The New Guy in Town

by Teresa Southwick

  “That would be fun.” The kid tried to brazen it out but didn’t look completely sure about that.

  “I think so, too,” he said. “You can watch while I work on the computer.”

  “Don’t you do other stuff?” she asked hopefully.

  “Oh, sure.” He thought for a moment. “Sometimes I have meetings with clients. We talk about interest rates on loans, money, the stock market. You’ll like it.”

  “Boring.” She heaved a big sigh. “Okay. I’ll go take a bath and wash my hair.”

  “Good call,” he said to her.

  She came over to give him a hug. “’Night, Sam.”

  “Sleep tight.” He held her close for a moment, then saw Faith give him two thumbs-up.

  He couldn’t ever remember feeling so much pride in an accomplishment before. Especially the part where Faith approved of his crisis management. The ladies headed out of the room and up the stairs and then he was alone.

  At least sounds from upstairs drifted to him. Running water. Muted voices. Giggling. Family sounds. And they wouldn’t be here much longer.

  He knew how emptiness felt but it was bigger now because he’d experienced the opposite. He liked the opposite very much.

  His bar had an exceptional bottle of Scotch and this seemed like a very good time to have some. He poured the amber liquid into a tumbler and walked outside, leaving the French door ajar. The yard was lit up like a football stadium with lights outlining the boundaries and the crystal clear water of the pool. He sat at the patio table and let the memories wash over him.

  Faith smiling as she watched while he let Phoebe splash him in the pool. Faith talking to his sister and looking very serious about something. Faith laughing and sexy. In his arms and his bed.

  They talked for hours and had a lot in common. It was good between them, really good. Surely she felt it, too.

  He didn’t want what they had, the intimacy they shared, to change. He liked things just the way they were and if she moved back to her house...

  “Sam?”

  He glanced over his shoulder and she was there with her hand on the French door. A feeling squeezed tight in his chest, something very close to pain, and yet he was able to smile. “Hi. Is Phoebe settled?”

  “Clean hair and all.” She laughed. “You were so great with her. I think that discussion of consequences wore her down. She was practically asleep before her head hit the pillow.”

  “Happy to help.”

  She came over to stand beside him. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

  “Drinking.” He held up the glass, which still had the same amount of Scotch in it. “Maybe a little brooding.”

  “Ooh, you’ll want to be alone for that.”

  “No.” Actually alone wasn’t the problem. He was fine by himself. It’s just that he was better with her. He reached out and gently took her hand. “Stay.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Very.”

  “Okay.” She sat in the chair next to his. “So, what are you brooding about?”

  “We haven’t talked about—us.” He felt her tense even though their bodies weren’t touching.

  “Sam, I—”

  “Look, you’ve been avoiding the subject ever since Phoebe asked if I was your boyfriend.”

  “Yeah.”

  How like her to answer honestly. It was one of his favorite things about her. “The fact that she noticed a difference just blew me away. I had no idea she was so perceptive.”

  “Kids pick up on cues from everyone around them.” The shadows in her eyes made it obvious she was remembering her childhood and the loneliness of being shut out.

  The last thing Sam wanted to do was make her sad. “Did you ever define for her what we are?”

  “How could I when it’s not clear to me?” She held up her hand to signal that she wasn’t finished. “And that’s fine. I’m okay with this. One day at a time works.”

  “I would be, too, if you weren’t leaving soon.”

  “I’m not going to Mars,” she teased.

  “Funny girl.”

  “We’ll still see each other, I hope.”

  “Count on it,” he said firmly. “But it won’t be the same.”

  “No. Won’t it be better from your perspective?”

  “How do you figure?” he asked.

  “No more going through bedtime rebellion and negotiation.”

  “It’s one of the best parts of my day. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.” He smiled wistfully. “And it’s a risk/reward thing. I came out pretty good with a hug.”

  “Trust me. It gets old,” Faith said ruefully.

  “Maybe. But the alternative would be no hug at all.”

  “Sam, you can see her anytime you want.”

  “It won’t be the same.” He met her gaze. “Not like having you here.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Pieces of an idea had been rolling around in his head since Phoebe had asked for clarification on their relationship. Everything came together now. “You like me, right?”

  “Yes.” She didn’t look happy about it so the response was her being scrupulously honest again.

  “And I like you.” It seemed like a no-brainer to him. “I think we should make this arrangement permanent.”

  “You mean just stay here and live with you?”

  “Yes.” He thought about how that sounded and added, “Of course we’d get married.”

  She blinked. “We’ll do what now?”

  Sam studied her expression, trying to decide if she was happy surprised or just shocked. Well, he was kind of surprised, too, that the words had come out of his mouth, but as the idea hung in the air between them it felt completely right.

  “It’s not like we haven’t talked about it,” he pointed out.

