Against the Wall (Stoddard Art School Series Book 3)

by Lisa A. Olech

  Time to pack up and leave.

  With all her brushes cleaned and sorted, and the paint stored in bins, Kay folded up the last of the drop cloths.

  “Special Kay? You in here?” Walter pushed into the lobby, followed closely by Shadow.

  The dog rushed her, then past her. He must be looking for Bear.

  “There you are. You had the lot of us worried.” He picked up the inn’s phone and listened before hanging it up again. “Don’t you know how to answer a phone?”

  She ignored him. “I was finishing the mural. What do you think?”

  Some of the bluster faded from Walter as he did a slow turn. “Oh, baby girl… You’ve outdone yourself on this one.”

  “Thanks.” She crossed her arms over her chest and held tight.

  Walter narrowed his eyes at her and cocked his head. “Bear’s been trying to reach you, Honey. Called the house in quite the state looking for you. What’s going on?”

  Kay was saved from answering by the return of Shadow. He sniffed the bins of paint, danced around her, sniffed some more. She tried to pet him, but he kept dodging her. “He’s hyper. Did you feed him too many cookies again?”

  “Naw, I think he’s sensing the storm they say’s coming. It’s all those damn fools on the Weather Channel got to talk about. Say it’s gonna be a cocka, but I don’t believe it.” Walter grabbed for Shadow’s collar. “Sit, boy, relax ’fore you wear a hole in the floor.” The dog obeyed but sat panting. “He’s been twitchy and whiney for the last hour or so. Probably worried about where Bear’s gotten to.”

  Kay added the last drop cloth to the bin of supplies. “He’s probably landing in Los Angeles by now.” She rubbed a hand over her forehead and studied the floor. “Um…the next time you talk to him, let him know I’ll send him a final bill in a week or so. I don’t know where he should send the check, so—”

  “Next time I talk to him? Why ain’t you talking to him?”

  “It’s complicated.” Kay planted her hands on her hips.

  “Like ex-wife complicated?”

  “I really don’t want to discuss it.”

  “What do you think is going on? You don’t believe he’s gone back with her, do ya?”

  Kay swept the room with a hand. “Do you see him here?”

  “One thing’s got nothing to do with the other.”

  “Walter.” Kay shook her head. “I know you like Bear, and somehow you thought he and I would end up together, but…”

  “But what? The man’s crazy about you.”

  She met his gaze. “That’s not exactly what his ex-wife is telling me.”

  “And who you gonna believe? The man you obviously have feelings for or some woman you just met?”

  “She’s not some woman, Walter.” Kay sighed “She’s his wife.”

  “Ex,” Walter emphasized.

  “She’s not convinced of that.”

  “Who cares what she says? I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way you both be moony eyed for one another.”

  “You know how great my judgment is where men are concerned. Seems I was wrong again.” She couldn’t fight the tears that had been threatening for hours. She swiped an angry hand at her cheeks.

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it.” Walter scowled at her. “I love you, Special Kay, like you’re my own. I know you’ve had a tough road, but…enough is enough. You’re so used to people failing you. You’re waiting to jump up and say, See! I told you, you’re just like everyone else. Well, folks ain’t perfect. Life ain’t perfect. But if you’re going to walk around expecting people to hurt you, guess what you’re going to get? Hurt. Loving someone is all about trusting. Trusting they have your back. That they have your heart. Doesn’t mean they won’t screw up. It means there’s something stronger to hang on to when the water gets too deep.”

  By now, Kay couldn’t fight the flood of tears. “I’m not waiting for people to fail me, they just do.”

  Walter shook his head. “Because then it’s easy for you to bail.”

  Kay caught a sob. “Well, maybe no one has been worth the fight.”

  Walter closed the distance between them. He pulled a folded bandana out of his rear pocket and mopped at her face. “Maybe not, but what if you’re wrong?” He spoke to her gently. “What if you ran before you knew the whole story? What if you took off on something wonderful?” He rubbed her arm until she met his gaze. “Your heart has been broken for so long, baby girl. Don’t you think it’s about time you gave someone a chance to put the pieces back together?”

