by Lucie Ulrich
“A week.” He took her arm, walking in the direction of her car.
“Think that’s long enough to put Sarah out of your mind?”
“Not even close, but it’s all the chief is willing to give me.”
“Speaking of…” Pippa waved toward the parking lot where Sarah leaned against her father’s SUV.
Kevin’s stomach bubbled when Sarah left her folks and headed their way. Her hair was piled up on her head, with a few curly tendrils at her temples. He liked it better when she let it fall freely over her shoulders, but wouldn’t complain if she had no hair at all. He raised a hand in greeting. “Heading out already?”
“Yes. Well, after we check out the flea market just south of here. Dad can’t get enough of those places. He’s always on the lookout for hidden treasure. ”
“So, I guess we won’t see you back until mid-June?”
Sarah shuffled her feet, her eyes darting between him and Pippa. “That’s right. I thought about coming over the Memorial Day weekend, but figured I could better use the time for packing and organizing.”
“We didn’t really discuss the bathroom storage cabinet,” Kevin said. “Would you like me to get started on one?”
“Thanks, but Mom took some measurements yesterday and is pretty sure there’s an old piece in the attic that will work. It belonged to her grandmother, so that would be cool.”
Kevin hated the bit of tension between them. Yesterday’s dinner felt like a dozen years ago, and he had no one to blame but himself. “Sure would. I hope it works.”
“If not, I’ll use it someplace else.” Sarah glanced over her shoulder. “I really should go. Dad also wants to stop at his favorite diner halfway between here and home, and it’s only open until two on Sunday.” She gave Pippa a hug. “Thanks again for everything, Pippa. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
“If I don’t hear from you, you’ll be hearing from me.”
When Sarah broke the hug, she faced Kevin. “You’ve been an incredible friend. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.” She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Bye, Kevin.”
Kevin pulled her aside and kept his voice low. “Bye? As in you’ve decided not to give me another chance, bye?”
She shook her head. “Bye, as in I’m sure I’ll see you around, but probably not for a one-on-one dinner anytime soon.” She waggled her fingers in a final wave, and walked away from him.
“Are you okay?” Pippa came up from behind and put her hand on his shoulder.
He turned with a smirk. “Eavesdropping? In front of a church no less?”
Pippa shrugged and grinned. “You know I have the eyes of a hawk and the hearing of an owl. I miss nothing. Besides, you only pulled her a few feet away.”
“True enough. Anyway, I’m better than if she’d blown me off altogether.”
“Good. Want to buy me lunch? Better yet, I’m going to buy you lunch. You name the place. I’ll even drive.”
“Do I look that pathetic?”
She kissed him in the exact spot Sarah had. “Just a little.”
“In that case, I want a steak: big, fat, and medium rare.”
“Didn’t we have beef last night?”
“And your point would be?”
Pippa let loose with that deep, throaty laugh of hers. “Okay, Mr. Carnivore.” She tugged him toward her car. “Where should we go?”
“How about the place you went to last night?”
She dug her keys out of her purse. “I’m more than happy to support them for the way they were kind to me, but I’m going to need to give it a little more time before I go back. Two different men in two days might give the manager the wrong impression.”
“Good point.” Kevin climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up. “Why don’t we check out that little dive on the beach? You know the one that was featured on that TV show a few weeks ago?”
“Ooh, great idea.” Pippa cranked the motor and backed out of her spot. She stopped to speak to Mr. Alexander, who stood by his vehicle “It was great to see the two of you again. Hopefully when Sarah moves down we’ll see you a bit more often.”
“Count on it,” Frank said. He leaned down and peered past Pippa. “Thanks again for everything, Kevin. I really do feel better knowing you’re close by if Sarah needs you.”
Kevin liked knowing he was close by, as well. Unfortunately, Sarah didn’t appear to feel the same way. Then again, this was the second time Frank mentioned that he appreciated Kevin’s close proximity to Sarah. In all likelihood he was reading what he wanted to into Frank’s words, but any flicker of hope was worth keeping alive.
“You’re welcome, sir. It was very nice meeting you and Mrs. Alexander. I’m sure we’ll meet again one day.” A rap on his window made him jump.
Lorraine, all smiles, motioned for him to lower the window. When he did, she stuck her head inside and kissed him on the cheek. “I echo Frank’s sentiments. Isn’t it just like God to orchestrate such a wonderful friendship?”
If Kevin didn’t know any better, he’d swear there was a conspiracy out there to throw him and Sarah together; only Sarah didn’t see it. He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
When the Alexanders backed away from the car, Pippa pulled forward. “Safe travels,” she called out with a wave.
Kevin laid his head back and closed his eyes. “What a mess.”
“Might not be as much of a mess as you think.”
He peered at her through one opened eye. “What does that mean?”
“I didn’t promise Sarah in so many words that I wouldn’t share what she and I talked about this morning, but she thinks I did, so I can’t really say anything.”
“Seriously, Pip?” Kevin straightened and faced her. “You throw out a teaser like that then leave me hanging?”
“Yeah, that was pretty mean.” She took a right turn. “I’m really not trying to tease you. I simply don’t want you to give up. You know how I feel about you and Sarah.”
