by Amy Knupp
“Like Mom and Dad,” Charlie whispered sadly, leaving no doubt now that she had suffered as much as Mercedes had. Mercedes had sometimes wondered, because Charlie had never let it show.
Mercedes nodded and tears filled her eyes again. “And you.”
Charlie studied her, her brows furrowed as if she was deep in thought. She pursed her lips and looked away. “I’m sorry, Sadie. I never realized I was making it worse for you. I was just trying to handle my own pain, I guess.”
“When you went off to college so far away, I was…” She bobbed her head, trying to find the right word. “Devastated.” A sad laugh burst from her. “I know I usually took care of Mom the most, but somehow having you around made it easier. It gave me even more of a reason to want to help. So that you wouldn’t have to. I know that doesn’t make sense.”
Though Charlie was in profile now, Mercedes saw a tear fall down her cheek.
“I couldn’t handle it. You were so good to her and I felt useless.”
“What?” Mercedes stretched out on her side, closer to her sister. “You weren’t useless.”
“That’s what it felt like. You were the one Mom turned to. She asked me for help only when you were gone. I should have tried harder, but caring for people… it doesn’t come naturally to me the way it does to you.”
Understanding clicked into place like two magnets coming together. “And now here we are in the same place. With Gram. I try to do everything and you feel like crap when I get pissed that you don’t do things my way.”
“Bingo.”
Mercedes opened her mouth and closed it as she absorbed that. All the while, she’d told herself she wanted to make Charlie’s life easier, make her stay more enjoyable, but she’d been making her sister miserable. “Why didn’t you ever say something?”
“Because it was my problem.”
“Not entirely,” Mercedes admitted. “If we’re laying everything on the line, I have to confess I get jealous of you and Gram. I know it’s dumb. She’s always so happy to see you.”
“Mercedes, what you and Gram have…I want in on that. I’d give anything to be that close to you two.”
“Grass is always greener, right?”
They both breathed, sized each other up pensively.
“I’m sorry about our fight,” Mercedes finally said.
Charlie took her hand. “Me, too.”
“I’m still kind of worried you’re going to defect once I get used to having you around.”
“I’m not. I loved the city, but I meant what I said about family. I need mine. I want to be here for you and Gram and I want you to be here for me. But you know? Anytime you care for somebody, there’s a risk.”
“I don’t like that risk.”
“But you have friends, right? And lots of people in your life.”
“I have Faith and Nadia. They were the ones who embraced the new girl when I thought I was going to die of sadness. Everyone else, besides you and Gram, I try not to get attached.”
“What about Gemma? You didn’t hesitate with her.”
“She needed me,” Mercedes said without thought.
“Who else? You’re a social girl. I know there are others in your life.”
“My clients. The people at the shelter.” Mercedes shrugged. Then she grinned sheepishly. “All people who need me in some way. I’m messed up, huh?”
“Maybe,” Charlie said. “I love you anyway.”
It’d been years since Charlie had said that to her. She couldn’t remember the last time, but it felt good to hear it, to feel the peace it brought. “Love you, too. Even if you wait too long to get Gram into her pj’s.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
FRIDAY NIGHT, THE NIGHT before Scott’s departure, Mercedes followed Faith and Nadia from their parking spot down the street to the patio at the Shell Shack. Faith had invited them to Scott’s surprise going-away party several days ago, reasoning that even though they didn’t work with him, the party was in a public place and the more people who showed up, the merrier. Merry wasn’t quite what Mercedes was feeling right now. She was more…nauseated. Shaky with anticipation and, yep, fear like nothing before.
She had yet to tell her girlfriends anything about her and Scott. The three of them hadn’t gotten together for a couple of weeks, true, but they’d been in frequent contact via text and email. And still, she’d remained mum on the subject. While Nadia went out frequently, Mercedes having a date, let alone a sleepover or two, was hardly the kind of news to be shared through electronic devices.