  Kay buried her face into his chest. Shadow whined at her feet.

  “I just want to see you happy, Special Kay. Both of you.” He hugged her tight. “Before you run off, just think about what I said.” He pulled back and tipped her chin. “I may be an old curmudgeon, but I’ve been in love with the same woman for thirty years. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but it sure as hell’s been worth it.”

  Walter handed her his handkerchief before kissing her forehead and gathering Shadow to leave. Kay pulled a deep shaky breath and blew her nose. He was right. She was too quick to believe the worst. Bear had only been kind and loving. If he hadn’t told her about Diane, perhaps it was truly because there was nothing to tell.

  She looked around the lobby again. Secretly, she was glad Bear wasn’t around to witness her meltdown. It was foolish. Surely, if Bear Coulter was planning to move back to California to be with Diane, Kay would have seen some sign of it long before now.

  “Kay Winston?”

  She spun around. A delivery man stood just inside the door with a clipboard and a long white box tied with a wide blue ribbon. She dabbed quick at her eyes, sniffed, and tucked her hair behind an ear.

  “Yes, I’m Kay Winston. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “These are for you. I just need a signature.”

  She quickly scribbled her name where he indicated and took the box from his hands. “Thank you.”

  “Enjoy.” With a quick wave, he was gone.

  A small white envelope sat tucked into the ribbon. Placing the box on the desk, Kay opened the card. “Sorry, Bear.”

  Fresh tears threatened. She’d been so unfair to doubt him. She should be the one apologizing.

  Kay tugged on the ribbon and lifted the lid. The rich smell cut through the disbelief screaming in her brain.

  Roses. Oh, God… He sent her roses.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Bear pulled his wallet out of his rear pocket and slipped out his credit card. “I need a ticket on the next flight to Portland, Maine, or Boston. I’ll take whatever you have.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but all the flights into Portland are cancelled until further notice due to inclement weather. Boston has issued an alert. We’re to hold some of those later flights on delay until they are cleared.”

  “What about the 4:19 to Boston?”

  She tapped into her computer. “Seems they’re going to try and get that one out.” She checked the screen. “Unfortunately the flight is full, but I can put you on the standby list.”

  Bear nodded. “Fine, put me on the list. I’ll take my chances. What gate?”

  “D15. If you can’t get on that flight, your gate attendant can go over your options.” The agent leaned over the counter. “But if I were you,” she whispered, “I’d try to find a hotel room. Anybody heading to New England is going to be looking for a bed tonight. Sorry.”

  Bear took off running. He had to make that flight.

  People packed into the gate. He was fifth on the wait list. Bear didn’t bother to plead his case to the gate agent. It would be a waste of time. Scanning the waiting area, he spotted a lone man. Business traveler by the look. Laptop, wrinkled suit. Bear approached him.

  “Sir, I’ll give you six hundred dollars for your seat on this flight.”

  The man glanced up from his computer. “Fuck off.”

  “I’m serious. I have to get on this plane.”

  The m
an snorted. “Yeah, so do I.”

  “Eight hundred.” Bear held out his wallet.

  The man narrowed his gaze and smirked. “Fifteen hundred.”

  “Shit, I don’t carry that kind of cash on me. I was lying about the eight.”

  “Then good luck getting to Boston.” He laughed as he closed his computer and slipped it into a battered leather briefcase.

  The call came over the speaker that they were loading first class and premier members. Bear scrambled to open his wallet. “Fine, fifteen hundred. Listen, I have six hundred and…” He counted. “…forty-seven bucks. Here’s my business card and my credit card. I promise I’m good for it. As soon as I reach Boston, I’ll wire you the rest of the money.”

  “Like I believe that.” The man shook his head and pushed past him.

  Bear called after him. “This credit card has a three-thousand-dollar cap. If you don’t have your money in forty-eight hours, go nuts.”

