Sweet Caroline

by Becky Lower

  He whirled when he got to the threshold, needing to leave but wanting to stay. Caroline stood only a mere breath away. He couldn’t control his impulse to brush a hand over her hair, curl his fingers around the back of her head, and draw her in for a gentle kiss, inhaling the flowery scent of her shampoo. His lips met hers for a brief moment, and then he backed away.

  Not moving out of reach, she gazed up at him.

  He could dive in again and give her the kind of kiss he ached to. Instead, he took a step back. “I’m glad you’ve come home to the Cove, Sweet Caroline.”

  Before his resolve crumbled, he opened the door and plunged down the stairs. He sat in his car for a moment before starting the motor, rubbing his hands over his face. What had he just done? From the moment she’d arrived for Penny’s wedding Caroline had shown him she had no interest in reigniting their friendship from years ago—which would have been fine with him if she had stayed in another state.

  Now she had returned to the Cove, maybe for only a few months, maybe for a lifetime. They still ran in the same circle, so they were bound to see each other. He could either return her frostiness every time they were together, or he could attempt to melt the ice. Stealing a kiss the first time they were alone together did not bode well for either outcome.

  His choice would be for melting away her cool attitude, especially since a tender kiss such as the one he’d just experienced nearly drove him to his knees. He had to find a way to get to her. He loved a challenge. If only he could control his impulse to touch her each time they came within three feet of each other.

  Chapter Eight

  Grant ran into the school principal the following Monday before classes started. He had grabbed a cup of hot coffee from the break room and only taken one sip before she bustled in. Victoria Edwards might be a petite woman, but she had more energy than two women put together, with or without coffee in her system. She needed a surplus of energy since she had her hands full, taking care of not just the student body but also the teachers, who could at times be as troublesome as the kids. She grinned like a child who’d gotten straight A’s for the first time when she spied him.

  “Hi, Grant. I see you filed your grades early for the six-week period.”

  He matched her grin, and a chuckle escaped. “Yeah, but I didn’t get through the program alone. Had some help figuring out the computer this time.”

  “However you managed, I thank you for being so diligent. I wish we could find someone to help get our new computer program in place across the board and train all the teachers so they’re comfortable with the new system. I’ve been hesitant to implement the program yet, because until I can remove the confusion, I can’t sanction the changeover. So we continue to plod along with the antiquated system we’re all used to.” She shook her head as she poured coffee into her own mug, which read, There’s No Crying in the Principal’s Office. “The new system is supposed to make our lives easier. Most of the rest of the state is using the program, but I can’t make heads or tails out of the directions.”

  Grant rubbed his chin with his hand, an idea forming. If Caroline came to the school to work on getting the new program up and running, he could bump into her without forcing the situation. Maybe Mrs. Edwards’s problem could help him make some headway with Caroline. Worth a shot, anyway. “I can’t speak for her, but the woman who helped me is a computer programmer who just relocated here from Ohio. She’s working at The Treasure Chest until she can get her bearings.”

  Mrs. Edwards tapped her fingers against her mug. “If she could work here even for a couple hours each day, she could still keep her job at the card shop and help us out, too. I might have to head over to the store for a visit in the next day or so. If I can convince her to work for the school, I’ll owe you big time. What’s her name?”

  He bit back the ‘sweet’ part of her moniker, and he also bit back the grin that threatened to form. “Caroline Stuart. She’s a cousin of Penny and Abbey, who own the card shop.”

  “I’ll continue to work with the program for a couple more days and try to figure out the darn thing on my own,” Mrs. Edwards replied, placing a hand to her forehead. “But my head is getting bruised from me banging the desk in frustration, so I might be at The Treasure Chest by the end of the week.”

  Grant laughed and rubbed his own forehead. “That’s what I was doing until Caroline helped me sort out everything”

  “She sounds like a godsend,” Mrs. Edwards murmured as she entered her office.

