Alicia looked at the clock, startled. “Wow, is it that late? I’m sorry, Penny, we went for a walk and I didn’t notice the time when we got in.”
“Don’t worry, hon, but if you’re done with her, send her my way, would you?”
“Sure.” Alicia stood for a moment watching Amy and Gemma playing go fish while Jason lay on a blanket gurgling. She felt an odd weight in her chest, one she was aware had been there ever since Amy mentioned Liam. She drifted over to the refrigerator, still holding the phone to her ear, and started taking out hot dogs and buns. She couldn’t put her finger on why the conversation bothered her, but she suspected it had to do with the two fatherless girls.
“Earth to Alicia—girl, are you there?” Penny sounded a little exasperated now.
“Huh?” Alicia put the hot dogs on the counter and switched on the oven. “I’m sorry, Pen, what were you saying?”
“Nothing,” Penny said. “That’s the point. You acted like you were going to say something, but then you never did.”
“Oh. Oh, crap. I’m sorry. I’m just sort of distracted tonight, I guess. We’re going to see Millie and Jim tomorrow and I should have had the kids fed and bathed by now. I’m not even sure what I’ve been doing.”
“You’ve been working too hard.” Penny sounded thoughtful. “Listen, when you get back tomorrow night, why don’t we go out, grab a few drinks and listen to some good music? It’s Saturday, so Amy can sit for you—she’d be thrilled. And I could use the time out too.”
“I’m not sure,” Alicia started, then stopped. “No, I am sure. That sounds great. Let’s do it.”
* * *
Unfortunately, the little jazz club Penny had suggested to meet at was packed when Alicia arrived. She took one look at the line out the door and shook her head. Penny had to be kidding. No way would they ever get in, and if they did, it wouldn’t be very much fun contending with the crowd while trying to hear the music. Who knew Hillsborough even had this many people in it? She turned away and the slightly dilapidated bar across the street caught her eye.
The little bar wasn’t a place Alicia would have looked at twice if she hadn’t already been there with Ty a couple of times. Alicia stood for a moment, reminiscing. Deciding it would be okay to wait for Penny there and formulate a new plan for the evening, she pulled out her phone and texted her friend. Almost immediately a beep alerted her to Penny’s reply. “At least the bartender’s good-looking. Be there soon.”
Though she could only see the bartender from the back when she entered, he did appear attractive. Alicia sat, admiring the clean lines of his shoulders through his white T-shirt while he talked to someone on the other side of the bar. No reason not to look. Just as her gaze had made its way up to the back of his neck, the customer he was talking to noticed her and nodded her way. The bartender turned and their eyes met. A shock of recognition coursed through her, followed almost immediately by guilt as his inquisitive look relaxed into a welcoming expression.
As if she’d been caught doing something wrong, Alicia fought against the blush creeping up her cheekbones. “Hey. I didn’t know you worked here. Pretty long way from your classroom in Chapel Hill, isn’t it?”
Liam set a napkin in front of her. “Well, it helps supplement my income.” His green eyes danced with amusement. “Physics professors aren’t paid all that well anymore. What can I get you?”
“Umm, a glass of chardonnay?” The uncomfortable heat in her cheeks began to recede as she regained some control. As he set a glass on the napkin in front of her and turned to get the bottle from the cooler, she couldn’t help but notice how well his jeans fit. Was Penny talking about Liam when she said the bartender was good-looking? No way. That’s not possible.
Emerging from her reverie, she realized the barstool next to her was occupied and looked up at her neighbor. She gave a start when she found Liam, a club soda with a slice of lime in his hand, settled comfortably next to her. Another man was behind the bar, a definite hunk this time. No doubt the one Penny had mentioned. “What?” Alicia looked back and forth, wondering if she’d dreamt the whole thing.
Liam sipped his drink. “I was just filling in for a minute. Now I get to relax and enjoy.”
“With club soda?” Alicia raised her eyebrows.
