Heavenly Stranger

by Tina Wainscott

  It was still curiosity that made her watch him even though water splattered into the big plastic sink. His back was to her, muscles glistening with sweat, drops of which slid down the indent of his spine, and had she really thought he looked delicious, jeez, that wasn’t a word she’d ever used to describe a man, even Wayne.

  She wasn’t supposed to notice these things or feel this hunger deep inside. She was still in love with her husband and always would be. She certainly wasn’t supposed to be letting her gaze drift past the waistband of Chase’s jean shorts to where the pockets molded his behind.

  The ache spread as she imagined walking up behind him, sliding her hands down his slick back. She turned to the sink and splashed water on her face. This was crazy thinking. Sex had been fun, lighthearted play. Even the cool water didn’t keep her thoughts from drifting back to Chase, to kissing him again, but this time really kissing him. It sprang to mind too easily, him holding her, sliding his tongue inside her mouth. Her heart was thrumming, and she was only fantasizing! She felt a throbbing sensation between her legs, and she pressed them together and tried more water. It dripped down her collarbone and into her bra. She kept splashing, driving her thoughts back to Wayne, to lovemaking that had never made her feel this intense.

  “Stop it,” she whispered, turning off the water and towel-drying her face. Her hair dripped down her shoulders and left damp patches on her shirt. Her nipples strained against the fabric the way they did when she jumped into the pool in cooler months. Wayne would tease her and make her feel self-conscious. Chase wouldn’t have to say a word—she already felt that way.

  “Thought you were taking a bath over there,” he said as she approached, giving her a smile.

  She tucked her arms around her, covering her chest. “The water felt good,” she muttered, then realized the words and her tone of voice didn’t match. She forced a smile she knew was phony.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “If your folks don’t find out about you being here,” he said.

  She shrugged and headed out into the fresh air. If her mom did find out, there’d be a fight. Maddie didn’t do fights well. Especially when her mom had been right. It was dangerous to hang around Chase. He wasn’t even doing anything wrong, other than stripping half-naked, and she could hardly blame him in this heat.

  She pushed her hair back from her face. She was the one who was letting her imagination take her places it shouldn’t. He’d only kissed her to prove a point, and hugged her because Q had asked him to. No way could he be interested in her skinny, flat-chested self. No way could she be interested in him either, because she loved Wayne. But her body, that was a different story. Maybe she should remind it that she wasn’t a sexual person.

  The cool air inside the marina raised goosebumps on her damp skin. She waved at Dave behind the counter and headed to the office. It was a big room divided into four sections. Wayne used to take the back desk, and Maddie would use the one in front when she helped out.

  Carol now sat at Wayne’s desk. She’d transformed it from the male décor to her own feminine décor. Carol could do feminine well, along with looking professional and put-together. She had a vase of flowers in the corner, and country charm items she’d picked up at the annual craft fair.

  Maddie didn’t have any style. Carol had tried to make Maddie into someone with more class. The perm had been disastrous, frizzing her fine hair and making her look like an alien in a sci-fi movie. Every Christmas and birthday Carol bought her color-coordinated, accessorized outfits. But instead of feeling more like Carol in them, Maddie felt like an imposter. Wayne wouldn’t commit one way or the other on which style he liked better.

  Carol looked up from her paperwork and gave her one of the usual smiles that never quite looked real. “Baby, what a surprise.”

  Maddie clasped her hands together and sank into the metal chair. “I know.”

  Even that phony smile disappeared. “You want to come back to work at the marina.” It wasn’t a question.

  “How did you know?”

  “If Colleen hadn’t mentioned it to Wendy this morning, I would have still heard it from your mother. She’s concerned, that’s all. A stranger comes into town, you’re actually leaving the house, and now you’re lying.”

  “She asked if I’d come to see you about working,” Maddie surmised. “And then she asked if I was at the warehouse.”

  Carol nodded. “I saw you working on Barnie’s boat with him. Maddie, people are starting to talk.”

  “Starting? They’ve probably been talking. Probably everyone in town knows.” At Carol’s confirming expression, Maddie added, “Wayne sent him to me.”

  “Baby, I miss Wayne too. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. But he’s gone, and if he were going to send you an angel, he would have done it before now.”

  “I’ve heard that time is different on the other side. Not linear like here.”

  Carol shook her head, as though she were the authority on Heaven. “Chase is a transient. Is that what Wayne would send to you?”

  “He’s not just a transient.”

  “He doesn’t know who he is.”

  “But how—Mom told you.” Oh, brother.

  “He’s probably making that up. My gosh, he’s probably a criminal wanted for some hideous crime. What easier way to avoid charges than to pretend you don’t remember who you are.”

  “He’s not lying.”

  “Baby, you’re a sweet girl, but you’re too sensitive. And that’s fine as long as you’re surrounded by people who care about you. Go home and let your family take care of you.”

  Maddie started to get up to leave, but something strange happened. She could see Chase’s pride at the way she’d fought for Q’s happiness. You’re tough for others. Someday you’ll learn to be tough for yourself.

  She sank back down again. “I want to come back to work here, at least part-time.”

