As he thought it, Lucas appeared in the car door, slid down to the ground, and walked slowly toward him. He’d hit puberty since Alden had last seen him, and he felt a clunk in his gut, to see his son looking pretty much like Alden had looked at that age, when until now he had always resembled Jennifer. He was tall, skinny, uncomfortable in his skin, and evidently not wanting to see his father.
He stopped when he was about four feet away, the center of everyone’s attention.
What the hell? “Hey, Luke, I hear there’s a dynamite computer museum in Boston.”
His son looked miserable.
Beside him, Nora cleared her throat. “Maybe Dad would like a hello.”
Lucas glanced at Jennifer and Mark again, then walked forward and gave Alden a stiff one-armed hug. “Sorry, Dad, do you mind if I go?” he mumbled.
Alden gave him a reassuring squeeze. It felt damn good to have both children in his arms for even a second, one desperate to stay and one clearly wanting to leave. “It’s fine; have a blast.”
He heard the whoosh of relief. Then Lucas moved away.
There was a whine from the car. “Mommy, I want to go.”
“We have to leave; we’re already late having to go out of our way just to drop her off.”
“Well, don’t let us stop you,” Alden said. “Don’t feel like you have to hang around just to be polite.”
It was a cheap shot, but Jennifer always brought out his worst. It earned him a snort from Nora, and a suppressed smile from Lucas, which relieved his mind, though he did intend to get Nora’s take on what was happening with her brother and the family.
“I hope you’re satisfied, Nora.” And to Alden. “See if you can do anything with her.” Jennifer’s Nikes slipped in the dirt and she stalked to the car. She was off her game, or else she would have remembered not to waddle. Alden shook hands with Mark for the second time, this time more enthusiastically, grateful that he would be the one stuck in the car with her for the next few hours; hell, stuck with her for life.
Only Nora and Lucas remained. Nora triumphant, Lucas wavering.
“Lucas,” Jennifer called from the car.
Lucas startled. Took an awkward step forward. “I love you, Dad,” he breathed, before he hurried back to the car.
Alden and Nora, still attached like a barnacle to his side, watched the van drive away.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Nora said.
“You’re welcome, welcome, welcome, I think,” he answered. “What was with Lucas?”
“Oh him, he’s conflicted.”
“About?”
“His loyalties. You know. He feels he owes it to them because they pay for everything, but he’s afraid that you’ll think he’s a traitor, you know, to you.” She sighed. “Don’t get all weirded out by it. He’ll grow out of it. Plus he’s one of the guys, sort of. They’re all guys, Mark, Henley, Ryan—even the next one is going to be a boy. They’ve already named it. And talk to it. Blech. Little Mason,” she drawled. “It’s disgusting.”
Alden laughed. He’d missed her refreshing view of the world. But he was a little worried about her assessment of her brother’s feelings, her use of words like conflicted and loyalties. Either someone had been seeing a therapist or Nora had been watching too much afternoon television.
He took her bag and backpack and they went into the house.
Nora stopped inside the doorway. “Dad, it’s like a mausoleum in here.”
“Because I don’t use this part so much. I’ve turned the solarium into my studio. You want to stay upstairs in your old room or downstairs?”
She looked at him and he realized how long it had been since they’d actually spent time here. Recently he’d been going to New Haven to see them because they were both busy with way too many activities if you asked him. Twice he had taken them to Manhattan for a weekend. Now he was hit with a searing desire to have them back home.
It was followed immediately by the knowledge that Jennifer would never allow it. He’d been a fool to let her have custody. Everyone convinced him they were better off with their mother, that his lifestyle wouldn’t give them the best opportunities. And he’d been stupid enough to believe them. Now he had a daughter who caused trouble and a son who seemed to jump at his own shadow.
“Yoo-hoo, Daddikins, come back.”
“What?”
“You just checked out for a sec. I don’t blame you. I don’t know why you ever married her. She’s not very nice.”
He should have said, don’t talk about your mother like that, but it was true, Jennifer was not a very nice person. At least she hadn’t been with him; he’d hoped that Mark would make the difference for his kids’ sakes. “I got you and Lucas out of it, didn’t I?”
“Well, there is that. So why wouldn’t I want to stay upstairs?”
Alden shrugged. “No reason. I’ve just moved down to Geraldine’s old room.”
“Fat Gerry, the cook? Why?”
“Don’t know. Just seemed easier.”
“I’m staying upstairs in my old room. And I get that you might not want to stay in the, um, connubial bedroom, but there are eight other bedrooms to choose from.”
“Did anyone ever tell you, you’ve got a mouth on you?”
She grinned. “All the time. Come on. Let’s check out upstairs.” She stopped, looked him up and down, an evil glint in her eye. “If you’re not too decrepit to make it up the stairs.”
“Race you.”
She won easily. And waited for him at the landing like a triumphant, dark-haired Valkyrie. Alden made a note of that look; he could definitely use it for something.
“Okay, I’m a bit out of shape, and I did have extra baggage.” He dumped the suitcase and backpack on the floor. “Both of which seem to be filled with rocks.”
