Home to Seaview Key

by Sherryl Woods

  * * *

  It seemed perfectly natural to Abby that Hannah had taken over making the arrangements for the press conference to announce the town’s drive to raise money for a much-needed rescue boat. She obviously had the public-relations expertise that the rest of them lacked. Based on a series of phone calls Hannah made to clarify a few details, Abby was a little in awe of the full-throttle way Hannah tackled the assignment, especially with so little advance notice. She must have been working the phone all Sunday afternoon and into the night.

  Abby was even more in awe when she showed up at town hall for the kickoff and found a crowd milling around out front.

  Luke and Seth were both there, of course, along with Seaview Key’s part-time mayor, Sandra Whittier, who was in her seventies and a member of one of the village’s founding families. The editor of the local weekly was there with his camera. Hannah had even lured someone from a TV station on the mainland with the promise of an exclusive about what this rescue boat would mean to the island community and how many lives it might save.

  There were several other people on the steps at town hall, too.

  “Who are they?” Abby asked Hannah, imagining them to be town officials.

  “People who came close to losing their lives because we didn’t have a rescue boat,” Hannah explained. “Their testimonials will stress the importance of this.”

  “And you pulled all of this together overnight?” Abby said, amazed.

  Hannah grinned. “I was motivated. My husband really, really wants this boat and the community needs it. You’ve got a lot of money to raise, my friend. Just doing my part.”

  Hannah orchestrated the press conference like the pro she was, with a brief speech from Luke, comments from the people whose lives had once been in jeopardy, and then the presentation of Abby’s check to kick off the fund-raising drive. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, with a number of people coming up afterward to thank Abby and to welcome her back to town. A few people even put bills and loose change into the donation jar that Jenny had thought to make for the occasion. It was filled to the brim by the end of the event.

  Abby was so caught up in the aftermath of the press conference that it was a while before she noticed that Seth was nowhere around. She turned to Hannah.

  “What happened to Seth? Did he get a rescue squad call?”

  “I don’t think so,” Hannah said. “He was here a minute ago.”

  Abby tried to shrug off his absence, but once again she couldn’t help wondering if it had something to do with that check she’d turned over to Luke. Though she might have imagined Seth’s reaction to her financial situation on Saturday night, there was little question about what had happened just now. He was pulling back on a personal level. She’d bet money on it, she thought wryly.

  Well, she couldn’t worry about that now, she thought, forcing herself to focus on all the people who were volunteering to help out with various activities. The committee sign-up sheets were filling up rapidly. Ella Mae seemed to be as energized as Jenny. It was going exactly as Abby had hoped it would.

  “Why do you look so disappointed?” Hannah inquired as people started to drift away. “This was a huge success.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?” Abby said, forcing a smile. “Thanks to you.”

  “No, we made a good team. You’re the one who gave me something to talk about to get all these people here.” Hannah drew in a deep breath, then asked, “Want to celebrate over lunch? We can catch up a little more.”

  It was yet another overture Abby hadn’t expected. “I’d love to,” she said at once, pushing aside her worries about Seth and his untimely disappearance.

  She and Hannah walked to The Fish Tale and secured a booth.

  “You’re upset because Seth took off,” Hannah guessed as soon as they were seated.

  “A little bit,” Abby acknowledged. “I thought we were supposed to be doing this together.”

  “And now you’re thinking...” Hannah frowned. “What are you thinking?”

  “That all this emphasis on my money has scared him off,” Abby admitted, then grinned ruefully. “Crazy, huh? It shouldn’t matter to me what he’s thinking. We’re co-chairing a committee. That’s not exactly a personal connection.”

  “But you want it to be, don’t you?” Hannah said.

  Abby shook her head in denial. “Seth and me together? It would be crazy.”

  “Sometimes logic doesn’t enter into it,” Hannah said.

  Abby voiced the same concern she’d expressed to Seth the day before. “He’s way too young for me.”

  “A nonissue,” Hannah declared, waving it off.

  “Well, if I’m right about the money thing, then he’s too insecure.”

  “Maybe he just needs to figure out who you really are and that none of that matters,” Hannah suggested reasonably. “Give him time, that is if you’re really interested. Are you, Abby? Or are you just trying to fill some empty place in your life? Or to prove to me that it’s not Luke you want?”

  Abby was surprised by the plain talk. Years ago Hannah would never have tackled a subject like her relationship with Luke head-on. The proof of that was that she’d never once admitted that she had feelings for Luke back then. Of course, once he and Abby had hooked up, her pride would have kept her quiet. Now, though, her blunt question forced Abby to put some thought into her response.

  “Maybe it’s all of the things you mentioned,” she admitted. “At least a little bit. I felt this amazing sizzle the second Seth and I met. I should be old enough to know that chemistry doesn’t matter, right?”

  “Chemistry can be a great starting point,” Hannah corrected, “but sure, there has to be more.”

  “How am I supposed to find out if there’s more if he’s not willing?” she asked in frustration.

  “Try giving it time,” Hannah said, regarding her with unmistakable amusement. “Not every relationship gets a jump-start from a rescue on the beach. Some take a little longer.”

