“I’d thought, even believed, Bill and I would have at least one more child, so that’s why I said I thought he’d be a good big brother.”
Another reason she’d ended up with a broken heart. She’d not sugarcoated the story. “And now Gordon has a baby sister.”
“Not the way I planned it,” she said. “But what do you know? Even preteen kids can’t resist a baby.” She snorted a laugh. “Even one name Zinnia.”
He laughed along with her. “Whose idea was that?”
“Probably Carla’s,” she said sarcastically, but with a laugh in her voice. “Most of the time I’m okay with all this—now. But if I tell the whole truth, it took me a couple of years to heal. I was really bitter about losing what I considered my ideal family.” She looked down, studying her hands, or so it appeared. “My pride—and confidence—got taken down a notch.”
Wounded pride wasn’t fatal. But she’d used the word heal, the same word people used when reassuring him after his losses. Eventually he’d heal, most had claimed.
“I made it sound like it was smooth, no bumps at all,” she said, “but we’ve had to work hard to figure out how to give Gordon a lot of time with his dad. Carla hasn’t always been easy to deal with on that score, especially now that she has Zinnie.”
Sensing she had more on her mind, he didn’t speak.
Dawn stood and went to the porch rail and leaned against it, looking at him directly now. “Family is really important to you, Jerrod. I can see how you feel. It’s the same for me. Last year, when Zinnie was born, I went through another painful time. But I got my head on straight enough to encourage Gordon to enjoy her. She is his baby sister, after all.”
He refilled their glasses, glad to busy his hands. If he told her how he admired her, he’d only stumble over the words and it would sound patronizing.
“Luckily, though, I got over Bill. And who knows? Maybe another marriage is in the cards for me. Maybe not. But I eventually adjusted to reality and got on with my life. And I love my business.”
“That’s what makes it great working with you,” Jerrod said, grateful for a comment he could roll off his tongue that carried no risk. “You bring such joy to it.” From the day he met her back at the hotel in Chicago, she’d struck him as a woman who was easy to be with—and look at.
“Thank you for the kind words,” she said, voice soft. “They mean a lot coming from you.”
Puzzled, he cocked his head.
She stood and drained her glass. “I mean because you’re successful yourself, but much more important, you’ve survived real tragedy, Jerrod. The kind that crushes people, but here you are, starting over. Willing to try something new.”
“Oh, I don’t know how far I’ve come.” He weighed the pros and cons of mentioning what he’d lost. Despite doubting the wisdom of bringing it up, his gut pushed him to go ahead. “Wyatt mentioned she showed you the photos of Augusta and Dabny when the two of you were alone in the office.”
“Yes, well, she saw me glancing at them on the shelf behind her.” She laced her fingers in front of her chest. “It sounds trite, I know, but seeing Augusta, so beautiful, and Dabny in all her childlike dreaminess, touched my heart more than I can say.” She lowered her head. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your privacy.”
He waved her off. “No, no, not at all. I put the photos out after those interviews. We’d had our go-round about being more open. But I didn’t think it through, so I brought the most personal pictures back.”
“Good,” she said. “A wise choice.”
“It’s one thing to have some location pictures with the crew, including Augusta and Dabny, but some were just family.” His jaw tightened. “I’ve sent too many mixed messages, even to Wyatt and Rob. They don’t know if I want to talk about Augusta and Dabny or not.”
“There’s something about the candid snapshots, those moments in time...”
Before she went any further in searching for words, he said, “At first I couldn’t bring myself to look at those pictures, and then it was all I wanted to do. I think now I can see them with better eyes. Frankly, healthier eyes.”
She nodded her understanding.
“I didn’t mean to bring down the mood, Dawn.”
“You didn’t.” She pointed to herself. “I did that when I brought up my former husband.”
“Not really. You liked your life with your husband. You felt cheated when it was taken away. That’s not a crime.” Knowing exactly how she’d respond, he raised his hand and quickly added, “And I’m not trying to say our situations are comparable.”
She nodded again, and then gulped back the last of her ginger ale.
