Accept Me

by Marion Ueckermann

  Anna and her date rose. They were leaving. She handed her coat to him then turned, allowing him to help her into it. The gorgeous red dress she wore vanished beneath black fur. What a gentleman he was. Sigh.

  Placing a hand in the small of Anna’s back—a gesture Haddie herself had become familiar with over the past few weeks—the man guided her away from the table. If only she could get a better look at them both as they headed for the exit. But that was farther away from Haddie and Ivy’s table. Maybe she should make an excuse to visit the bathroom, situated near the entrance.

  Before Haddie could make up her mind to go or stay, Anna’s date paused then turned back to retrieve his own coat which he’d left hanging on his chair. He lifted his head, his gaze panning the restaurant.

  A shaft of sharp pain shot through Haddie’s chest, and it definitely wasn’t Cupid’s arrow. She sank lower in her seat then turned to face the dark wooden wall resembling a fisherman’s boat, her heart breaking.

  No. No, it couldn’t be!

  Anna’s date was none other than Riley. Her Riley. She couldn’t believe it—he was involved with someone else. No wonder he hadn’t asked her out tonight. No wonder he’d given her no details this morning of his prior engagement that he couldn’t break. The nights he hadn’t seen Haddie, he’d probably been with Anna. And she’d foolishly believed he’d been working.

  But what were the peonies all about, and the “I’m falling for you, will you be my Valentine, my girlfriend” speech? Was that a line he often used on gullible women?

  Or maybe he’d brought Anna out tonight to break up with her, although they’d looked so cozy all night, Anna so happy. No, breaking up had definitely not been served on their Valentine’s menu.

  Down at the marina, Riley followed Anna onto her father’s yacht. Hopefully they were just going to stay moored while they drank coffee and Anna squeezed out the last few hours of his obligation to her.

  But with Anna, it was hard to tell what would happen next.

  Riley settled into a single seat inside the yacht’s luxurious living room. “So, who is Kaitie?”

  Anna remained by the bar, her back to him. He heard glasses clinking. “Kaitie is Daddy’s pet name for my mother. In public, she’s Kay. But in the privacy of our home, she’s his Kaitie. Naming his boat The Kaitie sounds way more endearing than The Kay, don’t you think?”

  She swung around and sashayed toward him. In her hands she carried two balloon-shaped glasses, the lower portion colored with amber liquid that swooshed from one side of the glass to the other as she walked. She handed him one drink. “Cognac?”

  Hand raised with his palm out, Riley shook his head. “I don’t drink. And I’m on duty in a few hours.”

  “Oh, Riley. Just take a sip. It’ll warm you.”

  He took the glass from her. One sip, or he wouldn’t hear the end of her begging, and he really wanted to bring this evening to a close and get home to call Haddie.

  The liquid warmed his insides as it slid down his throat then settled in his stomach. It took his breath away, and he coughed. Whew, another good reason not to drink.

  Anna settled herself on the couch. She patted the empty cushion beside her. “Come and sit here by me, lover.”

  If he shifted onto that couch, he’d be in heaps of trouble.

  As he stood, he placed his glass on the coffee table, intending to leave it there untouched, then turned to gaze out of the large window that encircled the spacious cabin. “It might be cold out, but it’s a beautiful night. Just look at the stars. There’s Persius, Aries, Taurus, Lepus, and Orion.”

  Anna came to stand beside him. She peered through the glass at the dark sky with its tiny twinkling lights. “Did they teach you that at EMT training? In case you ever get lost in the woods on a search and rescue mission?”

  “Ha. No. That was all boy scouts at age fifteen.” His adoptive parents had taught him so much. Done so much for him. They had changed his life.

  But not as much as God.

  Anna shifted closer, if that were even possible. She laced her arm through Riley’s then leaned her head on his shoulder, her breath warm on his neck. “Which one is Orion? I’ve heard about that before somewhere.”

  “Maybe church? The book of Job… Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?”

  Anna laughed. “I certainly can’t, but I’m sure you can, my strong man.”

