by Robin Bayne
Liz unloaded on the table and stood near Colt, hands on hips. “What’s wrong?”
He closed his eyes, still smelling the flowery perfume Tia had been wearing, and leaned on his fists against the cool counter. A rush of something hit him; a longing, though he didn’t usually think that way.
“Colt?” Liz’s voice dropped to a whisper, as concern replaced curiosity.
He pulled a stool out, opening his eyes as he propped himself up. “Tia’s gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean gone? The reception’s in three hours, Colton Reece. You’d better explain yourself.” Liz moved closer and brushed something from Colt’s face. “Spill it.”
With a deep sigh, Colt explained how Tia’s sister had arrived, shocking them all, especially Colt, with her swollen figure. How Tia surely believed Colt was the father, and how after Cami had told him the truth, he hadn’t been able to tell Tia quick enough. The disappointment in her eyes had frozen his tongue.
He waited then, nearly tasting the metal on the hair clip thing Liz began chewing. She’d ripped it out of her hair and stuck it in her mouth, worrying Colt more that she was worried.
“Not your kid. Right?” She reached up and refastened the hair thing, shaking her head, now appearing totally unconcerned with his response.
“No.”
“Could have been? Timing wise, I mean?”
“Never slept with her.”
“Good. You still want Tia back?” Liz bent at the waist, still fooling with her hair. Her skirt rose up in the back and Colt looked away.
“I love her.”
She stood up, grinning. “In fact, you’d like to make your own babies with Tia, right?”
“Whoa,” Colt said, feeling punched in the gut, but in a warm, comfortable way. “That’s a bit personal, don’t you think?”
Liz nodded, and some of the carefully placed hair fell loose. “Oh, yeah. That’s why I asked.” She rolled up the sleeves of her black T-shirt. “Let me put this food away, and then we’ll go find her. We have a wedding reception to cater and your wedding to plan.”
Colt could only hope she was right.
~*~
“Yes, right there.” Tia directed Jake and his helper as they moved Colt’s creation to the exact spot she’d decided on, near the guest tables, but not too close. “Thanks so much, guys,” she said, forcing a smile.
Next she’d find Liz and ask her to go get the wedding cake. If she just kept moving she wouldn’t have time to think. “Hey, Jake, would you be willing to help Liz go for the cake? It’s three tiers, so she’ll probably need help getting it here.”
“Yes, ma’am, it would be my pleasure. Tim will hang up the banner you made. Where would you like it?”
Tia directed Tim, pleased at the warmth of sun on her skin. Unless a late-day storm popped up, the weather should be perfect for an outdoor event. The honeysuckle plants had even cooperated, sending their delicious scent wafting around the grounds.
“Tia!” Liz called from the back door. Colt stood behind her friend.
“There you are.” Liz came out and stood with her. “We’ve been looking for you.” Leaning closer, Liz examined Tia’s face. “You’ve been crying.”
Tia shook her head. “Not anymore. No time. Jake’s going with you to the bakery; he’s out front waiting.” She brushed her hands on her shorts and looked around. “I’m going to hang up the crepe paper and pop-up bells while you’re gone.”
Liz looked doubtful, but stepped back. “Are you OK? Colt told me what happened.”
“I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about this now.” She crossed her arms, hoping Liz would take the hint. A truck’s backup beeper sounded from the front. “That’s the beverage delivery. C’mon.” Tia took Liz’s hand and pulled her along.
Colt watched her from the house. Well, he could just stay in there and talk to Cami. Maybe she’d buy them a book of baby names.
Crossing the side drive, Liz tried again. “It’s not his baby, you know.”
Tia stopped. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Cami’s met someone else. She and Colt weren’t that…close.”
Tia sniffed. “Why didn’t he tell me that?” Briefly, she recalled running off, assuming the worst. Then she’d hid in the dinghy to nurse her wounds. Maybe she should have stuck around−like a grown-up.
