Inevitably, the time came for her to get into line. How would they say goodbye without tripping over words and becoming stilted again?
Lark took the initiative. “Like it or not, I’m going to do this one more time. I’m going to thank you.”
Miles let his head fall back in an exaggerated response. “Oh, no, not again.” Then he laughed. “It’s weeks to the Internationals. Let’s have dinner one night this week after I get back. I mean, if you have time, what with Evan...”
No need to consider her answer. “Sure. Friday is free. Evan is going to a parents-and-kids bowling-club night with Lyle.”
The rest was easy. They set up the time and place and that was that.
She grabbed the handle of her suitcase and slipped into the end of a short line. “See you soon.”
“So, goodbye then.” He lifted his hand for a last wave.
Her cheeks heated up as she turned away. And why did she feel the pressure of tears forming behind her eyes?
* * *
AMUSED BY HOW proud he was that he’d asked Lark out on a real date, Miles’s heart raced. Even his hands were clammy, like a teenager who knew that his date wasn’t just any girl. She was special. At some point, maybe after watching Perrie Lynn skate live for the first time, Miles was hit by how fast the weekend had passed. He’d wished he could have slowed it down, made it last.
Nineteen years ago, he’d found Lark interesting and fun—and pretty. He still did. What would have happened if there had been no pregnancy? Could he and Lark have developed their relationship into something more lasting? They were alike in some important ways, namely that she loved her work as much as he loved his. He hadn’t met many people who enjoyed such professional satisfaction. He smiled to himself. Lark was a walking encyclopedia about the latest health studies, even poking fun at herself when she tossed out some random tidbit about everything from mononucleosis to malaria.
Half a dozen times in the last four days Miles had wanted to kiss her. But he’d held back, fearing he’d deliver a message she wasn’t prepared to receive.
Wishing he’d been with Lark on the flight back home, Miles took the shuttle back to the hotel. He had a meeting later that afternoon, which he was ready for, and a lunch presentation the next day that still needed work. He shut the door to his hotel room and opened his computer. A few seconds later, he got a videoconference signal and opened the program. It was Andi. And she wasn’t smiling.
He’d barely said hello before she started in.
“Did it not occur to you that the camera might show the audience at that event? You were a second or two away from blowing your supposedly well-planned cover.” Andi crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
“What do you mean? We sat up in the highest seats.”
“And the camera panned that area to show the banners that some fans brought to support their favorite skaters.”
His stomach flipped “Are you saying Brooke saw me. Us?”
“No, but only because she happened to be looking away at that moment. Then I hustled her into the kitchen to help me with a snack. It’s a good thing I knew where you were.”
Surprised by the anger in her voice, he said, “You always know where I am. We don’t keep secrets, Andi.”
“That’s not the point. When there was a lull in the action, the cameras focused on the crowd—to offer proof of the record-breaking number of spectators. They showed the filled upper levels of the arena more than once.”
“Really? We were surprised by the empty seats around us, since most of the arena was packed. We never saw our section on the big screen.” He paused. “Well, it’s over now. Brooke must have been happy about Perrie Lynn.”
Andi laughed. “What an understatement. She was thrilled. And you’re both right—the girl is a beautiful skater. But you don’t sound all that happy. Did you think she should win the gold?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” he said. “It’s just that it was all so exciting, and now it feels like a letdown that regular life goes on. I have a meeting at Stiles to evaluate their communication skills training program later this afternoon and a keynote at a state nurses’ conference tomorrow. It seems pretty mundane after the last few days.”
“You’re right.” She grinned, leaning in to enlarge her image on the screen. “It sounds dull as dishwater. On the other hand, from the flash I saw, you and Lark seemed like quite a couple, huddled together, all smiles. Is there something you’re not telling me? Are you and Lark planning to go to the Internationals?”
He wished. “We’re definitely not going to the Internationals. We’ll be watching at home with everybody else. My calendar is filled. I even have talks out of town during those weeks in February.” He told Andi about Lark running into Maxine in the hotel shop. “That was a chance encounter and it worked out fine, but it’s just as well we aren’t heading for Norway. Wouldn’t be like slipping in and out of Boston.”
“Right. It’s subterfuge, though, no matter how you look at it, Miles.”
“Are you saying we should tell Brooke about her half sister now?”
She shook her head. “No, but the time can’t be too far off. And what about Perrie Lynn’s mother? I heard she’s sick.”
“You heard that on TV? The commentators talked about it?”
“Uh-huh. You didn’t hear the stories? More like sound bites. Seems like these top athletes almost always have some kind of family situation going on.”
“But none of this is really any of our business,” Miles argued, trying to convince himself more than Andi.
“I didn’t get the impression that Maxine’s illness is in the past.”
His mood darkened, just thinking how Lark would feel about that. Mentally, anyway, he’d become oddly protective of the Olsons and their privacy. “That may be, but it doesn’t change what Lark and I are doing. Which, our trip to Boston aside, is pretty much nothing at this point. The ball isn’t in our court. We have no choice but to wait.”