  Not a chance. Some days he was so dog-tired after a shift that he could barely manage his own belt. But he did know the One, the only One, who could loosen Orion’s belt and bind the chains of the Pleiades.

  Words from Job 38 swirled in Riley’s mind, reminding him of just how big and awesome and majestic God is. He laid the foundation of the earth and marked off its dimensions. He laid its cornerstone and set boundaries for the mighty ocean. Even to this day, He causes the dawn to break at His command and knows exactly where light and darkness reside. He walks through the storehouses of snow and hail, and the places where lightning bolts and wind are hidden. He fathers the rain, dew, ice, and frost, and sets the constellations in the skies at the right times. He names the stars and counts the clouds. The hairs on his children’s heads are even numbered. He keeps a record of every tear and every heartache.

  No doubt about it… God. Sees. Us.

  Lord, You do all that and so much more—You certainly can get me out of this situation and help me set things right with Haddie.

  I trust You, Father.

  As if the rug had been pulled out from beneath his feet, Riley lurched to the left. He quickly steadied himself by gripping the ledge of the window thereby avoiding a sprawl onto the couch and having Anna tumble after.

  Anna did follow, however, right into Riley’s side. She wrapped both arms around him then burst out laughing. “I really should’ve told Daddy’s captain to give us some warning before heading out to sea. We were so busy gazing at the stars, we hadn’t noticed that he’d reversed the yacht and readied her to take to the sea.”

  Riley couldn’t help feeling that Anna had perhaps planned that thrust-filled departure with the captain. He wouldn’t put anything past the woman when it came to a scenario ending with her landing in his arms.

  Lord, I have no idea what You’re doing here, but this isn’t helping me. I’m in a worse situation. Now Anna has me in her grip, and she’s not going to let go.

  Riley broke into a cold sweat. Suddenly it wasn’t only his body that had lurched; his stomach lurched to. He needed to heave. Now!

  Remembering that Anna had mentioned there were four bathrooms upstairs—one for each bedroom—Riley snaked out of her hold and bolted for the staircase, taking the steps two at a time.

  You can make it. You can make it.

  “Riley, are you all right?” Anna called after him.

  Hanging over the porcelain toilet bowl, throwing up that expensive meal, Riley felt anything but all right. Call it motion sickness, sea sickness, or simply a bad oyster, this could be his ticket off this yacht and back home.

  So bring it on.

  The downside was that it would mean postponing calling Haddie until tomorrow. Then again, maybe it was best he told her everything in person, not over the phone.

  He’d do it tomorrow night, during their date. First thing in the morning, he’d cancel the table he’d booked at The Fisherman’s Hook. How was he to know that that’s where Anna would take him? And now it just didn’t feel right to take Haddie there on a belated Valentine’s date. Instead, he’d cook a tasty, home-cooked meal for them. Telling her that he hadn’t been entirely truthful in the privacy of his home was a way better plan than doing so in a public place.

  There’d be time for that fancy, romantic dinner. Just not tomorrow night.

  That is if Haddie forgave him and still wished to continue their relationship.

  Chapter Eighteen

  HEARING SOMEONE clear their throat, Haddie glanced up from where she still catalogued used books onto the system.

>   Ivy.

  Again.

  “Haddie, are you sure you’re all right? You know you can always talk to me about anything that’s bothering you.”

  “Thanks, Ivy. But I’m fine. Really.” Except she wasn’t. Her heart was breaking. It had taken all her strength to avoid a meltdown in the restaurant last night. And it had taken as much effort this morning to hide the fact that she’d cried herself to sleep.

  “Then why don’t I believe you? Just as I didn’t believe you last night when you said you’d lost your appetite. What happened last night that I didn’t notice?”

  “Nothing happened.” Haddie lifted the next book. Her eyes flicked up to Ivy, still standing there. “I promise, I’ll come to you if I need to.”

  Ivy shrugged. “All right. I’ll be here. Waiting.” She turned around slowly then dragged herself out of the room, looking back over her shoulder until she disappeared from Haddie’s sight.

