Now he was gone.
But Marian was here, living and working in the same town. How could she possibly avoid this conversation and ever look Marian in the eye again?
With that prospect at the forefront of her mind, Kate stopped outside the bakery. Marian was arranging trays behind the counter, her brow furrowed. Taking a deep breath, Kate knocked on the door.
Marian looked up, startled. Then her expression changed, first to alarm and then annoyance. Kate’s heart hammered as Marian slowly walked around the counter and across the length of the bakery to the front door. Their eyes locked through the glass, and Kate held herself still. She would not crumble. She would not run.
Marian opened the door wide. “I was wondering when you’d come back to finish our conversation. I’ve asked George to pick me up half an hour later than usual every night for the last week in case you came back. You’d better come in.”
* * *
AS THE TRAIN pulled into Templeton station, Mac thought over the conversations he’d had with his mother and Dana. His abrupt arrival back home had caused suspicion in his sister and relief in his mother. How stupid he’d been to think he could keep this secret to himself. His heart and mind had ached every day since he’d left the Cove.
And as for his feelings for Kate? He wanted her in his life. Desperately. God knew, she was already permanently in his heart.
Shouldering his bag, he grabbed his guitar from the vacant seat beside him and headed toward the exit. Tonight he would do everything he could to speak with Marian. After that, he would track down Kate and pray to God she still wanted him. That his panic, guilt and indecision hadn’t ruined something with the potential to be amazing.
Hurrying from the train, he made his way through the station and out into the street. Approaching the first cab in line, he climbed in the back. “The Coast Inn, please.”
“Right-o.”
Mac settled back against the seat and stared at the passing streets, his heart picking up speed when they drove along Templeton’s main road and out the other side. The taxi pulled into the Coast’s parking lot, and Mac gathered his belongings and stepped out onto the pavement. He pushed a ten-pound note through the window. “Keep the change.”
Mac headed inside, where a trio on stage was playing soft jazz, which went some way to calming his nerves. He looked around and caught a few nods from people he’d gotten to know a little.
He inhaled the scent of wood and beer, fried food and candle smoke, the smells somehow helping his need for familiarity and comfort. Why did it feel as though he’d come home when he’d just left his real home? Was Templeton where he was destined to be?
“Mac?”
Mac started and turned toward the bar. “Hey, Dave.” He walked closer. “How are you doing?”
Suspicion clouded Dave’s gaze, his palms flat on the bar. “I didn’t think we’d see you again.”
Mac leaned his guitar against the bar and dropped his bag to the floor. “Neither did I. Change of plans.”
“And those plans brought you back to the Cove again? Maybe you’re changing your mind about this small town you didn’t have much of a liking for when you first arrived.”
“You could say that.” Mac held the landlord’s gaze.
He got the distinct impression he had a long way to go to convince Dave and Vanessa he was a good guy, but Mac wasn’t one to give up on people easily. Testament to why he was back in Templeton. “Any chance my room is still free?”
“It could be.”
Mac raised his eyebrows. “Could be?”
“It’s empty, but it isn’t ready for guests.”
“Right. Well, any room is fine.”
Dave crossed his arms. “You’ve got a different look about you. You being here wouldn’t have anything to do with Kate, would it?”
The landlord’s wily observation brought unwelcome hurt, and Mac drew his focus to the band. “Partly. There’s other stuff I need to deal with, too.”
He turned and Dave dropped his arms. “I’ll let Vanessa know you’re back. I’m sure she’ll be happy. Why don’t you sit and have a beer while we sort out your room?”
Fearing a beer might impede his desire to talk to Marian right away, Mac shook his head. “I’ve got something I need to do. Could I leave my bag and guitar somewhere?”
“Sure. You can store them behind the bar.” Dave walked to a board behind the bar where the room keys were hung. He lifted one of them and handed it to Mac. “Here, take this. Your room should be ready by the time you get back. You know the procedure if we’re locked up for the night.”
