Tides of Hope

by Irene Hannon

  At her self-deprecating humor Craig dredged up a fleeting grin. “I think maybe I just caught her mother on a couple of bad days.”

  “Thanks for cutting me some slack.”

  “I’m guessing you deserve it.”

  Why he’d said that, Craig had no idea. It was obvious Kate didn’t, either. She edged away, her knuckles white on her purse strap.

  “Thanks for watching Maddie.” A slight tremor ran through her voice.

  “My pleasure.” His response came out husky, and he cleared his throat. “I’m glad you found your keys.”

  The words were innocuous. But the sudden sizzle of electricity between them wasn’t.

  Fumbling for the car door, Kate slid in and pulled it shut. He stepped aside. She backed out. He headed for the restaurant.

  End of story.

  Except for one thing.

  His heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

  Blown away by the unexpected reaction, he looked back toward the parking lot as he reached the door. He caught Kate watching him instead of the traffic on the road. Although she yanked her gaze away at once, he’d seen enough to know that Kate MacDonald had been as stunned as he’d been by that electric moment.

  And he was equally certain that, like him, she was determined to ignore it.

  “How’s it coming, Chester?”

  As Kate and Maddie stepped through the gate in the tall privet hedge that separated her tiny back lawn from her neighbor’s more spacious grounds, Chester set aside his paintbrush.

  “Hi, Kate. Good afternoon, Miss Maddie.” He tipped an imaginary hat to the little girl, eliciting a giggle. “It’s coming. A few more nice days like this, I’ll wrap it up.”

  “I wouldn’t count on the good weather lasting if I were you.”

  “We can hope, though, can’t we?”

  Kate had read somewhere once that a lot of Nantucketers spend the winter waiting for the summer. She wasn’t one of them. Like Mac had, she loved Nantucket in all her guises. But Edith and Chester had only lived here ten years, moving to the island after Chester retired. They hadn’t yet grown accustomed to Nantucket’s long winters.

  “Yes, we can. It’s looking good.” Kate scanned the small outbuilding Chester was renovating into an efficiency cottage to rent to summer people. When he’d come up with the idea two years ago, Edith had endorsed it wholeheartedly, excited about the extra source of income. Her enthusiasm had waned, however, as Chester became distracted with other projects and the remodeling dragged on.

  How the two of them had ever gotten together was a mystery to Kate. Chester was patient and slow-moving, while Edith bustled about, bristling with energy. Yet they seemed to complement one another, accepting their differences with indulgent affection. And their shared love of Nantucket was deep. They were active in multiple island organizations and causes, and Edith was one of the most connected people Kate knew.

  She was also one of the main branches of the very active local grapevine. There was no better source of island news than Edith Shaw. And Kate suspected that was the reason for the summons that had been waiting on her answering machine when she and Maddie returned from an emergency run to the grocery store after she’d discovered the gallon of milk she’d bought a few days ago had soured.

  Wiping his hands on a paint-smeared rag, Chester examined his handiwork, a shock of gray hair falling over his forehead. “It’ll be a fine little hideaway. Good for honeymooners who want lots of privacy.” He grinned and gave Kate a wink. “I know Edith doesn’t believe it’ll be ready this season, but I’m determined to finish it up. How’s the Lucy Sue running?”

  “So far, so good.”

  “You let me know if she needs any more adjustments.”

  “What would I do without you?” She leaned over and gave him a quick hug.

  He flushed and shoved his fingers through his hair, wreaking havoc with the ornery cowlick no amount of hair gel could subdue. “You could turn a man’s head with that kind of talk.” Grinning, he tipped his head toward the house. “Edith call you over?”

  “Mmm-hmm. Said she had a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread with my name on it.”

  He chuckled. They both knew Edith always offered a treat when she had news to impart or wanted a gab fest. “That’s what I figured. You go on in. She’s probably chomping at the bit. As for you, Miss Maddie, I know an old man who could use a helper for a few minutes.”