“Mainly stuff, not too many clothes, I’m afraid. I thought maybe you would ask Meri to take me on a shopping spree, wonderful father that you are. Is she around?”
“Actually, yes. She’s even here this weekend. But she injured her hand. I don’t know how up she’ll be for shopping till you both drop.”
“How did it happen?”
“Something about a ceiling medallion. You can ask her when you see her. We’re invited over for Sunday dinner.”
“What are we going to do today?” She pushed her bedroom door open.
“Whatever you like.”
“I want to unpack, find you a room to stay in, have lunch . . . can we go for pizza? And is the sailboat still in dry dock?”
“Got it out, knew you’d want to take her out.”
“Then I don’t know, maybe we could just pick something up for dinner, watch pay-per-view and just hang out.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Actually he was flattered. She wanted to hang out. With her old man. Pretty cool.
“Maybe after lunch, I’ll go say hello to Meri.”
Meri awoke from an unintentional nap to total quiet. She’d meant to help Gran clean the house, but here she was stretched out on the sofa, with an afghan that Gran must have put over her.
She had one more day to get back to normal and ready to work. Even with one hand. She’d have to stop those pills and grit it out. They made her too loopy. And she needed all her faculties when climbing back on that scaffolding.
Meri knew that beneath her drug-induced stupor she was anxious to see what the medallion had uncovered, if she weren’t so damn lethargic.
She forced herself to sit up, then put her feet on the floor and stood. Immediately, she was inclined to sit back down but reminded herself it was just the drugs and they would wear off soon. She went to the powder room and splashed cold water on her face.
Gran was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea. The kitchen was spotless, more spotless than it usually was.
“Why didn’t you wake me? I meant to help with the housework.”
“You needed your rest. Tea?”
“I’ll get it.” Meri detoured to look out the door to the
house across the meadow. “I wonder how it’s going over there.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. Alden took the car out awhile back, but they came back after about an hour.”
“Probably went for pizza.”
“Most likely. Well, I’m glad Nora’s here. That family—they hardly stayed long enough to dump her and her suitcase, before they drove away.” Gran pushed the sugar bowl toward Meri. “Good riddance.”
“No one liked Jennifer, did they?”
“She made it hard for anyone to like her. Airs, that one.” She tsked. “Men. Never do have a lick of sense when it comes to women.”
Well, Alden didn’t seem to. And neither, according to Gran, had his father. “Dad didn’t do so bad.”
That made Gran smile. “Yes, he did very well, marrying your mother.”
“Yes, a very good choice,” Meri agreed. “I think I’ll make some toast. Do you want anything?”
“No, dear, but I’ll get it for you.”
“Thanks, but I better learn how to work with one hand for a while.”
It took some doing, but Meri had finally sat down at the table with her toast when there was a knock at the back door; the door opened. “Gran, Meri, are you guys home? It’s me, Nora.”
“We’re in the kitchen,” Meri called. “Come on in.”
Meri and Gran both stood to greet her. A whirlwind blew into the room.
“Lord, child, you’ve grown,” Gran said as she was enveloped in Nora’s hug.
“Take after my papa.” She pronounced it like an actress on the BBC.
“Hey, Meri.” Meri got a brief hug. “That looks pretty serious.”
Meri held up her bandage. “Looks worse than it really is. I’ll be back to work on Monday. But look at you.”
Nora stepped back and struck a pose. She was tall like both her parents, but she’d always been a more delicate version of Alden. Now her black hair was short and spiked, and her straight boyish figure had some added subtle curves. She wore makeup but not overdone, tight jeans, a sweater with dolman sleeves that looked designer; no grubby teenager or Goth girl there.
“We’re having tea. You want some?”
“Thanks, but I just stuffed myself at Sakonnet Pizza. You guys go ahead. I’ll just hang.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. And smiled until the other two did the same.
“Dad’s taking me sailing in the morning. He said you’re welcome, but he doesn’t think you should risk getting your hand wet.”
“And he’s right,” Gran said before Meri could answer.
“He’s probably right. This is so stupid.”
“Do you think maybe you’d feel like taking me shopping one day? I didn’t bring a lot of clothes.”
“Sure. I have to be back at work on Monday.”
Gran frowned.
“Doug’s counting on me. And there’s plenty of work I can do one handed, though I’ll probably have to ask Alden to take me to the bus.”
“I’m sure he’ll take you to Newport,” Gran said.
“I might ask him to,” Meri said. “And, Nora, if your dad says it’s okay, I thought he could bring you into Newport on Thursday after work. You could stay over with me and we could do Newport on Friday, get some shopping in, and hit the karaoke bar with Carlyn on Friday night.
“We can come back here for the weekend so you can spend more time with your dad before you have to leave. What time are they coming back for you?”
“Um.” Nora glanced at Gran, then Meri. “Actually, they’re not.”
Chapter 14
They’re having your father drive you back?” Gran asked. Meri could tell by her tone, she was thinking how selfish that was, when they could pick her up on their way back to New Haven from Boston. Meri agreed, though it would give father and daughter that much more time together. “They’re not making you take the train?”