  “That was a hypothetical discussion.”

  “You agreed all the reasons in the ‘for’ column were practical. And positive. Don’t you like it here?”

  “I love it.” She caught the corner of her top lip between her teeth. “Still, Sam—”

  “Phoebe’s on board,” he reminded her.

  “That could be all about the pool.” She smiled. “But something tells me she’s a yes vote.”

  “Things are pretty great. And we could go on just the way we are.”

  “It has been pretty perfect,” she admitted. “But you must have a flaw.”

  “Persistence.”

  She laughed. “And that means what?”

  “I don’t give up. Not when I think something is right. And I feel that way about this. Marry me, Faith.”

  She thought for several moments. “So you’re not going to give up?”

  “No.”

  “We’ll have to talk to Phoebe about it. Include her in all discussions.”

  “Of course,” he said. “We’ll do it in the morning. Maybe she’ll forget to ask about Switzerland. What do you say, Faith? Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay then.” He leaned close and kissed her. “We’re having a wedding.”

  * * *

  Today Faith was going to marry Sam Hart.

  It had been ten days since he’d asked her. True to his word, Phoebe was the first to know and she’d enthusiastically embraced the plan and couldn’t wait until everything was official. Last night he’d spent the night at his sister’s and today they were meeting him at the Blackwater Lake courthouse. She felt as if she was going to throw up.

  “Mommy, can you help me with my dress?”

  She turned and saw her pretty little girl in the doorway. They’d spent another fun mother/daughter day at the mall buying new dresses for the occasion. The difference was
that this time Sam had come along.

  “Of course. Come here.” The little girl walked over to her, then turned her back.

  Faith took the ends of the cream satin ribbons that trailed behind and tied them. The dress was full, pink and had dainty rosebuds on the bodice. She took her time fluffing the loops of the bow until they were perfect. Keeping her hands busy almost hid the fact that they were shaking.

  Finally satisfied, she gave the bow a pat. “All done.”

  Phoebe turned. And held the sides of her dress out. “How do I look?”

  Faith studied the full effect—new, shiny patent leather shoes and pink socks with lacy edges. The sides of her blond hair were pulled back from her face and fastened at her crown with a rose clip while fat curls tumbled down her back.

  “You look so beautiful everyone will think you’re the bride.”

  “You’re silly, Mom. I’m not old enough to get married.”

  “True. And you won’t be until you’re thirty-five.”

  “That’s so old,” Phoebe protested.

  It probably seemed that way when you were eight. At Phoebe’s age Faith was just beginning to realize that her parents belonged to a club that only had two members. Love was their cocoon and Faith was always on the outside looking in.

  “Mommy?”

  “Hmm?” She shook her head and focused. “What?”

  “You look funny. Are you okay?”

  She would be as soon as she saw Sam. He was the best man she’d ever known and just thinking about him made her heart beat faster. They were good together. “I’m fine. How do I look?”

  The two of them stood side by side in front of the mirrored closet door. Faith studied her reflection—the powder blue column dress and matching three-inch heels. Her blond hair parted on the side and pulled back from her face into a messy side bun. In her ears she wore the diamond studs that were Sam’s wedding gift to her and around her neck dangled the white gold, heart-shaped locket with pictures of her parents inside that Aunt Cathy had given her.

  “Something old, something new, something blue,” she said, smoothing the front of her dress.

  “What about something borrowed?” Phoebe asked.

  Faith had told her about the bridal tradition for luck. “I guess I’ll have to skip that one.”

  “No. I’ll find something—” The little girl ran out of the room.

  “It’s okay, Phoebs—” A text signal interrupted her. It was from the limousine driver. Sam had ordered a car that would take them to the courthouse. It was on-site and ready to go when she was.

  “Phoebe,” she called out. “We have to go.”

  “But I hafta find something you can borrow.” The voice was muffled.

  Faith stood in the doorway of the child’s room where it looked as if a tornado had recently touched down. She made a mental note to deal with it after the wedding. Oh, God... She was getting married. The knots in her stomach pulled tighter.

  “Phoebe, there’s no time. The car is here. Sam is waiting.”

  “But, Mommy—”

  “Let’s go.”

  “I found it!” The little girl emerged from her closet holding up a bracelet of clear beads she’d made at summer camp. She handed it over. “Something borrowed.”

  “I’ll put it on in the car,” she promised, hustling them both down the stairs.

  Outside there was a black town car parked in front of the house. A very handsome thirtysomething man wearing a dark suit and conservative tie stood beside it. He opened the rear passenger door for them.

  “My name is Mike. I’m taking you to the courthouse, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I got a new dress,” Phoebe informed him.

  “It’s very pretty.”

  “Mommy and me had to get new clothes for the wedding because our house was in the fire.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” the driver said.

