Trapped in Tourist Town

by Jennifer DeCuir

  “Are you family?” The nurse slipped a Post-It in her paperback and dropped it into a tote bag on the floor.

  “I’m his daughter. Please, I need to see him.”

  “He’s in room 819, about halfway down the hall, on the right.”

  “Thank you.”

  Pivoting on a squeaky heel, she headed in the direction the nurse had pointed. It was quiet up here, no commotion, no one running around or shouting orders for crash carts and “Get me 50 cc’s of epi—stat!”, whatever the jargon was they used on the medical dramas on TV. That had to be a good thing.

  Cady pushed down her jitters and tried to present a calm front for her mother when she entered the room. She was uncomfortably close to throwing up, but her mom didn’t need to know that. Taking one last, soothing breath, she tapped quietly on the door.

  “Cady? Chase said you were headed to the house.” Her mom patted the empty seat beside her.

  “I know. I disobeyed a direct order. I was just too concerned about Dad. Burke and Amanda are at the house. They can handle things just as well as I could have.” She scowled at her brother, instantly regretting it when she saw him gripping the windowsill while he avoided looking at the prone figure of his father in the bed.

  “Mom, what happened?”

  “He was in the garden, weeding. I brought him some water and found him massaging his shoulder. He tried to tell me it was nothing, but I’ve lived with the man for thirty-five years. I know when he’s in pain. He wouldn’t let me call an ambulance. Thank God he actually agreed to let me drive him to the ER.”

  Cady finally let her gaze fall on her father, lying so still. He was hooked up to machines, wires and IV tubing crisscrossing his bare chest. He looked—frail.

  “He’s sleeping?” She turned back to her mother.

  “Not by choice, I’m afraid. He was quite insistent that nothing was wrong and he got a little worked up.”

  “Dad was always a lousy patient.”

  “Would you listen to yourself? You’re already talking about him in the past tense! Dad’s going to be fine. He just needs to take it easy.” A tic in his left cheek and a bright sheen to his stormy eyes showed Cady just how close her brother was to crying.

  “Of course he’s going to be fine. Dad’s a tough guy. He can weather anything.”

  Silently Cady stood and crossed the small room to Chase. Without speaking, the siblings reached out for each other, linking hands as they waited for the doctor who would give them news about Wallace’s prognosis.

  • • •

  Hours later, Cady sat at her father’s bedside alone. He was being kept overnight for observation. As far as heart attacks went, his had been relatively minor. Not that heart attacks were anything but serious. Still, they had been incredibly lucky. Tomorrow he’d be going home with a medicine cabinetful of meds he would need to take. And he’d have to follow doctor’s orders and rest.

  Her mother had asked for a cot to be brought in. She’d be spending the night. Chase had left momentarily to pick up Amanda. Once the doctor had assured them all that Wallace was going to make a full recovery, Chase was able to talk his mother into grabbing a late dinner at the hospital cafeteria before it closed. Cady opted to stay behind in case her dad woke up to find himself all alone.

  Taking her father’s beefy paw in her small hand, she traced the calluses and scars that marked a lifetime of hard work on the sea. Her dad had always been larger than life to her. She could still remember squealing in happy fright as he picked her up and pretended he’d toss her off the deck to the ground below. He scared away the monsters under her bed, and, later, the boys who came to pick her up on dates. He always had the best lap for cuddling during family movie nights.

  This was a wake-up call, a bitter reminder that her dad wasn’t always going to be around. He was getting older. Their roles were starting to reverse and sooner, rather than later, he was going to need help. Only, she was going to be in New York. Ah, good. Now that the fear had abated somewhat, she was free to wallow in guilt.

  “Flutterby?” His voice was a gravely whisper.

  “Dad? You haven’t called me that since I was probably nine years old or so.”

  “You were eleven and you had a raging case of chicken pox. You were devastated that you had to miss the school field trip to the aquarium.”

  “Mom had already signed up to chaperone, so you stayed home and took care of me.”

