Overcome with curiosity, Abbey and Zooey crowded in to see what Jamie was doing, cuddling up against Claire for a closer look and giving her little butterfly kisses to make her feel better. Anyone looking over here right now, she thought, might mistake us for just another happy family.
Claire's thoughts returned to the woman on the bench, who had seen her and Jamie and just assumed that they were a couple. Usually Claire took that type of thing as an accusation. Even the hint of a question about Claire's sexuality filled her with the need to defend herself. But today had felt different somehow. Maybe it was the fright from her near miss or the pain from her twisted ankle, but suddenly Claire saw it in a different light. That woman, whose life represented everything Claire feared most, also had everything Claire most desired. Suddenly Claire couldn't quite distinguish if the feelings deep inside her held accusation or promise. It made her too dizzy to contemplate.
Abbey and Zooey wiggled and squirmed, clearly getting bored with sitting.
“Show us a magic trick, Auntie Jamie,” Abbey said.
Jamie laughed. “Again? Okay, watch closely.”
Claire watched with interest as Jamie pulled a quarter out of her pocket, twirling it along her knuckles several times. With a flick of her fingers and wrist, she made the coin disappear, eliciting squeals of delight from the girls. Then she reached behind Zooey’s ear and the quarter materialized between her thumb and forefinger. The girls clapped enthusiastically, then immediately demanded she do it again.
They made their way home soon after. It was slow going, but Claire managed it mostly on her own, only leaning against Jamie’s arm now and again for support. Abbey and Zooey walked together a few feet ahead of them, holding hands and kicking at the leaves on the sidewalk.
“That was impressive back there,” Claire remarked.
“What? Oh, the magic thing?” Jamie asked. “Oldest trick in the book, trust me.” She looked at Claire with an amused expression on her face. “Wait, you did know it was a trick, right, and not real magic? I didn’t mean to spoil it for you. I know how you feel about that stuff.”
“Yes, I knew it was a trick. I’m not that hopeless.” Claire blushed a little at being teased. Truthfully, everything about Jamie had struck her as magical today: the way she played with the kids, the way she tended so expertly to Claire’s injury. The coin trick was just icing on the cake, but it was a convenient distraction. “Where did you learn it?”
“My grandfather. He did it all the time when I was a kid.”
“My nephews would love it. Can you teach me?” Claire laughed as Jamie pulled a coin from her pocket. “What, you’re going to teach me now?”
“Sure, why not. The girls don’t need us right now. And I told you, it’s easy.” Jamie rolled the coin slowly in her hand, showing Claire each step of the trick. “Got it?” she asked. She grasped Claire’s hand in hers and pressed the coin into her palm. “You try.”
A jolt of electricity coursed through Claire’s skin where Jamie’s fingers touched hers and she giggled. She gave the trick a try, dropped the coin on the ground, and giggled again. “I think I’m going to need some time,” she said.
“That’s okay. I’m patient,” Jamie replied. Her a look suggested that she had something more to say, but whatever it was, she held back.
A shiver tingled along her spine as Jamie spoke, and with it came a sense of liberation that was most unexpected. The day had been filled with surprises, both bad and good. But right now, it was definitely good.
13
Steam billowed from the pot on the stove as Claire shook the last noodles from the box into the boiling water. Her hand brushed Jamie’s arm as she reached to set the kitchen timer. She gave her a shy smile and said, “Keep stirring the sauce a couple minutes, then we’ll add the cheese.”
“That’s all there is to it?” Jamie asked in surprise. “I can’t believe I’ve never made homemade mac-n-cheese before. I might have to try making this the next time the girls come over.”
“Do you think they’ll come over again soon?” Claire inquired eagerly. It had only been a few days since their trip to the park with Abbey and Zooey, but Claire was already looking forward to their next visit.
“At some point, although I don’t know how soon. Paul would love to have them over more often, and Vanessa could use the help, but there’s not a lot for them to do when they’re here, and no extra bedrooms for them to stay over.”
Claire’s face fell. “That’s my fault, isn’t it? I took over their room when I moved in.”