“I suppose. But what about you and Lark? It’s obvious you’re getting closer.”
Was she reading his mind? He struggled to respond.
“Your silence speaks volumes,” Andi said drily.
“Okay, okay. Yes, we’re becoming closer.” He tried to make sense of his thoughts. “I can’t go back to regular life, which was too much like self-imposed isolation. Yes, I see lots of people through work, but other than my time with Brooke I’ve been by myself. And the thing is, I enjoy Lark’s company.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re finally admitting it.”
Andi’s knowing smile set him on edge, although he couldn’t fault her positive attitude. Besides, what she’d implied about his feelings for Lark was true.
“Brooke is all I really care about,” Andi said, switching her tone from teasing to serious, “and how we handle the explanations and the timing.”
“There’s no need to break the silence now, not with all that’s going on with Perrie Lynn.” He lowered his voice to say something that had been on his mind for weeks. “I can’t believe how lucky I was to learn about her at all. If it hadn’t been for Brooke—and Mamie—becoming skating fans, I would still be in the dark. And I’d never have reached out to Lark. Even from here in the background, it’s a privilege to know the truth and be a witness to what’s happening in Perrie Lynn’s life.”
“Okay, then, it’s probably not a good idea to introduce Brooke to Lark, either.”
“Wait, wait... I haven’t even thought that far,” he said emphatically. “I mean, we’re having dinner on Friday. Not a serious step.”
Andi groaned. “Right. It’s written all over you—I can see it through the computer screen. I think you’ve fallen in love with her.”
That hit him in the gut. In a good way, he thought, laughing inside at his own reluctance to face what
was happening. “So, tell me how you are. How’s the job—or the job search?”
Casting a pointed look his way, she said, “Ah, you’re a quick change-of-subject artist. That’s okay, but I have to admit nothing in my professional life has changed yet. Apparently, the merger is taking longer than expected. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“I’m here if you need anything.” The last thing he wanted was for Andi to be under stress. As badly matched as they’d been as partners, they shared Brooke, and Andi was a great mom. Always had been. Somehow they’d ended up friends, remaining on each other’s side.
When they ended their call, it wasn’t Andi’s job conundrum that stayed on his mind, it was her observation about him—and Lark. Truthfully, he’d have been happy if the weekend had gone on and on. And now he’d asked her out. Confusing or not, he was looking forward to Friday.
* * *
LARK STIRRED THE eggs while Evan watched the toaster and kept up his analysis of the pros and cons of his most recent idea for a science-fair project. Lark let her mind drift back to projects from the past. One year, she’d helped him layer oatmeal, rice, cornflakes and kidney beans to represent layers of the earth in a terrarium, finally ending with trees in the topsoil, constructed with cardboard and foil wrapping paper. Evan had added twigs from birds’ nests to the trees, giving the project extra flair. She smiled at the memory of the mess they’d made in the kitchen of their house, a big sprawling place in an upscale development across town. A terrific house, she admitted, but only for the right family. Lyle still lived there, but Lark had never felt at home in its many rooms. Or maybe she’d never felt at home with Lyle.
“A girl in my class wants to team up. Parker’s really smart, but kinda quiet,” Evan said with a shrug. He dropped the hot toast on the plate and added a dollop of strawberry jam on top. “She thinks we should do a graphic display showing where some of the new planets are. Like how far away they are from the earth. Parker will write the descriptions, but she wants me to do the talking when we have to explain what the distances mean.”
“Sounds like a fair trade-off,” Lark mused. “I’m always in awe when scientists tell us how many years it would take us to get to some of those new planets. New to us, that is. They’ve been out there all along.”
“Yeah, we were thinking about how old we’d be if we did a round-trip to some of them, maybe showing on the computer how the space travelers would age, compared to the people back here on Earth,” Evan explained.
“Okay, you’ve officially sent me deep into the weeds. Good thing I can scramble eggs the way you like them.” She grinned. “I might write about science and health, but physics and relative time stump me every time.”
Evan shook his head, grinning. “I’ll make sure Parker writes the script using words everyone can understand.”
Lark put the finished eggs on his plate. “You do that, my friend. Accessibility. I earn my living making complex medical information easy to understand.”
“I told Parker about your articles. She thinks it’s cool you’re a writer. And you can work without leaving the house.”
“That is cool.” Working at home was definitely one of the big perks of her business.
Evan ate quickly and got ready to catch the bus with little time to spare. As usual, they reviewed their plans, which included the bowling event that night, with an early return home on Saturday morning.
Lark spent the morning and into the afternoon organizing her notes and previous interviews for an article on what her editor at the online magazine called emerging viruses—the scary ones. At least the target audience for this particular feature was older adults, not parents. Otherwise, she feared she’d needlessly alarm parents, and she included herself in that group.
Her to-do list pared down, Lark happily left the computer at home and went off to meet Dawn for coffee. This was the first chance they’d had to talk since she’d gotten back from Boston.