“I don’t drink anymore.” He removed several toothpicks from the dispenser, bending them in half almost to the breaking point and putting them on the bar in a circular pattern with the broken middles in the center. “How are the kids?” He placed his finger on the end of his straw and pulled it out of his club soda, positioning it over the broken center of the toothpicks. He released a little of the liquid from the straw.
Alicia watched the toothpicks unfold into a flower. “They’re good. Gemma’s asked about you a few times.”
“I’m flattered.” He put the straw back into his glass and took a sip. “She’s a smart girl, your daughter. And beautiful, like her mother.”
“And normally highly suspicious of strangers, like her father.” Alicia ran a finger down the side of the glass. “I’m still not sure how you got past that.”
He repositioned the toothpicks a little to form a more perfect flower shape. “Kids like me. I never really grew up.”
“Really?” She took a sip of her drink, studying him with interest. She noted a little stubble on his jaw and how his slightly too-long hair curled around his ears. He looked up and winked when he caught her looking at him.
She turned away, uncomfortable with her own feelings. Her response to this man surprised her. It was like a faucet she’d imagined was dry had suddenly started dripping again. She wasn’t sure she was happy about the drip. It might drive her nuts. Or it might turn into a drenching, thirst-quenching deluge. It all depended.
“What the ever-living hell are you doing here, Liam?”
Alicia and Liam started and turned at the accusatory voice. Penny stood next to the bar, her hands on her hips, glaring at them. Liam relaxed and gave Alicia a reassuring glance. “Not to worry, she’s mostly harmless.”
“I know.” Alicia looked from one to the other curiously, remembering her conversation with Penny about Liam. “She usually doesn’t scare me.”
“Well, I’ve never known her to bite.” Liam stood and held out a hand to Penny. “Good to see you again, Pretty Pen.”
“Wish I could say the same.” Penny ignored his offered hand and sat on the barstool he had vacated. Unruffled, Liam pulled another stool from an empty table near the bar and sat. Penny gave him a look of disgust and shook her head. “I should have known you’d sniff out the most beautiful girl in the state. What are you doing down here, anyway?”
“Selling my parents’ house.” Liam looked at Alicia. “They left me the house when they passed away two years ago. I plan to spend the summer sorting through their stuff and getting the house ready to go on the market.”
“High time too,” Penny said with a sniff. “That stuff’s been moldering for the past two years. You never seemed too worried about it before.”
“I’ve been busy.” Liam sipped his drink. “You missed me, did you?” At her snort, he laughed. “What you don’t know is I’ve been slipping in by the dead of night to check on things. I just didn’t want to get caught—too many old girlfriends near the premises.”
Penny tried to remain stone-faced at this quip but couldn’t quite manage it. Her face melted into a friendly grin. “I’m happily married, and your charms don’t work near as well as they used to, you old fart.”
He grinned back, obviously not concerned about his charms. “High time for that too. Although I’d heard about your wedding, my heart still breaks to hear it from your lips.” He placed a hand on his chest as if in pain, and winked at Alicia as he stood. “I should go. I’m sure you ladies have plans for this town.”
“And none of them include old farts.” P
enny turned away. “You could bring me a glass of wine, though.”
“Chardonnay?” Liam motioned to the bartender, who obediently came to their side of the bar. At Penny’s shrug, he turned to the bartender. “Stu, bring this lady a glass of chardonnay. Their drinks are on the house tonight.”
“Sure, boss.” The bartender turned to pick up a glass and Penny nudged Alicia with a mischievous nod at his well-shaped backside.
“Boss?” Alicia looked at Liam curiously.
“Yeah, I guess I didn’t mention that, did I?” Liam met her eyes. “I own the place. I bought it a couple years ago. Sort of a sentimental business investment with my parents’ estate. I had a lot of good times here.”