  Puzzled, the little girl looked around the yard. “Where is he?”

  Chester grinned. “Takes after her mother in the flattery department, I see. You’re going to have to watch her with the gentlemen when she gets older.” He winked at Kate again and took Maddie’s hand. “So you don’t think I’m old, hmm?”

  As he led her daughter toward a toolbox on the other side of the small cottage, Kate crossed the yard and knocked on Edith’s back door. Within seconds it was pulled open.

  “What’s this about pumpkin bread?” Kate stepped across the threshold and sniffed. The air was redolent with the aroma of cinnamon and cloves. “Mmm…it smells good in here.”

  “My sentiments exactly.”

  Checking behind the door for the source of the comment, Kate smiled at Heather Anderson, her neighbor on the other side. With her light brown hair touched with gold, statuesque height and graceful carriage, she had the perfect demeanor for her chosen profession—running The Devon Rose tearoom on the first floor of her spacious house. Though the two women’s different work schedules didn’t allow much opportunity for interaction, they shared a mutual liking and respect.

  “Taking the day off?” Kate asked her.

  “I wish. I have a full house for afternoon tea. I just stopped over to return Edith’s rolling pin. Mine broke in the middle of making scones. See you two later.” She exited with a wave.

  As the door closed behind her, Edith turned to Kate. “I have some news.”

  Chester had been right, Kate thought in amusement. Edith was bursting to share whatever tidbit she’d picked up. But she kept her smile in check as she teased the older woman. “I know. I got the message about the pumpkin bread.”

  “Pumpkin bread?” Edith’s face went blank. “Oh, yes. The pumpkin bread. It’s all wrapped and waiting for you.” She gestured vaguely toward the counter. “This is more important than that. Guess who I ran into at Bartlett’s Farm a little while ago?”

  Considering that many of the islanders visited the upscale market and garden center on a regular basis, Kate was clueless. “I have no idea.”

  “Lieutenant Cole.” Edith beamed at her.

  Her matchmaking neighbor had a one-track mind, Kate concluded, determined to cut the conversation short as she sidled over to the counter to retrieve the pumpkin bread.

  “That’s nice.” She picked up the bread and edged toward the door.

  “Wait. There’s more. He’s available.”

  Kate reached for the knob. “For what?”

  “You know perfectly well what I mean, Katherine MacDonald.” Edith shot her a disgruntled look. “He’s not attached. The poor man lost his wife several years ago.”

  Kate dropped her hand. “He’s a widower?”

  “Yes. With a daughter. A four-year-old named Vicki.”

  Edith had reeled her in hook, line and sinker, Kate granted, taking a step back into the room. “She wasn’t at church with him this morning.”

  “That’s because she’s staying with his mother in Wisconsin while he settles in. Here’s the thing, Kate. When I mentioned that I watch Maddie for you, he asked if I’d be willing to take Vicki, too. He’s got day care set up but would rather have her in a more personal setting. I told him I’d be happy to, but that it was really your decision, since I committed to you first. And it might not be a bad thing for Maddie to have some companionship under the age of sixty. She spends way too much time with me and Chester.”

  Edith fished in the pocket of her skirt, pulled out a slip of paper and handed it over. “That’s the lieutenant’s phone number. I t
old him I’d ask you to call him tonight so the two of you could discuss this.”

  Taking the paper, Kate frowned. “I don’t know, Edith. Are you sure you’re up to two four-year-olds?”

  The woman dismissed the comment with a wave. “I like having children around. Besides, I suspect having two little ones will end up being less work for me. They can entertain each other.”

  Her neighbor’s rationale was logical, Kate conceded. And it would be nice for Maddie to have a child her own age to play with. No other children lived on Lighthouse Lane, and her daughter’s asthma problem had kept her more confined than most youngsters her age.

  “Okay, Edith. I’ll give him a call.”

  “Good. Worst case, we give it a try and it doesn’t work. But I have a feeling everyone will benefit from this arrangement.”

