Sweet Caroline

by Becky Lower

  “Actually, we’ve been with each other for eight months. I wouldn’t have introduced a brand spanking new babe at our family’s Thanksgiving celebration. I’d never put a woman in a pressure situation until I could be sure she could handle herself. We met each other last September.” Harry thumped on his chest.

  “Are you two serious, then?” Grant could feel the beginnings of envy creeping through his body.

  “I’d hoped to wait until we got to Boston so I could tell you and Linc at the same time, but I’m proposing to Maggie next month. She has a birthday in May.” Harry’s voice quavered ever so slightly.

  “Big step.” Grant punched Harry’s shoulder again while they waited for a light to change. “But I’m proud of you. Judging from the difficulty you two had prying yourselves apart, I’d say her answer will be yes.”

  Harry’s pensive smile morphed into a sappy grin. “From your lips to God’s ear, big brother. Now, what about you? Will you be single for the rest of your life? You’re the only holdout.”

  “Women, especially available ones, are at a premium in Lobster Cove.” Grant shrugged nonchalantly even through his insides twisted, hoping to ward off any further questions.

  “Not from what I’ve been hearing.”

  Harry’s sly glance made Grant very uncomfortable, and the knot in his stomach grew even tighter. Harry obviously had a snitch in the Cove, probably one of his high school buddies who kept him appraised of Grant’s love life. Or lack thereof. “Who’s been telling you tales?” Grant barked out a laugh. “I’ve got bupkiss happening in my love life.”

  “Really? And I suppose my informant had his eyes on backward when he caught you turning down Jessica Armentrout, so you could get drunk and moon over the frosty Caroline Stuart? Who says no to Jessica? She’s hot.” Harry glanced over at Grant. “At least, according to my source.”

  “Well, your source, whoever he is, can have Jessica. I’m not interested.” Grant’s voice deepened to the level of a tar pit. “And I may have gotten drunk, but I certainly did not moon over anyone. Besides, Caroline’s not frosty. She’s just confused.”

  Harry laughed so hard he doubled over in the seat. “So, you do have a case for the Stuart babe! Why is she playing hard to get?”

  “Long story.” Grant took a deep breath.

  “And we’ve got about a two-hour drive. Let me help you sort out your love life since mine’s so well under control.” Harry laughed again.

  God help him. Harry put his finger on Grant’s misery before they’d even gotten out of Maine. Both Harry and Linc had picture-perfect love lives. They’d spend the day interrogating him about Caroline. Instead of the questioning being excruciating, maybe Grant could gain some insight from them. And he’d mistakenly thought the agenda today would be to only enjoy a basketball game and some guy time.

  ****

  Grant got an even further surprise when he and Harry arrived at Linc’s home outside of Boston. Linc’s petite wife, Amanda, opened the door and showed off her baby bump. Her dark eyes danced.

  “What’s this?” Grant chuckled as Amanda rubbed his hand over her slight mound of stomach.

  “As if you can’t put the pieces together, big brother.” Linc strutted into the room emulating a proud male peacock. “We’re having a baby. We found out last Christmas but decided to wait on the announcement until we did the test to find out what color to paint the nursery. Our little girl will arrive in August.”

  “So, we all have news about females.” Harry interjected. “You’re having a baby girl, I’m about to propose to Maggie, and Grant’s lady will have nothing to do with him.” He nudged Grant in the ribs. “He filled me in on the ride down.”

  Linc and Amanda both stared long-faced at Grant.

  He shrugged. “Harry’s prone to exaggeration. Let’s change the subject. Have you come up with a name for your new little one yet?”

  Amanda’s eyes sparkled as she wrapped her brown arms around her stomach. “All we’ve decided so far is to continue with your father’s tradition, only this time the name will be that of a first lady. Our top choices, at least for this week, are Abigail Adams or Martha Washington.”

  Grant grinned. “What? You’ve eliminated Dolley Madison and Jackie O?”

  “No name is off the table yet.” Linc slid his gaze over to Grant. “Your first niece could well be named Lady Bird.”