As they made their way to the corner of the busy patio nearest the beach, Faith was greeted by more muscled men than should be legal. Some of them were accompanied by women and Mercedes recognized several faces. Her senses were on hyperdrive as she covertly ascertained that the guest of honor hadn’t yet arrived. Though she couldn’t wait to see him, she was also terrified.
Nadia disappeared to the bar for drinks for all of them. Mercedes stood back a little as two other firefighters she’d met before, Clay and Evan, razzed Faith good-naturedly for who knew what.
“You’re Charlie’s sister, right?” A dark-haired, gorgeous woman sidled up to her, leaning close to be heard over the cacophony of rambunctious firefighters and EMS people.
“I am.” It took Mercedes a moment to recognize the woman. “And you’re Selena.” The artist.
“Selena, Evan’s wife, Christian’s mom…I answer to all of them.” She smiled warmly. “I adore your sister.”
“So she introduced herself to you after all,” Mercedes said. “I’d hoped she would. She doesn’t know many people here.”
“Her work is amazing. I love it,” Selena said. “I’m really excited about our plans.”
Mercedes racked her brain, trying to figure out what plans she referred to. Her confusion must have shown on her face—or her lack of a response gave her away.
“Didn’t she tell you?” Selena asked, her eyes disbelieving.
Mercedes chuckled. “Until the last couple of days, we’ve been involved in a high-stakes sisterly feud. But I’m happy to report, we’re over it.” Happy didn’t begin to describe it. She hadn’t realized how much the cold war had been weighing on her. “What kind of plans do the two of you have?”
“We’re going to open our own gallery and studio. It’ll have a shop for locally made items, as well, and we hope to offer classes.”
“I’ve seen your paintings. The two of you together will be a big draw.” Mercedes caught herself pulling one of Nadia’s favorite moves—talking to one person while keeping an eye on the rest of the place. She forced herself to tune in completely to Selena.
Selena tilted her head and raised one shoulder modestly. “I don’t know about that, but we hope we can make a little money while doing what we love.” She continued, explaining where the building they were interested in was located and how they hoped to use the space.
Mercedes was genuinely thrilled for her sister’s opportunity, and if she was honest with herself, the idea that Charlie would have something else besides her and Gram tying her to the island comforted her. She chastised herself momentarily for needing that extra security.
Nadia returned with a drink for Mercedes, and Clay’s wife, Andie, joined them. Their conversation turned to other topics—their children, Mercedes’s job, being married to a firefighter.
“You’re the one who went out with Penn Griffin, aren’t you?” Selena asked Nadia when Penn wandered near their group to talk to some of his coworkers.
“Um…” Nadia took a drink of her Sandblaster through her straw. “Depends on your definition of went out with.”
“What?” Mercedes had only been about sixty percent tuned in as she’d returned to scanning for Scott, but Nadia captured her full attention now. “What do you mean by that?”
“Long story. How did you know we went out?” she asked Selena.
“Evan is like the gossip columnist of the station, I swear. He and Penn work a lot of shifts together.
”
“So what happened?” Mercedes asked. “This is different from the time you had to cancel last-minute?”
Nadia nodded, her brows raised as if she couldn’t believe it—whatever it was. “It seems he and I were just not meant to be. We rescheduled after last time—I had to bail really late because of work. Totally uncool, I know,” she explained to the others, “and this time it was even worse. We made it out to a restaurant—Bay City Grille—and were in the middle of dinner when I had another emergency for work.”
“What do you do?” Andie asked, frowning.
“I oversee sales, events and marketing for Silver Sands. My family owns it.”
The other two nodded with understanding. The hotel was one of the biggest on the island and, honestly, just from what Mercedes knew, Nadia’s job was huge. Too huge for one person.
“So…it was bad,” Nadia continued. “We’d made a gigantic scheduling mistake at work and booked the same room for two different large groups. I had to run out right after Penn and I got our food.”
