by Irene Hannon
“Maggie girl.” He didn’t relinquish his grip on her hands. “You look wonderful. A sight for sore eyes, I can tell you. I heard you were here, but I didn’t expect you to come and meet me. I’m glad you did, though. It does a body good to see a friendly face in a strange place.”
Maggie knew Jake was right behind her, knew he’d heard his father’s comment. She was sure it had cut. And she was also sure that was Howard’s intent. Clearly the gulf between the two of them was as wide as Jake had indicated.
“Hello, Dad.”
Howard transferred his gaze from Maggie to Jake and spoke in a flat voice. “Hello.”
“Did you have a good trip?”
“It was bumpy. And long.”
“Then let’s get your luggage and head home so you can rest.”
“I don’t need to rest.”
Before Jake could respond, Maggie tucked her arm in Howard’s and began walking toward the luggage carousels. “You’re a better traveler than me, then. I’m always tired after a long plane trip. And Atlanta to Maine qualifies as long in my book.”
“Well, I might be a little tired.”
“Maybe a short nap would be nice when you get home.”
“Maybe it would.”
Although Howard conversed readily with Maggie, and his eyes even took on their old sparkle a couple of times, it was obvious he was doing his best to ignore his son. Several times she tried to draw Jake into the conversation, but Howard would have none of it.
When Jake pulled into the parking lot of Whispering Sails, Howard leaned forward in the backseat. “Is this your place, Maggie?”
“Yes. And the bank’s.”
“Well, it’s mighty pretty. And a nice view, too.”
“Thanks, Pop. It’s been our home for a long time now. We love it here.”
“I can see why. What’s that over there?” He pointed to a small structure of weathered clapboard about a hundred yards from the house.
“That’s our cottage. It’s a little roomier and more private than the house. Some of our guests come back and stay there every year. I’ll give you a tour soon, if you’d like.”
“That would be nice. Something pleasant to look forward to.”
She reached back then, and clasped his hand. “You take care now, okay?”
He held on to her hand as if it was a lifeline, the strength of his grip surprising her. “Is that tour a promise, Maggie?”
The plea in his eyes made her throat tighten, and her heart was filled with compassion and affection for this man she’d once loved like a father. Cutting her ties with Jake’s parents had been painful, but at the time it had seemed the best way to preserve her sanity and start a new life. She’d never stopped missing them, though. And she was more than willing to do what she could to ease the difficult transition for this man who had lost not only his wife, but his health, his home and now his independence.
“Of course. Give me a call once you’re settled and we’ll have lunch.”
“I’d like that.” When he at last released her hand, she reached for the door handle.
“I’ll walk Maggie to the door, Dad.”
“That’s not necessary, Jake.”
“I insist.”
“At least some of your good manners stuck with you.”
A muscle in Jake’s jaw clenched at his father’s muttered comment, but he didn’t respond. Maggie stepped out of the car and met him at the path to the house, deciding not to protest when he took her arm. She wasn’t going to give him the cold shoulder, too.
“It’s pretty bad, isn’t it?” She kept her voice low as they walked toward the front door.
“And not apt to get much better any time soon, I’m afraid.”
He paused when they reached the porch and raked his fingers through his hair. “Thanks for going today, Maggie. I think it was good for Dad to see a friendly face, as he so diplomatically put it.”
There was a touch of bitterness—and despair—in Jake’s voice, and though Maggie had her own unresolved issues with this man, she couldn’t help but feel compassion for his plight. Impulsively she reached over and laid a hand on his arm. “I’m sure things will improve in time.”
“I wish I had your confidence. Goodbye, Maggie.”
As he walked back to rejoin his father, Jake hoped Maggie was right. But he wasn’t sure he could ever make peace with the stony-faced man waiting in his car.
The way it was looking, that would take a miracle.
Chapter Five
Jake pried open his eyes, glanced at the bedside clock with a groan, then pulled the sheet back over his shoulder and turned on his side. Even after all his years in the navy, living by rigid timetables that often included unmercifully early reveille, he’d never adjusted to getting up at the crack of dawn. Okay, so maybe eight o’clock didn’t qualify as the crack of dawn. But it was still too early to get up on a Sunday morning.
He had just drifted back to sleep when a loud clatter in the kitchen killed any hope of more shut-eye. As he’d discovered in the past couple of days, Howard was an early riser. But in general he tried to go about his business quietly until Jake appeared. Clearly, however, his father was in no mood to humor him this morning.
With a resigned sigh Jake swung his feet to the floor. He supposed he should look on the bright side. At least they hadn’t come to blows yet. On the other hand they’d barely spoken since Howard’s arrival. Jake had tried to engage his father in conversation, but the older man responded with monosyllables or grunts.
Jake frowned as Howard dropped something onto the counter. For whatever reason, his father appeared to be in a worse mood than usual today.
Jake pulled on his jeans and combed his fingers through his hair. Might as well find out what was up. Whatever it was, Jake had a sinking feeling it had something to do with him.
He padded barefoot toward the kitchen, pausing on the threshold to survey the scene. Judging by the toast crumbs on the table and the almost-empty cup on the counter, Howard had already eaten breakfast. A crusty oatmeal pot added to the unappetizing mess. Jake jammed his hands into his pockets and took a deep breath.
