said, “Your mother loved the water.”

  “I know.”

  “Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t taken her away whether she would have lived longer.”

  “A heart attack isn’t caused by homesickness.”

  “She was never the same after we left. She hated New York and the social demands of my job.”

  “She loved you.”

  “Yes, I know.” Finally he faced her. His brow was lined and the brackets around his mouth had deepened. His thick white hair was mussed, from his restless hands, she suspected. “Had I known you didn’t want to tell anyone, I would have kept quiet.”

  “I realize that.”

  “You should have told them.”

  She was surprised by how quickly her anger rose against him. Was he always this harsh? She knew he was a shark in the business world, but the only time she could remember resenting him in private was over his reaction to her affair with Jamie’s father. “I handled it the way I thought was best.”

  He scowled at her. “You were wrong. Just like you were wrong to hide the ulcer from me for so long.”

  “Is that why you overreacted at Portia’s?” He gave her a puzzled look. “You were so angry with me.”

  “I—” The sadness in his eyes made her catch her breath. “Sometimes...I…” He raked a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Alexis. I shouldn’t have to spell this out for you.”

  “I’m afraid you do.”

  “I’m worried about you. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Like you lost Brody?”

  Abruptly, he pivoted away from her. “I don’t want to talk about Brody.”

  She waited a long minute; for some reason Spence’s face came into focus. Was he right? Did she never stand up to her father? Gently, she touched his forearm. “Sometimes, Dad, I do want to talk about him.”

  He expelled a ragged breath. “I can’t.”

  “All right, let’s drop it.” For now. She went to him and slid an arm around his waist. “You’ll stay for dinner, won’t you?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I should go back to Rochester.”

  “No, please Dad. I want you here.”

  He had returned his gaze to the lake, but he squeezed her gently and said, “All right, then I’ll stay.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE JUNE SUN beat down on Jamie’s head as she glanced over her shoulder and caught the summer rays glistening off a boat speeding out on the lake. Its sleek hull cut through the still water like a snake she’d once seen slithering through high grass. Sitting on the side of Keag’s dock, she kicked up her feet, splashing cool droplets onto her polka-dotted swimsuit and off skin so hot she was surprised the water didn’t sizzle when it hit her. Even the ducks were hiding in the shade under the dock and refused to come out. The boat whirred behind her again. Man, what she wouldn’t give to be that driver, slicing through the water with the cool breeze kissing her face. It was maximum freedom, like the seagulls that soared above the water.

  Damn. She should have been out skiing on the lake now. Keag had promised to take her. But he was as strict as her mother, who turned into a regular Cruella De Vil about safety. Jamie decided she was mad at Keag and skimmed a stone across the water. Even if she could make it skip three times, since he’d shown her how.

  At the sound of a motor coming nearer, she looked over her shoulder again, then swiveled around fully. Up close, the boat was really cool—whiter than snow, with skinny blue stripes along the sides. It was about twenty feet long, and had four seats. Behind the wheel stood a tall guy with curly brown hair, dressed in white like the captain of a ship. Wraparound sunglasses prevented her from recognizing him, even as he moored at Keag’s dock. He secured the boat and hopped out.

  “Hi, Jamie,” he called to her.

  When he whipped off his shades, she smiled at Jeff Keagan. “Hey, Baywatch guy.”

  He grinned, and his eyes crinkled around the corner like Keag’s did when she said something funny.

  “Thanks, squirt.” He glanced around. “What’re you doing on Dad’s dock?”

  “Waiting for a spotter.”

  “Spotter?” Kicking off his deck shoes, he plunked down next to her and swirled his feet in the water with her.

  “Yeah. Your dad promised to take me and Max skiing today but after her last final exam, Max’s parents decided to pay some attention to her, so she ditched me. Keag won’t take me skiing alone in the boat ‘cause there’s no one to watch out for me while he drives.”

  “He’s right.”

  “I know. It’s just that if we have to wait till Mom gets back from taking Grandpa on a tour of Guardian, it’ll be late afternoon, and Keag has to work tonight.”

  Casually, Jeff surveyed the lake. “Great day to be choppin’ in the wake.”

  Jamie tracked his gaze. “I really wanna go out. Portia taught me the basics. But Keag says he can give me pointers so I’ll be as good as Max.”

  “Funny, he never made that offer to me.”

  Jamie’s head snapped around; she saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. Quickly, he flicked his glasses back in place.

  “What offer?”

  “To teach me to water-ski.”

  “You own a b
oat company and you can’t water-ski?”

  “Oh, I can now.” He picked up one of her stones and sent it flying across the lake. “I learned at Yale. I was on their rowing team, too.”

  “Yale? You smart, Baywatch guy?”