  Grant left the break room and made his way to his classroom. Some early students had already assembled in the hallway and were in a tight little group, chatting about some singer who had appeared on television over the weekend. They fetched schoolbooks and stashed their coats, talking at the top of their lungs while they clanged their locker doors. He waved a hello before he slid into his room and behind his desk, sipping his coffee.

  Caroline could be a godsend to him as well as to the school, but not until he had a serious conversation with her. She wouldn’t accept any of his assorted attempts at apology so he had to somehow make her see things from the point of view of a half-black teenage boy trying to fit in. He’d tell her about the abuse he’d suffered while growing up and how he’d been threatened against touching any white girl, even if she were interested. Not that any girl, white or black, would have had anything to do with Grant back then beyond a casual acquaintance. After all, his father and mother’s marriage had given the town enough fuel to use against his entire family for years.

  Now people’s opinions in Lobster Cove had changed, as they had in most parts of the country. Races of all kinds were blending, and America had truly again become a melting pot. Tony Dillard, his nemesis in high school, progressed from beating Grant to beating his wife, for which he now served time in jail. Grant became a popular guy in town, a successful teacher and basketball coach. His team advanced to the quarter-finals, a feat no other Lobster Cove team had accomplished. One last person’s opinion needed to change, and he’d spend the rest of the year doing just that. Although, he hoped changing her mind wouldn’t take that long.

  ****

  Caroline removed the price tag from the lovely emerald glass bowl, placed the gift gently in the cardboard box lined with tissue, and unrolled enough of the chosen wrapping paper to cover the box. The paper crackled as she folded the edges around the box and taped them in place. She smiled politely at the customer in front of her and spoke as she worked. “One of the benefits of working here is I get to wrap gifts all day long. Christmas comes every day, in my mind.”

  The lithe woman on the opposite side of the counter followed Caroline’s deft movements with her gaze. “You’re so much better at wrapping than I am.” She raised her hands and stuck her fingers into the air, waving them about. “I’m all thumbs at the holidays.”

  “We’ll wrap any gift you buy here for free. So please come back the next time you’re in the market for a present for someone.” Caroline finished off the gift with ribbon and a bow then totaled the sale.

  The woman took hold of the box and signed the credit card receipt. Then she glanced up at Caroline. “I haven’t seen you here before. May I ask your name?”

  Caroline had been answering the same question all week. In a small town everyone prided themselves on being on a first-name basis with everyone else. So unlike Cleveland, a mammoth city by comparison. “I’m Caroline Stuart, a cousin of Abbey and Penny. I recently relocated here from Ohio.”

  “Did you work at a similar shop in Ohio?”

  The woman clearly hoped to continue the conversation and as she happened to be the only customer currently in the shop, not answering would be impolite—even if Caroline didn’t particularly care for the question. “No, I did computer programming and wrote software applications for different products.” She shrugged. “I needed a change of pace for a while.”

  The woman extended her hand.

  Automatically, Caroline grasped her fingers.

  �
�Let me introduce myself. I’m Victoria Edwards, the principal of the high school.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Edwards.” Caroline raised her gaze to the woman.

  “How long do you plan on taking a hiatus from your computer skills?” Mrs. Edwards lowered her voice and leaned over the counter.

  Caroline rolled her shoulders, which were screaming with tension. Mrs. Edwards had started off with a pleasant demeanor, but her line of questioning escalated from warm and friendly to something more serious and more piercing. The woman had not come here only for a bowl. “I don’t have a specific timeframe in mind. Why do you ask?”

  “Because we’re having a really hard time implementing our state-mandated new computer program at the school. Would you consider helping out until we get up and running and all the teachers are trained?” Mrs. Edwards hunched over the counter, her fingers skidding across the polished top toward Caroline as she drove home her point. “You could keep your job here at the shop and only work a couple hours a day for us.”

  Caroline took a step back from the counter and the woman. If she took the job Mrs. Edwards dangled in front of her, she could maintain her mental acuity with computers, but she’d also probably run into Grant on a regular basis. She wasn’t ready for that yet. Would she ever be ready? Every time they were together, a fire-breathing dragon accompanied him and stole all the oxygen from the room. Until they had the conversation they were both avoiding and got rid of the behemoth, she couldn’t be comfortable.