“That is bad,” Selena said sympathetically.
“So are you going to try one more time?” Andie asked. “‘Third time’s a charm’ kind of thing?”
“Uh-uh,” Nadia said, emphasizing with a shake of her head. “I’m pretty sure Penn hates me. It’s okay. Lots of fish, you know. Although he is an extremely good-looking fish.” She stole a quick look at him.
Mercedes had become engrossed in Nadia’s drama for the few minutes it’d taken her to tell it, but now she checked the patio yet again. Consulted her watch, her heart hammering. It was a few minutes after he was supposed to arrive. A wave of light-headedness rolled over her. She set her drink down on the nearest table, the thought of another sip nauseating. If she made it through this evening, it’d be nothing short of amazing.
When word spread that Scott and Rafe were on their way down the street, she considered taking a walk on the beach that ended up anywhere but back here.
She spotted him before anyone else did. The second he appeared on foot from the north, even before he and Rafe were illuminated by the bright lights in the hotel parking lot next door, she recognized his gait. His physique. It took several seconds before he was close enough for anyone else to say with certainty that it was Scott. Mercedes’s mouth went dry and she edged toward the bathroom. By the time everyone yelled “Surprise!” she was only halfway to her objective. The noise level seemed to triple and her nerves stretched tauter.
Once she reached the restrooms, set off to the side between the bar and the hotel in a separate building, she calmed herself, soaking in the relative quiet. One other stall was in use and by the time Mercedes emerged from her stall, she was alone.
Gazing at herself in the mirror, she reapplied lip color and tried to make her hair behave. It was particularly rebellious tonight thanks to even-higher-than-normal humidity, and she swore at it.
It was crazy and counterproductive for her to get so worked up about talking to Scott. She realized this but that didn’t help her calm down at all. “Nothing to lose,” she said to her reflection as she blotted moisture off her cheeks. “Worst-case scenario, he leaves just like he planned.”
“Who leaves?” Faith walked in and Mercedes was both mortified that anyone had heard her and relieved it was only Faith. “You talking to yourself a lot these days?”
Mercedes turned and leaned her butt against one of the porcelain sinks jutting out from the wall. She was too strung out on nerves to even make a joke.
“You okay?” Faith washed what looked like a spilled drink from her hands.
Mercedes nodded. “Just feel a little off. I need more sleep.” And tranquilizers. And a side of steel nerves.
“Thought I saw you come in here. Scott just arrived.”
“I know.”
Faith furrowed her brow and stared at her, suspicious.
Mercedes wished she could uncross her arms, smile and lead her friend out the door confidently, as if nothing was scaring the life out of her.
“Mercedes? Do you need me to take you home?”
Tempting. Oh, so tempting. “No.”
“Is it your stomach? Head? What’s going on?”
She met her friend’s concerned gaze head-on. “Scott.”
Faith’s eyes widened in understanding. “You and him?” She smiled and raised her brows. “Really?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Hold on just a second. I’m texting Nadia to get in here.”
“How about not in here?” Mercedes said, imagining all the interruptions. As much as she didn’t want to discuss Scott in public, she needed big-time moral support. “Beach?”
“Good plan.” Her overeager friend typed in another message on her phone. “Let’s go.” Faith put her arm through Mercedes’s and they skirted the patio to the sand.
They took their shoes off and set them in the shadows against the concrete-block seawall and waited near the stairs for Nadia. She was still hollering comments over her shoulder to whomever she’d been talking to when she descended toward them.
“What’s up, y’all?”
The three of them started walking toward the water.
“Mercedes hooked up with Scott.” Faith kept her voice low.
Unfortunately Nadia didn’t. “You and Scott? The guy who’s leaving?”
“That’s the one,” Mercedes said. “Gemma’s half brother.”
“He’s also the one who came to your grandma’s rescue, right?”
“Aw, that’s so romantic,” Nadia said. “So you and he hooked up for a night? Was it after Gram’s fall?”
