Lonely Road to You (Class of '85)

by Jannine Gallant

  “You don’t have to forgive him, Tyler, but it may ease the pain if you let go of the hate.”

  He spun, his feet sliding in the grass. Kate stood facing him wearing a windbreaker over her peach cotton nightgown. Her hair hung around her shoulders, pale in the starlight. She dug her bare toes into the grass and stared at him through serious eyes.

  “I don’t hate him. I don’t feel anything at all.”

  “You don’t want to feel anything.”

  He let out a long, shuddering breath. “Maybe you’re right.”

  She took a step forward, and he met her halfway, pulling her against his bare chest. She rested her face on his shoulder, her nose pressed into his neck. Slowly he raised his hand and stroked the silky softness of her hair.

  “I acted like an idiot today, closing you out. I’m sorry.”

  “You were upset.”

  “That’s no excuse.” He sighed. “I’m not good at relationships. I end up hurting the women who care about me the most.” He laughed harshly. “Just like my old man.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. “You aren’t your father. Maybe you were twenty years ago, but you’ve changed.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “Maybe he’s changed, too. It’s something to think about.”

  Tyler let her words sink in, tried to wrap his mind around them, but he was too exhausted. “It’s late. Let’s go back to bed.”

  She nodded. He whistled for Lucy, and the dog came running. Taking her hand, he led her to their room and opened the door. Without words she pulled off her windbreaker and slipped under the sheet. He dropped his jeans and crawled in after her. Reaching for her in the dark, he pulled her close, his hand resting on her breast. He could feel the quick beat of her heart beneath his palm, smell the springtime scent of her skin, hear her steady breathing. He smiled as his eyelids drifted closed.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being here. For being you.” His voice trailed off, and he slept.

  ****

  Kate frowned at the dashboard clock. It was four-thirty in the afternoon, and they’d just passed through Toledo on the Ohio Turnpike. “We aren’t going to make it in time.”

  “No, we’re not. Do you care?”

  “Not really. We’re only missing some stuffy awards banquet tonight, but I’d better call Chelsea and break the news. She’s expecting me, and she will care.”

  He took his eyes off the road, glanced over at her, and smiled. “At least your cell phone still works. I’ll have to buy another one after the beating mine took.”

  She pulled her phone out of her purse and sat for a moment, her gaze on his profile. They hadn’t made love the night before, and he’d been quiet all day. Not surly like yesterday when she’d wanted to shake the pent up emotions out of him. More introspective. She wondered if he was thinking about her at all, or if he was still brooding over his father. Dale’s sudden appearance had obviously dredged up old pain, but Tyler was keeping it to himself, and she didn’t know how to help him. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t force him to confide in her.

  With a sigh she flipped open her phone and pushed the speed dial button for Chelsea. Her friend answered on the third ring.

  “It’s Kate. How are you?”

  “I’m great. I’m with Meg, shopping for a dress. I’m afraid my usual Dockers aren’t going to cut it for the banquet tonight. Are you in Summerville? Have you checked in yet?”

  She cleared her throat. “That’s why I’m calling. I’m not going to make it tonight. I’m really sorry, but we’re still in Ohio, and there’s just no way to get to Summerville in time.”

  Chelsea was quiet for a moment. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve already seen John. Actually, he’s been helping me with a story I’m writing for The Buffalo News.”

  “Have you told him about Meg?”

  Chelsea’s voice lowered. “No, I haven’t. I’m still working up to that.”

  Her grip on the phone tightened. “You have to tell him, Chelsea.”

  “I know.” She let out a long sigh before her voice regained some of its usual spirit. “Wait a minute, did you say we? Who’s with you?”

  Kate took a deep breath. “Do you remember Tyler North?”

  Chelsea’s shriek nearly deafened her. “Are you kidding me?”

  “We ran into each other on the road, literally, and we’ve been traveling together.”

  “What!”

  Kate held the phone away from her ear. “It’s a long story. Anyway, we’ll be there for the dance tomorrow night.”

