Coming Home To You (Man From Yesterday 1)

by Barbara Lohr

  Dragging one hand through the water, she made an arch. The water rippled out to Cole. “I came home because my family needed me.”

  Turning his attention back to her, Cole’s eyes burned with sun-like intensity. This was getting too personal. Kate swung one of her hips closer. Cole’s hands jerked, like they wanted to grab her waist. His eyes flitted to the shore where Natalie sat watching them. She waved. He waved back, hissing out a sigh between set teeth.

  They were so close. She could feel the heat he radiated, or was that her own? “So, what would you do now that you know I’m not dating Will?”

  The grin returned, mischievous and quirky—like high school, when they sprayed shaving cream through the vent in Ignacio’s locker. “I’d put one hand flat on the small of your back, bring you closer.”

  “How close?” She could barely get the question out.

  “Close enough to kiss you. Soft and then hard.”

  “I’d like that.” She began to tremble.

  Cole’s eyelids dropped to half mast. “Really? How much?”

  “A lot and more.” Her fingers tingled, wanting to trace the high arc of his strong nose. “Yeah, I’d like that a lot.”

  Have you no shame, Katherine?

  None whatsoever.

  “And if it was dark out… if we were here at night?” He wasn’t finished, and she was glad.

  “What then?” Her mouth felt like sandpaper.

  “Why, I’d slip off that tiny top, Katydid. Kiss you all over.”

  “All over?”

  “Every hill and valley. Lay you out like a picnic on a sand dune. And you can bet I’d take my time.”

  “But I’d want you to hurry.” Her heart was slamming against her ribs.

  One eyebrow went up. “Really? Well, your wish is my command.”

  She gave a choked giggle. “We watched that movie together. ‘Princess Bride.’ Laughed all the way through.”

  “Still do. Natalie loves it.” A fierce frown had settled on Cole’s brow, his chest expanding in an alarming way. “But I’m not laughing now, Katydid.”

  Oh, this felt so bad. If Kate lost her footing now, she might drown. Paralyzed by her thoughts, the EMS guy would say. We see this all the time on the beach.

  Reaching out, Cole smoothed back her wet hair. Every follicle of her skin felt his touch. “I’m thinking of all the things we could do on this beach at night, things we never even knew about in high school.”

  Kate’s imagination caromed into every erotic book she’d ever read. Okay, only three but three were enough. “That bad, huh?”

  “Worse. Much worse than bad.” Cole shook himself, like a bear waking up from a nap. “And now I want you to go back to the beach while I swim out into the colder water so I don’t embarrass us both.”

  “Sure. Right. Okay. And I’ll try not to drown.”

  He laughed but she wasn’t kidding. Body limp, Kate collapsed into a sidestroke. Somehow she made it to shore.

  A little while later, Cole joined them and they trooped up to the house. Kate couldn’t even look at him. Snapping out the beach towels, she hung them on the clothes lines strung between two birch trees. Cole sprayed sand from their feet with the garden hose.

  “Have fun, Cole?” Her mother's voice came from the dimness of the porch.

  “Sure did, Mrs. Kennedy.”

  Kate choked when his gaze found hers and he winked. Natalie was totally oblivious, eager to get inside where Prissy stood, pressing against the screen. Kate still couldn’t believe the tolerance her mother showed for that dog, opening the screen door so Prissy could greet Cole with slobbery kisses.

  Lips tingling, Kate envied Prissy.

  “Natalie, why don’t you run upstairs to change back into your clothes?” Her mom beckoned and Natalie scurried inside.

  “What the heck? I can never get her to do that without an argument,” Cole muttered.

  Her mother's laugh hit a surprised, high note. She liked Cole. The realization struck Kate with the suddenness of a summer storm. “And you come inside too, Cole. I got something for you.”

  Holding the door open for her, Cole sent Kate a smile. Geez, Cole liked Alice too. Would wonders never cease?

  “Made some of these small chocolate chip zucchini loaves today. Way too many for us, especially since Kate is always on a diet.”

  “Mom!” Kate felt her feminine mystique melting away.

  Her mother laughed again as they trailed her into the kitchen.

  “Sure does smell good in here.” He sniffed the air.

  “I’m a silly fool. Way too hot for baking.” Leaning against the counter, Mom propped her cane next to her. “But I thought Natalie might enjoy a treat.”