“No, not really,” Jamie assured her. “That room's not ideal, being on the third floor and with just the one bed. Paul thought about doing something better at one point, but he never had the time.”
Claire had a flash of inspiration. “What about the old darkroom?”
“What about it?”
“Well, you said Paul never uses it any more, right? It’s about the right size for a playroom, and it’s on the second floor so if the girls stayed over they’d be close to Paul’s room.” Claire removed the noodles from the burner as she spoke, whisking the steaming pot toward the colander that waited in the kitchen sink.
“I guess it would work for something like that.” Jamie stirred the sauce as she spoke, and Claire sprinkled in fistfuls of grated cheese.
As the sauce simmered, Paul walked in, pausing to inhale. “Something smells amazing,” he said. “What’s for dinner?”
“Mac-n-cheese,” Claire replied. “Hey, Paul? Jamie and I just came up with an idea for your old darkroom.”
“Oh yeah?” He looked from Claire to Jamie.
“Yeah, for the girls, actually,” Jamie added. “We thought it could make a nice playroom.”
Paul’s eyes lit up. “You know, it would.” He paused for a moment and frowned. “But I doubt I can tackle a project like that any time soon. I’m swamped with work. Everyone wants photos with the leaves.”
“Here,” Claire said, placing her hand over Jamie’s on the wooden spoon, “stir it more like this so it doesn’t stick to the pan.” She glanced up at Jamie, then at Paul. “Would you let me work on it?”
“Would you have time?” Jamie asked. “It seems like you’re always pretty busy with work.”
“I wouldn’t mind taking a little break,” Claire replied. “But I'm not the only one working overtime. Maybe you’d like to take a break, too, and help me?” She glanced down shyly as she spoke, and in doing so spotted the fact that her hand was still guiding Jamie’s. She pulled it away quickly and her cheeks grow hot.
“Maybe I would,” Jamie replied thoughtfully.
“You know what? I love this idea.” Paul said, looking from Jamie to Claire. There was something in his expression that Claire couldn’t quite read. “I’ll clear the equipment this weekend so you two can get started.”
Claire’s head was spinning with excitement for the new project. And working with Jamie. She brushed the thought aside. Jamie had a lot of experience in renovations and could teach her so much. Claire had a lot to learn, especially if they were going to pull off the idea for a playroom that had started to form in her imagination.
“Hey, Jamie?” Claire asked, “I was thinking, rather than a strictly utilitarian playroom, what about something a little more unusual?”
“Like, unusual how?”
“More old fashioned, to fit in with the house. Do you remember the nursery in that Peter Pan movie that came out a few years ago?”
Jamie grinned. “I loved that movie, and that’s one of my favorite rooms. You know, I think we can create something like it with cheap flea-market-type stuff. I know just the place, this little antique store in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire. You wanna go shopping with me on Saturday?”
Claire’s heart fluttered in anticipation. An antique shopping expedition to New Hampshire with Jamie. Was there a better way to spend a day?
* * *
Leaves of rust and orange fluttered from the trees and landed atop crunchy bro
wn piles as Jamie and Claire tramped across a town common in central New Hampshire toward a weathered barn with a hand-painted sign that read ‘Antiques’. Claire could hardly contain her excitement as Jamie opened the shop door and the delicious mustiness of the place wafted through.
Inside was a treasure trove of shabby furniture, yellowed lace, and assorted brick-a-brac just waiting to be rescued and restored.
They had equally keen eyes for spotting just the right items for their project, and soon had everything they needed purchased and loaded into the back of Jamie’s old pickup truck. Their shopping done in record time, Claire suggested that they explore the town a little before heading home. It was her first trip to New Hampshire and she was reluctant to see it end so soon.
The sky was gray and a light drizzle of rain had started to fall as they walked back across the common toward the main street. The pungent smell of woodsmoke from nearby fireplaces filled the air. Claire shivered and wrapped her arms tightly across her chest.