Liz watched her, probably trying to read her expression. “He’s been looking for you. Tia, Colt and I tried to find you for almost an hour. He was as surprised at all this as you were. Where were you?”
“In the boat.” Her own words sounded childish to Tia, and she glanced at the ground, unable to meet Liz’s knowing gaze.
“Maybe Colt needed someone to help him get through this, too, and would have liked to be able to lean on you.” Liz spoke softly, criticizing Tia in a gentle manner.
Tia could only stare. Liz blamed her?
A series of honks sounded from the front lot.
“Come on, your drink guy and Jake are getting impatient.” Liz took her friend’s hand and squeezed gently. “Just think about what I said. You and Colt need to depend on each other, trust each other when things happen. You both have faith, lean on it!”
They rounded the house and Liz waved to the waiting men, who both now leaned against the delivery truck.
“And Tia, one thing I’ve learned is that in this life, something’s always just waiting to happen.”
12
Tia entered the front door, determined to get the decorations and start putting them up. The front parlor looked perfect, clean and shiny, with an arrangement of fresh white roses on the delicate coffee table.
Colt had already picked up the flowers and managed to put the roses in just the right vase, just the right spot.
Her heart ached a little as she contemplated what Liz had just said. She really hadn’t given Colt a chance to explain, and it wasn’t his fault Cami had shown up today.
Cami must be hiding in one of the rooms, she decided. She double-checked the hall powder room, where she’d run into her sister a little more than an hour ago, and found it still clean and party-ready. She grabbed an extra roll of toilet tissue from the linen closet and sat it on the counter under a crocheted cover. Then she straightened the gray guest towels and pushed the lacy curtains open further, inviting in more sunlight.
She heard voices as she approached the kitchen and steeled herself to see Colt and Cami.
Instead she saw Colt and George at the kitchen table, drinking iced tea as they talked.
George stood when he saw her. “Tia, I hope you don’t mind my being here. I know it’s a busy day for you, but I wanted to apologize for the way I’ve acted, and to tell you how proud I am of you for what you’ve done with the inn. Both you and Colt. I’m staying with John Berger now, in town. My old friend has kindly taken me in and gets me to the doctor every week. He’s told me what you two have been through, and I’m sorry. I never meant to add to your troubles.” He looked down at his hands, still on the rim of his glass.
She didn’t know what to say, so Tia remained silent, hovering in the doorway. This was not a time when she could think about this.
“He’s not staying,” Colt said, pushing his chair away from the table. “But he pleaded to talk with you for a minute.”
“It’s OK,” she said, and took two steps into the room. “Thank you, George. I appreciate your words. But now I really need to go hang the decorations.”
George nodded and moved around the table to where Tia stood. She saw the added lines around his eyes, the deeper graying of his hair, and she closed her eyes. If only her own parents had lived so long. She felt a peck on her cheek.
George had kissed her. “You do look like your mother,” he whispered, his voice ragged, unsure. “And I loved her so.”
Tears stung Tia’s eyes. “I know. We both miss her.”
George nodded, turned back to the table and picked up his hat. It was a black cowboy-style hat, the kind he’d always worn. “Guess I
’ll be going now. I wish you kids all the best. Thanks for listening.”
When he reached the hallway, Tia called out for him to wait, and she saw a tear on his own cheek when he turned. She couldn’t let him leave like that. This man had once been a second father to her.
“Would you like to go to the cemetery and visit her with me sometime?” It hurt just to ask, but Tia felt a bit of grief lift, scuffing off like a layer of dead skin.
He nodded, clutching his hat as he had gripped his glass before, and continued down the hall.
~*~
Colt watched the scene, surprised and warmed by Tia’s acceptance of his father. “Thank you,” he said, watching her face. “I can’t promise he’ll always be that aware.”
She shrugged as if it was nothing, but Colt knew better.
“It’s so hard to think of your parents as having a love life, of loving someone other than each other, you know? To imagine your own mother or father having a true love they can’t, or won’t act on... “ Tia picked up her box of paper and plastic wedding bells and used her head to indicate that Colt should open the sliding door. “Want to help me hang these?”