  “Mighty nice of you, Mrs. Kennedy.”

  “Alice. Call me Alice.”

  Cole ducked his head. The man seemed too large for this neat kitchen, like a bread that's risen too high.

  Swinging open the refrigerator door, her mother grabbed two of the loaves, neatly wrapped in foil. The blast of cold air gave Kate goose bumps. Her shiver wasn’t lost on Cole.

  “Sure smells wonderful.” Cole clasped them to his chest, his gaze on Kate.

  By that time, Natalie was back downstairs, wet hair slicked back and a bright blue beach tote over one arm.

  “You could stay for dinner.” Her mother’s offer came out of nowhere.

  What was her mother thinking? They had nothing to eat.

  “We could order a pizza,” her mom said, as if she read Kate’s mind.

  “Could we, Dad?” Natalie cuddled up to her father.

  Kate was relieved when Cole maneuvered Natalie toward the back door where Prissy was already nosing the screen.

  “Maybe next time. I promised your grandmother we'd stop in tonight. Better get going.”

  “Oh, take one for Marie.” Mom reached back into the fridge for another loaf. “Sometimes you get sick of nursing home food.”

  “That’s very considerate, Mrs. K-, Alice.”

  “Maybe next time for dinner.” Alice sent a sly look at Kate.

  “Yep. Next time.” Cole’s glance pierced Kate with delicious intent. “Count on it.”

  Her heart did a back flip. After Cole and Natalie left, Kate cut off a huge wedge from one of the loaves and wolfed it down. While her mother fussed in the kitchen, Kate carried another huge piece out to the screen porch. Settling with a sigh, she savored each bite and wondered when she’d see Cole again.

  ~~

  “But she lost all his manuscripts!” Phoebe’s voice probably echoed across Lake Michigan.

  “Surely he can forgive his wife,” Sarah said softly, one finger tracing the beaded coolness of her glass of sangria.

  “When you're Ernest Hemingway, maybe you don't forgive a woman for anything,” Kate said dryly. The book group got into a spirited discussion about male authors and their real life women.

  This was what Kate loved about the women gathered on her screen porch tonight. They said what they thought. Chili and Sarah had taken the old wicker furniture while Carolyn and Phoebe lounged on the futon. The swing squeaked while Kate rocked.

  “Where's Diana tonight?” Carolyn asked, looking around. “Maybe we should wait for her.”

  “She had to work,” Sarah said. “Evening hours are busy for her during the summer.”

  A pitcher of sangria sat on the side table, sliced lemons, oranges, and nectarines heaped in with the ice. Kate's mom had baked Sunshine Cake, and the scent of nectarines hung in the air. Kate helped sift the flour just so she could keep one eye on what was going into the bowl.

  While the group talked, Kate glanced at the clock. Now able to drive, her mother had taken off to visit Marie at the care center. Nice to see her busy and happy, but the agreement was that she’d be home by dark.

  The group had been discussing “The Paris Wife,” the fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage to Hadley Richardson in the early years, Paris in the 20s. She loved it.

 
“So anyway, I found it touching.” With the warm weather, Carolyn had traded her sweatshirts and sweaters for T-shirts that made her look curvy and cute.

  Note to self. Keep the sweatshirts in drawers.

  “Maybe everyone's first marriage begins sweet,” Kate murmured without thinking. Certainly those first years had been like that with Brian. She could feel the woman's eyes cut to her in the darkness. “I mean, I imagine so.”

  “Touching and sweet until the husband takes up with his assistant.” Phoebe put it right on the line. There was an edge to her words, and Kate didn't want to become that woman. The woman who becomes bitter because her marriage didn’t work out, although Phoebe rarely complained. If Brian had been unfaithful, Kate didn’t want to know. As time passed, though, she wondered. All those nights at work.

  Work? Really?

  “But here, it wasn't a secretary,” Carolyn said, her voice rising. “Pauline Pfeiffer was actually someone Hadley Richardson knew. A friend.”

  Phoebe snorted. “Right. And Hemingway thought he could have both.”

  “Didn't I read somewhere that Hemingway always regretted that he left Hadley Richardson?” Chili's forehead wrinkled.

