Angel in Disguise

by Patt Marr

  “You go on over there and talk with the man,” Leteisha said, giving her a little push toward the road. “I’ll watch your class.”

  Her students would be all right for a minute or two. She jogged toward the pickup. Pete got out of the truck and walked toward her, a big grin on his face. Praise God, he was walking without a limp or hesitation of any kind.

  He’d dressed up to come see her. His broad shoulders filled out a knit shirt, and he wore dress pants that hung from narrow hips. His hair looked longer and shone in the sunlight. Best of all was the gleam in his eye. He was happy to see her.

  Ten yards away, she broke out of the jog. The closer she got, the slower she walked. His pace, like hers, slowed as they neared. His eyes never left hers. There were no cameras, no pretense, nothing to prove.

  Her heart raced as he scanned her face, feature by feature, then the length of her, from her sun visor to sneakers. It was at least ninety degrees in the warm spring sunshine, and windy besides. She knew what a mess she must look, but he seemed not to notice.

  Grinning, he said, “You look great, Coach.”

  She felt a smile deep inside. “So do you.”

  She had so many things to ask him, so much she wanted to know, but those blue mesmerizing eyes of his stole every thought.

  “I’ve missed my wild woman,” he said, his voice low.

  Her heart skipped a beat.

  “Been doing much cooking?” he teased lightly.

  “Just cheesecakes. How about you? Been exploring much?”

  “Just the uncharted wonders of a rehab center.”

  “Must have been in a remote area, someplace without phones.” That’s it. Nag the man first thing. “I’m sorry—”

  “No, you’re right,” he broke in. “I’m not very social when I’m in one of those places. Kind of like an old bear.”

  That’s what Meggy had said when they’d worried together.

  “Some people don’t quite grasp the concept of solo hibernation. Namely my sister.”

  “It’s only because she loves you.”

  His face softened. “She’s my sister. I love her back.”

  Lucky Meggy. “We got together at a diner called Mom’s and had pot roast in your honor.”

  “Yeah? We’ll have to go there sometime.”

  He saw a future for them? She’d love that.

  “I wanted to bring Old Red to meet you. She got her front grill bent out of shape because she didn’t get to go on our date.”

  She laughed and gave the pickup a little wave “hi.”

  “Thanks for that,” he said. “Red likes to be noticed.”

  “What woman doesn’t? She sure doesn’t look her age.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I always tell her when she thinks I’m looking around at the new models. I won’t throw her out just because something shinier comes along. That wouldn’t be right.”

  He was kidding around, but the whole thing had an underlying edge that wasn’t too hard to discern.

  “I probably should have waited until this evening to see you,” he said, glancing at the students, “but it was important to see you first thing. I couldn’t wait to apologize for not telling you about…about my…that I shouldn’t have done the hike.”

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize.”

  “But I want to. I’m sorry, Sunny. I need you to know it.”

  A man who could say sorry. She’d take that over looks.

  “I should have been honest. And I shouldn’t have gotten mad when you said you were going for help.”

  “You were in a lot of pain. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s me. I forced you into taking that trail.” Every time she thought about it, she wanted to cry.

  He must have seen her eyes water for he tipped her chin up and said, “Hey, none of that. You have nothing to be sorry for. Absolutely nothing. You were terrific up there.”

  The praise, the comfort, the approval and protection, they came so naturally from this man.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, willing him to feel her welcoming heart.

  A loud end-of-class horn sounded from the building speakers. She checked her watch, surprised that time passed so quickly. Blowing her whistle, she waved her students in.

  “I probably need to go,” he said.

  Her heart contracted. She wasn’t ready for him to leave. “Walk with me to the building?”

  He nodded, and they walked slowly, letting students pass. She was so proud to be by his side, not so much because he was a very good-looking guy, but because he made it plain he was her guy.

  “Did you see any of the tabloid pictures of us?” she asked conversationally.

  He shook his head. “We made the news, huh?”