Mac took the key. “Thanks. See you later.”
The sooner he spoke to Marian, the sooner some of the load weighing on his shoulders would lift. Although that mind-set was doing a pathetic job of alleviating his nausea.
He headed out and soon came to the bakery. Mac fought his hesitation and peered through the glass.
His heart stopped.
Kate.
Her hand in Marian’s.
Their expressions uncertain.
Was he too late? Had Kate told Marian about him? Damn it. Yet, how the hell could he blame her? Kate had told him she would share his story with Marian, and Kate’s integrity was just another reason to add to his list of why he loved her.
He had to get inside and explain himself.
He knocked on the door.
Kate and Marian leapt apart and stared wide-eyed toward him. Mac struggled to keep his face impassive. He drew on the strength it had taken him to get through Jilly’s funeral. His fixed composure then had gotten him through those horrible hours.
Marian shot to her feet, her smile wide as she came toward him and pulled open the door. “Mac! You’re back.”
Shock crumpled his demeanor, and he stiffened. She was glad to see him?
He returned her smile, his heart thumping. “Hey, Marian.”
She gripped his arm and propelled him inside. “Come in, come in. It’s so great to see you.”
Mac stumbled to a stop and stared at Kate. Slowly she stood and gently shook her head, her gaze full of warning.
Marian didn’t know. Kate hadn’t told her.
Relieved, he turned to Marian. “Am I disturbing you?”
“Not at all.” She gripped his arm. “Both of you take a seat. I’ll fire up the espresso machine. What a night this is turning out to be. Two young people brought together in my little bakery after hours...” She hummed a couple of notes. “Well, fancy that.”
There was no mistaking the glint in Marian’s eyes as she whipped her gaze between him and Kate. Matchmaking was on the older woman’s mind. Mac inhaled and slowly released it. He needed to tell Marian why he was really here before he even thought about mending his relationship with Kate.
He cleared his throat. “Marian...”
“Sit.” She pulled out a chair next to Kate, even as she remained standing. “And you, Kate. Sit down. Both of you.”
Kate stood stock still, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. Mac wasn’t sure she was actually breathing.
He slid his focus to Marian. “I came here to speak to you alone.”
The older woman’s smile. “You did?”
Guilt burned at his cheeks and he nodded. “Yes.”
“But...” She looked between Mac and Kate once...twice...three times... Slowly, she sat, her face paling. “No.” She gripped the table. “No.”
“Oh, Marian.” Kate rushed forward and slid her arm around Marian’s shoulders. “It’s okay.”
Marian shrugged her off, and Kate stepped back, fear of Marian’s distress showing in her eyes. Marian glared. “It’s not okay. You should go. I think it best you leave me and Mac to talk alone, don’t you?”
The icy tone of Marian’s voice raised every hair on Mac’s body as he watched Kate gath
er up her purse, as she looked from Marian to Mac. Hopelessness swirled in her pretty dark eyes, and her hand trembled when she lightly placed it on his arm before brushing past him toward the door.
Once the door shut, Mac sat next to Marian and looked her square in the eyes. She stared straight back...and her determined expression had never reminded him of his father more.
Chapter Twenty
KATE SLOWLY WALKED away from the bakery, glancing over her shoulder in futile hope that either Mac or Marian would call her back. Even though she wasn’t part of their story, she had been drawn into Mac’s need for closure, and the possibility of Marian’s pain... or her elation.
A sob gathered in Kate’s throat. If the prospect of Marian’s upset wasn’t bad enough, there was also the chance she could lose two people she cared about deeply because of their shared tragedy. One of whom she most definitely loved...and the other with whom she could be in love.
Tears burned as anguish pressed down on her, making her want to burst back into the bakery and tell Mac and Marian how important they were to her. Offer to heal their pain in any way she could. Yet, deep down, she knew to do such a thing would be destructive without Mac and Marian talking first. They were the main players on the stage, not her.
