by Nomi Summers
He put on his aviators, hoping they’d disguise his identity in the store, and made the short two-block stroll over to Callahan’s. Man, there was just something about being back home that felt good. People smiled and waved at strangers in this small town, which normally would make him uncomfortable being the private person that he was, but considering the overall coldness he’d dealt with in the city, he found it to be a welcomed change.
Inside Callahan’s, he kept his head down and made a beeline for the meat department. He picked out two chicken breasts and then headed to produce to get everything he’d need to make a sauce from scratch. While making his way to the pasta, he caught sight of Old Man Callahan out of the corner of his eye coming straight down the aisle he’d just entered. Chase shifted slightly, angling his back toward the man, and keeping his head down.
“Can I help you find anything?” Callahan stopped in front of Chase, making it impossible to pass him by. Time had taken its toll on the old man. Heck, he’d been old when Chase was a teen, so he must be in his eighties now.
“I’m good, thanks.” Chase’s plan was to keep conversations to a minimum. He turned his body toward the pasta that lined the shelves and studied his options, hoping the old man would keep moving.
“You know, I don’t understand why they started making all these different kinds. Now you have wheat, gluten free, and even vegetable pasta. Can you imagine that? This one right here is the best, in my opinion.” Callahan reached a weathered finger and tapped the front of a box of thin spaghetti noodles.
“Thanks.” Chase nodded and grabbed the pasta off the shelf, tossing it into the handbasket he was carrying and turning toward the checkout.
“Son, why do you look familiar? You live here in Arbor Shores, or are you up from downstate for the weekend?”
Callahan was a few strides behind him. He was sure he could lose him if he tried; the old man wasn’t moving quickly at all, but Chase didn’t want to be rude. “Just passing through,” he said over his shoulder while keeping his pace, careful not to turn around to face him.
“You need anything else?” Callahan called out. He always was overly helpful. You couldn’t come into this store without Callahan trying to help you shop. It was funny to see that hadn’t changed after all these years.
“Nope, I’ve got everything I need here.”
“Well then, let’s get you rung up. I’ll take you over here at this register.”
There was only one other register open, and the cashier had three people in line. Callahan stood behind the vacant register and waited, his brows pinched together, while he studied Chase’s face as he approached.
“What did you say your name was?” he asked as he began picking items out of the basket and punching keys on the old register. Why had he never upgraded to a computer system? Not a thing had changed in this store. It was like traveling back in time.
Chase wanted to lie, to come up with some common name like Mike or John, but he didn’t have it in him to lie to Old Man Callahan. He’d lied to him once when he was twelve, when he’d been caught swiping a pack of gum. Callahan had promised not to call his parents if he’d come clean. He’d told the truth, but the disappointment in the man’s face was enough to ensure he’d never take anything that wasn’t his ever again. And he never had. In fact, it was that defining moment that made Chase an honest man. One thing he hated more than anything was a liar or a thief.
“Chase,” he finally admitted, almost under his breath.
“Well, I’ll be darned,” Callahan said with a chuckle and stopped ringing the groceries. “You’re Chase Knox, aren’t ya?” He leaned in and peered over his glasses, giving Chase a closer look through squinted eyes.
“Yes, sir.” And just like that, Chase felt twelve again. He looked around, hoping nobody had overheard their conversation. To his delight, nobody was looking in his direction except the old man staring him down across the counter.
“Well, welcome home, son. What are you doing in town? Nobody around here’s seen the likes of you in years.”
“Like I said, just passing through.”
“Well, I hope you’ll stay awhile. I’m sure your brothers will be happy to see you. You know, Shane is back home, too. We have our very own rock star living in Arbor Shores now, can you believe that? I sure am proud of that boy. He’s come a long way.”
“He has.” Chase slid the contents forward on the counter, hoping to remind Callahan to keep ringing. He was growing uncomfortable and wanted to get out before anyone else recognized him.
“What ‘bout you? What have you been up to? You married? Have any children?”
“No, sir. Just been traveling a lot.”
“Well, where are you staying while you’re here?”
Chase would have to think fast. Telling Callahan would be like telling the town all at once over a loud speaker, and everyone in Arbor Shores would not only know he was here, but would know where to find him before day’s end.
“I found a guesthouse to rent here in town.” That part was the truth, Callahan didn’t need to know whose guesthouse. “I really do need to run though. How much?” he asked, quick to change the subject.
With any luck, he’d pay and get out of there without any more questions.
The day dragged on for Emma as she watched the clock impatiently. Business was slow, and she couldn’t wait to get home and catch up with Chase. Boy, it sure felt good to have her friend back in town. She’d grown used to living alone, but it could get lonely in that big old house. Zeke was good company, but not much of a conversationalist. The thought of having someone there when she got home from work was comforting, and the fact that Chase was cooking dinner was an added bonus. She laughed to herself. The Chase she’d known didn’t cook. It would be interesting to learn where he’d been for the past eight years and what all he’d been up to.
“Why don’t you go on home, Emma. I’ll lock up here.” Rose must have picked up on her angst.