  Haddie set the book down again. She needed to find the Alversons’ address—before the day’s end. And then she’d text Riley to let him know she couldn’t make their date that evening. But she’d do that much later. She didn’t want him trying to talk her into seeing him tonight, or worse, suspecting that she’d found out he was dating two women at the same time. Frankly, it all made her sick. She didn’t want to see him, period.

  She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her rescue pump. She inhaled two puffs.

  Earlier, she’d searched the system for the Alversons. Seemed they didn’t read. Or if they did, they bought their books in Portland.

  Violet. She should ask her. Surely she would know? But how could she extract the required information without arousing the town gossip’s suspicions that she was up to something?

  A plan formed in her mind as she worked, biding her time. Finally, around two thirty, Violet tottered into the second-hand books section. The aroma of coffee wafted in with her.

  “You’re working far too hard, Haddie. You’ve been at it all day with no lunch or coffee breaks.” Violet handed a cup to Haddie. “I thought you might like something hot to drink.”

  “Thank you.” She hadn’t had an appetite since she’d lost it last night, but coffee…that she could wrap her lips around.

  Violet tipped her head then turned to go.

  “Violet. Wait!”

  The purple head pivoted first, the rest of her body following soon after.

  Haddie stepped closer. “Can I ask you something? But, please, it’s a secret. Can you keep my secret?”

  The purple head bobbed up and down. “Of course I can, Haddie.” She zipped her lip.

  Haddie couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for that zipper to pop right open. Didn’t matter though, what she was about to say was all fabricated for a single purpose—to find out where Kay Alverson lived.

  “Last night, Ivy and I went out together for dinner. Riley had a prior engagement. I’m sure he has plans to make up our lost time tonight. And Ivy…well, she was alone. I guess Dr. Johnson hasn’t yet plucked up the courage to ask her out, especially for something as special and romantic as Valentine’s Day.”

  “That Jeff Johnson needs a kick in the you-know-where. It’s time he told Ivy how he felt, before some other silver-haired fox sweeps her off her feet and he loses out. Hmm, maybe I should be teaching Oscar to say Ivy and Jeff.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Or better still, Haddie and Riley.”

  “Oh, don’t go there just yet, Violet. Riley and I… Well, it’s early days. Anything can happen.”

  Violet’s eyes widened, and she rested a wrinkled hand on Haddie’s arm. “Has something happened?”

  Haddie shook her head.

  “So, as I was saying, we were out for dinner last night. Anna Alverson was there too, and she wore the most amazing dress. I–I wanted to stop by her house to ask her where she bought it. Something like this is better done face to face than over the phone, I think. Anyway, I’d love to get something similar to wear to a friend’s wedding back home in Kentucky in the summer.”

  She hated spinning a yarn, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

  And it wasn’t as if she was exactly living for God at the moment.

  Yes, she knew He would disapprove of her lie, but it was told now. She’d just have to deal with her guilt.

  Right there along with her anger.

  “Of course I can tell you where the Alversons live, Haddie. It’s the very last house on Seabreeze Avenue. You drive over the bridge crossing Sweetwater River. Take the first left and then the first right. That’s Seabreeze.”

  Haddie leaned forward and drew Violet into a hug. “Thank you, Violet. You’re a lifesaver.”

  “It’s my pleasure. But you have to promise to model that dress for me once you find one. I just hope Anna coughs up her secrets for you.”

  You and me both, Violet. Although not Anna, but her mother, Kay.

  Not wishing to drive to the Alversons in the dark, Haddie asked Ivy if she could leave a little earlier. So at exactly 5 p.m., Haddie pulled her rental to a stop outside the Alversons’ house. Everything inside her trembled like Jello since she’d gotten the address to this mansion, and hopefully the answers to all her questions.

  Literally shaking in her boots, Haddie eased the driver’s door open. As she climbed out of the little blue Nissan, her chest tightened. Not again. She hadn’t had an asthma attack since that first day in Chapel Cove, but this…last night and the prospect of what lay ahead…it was all too stressful for her.

  Dipping her hand into her bag, she retrieved her rescue pump then inhaled two puffs for the second time today. She stared up at the three-story mansion and blew out a slow breath. “Well, here I am. No turning back.”