  “If you’re referring to me and Luke all those years ago, I recognize that it was probably a heady mix of adrenaline and hormones that brought us together. I told Seth that just the other night.”

  Hannah looked surprised by her admission. “It’s a possibility, though at the time you seemed to be pretty serious.”

  “If we’d really been serious, it wouldn’t have been so easy to say goodbye,” Abby told her, viewing the relationship through the lens of time and maturity.

  Hannah’s relieved expression couldn’t have been more revealing. Abby touched her hand. “I mean that, Hannah. I know Luke and I weren’t meant to be. I knew it back then, too.” She sighed. “Maybe it’s the same between Seth and me.”

  “Maybe,” Hannah agreed. “But if I were you, I wouldn’t give up on Seth just yet. He seems awfully interested. And though you haven’t asked, I know for a fact he hasn’t dated anyone since he’s been here.”

  Abby leaned forward. She could feel heat climbing into her cheeks even before she revealed, “Well, he did say he thinks we’re destined to sleep together.”

  Hannah’s eyes widened. “He did not!”

  “Oh, yeah,” Abby confirmed, grinning. “It makes me shiver just repeating it.”

  “Well, there you go. That’s definitely a hopeful sign. You have to hang in there.”

  “You do know that patience was never one of my virtues. I’ve always gone after what I wanted.”

  “Oh, I remember,” Hannah said. “But trust me, some things are worth waiting for.”

  Abby smiled. “Some things or some people? Like Luke, maybe?”

  “I did wait a very long time,” Hannah said. “And it was worth it.”

  Abby smiled. “Lucky you.”

  “Lucky me, indeed.”

  But even as Hannah echoed
Abby’s words, a shadow passed over her face.

  “Hannah, what’s wrong?” Abby asked.

  Hannah forced a smile. “Nothing’s wrong,” she insisted. “Didn’t I just say how lucky I am?”

  “Not like you meant it, though,” Abby said. “We used to be able to tell each other everything.”

  “That was a long time ago,” Hannah said.

  “You must know that you can still trust me,” Abby reminded her. “I want us to have that kind of friendship again.”

  “I want that, too,” Hannah replied. “I really do.” Her expression turned sad. “I just don’t know if it’s possible.”

  * * *

  It was late afternoon after a busy day of minor emergencies, when Seth headed toward Blue Heron Cove. He’d dressed for the run he’d missed in the morning, but what he really wanted was to see Abby. He didn’t even try to pretend otherwise.

  She was wading along the shoreline, wearing a long, flowing skirt that she held up in a vain attempt to keep the hem from getting soaked. Her tank top revealed skin that had already been gently bronzed by the sun. Seth jogged up beside her, drawing a startled look.

  “I didn’t hear you,” she said.

  “You looked as if you were lost in thought.”

  “Just seeking that Zen-like serenity you talked about,” she claimed. “What happened to you after the press conference this morning? One minute you were there, the next you’d vanished.”

  “You noticed, huh?” he said, oddly pleased.

  “Well, sure. I thought we were in this together.”

  “Duty called,” he said. “I had back-to-back squad calls.”

  “Did I see Ella Mae with you?”

  He smiled. “You did. After she delivered a firm lecture to chastise me for interfering in her peaceful life, she insisted on coming along to the press conference. She figured it would be a good place to start selling those fish fry tickets.”

  “How’d she do?”

  He shrugged. “No idea, but she was highly motivated. I think she and Jenny have some sort of competitive thing going on.”

  Abby laughed. “Well, that can only work to our advantage.”

  She regarded him curiously. “How did you think it went this morning?”

  “I’m no judge, but it sounded as if there was a lot of enthusiasm. People seemed to be overwhelmed by your generosity.”

  She frowned at the comment, apparently aware of the edge he hadn’t been able to keep from his voice.

  “Well, they were,” Seth said defensively.

  “But that check made you uncomfortable, didn’t it?” she prodded, surprising him with her insightfulness.

  “Getting a donation from the developer of Blue Heron Cove was my idea, remember?”

  “That was before you knew it was me.”

  “Can’t I just say I’m grateful for the support and leave it at that?” he asked irritably. “What else is there to say?” She looked as if she wanted to argue, but to his relief she remained silent. He seized the chance to change the subject. “What about you? Were you happy with the turnout?”

  She held his gaze a moment longer, then shrugged. “The turnout was incredible,” she said, injecting a note of genuine enthusiasm into her voice. “Hannah really did a pretty amazing job, especially with such short notice. She’s vowed to get more media coverage in the next week or two. She’s already talking to some reporters on the mainland. The testimonials from patients whose lives once hung in the balance because we don’t have a fully equipped rescue boat really triggered a lot of interest.”

  “Seems as if you two work well together,” he said. “Any sign of friction?”

  “Not on my part,” she said at once. “If Hannah has any doubts about me, she’s keeping them well hidden.” She frowned.

  Seth studied her expression. “Okay, what’s wrong? Something’s on your mind.”

  “She’s keeping something from me. I’d lay odds on it. I asked her about it, but she blew me off, claimed I was imagining things.”