  Yet, while working at the card shop filled a gap, the job could not be considered an ultimate destination—at least for someone with her professional background. If she could prove her worth at the school, she could then find a decent-paying job where she could again use all her skills, not just her gift-wrapping ones. She raised her gaze slowly to Mrs. Edwards, moistening her lips. “I appreciate your offer, but I’ll need a day or two to think things over. I’m not even sure I can be of service, since I’m not familiar with the program.”

  “You could come to the school, and I’ll show you all the accompanying instruction books. If you feel you can help us, we’ll set up a schedule. We could certainly use your expertise.”

  Mrs. Edwards used her most persuasive and accommodating teacher voice, and despite herself, Caroline was flattered. She took a deep breath. “I’ll do that first, look at the program from start to finish. If I feel I can help, we can explore your offer further at that time. Thank you for your vote of confidence.”

  “Don’t thank me. Your friend, Grant, told me about how much you helped him. He posted his grades first of all the teachers this six-week period, and he’s usually the last one, after I’ve dogged him for days. If you can make Grant see his way through the program, you’re my kind of woman.” Victoria Edwards picked up her gift and waved goodbye.

  A kaleidoscope of butterflies erupted in Caroline’s stomach. Mrs. Edwards had not been some random customer as she’d originally thought. Grant tipped her off and the little fluttering in her midsection made her uneasy and excited.

  Could Grant ever be considered her friend? Caroline had her doubts, even if the principal thought otherwise. Until they could clear up the past—if they could clear up their past—any hope of even a friendship continued to be a pipe dream, butterflies notwithstanding.

  Chapter Nine

  Abbey and Caroline closed the shop that evening. Abbey took care of the end-of-day report while Caroline straightened the cards on the shelves, replaced stray items people carried around the store then at the last minute left on a random shelf, and vacuumed. She spritzed the air with the shop’s signature scent when she finished, inhaling the clean fragrance that lingered in the air each morning. They took seats at the desks in the small office when they were done.

  “Penny will be back from her honeymoon tomorrow.” With quick, deft movements, Abbey put the bank deposit into the safe along with the cash drawers. She tucked a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear before she glanced over at Caroline. “How are you doing? You’ve been awfully quiet this afternoon.”

  Caroline brushed a hand over her eyes. “I’ve got a lot to ponder, that’s all.”

  “Are you settled in yet?” Abbey pointed toward the ceiling, toward the apartment above.

  “Yep, I unpacked the final box last night and the pictures have all been hung.” Caroline smiled and dusted her hands. “I’m turning the place into something real homey. Maybe we can have a girls’ night once Penny returns. You two can check out my digs while she tells us all about the honeymoon.”

  “Most definitely.” Abbey drummed her fingers on the metal desk, creating a hollow pinging sound. “So if your agitation is not with the apartment, what’s bugging you?”

  Caroline shrugged and took a deep breath. She might as well tell Abbey what she’d been obsessing over all afternoon. After all, any additional job, even a part-time one, would affect her work at the shop. “The high school principal, Mrs. Edwards, visited the store this afternoon, and we got to talking while I wrapped her gift.”

  Abbey’s eyes flashed, and she glanced at Caroline. “She comes in here about once a month or so. Nice lady. I haven’t had any dealings on a professional level yet since my kids are still in grade school, but I’ve been hearing good things about her. What did she buy?”

  “One of those new lovely emerald glass bowls, but I got the distinct feeling her purchase was a cover for the real reason for her visit. My assumption proved correct.” Caroline rose and paced in the tiny area behind the desks. “She wants me to work for the school, not as a teacher but in a freelance capacity to help get their new computer system in place. Then I’d instruct all the teachers on how to use the program.”

  Abbey rose from her desk, took Caroline’s hand, and led her back to her seat. “You make me dizzy when you keep moving. A freelance computer job is a wonderful opportunity and a perfect way to supplement what we pay you here. I assume you’re hesitating because you’ll have to work with Grant.”

