It Had to Be You and All Our Tomorrows

by Irene Hannon

  “At the expense of God, I see.”

  Jake frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  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. I guess you’ve turned your back on God, too.”

  So that explained why his father was wearing a tie, Jake thought distractedly as he considered Howard’s caustic remark. The fact was, the older man was right—and Jake felt guilty about it. Since he’d left home, he’d slowly 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 gradually, as time went by, his faith had become less and less a part of his life. But clearly it was still very much a part of his father’s.

  “Give me a few minutes to get dressed,” he said shortly, turning on his heel and retreating 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, praying 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 silently 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 and her obvious attempts to keep him at arm’s length emotionally, 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 especially lovely today, in a teal green silk dress that clung to her lithe curves, 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, Jake reflected. 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, Jake thought grimly.

  “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!” His eyes were actually shining and eager, Jake noted.

  “Jake, would you like to come, too?” Maggie asked politely, turning to him.

  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. Slowly 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,” Maggie replied.

  Did she mean it? he 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, completely civil. But he sensed very clearly that she’d also posted a No Trespassing sign on her heart. She would be nice to him because she was a lady and because she’d been brought up in a faith that taught forgiveness. 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 more purposefully, Jake realized. It was obvious that Maggie was good for his father. And maybe...maybe that was why their paths had crossed, he speculated. 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.

  As Jake took a seat beside Maggie, he tried to recall the last time he’d been to a Sunday service. Eight or ten years ago, maybe? Probably during one of his few visits home on leave. It felt strange to be back. Strange, and yet... He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. It was just that here, in this peaceful place, with the familiar words of Scripture ringing in his ears and Maggie and his father beside him, he felt oddly as if he’d come home. Which made no sense, given that his father hated him, Maggie—though polite—was distant, and he hadn’t darkened a church door in years. The Lord probably didn’t even recognize him. Nevertheless, he couldn’t shake the sense of homecoming. For whatever reason, being in this place with these people felt good. And right.

  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?” he asked, trying to buy himself 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,” Jake said.

  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 impulsively and gave Howard a hug, and for a moment Jake actually 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 said pleasantly as she stepped out of his father’s embrace. The sizzling connection was there again as their gazes met, sending a surge of electricity up his spine. His eyes darkened, and her own dilated ever so slightly under the intensity of his gaze, her lips parting almost imperceptibly. How was it possible that 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 rapidly away. Too rapidly, Jake thought. It was 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 most definitely still there.

  “She always was a real special girl,” Howard declared warmly as he 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 potentially barbed 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 last few years, Jake mused. 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, he thought. The challenge was to convince these two very special people of that.

  * * *

  “This sure is a wonderful place, Maggie,” Howard complimented her 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 a library book. 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?” Howard asked, the plea in his eyes tugging at her heart. “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,” she agreed.

  Half an hour later, sitting at the kitchen table with Howard, Maggie carefully broached the 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 carefully. “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 rift between you is my fault.”

  “That’s not true, Maggie. At least not now. 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 sadly 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?” Maggie asked gently.

  “Japan.”

  “That’s pretty far away,” she reflected. “I don’t suppose the navy would have looked kindly on too many trips home.”

  Howard studied her curiously. “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. But in the end I put it in the hands of the Lord, asked for His help. And eventually I was able to leave the past behind and move on. I won’t lie to you, Pop. The scars are still there. It was a very tough road alone. But the girls, and my faith, helped a lot.”

  “I can see you’ve made a nice life for yourself, Maggie. 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 Sunday services, 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. So she had been stunned and unsettled to discover that the powerful attraction between them hadn’t died after all. It had simply lain dormant—and undiminished. She felt it spark to life every time he was near her. She sensed that he did, too. And she didn’t like it. Not in the least. But she didn’t know what to do about it.

  Maggie glanced up and realized that Howard was still waiting for an answer. “I really don’t know, Pop,” she replied honestly as she stood and gathered up their cups. “I’m still trying to sort it out.” She deposited the cups in the sink and turned on the faucet. “I suppose I’m still in...” She paused and peered down. “Say, Pop, did you know your sink isn’t draining too well?”

  He rose and joined her. “Yeah. We called the owner but he hasn’t done anything about it yet.”

  “This could back up anytime. Let me take a quick look in the garage. There might be a few tools.”

  Howard showed her the way, but after poking around between the boxes Jake had shipped from his father’s house, she gave up. “I don’t see anything. But I have some in the... Pop, what’s this?” she asked curiously, leaning close to examine a label on a box. “Do you still do woodworking?”

  Howard peered at the box. “Haven’t in years. Not since Clara died. Hmmph. Can’t imagine why Jake brought all that stuff. Guess I ought to look around and see what else he dragged up here.” He glanced at the small accumulation of boxes, and his shoulders sagged dejectedly. “Not much to show for a lifetime, is it? A couple dozen boxes of junk.”

  Maggie reached over and gently touched his arm. “Pop, you know the important things aren’t in boxes. They’re here.” She laid her hand on her heart.

  He nodded. “You’re right about that. But I haven’t done too well on that score, either, I guess.”

  “It’s never too late.”

  He considered that in silence for a moment, then turned to her and planted his hands on his hips. “But first things first. What about my clogged-up sink?”

  She smiled. “I have some tools in the car. Let me run out and get them.”

  A few minutes later Maggie was wedged under the sink, Howard standing over her. “Can you hand me the wrench?” she asked, her voice muffled.

  He rummaged around in her toolbo
x and passed it to her. “Maggie, are you sure you know how to do this?”

  She grinned. “Trust me. Now, do you think you could round up some rags or old towels? There’s probably water in here that will run out when I loosen the pipes.”

  “I’m pretty sure there are some rags out in the garage. I’ll check.”

  Maggie shifted into a more comfortable position as she waited. It was too dark under the sink to get a clear view of the pipes. When Howard returned she’d ask him to hold the flashlight while she worked. In the meantime, she might as well see how tight the corroded connections were, she decided, reaching up to clamp the wrench onto the pipe.

  * * *

  When Jake pulled up in front of the cottage, he was pleasantly surprised to discover Maggie’s car still parked in front. He had expected her to be long gone by the time he returned. He had no idea how his father had convinced her to come inside, but he owed the older man one for that coup. Just seeing her would brighten up his otherwise mundane day.

  Jake strolled into the house, pausing in the living room to listen for voices. But the house was totally silent. Maybe they were sitting out back.

  Jake strode quickly through the living room, heading toward the back door. But he came to an abrupt halt when he reached the kitchen doorway and his gaze fell on a pair of long, clearly feminine legs, in nicely fitting tan slacks, extending out from under his sink. Maggie, of course. But what in heaven’s name was...

  “Pop? Listen, could you hold the flashlight for me? It’s pretty dark under here. And hand me the rags. I think the wrench did the trick. It’s starting to give.”

  Silently Jake walked over to the sink, sorted through the items in the unfamiliar toolbox on the floor and withdrew a flashlight. He clicked it on, then squatted beside the prone figure, impressed by her deft handling of the wrench. She was full of surprises, that was for sure. As he recalled, she didn’t know pliers from a screwdriver in the old days. With a smile he pointed the light toward the tumbled mass of red hair. “Sorry. I don’t have any rags,” he said in an amused tone.