  “Yep.” He sounded sad again.

  “My mother’s smart, too.”

  “It can be a curse,” he mumbled. Shaking his head, he scanned the shore. “Where is Dad?”

  “Doin’ some work on Aunt Clare’s room.” Jamie’s eyes narrowed. “You come to see him?”

  “Yeah, sure. Why?”

  “I heard him telling Clare you don’t have time for him anymore.” Jamie wondered how far to go. She decided to take the risk because Keag had been nice to her, and maybe she could help him. “That he wishes you did but ‘what goes around comes around.’” She scowled. “What does that mean?”

  Leaning back, Jeff braced his arms behind him on the dock and looked heavenward. “It means you reap what you sow.”

  She threw him a sideways glance. “Which means…”

  “If you’re nice to somebody, they’ll be nice back, and vice versa.”

  Jamie gaped at him “Did Keag beat you up?”

  “Nah. He just wasn’t around enough.”

  “Oh, yeah, I know about that. For a while, I called the nanny, Mom.”

  “Jeff? Hi.”

  Startled, Jeff looked up at his father and felt as young as Jamie, and as needy. And he hated it, though that was partly why he was here. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Did you come to see me?” The hope on his father’s face pricked Jeff’s conscience. Did his father really want to spend more time with him?

  “Uh-huh. I took today off and thought I’d drop by.” He ruffled Jamie’s hair. “The squirt here says you’re on nights.”

  Spence grinned. “I am. This is a great surprise.”

  From the corner of his eye, Jeff saw Jamie scramble up and pull on a shirt. “I’ll make myself scarce. You got better things to do, Keag.”

  Jeff exchanged a quick glance with his father, then nodded at Jamie. She got almost an arm’s length away before Spence grasped the big tropical parrot on the back of her royal blue cover-up. “Not so fast, kid.”

  Hauled back, Jamie stared at him, surprised.

  Jeff said, “I sure would like to go waterskiing.” He nodded to his boat. “I got my slalom, and a new pair of O’Brien combos.”

  His father’s look was full of soft approval.

  “You mean it?” Jamie exclaimed.

  “Of course.” Jeff indicated the boat. “We can go right now. If you’re ready, Dad.”

  “I am. I just changed into my suit.”

  “Awesome.” She stepped toward the boat then halted abruptly. “Oh, man. I called Mom on the phone. She’s coming here after work.” Jamie shrugged. “I can’t leave her hanging.” An embarrassed smile crossed her lips. “I really ragged on her about working today.”

  “Ah, guilt, a child’s favorite weapon.” His father’s tone was dry, teasing, but Jeff wondered if there was some hidden meaning. Did he used to attack his dad with guilt?

  Jamie took the jab like a contender, head up, shrugging her shoulders. Jeff was about to speak when from behind him an out-of-breath female voice called out, “Jamie? I’m here.”

  All three turned to see Alexis Castle—every inch the CEO-in-training—hurrying down the dock in high heels. She wore a knee-length white silk suit, all buttoned up, even in this heat. Her hair was pulled back off her face. Even breathless, she could have been an ad for Executive Women.

  Jamie threw herself into her mom’s arms. “Super. Jeff’s gonna take us out in his KeagCraft.”

  His father stiffened. Jeff sighed. Three steps forward…

  Jeff turned his attention back to Alexis and Jamie. The excitement on Jamie’s face tugged at his heart. His gaze shot to his father, who was staring, not at mother and daughter, but at him; an odd look was in his eyes.

  Shrewdly, Alexis surveyed the situation. “Jeff’s taking you and Spence out?”

  “Yeah.”

  Drawing back, she held Jamie by the arms. “Still want me to come along, now that you don’t need a spotter?” Even Jeff could hear the hope in her voice.

  “Yeah, Mom, I do.”

  Alexis stole another quick hug from her daughter, then asked Spence, “Give me five minutes to change?”

  After a moment, Spence nodded. Then a young, very male smile claimed his face. “My heart’s trippin’ in anticipation to see what suit Jamie got you.”

  She rolled her eyes. Turning, she covered the wooden slats of the dock as fast as her heels would carry her. Spence watched her steadily, then called after her, “Take some motion sickness pills.”

  Without turning back, Alexis waved over her head.

  Jamie shot Jeff a questioning look.

  Jeff returned it, equally puzzled. What was going on between his nomad father and her mother who epitomized corporate ambition? Whatever it was, it shocked the hell out of him

  o0o

  “HEY, KEAG, YOU see that?” Youthful exuberance filled Jamie’s voice; she was excited—to be cruising the water in the middle of a hot summer day, and to be the focus of adult male attention. There were times such as these, when Alexis was forced to admit that Jamie missed having a father. Austin felt it was one of the reasons for Jamie’s flamboyance and sass.