“How you feel has no bearing on the fact that Sarah is in love, and as much as I’d like to think otherwise, it’s not with me. Maybe it’s time for me to leave well enough alone.” He leaned back and closed his eyes for a second time.
“Okay, I’ll promise not to bring it up again if you make me a promise too.”
“What?”
“You’ll keep the door open just a crack.”
He shook his head. “You’re impossible.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
****
Kevin changed from his church attire to an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Lunch with Pippa had been pleasant, and as promised she didn’t bring up Sarah’s name—at least not more than three times.
Checking to make sure he had everything he needed, Kevin headed over to Sarah’s apartment. It was best to get the promised work done quickly so he could put all thoughts of her behind him.
Who was he kidding? Until the day Sarah’s last name changed from Alexander to Montgomery, he’d always hold out hope—especially after Pippa’s cryptic chat in the car.
Kevin started with the cabinets, scraping, sanding, and painting, before moving on to the wainscoting. When his cell rang, he welcomed the break.
“Hey Pip, what’s up?”
“Where are you? I stopped by your house to bring you that information on the school assembly, but you aren’t here.”
“I told you I was going to Sarah’s place.”
“Yeah, but I figured it would only take a few hours to get the wainscoting done.”
“I decided to work on the kitchen too.”
“She’s not coming back for weeks, why the rush?”
“It’s just better this way.”
“Need any help? I can bring the papers over there.”
Even though the help would have been nice, Kevin knew Pippa’s help would come with copious amounts of well-meaning advice—something he didn’t want or need at the moment. “Thanks, but the hard stuff is done, and the painting wo
n’t take all that long. Just leave the papers in the mailbox and I’ll get back to you in a few days.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive, but thanks for the offer.”
An hour and a half later and tired to the core, Kevin headed home. He grabbed the papers from his mailbox and tossed them on the coffee table.
A small envelope fell to the floor. Kevin picked it up to find his name written on the front with green ink. The same ink he’d noticed on the street map Sarah had handed to him the first day they’d met.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The navy blue sky took on amber and teal hues as the sun emerged from behind dark clouds. Sarah sat on the small second-story balcony of her apartment with a hot cup of tea cradled between her hands.
In the ten days she’d been home, she hadn’t been able to get Kevin out of her mind. What was wrong with her? As nice as he was, Kevin was no Logan—the same Logan who hadn’t called or written since their less-than-stellar conversation. Mixed emotions stirred her insides.
Her phone rang and Sarah reached across the table to retrieve it. She debated letting it go to voicemail, but changed her mind. There was no point avoiding her parents any longer. “Hi, Mom.”
“Are you okay, honey? Your dad and I haven’t heard from you in ages.”
“I’m fine. You know how I get during the last few weeks of school. I promise to come for dinner one night this week.”
There was a slight pause. “That’s what I’m calling about. I spoke to Logan’s mother the other day and…”
Sarah waited for the shoe to drop.
“She wants to discuss wedding venues. She and Robert are coming for dinner. Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Sarah jerked, nearly spilling the last of her tea. This wasn’t a single shoe drop. It was an entire rack of shoes falling on her head. “And this is the first time you’ve mentioned it to me?”
“Honey, I left you three messages asking you to call me.”
Sarah had no comeback. She’d ignored the calls and obviously shouldn’t have. She’d also ignored a call from Abigail. A deep breath did little to calm her jittery nerves. Perhaps this was what she needed to help her get back on track and focus on what was important. “You’re right, Mom, and I’m sorry. What time should I be there?”
“Well… if you wouldn’t mind stopping by right after school, I could use the support while trying to ready the house for our guests.”
“Mom, you have more fashion sense and style than a hundred Abigail Montgomerys. You’re a fantastic cook and set a mean table.”
Her mother’s nervous laughter echoed through the phone. “I thought I’d cut some of the purple and lavender tulips for the centerpiece, then use Grandma’s ivory tablecloth. What do you think?”
“I think if you weren’t the mother of the bride, I’d hire you to decorate the wedding reception.”
“Oh, sweetheart, thank you.” Her mother’s relief lasted but a moment. “But you will you come right after school, right?”
Love warmed Sarah’s heart. “I’ll be there.”
****
By the end of the school day, Sarah was worn out. With only two weeks of school left, the kids were more than ready for summer vacation, as was she. It was always this way. As summer approached, concentration lagged. Sarah loved teaching, but longed to settle into her new place.
A swim in her apartment pool would help revitalize her, but she’d promised her mother and wouldn’t let her down.
While driving the short distance from the school, she prayed for a better attitude. Abigail was going to be her mother-in-law, which meant they would be family. Sarah prided herself on making and keeping strong family ties. She vowed to be patient, respectful, and even loving. The last part would be the hardest, but she would do her best to honor her soon-to-be parents.
Letting herself into the house, Sarah found her mother bustling from kitchen to dining room, to living room, arranging the table, setting out flowers, and checking on dinner.
“Slow down, Mom. They won’t be here for another two hours.”
“I know, but I want everything to be perfect.”