  “Oh, yeah. You would have liked the one captioned Congressman’s Ex Won’t Go Back. It was perfect.”

  “Good,” he said, satisfied.

  “However, there was another one, a story about the senator’s ‘sex-starved daughter…”’

  He stopped in his tracks, his eyes dark with horror.

  “I guess you didn’t know about my life as a nymphomaniac.”

  He made a strangling sound.

  “No? Well, now it’s out in the open. Take warning, Pete. No one man is enough for Sunny Keegan.”

  “That’s such a lie!”

  Sunny laughed. “Welcome to the world of celebrity.”

  A man wearing a uniform similar to Sunny’s fell into step with them. “If this one can’t satisfy you, Coach, I’m your man.”

  Appalled, Pete looked ready to grab the man.

  “It’s okay,” she soothed, “Coach Harriman is just a big kidder.”

  The man gave her a grin and trotted off toward the building.

  “I don’t have much of a sense of humor when it comes to you and garbage like that,” Pete said. “You shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

  She would put up with worse if it got Bruce out of her life. “Next time Harriman messes with me, I’ll let you get him. Okay?”

  His glance said he couldn’t make light of this one.

  Leteisha passed by with Mouse. “We got everything, Coach.”

  “Thanks!” she called out.

  Walking backward, Mouse said, “Hey, Pete, doesn’t Coach have the prettiest legs?”

  He laughed and gave Mouse a thumbs-up. “Those are great kids. They think a lot of you.”

  “Too much, maybe. The rumor mill has been active, with the tabloids and all. Leteisha decked a student, defending my honor, and got suspended. Mouse led the rest of the team in a walkout.”

  “I’ve got to throw those kids a party. Tacos and ice cream.”

  “They’d love it.” Some guys would say they would do that, but, knowing Pete, he’d follow through. “I heard from my mother this morning.”

  “How did it go?” he asked, frowning.

  “Well, my parents are going to church with me Easter Sunday.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?”

  “It is, but I have to attend their Easter party afterward. Bruce will probably be there. I dread that.”

  The frown deepened. “Would it help if I went?”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “You know I would. I might not use the right fork, but…”

  “I’d never care about something like that.” She’d love to have him with her. “But I think I have to go alone this time. My parents and I have some things to work out.”

  He scanned her face. “Sure?”

  “No,” she said with a little laugh, “but I’ll be all right.”

  They reached the locker room door. The students had gone inside, and they were alone. Framing her face with his strong hands, he said, “You’re tough, Sunny. You can handle them.”

  It was amazing how he could make her believe better of herself. A few words, laced with approval, and her confidence shot to new heights.

  “If you change your mind and want some company, let me know. I could dust off my win
gs in no time.”

  Chapter Ten

  Pete poured hot coffee into his thermos and ignored his ringing telephone. The machine could pick up the call.

  “Pete, I know you’re there. Pick up.”

  It was Meggy, and he’d soon know if she needed help or just wanted to “sister” him. He tightened the cap of the thermos, opened the refrigerator and selected makings for his lunch.

  “Pete! Would it kill you to pick up that phone?”

  Low-fat mayo on whole wheat bread, three slices tomato, four ounces turkey. Make the sandwich. Put it in a zipped-lock bag.

  “Pete, I just called to tell you Mom got married.”

  Sure she did. Two crisp pieces of lettuce, carrot sticks and bell pepper strips. Another bag. Deli dill pickle. Last bag. All the bags in the lunch box. Add an apple. Add a banana. Close the box.

  “Mom’s new husband is younger than I am.”

  Wipe the counter clean. Polish it dry. Check for streaks. Perfect.

  He’d like to have a nickel for every time his ex called him a slob. Their last night together she’d complained about everything, from the way he forgot to put the toilet lid down, to the way he worked for his dad instead of going out on his own.