Wanting to get off the subject of their families, he said, “We’re taking four people out to the Franklin Stone early next week. We have room for a couple more. How ’bout it? Want to come along and do your first dive with us?”
“Hmm...oh, I don’t know. Next week is bad. I probably can’t fit it in. That big planner you like to tease me about is pretty full.” She left the porch rail, came back to the table and put her empty glass down. “Time for me to take off. I’ve stayed longer than I intended.”
An abrupt refusal, he thought. “Sorry to hear you’re busy, but we can schedule a dive for another day.”
He followed her into the living room, where she picked up her handbag from the coffee table. She stopped to look at Carrie sleeping soundly on the couch. “Such a beautiful child,” she whispered, turning to him. “I’m glad I stopped by.”
“Me, too.” He hadn’t known how much he’d enjoy just sitting with her.
She glanced back down at Carrie, who stirred and opened her eyes. Seeing Dawn, she opened them even wider. Then she grinned. “Hi, Dawn.”
“Hi, sweetie. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“That’s okay.” She glanced at him. “Daddy stayed home with me.”
He touched her forehead. It felt cool, no hint of the earlier warmth. “Dawn brought you some ginger ale, but she has to go home now. Then I’m going to take you to your own bed.”
“Okay.” She waved at Dawn. “Bye.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
“I’ll be right back,” Jerrod said. “Stay right where you are.”
A little troubled, Jerrod walked Dawn down the driveway and opened her car door. “Can a kid her age create a fever just from being a little upset?”
Even in the dim light, he saw the change in her expression, the knowing look. “Maybe not wanting Daddy to go out without her?”
“Uh-huh? She’s still kind of clingy with Melody, but I’ve been around more lately, and spending a lot of time with Carrie, too.” He hesitated, but went ahead, anyway. “Could be she’s more aware of what’s missing. A mother.”
“Ah, maybe she sees that in this new place you have other friends and that’s shifted her world a little.”
He leaned forward as if sharing a secret. “And I’d put on a sports coat and asked her which tie she liked best.”
“A little too special, huh? This place you were going without her.” She gave him a long, pointed look. “Not that she thought that all through, like an older kid scheming.”
“No, but still.”
“It doesn’t sound too serious, Jerrod,” she said softly, glancing up at him. “Pretty normal, actually.”
He squeezed her shoulders for a casual hug, but couldn’t let her go. He rested his cheek on her hair and inhaled its scent. Mint, like peppermint candy. Alive and fun, like her.
“I...uh...better go,” she said, quickly lifting her head.
And almost colliding with his mouth. He wished...
She slid into the driver’s seat and he closed her door.
“I’ll see you in a few days, then. Meanwhile, I’ll send you updates.”
He lifted his hand in a goodbye gesture. “I know you will.”
The eng
ine turned over and she backed down the drive. He watched for, and got, another quick wave before she drove down the street.
Walking back to the house, he hoped she wouldn’t regret opening up to him about her marriage. She’d left so abruptly. That was about diving. He was getting that now. Being busy was a habitual fallback position for her.
She’d looked so pretty that night leaning on his porch rail, staring at the sky. He’d seen behind the whirlwind-businesswoman Dawn and caught a glimpse of the whole woman. The real Dawn could show both happiness and hurt on her face.
Carrie was in a deep sleep when he gathered her in his arms and carried her down the hall to her room. When he put her down, she turned to her side and sighed. Content and probably in her dream world. He walked through the house, picking up stray toys and rinsing the glasses in the kitchen. He was curiously content, too.
Chapter Eight
“WILL JERROD GO to Nelson’s barbecue?” Gordon asked, getting into the car.
Dawn didn’t know for sure and said as much as she backed the car out of her driveway and onto the street. She and Gordon were on their way to the waterfront park for the Fourth of July fireworks. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen Jerrod since he was at our house,” Gordon said with a shrug. “And I’m leaving with Dad tomorrow.”
“But when you get back you’ll be ready to go diving with him. He said you could and he won’t go back on that.”
