Better With You

by Ellen Joy

  She began to take off her jacket when she heard something move on the couch.

  “Oh, no.” She quickly looked around the room. A pair of pants lay on the floor, a shirt flung along the edge of the rug, a belt resting on the back of the couch.

  “Elizabeth?” It was her father’s voice, but her mother’s face poked up from behind the couch. Her shoulders were bare. Elizabeth immediately squeezed her eyes shut, turned around, and slammed the door behind her. The image of her naked mother burned into her head.

  She jumped into the truck and started the engine, pulling into reverse before her mother could get dressed and come looking for her. Kudos to them, but she definitely didn’t want to stick around and talk about it.

  Ever.

  ADAM HELD LUCY’S HAND as they walked down Harbor Lane toward the elementary school. After eating a cinnamon bun the size of a Frisbee and choosing a strawberry macaron for later, they left the bakery hand in hand and walked down the street, taking their time. The bright yellow of forsythia bushes matched the daffodils blooming in the flower pots. Lucy stalled going to school and watched a bumble bee bouncing from flower to flower on the pink rhododendrons outside the gift shop.

  As she looked back up, she started waving. “Dr. Elizabeth!”

  He saw Elizabeth walking toward them. He couldn’t believe she was there, even though he’d secretly hoped to run into her at the bakery.

  “I saw you guys leave as I was parking, so I thought I’d catch up and say hi.”

  “You have to have the cinnamon roll, they’re delicious,” Lucy recommended. She sounded like his mother, which made him smile.

  “They are good,” Elizabeth agreed. She looked at him, that same look she gave him the other day.

  “Are you headed to school?” she asked.

  Adam silently reminded himself that she was only being friendly.

  “Yup.”

  “How’s Mildred?” Elizabeth leaned her hands on her knees, eye level with Lucy.

  “She slept great last night.”

  “Great.” Elizabeth stood back up. “You make sure you keep checking her behavior and let me know if you see any signs of babies, and I’ll come over and check on her.”

  “I will.”

  Elizabeth looked at him, and he realized he had been staring at her the whole time. He tried to speak, but got tongue tied, and suddenly blurted, “Ah, what behaviors, again?”

  She held up her hand to block the glare of the sun. “Very similar to human signs.”

  He realized she assumed he had been at a birth. “So, like ...?”

  Her mouth quirked up on one side. “Are you nervous?”

  Oh, God, he thought to himself. Was he that transparent? “Yes.”

  “Don’t worry, the animal will naturally know what to do.” She luckily didn’t notice the turmoil going on in his head. “I better go and grab my breakfast before work.” She bent down and hugged Lucy. When she stood up, she gave him a little wave. “I’ll stop by the farm soon to check on everyone.”

  “That’d be great.”

  She stepped backward before heading toward the bakery. He and Lucy stood and watched her go.

  “I’m pretty sure she’s my fairy godmother,” Lucy said as soon as Elizabeth was out of earshot.

  Adam nodded, watching Elizabeth’s hair sway back and forth as she walked. “I think you might be right.”

  They resumed their journey to Camden Cove Elementary School. Lucy talked the whole time about what she planned to do after school. She wanted to brush both Mildred and Anastasia. As she talked, Adam’s thoughts kept returning to the beautiful veterinarian. It was almost like he enjoyed punishing himself. Why was he attracted to people who were unattainable?

  After dropping Lucy off at school he had planned to head right back to his truck, but when he saw the vet’s truck still parked in front of the bakery, he threw caution to the wind. He walked inside the bakery and immediately saw her sitting by the windows, looking back at him.

  She kept her eyes on him as he stepped inside and up to the front counter.

  “Did you come back for more?” Frank asked.

  “I’d love another coffee to go, please.”

  “One coffee, coming up.” He slid Adam a paper cup with a lid across the counter.

  Adam grabbed his wallet and tried to pay, but Frank held out his hand.

  “Coffee’s on the house,” he said, turning to the next customer in line.