  “Oh no, you don’t get to hang up now. I want details, girl! Old love ‘um and leave ‘um North. Bop ‘um and drop ‘um, do ‘um and shoo ‘um, this is the guy we’re talking about, right?”

  She felt her cheeks heating. “He’s changed.”

  “I hope so. I can’t picture you with Tyler North.”

  Kate glanced at Tyler who was keeping his gaze firmly on the road. She wondered what he was thinking. “It’s complicated.”

  “I’ll bet. Have you done the deed yet?”

  “Chelsea!”

  “Fine, you can tell me about it when you get to Summerville. I’ll see you tomorrow night at the dance.”

  “I really am sorry I can’t be there for you this evening.”

  “Don’t worry about it. John and I are fine, maybe more than fine. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

  “That’s great. You can give me all the details tomorrow.”

  “Will do. Bye, Kate.”

  She clicked her phone shut and smiled. “It looks like I could have saved myself a cross country trip.”

  He glanced sideways at her, and then gave his attention to the semi he was passing. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because it sounds like Chelsea has it under control with John. At least I hope she does. Anyway, she took the news of our delay well.”

  “Then you don’t need to feel guilty about it anymore, and we can quit rushing. Grab the map, and let’s pick a spot to stay tonight. I’ve had enough driving for one day.”

  She spread out the road atlas and studied it for a moment. “How about Sandusky? We’re not far away, and it’s right on Lake Erie. Maybe we could get a room with a view of something other than the freeway. I’m getting a little tired of dive motels.”

  “Sandusky it is. I’ve been there before. There’s an amusement park with a killer roller coaster.” His grin disarmed her completely, sending a tingle down her spine.

  She laughed. “Seriously, Tyler? What are you, twelve?”

  “Hey, I like a good roller coaster, but I guess we’ll have to skip it in the interest of actually getting to the reunion tomorrow. Maybe next time.”

  She hugged his words to her heart for the rest of the drive. They’d been casually said, but “next time” implied a future. It gave her another morsel of hope to add to the others she had collected. She knew she should just come right out and ask him if he wanted any kind of relationship with her after the reunion, but like Chelsea, she had to work up to it slowly. If his answer was no, she wanted to put off the discovery as long as possible.

  They chose a hotel overlooking Sandusky Bay with a view of the Cedar Point roller coaster and ate dinner in a restaurant with tablecloths, china, and gleaming crystal. After, they walked along the shore of Lake Erie, holding hands while Lucy ran in circles around their feet. It all felt a little surreal. She kept waiting to wake up.

  That night they made love in a king-size bed with moonlight throwing shadows across their entwined limbs. Tyler kissed her with an urgency that bordered on desperation, a reverence that made her feel like a princess. Afterward, lying beside him with the sheen of perspiration drying on her skin, she was left wondering why. Were they both determined to wring every drop of pleasure out of the present because that was all there would be? Holding back tears, she pressed closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her, but it was a long time before she finally fell asleep.
<
br />   Kate woke in the dark of night. A breeze off Lake Erie set the filmy curtain over the French doors in motion, and from the balcony drifted strains of music. Tyler was playing his guitar, the notes soft and tender, caressing her with their purity. His voice was a low crooning murmur, the words indistinct.

  She slipped out of bed and walked to the balcony doors. He looked up, and his hand stilled over the guitar strings.

  “Please don’t stop.”

  He lowered the guitar into its case, pausing to stroke the satiny finish. She shivered, remembering those fingers touching her skin with the same gentle care, but her heart ached. In approaching him she’d ruined the moment. His reluctance to sing to her hurt.

  He stood and stretched. “It’s late. I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  He stepped through the curtains and leaned his guitar case against the wall. “Come back to bed.”

  She went, her hand held tightly in his. They curled up together, skin pressed to skin, spoon fashion. His breath stirred her hair and tickled her ear. He dropped kisses along the curve of her neck, and she shuddered, desire flaring to life.