“No, you don’t have to do that, Rose. Thank you, though.”
“I don’t mind. It’s only another hour. I know you’re anxious to get to that man.”
Emma’s cheeks pricked with heat. “It’s not like that, Rose,” she told her with a frown.
“Mm-hmm,” Rose responded in her all-knowing tone. Nothing slipped by this woman.
“That noticeable, huh?”
“You’ve only checked your watch a million times in the past three hours.”
“It’s just that I haven’t seen him in a long time. He’s a good friend.”
“Well, that’s how all the best loves start, you know?” Rose untied Emma’s apron and pulled it gently over her head. “Jack and I started out as friends, and we were married for thirty-two years.” She tossed the apron on the counter and twisted at the ring she still wore on her left hand.
Emma’s heart went out to her. “I didn’t know that.”
“Oh, yes, we were just friends at first. And it wasn’t as common back then as it is nowadays.”
“So, what happened?”
“Eventually, it evolved into more. Once I gave in to the inevitable. My only regret is that I fought it as long as I did. If I hadn’t, we would’ve had more years together.”
That admission gnawed at Emma. Rose missed her late husband dearly.
“All I’m saying is stay open to the possibility of what could be. I saw the way that boy looked at you today. And I saw the way you looked at him, too.”
Rose was seeing things. She and Chase had just been happy to see each other. Surely, Rose hadn’t seen what she thought she had. Besides, Chase would be gone again soon. He already said he wasn’t staying, so there was no way Emma would be open to anything more. He’d already left her once, and he would be leaving again, but this time she’d be prepared for it.
“Well, I promise you, we are just friends. However, I’ll take you up on that offer, if you’re sure?”
“Get on home.” Rose smiled, and Emma grabbed her things and headed fo
r the door.
Chapter 4
The sweet aroma of tomato sauce and Italian herbs filled Hemlock House. That was an unfamiliar greeting upon opening her front door, but one Emma could get used to. The greeting she was expecting was from Zeke, but he was nowhere in sight. Where was that dog, anyway? He always met her at the door each day.
“Hello?” Emma called out. She stopped to listen to the tap of nails on hardwood as Zeke came barreling through the house from the direction of the kitchen. “Hey, boy. There you are.” She scrubbed at his ears.
Chase appeared moments later. “Welcome home,” he said, a welcoming smile on his face. It was clear he’d taken a shower and gotten cleaned up; he wasn’t in the same clothing as earlier. Still a T-shirt, but this one was snug on his arms and chest, and it was showing just how much he’d grown into a man since the last time Emma had seen him.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. I can’t remember the last time I came home and smelled home-cooking coming from my kitchen. It smells fantastic.” Actually, she could remember. The last time she’d smelled home-cooking, her parents were alive. Her mother was a fantastic cook and made home-cooked meals almost every day. Nostalgia swept over Emma, twisting at her stomach.
Chase tossed the kitchen towel he’d been carrying over his shoulder and held out his hand to Emma. “Allow me,” he told her, motioning for her to take his outstretched hand. Intrigued, she placed her hand in his as a sensation ran up her arm. She let him guide her into the dining room where he already had the table set. “You get comfortable and relax,” he told her as he pulled out her chair so she could sit. He promptly filled her glass with red wine before retreating to the kitchen.
I could get used to this. But she’d better not. Chase was only a temporary guest, or tenant, or whatever he was. Point was, he’d be leaving soon, so she wouldn’t allow herself to get used to having him around. Though, she was starving. She may as well enjoy the perks of his company while she could.
Chase returned from the kitchen with two salads and placed one in front of Emma. Picking up a pepper grinder, he asked, “Fresh ground pepper, madam?”
“Sure, monsieur,” she played along. “Where did you get these proper serving skills?”
“I spent eight months waiting tables in a fine dining restaurant when I first moved to New York,” he admitted, taking his place across from her.
“Is there anything you haven’t done in the past eight years?” she asked with a grin.
“Very little.” He took a sip of wine. Somehow, she believed there was more truth to that than he was letting on.
Emma started on her salad, taking a moment to study Chase in between bites. It was hard to believe it had been eight years. Being with him was the most natural feeling on earth. It was like he’d been here all along. Yet, in some way, he was different now. More cultured, more grown-up, more mature. It was exciting and comforting all at the same time.
“So, what about you?” he asked. “What have you been up to since I last saw you?”
“Not much around here, as you can see.” She motioned around the room. “I spend most of my time at NovelTea. I opened it a couple of years after my parents passed.”
He paused and gave her a knowing smile. “I’m sure you miss them.”
“Every day.” She put down her fork and took a sip of wine, looking out the window. The sun was sinking low in the sky and it filled the yard with an amber glow. She loved this time of day.
“You sure you never got married? I find that hard to believe.”
“No,” she half laughed. “Who has time for that?”
“A boyfriend?”
“There’s someone I spend time with, but it’s not serious,” she admitted. Which reminded her, she had plans with Aaron this weekend. For some reason, that didn’t sound as enticing as it should’ve now that Chase was here. Maybe she could get out of it. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with Chase before he left again, and there was no telling when that would be.