  “We ate pancakes for lunch and watched Tom and Jerry in our pajamas.”

  “And I made you color in my Barbie coloring book with me.”

  “Hey, as long as I got the pages with Ken on them, I was happy.”

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  “Aw, don’t go getting weepy on me, kiddo. Just had a little heart hiccup, was all. Your mom all right?”

  “She’s hanging in there. Chase and Amanda took her downstairs to eat.”

  “Good, good. Your fella, where’s he?”

  “Burke? He helped out at the house this afternoon. Amanda said he even mowed the lawn for you.” She ducked her head, biting the inside of her cheek.

  “City boy mowed my lawn? Hope Chase has time to stop by and fix it.” This time their eyes met and they both laughed.

  “Hey! It was my first time. Don’t I get points for even getting the damned thing started?”

  Cady spun around to find Burke pouting in the doorway. She jumped up and threw her arms around his waist, hugging him hard. She kissed his cheek with a loud smack.

  “Yes, you get points for all of it. You rock.”

  “Damned right I do.” He nodded at Wallace. “You look … good.”

  “I look like hell, but never mind that. Take my Cady out and make sure she eats.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Returning to the bed, Cady gingerly kissed her father goodnight. She gave his hand one last squeeze, her smile too bright. Stupid tear ducts! She was not a crier. He gave her a reassuring nod and waved her out of his hospital room.

  • • •

  By the time they had left the hospital, there weren’t any restaurants in town that were still open. So they’d ended up back at Logan’s, raiding the glass case for day-old pastries and slightly fresher thumbprint cookies. Cady grabbed herself a Diet Coke and fixed Burke a latte before he could insist she not go to the trouble. Sitting side by side at the counter, he watched her scoop a cherry out of her cheese Danish with her finger and pop it into her mouth. Burke stared down into his steaming mug.

  “You doing okay?” He sent her a sidelong glance, unsure of what to say.

  “I was in the worst self-absorbed snit in the world before you came in to the bakery earlier. And then Chase comes flying in to tell us about Dad. Really puts things in perspective, you know?”

  She hadn’t answered his question. Not really. Burke slid a cookie from his plate onto hers, earning him a grin. He’d been worried about how he’d handle things if she broke down in a sobbing mess. He sensed the worst was past.

  “My dad is going to be okay. So I’m going to be okay. Okay?” Her smile stretched a little wider.

  Cady nibbled at the cookie, washing it down with a sip from her soda can. She nudged his foot with the side of her sneaker, peeking out at him from under her eyelashes.

  “I shouldn’t have interrupted your father/daughter time.”

  “You were checking up on him.”

  “Pretty pathetic that I care more about Wallace than I do about my own father, huh?”

  “You tell me. Is your father deserving of your concern?” She pushed her plate aside and grasped one of his hands. “Maybe now would be a good time to catch me up on what happened when you met with him in New York.”

  Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and rehashed his meeting in his father’s office. If he’d thought he had processed it, compartmentalized it, and stuffed it way down where it could no longer bother him, he was mistaken. Snakes roiled in the pit of his stomach and a simmering anger he hadn’t realized was there began
to boil to the surface. Even the soft touch of Cady’s thumb rubbing his hand barely had the calming effect he knew she intended.

  He told her about having to wait through the conference call. He told her how he’d started browsing through the knickknacks. He told her about the photos and how he’d slowly put two and two together and come up with a conclusion that was surprising at best, sickening at worst.

  Gently, he pulled his hand away and pretended to focus on the latte that had long since cooled off. He studied a scratch in the worn Formica. It was no big deal. Still, he was scared to look at Cady. What would she think of a man who had essentially been tossed aside by his own father in favor of a younger, better version of himself?

  “So, yeah, I won’t be going back to New York any time soon.”

  He thought he saw her wince and he wanted like hell to apologize. But he couldn’t. He meant it. Even if she moved there tomorrow, Cady would have to come back to Scallop Shores if she wanted to see him. Maybe he’d feel differently down the road—like years down the road. If he could let go of the hurt and the anger long enough to associate his old world with something besides the family he’d effectively written off.

