After that his emotions had closed down. Even though he hadn’t been there during the attack, he’d seen enough to know the carnage it would have caused. And no matter how he’d pleaded, his commander had refused to let him view Cara’s body. Even now he wasn’t sure which was worse, to have seen what remained of the woman he’d loved, or to have his reality-fueled imagination supply the details.
He broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about that day, about coming back to a base that had been partially shattered by an extremist, a guard who’d turned on the American troops he was supposed to be aiding.
The images in his head brought back the anguish, the fury that had overtaken him when he’d realized Cara was gone. He’d lost his mind for a time, wanted to kill the remaining guards to retaliate for the one who’d betrayed them all. Luke’s calls and emails had kept him sane, reminding him that Cara wouldn’t have sought revenge. She’d known the risks and chosen to be there, had believed the mission to be worthy of the sacrifice. She’d been a hero among many heroes.
With his dream of coming back to the States, marrying Cara and having a family no longer viable, he’d reenlisted and gone back to Afghanistan, where he’d focused a hundred percent on his job, numbed himself to his emotions. Then he’d gotten out of the army and come here.
In an attempt to drive out the memories, Seth got up and made a pot of strong coffee designed to keep him wide awake, because if the images were vivid when he was alert, they were worse when he was sleeping. He’d awakened in a cold sweat more than once, screams echoing in his head.
He took his cup of coffee and went outside. There was a chill in the night air that made him shiver. He gazed up at the stars in the inky sky.
“Are you up there, baby?” he asked, not for the first time. “You’re still in my heart, you know.”
But there was another woman pushing Cara aside these days, another woman whom he sensed had the ability to sneak into his heart and put him at risk for more pain. The excuses he’d dreamed up to keep distance between them—some valid, some perhaps ridiculous—were all that kept his heart whole.
“I’m not sure I can take that chance,” he murmured to himself.
Sure you can.
The voice in his head almost seemed real and so, so familiar. It was Cara’s, sweet and softly accented.
You’re the bravest man I know.
“Not anymore,” he argued with this ghost from the past.
Don’t sell yourself short. I’ll be disappointed if you don’t do enough living for both of us.
With the soft whisper of a sigh against his cheek, she was gone. He knew that when he suddenly felt more at peace than he had in a while.
That didn’t mean he was ready for all the complications that Abby represented, he told himself staunchly, but there was no denying the tiny crack in the shield around his heart. He wondered how long it would be before the crack that Cara had started would widen enough to let Abby in.
* * *
“You sleep okay last night?” Grandma Jenny asked as she piled a plate with food the next morning.
Seth noticed she’d fixed eggs, bacon, biscuits, all of his favorites.
“Sure,” he said.
“Really? Then what were you doing out on the porch for half the night?”
He sighed. Of course she’d caught him. She slept lightly and checked on sounds in the night.
“I was just thinking through a few things,” he said.
“How to keep Abby at arm’s length?” she guessed.
He chewed his food slowly to put off answering, then managed a suitably bemused tone—or so he thought. “Why would you ask that?”
She merely rolled her eyes. “Do you really need me to spell it out for you? You’ve been manufacturing all sorts of excuses to avoid her, yet every time I turn around you’re right there with her. I think I know a man who’s struggling with his emotions when I see one.”
“You saw Abby after that meeting last night,” he said. “She was totally down. She needed support.”
“I was there. So was Jack. You could have come on back here and left us to cheer her up,” she said reasonably, then gave him a sly look. “Or didn’t you trust us to be suitably supportive?”
“I’m sure you would have done an outstanding job,” he said, flushing under her scrutiny. “I just figured I could hang out and help, too.”
“Any special distractions you used once you got her home?” she asked.
There was no mistaking the knowing glint in her eyes.
“Of course not,” he said with indignation, well aware of what she was really asking. “I don’t take advantage of vulnerable women.”
She had the audacity to laugh at that. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
“I am not having this conversation with you of all people. If you think you get to dig around in my personal business, then it really is time for me to get my own place. With Kelsey and Jeff due home later today, it’s past time, anyway.”
She waved off the threat. “Oh, settle down. I’m just saying you and Abby are two adults who might have a whole lot to offer each other. Seems a crying shame not to take advantage of the opportunity.”
“Would you be so eager for this if you weren’t worried about her having designs on Luke?”
She faltered a little at that. “Okay, maybe that was a consideration at first, but I don’t see the same sparks flying between those two that I do between you and Abby. That’s reassured me I don’t have anything to fear for Hannah’s marriage.”
“I’m glad you recognize that,” he said, thinking it would keep things around here on a more even keel, especially if she could convince Hannah of the same thing.
She gave him a pointed look. “Now I can focus on you,” she told him cheerfully.
The remark sent a shiver of dread down Seth’s spine.
“You need a woman in your life,” she continued. “I’ve been saying that since you got to town. Now fate seems to have brought one and plunked her down in front of you. The way I see it you shouldn’t spit in destiny’s eye.”
Despite his discomfort, Seth couldn’t help laughing. “A very persuasive argument,” he said. “I’ll take it under consideration. I surely wouldn’t want to ignore all this sage advice.”
She gave a little nod of satisfaction. “Good enough, but I’ll have more to say if I don’t see signs of progress.”
“Oh, I can believe that,” Seth said.
Heaven help him!
* * *
“Knock, knock!”
Hannah heard her daughter’s voice and immediately abandoned her computer and headed downstairs. Of all the interruptions she’d had recently, this was the most welcome.