Chase shifted. “Are you ready for the main course?” he asked when she moved her salad to the side.
“I can hardly wait to see what you’ve made.”
Chase disappeared into the kitchen and returned several minutes later with two plated dishes of chicken parmesan, placing one in front of Emma before taking his seat.
“This looks incredible,” Emma said, wide-eyed. She took a hot bite, flavor and gooey cheese exploding in her mouth. “Mmm, mmm,” she indulged. “You keep cooking like this and I’m never gonna let you leave.”
“Well, don’t get too used to it. I wouldn’t want to break your heart when I go.” The words jolted her back to reality. Like you did before? She wanted to say, but she swallowed the emotion that was bubbling to the surface. That was a conversation for another time.
Emma seemed to be enjoying her dinner, and Chase was happy that he could at least do something nice for her for letting him stay in the guesthouse. He sure did appreciate it, and spending time with her was the most fun he’d had in a long, long time. Over dinner, they’d reminisced about good times they’d had together, and some of their memories had them laughing more than he had in months.
“Are you finished?” he asked, rising to his feet, ready to clear her plate out from in front of her.
“I’ll get it.” She stood up. “You did the cooking; the least I can do are the dishes.”
“Well, I’ll help. I’m afraid I’ve made a bit of a mess in the kitchen.” That was an understatement.
“That’s a small price to pay for a meal like this. It was delicious by the way. Thank you.” She cast him a warm smile that lit up her entire face. Man, had he ever missed that face. It was even more beautiful now than he remembered. All he’d had to remember her by was her senior picture that he carried in his wallet. He loved that picture of her in her blue sweater. While he’d pulled it out and thought about her on more than one occasion over the years, it paled in comparison to the Emma standing before him. To the woman she’d become.
Emma took one step into the kitchen and stopped in her tracks, causing Chase to bump into her. As he did, he got a whiff of her sweet shampoo, sending a warmth through his entire body.
“What happened in here?” She laughed as she turned to face him.
Heat flushed to his cheeks. She was right, he had made a mess of her kitchen. “I’ll take care of it. Please go relax; you worked all day.”
“I have an idea.” A smile formed at the corners of her mouth as her eyes lit up.
“What’s that?” he asked, taking her plate out of her hand and moving toward the sink. No dishwasher in this old house, so he’d have to do it by hand.
“The sun is getting ready to set. Let’s skip this mess and take a walk on the beach. When’s the last time you watched the sun dip into Lake Michigan?”
“It’s been far too long.” He hated to leave the mess in the kitchen, but something about walking on the beach at sunset with Emma was calling out to him. The kitchen wasn’t going anywhere.
“Come, Zeke,” she commanded to the dog who hadn’t left Chase’s side. The two had bonded that afternoon, and Chase was glad to have had the company. He loved dogs but was never able to have one growing up—his father didn’t like animals—and he moved around too much over the past few years to have one of his own.
Zeke and Chase followed Emma through the house and toward the front door where she grabbed Zeke’s leash and latched it on. A warm glow lit up the sky out front, and as they walked past the old Hemlock House sign that still sat in the front yard, he noticed she had permanently nailed a No Vacancy sign across the front of it.
“Hey, Em,” he asked, falling in stride next to her as they met the sidewalk. “Have you ever thought about reopening the Hemlock House?”
“No,” she responded quickly.
“Well, you mentioned things have been slow at NovelTea lately. I just thought that might be a way for you to make some extra income. Hemlock was always the most popular B&
B in town.”
“It was popular because of my parents,” her voice dropped. “Besides, I don’t have time to run a B&B. I’m at NovelTea every day except Sundays because we’re closed. Running a B&B is a full-time job.”
“Well, I just thought—”
“Chase, it’s a bad idea.” She looked straight ahead, and he could tell the conversation was making her uncomfortable. He decided to drop it for the time being.
“Okay, okay,” he put his hands in the air innocently. “Hey, race you to the shore? For old time’s sake?” The shoreline was only a block away, and they had always raced there together when they were younger.
A smile spread across her face as she took off down the street, Zeke picking up his pace to keep up with her. Chase loved how Emma was always up for anything. She was a refreshing change from the women he had spent time with over the past few years.
They reached the lake in record time, Chase letting Emma and Zeke take the lead. “Hey, you two beat me,” he told her with a wink.
“I think that’s the most exercise Zeke has gotten in years. He’s doesn’t have much energy anymore.”
“Well, do you bring him down here ever?” he asked as they both stopped to kick off their shoes, the cool evening sand under their feet. “He looks energized to me.”
She frowned. “Not as often as I should.”
The three of them fell in stride once again as they made their way down the shoreline. The sun was low, close to the horizon, the sky ablaze with colors of orange, yellow, and magenta. It was a beautiful evening for a walk on the beach as the waves lapped the shore at their feet. Chase had traveled all over, but he’d never seen a sunset that compared to those in Arbor Shores.
Emma stopped and plopped down in the sand, Zeke making himself comfortable to her left. Chase took a seat to her right as they stared out over the cobalt-blue water.