  The groans emanating from both Harry and Grant expressed their good-natured disapproval. The remainder of the afternoon until game time disappeared as they got each other caught up on their lives. Harry laid out his plans for the big engagement scenario, Linc and Amanda were toying with different ideas for the nursery and had done schematics on the computer for both his and her takes on how the room should appear, and Grant remained mum on his plans. Not because he opposed sharing. He simply had no plans to unveil.

  Grant and Amanda were on clean-up duty after their dinner of succulent steaks cooked on the outdoor grill, which Harry and Linc designated as their turf. The meal also included a crunchy salad and asparagus. In a quiet moment, Amanda laid a soapy hand on Grant’s forearm. “Tell me about this Caroline person who has you all knotted up.”

  Grant rolled his shoulders. “I’m not knotted up about her. What gives you that impression?”

  Amanda cast him a sidelong glance. “Because you’re wound tighter than a new slinky.”

  A bit embarrassed at his transparency, Grant bumped into her shoulder. “I never could put anything past you, could I?”

  “So spill.” She tugged out the sprayer from the sink and pointed the device in his direction. “Or get wet. Your choice.”

  He sighed heavily and leaned against the counter. “I didn’t just meet her at Del’s wedding as everyone assumes. Caroline and I go back many years. I embarrassed her in order to save myself from being beaten up by a guy who had a crush on her. Evidently, my bumbled handling of the situation scarred her for the rest of her teenage years.”

  Amanda’s breath whooshed out. “Lots of baggage, I’d say.”

  “Exactly. So, we’ve been sorting through sixteen years of misunderstanding.” He glanced over at Amanda, gauging her reaction. “Did I mention she’d been engaged to a guy who died in Afghanistan?”

  Amanda tossed the plate she’d been washing back into the sink and wrapped her arms around Grant.

  He could feel her hot tears as they soaked his shirt so he held her until she got herself under control. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so forthcoming.

  “I’m sorry, Grant. I guess the baby hormones are kicking in.” She took a step back and wiped her cheeks with a dishtowel before piercing him with her gaze. “Sounds as if you’ve still got a lot to go through with Miss Caroline. Good Lord, she’s endured so much already. If she’d only see you for what you are now, instead of what you were at fifteen, she’d be a fool not to toss out her unhappy past and head into her future with the man you’ve become.”

  Grant kissed one of Amanda’s still-damp cheeks and tugged on a tendril of her loose curls. “You always have the knack of finding the right thing to say. Thank you, Amanda.”

  “I mean every word. If I hadn’t met Linc first, I’d have fallen in love with you. I can’t wait to meet Caroline. If you love her, I’m sure I will, too.” Amanda smiled sweetly.

  “You sound as if meeting her someday is a foregone conclusion.” He plowed his fingers through his hair, his hopes rising.

  “If you can take a motley group of teenage boys and mold them into a tightly-knit basketball team, you can change Caroline’s way of viewing the world.” Amanda laughed and swatted him with a dishtowel. “Instead of thinking of her as a woman, think of her as an opposing team. Lay out a strategy for the biggest game of your life. Anticipate her moves and draw up game plans. Come up with some new tricks or maybe try that chase-down block Lebron does so well. Catch her off-balance. I have faith in you. And in her.”

  Immediately, Grant’s mind filled with strategies. Then he kissed Amanda’s cheek again.
“You’ve been hanging around men too long if you’re comparing winning the heart of a woman with winning a basketball game.”

  She laughed, shrugged, and threw the dishtowel in his direction before she left the kitchen and plopped into Linc’s lap for the rest of the afternoon.

  Her words gave Grant a lot to ponder. He couldn’t wait to get back home and get started on his full-court press. Only this time, his strategy wouldn’t be used to win a game. It would be to win a woman’s affections.

  ****

  Caroline weaved her way across town to Del and Penny’s home for the big basketball game that evening. She found a place to park in front of the rambling red brick Victorian home Del had grown up in just down the street from Penny and Abbey’s childhood home.

