by Jen Gilroy
Ellen smoothed her blue skirt with an unsteady hand. “Although some bygones are better off staying bygones. Your mother’s in her grave and she suffered.”
“Mom—” Sean began, but Ellen silenced him with a laser-like look Charlie remembered from old.
“Beatrice would be proud of her girl taking such a nice picture and winning a prize. Like I’m proud of our Linnie here. She won eight red ribbons today.” Ellen beamed and counted with her fingers. “Apple pie, drop cookies, homemade jelly, yeast breads, pieced quilts, embroidered samplers, knitted dolls, and homemade pickles. She’s set to win the best-in-fair trophy for the third year in a row too.”
“Congratulations.” Charlie still reeled from Ellen’s words. The grudging respect in the older woman’s face and the brief acceptance she’d glimpsed in her eyes.
“Thanks.” Linnie beamed. “You need to congratulate Sean too. Between him and Trevor, the two of them pretty much cleaned up in the wood-carving classes.”
Charlie swiveled toward Sean. “You didn’t tell me.”
“We got here late, so I didn’t know.” He raised his eyebrows and her face heated. “I was kind of busy earlier.”
Charlie focused on a point above Linnie’s head to avoid her friend’s knowing look. She’d been busy too. A getting naked on a chair, on the floor, and then in the shower kind of busy. With Sean.
“You’ll be leaving us soon, won’t you, Charlie?” Ellen’s gaze narrowed. “Back roaming the world?”
Sean took Charlie’s hand and tightened his fingers around hers. “Charlie is a respected journalist. I wouldn’t call what she does roaming the world.”
“I don’t deny Charlie’s done well for herself, but I’m thankful my family stayed where they belonged.” Ellen gave a satisfied smile. “I couldn’t sleep at night if my kids were scattered everywhere. Or maybe you might stick around for a while?” Her voice sharpened. “Not sell the cottage? Put down some roots?”
“Mom.” Sean exchanged a look with Trevor.
Charlie’s insides quivered. Ellen’s acceptance would come at a price. A price maybe too high for Charlie to pay. Mia’s worried face swam before her eyes again and she heard the desperation in her sister’s voice, felt her rib bones when they’d hugged last. Mia had always been slender but not skin and bones. Then she pictured her last bank statement and the amount she still owed on her mortgage. The medical bills. The state of her retirement funds. She needed money almost as much as Mia did.
Ellen’s shoulders slumped. “I would never interfere, but as you and Charlie are such good friends again, you can’t blame me for wondering what she’ll do about that job of hers. Or the Gibbs cottage. You can’t deny she’s got a whole other life somewhere else. Mia and those girls of hers do too.”
Charlie’s vision blurred and the tent spun. The raucous fairground noise made her head ache. No matter how much she loved Sean, she didn’t belong here or with his family. Maybe with Mia she’d finally found a way to fit, but to be with Sean she’d have to change her whole life, and she couldn’t trust enough to take that risk.
“Mom, you’re interfering.” Sean’s voice was strong, firm. “I won’t have it.”
“Sean’s right.” Trevor moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with his brother. When the chips were down, the Carmichael twins always stuck together.
Like her and Mia. Charlie’s stomach heaved, and she swayed as pain shot through her leg.
Then Sean’s hand was on Charlie’s arm to steady her. He murmured something to Trevor before he steered her out of the tent. Past the lines for the Ferris wheel, the swing ride, the kiddie train, the games of chance, and the petting zoo. Not stopping until they reached the other side of the fairgrounds by the lake.
“I’m sorry.” He captured both her hands in his. “I won’t excuse what my mom said. Her family’s her whole world, and she’s never been farther away from home than Niagara Falls, so she can’t understand your life. Besides, you know she always has to stick her oar in. She cares about me and wants me to be happy, but she needs to let me be the judge of that.”
“I know.” Charlie dug a toe into the yellowed grass, which had been trampled by many feet.
She cared about Sean too. Cared about him so much she didn’t want to come between him and that family. Ellen’s words stung because they were true. Even if her loyalty to Mia wasn’t an issue, how could she make anything but a superficial life here when she was on the road for months at a time?