“Before you quit drinking.” Penny accepted the glass of wine from the bartender with an appreciative smile that widened when he turned away. “At least you pick bartenders that are easy on the eyes. So did you say we’re going to have to put up with you all summer? Don’t you usually teach during the summer sessions?”
“I do.” Liam nodded. “I’m taking a leave of absence this summer, though. To take care of my parents’ house.”
Alicia watched as Penny fixed him with a suspicious glare. “You said that.”
“Did I?” He looked uncomfortable. “I guess I did. Well, you ladies have fun tonight.” With a wave, he brushed the broken toothpicks off the bar into his hand and walked off.
“What’s wrong?” Alicia touched Penny’s arm when her friend remained silent for several more seconds. In spite of Penny’s friendly banter with Liam, she’d sensed an undercurrent of mutual distaste in their conversation.
Penny shook her head and looked back at Alicia. “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.” She took a sip of her wine. “So about tonight, I’ve got some great ideas. There’s a better bar than this one in Durham. Really good dancing, a lot of fun.”
“Great.” Alicia nodded and listened to her friend, keeping her eyes turned resolutely away from the back of the bar where Liam had disappeared.
And trying not to think about faucets dripping.
* * *
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Liam looked up from the paper. “Morning to you too, Pen. I’m actually enjoying my first real day of spring vacation.”
Penny stood with folded arms just inside the back door. “I can’t believe it’s actually true. This is too fucked up even for you.”
He took a sip of the coffee and made a face. He’d definitely need to bring his coffeemaker from Chapel Hill when he returned for the summer. His mother’s old one wasn’t cutting it. “Coffee sucks. Can I get you a cup?”
“What you can do is tell me what you’re really doing here.” Penny glared at him.
“At the moment I’m making do with barely drinkable sludge. Have pity on me.” He set the cup aside and fixed her with the same stern look he often used on his students. “After that I plan to start sorting out this house. It’s about time, isn’t it?”
“Right.” Penny nodded, her eyes narrowed in a way he recognized. He should never have tried a stern approach with her. “Ty’s beautiful widow moves in two blocks away and all of a sudden the house your parents left you in their will that’s been sitting here empty for two years is in dire need of being sorted out? You know me better than that, Liam.”
Liam sighed. “What do you want from me, Penny? A blood promise? I’m not going to try anything with her. But I owe Ty. And I want to be here if she needs anything.”
“For her or for you?”
He answered without hesitation. “For her. I care about her.” He hated sounding like a lovestruck teenager, but his feelings for Alicia brought that out in him.
Penny sighed and sank into a chair across from him. Better than most people, she recognized his need to protect Alicia. Their shared guilt bound them in that way. Her eyes flitted across his face and she shoved back a handful of blonde hair that blocked her vision. After a long moment of silence, she nodded. “I know you do.” She looked away. “But you can’t—”
“God, Penny, do you think I would?” Liam shoved away from the table and stood, walking to the screen door. Taking her silence as doubt, he wheeled around. “She’s mourning Ty. I’d never interfere with that. Especially considering all I owe him.”
“So you do remember then?” Penny’s voice dripped sarcasm. “I wasn’t sure you did.”
Liam made no attempt to disguise his contempt as he sat back down at the table. “You of all people ought to know I’m not likely to forget.”
A tense silence fell between them. Eyes locked, they faced each other, past secrets hanging heavy in the air. Penny turned away first, standing. “Fine. I just don’t want you stirring her all up when she’s not ready. She doesn’t need that shit.”
“Especially from the likes of me.” Liam’s voice was dry.
Penny raised her eyebrows, shrugged and walked out the back door.
Chapter Six
On the day of the Spring Fair, Alicia packed her children into the minivan and drove to the elementary school. Parking seemed to be nonexistent. By the time she located a spot almost two blocks away, she realized she would have been better off walking, but it was a non-issue now. Her cell phone rang as she hung on to Gemma with one hand and pushed the stroller toward the colorful, noisy mass of people in front of the school with the other. Pulling Gemma to the side of the street, she picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, aren’t you coming to the fair?” Penny sounded accusatory, as if she truly believed Alicia would sit at home and rot if she weren’t constantly dragged out of the house by well-meaning friends.