Gordon nodded, but said nothing.
Dawn drove the few blocks and found a parking place on the edge of the lot at the already crowded park. As she pulled in, the likely reason for Gordon’s question hit her. “Were you thinking we might be invited to Nelson’s party? Because I work with Jerrod now, kind of like one of his crew?” It was easy to see why Gordon could get the wrong impression.
Nelson threw an annual July Fourth marina party. He cooked burgers and hotdogs on the grill for his marina regulars and boaters just renting a slip for a night or the weekend. The marina customers brought salads or chips and made it a real potluck meal. Dawn had never been to one of Nelson’s events, but she assumed Jerrod and his crew would be among this year’s crowd.
Gordon shrugged. “I guess so. I mean, the two of you hang out. Kind of.”
“He’s my client, honey. Sure, I check in with him often, and I go with him to interviews or meetings. But that’s not the same as hanging out.”
He grabbed the door handle, but didn’t make a move to get out of the car. “It seemed different with him. Not like your other clients. You’re friends, right? He was at our house.”
“Business friends, yes,” Dawn said, reluctantly, but firmly. “He and Carrie were at our house for dinner that one night because of my accident.”
“I thought he’d, you know, maybe start being around more.”
So, that was it. “You thought we’d start going out together. On dates.”
“I guess.” Gordon didn’t wait for an answer. He opened the door and got out, and then pulled the folded camp chairs and cooler out of the backseat.
Her spirits spiraling down, Dawn got out of the car, too, and scanned the park looking for an empty spot on the grass. As it was, the Fourth of July had arrived with little fanfare. She’d been preoccupied with helping Gordon pack to go up north with Bill and Carla and had hardly thought about the holiday other than going through the motions of their usual routine. She’d made them thick roast beef sandwiches, Gordon’s favorite, and packed the cooler with cold drinks. Taking a picnic to the waterfront fireworks on the Fourth was a given every year, just like Gordon spending the rest of the month with Bill was part of their summer schedule.
Watching Gordon, a tall and athletic teenager now, Dawn knew the same old thing, watching fireworks in the park with Mom couldn’t work much longer. Even this year, Gordon was acting like a hard-to-please teenager. Yesterday at breakfast he said he couldn’t wait to get up to the cottage with his dad, but by lunch he was grumbling about the clothes she suggested he take along. They were all wrong. By dinner, he announced he didn’t want to go at all.
When she reminded him he and his dad were diving, he shot back a response. He could get certified with Wyatt and Rob at a local pool. She had no answer for that, other than to remind him it was his regular time with his dad. Not to mention seeing grandparents who’d doted on him all his life.
Dawn took a deep breath. “Let’s be clear. Jerrod isn’t interested in going out with me.” Avoiding his gaze, she pointed to an empty spot and picked up the chairs and started walking to it. Gordon grabbed the cooler and followed her. “You know he lost his wife and daughter.”
“But that was a long time ago.”
“Not really. Two years isn’t that long to get over that kind of loss.” Her resigned tone even surprised her. Her son had no idea how much she liked his scenario. If it had been up to her, Jerrod would have invited them to join their group at the barbecue. She’d much rather enjoy festivities on the docks, too.
“I admit it’s a little strange to be by ourselves this year,” she conceded. “I guess this is as good spot as any.” She gave the first chair a push to let it fall open. Last year they’d been with Lark and Miles and their kids. This year Evan was camping with his dad in Michigan, and Lark and Miles were away, too.
“Evan didn’t even want to go camping.” Gordon put the cooler down and took out a can of cola. “He wanted to go away with his mom and Miles.” Resentment had seeped into his voice, and the vein in his temple pulsated as he popped the can open.
She set up the second chair, annoyed by the direction of the conversation. Somehow, it was hard to feel too sorry for either of these boys, Evan or Gordon. Camping, diving, seeing grandparents. Poor kids. “You’re right on the edge of sounding angry. Is this about Jerrod? Or are you telling me you don’t want to go up north? Tell me, what has you in such a grumpy mood.”