  “Your mother doesn’t think you’re ready, and neither do I. Besides, we’ve got everything under control here.”

  Maddie’s fingers curled over the square arms of the chair. She hadn’t expected a fight, not here. “But it’s…my marina.”

  Carol blinked and turned away, letting out a huff of breath as she took in Wayne’s picture above her on the shelf. “This marina has been in our family for fifty years.”

  “And I’ve been part of your family for six years. And Wayne made this marina what it is. We made it what it is. Okay, mostly it was him. I’m not asking to take over. All I’m asking is to be part of it again.”

  Carol flexed her fingers, crunching up a piece of paper in the process. “That’s how it starts. First you do some filing, then you want a little more responsibility. Then you ask for a formal position, like running the counter. Next you’ll be asking to manage the place.”

  “I’m not even thinking that far in the future.”

  “But you will be,” Carol said in a shrill voice. She cleared her throat.

  “Carol, I do own this place. Wayne left it to me.”

  “By default. He never made a will.”

  “But he put my name on the deed.”

  “The Schaeffers have been working their tails off to make this marina healthy. In the last year, Dick and I have put everything into running this place while you sat around and did nothing. Did we ask anything of you? No. Did we complain? No. We did it because we love you and wanted you to be financially secure. Now we have a routine. Every piece of the puzzle is in place. I will not let you come in and try to rearrange things because of a legal technicality. If you want to feel useful, go play with the dogs or help your mother build her little muffin business. Let us keep everything going here. After all we’ve done for you, the least you can do is let us continue on.” The phone rang, and Carol lunged for it. “Cookie, I’m glad you called. Listen, I’ve got three shipments of anchors coming…”

  Maddie knew the conversation was over.
She pushed out of the chair and left. Carol was right in many ways. She and Dick and Wendy and Donnie had all pitched in and kept things going. If it weren’t for them, the marina would have crumbled. Like Maddie had. Maybe it wasn’t fair of her to barge in and demand a part of the puzzle.

  She walked outside and headed to her car. Her feet felt leaden, as did her heart. Because Mom knew she’d been with Chase, and all hell was going to break loose. If she couldn’t stand up to Carol, how could she think of standing up to Mom?

  Chase turned up the radio once Maddie left, but music didn’t make up for her absence. He actually missed her. Well, that was just great.

  And he couldn’t ignore the possibility that he could be dangerous. He had a temper, that much he knew, though it usually flared when his loss of memory frustrated him. Every time he thought about his whole identity being locked somewhere in his brain, being right there but inaccessible, he had an overwhelming desire to hit something. And he’d gotten into that fistfight at a truck stop once.

  Some nematode was trying to get fresh with the woman trucker he’d hitched a ride with. She was no delicate flower like Maddie, but she couldn’t hold her own against a six-foot-two drunk. Chase had gone at the guy without giving it a thought, even though he was a few inches shorter and a lot of pounds lighter. The guy had nearly busted Chase’s nose. They’d gone at it for a few minutes before a security guard broke them up.

  It was only after he’d returned to her truck so she could tend to the cut on his forehead that he’d gotten the full story: she’d recently broken things off with the guy and hadn’t done it nicely. Even though Chase was curled up in pain, she was so touched that he’d defended her honor, she’d kissed him. His body had reacted instinctively, but his mind had overruled. He’d lost his ride, but he’d kept his life neat. No entanglements until he knew where he was coming from and what responsibilities he had.

  Now Maddie was messing with his mind big time. She didn’t even want sex. But it wasn’t sex he necessarily wanted from her, and that was the scary part. He found himself just…wanting her. He wanted silly things, like to make her smile and take care of her. He admitted to being harsh with her sometimes. He didn’t know how to soft talk anyone, and telling her things that weren’t true was impossible. He wanted her to fight him, to stand up for herself.

  It made him afraid to find out he was someone unworthy of Maddie. And that was plain silly, because once he found his identity, he would merge back into his life and never come back here. Once he found his familiar territory, everything would return, and the person he’d become during his journey would disappear. So would these strange feelings he had for Maddie.

  The whining of an engine drew his attention to a small boat making its way out to the Gulf. She missed going out on that boat—the Dinky, she’d called it. He could see the melancholy in her face, and hear it in her voice. That’s what she liked, watching sunsets, going slow. Wayne liked speed, and she went with him because she’d do anything for him.

  He didn’t like Wayne. Part of his dislike, he had to admit, was the fact that she was still so in love with him, and the other was that Wayne had risked her life. Maybe he hadn’t been aware of it. Maddie was immature enough not to see the danger, and maybe Wayne was, too. It was just lucky she hadn’t been on the boat that day.

  Barnie wheeled through the open doorway and made Chase wonder again if the man owned a hairbrush.

  “Hey. Just taking a little break.” Not good getting caught daydreaming on company time.

  “Man’s entitled to stop and think for a minute.” He looked up at the hull, partially covered with the sandwich laminate. Another piece was sitting under the heat lamp where the foam interior would be pliable enough to stay in place against the curve of the boat. “Good job.”