“I’m trying. You should have told me everybody from the tri-county area comes to this thing.” She grabbed Gemma and began to follow another family toward the school.
Penny snorted. “It’s not that many. Just the families of the kids.”
“All of them?” Alicia looked around, bewildered. “How did you know I wasn’t there, anyway?”
“I’m right by the front door. I’ve been waiting for you all night.”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “It’s five-fifteen.”
“Well, hurry up. I’m hungry and the hot dogs will be all gone if you don’t get here soon.”
“Trying!” Alicia hung up and grabbed Gemma again as she started to wander off. Spotting a trail through the schoolyard, she decided to take a shortcut. She made it halfway before the stroller wheels mired themselves in what seemed like six inches of sand. “Shit!”
“Mommy, come on!” Gemma tugged at her hand.
Alicia shook her off and immediately felt horrible. She folded her arms over her chest and blinked hard, taking a deep breath. She’d spent the day moving books and boxes at the store. Her muscles ached and she wanted nothing more than to go home and put herself and the kids to bed early. But she’d promised Amy, and more importantly Gemma. She had to keep moving forward.
When did it get so hard to take her children places? Before Jason, she and Gemma had gone everywhere together. They’d taken road trips and even gone to Disney World for a day. Maybe having Jason had tipped her over the edge of her endurance.
Or maybe it was losing Ty.
“Hey, need some help?”
Alicia turned at the welcome sound of a friendly voice and almost laughed when she saw Liam. “How is it you’re always around to help me out of bad situations?”
“How is it you’re always in bad situations?” Liam smiled as he reached her.
“Mr. Liam!” Gemma flung herself at him.
“Hi, sweetheart.” He gave her a one-armed hug and turned to Alicia. “So you’re in trouble again?”
“Well, if anybody had told me that part of the school security included quicksand, I’d have been more careful.” Alicia motioned at the trapped wheels.
“I see the problem. The playground equipment used to be in front of the school. When they got the new set, they moved everything to the back, but I guess the sand was left.” He bent over the stroller and nodded to Jason. “Hang on, little buddy.”
Jason squealed in delight as Liam lifted the entire stroller and started toward the door. Alicia grabbed Gemma’s hand and jogged after him.
“Are you here for the fair?” She wondered why Liam would attend. He obviously didn’t have any children. Amy had said he’d done guest lectures at the high school, but that didn’t seem to support the idea of him helping out the elementary school.
“Amy roped me into it. She heard I was in town and they’re always trying to get somebody to fill the dunking booth. I told her I’d do a couple of shifts.”
“You guys keep in touch?” Alicia couldn’t deny her surprise, but she hurried to add, “I mean, you’re just not her mom’s favorite person, either.”
Liam didn’t answer immediately, but when he did, his voice sounded a little strained. Of course, it could have been from talking and carrying a stroller at the same time. “She caught up to me after a guest lecture I gave at the high school. She’s planning to major in physics, actually.”
“Oh.” Hoping she hadn’t overstepped any boundaries, Alicia sought to lighten the mood. “So, you dress like a college professor when you’re going to be sitting in a dunking booth?”
He shot her a look and a grin. “The whole point is to pretend I’m not going to get dunked, right? Besides, it’s nice and warm. They used to do this thing in October. The weather’s usually not bad at that time, but there have been a few nights I wouldn’t have wanted to be out there for it.”
By this point they’d arrived at the front of the school and Liam set Jason’s stroller carefully on the walk. He looked around. “Are you guys by yourselves tonight?”
“We’re meeting Penny.” Alicia looked helplessly at the milling people. “At least we’re supposed to. She just called me and said she was waiting by the front door.”
Where the Heart Lies Page 6