“Nothing.”
“Right. Nothing. Then lighten up. Okay?”
His expression finally sheepish, Gordon nodded. “Let’s eat.”
Good. She sat down and unwrapped their sandwiches and handed Gordon one, along with his own bag of chips. Sulky or not, he all but inhaled their dinner, and there was still a lot of time before fireworks. Meanwhile, laughter rising from groups all around them reminded her of what she wanted in her life—and didn’t have. Inside, she was as grumpy as Gordon.
“You don’t have to stay here with me and wait for the fireworks,” Dawn said. “Take a walk. You might run into kids you know from school. Really, go ahead. I can see you’re restless.”
“Okay, but I’ll be back when it gets dark.” He hesitated only a second before taking off.
She watched him weave through the groups of people at picnic tables and grills before moving closer to the beach.
Watching her son disappear, Dawn hoped he’d bump into kids he knew. Anything to improve his mood. But she blamed herself that they’d ended up alone in the park. Why hadn’t she come up with a better plan? She had friends and neighbors she could have invited to come with them. Or why hadn’t she asked Jerrod and his crew to join her and Gordon?
She couldn’t shake the idea that Gordon saw through her. Yes, Jerrod was a client, but she spent more time with him than the others, and talked to him almost every day. They often called each other when they could have emailed or texted. Apparently, her son had noticed.
Her thoughts drifted to the night they’d sat on Jerrod’s porch. Getting personal. Oh, they had a thing, the two of them. Dawn was sure of it. Call it chemistry or something else. They had an understanding that didn’t need words, like recognizing a kindred spirit. As different as they were, that bond was there, hanging between them, whether Jerrod thought he was ready or not.
* * *
WITH WYATT’S HELP, Jerrod secured Wind Spray’s dock lines and adjusted the fenders until he was satisf
ied the boat was snug in the berth. Raising his hand overhead, he signaled for Rob to turn off the engine. The end of a good trip with three divers, a couple and their college-student daughter. After saying goodbye to his guests, he watched them head toward the office with Wyatt to gather their things and be on their way.
It wasn’t an easy path to the office, not with dozens of people hanging out at the potluck table and the grill. Nelson himself was serving the burgers and hotdogs. A few of the marina regulars had told him about the marina’s annual July Fourth party, and it seemed to be living up to its reputation. Carrie and Melody would be coming down soon. He hadn’t talked to Dawn specifically about it, but he assumed she and Gordon had already arrived.
Lost in his thoughts, he started when he heard Rob calling out to him. “Hey, Jerrod, turn around.”
He spun on his heel to see Rob in the wheelhouse pointing out beyond the dock. Whoa...a sailboat, a twenty-five-footer at least, was drifting with its half-lowered mainsail flapping. And it was heading toward Lucy Bee, whose bow was in its immediate path.
Jerrod ran down to the end of the dock and, cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted, “Hey, hey, what’s the problem?”
A man on the bow pointed to the sail. “The engine cut out on us. Now the sail is stuck,” he yelled. “We can raise it, but we can’t lower it.”
They were running out of time, too. Sometimes the only way to stop a crash into another boat or a dock was to physically fend it off until somebody could get it under control.
“Turn the wheel to port,” Jerrod shouted at the helmsman. “You might catch enough breeze in the sail to shift your direction.”
“I’ll get a runabout and go out there to hook up a towline,” Rob said as he jumped off Lucy Bee and ran down the dock.
“Let Nelson know what’s going on,” Jerrod shouted after him.
Meanwhile, though, the breeze died down, and turning the wheel worked only to keep the sailboat dead in the water for a matter of seconds. When the boat began drifting again, the guy at the helm shrugged helplessly. Apparently, he had no idea what to try next. If Jerrod had been on the boat, he might have raised the jib to at least attempt shifting direction. But that wasn’t an option now. At that moment, Jerrod needed to be two places at once. On the dock and on the bow of his tour boat. He could fend off the out-of-control boat from either place.
Something to Treasure Page 11