  Today “Keag” made a pretty good substitute. As Jeff headed the boat out to skiing-friendly waters, Spence lazed in the stern next to Jamie and stared up at the sky through aviator sunglasses. The breeze blew back his hair, revealing a high, wide forehead. His face was darkly tanned. Long lean legs stretched out from under green trunks, and his beige Guardian Flight Base T-shirt hung casually past his hips. He studied the sky, then pointed. “Yep. Right there. A big, woolly dog.”

  Enrapt, her daughter tracked his finger as if it were a magic wand. “Hmm. You think it’s a sheepdog?”

  “I don’t know. See the tail? It might be a St. Bernard.”

  Alexis’s heart bumped in her chest. To steady it, she crossed to the bow, where Jeff slouched in the captain’s seat. “Mind if I sit?” she asked him.

  “Not at all.”

  She took the shotgun chair and watched him out of the corner of her eye. His skin was ruddy from the wind, and his hair, corporate short, was a few shades lighter than Spence’s. He had Spence’s jaw, square cut and stubborn, but there were also little dimples on the side of his face when he smiled, like now, that his father didn’t have. Jeff angled his head back to Spence and Jamie. “Can’t see them either?” he asked her.

  She laughed. “Nope. Never could.” She shot a disgusted glance to the sky, where there was, to her, simply a gathering of cumulus clouds—dense, fluffy, flat-based formations usually created by the ascent of thermally unstable air masses.

  “I used to lie, sometimes,” Jeff admitted, “when he’d want to play with me.”

  “I did, too, with Jamie.”

  They shared a sympathetic look. “He always knew.”

  “So did she.”

  Alexis shook her head. “I can tell you the rise and fall quota of the stock market on any given day, but I can’t for the life of me find castles in the clouds.”

  As Jeff slowed down for an ideal spot for skiing, he nodded. “I didn’t see the newspaper this morning. How’s KeagCraft doing?”

  “Up a half point.”

  “Castle Enterprises?”

  “Up a quarter.”

  They shared a few more stock quotes by the time Jeff stopped the boat. Alexis turned to find Spence helping Jamie get out the equipment. As he unraveled the rope, he spoke softly to her.

  “He’s good with kids, now,” Jeff said, following her line of vision. Alexis didn’t miss the wistfulness in his voice.

  She sighed, thinking of her own inadequacies as a mother. “Sometimes, people find their parenting niche later in life.”

  “I know. I’m glad he’s changed.”

 
; “Is it too late?”

  “Not for me.”

  Did Jeff mean that it was too late for Spence and Judd Keagan? Alexis didn’t dare ask. She didn’t know them well enough to drag that skeleton from their closet.

  Instead, she got up and went back to Jamie. “All set?”

  “Yep.

  “Remember the hand signals and everything?” “Moth-er!”

  “Show us, kid.” Spence’s voice was firm as he quizzed Jamie on thumbs up for more speed, down for less, and a pat on the head to indicate she was ready to come in.

  “Super. Go ahead,” Spence told her. “I’ll spot.”

  Like the good athlete she was, Jamie got into the water and in position quickly. It took her only two tries to get up. After twenty minutes, they signaled her back in and hauled her into the boat. Her face flushed with excitement, her dark eyes—Greg’s eyes—glittering with triumph, she addressed Spence. “I didn’t fall once, Keag. You were right about leaning forward...did you see how I took the wake from that boat...man, Jeff, can I go again today?”

  Laughing, Jeff ruffled her hair. As he flipped into the water and up on the slalom, Alexis was hit by a blast of memory…

  Come on, Lex. You can do it.

  She’d been fifteen, and the McPhersons had bought a slalom. “Lexy” had fallen only twice. On the third try, she’d succeeded; she and Portia were cutting through the water like Olympic ski contenders inside of a few hours. Alexis could almost feel the sunburn on her face, the ache in her calves, and the rawness of her hands. But especially, the thrill of victory. She knew exactly how Jamie felt.

  “…take a turn?” Spence stood above her.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re watching Jeff skiing out there like a man in a desert seeing an oasis. Wanna try it?”

  “No thanks. I’ve become klutz of the year in my old age. Ask Jamie.”

  “Mother’s fitness-challenged.”

  “You used to ski?”

  “A little.”

  “Hmm.”

  Spence took the ropes next. He chose the slalom, too, and rose up on the lone ski on the first try. With his shirt off, his golden skin gleamed in the sunlight. He asked for more speed and cut across an oncoming boat’s wake expertly. He was grinning smugly when he returned; he looked sleek and very male, as he climbed into the boat.