  “I don’t blame you.”

  Bracing himself, he lifted his gaze to Cady’s face. She looked like she was about to cry. But not because of him. For him. She swatted at an errant tear and tightened her jaw. She reached out a hand, as though giving him plenty of time to back away from the kind gesture, and cupped his cheek.

  “Oh, Burke. This explains so much. The new house. The new car. Adopting a dog? I thought you were rushing into things. I didn’t understand your compulsion to fit into Scallop Shores so badly.”

  “Yeah, the house, I might have rushed. The car, I needed. You said yourself that I’d have to give back the rental. And Bandit? The family that had rented the cottage nearest mine just left him. I wasn’t planning to adopt a dog. But you have to admit that he came along at an eerily perfect time in my life.”

  They sat quietly for a moment. Burke unclenched the fist he hadn’t realize he’d been holding onto, flexing his fingers a few times for good measure. His father’s betrayal still stung. He felt embarrassed, humiliated, and belittled. But having someone else to share this shameful secret with made it easier to bear. Fate could be a cruel bitch, but fate had introduced him to Cady Eaton and her family, and for that, he’d be eternally grateful.

  Chapter 17

  If she could capture one perfect moment in time, it would be this one. Unwilling to open her eyes just yet, Cady pressed her face to Burke’s chest, happy beyond words that he had agreed to stay the night. A light dusting of hair tickled her nose and she fought the urge to sneeze.

  “Good morning.” She could feel the deep rumble of his words vibrate through her skin.

  “How did you know I was awake?”

  “I felt you smile.”

  Cady lifted her head and peered up at him through what she could only assume was a raging case of bedhead.

  “I’m happy you stayed.”

  “There isn’t any other place I’d rather be.” His tone was matter of fact. It wasn’t a line and it didn’t sound like something he felt obligated to say.

  A glance at the clock showed Cady they had about an hour before she would have to get ready to open the bakery. She traced the outline of his ribs with her fingertips, enjoyed the rough texture of his leg as she moved her thigh up the length of it. She felt a rising panic at the passing of time. This moment they had together was fleeting. The time she had left to spend with him and her family, it would be over far too soon.

  Burke rolled her onto her back, pressing her into the mattress as he covered her body with his own. His whiskers tripped nerve endings along the column of her sensitive neck. Filling her senses with his scent, Cady blocked out the insistent worrisome chatter that sounded more like a ticking clock.

  “I need you ... now.” His breathy declaration in her ear sent a shivery thrill straight to her center.

  “Yes.” She scraped her fingernails down the long expanse of his back, opening her thighs as she tilted up in invitation.

  Cady gasped as he stretched her, seating himself fully in the first thrust. Yes. This. His hips moved quickly and she found herself having to grab his backside to keep up. He left a path of open-mouthed kisses everywhere he could find, whispering a litany of praises, of needs, of promises.

  Arching her back, she tried to get even closer. Head thrashing on the pillow, she moaned, equal parts passion and frustration. Blessedly perceptive, Burke paused to lift her hip, hooking her leg over his shoulder. With a long intense stare, he drove into her again, stealing her breath and eliciting a shout that was sure to be heard by anyone on Main Street.

  They raced to their finish together, encouraging each other with grunts and soft words. So close. She was so close. Staring sightlessly ahead, Cady strained every muscle she had. Searching for what, she wasn’t sure. With a hoarse cry, Burke came apart. Again, as though he could read her thoughts, he changed his angle just right, pushing forward and guiding her into her own sweet ending. Together they crumpled to the mattress, replete.

  The only sound in the room for several minutes was their combined panting. Cady actually saw stars as she gulped in lungfuls of air. Her muscles deliciously lax, she stared up at the ceiling. This was all she needed.

