The last photo, a close-up of William’s face, stared back at her from her computer's screen. She opened up another file and clicked on a photo she'd taken months ago, placing the two side-by-side on the screen. It was the same face, same hair, same eyes, but in this photo of William, there was no smile. Standing on his deck, looking out over the wide, gray ocean, his face held a tired, sad expression that worked its way up to his eyes. He looked like a man who had seen great sorrow, who was lost in the vast darkness around him. It was that look of complete and utter sorrow that had drawn Annie’s lens to his porch time and time again.
That long-ago night she had just been scanning the beach with her telephoto lens, admiring the houses, when it had rested upon him. It was a photo she couldn’t resist taking, a face she couldn’t resist searching for each time afterward when she walked the beach. Would he smile tonight, she’d wonder, or still hold the weight of the world in his eyes.
Annie never thought of these pictures as spying or prying. They were taken innocently out of admiration only. She had never expected then that she’d actually meet the man in the photos, never even dreamt she’d enter his house as a guest. She had simply been drawn to him and could not explain why. And when, on that first day of the photo shoot with William she’d realized who he was, she’d been shocked. She hadn’t realized who he was at first because his initial rudeness that day had distracted her. But then, when their hands had touched, she'd suddenly realized he was the man she’d seen from the beach those many nights before.
"And my dream man," she said aloud to herself. His face had appeared many times in her dreams of the colors but she didn't understand why. At first, when his face shimmered at her through the colors, she hadn't placed who he was. But soon she realized the man in her dreams was the same man she'd seen looking so sad on the deck. And now she had a name for him. The man who invaded her dreams was William.
Smiling one last time at the photos of William, she clicked on them, and they disappeared from the screen, safely secured in their computer files.
On Sunday morning, it was the same smiling face that greeted her at his door looking fresh, happy, and younger than the face she’d photographed so long ago. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining brightly over the crisp blue ocean. He led her into the living room and was dressed casually in tan shorts, a red polo shirt, and sneakers. Even for early spring he was richly tanned, his tall, toned body moving gracefully with every step. He was truly irresistible.
And she looked as irresistible to him, dressed in crisp white cotton pants and a yellow T-shirt, a white sweater tied casually around her neck. Her rich brown hair hung loosely on her shoulders, once again tucked behind her petite ears. He liked how soft and smooth her skin looked, the way her face looked so fresh and young, her blue-green eyes sparkling with life. He hadn’t met anyone in all these years who made his heart skip a beat just by looking at her.
William told her that Sandy was out with friends, and Sam was golfing. Sam thought he might be home to join them for dinner, but he wasn’t sure what Sandy's plans were. “She’s always been a little harder to keep track of,” he said, smiling and shrugging. She was an adult now, and he couldn’t tell her what to do anymore, but sometimes it still disturbed him that he didn’t know what she was up to. They’d had so many difficult years when she was growing up. He only hoped he had taught her well enough to stay safe.
But today was not a day for regrets. The weather called for good humor, conversation, and a long walk on the golden beach, and that was exactly what they did. They walked the stretch of beach and talked endlessly about their lives, each thirsting to learn everything there was about the other. They sat on his deck, and he offered her a drink, but she asked for a soft drink instead. He wondered to himself if she was opposed to drinking alcohol, but when he asked if she minded him having a beer, she said she didn’t.
Sam never appeared, so William prepared steaks on the grill and served them with a freshly cut salad and French bread. They dined on the deck with the ocean as their backdrop, and when he offered her red wine with the meal, she gracefully declined.
“Would it be nosy of me if I asked why you didn’t want a drink or glass of wine?” he asked her as they ate.
Annie shook her head, but took a moment to reply. She didn’t share her past easily, and for the most part, tried not to dwell on it. But William was so easy to talk to. She felt comfortable sharing bits of her past with him.
"After my mother died, it tore my dad up,” she said, taking a deep breath to get through the story. "His drinking increased, and after a few years, he died. It was the alcohol that killed him. It’s just really hard for me to drink alcohol knowing what it did to him.”
She wasn’t crying, she only looked sad, but it pained William to hear the sorrow of her past. "That must have been difficult, losing both your parents when you were so young," William said softly, understanding completely from his own children's experience of losing their mother.
Annie nodded. "I don't remember my mother, and I barely remember my father anymore," she said. "He was so immersed in his own grief of losing my mom that it was like I lost both of them at the same time."
William sat back, slowly sipping his wine, his eyes filling with sorrow. He understood exactly how Annie's father must have felt, he'd felt the same great loss when Sara died. The only difference was he didn't check out on his kids. He made the effort to be there for them, even more so, because they no longer had their mother.
Annie saw the sorrow cloud his brown eyes and instantly regretted her words. Instinctively, she reached across the table and placed her hand over his. "Once again, I've said something to upset you. I'm so sorry. I just wasn't thinking."
William leaned forward and slowly turned his hand so hers rested in his palm. Her hand was so small, almost delicate in contrast to his larger one. He liked how her tiny hand felt in his. Their eyes met. "Don't be sorry," he told her, his face softening again as the sorrow disappeared from his eyes. "I'm the one who asked."