“I would have made breakfast for you, Dad.”
“I might starve waiting for you to get up.”
Jake felt a muscle tighten in his jaw, but he tried to maintain a pleasant, civil tone. “I spent a lot of years in the navy getting up early. I like to sleep in when I can. I’ll be on my new job in less than a month, back to a regular schedule. I’m enjoying this while I can.”
Howard spared him a disparaging glance, disapproval evident in his eyes. “It doesn’t look to me like you plan on going to church today.”
So that explained why his father was wearing a tie. And he was right. Since Jake had left home, he’d drifted away from his faith. Oh, he still believed all the basics. He just hadn’t seen much reason to demonstrate those beliefs by going to church. And, as time went by, his faith had become less and less a part of his life. But it was still very much a part of his father’s.
“Give me a few minutes to get dressed.” He said turned on his heel and retreated to his bedroom.
“What time are the services?” his father called.
Jake ignored the question—because he didn’t have a clue. But Maggie would. He knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that her faith still played a pivotal role in her life. There was probably a church somewhere near Castine, but if he had to go, he figured he might as well use it as an excuse to see her. He reached for the phone, hoping she hadn’t left yet.
By the time Jake reappeared in the kitchen fifteen minutes later, in a navy blue blazer and striped tie over khaki slacks, his father had cleaned up the kitchen and was sitting at the table reading the paper. He looked up and adjusted his glasses when Jake stepped into the room, and for the briefest second Jake could have sworn he saw a flash of approval. But it was gone so fast, he couldn’t be sure.
“So what time are services?”
“Ten o’clock.”
>
“When do you want to leave?”
“Nine-thirty should be fine. I’m going to grab some breakfast first.”
His father perused the paper as Jake toasted a bagel and poured some coffee. Except for the rustle of paper as he turned the pages, the house was quiet. Jake didn’t even try to converse with him this morning. The last few days had been draining, and he was tired. The tension in the air between them was so thick, he could cut it with the proverbial knife. Jake found himself on edge all the time, constantly bracing for his father’s next dig.
The drive to the church also passed in strained silence. But the sight of Maggie waiting outside for them, just as she’d promised, brought a wave of relief. Funny. As far as he was concerned, Maggie had more reason than his father did to treat him badly. Yet despite her wariness, she was at least civil. That was more than he could say for his father.
“Hello, Pop. Hi, Jake.”
Jake smiled at Maggie as they approached. She looked lovely today, in a teal green silk dress, her hair sending out sparks in the sun when she moved. In the soft morning light, she hardly looked older than she had twelve years before.
“Hi.” He smiled at her, and their gazes connected for a brief, electric moment before hers skittered away.
“Maggie, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” Howard’s tone was warm, and for the first time since the day they’d picked him up at the airport, the older man smiled. It was amazing how that simple expression transformed his face. Gone was the cold, prickly, judgmental man who shared his house. In his place was a congenial stranger, easygoing and good-natured. He seemed like the kind of person who could get along with anybody. Anybody but his youngest son, that is.
“How have you been, Pop?”
He shrugged. “Kind of hard to adjust to a new place. I’m looking forward to that lunch and tour you promised me, though.”
“How about tomorrow?”
“That would be great!”
“Jake, would you like to come, too?” Maggie turned to him, her tone polite, though some of the warmth had faded.
The idea of spending time with Maggie under any circumstances was appealing to Jake. But he knew his presence would ruin the treat for the older man. With regret, he shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t. I need to go over to school and get some things squared away.” Without even looking, he could sense his father’s relief.
“Another time, then.”
Did she mean it? Jake wondered. She’d done little to encourage his attention since that first morning at the B&B when he’d reappeared in her life. She was polite, pleasant, civil. But he sensed that she’d also posted a No Trespassing sign on her heart. She would be nice to him because she was a lady. But he suspected that she had set clear limits on their relationship.
Maggie took Howard’s arm and led him into the church, leaving Jake to follow in their wake. In Maggie’s presence Howard stood up straighter, walked with more purpose. It was obvious that Maggie was good for him. And maybe that was why their paths had crossed—if, indeed, there was a purpose to it. Not because the two of them were destined to renew a failed romance, but because Maggie would be able to help Howard.
It was a sobering thought, and not one Jake especially liked. It wasn’t that he begrudged his father the joy Maggie seemed to give him. But somehow he’d hoped that…well, he didn’t know exactly what he’d hoped would come out of their chance meeting. He only knew it had something to do with him and Maggie—not Maggie and Howard.
When the service ended, Maggie accompanied them outside, then turned to say goodbye. But Jake didn’t want her to leave, not yet. She was the only bright spot in his day, and he was in no hurry to return to the silent, tension-filled house with his father.
“Where are the girls today?” Some conversation would buy himself at least a few more minutes in her presence.
“Minding the store. We take turns going to services on Sunday. What time would you like me to pick you up tomorrow, Pop? We don’t take guests on Sunday night, so my Monday mornings are free.”
“I’ll drop Dad off, Maggie. It will save you a trip.”