“I don’t know. Are you going to climb a ladder? I wouldn’t mind holding it steady for you.”
“So you can stare at my backside?” she asked, suddenly playful.
He slid the door open, and then took the box from her. “Unless you’d rather gaze at mine.” His heart felt lighter than it had all day. Surely Tia wouldn’t let the love between them die out. She shook her head, but followed him to the backyard where they transformed a lawn full of plastic furniture into a festive wonderland, crowned by the flowered arch. A honeybee buzzed around it, stamping it as a real floral arrangement.
“It’s beautiful. Thanks so much for all your help.” Tia stood in front of Colt, reached for his head with both hands, pulling him to her for an appreciative kiss.
Someone cleared his throat. “Hey, Ms. Francis, where would you like us to set up?”
“The musicians are here,” she murmured, pulling away almost reluctantly.
“Oh, that explains it,” he said, turning her to stand in front of him.
“What?”
He nibbled her ear and then whispered in it. “Why I thought I heard music when you kissed me.”
The rest of the day passed in a blur of bridal satin, bouquets, rented tuxedos, and Tia’s gourmet food.
Several times Tia spotted Colt watching her from across the yard, with an intent look on his face, as if he wished they were alone. Maybe tonight they would be, again.
They saw the bride and groom off together, Colt beside her, his hand supporting the small of her back. The newlyweds departed in a white convertible, from which they waved and blew kisses to their friends and family, driving away with the clatter of tin cans behind them. At least she hadn’t gone into labor.
“Tia,” the bride’s father said, handing her a hefty check, “thank you for giving my daughter such a lovely memory.”
She exchanged glances with Colt.
“And for pulling it all together on such short notice.”
Tia smiled, shaking his extended hand. “It was our pleasure; I couldn’t have done it without my gang.” She looked around, wondering where Liz and Jake had disappeared to. “Please refer your friends to me. Word of mouth is the best advertising.”
He nodded. “I will.” After shaking hands with both of them, Mr. O’Hara collected his remaining guests and herded them to the front yard.
Tia spotted Jake then, helping some of the ushers load wrapped gifts into one of the cars.
Liz had her arm around one of the bridesmaids, whispering what must be advice in the poor girl’s ear. The day had been a success, and Tia had almost forgotten that her sister lurked somewhere in the house.
Almost.
~*~
Cami stood in front of the sink, rinsing a platter. Beside her on the counter, a stack of freshly washed dishes sat spread on a towel across the counter.
Tia froze in the doorway, ready to ask what she thought she was doing, but that was obvious. Some sort of penance? Tia shifted as she stood, still holding the now-folded paper bells.
Liz collided with Tia from behind, her armload of boxes preceding her. “Hey, why’d you stop?”
Moving aside into the kitchen, which now reeked of lemon-fresh soap, Tia let her friend in to see for herself.
“What’s going on?” Liz wasn’t shy about demanding.
Cami shut off the water and turned, her belly arriving first. Her eyes were pink and swollen.
Liz suddenly had nothing to say. She dumped her boxes on the clear table.
Tia did the same, the swish of cardboard and paper the only sounds in the room.
“Tia, can we talk?” Cami rubbed her stomach, pulled out a chair and eased into it. “I tried to call you. I wanted to tell you things that night.”
Arms crossed in front of her, Tia fought back feelings of outrage and compassion−both at war in her.
Liz touched her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Should I stay?”
“Thanks, Liz, but I’ll stay.” Colt had entered through the sliders, bringing in more of the party goods and a rolled up banner.
Liz touched his arm, as she had Tia’s, before leaving. “I’ll be upstairs,” she said. “Call if you need anything.” Liz looked pointedly at Cami. "Anything," she repeated.
Tia wondered if her friend was worried about the tension here. Offering Liz a smile, Tia breathed easier, as if her adrenaline was leveling off. She didn’t need a “fight or flight” reaction here; this was her home. Her business.