  “There’s bound to be a little lingering tension,” Seth suggested. “You were hot and heavy with her husband once upon a time.”

  Abby shook her head. “It’s not that. It has nothing to do with Luke. We’ve both been pretty open about what happened in the past. I’m convinced we’ve resolved that or close to it.” She turned to him. “Do you have any idea what else it could be?”

  Seth thought of the breast cancer screening Luke had mentioned. That wasn’t his news to share. He did know that it was likely that Hannah could use a friend in her corner. He just wasn’t sure if Abby was the right friend. There was a whole lot of baggage in that relationship. In the end, though, it wasn’t up to him to decide.

  “Ask her,” he suggested.

  “I did,” she reminded him with evident frustration.

  “Ask again.”

  She studied him closely. “You know something, don’t you? I just want to be a good friend to her again, Seth. How can I do that if she won’t let me in?”

  “You keep trying,” he said. “It could take time, Abby. It might never happen.”

  Her expression turned sad at that harsh reality. “I hope you’re wrong about that.”

  He smiled and took her hand. “I hope so, too.”

  Because he knew that recapturing that friendship mattered more to Abby than being accepted by the entire population of Seaview Key.

  * * *

  With Seth’s advice still ringing in her ears, Abby headed for Hannah’s on Tuesday morning. She could have made a million excuses for putting off the confrontation, but on her list of priorities for this new life of hers, mending fences with Hannah had moved to the top of the list.

  She waited until she was sure Luke would have left for the clinic. She knew she might be interrupting Hannah’s work schedule, but she thought this was too important to be put off. And she was more likely to catch her home if she was working than she would be once she’d quit for the day.

  “Hold on, hold on,” Hannah shouted as Abby knocked on the door for a fourth time.

  Abby winced. Hannah’s tone didn’t bode well for a casual conversation between friends. Nor did Hannah’s aggravated expression when she finally opened the door.

  “You were working,” Abby guessed. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I came by to thank you for yesterday.” She held up the hamper she’d brought. “I come bearing gifts—those cranberry-orange scones made from my grandmother’s recipe. I got up early and baked them this morning. You used to love those. And when I stocked up on my way out here, I found some Devon cream at a specialty store on the mainland.”

  Hannah’s expression didn’t mellow, but she did step aside.

  “I guess I could take a break.”

  “I won’t make a habit of interrupting your work,” Abby promised, following her into the kitchen. “I’m sure it must drive you nuts when people assume they can drop by unannounced just because you happen to work at home.”

  “Sometimes,” Hannah admitted. She busied herself making a pot of tea, then poured it. She gave Abby a probing look. “This isn’t just about thanking me, is it?” she asked.

  “Of course it is. You did a magnificent job yesterday. The press conference couldn’t have gone any better.”

  “Which you told me at the time, and again over lunch,” Hannah reminded her. “Spill it, Abby. What’s really on your mind?”

  Abby drew in a deep breath. “Actually it’s more about what’s going on with you. Something is, and I don’t think it’s worry about me and Luke. I know I said this yesterday, but I intend to keep on saying it until you believe me. You can talk to me. Even though we weren’t in touch, I never stopped caring about you. You were like my sister, Hannah. When we drifted apart, it made me sad, especially since I knew I
was mostly to blame.”

  Hannah looked away. For the longest time, Abby was sure she wasn’t going to open up, but she finally turned back.

  “I have a cancer check coming up,” she admitted at last.

  “Cancer check?” Abby repeated, taken aback. “You mean an annual mammogram?”

  “More than that,” Hannah said. “I’ve had breast cancer. I’ve had a mastectomy.”

  Abby absorbed the shocking news. Why hadn’t she heard about this? She reached for Hannah’s hand, held it tightly. “How long ago?”

  “Almost two years now. I was diagnosed right before my mom died from a recurrence of her breast cancer.”

  “Oh my God!” Abby whispered. “You must have been terrified.”

  “You have no idea,” Hannah told her. “To be honest, every screening freaks me out. I don’t like to talk about them, because it doesn’t really help.”

  “Oh, Hannah, I’m sorry,” Abby said, feeling for her. The screenings could be scary enough without the reminder of what had happened to her mom in the back of her mind. “I had no idea. If you don’t want to talk, I’ll drop it right now. If you decide you need someone to listen, though, I’m here.”

  A faint smile touched Hannah’s lips. “That makes it worse,” she said. “Having you here, I mean.”

  Abby blinked at her candor. How could she have been so wrong about Hannah starting to accept her presence on Seaview Key? “I don’t understand. I thought we’d resolved your worries about me and Luke.”

  “It’s not about that, at least not exactly. You’re beautiful. You’re whole. Everything I’m not.”

  Abby regarded her with dismay. “Stop that this minute!” she said fiercely. “You’re as beautiful as you ever were. More important, you’re a survivor. Do you know how much I admire you for that? You won the fight, Hannah. And I may not have gone through it myself, but I know it’s an outright war. Believe me, I’ve been around a lot of women who haven’t faced it with such courage. I’ve been around a few who haven’t won. You should be so proud of yourself. You should be counting every day as a victory.”