  “Maybe we always regret things we leave behind,” Kate murmured. The group fell silent, and Kate felt awkward. She held up her glass. “Guess I'm being the philosopher tonight. Sarah, pour the sangria.”

  “That would be a good title for a book.” Carolyn shifted on the futon. “Speaking of the things you left behind, I'm going home next week. Summer break and all that.”

  “Where to?” Kate asked. She knew zero about Carolyn's background. Her mother's injury and the flower stall were keeping her so busy this summer. She couldn't even think about the fall.

  “Santa Fe. My parents retired out there, so it's not really home.”

  “Sounds terrific. I’ve heard it’s beautiful… and not as busy as Boston.”

  “Wherever our parents live is always home.” Sarah picked at her slice of cake. She hadn't heard from Jamie for three weeks. Kate could not even imagine how that would feel.

  “Well, I'd rather visit Santa Fe than Wisconsin. Although northern Wisconsin is beautiful in the summer.” Carolyn chuckled. “But all that winter snow gets to you.”

  “So you chose Michigan instead.” Phoebe rattled the ice cubes in her empty glass.

  Carolyn shook her head with good humor. “You have to go where the jobs are. Gull Harbor High had an opening.”

  “Have a great visit.” Kate cut another slice of cake. “But you're going to miss the Firemen's Ball.”

  Carolyn grimaced. “No big loss. Didn't have a date for it anyway.”

  “Why didn’t you say something? We could have fixed you up,” Chili yelped.

  “Even I have a date to the Firemen's Ball,” Phoebe announced, primping her newly mauve hair. “Do you believe that Chili’s brother Rafe asked me?”

  “Any man would be glad to be your escort.” Sarah reached for another slice of cake. “Why, even I'm going to the dance with Chili and Ignacio. Why don’t you come too?”

  “Oh, no. Really.” Carolyn waved the suggestion away. “I’m leaving town.”

  Chili turned to Kate. “Okay, how many times have you tried on that red dress?”

  “Only once.” Kate’s face probably looked as red as that wicked satin. “The house isn’t air-conditioned. Don't want to stain it before my big night.”

  “That dress.” Chili shook out her hands. “Tanto caliente.”

  Of course Phoebe and Carolyn wanted to hear about the hot dress. Kate left the details up to Chili and Sarah.

  “Sure looks like a designer dress, but we never checked the label.” Sarah turned to Kate. “Have you?”

  “Of course. Vera Wang. Bless the Chicago people for their good taste.” But how she wished she were wearing it with another man.

  “Vera Wang?” Reverence swelled in Carolyn's voice. “Hey, I never thought I'd ever know a woman who wore a Vera Wang.”

  “But what happened to the blonde hair, Kate?’ Sarah wailed.

  Phoebe sighed. “Not my fault. Kate insisted.”

  Running one hand through her newly chestnut curls, Kate wasn’t about to tell them that Cole had mentioned her dark hair had always reminded him of his baseball mitt. She jumped up. “Did you bring your suits?” She’d sent a text suggesting they all bring bathing suits. The heat had lifted, but it was still July.

  Sarah set her empty glass on a side table. “You bet, and the thought of swimming without the boys climbing over me is mighty tempting.”

  The back door closed. A few seconds later, her mother appeared in the doorway. She was wearing one of her hot pink outfits.

  Kate was probably the only one to notice her flushed face in the dim light. “Everything okay, Mom?”

  Her mom’s smile was still crooked. “Right as rain. Marie loved the piece of cake I brought.”

  “So do we.” Sarah popped the last bite in her mouth.

  “Think I’ll watch some TV up in my room.”

  “Night, Mom.” Listening to her mother make her way up the stairs, Kate wondered if anything had happened. She’d have to speak to Marianne about the driving. Was it safe for her mother, who had good days and bad?

  The group took turns changing in the powder room, and everyone commented about the apple green walls and the beautiful mirror. If only they knew. Ten minutes later, they were giggling like high school sophomores as they tripped down the steps toward the beach.

  Dropping her towel, Chili rushed toward the water. With a giddy shriek, the rest of them followed. They ended up on the sandbar, laughing and splashing in the ghostly light of the moon.

  Kate thought back to that afternoon with Cole. The wicked gleam in his eyes sparked when she confessed that Will wasn’t anyone special in her life, not really. Sleep had been a long time coming that night.