“It was before. And it’s more than a night.”
She felt Faith watching her quietly from the side, while Nadia’s reaction was less subtle.
“You guys didn’t warn me I’d need to bring a bottle of champagne for this conversation. All I have is wine.” She opened up the oversize purse on her shoulder and took out a full-size bottle of cabernet. A little more digging and she produced a corkscrew.
Faith laughed. “That’s what I love about you, Nadia. Always thinking.”
“I can go get some champagne—”
“No.” Mercedes held her back. “There’s not a happy ending.”
The three of them walked several yards and found a dry spot in the sand to sit. Nadia busied herself opening the wine bottle. “The bartender only gave me this.” She took out a single plastic wineglass. “We’ll have to share, girls.”
Mercedes held her hand out for the first sip.
“We’re going to need details, Mercedes,” Faith said patiently.
As Mercedes filled them in on the whirlwind since she and Scott had first kissed out at the stables, they passed the glass around in a rotation, refilling it more than once. When she got to the scene the day before that ended with Scott telling her goodbye, Nadia put a hand on her shoulder. “Why’d he have to act like such a jerk?”
“Easy,” Faith said. “I’d venture a guess that he cares about Mercedes and is too much of a wimp to handle any kind of goodbye besides an angry one.”
That was similar to Mercedes’s thoughts, but it was reassuring to hear someone else say it.
They were all quiet for some time, looking out at the white edges of the waves barely visible in the moonless night, passing the wine around.
Nadia swished the dark liquid around then took a swallow. “So. Is that the end? A fun fling while it lasted?”
Both of her friends’ gazes sought out Mercedes and she shook her head resolutely. “Not if I can help it. I’m going to ask him to stay. Tonight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
MAYBE HE’D HELD ON TO Mercedes for an instant longer than “casual” when he’d said hello and hugged her. Or maybe it had been wishful thinking on her part.
She, Nadia and Faith had spent a little over an hour on the beach before returning to the party. Then they’d played it cool, waiting for Scott to make his way around the fifty or so people who’d come out to
wish him well. As they’d waited, Mercedes had held conversations with several different people and she couldn’t remember a thing she’d discussed with any of them. Not because of the wine.
Scott had been surprised to see her there, and though she’d gauged his reaction thoroughly, she wasn’t sure if he was happy about it or not. He’d kept a neutral expression the whole ten minutes he’d talked to her and her friends, and avoided saying anything personal to her.
Mercedes was driving herself crazy trying to analyze every little thing, when none of it mattered except for his reaction when she spoke to him alone later tonight.
Now it was nearing one and people were starting to clear out. Nadia had snagged a table as others left it and the three women sat by themselves, talking about inconsequential subjects. Or rather, Nadia and Faith talked. Mercedes sweated on the inside. She watched Scott closely for signs that he was getting ready to call it a night and tried to work through what she was going to say to even get him to hear her out.
Nadia placed her hand on Mercedes’s, making her realize she’d been fidgeting with a folded-up beer label someone had peeled and left on the table. “It’s going to work out however it’s meant to work out,” her friend said.
“Not much longer.” Faith lifted her hair from her neck and fanned herself off. “I know waiting is torture.”
“Understatement.”
“How could he not want you?” Nadia said, well-meaning but more than a little tipsy. “I mean, you’re fantastically amazing and I bet you’re good in bed, too.”
Faith giggled and lightly slapped her. “Shh. Even if you’re right. He’d be lucky to have you, Mercedes.”
“If he doesn’t go for it, it’s because he’s not worthy.”
Mercedes had to crack a grin at her nutty friends, even though she’d stopped drinking hours ago and was sober.
Scott said goodbye to Selena, Evan, Clay and Andie as they departed a couple of tables away and Mercedes’s heart sped up. He looked in their direction and met her eyes. Held her gaze for long enough to boost her confidence a little. Then he walked toward them.