“As for Trevor, he’s got a good heart, even if he can’t always show it.” Sean grimaced. “With the bad blood between our families, he’s caught in the middle, but you heard him. He’s coming around. It’ll take some time.”
Time Charlie didn’t have. “My life is different. I don’t bake pies or make quilts.” Her voice came out as uncertain as it used to back when she’d thought she never measured up to Mia.
“Have I ever said I want you to?” Sean nudged her chin to force her to look at him. “I can buy all the pies I want from the diner. As for quilts, between Linnie and my mom, they’ve made enough to cover every bed in my house and then some. What I can’t buy is how you make me feel.”
She couldn’t doubt the love in Sean’s eyes or the sincerity in his voice.
He moved even closer and touched her hair, so tender Charlie’s legs almost went out from under her. “It’s hot and noisy out here. Why don’t we get Shadow and have a late lunch and ice cream? We can celebrate that first-place ribbon of yours with Strawberry Swirl.” His smile turned wicked.
“Okay.” She tucked one arm into his as desire spiked and threaded through her.
“I need to pick up a leaky gas can at the marina here in town, but after that I’m all yours.” The wind off the lake ruffled his hair above the collar of his Carmichael’s polo shirt. A white one, as the black one he’d worn earlier had ended up on the kitchen floor. With the rest of their clothes.
Charlie’s heart lurched. “Don’t you want to see those ribbons you won?”
“Later.” He hugged her, his solid body a bulwark against the world. He pulled her beside him along the wide, sandy path next to the lake.
She looked at him under her lashes, as flirty as Mia. “I know summer’s busy for you, but what about this winter? Want to come visit me for a few weeks? I could take you around London, be your personal tour guide. Paris is really close too.” And she’d always wanted to visit the city of love with someone she loved.
He bent his head and nipped her earlobe. “I’d like to see where you live, but with Ty still in high school, I can’t take off for a few weeks. We’ve also got some big jobs booked this winter.” His voice was laced with regret.
She wrapped an arm around Sean’s waist and forced the doubts away. Of course he had Ty. And he ran his own business. He couldn’t be a free spirit like her. “A weekend in Montreal would be fun. Or New York if we flew from Burlington on Friday and came back Sunday night. What do you think?”
“That sounds great, Sunshine. I want to make you happy.” His voice deepened to a low, sexy rumble and Charlie’s heart beat faster, desire together with a love so strong her breath caught in her throat.
What she wanted was for Sean to always look at her like he had over the past few days. Like she mattered to him more than Carmichael’s. Mattered more than anything and anyone apart from his son.
Most of all, she wanted to be able to believe in him enough to change part of her life for him. And for him to be willing to change part of his life for her.
As they left the fairgrounds and rounded the lake where it deepened into a small harbor, Charlie’s mouth dropped open. “Wow.” Proof of Sean’s success was in front of her.
“You like it?”
“I sure do.” The spacious white marina building, tucked into a grove of trees next to Old Harbor Park, was the center of a much bigger operation than she remembered. More profitable too, judging by the tall sailboats, smaller motorboats, and big cabin cruisers berthed in neat lines. “Your dad
would be proud.”
“Thanks.” Sean’s pride of ownership was evident. “This will only take a second.” He led her to a berth where a white cruiser bobbed on the water, the name NORTHERN SPIRIT in black lettering.
“Yours?” The dock bobbed under Charlie’s feet.
“Yeah.” Sean gave her his arm to help her across the gangway. “Watch your step.” He swung down the ladder into the cabin and waited for her to follow.
“Remember when we—”
“What the hell is going on?” Sean’s voice cut across Charlie’s. He stopped so fast she bumped into him.
“Dad? What are you doing here?”
Over Sean’s shoulder, Charlie glimpsed Ty sprawled against the headboard of the double berth, a blue-and-white patchwork quilt rumpled behind him—face flushed, blond hair tousled—and Naomi buried against his bare chest.
Charlie put a hand to her mouth. She pushed past Sean and stumbled toward her niece.
“It doesn’t matter why I’m here. I asked you a question.” Sean pulled Ty away from Naomi. “I want an answer.” His voice was as hard and unyielding as Vermont granite.