  “Here goes the eye makeup,” Chili yelped, coming up from the water with serious raccoon eyes.

  “Some of us have a bigger worry than others.” Carolyn smiled back over her shoulder. Kate didn't think she'd ever seen Carolyn in makeup, only a dash of lipstick.

  The night air felt soft and warm. As they cavorted on the sandbar, the group felt like a secret sisterhood, mystical in the moonlight. Kate stared toward the darkened shore. Most of the families were now up in the cottages, putting the kids to bed. The sense of trusted routines made Kate glad she’d come home, but uncertainty pulled at the fabric of her contentment. She’d come back to Gull Harbor wanting her past.

  But right now? She was filled with anxiety about what was to come. Plunging into the water, she submerged herself, wanting to leave troubling thoughts behind.

  No surprise, Chili was the first one to shed her suit, boldly tossing her scrap of black fabric onto the sand. Didn’t take long for the others to follow.

  “This is so wicked.” Sarah giggled, hands crossed over her chest.

  “Wonderful.” Relaxing into her sidestroke, Kate couldn’t remember when she’d felt this free. How she wished she could block Cole from her mind. As she stroked out to the bar, she imagined his twinkling blue eyes watching her.

  And then? What then?

  She had no answers, only possibilities that kept her from sleep that night. None of the women knew about the yellow flyers. Had she betrayed them by spurring the community to question improvements that might save the town?

  Chapter 26

  The remote slipped from her mother’s hand when Kate came teetering down the stairs Saturday night in her three-inch sandals. “I look ridiculous, right?”

  Her mom brushed a finger under each eye. “Oh, Katie. You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

  First time she’d ever heard that from her mom and Kate’s throat swelled. The stroke may have changed Alice Kennedy, but sometimes Kate thought it was for the better. “I just hope I don’t fall flat on my face.” She swished the long skirt of the clingy red gown, grateful for the slit up the back.

 
“Wait until Will sees that. My, oh, my.” Jeopardy droned on in the background, but her mother wasn’t listening. “I like your hair brown again, Katie. That blonde? Just not you.”

  A thunk to the heart. “You mean good for you and Mercedes but not for me?”

  Her mom leveled a look, eyes suddenly clear and sharp. “I mean every child is different. Your hair always reminded me of the brown velvet dress I wore when I met your father.”

  “You never told me! I’ve never seen that dress.”

  “You can’t hold onto everything.” A quick clearing of the throat. “But the color? That I’ll never forget.”

  Her mom smelled of almond shampoo when Kate bent to hug her. “Thanks, Mom.”

  When the back doorbell rang, Kate ran to get it with short mincing steps. The dress wouldn’t allow more. Only Will would ring the bell instead of just knocking on the door and calling out, like everyone else in Gull Harbor.

  “Evening, Kate.” Will’s blue eyes widened when she pushed the screen door open. “Aren’t you s-something?”

  Enough to make the poor man stutter? Kate’s laugh tickled her throat. “You’re something yourself in that baby blue sport coat.” The khaki slacks and red tie made his outfit conventional. Nice, but so Will. So proper.

  “Maybe I should have worn a tux.” His eyes swept her one more time, two red dots appearing high on his cheeks.

  “Trust me, this is not a tuxedo event. Come and say hi to Mom.”

  Her mother chatted with Will for a few minutes, and then they were out the door on their way to the Whittaker Country Club. A summer rain had left the air moist. Maybe she should have used more hair spray on her long curls.

  When Will pulled into the parking lot, Kate’s nerve deserted her. She froze, gripping the edge of the front seat in his sensible white sedan. How could she walk into that ballroom dressed like this? Why did she listen to Chili and Sarah about a gown that was sexier than sin and so not her?

  At least Cole wouldn’t be here. The thought made her both relieved and sad. After that scene at the beach, would he ask someone else? Her mind spun. Downright juvenile, the doubts spinning through her head.

  Music was playing when they swept through the door. Will treated her as if she were made of glass, offering his arm and looking everywhere but at her. Was he embarrassed to be with her? Kate’s spirits sagged. One of her crystal chandelier earrings kept getting caught in her hair, and she wanted to rip it out. She’d overdone it. Chili motioned them over, and Will steered her in that direction.