  She hoped Penny had been truthful when she told Caroline about Grant being at the game in Boston with his two brothers. She hadn’t yet sorted through her emotions. Life in Lobster Cove hadn’t been nearly so much fun once he’d done her bidding and left her alone. The excitement of her new life evaporated, much like the fog over the ocean when faced with the morning sun. Like a balloon full of helium that springs a leak, her life careened out of control for a few crazy, giddy moments before crash-landing into boredom.

  For a few minutes, she sat in her car and searched the other vehicles parked in front of the house. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel when she couldn’t find a telltale SUV. She should be happy Grant chose not to attend this evening’s get-together. She should be pleased Penny and Del were considerate enough to let her know he wouldn’t be here. So why, instead of happiness, did she feel so deflated?

  Canting the rear-view mirror, she spoke to the reflection. “Suck it up, Buttercup. You asked for this type of lifestyle, with you and Grant avoiding each other. So until you can figure out exactly what you do hope for, or if you’re even inclined to change things, sit back and enjoy the evening with your cousins.”

  Pep talk completed, she hopped out of the warm car and jogged to the front door.

  Penny opened the door and enveloped her in a hug, her blue eyes sparkling and her dark hair bound in a ponytail that swished as she moved. “I’ve been so worried you wouldn’t show.”

  Caroline’s laugh was more of a grimace, and she spread her hands wide. “I’ve been sitting in the car for five minutes convincing myself this is the best way to deal with the situation. I’ve put you and Del into a precarious position by insisting Grant and I share you separately.”

  “If that’s the only way we can spend time with you, we’ll all learn to adjust. I wish things were different and we could all be together, but the final decision is yours.” Penny grabbed Caroline’s hand and tugged her inside. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come and see what we’ve done to the house.”

  Del, Abbey, and Charlie all welcomed her inside the cozy house and after a quick tour of the upper two floors Penny led her to the basement where Del had carved out his man-cave. A large television held center stage with plush recliners for everyone, complete with cubbyholes for drinks in the armrests. The coffee table in front of the chairs groaned with treats ranging from hot spinach and artichoke dip, spicy guacamole, assorted chips, candy, and popcorn. Hot dogs would come out later, according to Penny, as if Caroline would have any room left after devouring the goodies in front of her.

  She settled in to enjoy the game with her cousins and their husbands, well aware she had become a fifth wheel. Her attention strayed from the activity on the basketball court. She only paid attention when the cameras panned the huge audience, searching for one familiar face—a face that haunted her dreams and tormented her waking hours. A face she hunted for in the halls of the high school. She told herself her heightened awareness was only so she wouldn’t wander out from her office until she could be certain the coast was clear, but secretly, she always hoped she’d catch a glimpse of him.

  She really needed to figure out what to do—with him, with her life, and with the ghost.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Spring at last showed a playful side to Lobster Cove. The trees finally budded, purple crocuses popped their heads out of the ground through the last of the snow, and the scent of the earth coming to life again permeated the air. Normally, Grant loved this time of the year, this time of rebirth, and went for long runs to inhale the freshness. Now the time of rebirth served as a cruel reminder of how dormant his life had become.

  Every time he glimpsed Caroline at school, he tortured himself. He hid behind the walls or slunk in the opposite direction, but only after he feasted on her first. His behavior highlighted how mundane things were, yet he couldn’t help himself. Abbey told him she’d had a long talk with Caroline. Penny agreed that a spirited discussion had indeed taken place. So far, Caroline hadn’t budged from her stance to keep Grant at bay.

  At least, she hadn’t run off to another state. Not yet, at any rate.

  He’d been surprised today though. He’d literally run into her on the sidewalk outside of the Sang Freud Coffee Shop. Feeling sorry for himself, he’d walked with his head down and stared at the sidewalk. Suddenly, she fell into his arms. He held onto her for a moment longer than necessary to make certain she had her balance and that her coffee cup with the trademark blue stripe emerged intact. Her red coat emphasized her paleness, and he noticed a bit of weariness around her eyes. “Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I headed.” Grant lowered his hands to his sides.

  “You took my breath away.” Her voice came out soft and low.