  The complaining part was a pretty regular thing and he’d let the words slide, though he’d made a mental note to do better about the toilet lid. There hadn’t been any use in explaining again that he stayed with his dad to learn from a master.

  That this round of complaints was more serious hadn’t sunk in until Lisa had dragged out luggage and started emptying her closet. Then he’d offered everything that usually made her feel better: buttered popcorn, a back rub and the new sofa they didn’t need. And words. Especially words. Women loved words as long as you didn’t try to solve their problems, though it sure came natural to help.

  But Lisa’s words he’d just as soon forget. “I don’t love you anymore.” That was a stab in the heart, then a wrenching hurt that lasted for months. He didn’t want to hear that again. Ever.

  “Pete, I’m still waiting.” His sister’s voice jarred him from the past. “I’m not going away. You might as well be gracious. Pick up the phone.”

  Some other time, Meggy. He had a schedule to keep.

  Get the thermos. Get the lunch box. Open the back door.

  Cute as a button in a bright red blazer and a triumphant grin, there stood Meggy, cell phone in hand.

  “Just happen to be in the neighborhood, Meggy?”

  “Where have you been, Pete Maguire? You know I worry.”

  Conniving, but caring. That was his sister. That’s why he didn’t boot her to the moon when she pulled stuff like this.

  “I called you,” he said. He had, once, to leave a message after he’d checked into the private clinic. “You knew I was okay.”

  “It wasn’t enough. You didn’t tell me where you were. I wanted to see you. So did Sunny. She called every day.”

  “I’m not Sunny’s concern.” He didn’t mean it, at least not the way it sounded, but subtleties weren’t important when he squabbled with his sister.

  “I disagree,” Meggy argued. “You made it her concern when you machoed up that trail without telling her anything.”

  The truth of that stung.

  “You should have let us know where you were.”

  “But you’d have come, and you know I like to be alone.”

  She threw up her hands. “That’s your problem! You always want to be alone. It’s time you had a life, Pete.”

  He had a life, especially now, but he wasn’t going to talk about it with his sister. “It’s not your problem, Meggy.”

  “You’re my brother. That makes it my problem. C’mon, Pete. Let people back into your life. See your friends.”

  “My friends?” He couldn’t believe she’d bring them up. His friends had known Lisa was having an affair, and none of them had told him. “Lisa got custody of my ‘friends.”’

  “That’s malarkey. You cut them off without giving them a chance.”

  “I don’t see it that way,” he said, edging around her.

  She grabbed his arm. “Would it kill you to hang around long enough to finish a conversation?”

  “I did.” He shrugged her arm off and moved on.

  “Well, I didn’t.” She grabbed the back waist of his jeans, and held on though he dragged her behind him.

  “Let go of me, Meggy.”

  “Not ’til you tell me where you’re going.”

  “The same place I go every day,” he claimed, twisting free.

  “You say you go to the beach, but that’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard. You got your sunblock in your lunch pail? Where’s your cooler? Where’s your towel? Give me a break, Pete. Don’t insult my intelligence.”

  “What intel—”

  “Don’t finish that.”

  “—ligence?”

  “I warned you!” She balled her hands into fists and tried to land a punch anywhere.

  It was a ritual they’d begun long ago. Dodging, weaving, laughing, Pete made it to his pickup untouched.

  She kicked Old Red’s front bumper. “When are you going to give this thing a decent burial?”

  “Don’t listen to her, Red,” he said, patting the roof as he got behind the steering wheel. “She doesn’t mean it.” He turned the key, put Old Red in reverse and backed out, leaving Meggy standing in the driveway with her hands on her hips.

  “Pete, wait!”

  He hit the brakes. He knew that panicky sound.

  She ran down the drive after him. “I almost forgot the reason I came,” she panted, clinging to the frame of his open window. “I want to talk to you about the report-back taping tonight. You received the reminder in the mail, didn’t you?”

  He’d gotten it and wanted to show up as much as he wanted to repeat a surgery, but he wouldn’t risk getting her in trouble. Besides, Sunny needed him to complete the job.