After choosing a table tucked away in a corner of the Bean Grinder, Lark scanned the restaurant for familiar faces.
“I think the coast is clear,” Dawn said. “I’ve been so eager to talk with you. Like I said in my text, I watched Perrie Lynn on Saturday night. I made up a story and told Chip I needed to see it because a couple of women are thinking of opening up a skating school in Sturgeon Bay and they might need some PR. Not a serious lie, all things considered.”
Lark grinned. “She was really something, wasn’t she?”
Dawn nodded. “And I could see you in her happy smile. And now she’s going off to Norway. Wow. But then the announcers on TV talked about her mother being sick.”
Lark quickly related her conversation with Maxine, not leaving anything out. “I assume Maxine will be well enough to go to the Internationals with Perrie Lynn and the rest of the US team.”
“What about you and Miles?”
Lark shrugged, wanting to avoid too much talk about a subject she had yet to figure out. “Well, we’re having dinner at Hinterland in Green Bay tonight.”
Dawn flopped back in the chair. “Ah, then you did have a good time in Boston. And it wasn’t all about Perrie Lynn, was it?”
The skin on her face and neck heated up yet again. “I suppose I’m blushing.”
“Of course. It’s marvelously charming. And revealing. So, did something happen? Something special?”
“Special? I guess so.” She leaned forward so she could lower her voice. “We had such fun. All the awkwardness between us vanished. We took long walks and shared all our meals and on Saturday night after the skating we went out for champagne.”
“Sounds like a long date.”
“Yes, I’m finally willing to say that. That’s what the weekend was like.”
“This is good,” Dawn said, nodding.
Yes...it was good.
Lark arrived at Hinterland a few hours later, buoyant with happy energy. She spotted Miles inside and he smiled broadly when he saw her. They spent the first few minutes grinning, almost giddy as they caught up on what they’d been up to since Monday, when they’d parted. It was easy to be together, Lark thought, when they let themselves show their feelings. But a stab of caution distracted her. She was feeling excited and happy, true. But did Miles feel the same way, or was his conversation just casual banter?
“We have a long wait ahead of us before we see her skate again, so we might as well settle in,” Miles said after the waiter brought a basket of hot bread to the table.
She nodded. “We’ve got weeks to go.”
“So, here’s what I’m thinking,” Miles said. “Perhaps we could see each other more often now. I’d like to meet for coffee, share some meals, maybe go to the movies.” He grinned. “Act like adults.”
“Of course,” she said, her heartbeat picking up speed. But the cautious side of her waved a red flag. “But it’s probably not a good idea to talk about it. You know, to tell other people we’re seeing each other, or anything like that. I mean, I can’t introduce you to Evan. And you can’t introduce me to Brooke.”
“I know what you’re saying, Lark. I do.” His expression had turned serious. “Yes, we need to be careful. But I don’t want to pretend I don’t feel what I feel. It’s not all about Perrie Lynn anymore.”
She glanced at her hands folded in her lap, aware she was blushing. “I don’t know exactly what this reaction is all about, but somehow, I understand what you mean.”
Miles nodded. “Like something that we thought couldn’t happen between us is now happening? Even if it shouldn’t be happening?”
She raised her hands in a gesture of confusion. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s all a little too magical. I’m happy when I’m with you. I was thrilled in Boston. It’s confusing, though. I drift into the past and wonder.”
“Wonder why we so easily went our separate ways years ago?”
“We were kids, Lark. I was particularly immature. But I’m not that guy anymore. And yes, my feelings for you have come as a great surprise.” He gestured around the restaurant. “That’s why I want more evenings like this.”
She squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “You’re right. When we met at Hugo’s so many weeks ago, I never imagined I’d look forward to spending time together.”
“So, no matter what ultimately happens between us,” he said, “we’re united when it comes to Perrie Lynn.”
“It’s a deal.” She picked up the menu. “Let’s order or I’ll fade away.”
Miles shook his head and laughed.
Lark turned her attention to the page with that evening’s specials. If she didn’t divert her thoughts to more mundane things, she’d be overwhelmed with the possibilities opening up in her life. Situations, emotions, a bond with Miles blooming like a rosebud, opening and revealing its petals. Casting a furtive glance his way, she watched him studying the menu with a faint smile softening his features.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“THIS SURE IS an odd way to watch TV together, isn’t it?” Miles observed. He was in the overstuffed chair in a hotel room in New Orleans, while she sat on her couch in her TV room. Yet even with the distance, she was good company.
“Odd, but fun,” she said. “So far, it’s been quite the spectacle.”
“Between the depiction of Norwegian fjords and Norse folktales,” Miles remarked, “I’m beginning to wish we had gone to Norway and could see this opening ceremony live.”
“I only wish you were here,” she said, “although Evan is due back from Parker’s house soon. He’s spending a lot of time over there working on his science-fair project. Apparently, it’s not easy to make travel arrangements between planets.”
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