  Adam snuck another peek at Elizabeth, who now read a book at her table. He filled his cup with the breakfast brew and then, he thought, screw it.

  “Mind if I join you?” he asked after he made his way over. She seemed surprised, and he wondered if he was encroaching on her space. “Only if you don’t mind.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t mind at all. I need to get my mind off some recent events.”

  “Bad day?” He hesitated to sit down.

  She looked off into the distance and made a face. “Let’s just say I interrupted my parents in something private.”

  She stared at her coffee. A blueberry scone sat untouched in front of her. He laughed. “I’m hardly as bad as that.”

  “Not as bad,” she joked, and motioned to the empty chair. She put her book on the table. “Please, join me.”

  He sat down as she sipped her coffee.

  They sat in silence for a time before he said, “Thanks again for taking on another animal.” He knew she was helping him more than she needed to. “Lucy read that we should take a rectal temperature every day. Please tell me I don’t have to do this.”

  She laughed, and he wished he could make her laugh again. “No, you don’t have to do that.”

  She twirled her spoon in her coffee. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Lucy took over, but I can take her temperature when I stop by.”

  “Thanks again for coming out to the farm and all.” He meant it.

  “I love that farm. I practically lived there until I left for college. It’s where I learned to love animals as much as I do. I want to see it thrive.”

  He imagined her as a little blonde girl, riding horses in the pastures, playing veterinarian and taking care of all the animals. Then he remembered Mrs. Sanborn telling him about the other bidder. A single woman. She was local, and wanted to make it into a business with animals. The elderly woman felt loyal to the bidder, but his offer was too good to pass up.

  “What did you want to do with the farm?” he asked, taking a guess.

  She looked at him with wide eyes. She leaned back, twirling her hair around a finger as she scrutinized him. “What do you mean?”

  “You were the other bidder on the farm, weren’t you?”

  “How’d you know?”

  “I just put the pieces together.” He shook his head. “No wonder you hated me so much.”

  “Well, that was part of it,” she admitted.

  Her honesty felt refreshing. He had been a jerk, but it felt so long ago. “What were your plans for the farm?”

  “I wanted to make it into a clinic.”

  He could see her dreams floating in her eyes. They hadn’t diminished because his name was on the deed.

  Frank walked over to their table.

  “Adam, I almost forgot you knew my niece, Elizabeth.” Frank set a plate of chocolate croissants in front of them.

  Adam nodded, “Yes, she’s my vet.”

  “You and Lucy should come to our place for dinner. We’ll invite our neighbors. How does tomorrow night sound?”

  Adam couldn’t think of any other plans, and gave Frank a nod. “Sure, that sounds great. What can I bring?”

  “Just yourselves.” Frank leaned his hand on the back of Elizabeth’s chair. “And you’ll come as well, Elizabeth, right?”

  Her eyes widened as though she was surprised by the offer. “Um, well, I think I might be on call tomorrow night.”

  Adam felt a sting in his chest. She saw his reaction with Dan yesterday. She was trying to be polite, but here he wa
s following her to the bakery, sitting at her table, and now she was trying to get out of dinner with him. She probably wanted to get away from him.

  Then she looked at him and said, “But I’ll try to be there.”

  “That’s great.” Frank excused himself when a customer walked in, and left the two alone.

  “Are you related to everyone in town?” he teased, to hopefully show he wasn’t as creepy as he might appear.

  “It’s even worse since my brother married another local. I’m connected somehow to everyone.”

  “That must be nice.” He thought of his nuclear family that he adored, but they were now all so far apart from each other.

  “Yes and no. I love it, but it can get overwhelming when everyone’s in your business.” She motioned her head towards the counter. He noticed Frank watching them.

  “I’ve learned a lot about Camden Cove from your uncles,” he said, thinking back to their meeting. They had revealed all of Camden Cove’s secrets within a two-hour period.

  He realized two things sitting there talking to Elizabeth. First, when she looked at her watch, he didn’t want her to leave. And secondly, he wanted to see her again.

  “So, I’ll see you tomorrow night?” she asked, reaching for her purse.