But was Colt hers as well?
After pushing aside the boxes, he sat at the table, legs straddling a chair turned backwards, arms crossed on its back.
Cami threw them both imploring looks.
Tia struggled with whether to join them or not.
“Tia?” Colt pushed a chair out in invitation. “We might as well do this now.”
“Please talk to me,” Cami said, her hands folded in front of her.
Tia looked from her sister’s left hand to Colt’s, and though Cami wore no rings, Tia knew a diamond had once been there, binding them together. She wondered if they would have ever gone for it and gotten married. She could practically picture Colt on one knee, see the pair with matching gold bands. Her stomach rolled, the stress of the day catching up to her. Nothing said she had to be here, to talk about this now. She whirled and yelped as her hand smacked the door frame. So much for a dignified exit.
“Tia!” Colt’s voice trailed after her.
She didn’t turn. Didn’t listen. Didn’t care. Forcing her legs to move, she headed for her room. Over her shoulder, she called, “I’ll talk to you both in the morning.”
~*~
He had let her go. Tomorrow would be soon enough to sort it all out. With a sigh he also let go of his hopes to be close to Tia that evening, let alone propose. Colt stretched and tried to focus on Cami. She was still a pretty woman, though now he had no idea what he’d ever seen in her.
“You know, I should be mad at you for not telling me you were here with her. I had no idea where you were and came, half hoping Tia had heard from you.”
Colt shrugged. “You didn’t care.”
“True. Not by the end.”
“I think you should be here in the morning.”
“Don’t worry. I’m staying in Mom’s old room.”
He snorted. “I want you to try to talk to Tia. Put some closure on this thing.”
She had the decency to blush. “Colt, I’ve told Tia, and I’d like you to know, I am truly sorry for everything I did. But I did it because I loved you and−”
“Please.” Colt shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it. But Tia needs to. We can’t get back the last eight years, Cami, but I’d like to go forward. You started this, so finish it. Settle it with your sister.”
She nodded, her eyes wet and gleaming.
He couldn�
��t be soft. “And then, don’t come back.”
Colt left her in the kitchen, pouting, and trekked the grounds, grabbing the last remnants of the reception that had been overlooked. He shut off the patio lights, secured the locks and went to add chlorine to the pool. It was early, only nine or so, but the inn had quieted after the party, and no other guests had checked in.
Maybe tomorrow he’d get up early and ride.
There were way too many memories in the house.
And he remembered them all.
~*~
Why had she let Cami and Colt talk her into this? Tia shivered; the morning air was crisp on the lake. She sat opposite her sister in Jake’s boat, the wood plank hard under her hand as she clutched the side.
A boat. And Cami. And all before breakfast. What had she been thinking? Colt had approached her early this morning, waiting for her to surface. Chlorine had burned her eyes as she opened them to see his grim expression.
He stooped by the pool, offering her a towel. “Hey, Tia. You about done?”
Tia’s heart had raced at seeing him, until she anticipated what he would say next. When he’d rapped on her bedroom door the night before and said he’d see her in the morning, she had a good idea why. Now, she said nothing.
“You and Cami need to talk. She’s down at the pier, avoiding me, I think, and I was hoping you’d go down to hash it out with her.”
He looked uncomfortable.
Tia gave him credit for that. She’d been about to refuse when he sealed the deal.
“She’s promised to leave for good after she talks to you.”
Unable to resist that offer, she’d toweled off and pulled terry shorts and a top over her damp suit.
Now the material clung to her skin, chilling her from thigh to shoulders. And Cami had yet to speak.
The calm water cradled the boat so it barely rocked.
Cami’s humongous belly, on the other hand, must have been moving since she kept rubbing it.
“Oh,” Cami murmured to her stomach. She looked up almost shyly at Tia. “He kicked.”
“He?” Tia felt drawn to the baby, despite her intentions to stay aloof. It was hard to imagine she’d soon have a real, live nephew. Too bad Cami would be his mother.