  She turned in his arms, and he touched her neck, drawing a line down her collarbone and across her breasts. He lowered his weight onto her, pressing her into the mattress and filling her with his essence. She gasped for breath, her heart racing as she lost herself in love for this man. Held tight in his arms, she drifted on a tide of pleasure into sleep.

  ****

  Tyler stared at the welcome to Summerville sign, satisfaction at being here with Kate warring with lingering touches of inferiority and self-doubt. Maybe coming back had been a mistake.

  “I never thought I’d see this place again.”

  She nodded, and her lips curved in a half smile. “Me either. Summerville was just another pit stop on the road through my childhood.”

  “For me the town was a prison, holding me back from my dreams.” He shrugged. “At least that’s how I saw it.”

  “Eventually we both found what we wanted.” She squeezed his arm. “Fame and fortune for you and stability for me.”

  “And look what happened. We each chucked away our heart’s desire, and here we are back in Summerville where we started.”

  Kate laughed. “Feeling a little dramatic?”

  “Maybe a little.” They passed through a neighborhood lined with stately old houses and headed toward the water. He pulled into Ontario Beach Park and found a spot near the gazebo with a view of the lake. “Speaking of drama, I’ve come to a momentous conclusion.”

  “This ought to be good. You’ve spent enough time thinking about it over the last few days.”

  He grunted. “I haven’t been much of a companion, I know. Lucy was probably more entertaining,” he said, scratching the dog’s ears.

  She turned to face him. “Are you going to tell me the results of all that rumination?”

  Feeling suddenly lighter, Tyler let out a long breath. “I decided that who my father is isn’t a reflection of me. His mistakes were huge, but I’ve made my share, as well. I moved on, started over, and maybe forgiving him is part of the process.”

  “Do you want some sort of relationship with him?” she asked. Her eyes watched him closely, and he felt wrapped in her concern.

  “I’m not saying that, but I’ve decided not to let what he did eat at me. If I do eventually contact him, I’ll focus on the future not the past.”

  She squeezed his arm. “That’s a healthy attitude.”

  “I’ve been thinking about my music, too.” He stared out across the lake, watching the waves lap at the sandy beach below the gazebo. “Maybe it’s time I played again.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow, you really have been doing some thinking. Let’s take a walk, and you can tell me about it.”

  “I don’t think dogs are allowed on the beach.”

  “Then we’ll stay on the grass and keep her leashed.” With Lucy tugging at her lead, they crossed the lawn and stopped at the gazebo. “This is such a lovely spot,” she said.

  He nodded and leaned against one of the support posts. “Summerville has a few positives I must admit.”

  “Definitely, but right now I’m more interested in hearing about your plans. Tell me what you’re thinking. Do you want to go on tour again?”

  “God, no. I’m finished with that craziness.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at Kate. She had a restful quality about her that soothed his battered soul. Sometimes he could hardly believe fate had sent her into his life.

  He turned in a circle, taking in the expanse of grassy lawn, the beach, and the sailboats bobbing out on the water. “I got my start here, playing in local clubs. I wouldn’t mind going back to that, just me and my guitar, singing in a crowded bar.”

  “Performing is part of who you are,” she said quietly.

  “Yeah, I guess it is. Anyway, it’s time for a change.” He looked straight into her eyes. “Time to start something new.”

  “Time to let go of the familiar and take a chance.”

  “Kate, I—”

  “Tyler North, is that really you?”

  He looked past Kate to a plump strawberry blond. She teetered across the lawn on a pair of wedge sandals, her hand tucked into the arm of a tall, thin man wearing plaid shorts and a button down shirt. Behind the couple trailed two teen-age girls sporting identical expressions of boredom.

  “Suzie Powers?”

  The woman laughed. “I don’t look much like the high school cheerleader you probably remember. Tyler, this is my husband, Phil Murphy. He graduated with us, too.”

  Phil held out his hand, and Tyler shook it. “I was vice-president of the math club, not one of the guys you would have spent time with.”