  Caroline wrung her hands and shifted in her seat. “Yes, Grant. He’s the stumbling block that made me almost back away from relocating here in the first place. I had hoped we could limit our contact with one another, even with us living in the same small town. If I take this job, I’ll put myself in his line of sight every day I’m at the school.”

  “And would that be such a bad thing?” Abbey cocked her head in Caroline’s direction. “Grant’s one of the nicest persons on the planet. His parents raised him and his brothers well.”

  Caroline raised her voice a notch. “Don’t be such a mother hen, Abbey. To you, this incident between Grant and me is a simple misunderstanding that happened many years ago and should be written off as part of being a teenager. To me, the situation’s always been a whole lot bigger. I thought if Grant couldn’t stand the thought of kissing me, then no one could.” She blinked back the hot tears threatening to spill. “Our little childhood incident tainted the way I viewed myself and my self-worth for years. Therapy helped me a little, but not until Michael entered my life did I finally change my viewpoint.”

  Abbey rushed to her side and hugged Caroline. “I’m so sorry, Sweet Caroline. I’m sure you’ve got the reason wrong on why Grant didn’t kiss you. He idolized you. Why don’t you ask him?” She placed one hip on the top of the desk and held onto Caroline’s arms. “Or are you afraid of the answer?”

  She had honed right in on the problem. Caroline’s gaze darted away. Her stomach lurched as if she’d eaten a handful of jumping beans. She did fear the answer.

  “Has he kissed you since Penny’s wedding?” Abbey shook Caroline’s arms.

  Her gaze snapped back to her cousin. Caroline blinked teary eyes. “Once. The day you so cleverly enlisted his help to unload my car.”

  “And?” One of Abbey’s eyebrows quirked.

  Caroline blew out a breath. “And I didn’t hate it.”

  Abbey clapped her hands together. “I thought so! Then accept the job at the school, put yourself into Grant�
��s line of sight on a regular basis, and have a talk with him. You two need to clear the air. He’s been waiting for you for a long time.”

  With her heart thumping against her rib cage, Caroline stared at Abbey. “He’s had other women. You don’t kiss like he did without having practice.”

  Abbey returned to her desk, mashing her lips together, but was unable to hide her grin. The grin won out. “I didn’t say he’d been celibate. I merely said he’s been waiting for you. Yes, he’s been involved with other ladies. He’s quite a catch. Many have tried to entice him into their web, but he always found one reason after another why the others didn’t work. He’s asked about you at least two or three times a year since you stopped coming here in the summers.” She tilted her head toward Caroline. “Why would he keep asking if he weren’t interested?”

  “Well then, if he supposedly idolized me when we were teens, why’d he behave so deplorably?” Caroline wrung her hands again, hating that she still sought answers to the same questions. Years of therapy had only helped her deal with the problem, not provided her with answers.

  “Did you never do anything stupid when you were a kid?” Abbey’s voice rose. “You’re frustrating me. I can only guess at how you’re tangling up Grant’s feelings.”

  “Yes, I did stupid things, but I never hurt anyone’s feelings the way he hurt mine.” Caroline’s voice mirrored her frustration, too. And her stomach tied itself into knots.

  Abbey rose and gathered her possessions, ready to leave. She speared Caroline with a stare. “We can sit here all day and speculate what ran through Grant’s head that night without coming up with all the answers. I’ve told you all I can, since I’m not him.” She took a step toward the door. “The way to put an end to this discussion is quite simple. If you want the truth, you need to talk to Grant. If you want to continue keeping him at arm’s length and to continue holding onto an ancient grudge, don’t have the conversation.” She pointed to Caroline. “You don’t have to take the school job to keep involved with programming. We can use your computer expertise here at the shop. Our website needs updating, and maybe the shop can finally offer a mail order capability.” She took a breath and softened her gaze. “And maybe you can find someone else to spend time with.”