  “Definitely.” He stood to say goodbye. When their eyes met, he felt something between the two of them, he was sure of it this time. Her eyes didn’t resist, either. They beckoned him. An urge to grab her, pull her into him, and kiss her came over him, but instead, he broke the stare and grabbed his coat. “Good luck seeing your parents again.”

  Her face twisted at the memory. “Ugh, I forgot. Tell Lucy to take those notes.”

  “Will do,” he said. She said goodbye and left. She didn’t look back and he was glad she didn’t, because he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

  Ten

  “You know this is a setup, don’t you?” Ally said into the screen.

  “What?!” Elizabeth grabbed her phone off her bed and looked at her cousin. “What do you mean, this is a setup?”

  “Your mom and my dads are trying to set you up with the farm stealer.” Ally’s loyalty never faltered, which made Elizabeth grateful.

  “He didn’t steal the farm. I’m sure he paid quite handsomely for it.”

  Ally’s face filled the screen. “Choose the teal, it’ll bring out the blue tints in your eyes.”

  Elizabeth swiped the hangers across the bar in her closet. She grabbed the dress she had picked up last summer with Ally in Paris. It was a great choice. She held it up in front of the phone. “With my white sweater?”

  “That would work, but I’d pick your cashmere one.”

  Elizabeth stood on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf to grab the cashmere. “What am I doing?” Elizabeth let out a sigh. “This is going to be so uncomfortable. He’s going to be totally weirded out by our parents. They’re going to stuff him with food and talk his ear off about stupid things I said in elementary school.”

  “They’ll entertain him, and tell him quaint anecdotes,” Ally said matter-of-factly.

  “What about Dan? I’ve told no one that we broke up.” She knew she had to tell them sometime, but she didn’t want to have to face Matt’s ‘I told you so’, not to mention she hasn’t been back to her parents’ house. “I haven’t been able to look at my parents since I saw the two of them.”

  “Eww, don’t remind me.” Ally made a gagging face. “Don’t worry about Dan. You can’t force yourself to love the guy.”

  “I can’t believe they set this up.” Elizabeth felt like she did before a big exam. “Adam’s probably not even interested. Plus, his farm is perfect for me right now, and giving me a ton of experience. I don’t want to end up ruining our professional relationship because my mother and uncles think they’re Nicholas Sparks.”

  “You can’t live if you don’t take some chances once in a while, Elizabeth.” Ally acted like being three months older made her more mature, but taking chances and living her dreams was Ally’s MO. “How would you feel if some other girl from Camden Cove swooped in and started dating him?”

  “I don’t know,” Elizabeth said dismissively, but she knew exactly how she’d feel. Jealous.

  “You totally wouldn’t like it.” Ally started speaking French to a woman who walked by.

  “Ally, have there been people in your apartment while I changed into all those outfits?” Elizabeth looked at the screen to see if she saw anyone else in the shadows, covering her bra and undies with her hands. “Who was that?”

  “Oh, that’s Jean-Paul’s old roommate, Collette.” Ally started speaking French again, then said, “I’m having a little party.”

  “You’re having a party?” Elizabeth tucked her body behind the closet door. “You should’ve told me that before I took off my clothes.”

  “I’m in my bedroom now.” Ally smiled and winked. “Only a few of us saw you in your undies. Call me when you get home tonight.” Ally kissed the phone. “Just bat those thick lashes with your green jewels and he’ll be under your spell in no time.”

  “The spell of endless insecurities and indecisiveness?” Elizabeth didn’t know what she was doing. “Should I just stay home?”

  “No. Go.” Ally then said into the phone, “You know, it wouldn’t hurt to get laid. Maybe you’ll lose all this pent-up anxiety.”

  “Love you.” Elizabeth hung up just when a person she had never seen before started looking at her from the screen.

  She threw her phone on the bed. Joan sprung to life from underneath and jumped on top, swatting at the phone. In a mad dash, she catapulted her cantaloupe-shaped body off the bed and flew for almost a full second before tearing out of the room and down the stairs. “Joan, did you get into the catnip again?”