  She’d written her letter of resignation to Mr. Logan yesterday. Today she was supposed to mail it to him but—where was he this week? It didn’t matter. She wasn’t going through with it. Everyone she loved, yes, she was including Burke in this blanket declaration, was in Scallop Shores. There was no choice. She had to stay.

  “I’m not going.”

  “Of course you’re going. You need to see this through.”

  What the hell? They’d just shared an incredible moment of passion and he was still pushing her to leave town? Cady sat up in bed, her expression a mixture of anger, hurt, and confusion.

  “Everyone I ... care for ... is here. If I move to the city, I have no one.”

  “Nothing has changed, Cady. Before I came along, you were willing to strike out on your own. You had plans, dreams. You were willing to leave your loved ones behind to explore them. Don’t let go of that now.”

  She drew her knees up to her chin and hugged them tightly. He was right. She was caving too easily. Her father’s heart attack had scared them all, but he was going to be just fine.

  Burke sat up, nudged her with his shoulder, and turned her to face him.

  “Do you want to run the bakery for a dick like Logan for the rest of your life? A guy who can’t appreciate your ideas to bring more money and customers into his business?”

  “Well, when you put it that way.” She sat up straighter. It felt good to have someone in her camp for once.

  “Say money was not an issue. If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? Would you want to work for someone else? And I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that, as long as your boss is someone you can like and respect and who treats you the way you deserve.”

  Cady chewed at her bottom lip, pondering the question. She’d been so focused on just getting to New York that she hadn’t constructed a five-year or ten-year plan. What did she really want? A smile slowly spread across her face as she thought of those order catalogs downstairs.

  “I want my own coffee shop. Dedicated first and foremost to coffee, but I’d still carry pastries, breakfast sandwiches, paninis.” She was on a roll.

  “There would be a cozy fireplace off to the side. You know how they used to have those big pot-bellied stoves in the old general stores? And they’d set up a checkerboard on an old whiskey barrel.”

  “Sounds like you’re catering to Old Man Feeney and his buddies.”

  He wasn’t supposed to have noticed that. Cady backpedaled quickly.

  “Well, I’ve got to go with what I know, right? New York is a big place. It can’t be completely populated with twentysomethings jetting off t
o their important jobs in the huge high rises. There have to be folks looking to slow down, take a load off.

  “And not just retirees. Moms looking for a chance to decompress while their kids play.” Her eyes lit up and she clamped her lips together to keep from squealing in excitement as her imaginary coffee shop began to take shape.

  “Kids and a fireplace?” Burke’s brow arced.

  “It can be done. It can so be done.” She bumped her shoulder into his. “Are you on my team or what?”

  “I am so on your team.” His grin was indulgent.

  She stuck her tongue out at him and continued.

  “There would be a basket of toys. Oh—maybe a play kitchen! How cute would that be?”

  “And when you aren’t working at your amazing new coffee shop? You are soaking up the city life? What is it you can’t get in Scallop Shores that you know you’ll get in the city?” He wasn’t talking her out of this, she knew. He was merely curious.

  “Here, every day is the same old, same old. I mean, there is only one streetlight in town. No one ever does anything exciting. People mark the passing of days by the changing of the seasons. Tourist season, foliage season, holiday season, and muddy season.” She sighed.

  She snuggled against him. “I’d seek out cultural experiences. I look forward to having more restaurant choices than deep-fried seafood or mom-and-pop American fare. I’ve never tried Indian or Thai. I’m curious about those dim sum places. And all those food trucks we saw when we were there? I’m going to be so busy!”

  “And who will be joining you for these restaurant excursions?”

  Was Burke jealous? She couldn’t help the smile that question elicited, or the gentle squeeze on her heart.

  “I thought part of the adventure would be learning to dine alone.”

  Cady’s smile faltered when she realized it worked both ways. She thought of Burke staying in Scallop Shores and all the single women who would consider themselves lucky to snag such a gorgeous new member of the community. And if they ever learned that the man was part of the Sanders hotel dynasty, look out!