  That stopped him. The man turned and narrowed his gaze. “What makes you think I won’t go nuts anyway?”

  “I trust you.”

  The man snorted. “Good way to get screwed.”

  “I have to get on this plane.” Bear pushed the bills at him. “Please.”

  He looked past the money, giving Bear a head to toe sweep. “How do I know you’re not a terrorist?”

  “Really?” Frustration surged through Bear. “What terrorist hands out his business card?

  “Lemme guess, this has something to do with a dame.”

  Bear held his hands up in surrender. “Guilty.”

  The loud speaker informed them they were now boarding families with small children and anyone needing assistance.

  He was running out of time. “Come on. Do it for romance.”

  The man shook his head while he grabbed the handle on his carry-on bag and headed toward the gate. “I have three ex-wives.”

  “Then do it for…hell, I don’t know…” Bear noticed a familiar logo on the man’s luggage tag. “The Red Sox. Do it for the Red Sox. Bet with the money you could get some great seats at Fenway.”

  Ten minutes later, Bear was clicking the seat belt and making sure his tray table was secured.

  He’d given up calling the inn. Either Kay wasn’t there, or she couldn’t hear the phone. He gave Walter a quick call, but he hadn’t seen Kay. Walter did promise to check over at the inn for her.

  Only when the wheels of the plane left the tarmac, did Bear begin to relax. They’d get into Boston by seven. It would be late by the time he reached Bell Harbor, but he’d have this whole mess settled and be back in Kay’s arms before midnight.

  About forty-five minutes into their flight, the pilot made an announcement. “Attention, ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ve been getting some bad news out of Boston, folks. Seems tropical storm Daphne headed up the coast has turned into hurricane Daphne with sustained winds near seventy miles an hour. ATC has directed us to divert this flight to Hartford. We may encounter a bit of turbulence between here and there, so I’m turning on the seat belt sign as a precaution.”

  “Wait.” Bear questioned the woman seated next to him. “Did he say Hartford?”

  “He sure did.”

  “How the hell are we getting to Boston?”

  As if to answer his question, the next announcement was from their flight attendant. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry for the inconvenience, but be assured there will be gate agents waiting when we land in Hartford who will assist with overnight accommodations and alternative arrangements to get you all to your final destinations. In the meantime, sit back and relax. If we have any further updates, we’ll be sure to bring them to you. As the captain has instructed, please return to your seats and observe the fasten seat belt signs. Thank you.”

  Passengers grumbled throughout the plane as seat belts clicked back into place.

  “What does that mean exactly?” asked Bear to no one in particular.

  “Means we’re spending the night in Connecticut, courtesy of this fine airline.” The woman next to him shrugged. “They’ll either fly us out first thing tomorrow, or if the storm moves off, they’ll probably stuff us all into buses and drive us to Boston tonight.” She leaned back and closed her eyes. “I don’t know about you, but I’m up for another night of room service with someone else picking up the tab.”

  Bear dodged the crowd gathered around the promised gate agents and headed straight for the car rental counter. “I need a car.” Thank goodness he had another credit card. At this rate, he’d lay money on Steve Griffin, aka Mr. Red Sox, reaching his final destination before him and using his other card to “go nuts.” Bear set the second card along with his license on the counter.

  “Well, let’s see. It’s been a busy evening. What type of vehicle were you interested in?”

  Bear gave the man his best defensemen stare. “Four wheels and a gas pedal.”

  The rental agent gave him a tight little smile. “I see.” He tapped the keyboard in front of him rapidly, shooting nervous glances toward his computer screen and then back to Bear. He tugged at his collar. “I have nothing in midsize…or economy class…”

  “Anything. I’ll take anything you’ve got.”

  More tapping. The man behind the counter started to sweat. “I do have two luxury cars due back later this evening.”

  “How much later?”

  “Well, hard to say. We close at eleven.”

  Bear scrubbed at his jaw. Frustration had turned it into granite. Holding his anger in check, he joked. “Let me guess, you have a brother Tom who sells mattresses?”