“Are you okay?” Jamie asked, taking in Claire’s attire. Claire's jacket was stylish but thin, and she wore neither a hat nor gloves, though she had finally taken Jamie's advice and put on a sensible pair of shoes. “It’s just going to get colder as the day goes on. Are you sure you don’t want to head back now?”
“But I’ve never been to New Hampshire before,” Claire said, her voice filled with disappointment. “Fall’s almost over and I’ve hardly had a chance to enjoy it.”
Jamie thought for a moment. “I have an idea,” she said. “Here, wrap your fingers beneath my arm to keep them warm, and follow me.”
Claire did as she was told, grateful for the tingling warmth as circulation returned to her fingertips. She held tightly to Jamie’s arm, trotting to keep up with the other woman’s long strides.
Across from the common was a small main street of brick buildings where a sign in an ancient department store window announced the arrival of new winter gear. Jamie pushed open the heavy glass door with her free arm and they were greeted by a blast of warm air against their frozen faces. Huddled beside Jamie, fingers still gripping her arm, Claire looked around at the contents of the country store. There were bins of woolen mittens, hat stands peppered with fleece lined caps, and rack after rack of heavy winter coats.
Claire stood on tiptoe, pulling Jamie downward by her captive arm. “Are you sure about this place? It looks like where a hunter would come to stock up,” she whispered in Jamie’s ear.
“Awesome, right?” Jamie replied. “This place has everything you need to survive a New England winter. Come on, let’s see what we can find to keep you from freezing to death before fall’s even over.”
Claire dropped Jamie’s arm and followed behind her as they squeezed through the narrow aisles. She cast a doubtful glance at a display of bright red plaid coats. “I don’t think I can wear something like that,” she said.
Jamie laughed. “Yeah, probably not your style. They have trendier stuff, too. Here,” she said, pulling a velvety coat of chocolate brown shearling from another rack and holding it up for inspection. “What about this one?”
Claire peeled off her thin jacket and slipped the coat over her shoulders. It was heavy and warm. Standing in front of a nearby mirror, she turned back and forth, smiling at the way the trim fit nipped in at her waist and showed off the curve of her hips. She caught Jamie’s eye in the mirror, also looking appreciatively at her curves. Claire looked away quickly, biting her bottom lip in a bashful smile. “Okay,” she said, “you have better taste in clothing than I gave you credit for. I’ll take it. What else do I need?”
“Gloves, a hat, some shoes,” Jamie rattled off.
“Shoes?” Claire asked in surprise. “What’s wrong with the shoes I have on? They’re very practical. I wore them because of you!”
“Yes, I noticed them,” Jamie responded with a grin. “They’re perfect. But not for the snow. You’re going to want something waterproof, with a warm lining.”
“Oh,” Claire said, dejected. “I kinda forgot about the snow.” Claire hated winter. If it hadn’t been for the promise of meeting Jay, she would never have considered moving to New England. Maybe Jay would want to move to Oregon. She should ask him sometime. She tried to recall exactly when they had last chatted. She gave up in defeat and focused her attention on Jamie again. “Does it snow a lot? I’m really not a huge fan of the cold and the snow.”
“Really?” Jamie’s voice was tinged with sarcasm. “I never would have guessed. Actually, we don’t get a whole lot of snow on the coast, except sometimes when there’s a nor’easter.”
Claire’s mood brightened at the prospect of no snow. No snow on the coast? That’s an excellent sign! Then she remembered the rest of Jamie’s statement and her brow wrinkled. “What's a nor’easter?” she asked, feeling concerned.
“It's a type of storm,” Jamie explained. “It can bring a lot of wind and snow off the ocean.”
“Well,” Claire said, smiling hopefully, “maybe there won’t be one of those this year.”
“Maybe,” Jamie answered, though her tone lacked conviction. “We could get lucky, but you still need to be prepared.”
Claire nodded. She dug through the bin of gloves beside her and chose two pairs to match her coat, then turned her attention to a row of boots. “I don’t know,” she said after studying them for a few minutes. “These are all so clunky and masculine.”