For a long moment, they sat like that, holding hands and staring into each other's eyes. Finally, reluctantly, they broke away and finished eating their dinner, listening to the rhythm of the waves gently caressing the beach.
Afterward, Annie helped William clear the table and take the dirty dishes into the kitchen. The kitchen was as beautiful as the rest of the house, large with plenty of windows and a perfect view of the ocean when standing at the kitchen sink. There were plenty of cabinets, done in antique white, and an island that boasted a black marble countertop. There was also a small breakfast nook with a table for four on one side and a family room beyond the kitchen, complete with a cozy, overstuffed sofa, chairs, and a large, wide screened television. Annie could easily picture the family lounging on the cushy sofa, watching a movie or football game together, while sharing a bowl of popcorn.
"I love your kitchen," Annie told him. "It's both functional and cozy."
William smiled. "Thanks. I like it, too." Since there were only a few dishes, they decided to quickly hand wash them instead of loading them into the dishwasher. William washed while Annie dried and put them away. William thought it was odd that Annie knew exactly where to put everything without asking him first, but then he decided she'd probably seen him getting the plates and silverware earlier so she knew where they belonged.
"Would you like some coffee? We can drink it out on the deck." Annie nodded, and William started up the coffeemaker.
"I'll get the mugs," Annie said, then walked directly over to the cabinet near the stove and opened it up to reveal a shelf full of brightly colored mugs. William frowned as he watched her stand on tiptoe and survey the mugs before carefully choosing a shiny black one, then reaching to the back of the cupboard to pull out a bright yellow mug.
Annie walked back to where the coffeemaker sat and placed the mugs on the counter beside it. "I assume the black mug is yours. It looks like a mug you would use," Annie said lightly. When she looked up, she
saw that William had backed up to lean against the counter, and there was a frown on his face.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, wondering what could have possibly caused such a reaction.
"How did you know which cabinet the mugs are in?" he asked.
Annie paused a moment before answering. She realized that she had gone directly to the cabinet where the mugs were kept without thinking about it, as if she knew exactly where they were. But how could she have known? This was the first time she'd ever been in William's kitchen. No wonder William was looking at her funny. Annie lifted her eyes to meet his.
"Lucky guess," she said to William, who had been staring at her the entire time. "It's common to place kitchen items in certain places. I just figured that the mugs would be by the stove. I mean, that's where I would put them." Annie hoped she sounded convincing to William, because she sure as hell wasn't convincing herself.
William thought about this a moment before a small smile crept up on his lips. "Of course, you're right. It only makes sense to think the mugs are by the stove where you would need them." He stepped over to the counter and picked up the yellow mug, handling it carefully. "You were right about the black mug being mine," he said as he carefully filled her mug, then his with coffee. He didn't mention to her that the yellow one had been his wife's, and that was why it was in the back of the cupboard.
They took their mugs and headed out to the deck outside the living room again. William grabbed a throw blanket off the sofa before they went outside. They sat together on the swinging loveseat, the blanket wrapped around them. The air was quite crisp by now, but with the hot coffee and blanket keeping them warm, they felt comfortable and cozy.
"I have to confess something to you," Annie said as they sipped their coffee and slowly moved the swing back and forth.
"Oh, oh. Should I be scared?" William teased.
Annie chuckled. "No, it's nothing like that. Yesterday, when you brought me here, I realized I had seen your house before, from the beach." When William raised his brows in question, Annie continued. "Not long after I moved to Seaside, I started taking walks along this strip of beach. I don't even know how I found it since it's away from the tourist beaches, but I was drawn here. I loved the peacefulness of this area and looking at the houses. I'd try to imagine what sort of people lived in such beautiful homes, and what their lives were like." Annie paused and took a sip of her coffee, building up her courage. "In fact, your house stood out from all the others. It was my favorite. Yesterday, I realized that I was actually in the house of my dreams and I was thrilled."
William smiled mischievously. "So, you were stalking me?"
Annie looked up at him, alarmed. "No, nothing like that. Well, maybe I was stalking your house, but I didn't know who lived here."
William placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. "I was only teasing. Actually, it's quite a compliment that you picked out my house as your favorite, considering you look at houses through your camera lens for a living."
Annie smiled up at him. She thought it was best to leave out the part about taking photos of him on the deck. That might make him think twice about holding her close.
William looked down at Annie's smiling face and sparkling blue-green eyes and could no longer resist the temptation. He leaned down toward her and gently placed a kiss on her lips. Annie didn't resist. He pulled away for just a moment and saw the desire in her eyes—eyes so familiar to him that he became lost in them. When he kissed her again, it was a kiss that held so much passion, he didn't want to stop, and by Annie's reaction, he could tell she didn't want it to end either.
"Dad, I'm home. Are you out there?" Sam's deep voice calling from the living room made the couple instantly pull away from each other. It took William a moment to calm his breathing before he answered. "Out here on the deck." He looked at Annie apologetically. "Sorry," he whispered.