  “You can save your pitiful little-sister thing,” he said, “I’ll be there.”

  Meggy’s smile was the watery, grateful one he’d always suspected was as manipulative as it might be sincere.

  “I bet you’re looking forward to seeing Sunny, huh?”

  Manipulative. Definitely. And she deserved to sweat for trying that on him. “You know,” he said, as if he’d just thought of something, “there is this one thing I have to do before the taping that could make me a little late. But I don’t think I’ll miss the whole thing.”

  Her blue eyes widened. “Petey! Don’t do this to me!”

  Pete smiled and took off. In his rearview mirror, he saw Meggy stamp her foot. She wouldn’t get so upset if she’d learn to mind her own business.

  Rush-hour traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway was the steady grind one expected at this hour. Being part of it felt right. Like the other drivers, he had a destination, a purpose, a goal. He could have waited until later in the morning when the drive would have taken less time, but he liked it this way, riding along with his arm out the window, feeling the wind whip his hair, listening to his tunes, just being part of the crowd.

  It didn’t matter that his life had turned upside down in the last two years, that he’d lost his wife, his dad, the job he loved and his friends. When he saw the ocean, his spirits always lifted. His life was nothing compared to the vastness of the sea. If the Creator could keep all that power in check, he could take care of a sorry beach bum like himself, maybe even make him into something.

  At one of the more modest beachfront homes in Malibu Colony, he turned into the driveway and cued a remote control to open the garage door. Parking inside, Pete went straight to the kitchen, plunked his thermos on the counter and transferred his lunch from the pail to the refrigerator.

  Early-morning sunlight shone through skylights overlooking the living room as he headed upstairs and walked along the balcony. At the end, he entered the master bedroom and its huge walk-in closet. Stepping out of his sneakers, he placed them carefully on an o
therwise-empty rack, removed his jeans and hung them on a hook. From a built-in drawer filled with beachwear, he chose a pair of black trunks.

  Clad in the trunks and his T-shirt, Pete gave the empty tie rack a spin and checked his watch. Dithering with Meggy had put him off schedule, but not much.

  Walking downstairs, he ran his hand along the stairway rail he’d installed five years ago. Though he’d worked on many upscale homes with his dad, this place was a favorite. It connected with the best part of his life. When he had more money than he knew what to do with and more hours than he could fill, the house had been available. For a million-five, it became his.

  As he did every day, Pete poured a thermos-lid of coffee and carried it to the deck. Like a thousand watercolors of ocean meeting sky, the scene before him was sun-filled serenity. The rhythmic sound of the surf made him feel relaxed and alive at the same time. He sipped his coffee, relaxed in a lounge chair and wondered what the day would bring.

  A school of dolphins might appear. He’d watch old men fish from the pier and pelicans bob for lunch. Bev Sapato next door would water her flowerpots and tell him the latest gossip her movie-producer husband brought home. Neighbors would pass and greet him by name. One was a rock star, another had his own sitcom. People were friendly out here, their back doors sharing the same ocean.

  He finished drinking his coffee and lowered the back of the lounger. If he dozed a bit when people ought to be working, it wouldn’t matter. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the peaceful sound of water gently lapping the shore. He let his mind drift aimlessly. He hadn’t a care in the world.

  Except Sunny. She was unfinished business. He hadn’t been this obsessed with a woman since his hormones raged as a teen. He told himself it was a logical reaction because he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time, but he lied.

  The wanting was for Sunny, and Sunny alone. He wanted her laughter, her sassy independence and her outlook on life. He wanted to see her beautiful eyes light up when she smiled, and he wanted to feel her touch on his brow.

  To be very honest, he also wanted to sleep with his body molded to hers, his arms around her, their bare legs touching as they had on Big Bear. But it wouldn’t happen. That was a fluke, a one-time necessity. That kind of closeness called for a man’s heart, commitment, promises.