  Tyler forced a smile. “No, I spent most of my time getting into trouble. Suzie, Phil, this is Kate Abbott. She was Katie Stevens back in high school.”

  Suzie studied Kate, and dimples dented her cheeks. “I remember you. You wrote the comic strip for Cougar Tales.”

  Kate nodded. “Phil, I sat behind you in Senior English class.”

  Suzie rested her hand on her round hip. “Well this is fun. I can’t believe you actually came to our reunion, Tyler, a big star like you.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not a star anymore, and there were a few people I wanted to see.” He looked into her hazel eyes. “You’re one of them. I want to apologize for the way I treated you when we were in school. I was an ass, and you deserved better.”

  Suzie took a quick look at her daughters who were now down by the beach and lowered her voice. “Your dropping me the way you did was the best thing that ever happened. No offense, but it made me realize dating a sweet guy who really cared about me was infinitely better than hooking up with a bad boy.” She leaned her cheek on her husband’s arm. I might not have agreed to go out with Phil if I hadn’t been so angry with you.” She laughed. “I should be thanking you.”

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say. You’re far more forgiving than I deserve.”

  “Ancient history.” Suzie looked up at her husband, her eyes full of adoration. “We’d better collect the girls and go. It’s getting late.”

  Phil patted her arm. “Yes, it is. Nice seeing you again. Enjoy the reunion.”

  “Thanks, I intend to.”

  Tyler watched them walk away and breathed a little easier. A task he’d been dreading had proved far easier than he’d expected. He straightened his shoulders.

  “They’re nice people and still totally in love after all these years,” Kate said, her voice a bit wistful.

  “Yeah.” He grinned. “You know, I think I could have saved myself a trip east, too. It looks like I took myself a bit too seriously, thinking I was anything more than a speed bump to the girls I dumped.”

  “You heard Suzie. You were instrumental in her eventual happiness.”

  “Go figure.” He glanced at his watch. “It is getting late. Shall we go check in?
I imagine you want some time to get ready for the dance tonight.”

  “You bet. At my age, beauty takes preparation.”

  He pulled her close to his side, and his hand slid over her hip. “Not for you, Kate. You’re beautiful inside and out.”

  ****

  Kate watched Tyler talk to a petite, dark haired woman who looked vaguely familiar. She snapped her fingers. Chantal Day, that was her name. Twenty-five years ago her father had more money than God. Tyler was serious about his apologies, and Kate could see by the lightness in his step and the quickness of his smile that the process had been cathartic. She had an idea making amends to these women was somehow tied to his feelings for his father. If it helped Tyler see the convoluted situation with Dale more clearly, then she was behind him all the way, even if watching him with old girlfriends was a little unnerving.

  Hands closed over her eyes, and Kate jumped. “Guess who?”

  She spun and gave Chelsea a huge hug. “I was wondering where you were.” Her friend wore a gray silk dress and a wide smile. Her blue eyes sparkled. “You look absolutely gorgeous, Chelsea.”

  “So do you. Your dress is a knockout.”

  Kate smoothed her pink flowered sun dress. The neckline dipped lower than her usual choices, making her a bit self-conscious. But the spark in Tyler’s eyes when he’d watched her walk out of their room wearing it had made it clear he approved.

  “I’m turning over a new leaf and tossing out my conservative image for the evening.”

  “I’ll say. Where’s Tyler? God, Kate, I can’t believe you hooked up with mega star Tyler North.”

  She pointed. Tyler was talking to a tall, dark haired man. They slapped each other on the back and gave each other a high five. “He’s over there with Michael Stephenson.”

  Chelsea waved her hand in front of her face. “Wow, your man is still as hot as he was in high school.”

  Tyler wore dark jeans and a black shirt. Just looking at him made Kate’s cheeks heat. “I can’t argue with that.”

  “So, are you two serious?”

  She pushed her hand through her hair and bit her lip. “I don’t know, Chelsea. We’ve been getting along really well, but he hasn’t said anything about the future, and I’m almost afraid to ask.”