  Chase wasn’t sure why he warmed under the man’s praise. “Thanks. Maddie’s been a big help. I’m trying to pay her for her time.”

  Barnie shook his head. “She won’t take it. Likes giving, always has. Used to volunteer at the Humane Society, love on the dogs and cats.” He wheeled around to the far side of the hull and inspected it. “You’re causing quite a stir, you know.”

  “Pardon?”

  Barnie looked serious. “Well, you caused a stir just being a stranger in town and all. But now that you’ve taken up with Maddie—”

  “I haven’t taken up with her. She’s just helping.” The last thing he wanted was Maddie catching hell because of him.

  Barnie pointed to himself. “I know that, and you know that. But people in town like to imagine all sorts of things when they lead boring lives. Talked to Marion again—that’s Maddie’s mom.”

  “Again?”

  “She called couple of days ago, after Maddie first come around. Asked what I knew about you, which ain’t much.” He gave Chase a pointed look. “Could have said you lost your memory.”

  Great, now Barnie knew. Which probably meant everyone knew. “It’s my business.”

  “Sure, it is. But once you come here, you don’t have any personal business. Ran into Marion this afternoon. She’s all worried about Maddie hanging around you. In a tizzy, ’zat a word, tizzy? Seems as though Maddie told her she wasn’t going to see you anymore, and here she was. Maddie don’t lie. Even when she was little. So, you can imagine what Maddie’s going to hear when she gets home tonight.”

  “I can talk to Marion, explain that nothing’s going on, or will go on.”

  “What about the kiss?”

  Chase pressed the heel of his palm against his forehead. “Damn, she’s got a big mouth.” He couldn’t help picturing that mouth.

  “Both Marion and Carol are convinced you’re a bad influence on her.”

  “Who’s Carol?”

  “Maddie’s former mother-in-law. See, Maddie went in to see her just a bit ago and asked for a job. Maddie owns the marina, got it when Wayne died. But his family took over, and of course, Maddie didn’t say anything about it. Too busy mourning for her fella. You getting the picture? You come to town, she spends time with you, leaves the house for the first time in months, lies about being with you, and now is asking for a job.”

  Chase got the picture. Though he was glad Maddie was standing her ground, things didn’t look good for his future in Sugar Bay. “Is Maddie going to be working at the marina then?”

  “Nope. Carol told her things were fine the way they were, and Maddie should just leave things be. The Schaeffers have owned this place for years; Carol’s not about to give it up without a fight, even if Maddie has rights to it.”

  “And Maddie didn’t fight.” Chase heard the disappointment in his voice.

  Barnie obviously did too, because he gave him a funny look. “Suppose you’d tell her to fight for what’s hers?”

  “Yep.” Which was probably the death knell for his job.

  Barnie considered him for a moment. “Carol and Marion said to let you go.”

  Chase nodded. “I just want you to know one thing: Maddie’s not a little girl anymore. She’s not a…baby. People here have to stop treating her like one.”

  “You are a troublemaker, aren’t you?”

  Chase started gathering up the tools he’d been using and headed to the sink to wash them. “Guess I am.”

  Barnie wheeled over to the sink. “Really don’t remember who you are?”

  “No, sir. But I’m trying to find out. Thanks for taking a chance on hiring me.”

  “Usually a pretty good judge of character.”

  Usually, but not this time. Chase suspected he felt as sad about not seeing Maddie again as he did about losing the income. Worse, he had no way of saying goodbye. “I’d appreciate it if I could stay another night on the boat and head out in the morning. We can settle up then.”

  “Settle up? What are you talking about?”

  “I presume I’m fired.”

  He waved his hand. “Hell, no. I’m a troublemaker, too. Need the boat built, and you’re doing a damn good job. Besides, haven’t seen my
niece out of the house in a year. And smiling. Kiss her all you want. It’s worth the controversy.” His watch alarm beeped, and before Chase could get any words out of his shocked mind, Barnie said, “Naptime. Read once a long time ago that the body works best on short increments of sleep. You know what? Keeps me young. G’night.”

  Chase couldn’t find the words of gratitude, so he simply said, “Hey, Barnie…thanks.”

  Barnie nodded, spun his wheelchair around, and headed to the office. At the door he paused. “Since you’ve already cleaned your tools, might as well head on out for the day. Besides, you work too hard. Makes me feel guilty sitting around while you work into the night.”

  Chase couldn’t help smiling, even though Barnie couldn’t see it. He was beginning to like the guy.

  Chase pulled down the two large doors and wandered to the sailboat. It was overcast with a nice breeze coming in off the Gulf. He pulled a Dr. Pepper out of his cooler and sat on the deck. Clouds were piled up on the horizon, promising a spectacular sunset.

  Some of the good feeling about staying had dissipated. Once Maddie’s parents put their foot down, she’d kowtow to them, and he’d never see her again. Which was a good thing, really. Then again, it wasn’t. He liked watching her work, liked having her there even if they weren’t talking. Liked watching her watch him from the corner of his eye. There was something about the way she looked at him with that mixture of delight and question. Then he’d look her way, and she’d pretend she hadn’t been watching. They’d played the cat-and-mouse game all day.