  Kate didn’t like the twinkle in her neighbor’s eye. “How so?”

  “Maybe Maddie and Vicki won’t be the only two to pair up.”

  “Edith.” Kate shoved her hair back, exasperated. She was beginning to think nothing was going to dissuade the woman from her newfound quest to find a suitable match for her. “Leave me out of the equation, okay? If you’re so bent on matchmaking, why don’t you push him in Heather’s direction? She’s single.” Kate eased the door open.

  “He’s not the right man for her. Besides, she has no interest in romance.”

  “Neither do I.”

  “Baloney.”

  Kate did a double take. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Baloney. As in hogwash. My dear girl, you’re a young and vibrant woman. You’ve mourned for four long years. You can’t tell me you’re not as lonely as that lieutenant has to be.”

  Her neighbor knew her too well, Kate lamented. It was useless to pretend. “I miss Mac, Edith. And yes, I get lonely. But one romance was enough. Mac was the only man for me.” She hefted the pumpkin loaf on her palm and managed the semblance of a smile as she took one step out the door. “Thanks again for this. Maddie and I will enjoy it.” Without waiting for a response, Kate slipped out.

  But as she collected her daughter and they headed home, Kate mulled over what Edith had said. Craig Cole might very well be lonely. Yet if he’d suffered a loss, as she had, he might be as reluctant to consider romance as she was. There was a huge chasm between available and amenable.

  And Kate had a strong suspicion that while she and the lieutenant both fell into the available camp, neither of them was anywhere close to making the leap to amenable.

  Chapter Five

  She was five minutes late.

  Craig shifted in his seat at the small table in the café on Main Street, taking a sip of coffee while watching the front door. Kate hadn’t sounded all that eager about meeting him for lunch when she’d called last night to discuss his day-care proposal, suggesting they talk on the phone instead. But after he’d told her there was more to the story than appeared on the surface, she relented and had promised to meet him on his lunch hour.

  After another five minutes passed, however, he began to wonder if she’d changed her mind. Although Edith had appeared agreeable to his proposal, perhaps Kate preferred to maintain the status quo so her daughter had the older woman’s undivided attention. He couldn’t blame her for that. But for Vicki’s sake he’d hoped—

  The front door jangled and to his relief Kate stepped over the threshold. But not the Kate he’d expected. Instead of her customary weekday attire of jeans and a slicker, she wore black slacks, a green turtleneck sweater and a black wool coat. And she seemed a little harried.

  Standing, Craig waved at her, and she headed in his direction. Another patron hailed her en route, however, and she stopped to exchange a few words. By the time she arrived at his table, she was breathless and apologetic.

  “Sorry. I got delayed at school.” She slipped into the chair he held, shrugging out of her coat as she spoke.

  “School?” He retook his seat.

  “I sub at the high school. English, mostly.”

  “I thought you ran a charter business.”

  “I do. In season. In the off season, I’m a substitute teacher. In case you haven’t noticed, the cost of living on the island is high. It’s tough to make ends meet with just seasonal work.”

  The waiter appeared as Craig digested this new piece of information. Kate had two jobs. No wonder she often looked tired. And stressed.

  After Kate ordered a bowl of quahog chowder and he opted for a turkey sandwich, she gave him an expectant look.

  “So tell me what it is we need to talk about that couldn’t be done over the phone. I have to be back in forty-five minutes.”

  Despite his tension, a grin tugged at his lips. “Nothing like the direct approach.”

  She lifted one shoulder. “I don’t believe in beating around the bush.”

  “Yeah. I noticed.” When a soft blush bloomed on her cheeks, he tried to mitigate any implied criticism. “And for the record, I prefer candor.”

  She acknowledged his caveat with a quick dip of her head and waited him out.

  Stalling, Craig took a sip of water. There wasn’t any way to spin this that would put him in a favorable light, and his ego balked at admitting his failings as a father. But his pride was expendable, he reminded himself. Vicki’s welfare had to come first.