  “Excuse me, sir?”

  “Nothing.” Bear gripped the edge of the counter. “I’m done listening to what you don’t have. What do you have? Something that’s actually sitting in your lot. I see keys over there—” He gestured to the counter behind the man. “What are those for? I’ll take one of those.”

  “Well…those aren’t—”

  “What. Do. You. Have?”

  Bear secured yet another seatbelt. Had anger, worry, and complete frustration not been raging through him, he’d be laughing. Hysterically. Until white-coated attendants dragged him off to a rubber room.

  Glancing over his shoulder, he shook his head as he jammed the key into the ignition of the eighteen-passenger transit van. All he needed now was some choir group going on a church picnic singing Kum ba yah in the back.

  His phone was officially dead. Even if he had his charger; A, he hadn’t packed the car adapter for it, and B, even if he had, his luggage was now flying toward Los Angeles with his certifiable ex-wife.

  Bear pulled out onto the highway heading north. A light rain had begun to fall. It took him ten minutes just to find the windshield wiper switch. The vehicle handled like a refrigerator box, and the front end pulled to the left. The whole van shimmied at speeds over fifty miles an hour, but the good news was the brakes worked. He’d almost stood this beast on its nose the first time he stepped on the pedal.

  Didn’t matter. What mattered was getting to Bell Harbor, finding Kay, and trying to convince her that breaking her heart was not what he had planned for today. All he could think about was three dozen red roses like three dozen fists hitting her. He couldn’t imagine what she must be thinking.

  He pushed hard on the accelerator until the front end began to dance. He had to get there. The sun was setting behind rain-filled clouds. Bear flipped on his headlights and focused on the road. It was going to be a long ride.

  “Dammit,” Bear shouted at the traffic in front of him.

  Now he couldn’t get that stupid Kum ba yah song out of his head!

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Kay wedged in the last box and struggled to get the hatch door to secure. The wind had picked up. It moaned through the tops of the pines as they bent under a pewter sky.

  Only thing left for her to do was coax Hope into the carrier, load her in the last spot on the passenger seat, and point her overstuffed car
west. Some cat treats, a long feather, and some catnip should work.

  After that, her road was clear—and empty. She didn’t have a clue as to where she was heading. Back to Stoddard? Somewhere new? She just had to be gone from Bell Harbor. It didn’t matter where she went. She’d figure it out on the way.

  Each time she stopped long enough to think, the memory of opening the white box…the smell of those roses. Grabbing them by the fistfuls and throwing them to the floor. How many had he sent? She didn’t count. The box seemed bottomless, and she couldn’t see through the tears and the hurt. Even Todd hadn’t been so cruel.

  Tears threatened again, but Kay doubted she had any more left to shed. She laid cool fingers over her eyes. No more.

  A car pulling into the graveled pad behind her startled Kay. The familiar silver BMW came to a stop.

  “I see you’re still running.” Claire jerked her chin in the direction of Kay’s car as she slid from the driver’s seat.

  Now that Kay knew the truth about her mother’s illness, she could clearly see the signs. She was thinner, paler. Claire tugged her cardigan tight against the rising winds.

  Kay shrugged. “It’s easier this way.”

  “Sometimes.” She shivered. “Could we go inside? It’s freezing.”

  Kay hesitated. Part of her didn’t want another show down with her mother. She’d already been through the emotional wringer, but there was something in her mother’s manner. “If you’ve come here to gloat…”

  “No. Don’t you think it’s time we talked?” Claire didn’t wait for an answer before heading toward the stairs. “I need a hot cup of tea, and you look like you could use one yourself.”

  “Did Dottie send you?” Kay followed in her wake.

  “No. I wanted to come.” In the kitchen, it was Claire who filled the kettle and put it on the stove. “There are things I need to say to you, and I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a chance and just listen.”

  Kay was hit by another wave of sadness that their relationship had been reduced to this. Things could have been so different between them.