“Actually no, the thing is . . . I’m not going back at all.”
After a stunned few seconds, Meri ventured, “They’ve agreed to let you stay here with Alden?”
Nora ran her finger along the wood grain of the table. “They don’t exactly know it yet.”
“Ah,” Gran said. “And how does your father feel about this decision?”
“Well . . .” Nora breathed out a dramatic sigh. “I haven’t exactly told him, either. Actually, I thought you two might help me convince him when we come for dinner tomorrow.”
Alden had said he was worried about her. Meri thought that was the main reason he had asked her to spend some time with her, when Meri knew he’d rather have every second with Nora to himself. Well, she would do her best.
“This is kind of sudden, isn’t it?”
“Not really.”
Gran went to the cupboard and brought down a tin of homemade cookies. When had she baked those? Meri wondered. She hadn’t even smelled the aroma lingering in the air.
Therese put the tin on the table, and Nora absently reached for one. Chewed and sighed. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It’s a good idea. Once you get over the shock you’ll see what a great idea it is.”
Meri thought their shock would be minor compared to Jennifer’s or Alden’s.
Nora had devoured her first cookie and started on the second. Gran went to the fridge and poured her a glass of milk.
Meri wondered what had happened at home to make Nora want to come back here. New Haven had to be more exciting for a teenager than living out here and going to school in Tiverton. How on earth would Alden juggle his work with living with a teenager?
“Did anything specific happen?”
Nora shook her head, but she didn’t look up. Meri’s stomach fell sickeningly as she thought of another teenager who had sought refuge here. Surely nothing bad had happened to Nora. Jennifer might be a selfish, demanding witch, but Meri didn’t for a minute think she would put up with Mark acting inappropriately with Nora, whether physically or verbally. Though she might dish out some of that abuse herself.
To be fair, Meri didn’t think Jennifer would ever hurt Nora or Lucas. They were her children as much as Alden’s. Maybe it was a case of a teenage girl overreacting to some punishment or being grounded, the modern running-away-from-home story.
“You would miss your friends,” Gran added. “Though we would be very happy to have you near.”
“I don’t have that many. And the ones I do have are ‘undesirable’ and ‘inappropriate.’” The way Nora dragged out the two words, Meri knew she was quoting someone. Probably Jennifer or Mark.
“So when do you plan on telling everyone?” Meri asked.
Nora shrugged. “I thought you could help me broach it with Dad. And then I was going to have him tell Mom, though maybe that’s not such a good idea. She’ll say no, just to bust his—” She glanced quickly at Gran. “His chops.”
Meri thought her first statement was closer to the truth of the matter. “So who is going to tell her?”
Nora frowned at Meri. “Not you.”
Meri slumped with relief that she wouldn’t be asked to deliver that message, which of course would be ridiculous.
Nora switched her attention to Gran. “I thought maybe you could tell her that I was looking ill or something and needed the bracing sea air for a while, then it will be summer and Daddy can demand to have us for those three months, then . . . well, I’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
Gran crossed her arms and frowned at Nora, though Meri could tell she was fighting a smile. Nora always knew how to finagle what she wanted from Gran.
“You discuss it with your father, then he and I will talk.” Gran shook her finger at Nora. “But that’s only if you’re not doing this out of spite.”
“Cross my heart,” Nora said, suddenly sounding much younger. Meri had to remind herself that just because Nora was precocious and dressed like a self-assured young woman, in other ways she was still a child.
“Besides, Dad needs me.”
Gran raised her eyebrows. “Your dad loves you
and loves having you with him. But he takes care of himself just fine.”
“No, he doesn’t. He’s living in the cook’s quarters. And I bet he hasn’t been on a date since our mother left.”
Gran and Meri both laughed at that.
“At least not that he’s telling you, young lady.” Gran pointed a finger at her. “Now, we’d all be glad to have you stay, but you be sure it’s for the right reasons.”
Nora stood and carried her glass to the sink. “I’d better get back.” She bit her lip. “Meri, are you serious about me staying over in Newport?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great. See you tomorrow, I guess. I’m making him move back upstairs while I’m here. Too weird.” She kissed Gran on the cheek and waved her fingers at Meri. “Thanks for the cookies and milk.” She went to the back door, hesitated, and turned back to them. “I’m not going back no matter what they say.”
Meri and Gran looked at each other when she’d gone.
“What do you think that was all about?” Meri asked.
“I’d say that either they didn’t let her do something she wanted to do and she’s pouting, or missing her father, or . . . they’re not treating her as they should.”
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“Well, I’m not saying that this is what’s happened. But Jennifer and Mark have a whole new family. I never understood why Alden let her have sole custody of those two. It was just like he lay down and let her walk over him on her way out. She was always so selfish. And she never really seemed to care that much for her children unless there was an audience. I imagine she demanded custody just to get back at Alden.”
“Why?” asked Meri. “People get divorced. What could he ever have done to her that makes her so hateful? I know, stupid question. I remember coming home a couple of times and hearing them yelling at each other and throwing things.”
Gran nodded.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard him yell since.”
Breakwater Bay Page 15