  As he set the water glass carefully back in the ring it had left on the polished wooden table, he folded his hands in front of him. “I assume Edith told you the basics. I’m a single parent, raising a four-year-old daughter.”

  “Yes.”

  “In our world today, my situation isn’t unique. But the reason for it is.” He clenched his fingers, watching as the knuckles whitened. “My wife and son were killed in a boating accident when I was stationed in Hawaii. It happened three years ago. Vicki was fourteen months old.”

  Shock rippled across her face. “Oh, Craig…I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks.” He cleared his throat and took another sip of water. “Since then, Vicki has been cared for by nannies in the condo I rented in Washington. In the gap between nannies, my mother filled in.”

  He hesitated. Braced himself. Plunged in. “In my grief, I shut myself off from my daughter. She has many of my wife’s features, and every time I looked at her she reminded me of everything I’d lost. So I delegated her care to other people. Now, we have almost no connection. But I want to change that. That’s one of the reasons I came to Nantucket. For a fresh start.”

  He leaned forward intently. “I know it will be an uphill battle, Kate. But I want to give it my best shot. I don’t intend to work the long hours I did in Washington, but I do need someone to watch her during the workday. I can go with the day care I have lined up if necessary, but I think she’d do much better with personal attention from someone like Edith. And the icing on the cake would be Maddie. Vicki’s never had a playmate, and I think it would do her a world of good to have a friend her own age. So I’m hoping you’ll consider my request. For my daughter’s sake.”

  Several beats of silence ticked by as Kate studied him. At last she took a deep breath. “That’s quite a story.”

  “I know.” And she hadn’t even heard half of it. But that could come later. Maybe.

  The waiter delivered their food, giving them both a chance to regroup. Kate picked up her spoon. Dipped it in her soup. Set it down.

  For a long moment she regarded him with those intelligent, insightful green eyes. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s give it a try. If the girls don’t get along, or some other problems arise, we can revisit it. Does that work for you?”

  Relief poured through him. “Yes. And thank you.”

  Her expression softened. “I know how tough it is to be a single parent.”

  “Edith told me you’d lost your husband.” He didn’t mention the information he’d received from Maddie. “You’ve done a better job of coping than I have. Maddie seems happy and well-adjusted.”

  A whisper of a smile touched her lips. “She kn
ows she’s loved. That makes all the difference.”

  His stomach knotted. “That’s exactly where I’ve failed with Vicki.”

  “Grief can be very destructive.”

  So could guilt. But his spoken response was different.

  “You’re cutting me way too much slack. I was selfish and wrapped up in my own anguish. Vicki deserved better. But I’m determined to do whatever I can to make things right with her. If she’ll give me the chance.”

  “Children are very forgiving creatures.”

  “I hope you’re right. In fact, I’m counting on that.” He gestured toward her bowl. “Now eat your soup before it gets cold or you run out of time.”

  She picked up her spoon again. “When is Vicki coming?”

  “I’m flying to Wisconsin to pick her up this weekend.”

  “So you’ll need Edith starting a week from today?”

  “Yes. I’ll give her a call to finalize the arrangements.”

  They ate in silence as Craig tried to think of some innocuous topic to introduce to fill the sudden quiet. But he came up blank. Small talk didn’t seem to fit their charged relationship.

  In the end, Kate rescued him by spooning the last of her chowder into her mouth and reaching for her purse. “Sorry to have to run. But it looks bad when the teachers are late.”

  A speck of the soup’s cream base clung to the corner of her lips, and without thinking he reached for her napkin and gently wiped it away. At her muted gasp, however, he jerked his hand back and tucked it in his lap, willing the surge of heat on his neck to stay below his collar.

  “Sorry.” He tried for a smile. “There was a little misplaced quahog.”

  She positioned her purse in front of her chest. “Thanks. The kids would have had a field day with that. Teacher with egg—or in this case, chowder—on her face.” She rose. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

  Shooting him a quick, uncertain smile, she hurried toward the exit.