Sarah wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck and gave her a long, slow hug. “The house looks immaculate, as always, and if I’m not mistaken, you’re making your famous pot roast.”
“It’s your father’s favorite. I figure most men love beef, so hopefully Robert will too.” She pulled out of Sarah’s embrace. “You did tell me you’ve seen them eat red meat before, right?”
Sarah had seen them eat filet mignon with asparagus and other assorted vegetables, never a hunk of meat slathered in gravy and served with potatoes and carrots. Her mother didn’t need the details right now. “Yes, I have.” Whether Robert loved it or not, he would likely be polite enough not to say anything. As for Abigail, there was no telling what her reaction might be. Hopefully nothing that would embarrass the cook.
Sarah took her mother’s hand and led her to the kitchen. “I want you to sit and relax while I fix us a cup of tea.”
“Nothing with caffeine in it.”
That was a given. Sarah looked in the pantry and called out, “Apple cinnamon, ginger peach, or blackberry sage?”
“Whatever you’re having will be fine.” Lorraine took a peek at the roast.
After dealing with twenty-two second graders, and the impending dinner, what Sarah wanted was a super-concentrated dose of caffeine, but played it smart and chose the blackberry sage. “Mom, the roast is fine. Please sit so we can both wind down.”
Lorraine pulled out a chair and sat at the small table. “Are you okay, honey?”
“Other than being exhausted, you mean?” Sarah plugged in the electric kettle and set tea bags into two cups. “Between the end of the school year and my upcoming move, I haven’t gotten all the sleep I’d like.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” She patted the chair next to her.
Sarah took the offered seat. “Then what?”
“You’ve been so busy getting ready for your move that we haven’t really talked about how you’re handling the separation between you and Logan.”
A lump the size of a golf ball settled in Sarah’s throat. At first she hadn’t said much; trying to put on a brave face and not wanting to make more of it than necessary, she’d kept quiet about her last conversation with Logan. In truth, each day was harder than the one before it. She bit back tears.
“Sarah?”
The kettle trilled and Sarah jumped to fix their tea. “It’s hard,” she said with her back to her mother. “But I’m dealing with it the best way I know how.”
“You weren’t very forthcoming about Logan’s call when we were all in Sunset Cove; a clear sign that something had upset you. I’m not trying to pry, and you don’t have to tell me a thing. Just know I’m here if and when you need to talk.”
Sarah brought their tea to the table. “I know you are, Mom.” She sat, holding the warm cup between her hands. “Logan and I had a bit of an argument, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since.”
“Arguments are a normal part of any relationship.”
“I know.” She sipped her tea in an attempt to dislodge the clog in her throat. “But when you’re thousands of miles apart and your call is cut short without the situation being remedied, it doesn’t exactly leave you with warm, fuzzy feelings.”
“He hasn’t called back since?”
“Nope. No call, no letter.” She batted away a tear, hating the fact she was getting so emotional shortly before a meeting with Logan’s parents. They were gathering to talk about the wedding, and all Sarah could think about was how the groom-to-be had ended their last conversation. “I didn’t expect a letter with the mail being so slow and all, but I figured he’d have made some effort to contact me.”
Her mother patted Sarah’s hand. “I’m sure you’ll hear soon and work out whatever little squabble has you so upset.”
“I’m more afraid I’ll hear
about it from Abigail tonight.”
A deep crease split Lorraine’s eyebrows. “Care to elaborate?”
“Remember when I went to have dinner with the Montgomerys a couple of weeks ago?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I sort of bailed. Pippa called, and I faked an emergency and left.”
“Sarah, really.” Lorraine’s attempt at a straight face fell short.
“It gets worse.” She chewed the corner of her bottom lip. “I used you as my excuse.”
“Well, thanks for the heads-up.”
Sarah shrugged. “Sorry, it was the first thing that came to mind. Mr. Montgomery walked me to the door and called me out on it, but he was super cool and said he understood.” She set her cup down. “But then he said something that I haven’t been able to get off my mind.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, he said that Logan was a lot like Abigail, and he hoped Logan wouldn’t disappoint me.”
“That does seem a bit odd. In the short time I’ve known Logan, I haven’t picked up on any similarities.” She tilted her head to the side the way she always did when a sudden thought hit her. “Then again, being his father, Robert would likely pick up on things others might not.”
“Well, that doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Her mother smiled. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s not my intention to worry you. Just do your best to get things straightened out with Logan and work from there.” Lorraine got up to check on the roast again. “In the meantime, you have family and good friends to see that you don’t get too lonely.”
“Yes, I’m very fortunate in that respect.”
“I especially like that Antonio fellow. You certainly couldn’t ask for a better landlord.”
Sarah smiled. “He’s definitely one of a kind.”
“And your father and I are thrilled that you’re personally connected to the police force.”
A rumble sounded in Sarah’s stomach that had nothing to do with food. “Slight exaggeration, Mom. I know one policeman, and he’s more Pippa’s friend than mine.” She sipped her tea.
Lorraine turned from the stove. “Really? After all the work he so eagerly did? I would venture a guess he’s just a bit smitten with you.”
