The Plan

by Tawdra Kandle

  Emmy changed the subject abruptly, and I knew I had to get inside before I overheard more that I shouldn’t. When I walked in and saw the two of them sitting there together, Emmy’s arms wrapped around my daughter, I fell a little deeper in love.

  I loved Emmy Carter. I was in love with her. She was beautiful, sexy and smart—but even more important, she was kind, compassionate and had the biggest heart I’d ever known.

  But I had to figure out for myself what would be the kindest thing: letting myself love Emmy, or protecting her from the walking disaster that was my heart by hiding how I felt?

  I wrestled with the question most of Sunday night as I tossed and turned and all of Monday, as I worked on various projects. I’d gone over with Logan and Jude to see the Riverside a few weeks back, and now that it was definitely theirs, I was working up estimates on the work they wanted me to do. I was convinced they were insane to tackle this one, but hey, who was I to judge? I couldn’t even decide if I were healthy enough to love someone.

  By dinnertime on Monday, I was restless and frustrated. I tossed down the pencil I’d been using to sketch out some of my ideas for the Riverside, grabbed my keys and stalked out to the Jeep. Without stopping to consider anything or anyone, I drove to Emmy’s house.

  I pulled in behind her ancient red minivan, set the parking brake on the Jeep and climbed out. At the front door, I hit the doorbell and waited, musing that I’d never had to knock at Emmy’s door before. She was always with me to let me inside.

  The door flew open, and a young girl with a long red braid stood there, frowning at me. After a minute, her expression cleared.

  “Oh, hey, Mr. Cooper. Mom, it’s Mr. Cooper!” Izzy yelled over her shoulder.

  Emmy came into the living room, drying her hands on a dishtowel. Her eyes were wide in surprise.

  “Hey, Coop. Did I miss something? Did we have an . . . uh, appointment?” Her face was flushed, and she glanced at her kids, as though she was afraid I was going to toss her down and have my way with her right there in front of them.

  “No. Sorry for dropping by without calling, but I just needed to see you.” It was the truth. I’d needed to see her the way an alcoholic needs the taste of whiskey trickling down his throat. Just being here with her gave me a measure of the peace I’d been missing all weekend.

  “Well, we’re about to get started on dinner. Want to stay?” My own longing was mirrored on her face.

  “You should say yes.” The boy who was sitting at the kitchen table looked around the doorway at me. “We’re having fried chicken, and Mom makes the best. Plus biscuits.”

  I winked at Emmy. “You had me at fried chicken. Thanks, I’d love to stay. But only if I can help.”

  A small girl with blonde hair that was nearly white latched onto my hand and dragged me toward the kitchen. “You can help me set the table. That’s my job.”

  “Dee, Mr. Cooper’s a guest. He doesn’t have to do anything at all.” Izzy scolded her little sister and then glanced up at me. “Mr. Cooper, do you want something to drink?”

  I caught Emmy’s eye, smiling at her over the kids’ heads. “I would absolutely love a drink, Izzy. How about lemonade?” I remembered Emmy telling me her oldest daughter had recently developed a passion for making it from scratch. My memory was rewarded when the girl’s face lit up.

  “Sure! Come sit down at the table. I’ll get it for you.” I followed her in and sat down next to Cameron, who was concentrating hard on a book and papers spread out over the table.

  “Mom, I don’t get this part. About the angles. I don’t even know why I have to know this anyway.” Cam tossed down the plastic protractor and scowled.

  Emmy began to speak, but I interrupted. “Cam, do you mind if I have a look? I might be able to help, and that way your mom can get going on that fried chicken for us.”

  Cameron nodded. “Yeah.” He pushed the book toward me. “It’s the part about measuring angles.”

  I checked out the lesson and smiled. “Well, you’re in luck, Cameron, because this happens to be something I use every single day.”

  “You do?” The boy looked dubious.

  I nodded. “Yup. I make furniture, you know, and other stuff for houses out of wood. I have to measure everything really carefully before I cut it, or it won’t fit together. And the angles have to be perfect, or the wood could split when I put it together.”

  Cam looked interested. “So this isn’t just crap they make us do in school? It’s, like, real stuff?”