But that didn’t lessen her sense of responsibility. She wanted to be there for them. She continued walking and swiped at her tears. They were both good, loving people. So very alike in their passion and protectiveness of the people they loved. It brought joy to Kate’s heart that Marian and Mac were family.
And so, for now, it was up to them. Just as it was up to her to do something about her sister. Mac’s bravery in talking with Marian made Kate want to show the same courage and set up a date to visit Ali. She pulled her phone from her bag and dialed her sister’s number, sneaking another hopeful look behind her. The street remained empty.
Ali picked up. “Kate? Hi.”
Kate fought to concentrate on her own life for now. “Hi, Ali. Listen, if you don’t have any plans, why don’t I come and stay with you next weekend? Things have calmed down at work, and I think I deserve a whole weekend off. What do you say?”
“That would be great!” Ali’s excitement reverberated down the line. “You could bring this guy you’ve been seeing. We’ll go out. Have something to eat. A few drinks.”
Kate ducked into a shop doorway and leaned heavily against the wall. “I told you that was over before it even began.”
“I don’t believe you. There was something different in the way you spoke about him.”
Kate closed her eyes. Wasn’t it ironic that the last time she’d spoken to Ali, she wanted to keep Ali from meeting Mac, and now that he wasn’t hers, she’d love nothing more than to introduce him to her sister. Mac had changed her, made her grow, and now she was 100 percent certain that she’d never allow anyone to hurt her again like Ali and Dean had.
“I’ll be coming alone,” she said.
“Oh. Well, if you’re sure?”
“I am.” Kate stepped from the doorway and hurried toward her apartment. “There are things I want to discuss with you. Things I’m not sure it would be good for Denny to hear when I get there.”
There was a beat of silence before her sister sighed. “I understand.”
Kate pulled back her shoulders and drew strength from Mac’s courage in returning to Templeton. He hadn’t run this time. Instead, he’d done the sensible thing and gone away, thought things through, maybe even spoken with his mother and sister. Now he’d returned to make things right.
She would do the same.
Kate inhaled. “We need to talk about what happened, Ali. Why it happened...and how much you hurt me. There are things I need to say to you so I can finally move on. I also want to apologize for enforcing our estrangement, calling you names. Neither of us handled the situation as we should have.”
“But it was so long ago, Kate. Can’t we just bury it?”
“No. I’ve been going through some stuff. I’ve learned what can happen if you bury things that have hurt you. I won’t do it, Ali. I don’t want to.”
“Okay.” Her sister sighed. “How about I ask Denny to disappear on Friday night and we’ll have a night in like we used to? I’ll get wine, some nibbles, and we’ll listen to Whitney Houston.” She laughed, the sound nervous. “Remember those nights?”
Kate smiled softly, love for her sister swelling inside her. “Of course I do. Those were the best nights.”
“I love you, Kate. I’m so sorry...” Ali sniffed. “Really, really sorry.”
“I know you are.” Sorrow clutched at Kate’s heart. “I’ll see you Friday, okay?”
“Okay. See you then.”
Kate ended the call and let herself into the apartment block. Curiosity about how things were going between Marian and Mac whirled in her mind as she rode the elevator to the fourth floor. She stepped into the corridor, worrying that she might have lost both Marian and Mac for good.
She admonished herself. Whatever happened, she had played a part in bringing two wonderful people together. That was something she could have pride in, at least.
Entering her apartment, she tossed her purse on to the couch. Everything would work out as it was supposed to. Hadn’t she taught herself, through the pain and disappointments she witnessed in her work, to believe everything that happened was for a reason. A test of strength. That, for the most part, people were stronger than they gave themselves credit for. Mac had proven that to be true and so had Marian.
Now, it was Kate’s turn to do the same.
* * *
MAC FOUGHT THE urge to put his arms around Marian as she covered her face in her hands. He felt helpless and guilty, and the need to let this wonderful woman know him and his family made him wish he could fast-forward through the next moments so he could learn if Marian wanted to be part of the family.