  “You always take my breath away, Caro.” He tugged playfully on her ponytail.

  She gazed upward.

  Drowning in the moss green pools of her eyes, he let himself be drawn in. She didn’t step back, so he leaned in and stole a quick kiss—a kiss between friends. “How have you been?” He struggled to keep his voice light even though his chest pounded.

  “Fine. Busy.” She put a bit of distance between them and broke eye contact.

  He motioned to the small coffee house. “I need coffee. Join me inside?”

  “Umm. I really need to take off.” She shuffled her feet but didn’t take a step.

  He took encouragement from the fact she hadn’t yet run off like a scared bunny. “Ten minutes won’t throw you off too much. Come on. Let’s talk.” He took her by the hand and led her inside.

  Grant placed his order and then led them to a table. He sipped his coffee before he asked any more questions.

  She held her own cup so tightly the lid was in danger of popping off. He noticed a matching tightness around her mouth.

  Grant would have to go slow, stay calm, and soothe her so she wouldn’t bolt before he finished their conversation. He could be Robert Redford in The Horse Whisperer. Except his horse had a human form named Caroline—he’d become the Caroline Whisperer.

  He kept his voice low, hoping she’d lean in to hear him over the noise of the coffee shop. “Didn’t you start teaching your computer class this term? Are you enjoying working with the kids?”

  She did lean over the table.

  So close he could stroke her cheek. He controlled his impulse to touch her again, sensing she would recoil from the contact.

  “I’m really surprised I’m having so much fun with the class.” Her eyes widened as she discussed her new venture. “I’ve got seven students, and they’re all bright and eager to learn. We’re designing an app for cell phones.”

  Grant nodded and let his hand graze the back of hers. She didn’t brush him off. Keep her talking. He smiled and stroked her hand with his fingers. “Teenagers can be fun. I have a blast in my history class. We are studying World War II now, and I’m so pleased when they tie in the Holocaust to what’s happening in the world today and pick out similarities. Gives me hope for our future.”

  Her gaze rose from the table, and she stared with a look of…what? Longing? Dread? He didn’t have a clue.

  He always prided himself at being good at reading women, but the one he wished to share intimate thou
ghts with had become as elusive as a deer in the forest.

  She inhaled sharply, making her chest rise.

  As if she needed to draw attention to her body. He sensed she was about to say or do something. Talk or walk.

  “What about hope for our future, Grant?” Her gaze caressed him.

  His heart pounded as the floor shifted, making him grab the sides of his chair. Hope swelled within him. Go slow, Grant. “You’re still here in Lobster Cove, which gives me encouragement. And you’re still at school every day, another good sign you’re not quite ready to give up on us. The fact you’re sitting here now, and we’re having a civil conversation, also means something.”

  The corners of her mouth curved upward the tiniest bit.

  Right now, he’d take a brief smile. He’d take anything.

  “I needed to call a halt to us for a bit in order to put things into perspective.” She ducked her head. “Both Abbey and Penny told me if I were to leave the Cove, I’d just be running from any kind of future life. I can’t keep escaping. I’m tired of running. I agree with them. I need to take a stand. To put the past into the past.”

  Pulse racing, Grant wove his fingers between hers and held on. Held on to her. Held on to hope. “Have you been able to do so?”

  She stared at their interwoven fingers. “You’re so different from Michael, which helps.” She wiggled their fingers. “And not only in appearance or skin tone. Michael was a very serious man, intensely patriotic, and someone who sheltered me from any kind of harm.”

  “He sounds like someone I’d get along with.” Grant clung to her hand for balance since the ghost of Michael about knocked him over. This was the first time she’d given him a glimpse of the man she had been about to marry. He reminded himself to tread softly.

  Again, she glanced up. “But I’ve learned in the past year that I’m resilient. I can make my own way, and I don’t need to hide behind any man. I’d rather stand shoulder to shoulder with one.”

  Grant struggled to breathe. He shouldn’t read too much into her statement. Maybe his mind put his own spin on things and interpreted her words to his best advantage. He’d better let her clarify before he sailed off the cliff. He waited.