  I bit back a laugh. “Yeah, it’s real stuff. Now let me show you the best way to do this.”

  By the time Emmy was setting the chicken on the table, Cam was finished with his homework and telling me enthusiastically about the latest penny boards down at Matt’s shop. I’d helped Dee set the table and drunk two glasses of Izzy’s lemonade. All in all, I felt like it was a successful hour.

  Dinnertime was a noisy and boisterous affair in the Carter house. The kids all chattered, tell Emmy about their day and adventures. Emmy asked questions, laughed at their jokes and made sure everyone ate. I watched them, thinking of my years of silent, lonely dinners, often standing at the workbench.

  As soon as the last piece of chicken was finished and the final biscuit argued over (Izzy won it), Emmy announced it was time for baths.

  “Don’t we have to help clean up?” Izzy glanced at her mother in surprise.

  “Not tonight. You get a reprieve. Go get ready for a bath and lay out your clothes for tomorrow. And help your sister.” When the kitchen was empty except for us and the noise had moved down the hall, Emmy looked at me, her eyes worried.

  “I’m sorry about that. Three can be a lot, when you’re not used to them. They’re good kids, but they need my attention this time of night.”

  “Emmy.” I touched her hand where it lay on the table. “This was the nicest dinner I’ve had in a long time. Please don’t apologize for your kids. They’re fantastic.”

  She smiled. “Well, I think so, but I’m a tad biased. It just struck me that you’ve only really known me as grown-up, child-free Emmy, not the me who’s a mom.” She spread her hands. “This is the whole package. I know it’s a lot. And I know it’s overwhelming.”

  “It’s a pretty amazing package.” I slid her hand into mine. “Emmy, I don’t know what’s going to happen with us, but no matter what, it won’t have anything to do with your kids. They’re part of you, and I admire the hell out of you for the job you’re doing with them.”

  She dropped her gaze to the table. “Thanks, Cooper. I appreciate that.” She cleared her throat. “So how’s Lex doing?”

  I shrugged. “Oh, she’s going to live. Apparently her friend spent the weekend begging Lexie’s forgiveness. I doubt they’ll ever be friends again, but she’ll probably forgive her. And the boy . . . if he knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay the hell away from my daughter.”

  Emmy nodded. “I wanted to break his neck.” She spoke so matter-of-factly that I almost fell out of my chair. And then I laughed.

  “Emmy Carter, one thing no one can say about you is that you’re predictable.” I stood up. “I better get going so you can put the kids to bed and have a little peace and quiet.”

  She looked up me through her eyelashes. “You could stay, for a little while at least. Once they go to sleep, my peace and quiet could get a bit lonely.”

  I groaned. “Don’t tempt me, woman. I have a few things to get done tonight. But I’ll see you this weekend?”

  “I’ll be at the Tide Friday and Saturday. I can always use help closing up.”

  “Count on it.” I glanced up the hallway and chanced dropping a quick kiss on her upturned face. “Thanks again for dinner.”

  Leaving the small house was harder than I’d expected. There was so much more home there than at my house. It was another piece of the Emmy puzzle, a picture that was becoming harder and harder to resist.

  I drove aimlessly for the better part of an hour, cruising familiar sp
ots. I drove past Daniel and Jude’s old house, the one Logan had designed for her and Daniel had built. The two men had loved the same woman for over twenty years, though only one of them knew it. Daniel had been gone for nearly four years now, and his son Joseph lived in the house now with his wife Lindsay and their two kids. It was as it should be, and yet . . . I missed the days when I could drop in to sit by the pool and have a beer with Daniel.

  Next I went by the Tide, closed up for the night. Matt’s shop was dark, too; I imagined he was at home with Sandra and her daughter, possibly going through the same kind of routine I’d just seen at Emmy’s house.

  I drove down the beach line for a few miles and pulled into a familiar driveway. When I rang the doorbell, this time there was no red-haired child answering the door. Instead Logan swung it open, yawning as he stood aside.

  “Cooper. This is a surprise. Come on in.” He opened the door wider and I followed him into the great room. The house was quiet, and I glanced into the kitchen.