Slowly, she lifted her hands from her face. Her eyes glinted with tears in the semidarkness. “He’s dead? My son is dead?”
Mac swallowed the lump that lodged in his throat. “Yes, but his life wasn’t in vain. He was a good father, Marian. A hardworking laborer who taught my sister and me the importance of manners, hard work and honesty.” He stared into her eyes. “I need to be honest with you. When I came to the Cove I was mad. Really mad.”
She frowned. “With me?”
He smiled wryly. “No. Not that I realized it at the time. I was mad at life, and Dad’s death was the last thing I could take. I’d been pretending I was okay, that I’d handle losing him, but his death broke the seal on my anger. I chose to blame you for everything that had happened to me. That was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
She nodded, drew a napkin from her apron pocket and dabbed at her cheeks. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t think...” She shook her head. “I’m not sure what I can do for you and your family now.” She pressed her hand to her stomach. “My George...he doesn’t know about this. He doesn’t know about your father.”
Breaking through his apprehension about touching her, Mac covered her hand where it was curled into a fist on the table. “From what Kate’s told me about your relationship with your husband, your love for one another, I’m sure George will want nothing more than to support you. Whatever you decide to do next.” He squeezed her hand, praying she recognized his sincerity. “I’m not expecting anything from you. Nothing at all. My father was a good man, but he also had trouble finding the courage to see things through. Especially personal things. It was him who found you, Marian, not me. I just finished what my father started. What happens next, what you do or don’t tell me, is up to you. I promise.”
She drew away and folded her hands into her lap. “Does Kate know about your father? That’s a stupid question. Of course she does. The way she looked at me when she came here with a story about an adoption case...” She raised her damp eyes to the ceiling. “There’s n
o fool like an old fool.”
“You’re not a fool. Coming to you with a hypothetical case was Kate’s attempt to spare us both pain.”
Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“She loves you, Marian. Fiercely. She told me what you did for her, what you were to her through losing her baby—”
“She told you about that?” Her eyes widened and then softened, a small smile playing at her lips. “I’m sorry. Carry on.”
“Kate wanted to give you the opportunity to talk to her in confidence and, at the same time, stop me from talking to you when there was every chance you’d send me away. Kate was doing what she does best.”
Marian swiped at her tears. “Looking after people. Caring for them.”
Mac nodded. “Yes.”
Marian glanced toward the window. “George will be here shortly, so we haven’t much time.”
“Then let me tell you a little bit about your family, and I’ll go. Just letting you know my father had a good life, a loving family, has given me the peace I was looking for.” He stared into her eyes. “I hope, eventually, knowing we exist and Dad had his faults but did his best to ensure we were cared for will bring you peace, too. He loved us deeply, Marian, and I’m sure when he found out he was adopted, his capability of more love was what led him to look for you.”
She nodded, her shoulders relaxing. “He sounds wonderful.”
Mac smiled, his heart hurting. “He was. I understand that now. My bitterness was clouding my understanding of him...of the situation. But now I see everything clearly.” He took a deep breath. “Those two little monkeys Dana brought into the bakery are Lily and little Mac...your great-grandchildren.”
Marian sucked in a breath. “My...” She closed her eyes, and tears slipped over her cheeks. “I have great-grandchildren.”
Unable to resist hugging her a moment longer, Mac stood and carefully slipped his arms around her trembling shoulders and squeezed. “We’re a good family, Marian. We want you to be a part of that. Please, take all the time you need. There’s no pressure. If you want to write to me or call me, then do, but if that’s too much, I’ll respect your wishes. Whatever they might be.” He stood back and lowered to his haunches. “I’ll go, but take this.” He reached into his leather jacket and pulled out one of his promo cards. “My number, email and address are on there. When you’re ready—”
A Stranger in the Cove Page 21