“Honey?” Charlie’s stomach heaved as she grabbed the quilt and pulled it around Naomi’s bare shoulders. “What are you doing?”
Stupid question. It was obvious what the teens were doing.
“I didn’t…we didn’t…” Naomi’s voice broke. “Ty, he didn’t…”
Sean’s eyes pinned Charlie’s over Naomi’s head. Was he remembering the things she was remembering—when they’d been Ty and Naomi’s age and swept up in a passion bigger than either one of them?
Evidently not. His face was set in a blank mask, only the glitter in his eyes betraying the anger beneath the surface. Anger rooted in love for his son.
“I didn’t hurt her. I’d never hurt her.” Ty reached for Naomi again, but Sean held him back.
“I know you wouldn’t,” Charlie said.
Naomi still had her bra on. And her shorts. Charlie breathed a silent prayer of thanks.
“Let’s get you dressed, sweetie.” She found Naomi’s T-shirt and maneuvered her into it.
“Please don’t tell my mom.” Naomi’s voice wobbled and tears spilled out, rolling down her face. She wound her arms around Charlie like she’d done as a little girl, when her biggest worry was whether Santa got her Christmas letter.
“I have to.” Even if she wanted to, which she didn’t, there was no way she could keep this from her sister. She should have seen this coming, maybe could have stopped it if she hadn’t been so wrapped up in herself, in Sean, and in what was happening between them.
Sean let go of Ty and balled his fists. “The two of you are fifteen. What were you thinking? Oh, who am I kidding…? You weren’t thinking.”
“Like you weren’t thinking the same thing when you were our age.” Ty flung the words at Sean, then grabbed in the bedding for his shirt and pulled it over his head.
A muscle twitched in Sean’s jaw. “That’s beside the point.” His voice vibrated with barely controlled anger.
“We were…like…messing around.” Naomi’s face went from white to red and her body shook with suppressed sobs. “Please don’t tell my mom. I’ll do anything if you don’t tell her.”
“It’s not Naomi’s fault.” Ty’s voice cracked. “We love each other and you can’t split us up.”
“You don’t know what love is,” Sean said.
“If I don’t, whose fault is that?” Ty made an insolent face.
Charlie’s hands shook as she smoothed Naomi’s hair away from her wet face. “Where does your mom think you are?”
“I told her I was getting ice cream.” Naomi’s voice was muffled against Charlie’s shoulder. “Emma wanted a pony ride and Mom was on the phone to Dad again. They were arguing. Polite arguing, but still arguing.” A fresh wave of sobs broke. “Alyssa…all my friends, they think I’m a baby because I haven’t…and I wanted to…”
“Hush,” Charlie soothed. “You made a mistake—”
“I didn’t. Ty and I aren’t a mistake.” Naomi’s voice rose.
But Mia would think so when she found out about this. Mia, who was scared of her daughter getting pregnant like Charlie had and hurt like Charlie had been hurt. Mia, who didn’t need this worry added to all her other worries.
Charlie took a deep breath. She wasn’t Mia, but she had to handle this situation like a mom might. “I understand, honey. You got out of your depth.” Had Charlie gotten out of her depth with Sean? No, she’d known exactly what she was doing and where it might lead, but she’d gone ahead anyway because she loved him. Nothing else mattered.
“Out of her depth?” Sean spat the words out. “I’d say it’s a lot more.” He turned to Ty. “What about your mom? What did you tell her?”
“I said I was meeting friends.” His voice was sulky. “I’m not a little kid. I don’t have to tell her where I am every second.”
“You and Naomi snuck off, behind her mom’s back, and you brought her here, to my boat, to…” Sean stopped and fought for control, the warm, loving man Charlie had teased moments earlier replaced by a stranger. “Your mother and I raised you better.”
“Sean.” Charlie raised her hand. “We all need to calm down.”
“My son and your niece, who are both, in case you’ve forgotten, underage, were about to have sex here and you want me to calm down?” Charlie hugged Naomi closer. Sean was her lover, but he was a parent first. “What about protection? Did either of you think about that?”
“We weren’t…” Ty cleared his throat.