Jamie pointed to a pair with thick rubber soles and an oiled leather upper that reached to mid-calf. “These are really good ones.”
“I don’t know,” Claire repeated. “They look like something you’d wear to go duck hunting or something.”
“Hmpf,” Jamie replied, “thanks. You know, this is exactly the pair I have at home.”
“Sorry,” Claire said sheepishly. “No offense. I’m sure they’re really great on you.”
Claire wandered off to check out a clearance bin next to the stairs that led to the store’s second level. A gray and red brushed flannel nightgown caught her eye and she stroked it with her fingertips. Her whole back began to tingle as she felt Jamie’s presence a hair’s breadth behind her. “Oh, I want this. You should feel how soft this is,” she murmured, but there was no response. Claire squealed a moment later as she felt something being pulled tightly onto the top of her head.
“If you’re not into duck hunting boots, I guess you’re going to tell me this isn’t your style, either?” Jamie teased.
Claire whipped around, yanking the thing off her head. She laughed when she saw what it was, a fur lined cap with ear flaps like the one that Elmer Fudd always wore in the cartoons. “Hardly,” she said, a mischievous gleam in her eye as she faced Jamie. She hopped onto the step behind her, bringing her eyes level with Jamie's, and jammed the hat onto Jamie’s head. As she pulled the flaps snugly around Jamie’s ears, Claire’s foot slipped and she lunged downward, her arms grasping Jamie’s neck, her body pressed tightly against her chest as Jamie clenched her arms around her waist to break Claire’s fall.
“You fall over a lot, even with practical shoes,” Jamie said as she set Claire gently back on her feet.
Claire’s heart pounded wildly and she struggled to slow her rapid breathing. Her body felt like it was on fire along every inch that had pressed against Jamie. She focused on a strand of Jamie’s cropped blond hair that was poking out from the crooked hunting cap, unable to think of a reply.
“What do you think?” Jamie asked, breaking the silence. “About the hat? Nothing, huh?” she added after a pause. “I think I’m going to buy it, seeing as how it’s left you speechless,” she said, stifling a laugh. “I’ll meet you up at the register when you’re ready, okay?”
Claire watched her walk to the front of the store, still shaken. She was completely mortified. Why do I trip over my own feet every time she’s around? Claire wondered. She wished she could figure out why Jamie made her feel so off balance, if only so she could do something about it before she caused herself any
bodily harm. Claire gathered up her coat and gloves and went in search of the register.
At the front of the store, Jamie was putting the hat back on her head, laughing as she modeled it for the sales clerk. Claire’s shoulder stiffened at the sight of the very pretty clerk writing something down on a piece of paper and slipping it into Jamie’s hand. Her phone number? That little hussy! Claire gave the clerk a cold stare as she placed her purchases on the counter, and took her bag without so much as a smile, feeling sullen.
“My fingers are still cold and that girl put my gloves all the way at the bottom of the bag,” Claire whined when they stepped out into the biting air.
Jamie held her arm out and Claire laced her hands around it, burrowing her fingers deep into the space against Jamie’s side. A little shiver coursed through her as Jamie’s arm tightened against her hands, pulling her closer. Claire chalked it up to blustery weather. The leaves on the common, now soggy with rain, squished beneath their feet as they strolled back to the truck arm in arm for the long drive back to the coast.
14
It was the day before Thanksgiving and every inch of Logan Airport was packed with travelers.“Theresa!” Claire called out as she spotted her sister waiting next to a carousel in baggage claim. Her voice was drowned out by the shriek of the buzzer as the metal belt started to turn. Claire tried again, even louder, and was relieved to see her sister’s head turn in her direction. Darting through the crowd, Claire arrived at her side just as a stream of bags came down the chute amidst loud clanks and thuds.
“That was quick!” Claire said as Theresa's bag appeared in the first group to make its way around the curve.
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing!” Theresa replied. “I’ve never seen you move so fast before in my life. Do my eyes deceive me or are you actually wearing practical walking shoes right now?”
Telling Lies Online Page 11