  “It’s okay. Now we live with Sam and Mommy’s gonna get married to him.”

  “So I heard.” He smiled and looked at Faith. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. Get in, Phoebe.”

  “But I’m talkin’ to Mike.”

  “And Sam is waiting,” she said for the second time.

  “Okay.” Phoebe gave the driver a little wave then climbed into the backseat.

  Faith followed and slid onto the cushy leather, sinking into it a little. After closing the door behind her, the driver got in and started the car, then headed out to the street. The ride was so smooth it was almost like floating on air.

  “Mommy?”

  There was a questioning look on the little girl’s face, as if this luxury car was a sign that things were about to change in a really significant way. That realization hit Faith as if she’d walked full speed into a clear glass door without seeing it.

  “What is it, Phoebe?” she asked gently.

  “After you marry Sam are you gonna sleep in his room?”

  “Why do you ask?” She wasn’t stalling exactly. This was called getting context to help frame her answer.

  “My friend Christie’s mom and dad are married and they sleep in the same bed. I just wondered if you and Sam are gonna do that.”

  It was a straightforward question and deserved the same back. “Yes.”

  Phoebe’s forehead puckered with concern. “What if I have a bad dream?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean, sweetie.”

  “Well, when I have one now, you let me get in bed with you. After you and Sam get married, can I still sleep with you? If I’m scared?”

  “Of course you can. Nothing’s going to change.” Even as the words tumbled out of her mouth, Faith knew they were a lie.

  Everything was going to be different. By definition a husband and wife were a unit and there would be consequences for her daughter. Faith flashed back to how lonely and isolated her childhood had been and never wanted her child to feel that way. Sam had a big, magnetic personality. He was the kind of man who was consuming.

  The kind of man who’d made her forget everything but a future with him. They were on the outskirts of town now and would be at the courthouse shortly.

  Faith remembered how perfectly her mother and father completed each other with nothing left over for anyone else. Whether or not it had been deliberate, she’d felt cast aside. She’d sworn that if she ever had a baby, she would give everything she had and her child would never come last. But just a while ago she’d been impatient with Phoebe because Sam was waiting.

  Was this the beginning of breaking that solemn promise she’d made?

  The driver pulled to a stop in front of the ordinary building in downtown Blackwater Lake where official business was conducted. Mike got out of the car and came around to the sidewalk, then opened the door.

  “Here we are,” he announced.

  “Thank you.” Faith slid out and waited for Phoebe to follow.

  “Sam gave me orders to wait,” the driver said.

  Faith barely heard because the blood was pounding in her ears and she felt sick to her stomach. She clutched the bracelet in one hand and her child with the other then walked inside. The public area was deserted as it was nearly closing time but there was an information window straight ahead.

  The two of them stopped in front of it. “I’m looking for Sam Hart—”

  “You must be Faith.” The woman smiled. “The wedding party is in Judge Hewlett’s office. It’s just down the hall. Sam said to send you back when you arrived. He’s a hottie. You’re a lucky girl.”

  He was definitely hot, but she wasn’t feeling all that lucky.

  Down a short hall, the office door was open and there were people inside—Ellie and Alex. The mayor and her husband. Linc, Rose, his parents. The jud
ge. And Sam.

  A short while ago Faith had been so sure she’d be okay when she saw him, but now not so much. It confirmed her worst fears. He was more handsome than ever in a dark suit and red silk tie. As always, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and she wished that wasn’t so.

  Probably she greeted everyone but she wasn’t sure. They said she and Phoebe looked beautiful, then Sam took her hand.

  He searched her face. “You’re white as a sheet. Is everything all right?”

  When did he get to know her so well? She shook her head. “No.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I c-can’t go through with this—” Her voice caught.

  “We’ll be right back,” he said to the people over his shoulder, then tugged her into the hall. “What is it?”

  “Phoebe has to come first.”

  “That goes without saying,” he assured her.

  “You don’t understand. I can’t marry you.”

  Disbelief and confusion pooled in his eyes. “This is about what your parents did to you, right?”

  “I can’t take a chance.” She clutched the bracelet Phoebe had made tightly in her hand. “I just can’t, Sam. Love is not what—”

  “No one said anything about love.” There was frustration in his voice.

  No one had said the word, but that didn’t make it any less true. She was in love with Sam Hart. Because the feeling was bigger and more powerful than she’d ever believed possible, she had to walk away from him.

  She should never have agreed to marry him. She should never have trusted the moonlight. Faith’s first mistake had been falling in love with him. Her second was being caught up in the romance. Marrying Sam would make it a trilogy of errors but for Phoebe’s sake that wasn’t going to happen.

  And her heart was breaking.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sam followed Faith back into the office where people were gathered to watch him marry her. She was going for her daughter and he expected her to leave without a word. That’s not what happened.