“We weren’t going to have sex,” Naomi whispered. “Ty wasn’t pressuring me or anything. I wanted to do what we did. I love him like he loves me.” She clenched Ty’s hand.
“Pumpkin, we’ll work this out.” Charlie’s heart caught. “I’ll talk to your mom if you want.”
“Mom says we aren’t coming back here. Ever.” Naomi’s breath came in short gasps. “But I have to see Ty again. I absolutely have to.”
“Don’t worry.” Ty’s expression was serious and he looked older, as if in the past few minutes he’d changed from a boy to a man. “I’m not going to break up with you.” He glowered at Sean. “Unlike some people, I stick to my commitments.”
“We’ll talk about this later. In private.” Sean’s voice rasped as he yanked out his keys from the pocket of his shorts. “I have to find Sarah. I’ll get a boat back. You take my car, Charlie. I’ll see you at the house.” His face was a tight mask, but his eyes pleaded with her.
“Why would she see you at our house?” Ty looked between them. “You said it was over between you and her years ago. But it’s not, is it? You lied to me.”
“Ty, son.” Sean stepped forward. “Charlie’s staying at our place because of the fire. The cottage isn’t safe and there wasn’t a room anywhere else with the fair, the golf tournament—”
“I’m not stupid.” Ty’s gaze narrowed. “All that may be true, but it’s not the whole truth, is it?” The words came out in a hiss, and Charlie flinched.
“I…” Sean’s face crumpled, and his eyes darkened in pain. “I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner but I didn’t. I was wrong. I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”
“You mean not after you already had sex with her in our house?” Ty’s mouth curled into a sneer.
“I admit I was wrong, but you will not speak that way in front of Charlie. Apologize.”
“Sorry,” Ty muttered, his face red. “No disrespect.” He stared Sean down, his eyes cold. “I get you have a life, but you’ve never brought anybody home before. Why now, without even telling me you were seeing her?”
“What’s between Charlie and me is new and we’re still figuring things out.” A sheen of sweat dampened Sean’s forehead.
“I told you Naomi was important to me. And all the time you were going after her aunt.” Ty’s Adam’s apple worked. “Which, at your age, is totally disgusting and this whole thing is like yo
u’d see on one of those dumb TV reality shows.”
“You have to believe me. I didn’t plan to hide anything from you. But you were with your mom this week.” Sean’s face was gray.
“I’ll stay at the inn.” Charlie helped Naomi to her feet. She’d almost had it this time, but the dream she’d begun to let herself believe in was disappearing like the early-morning mist on the lake. “Or I’ll get a room at the motel.” Once she delivered Naomi to Mia, maybe she could even catch an earlier flight out.
“Wait.” Sean touched her shoulder. “Don’t run out on me.”
“You and Ty need to talk. Sarah too.” She forced the words out between quivering lips. “And I need to find Mia.”
He held out one hand, and the keys dangled from his fingers. “Take my car. Please?”
The pain in his voice mirrored the pain in his eyes, the same pain as all those years ago. A solid lump of fear and regret lodged in Charlie’s stomach.
He waited.
She waited.
Then Charlie reached out with a shaky hand for the keys and closed her icy fingers around the unyielding metal, still warm from his hand.
Chapter Seventeen
Charlie wasn’t back, and she hadn’t answered her phone either. The curtains at the house were still closed against the heat of the day and the windows were shut. Shadow barked from inside the workshop.
Sean secured the motorboat to a wooden post and walked across the narrow strip of beach and around the side of the workshop. He’d give Charlie ten minutes before he took the truck and went to look for her. He found the spare key in its place under the flat stone next to a maple tree and unlocked the door. “Hey, Shadow.”
The dog barked again in greeting and wagged her tail as she wound herself around his legs.
“You’re out of luck. Charlie’s not here.”
At Charlie’s name, Shadow whined and sat in the doorway, her ears cocked to listen as she watched the empty path where the fire-blackened trees cast long silhouettes.
He hadn’t intended to fall in love with Charlie again. But while he’d been busy falling in love, he’d taken his eye off the ball with Ty. His son had turned into a kid who snuck off with girls, a kid who was old enough to challenge him about his sex life. Which had resulted in one hell of a mess he had no idea how to fix, or if he even could fix.