  “Jude’s out with Meghan. The bride just arrived today from Georgia.” Logan chuckled. “They’re out picking up favor bags, which apparently is something every wedding needs, even though I have no idea what they hell they are. Anyway.” He pointed to the fridge. “Beer?”

  “Wouldn’t say no.”

  He pulled two bottles out and popped the lids for us. “Want to take them out on the deck? It’s a nice night.”

  “Sure.”

  We settled into chairs, and Logan lifted his bottle toward mine. “To old friends. To the posse.” It was our regular toast, and I clinked my bottle with his.

  “So is the wedding stuff getting crazy?” I stared out at the ocean.

  “Definitely, but Jude’s having a blast, so I’m cool with it. I think it’s going to be good. They’re all excited. Lindsay’s got the cutest little outfits for the kids.”

  I shook my head. “Sometimes it blows my mind to think you and Jude are grandparents. Doesn’t seem possible.”

  Logan shrugged. “Well, technically it’s Jude who’s a grandmother. And she was a young mom, and Joseph’s a young dad, so it’s not that bad.” He grinned. “I get to be PopPop Logan. I never thought I’d be that. So no complaints here.”

  “Was it hard, taking on a ready-made family?” I traced a drop of condensation down the side of my bottle.

  Logan glanced at me curiously. “No. Because they belong to Jude. They’re part of her, and I love her. And now they’re part of me, too. Of course, Meggie and Joseph were pretty much grown when I came into the picture, but it wouldn’t have made any difference. I wouldn’t have cared if she had ten kids. I wanted the whole package.”

  I nodded, thinking that I’d used that same phrase earlier with Emmy. The whole package. Did I want that?

  “So are you going to tell me what’s up, or are you going to make me pull it out of you?” Logan propped his feet on the ottoman.

  I sighed. “I think . . . I might be interested in someone.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “That’s all you have to say?”

  Logan laughed. “I was waiting for some elaboration before I dispensed advice.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’d think that’d be enough to make you sit up and take notice. Me, Cooper the love loser, actually considering taking the plunge again?”

  “Wait a second.” Logan leaned forward. “Take the plunge? Are you really thinking about getting married again?”

  I shook my head. “That’s not quite on the table. I just mean, a relationship. A girlfriend. One woman. Exclusive.”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “So you’re supposed to talk me out of it. Remind me how I screw this shit up. How I shouldn’t ruin someone else’s life.”

  Logan frowned. “Cooper, who ever said you screw up relationships? Where’s this coming from?”

  “It’s coming from two failed marriages, dude.” I took another long swig of my beer.

  “Yeah, well, you didn’t have the best material to work with. Nothing against Jolie, but you guys got married too fast. And Karlee—” He cast me a look. “We all knew what was going down there. Everyone but you, anyway. But this isn’t the same thing. Emmy’s a great girl. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s sensible—”

  “Hold on. Who said anything about Emmy?” I drew my eyebrows together.

  “Oh, shit.” Guilt colored Logan’s face. “Well, we’re talking about her, aren’t we?”

  I sighed in defeat. “Yeah, we are. How did you know?”

  Logan closed his eyes and shook his head. “My wife. Jude and I went over to Emmy’s one Saturday morning a few months back. Jude needed to drop something off. And your Jeep was in the driveway. We put two and two together . . .” He grimaced. “That’s why Jude invited you and Abby over here together that one night. She figured if it looked like we were match-making, you might come clean about Emmy.”

  “That wasn’t very nice to Abby.” I threw up my hands. “What the hell, Logan?”

  “Abby knew. She told Emmy about it the next day, hoping to push her into admitting what was going on. The two of you are the most stubborn people I’ve ever known.”

  “We’re not stubborn, Logan. We’re private. Emmy and I . . . we don’t know yet what’s going on. We’re taking it slow.”

  “Yeah. Good luck with that.” Logan smirked.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means everyone else in the world can see you’re head over heels in love with Emmy, and she feels the same way about you. I don’t know why the two of you don’t just admit it and date like normal people.”

  “Because I don’t want to do that to her, Logan. God, can’t you see I wouldn’t hurt Emmy for the world? And I’ll end up doing it. I know I will.”