  Pacing firmly up the paved driveway bordered on either side by lush green grass and beautiful plants, Haddie kept her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her, too afraid to look up in case someone was watching her. How did they keep their yard looking this good in winter? If one had money, one could do anything.

  Even make an unwanted child disappear.

  The wooden front door seemed to engulf her with its sheer size. Or perhaps it was that she suddenly felt so small, so insignificant, so…nothing.

  She lifted the brass knocker.

  Moments later, the door opened. A middle-aged woman stood on the other side and smiled.

  Haddie sucked in a breath. Was this her mother? She didn’t look like a wealthy woman, one who would be queen of all this, although Haddie did like her kindly face. She had a slight Hispanic appearance.

  “M–Mrs. Alverson?”

  The woman shook her head. “Oh, no, no, no. I’m Elisama, the Alversons’ housekeeper. Mrs. Alverson…she’s expecting you?”

  This time it was Haddie’s turn to shake her head. “No. But I do need to speak with her. It’s of the utmost importance.”

  “Come. Come inside. I will take you to the library. You can wait there while I let Mrs. Alverson know that you are here. But please, the family eats dinner at six o’clock, so you have little less than an hour.”

  She led Haddie into a small library. Books filled each wall and a large wooden desk with a leather surface posed proudly in front of the curved, double-volume window. Must be Mr. Alverson’s special domain.

  “Please, take a seat. You’re fortunate—normally Mrs. Alverson arrives around five thirty with her husband, but she drove to Chapel Cove yesterday with her daughter, Anna. Would you like something to drink?”

  “Just a glass of water. Thank you, Elisama.” Haddie had a feeling she would need it when words turned to dust in her mouth.

  The housekeeper swiveled and paused at the door. “What is your name, so that I can tell Mrs. Alverson?”

  “My name is Haddie. Haddie Hayes.”

  Haddie wished she could be a fly on the wall when Kay Alverson, her mother—most likely—heard that name. Probably the first time she’d heard it in twenty-eight years.

  To take her mind off the su
spense of waiting, Haddie scanned the shelves. No wonder the Alversons weren’t on the system at Ivy’s on Spruce—they owned more than enough books to offer them a lifetime of reading.

  The door clicked, and Haddie swirled around.

  An elegant woman dressed in boots, jeans, and a creamy sweater, no doubt cashmere, leaned against the shut door. Her brown hair had been pulled into a French twist updo—at least from where Haddie stood it looked like a French twist—and a string of pearls adorned her neck, two single pearls her earlobes.

  Instinctively, Haddie touched her own bare neck, already missing the gift that Riley had bought her not even a week ago. She’d taken it off the moment she’d shut the door behind Ivy last night.

  “Haddie?” The woman stuck out her hand. “Kay Alverson. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Kay gestured to one of the high-back armchairs. “Please, sit down. Elisama will be here in a moment with tea.”

  Tea? She didn’t want to chit-chat over tea. She wanted to spit out what she had to say, drink her water when she ran out of words, then be on her way. How dare these people decide which child stays and which one goes?

  Instead, Haddie offered Kay a weak smile and sank into the chair, her legs about to give way beneath her. Just like outside the door, she felt small and insignificant once more.

  “So, Haddie Hayes, what can I do for you? Are you here to talk about another charity fundraiser? You know I always want to do my bit for Chapel Cove—I love this little town—but with the next event I think I’ll leave my daughter at home.” She chuckled. “It’s way too costly to have Anna tag along with me and then spend her father’s money to satisfy her whims.”

  Humph. Likely that red dress she was showing off last night.

  Haddie shook her head. “I’m not here for charity.” Her voice had come out way softer than she’d wanted.

  Oh, the irony of her words. When her mother heard what she had to say, that’s exactly what she would think—that Haddie was here for a handout, her share of the Alverson fortune.

  “Haddie Hayes… Haddie Hayes…” Kay tapped a perfectly manicured finger against her lips as she gazed up at the books. “Now why does that name ring such a bell?”