She considered his offer for a moment, then gave a shrug of concession. “All right. How about ten o’clock, Pop?”
“The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” She reached over and gave Howard a hug, and for a moment Jake envied the older man. Though she was only a whisper away from him, she was as distant as some exotic locale where he’d been stationed. The breeze sent a whiff of her perfume his way, and he inhaled the subtle, floral scent. Nothing dramatic or sophisticated, just refreshing and filled with the promise of spring. It seemed somehow to capture her essence.
“Goodbye, Jake.” She looked his way as she stepped out of his father’s embrace and the sizzling connection was there again as their gazes met, sending a surge of electricity up his spine. How was it possible she could move him so after all these years with no more than a look?
“See you tomorrow, Maggie,” Howard said brightly.
With a nod, she turned and walked away. Fast. As if she was running away from him. He knew she didn’t want to feel anything for him. He understood that. He also understood that she had no choice. They had no choice. The emotional ties that had once bound them might be tattered. But the chemistry was still there.
“She always was a real special girl.” Howard watched her disappear around the corner. “It sure is nice to see that some things never change.”
Jake glanced at his father, prepared to take offense. But for once the older man’s remark didn’t seem to be directed at Jake. His eyes were thoughtful, sad even, as he stared after Maggie. Maybe his father was thinking of all the things that had changed in his life these past few years. Death, illness, loss of independence—they’d all taken their toll.
Both his father and Maggie had clearly changed through the years. And so had he. For the better. The challenge was to convince these two very special people of that.
“This sure is a wonderful place, Maggie.” Howard paused in the foyer as they finished their tour of Whispering Sails. “And you did all this yourself?”
“All the decorating. And a lot of the minor renovations. It’s amazing what you can learn from the Net. Plumbing, wallpapering, electrical repairs, carpentry—it’s all there.”
Howard shook his head. “I would never have believed it. I don’t recall you ever showing an interest in that kind of thing in the old days.”
“Well, what’s that old saying—‘Necessity is the mother of invention’? You can learn an awful lot when you have to. And it’s a whole lot more economical than paying someone to do it. So how about a quick look around town before we have lunch?”
By the time Maggie pulled up in front of Jake’s cottage to drop Howard off, it was nearly three o’clock. She could tell that the lonely older man was reluctant to see their outing come to an end, and her throat tightened in empathy. If only he and Jake could reach some understanding. This rift had to be hard on both of them.
“Maggie, would you come in and have a cup of coffee? Jake’s not back yet. His car’s still gone.”
Maggie hesitated, but only for a moment. As long as she didn’t have to worry about running into Jake, she could spare a little more time for Howard. And maybe she could find some words that would help these two strong-willed men breach the gap between them. “All right. For a few minutes.”
Half an hour later, sitting at the kitchen table with Howard, Maggie broached the touchy subject. “So how have you and Jake been getting along?”
Howard’s response was a wry face and a shrug. Which pretty much confirmed her suspicion. She took a sip of her coffee, then wrapped her hands around the mug, choosing her words with care. “You know, Pop, it would be easier if you and he could find a way to make some sort of peace.”
He glanced down at his coffee. “Not likely.”
“I feel guilty about the two of you, you know. Like the rif
t between you is my fault.”
“That’s not true. At least not anymore. Jake’s decision to walk out on you did start everything. What kind of man would do a thing like that? I thought I raised him better.” He shook his head and sighed. “But things just went downhill from there. I guess I made my feelings pretty clear—I never have been one to mince words—and he just quit coming around. Oh, once in a while on leave he’d show up for a few days. More for his mother than anything else. He did love her, I’ll give him that. But he should have come around more often. She was always sad he didn’t. It was almost like he cut us off because we reminded him of something he was ashamed of. Even when Clara was sick, we didn’t see much of him. Not till the end. Barely made it home before she died, in fact. That wasn’t right.”
“Where was he at the time, Pop?”
“Japan.”
“That’s pretty far away.” She let that sink in for a minute. “I don’t suppose the navy would have looked kindly on too many trips home.”
Howard squinted at her. “Seems strange, you defending him, Maggie. After what he did to you.”
She shrugged and took a sip of her coffee. “It was a long time ago, Pop. We were different people then. I was devastated for a long time. Eventually I was able to leave the past behind and move on. I won’t lie to you, though. It was a very tough road alone. But the girls helped a lot.”
“I can see you’ve made a nice life for yourself. But…well, I hope you won’t think I’m being too nosy…I just wondered how you feel about living this close to Jake again after all these years.”
Maggie took a moment to consider that question as she poured herself another cup of coffee. It was the same question she’d been asking herself for weeks. And it was a question that became even harder to answer after yesterday, when one sizzling look from Jake had not only sent her blood pressure skyrocketing, but made her feel as shaky as a newborn colt.
So far, she hadn’t come up with an adequate answer. Her feelings were all jumbled together…shock, anger, trepidation. She was nervous and jumpy and confused. Mostly confused. Because she’d long ago relegated her relationship with Jake to history. She’d even gotten to the point where weeks went by when she didn’t think of him. She had finally convinced herself that he no longer meant anything to her.