  “Yeah, you will. And she’ll hurt you, too. It’s part of being in love. Part of being together. And you’ll make it up together, and life will go on. You don’t throw away a chance at happiness because you’re afraid of it, Cooper. I get that you’ve been burned before, but that’s all the more reason to grab your chance now and run.” He finished his beer and elbowed me. “You’re not getting any younger, man. Emmy may be your last shot before you hit the nursing home.”

  “Nice, Logan. I come here for advice and I get insults.”

  “Hey, you got the advice, too. It’s a package deal.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” I stood up, tossing my empty into a barrel Logan kept on the edge of the deck just for that purpose. “I’m heading home now. Thanks for the beer. And the insults.”

  “And the advice?” Logan grinned up at me from his chair.

  “Not sure yet. Jury’s still out. ‘Night, Logan.”

  THE DAY OF MEGHAN AND Sam’s wedding dawned with such a clear blue sky that I wanted to cry. I lay in bed, looking out the window and remembering my own disastrous wedding fifteen years before. God, I’d been stupid.

  I heard Dee’s voice coming from the kitchen and smiled. Of course, if I hadn’t been so stupid, I wouldn’t have my three greatest blessings, and I didn’t want to imagine life without my kids. No matter how much Eddy exasperated me, he’d given me three perfect gifts.

  It was nice to have my kids at home on a Saturday morning, I thought. Jude had broken with every sort of tradition and closed the Tide for the entire weekend, even though the wedding wasn’t until three in the afternoon. The ceremony was taking place in a tent just below the Riptide’s deck.

  The kids would go over to my parents’ this afternoon while I went to the wedding, but for now, I could enjoy having a lazy weekend breakfast with them. We made silly pancakes, eggs and bacon and giggled over the faces Cameron made out of his food.

  I began getting ready for the wedding not long after breakfast. I’d found my dress at a local vintage store, and I absolutely loved it. The bodice was fitted green silk, setting off my hair and skin, flaring out into a full skirt. It was fun and flirty, and I was excited to wear it.

  I was even more excited for Cooper to see it. Or ra
ther to see me in it.

  I dropped the children with my mom and dad, stopping long enough for them to admire me, and then I parked at the Hawthorne House so I could walk to the wedding with Abby. She looked elegant in her fitted silk dress, with a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun from her pale skin.

  “You look like a movie star from the fifties.” I admired her outfit. “That’s it, you’re not allowed to sit near me. You’ll steal all the men.”

  Abby laughed. “No worries, Em. No one will even see me when they get a load of you. Yowza.”

  “Yowza? What’s that?”

  She shrugged. “It means, like . . . hot mama! Or wooo hooo.”

  “Uh huh. You Yankees and your weird sayings.”

  Abby smirked. “Well, bless your heart.”

  I stuck out my tongue at her. “Bite me, Yankee.”

  We arrived at the beach setting in plenty of time. A huge white tent filled with chairs awaited us, and when we reached it, stepping down the wooden walkway set up for the wedding, an usher showed us to our seats.

  The bride’s side was filled with Cove folks, along with some of Jude’s family from around the country. I recognized her Uncle John, the one from New Jersey who made and bottled his own limoncello and sent Jude a case every Christmas. It was good stuff.

  The groom’s side didn’t lack for guests, either. I wondered if Burton, Georgia, had emptied out for this event. There couldn’t have been too many left at home, for sure. I spied Alex Nelson, who darted over to give me a quick hug. I turned to introduce him to Abby, but she gave me a mysterious smile.

  “We’ve met. Nice to see you again, Alex.”

  “You, too, gorgeous. How’re tricks at the B and B?”

  “Still running to capacity.”

  “Good to hear.” Another man approached, slipping his arm around Alex’s waist. “Oh, there you are. Emmy, this is my boyfriend, Cal. And Cal, you remember Abby.”

  “Of course.” Cal offered me his hand. He was handsome, with darker hair that contrasted with Alex’s sunny blond looks. “Nice to meet you, Emmy.” He leaned to murmur to Alex. “We’d better take our seats before someone else does. And your mother’s unhappy that we’re not sitting down yet.”