  Elizabeth looked up at the ceiling. Was she crazy to think Adam might think more of her than just the neighborhood veterinarian?

  DOING FAVORS HAD ALWAYS been how Adam made most of his connections. He’d do a favor here, file some easy paperwork or help someone in a pinch. Then inevitably they’d tell someone else about his work, and Adam would land a client.

  People had this image of attorneys as ruthless and dishonest, but the more trust he created between himself and his clients, the more his clients referred him to others which would connect him to still more clients.

  It was funny how even now, working with Frank and David ended up being another connection—to Elizabeth. Ironically, if anyone in Camden Cove had connections, it would be her. She knew practically everyone in this small town, and their dog.

  As he arrived at Frank and David’s, he balanced a charcuterie his sister ridiculously convinced him to make, with his favorite chardonnay tucked underneath his arm. As they climbed the front steps, he looked around the property in awe. The Georgian home had to be post-revolutionary. Its yellow exterior kept its historical touches in tune with the era, complete with a widow’s peak at the top. It stood out among small shingle style capes. From the stoop, he could see the whole harbor. If he had to guess, a sea captain built this house to live in. Then he read the bronze plaque next to the front door. Alexander Lawrence, 1863.

  Frank swung the door open before Adam had a chance to ring the bell. “Adam! Lucy! So glad you could make it.”

  Adam heard a humming inside the house. He peeked behind Frank’s shoulder and saw a crowd of at least a dozen or so others standing around with drinks and food in their hands.

  “Here’s a charcuterie.” He suddenly felt silly handing over the platter to the bakery owner who had sold him the bread.

  “How nice!” He grabbed the board and motioned them into the house. “David’s in the kitchen serving some yummy snacks and treats. Hope you don’t mind if we ruin her appetite.”

  “She’d love that.” Adam followed as Frank whisked Lucy to the kitchen, which clearly did not replicate the Georgian era. The kitchen had every modern amenity, with a twist of antique surroundings. Commercial-grade appliances, marble countertops, and a wal
l of glass facing the harbor made Adam wish he had chosen to remodel his own kitchen first.

  Along the way, Frank didn’t miss a single opportunity to introduce Adam and Lucy. Neighbors, the town’s librarian, and a few other people whose names Adam had already forgotten by the time they reached David, who stood, leaning against the counter. When he noticed Adam and Lucy, he met them with his hand held out.

  “So glad you could make it.” He gave a handshake and half-hug. “Please come in and meet everyone.”

  Adam noticed most of the conversation had stopped. He didn’t see Elizabeth among them. When David introduced his brother and sister-in-law, Adam noticed a striking resemblance to Elizabeth. Her features, blond curls, and eyes the color of sea glass, were uncannily similar.

  Then he noticed the elderly woman, Margie, from the veterinarian clinic standing and talking to Elizabeth’s mother while eyeing him from afar. He wondered how many people Margie was telling about the little conversation Lucy had with her the other day. They all probably heard how the little girl called him out about Elizabeth, revealing his secret.

  Speaking of Elizabeth, where was she?

  Probably with the boyfriend.

  Then the image of her arriving at the party with the linebacker crushed any hope he had. What was he doing here?

  Frank interrupted his thoughts as he handed him a glass of wine.

  “This was awfully nice of you, to invite us over.”

  “Of course. When I first moved to Camden Cove, Sarah did the same thing for me.” Frank motioned his own glass toward Elizabeth’s mother. “Most of the town is very friendly, but some are suspicious of newcomers, so I thought they could have a chance to meet you.”

  “Thanks.” Adam genuinely appreciated the gesture. He thought of his stuffy apartment back in the city. None of his neighbors stopped by or invited him over, and barely acknowledged his presence in the common areas. He didn’t even know their names.

  “Elizabeth!” Frank waved his hand behind him. He leaned closer to Adam and whispered, “She might not be herself. She just broke up with her boyfriend.”