Annie hoped he was apologizing about the interruption and not about the kiss.
"Oh, I didn't know Annie was still here," Sam said as he stepped out onto the deck. "Hi Annie."
"We were just going inside," William told Sam as he stood. "It's cooling down out here." He reached out his hand to Annie, and she took it, letting him pull her up from the seat.
"Oh, don't get up because of me," Sam said, looking a little uncomfortable at the closeness his father and Annie seemed to be sharing. The blanket wrapped around them hadn't gone unnoticed either. "I just wanted to let you know I was home. I have to get to bed. I have an early golf game tomorrow."
"Did you eat dinner?" William asked, following his son into the living room with Annie close behind him, their hands still clasped.
"Yep. Had sandwiches at the coffeehouse with some friends."
"Cottage Coffee?" Annie asked. When Sam nodded, she said, "My friend Cherise owns it. They have great sandwiches there. And delicious baked goods."
Sam nodded. "Really good clam chowder, too."
Annie smiled at the boy. He looked so much like his father and was so polite and nice. She couldn't help but like him. "The best in town," she said.
"Hmm, I've never eaten there," William said. "We should go there sometime for lunch," he told Annie.
Sam knew it was time to leave them alone. "I'm off to bed. Goodnight."
Both Annie and William bid Sam goodnight as he took the stairs two at a time. The room became quiet, and they both just stood there, staring at each other. Finally, Annie broke the silence. "I should go home," she said. William nodded reluctantly. She collected her purse and William followed her out to her car. "I had a wonderful time," Annie told him.
"Me, too. Sorry we were interrupted. That's what happens with kids still living at home."
"Don't worry about it." Annie stood there longer than she needed to. She wanted William to kiss her again. When he finally bent down to touch his lips to hers, it was just a quick brush of the lips, a goodbye kiss.
"I'm working at home all week," he said softly, barely inches from her face. "Maybe we could have lunch or dinner this week?"
Annie nodded, unable to trust her voice.
"I'll call you," William said.
Again, Annie nodded, then slipped into her car and, with a wave and a smile, drove away.
Chapter Eight
Wednesday afternoon found Annie and William sitting across from each other in a corner booth at Cottage Coffee. William had called her on Monday to say he'd be busy on the phone all day with clients, and Annie told him she had a photo shoot all day Tuesday. They decided to meet for lunch Wednesday, and William suggested her friend's coffeehouse since he'd never eaten there before.
The place was buzzing with lunch customers, even though it was past one-thirty in the afternoon. William and Annie had both ordered BLTs and sodas at the counter, then chose one of the high-backed booths near the windows to sit in while they waited for their food.
"This is a nice place," William commented as he looked around the coffeehouse. Cottage Coffee was true to its name with a cozy, cottage atmosphere. The high-backed wooden booths were painted white, as were the tables and chairs around the room. Soft blue cushions padded the booth seats and chairs, and blue curtains with a seashell print hung in the square windows. At the counter, large, rounded glass display counters showed off delicious baked goods, and a huge blackboard hung behind the counter with the menu written on it in chalk. William also noted a back area that held a fireplace and several sofas and cushy chairs, where people could relax, enjoy their coffee, and visit with friends or read a book.
"I can see why the kids like coming here," he said to Annie as he nodded toward the back area. "Looks like a great place to hang out with friends."
Annie nodded her agreement. "Cherise has done a wonderful job of giving this place a cozy atmosphere. Years ago, the place was just a basic little café with 1950s style tables and chairs, an old black and white linoleum floor, and a counter with swivel stools. When she finished college and went into business with her parents, she talke
d them into turning it into a coffeehouse and changing the décor. Her ideas helped boost business and tourists enjoy coming in here because of its casual, seaside look."
"She sounds like a smart lady," William said. "I hope I get a chance to meet her."
Annie nodded her head toward the woman bringing their sandwiches. "Looks like you'll get your wish. Here she is now."
Cherise walked over to the table with a big smile and set the two plates in front of Annie and William. "Hey, girl, Janie told me you were here, so I decided to bring your food over myself and meet your friend."
"Thanks, Cherise," Annie said, giving her friend a sly smile. She knew Cherise had probably been racing to get their sandwiches done so she could come out and meet William. "This is William Grafton. William, this is my friend, Cherise."
William turned fully to greet Cherise as she wiped her hands on her blue apron.
"Nice to meet you," William said, extending his hand and smiling up at her.
Cherise's eyes grew large as she stared directly into William's face. She quickly snuck a look over at Annie, who only nodded slightly. Cherise finally lifted her hand to shake William's. "Uh, nice to meet you, too," Cherise said as she continued to stare at William.
William looked confused. "Is something wrong?" he asked, looking from Cherise to Annie and back to Cherise.
Annie just shook her head slightly as she lightly kicked her friend's leg. The kick stopped Cherise from staring hard at William, but she gave Annie a funny look.
"You have a nice place here," William said, ignoring the odd looks being passed between the two women. "I hear it was your idea to change this place into a coffeehouse. Looks like it was the right move to make."
Sara's Promise Page 6