“Kelsey, you’re back!” she called out excitedly. “Do you have my precious grandbaby with you?”
“Do you think I’d dare come by without her?” Kelsey replied, a grin on her face as Hannah reached the bottom of the staircase.
The baby held out her arms toward Hannah, a grin splitting her face. “Ga’ma,” she said, straining toward her.
Hannah reached for Isabella and held her close. “How are you, my sweet little angel? I’ve missed you.” She glanced at Kelsey, saw the color in her cheeks and the shine in her eyes. She looked rested and relaxed. “Looks as if the vacation did you a world of good. No problems with the in-laws?”
Kelsey made a face. “Jeff’s folks were so gaga over their granddaughter, they didn’t have time to make a fuss with us for dropping out of school. Of course, that didn’t stop them from making at least one valiant pitch for us to return to Stanford to finish. Frankly, I think that was more about getting Isabella closer to them than it was about college.”
“Still, it is something you should think about at some point,” Hannah said, drawing a fro
wn. “Okay, okay. I know you’re perfectly content running Seaview Inn, but what about Jeff?”
“Jeff has sold two more software programs since he’s been here. He doesn’t need a degree from Stanford to make his mark in the tech world. We’re both doing what we love, Mom. Give it a rest.”
Hannah immediately backed off. She should know by now that her strong-willed daughter and doting son-in-law had worked through how they wanted to spend their future. She should be grateful they wanted to be right here, especially with her first grandchild. No matter what she said, she’d be brokenhearted if they went back to California.
“Have you had lunch? Can I fix you something?”
“Just some iced tea,” Kelsey replied. “Then I need to get the baby down for a nap. Between all the excitement of new people and new places and jet lag from the red-eye flight last night, Bella’s schedule is totally out of whack.”
When they were in the kitchen and the baby was in the portable playpen Hannah kept on hand along with several toys, Kelsey looked over the rim of her glass and inquired casually, “So what’s this I hear about Luke’s old flame being back in town?”
Hannah frowned. What had her grandmother been thinking when she’d told Kelsey about that? “It’s no big deal,” she assured her daughter. “Abby and I were best friends back then. I’m hoping we can be again. She’s actually been very supportive. She’s assured me she has no designs on Luke, and I have no reason not to believe her.”
“Well, you’ll have to excuse me if I keep a close eye on her. I need to see that for myself,” Kelsey said protectively.
“I don’t suppose your grandmother also mentioned that Abby might have something going on with Seth,” Hannah said.
Kelsey looked surprised. “But isn’t he a lot younger?”
“A few years, sure. What’s the big deal?”
“It just seems weird, that’s all.”
Hannah chuckled. “You did know that sooner or later he’d meet someone, right?”
“Well, of course,” Kelsey said indignantly. “He deserves to be happy. I’m just not sure he needs some cougar chasing after him.”
“Wait till you meet Abby. She’s not like that,” Hannah said. “I think any chasing is pretty mutual.”
“If you say so.” Kelsey’s expression sobered. “How are you feeling?” she asked. “I know your tests are coming up. Are you okay?”
“I haven’t found any new lumps, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I was thinking about your outlook. I know how panicky you get. Having this Abby turn up can’t be helping.”
Hannah hated that she hadn’t kept her worries from her daughter. She squeezed Kelsey’s hand. “I have everything in perspective, I promise.”
“Then you’re a lot more evolved than I’ve been giving you credit for,” Kelsey said. “If some old flame of Jeff’s came around, I’d want to cut out her heart.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” Hannah chided. “You’d keep an open mind. That’s what I’m doing.”
Just then the baby whimpered before letting out a full-blown squall.
“Oops!” Kelsey said, jumping up to get her. “Looks as if it’s past nap time.”
With Isabella in her arms and still crying, Kelsey bent down and gave Hannah a kiss. “Love you. We’ll see you soon. I’m going to call Grandpa and invite him over for Sunday dinner in a couple of weeks. Is that okay with you?”
Hannah hesitated for only an instant. Her relationship with her father, who’d abandoned her at a young age, was still evolving, but he wanted desperately to make amends. And, she was forced to admit, he’d been trying hard to be a good grandfather to Kelsey.
“Sure,” she said, trying to hide any evidence of reluctance. “It’ll be good to see him.”
Kelsey gave her a long look. “Try to work on being more convincing, Mom. He’s trying.”
“I know that. Now, give Jeff a hug for me,” Hannah told her. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me, too. I couldn’t wait to get back.” A beaming smile spread across her face. “Do you have any idea how much I love it here?”
Since she’d given up a college degree to stay in Seaview Key, Hannah had some idea. “You’re so lucky to have figured out what’s right for you at such a young age.”
“I’m the luckiest,” Kelsey confirmed.
Hannah stood in the doorway as they left. Kelsey settled the baby into her car seat, then got behind the wheel. She waved as they drove away.
As many regrets as she’d had when Kelsey had turned up here, pregnant and determined not to go back to college, she couldn’t deny that her daughter was happy. After years of being on their own, just the two of them, in New York, they were now surrounded by family. And wasn’t that the most important thing of all? How had she ever lost sight of that?
* * *
Abby strolled into The Fish Tale precisely at twelve-thirty, trying to look as if her arrival in the middle of Grandma Jenny’s lunch with the mayor were completely coincidental. She even managed to feign surprise when Jenny beckoned her over.
“Abby, why don’t you join us?” Jenny said, ignoring Sandra Whittier’s suddenly down-turned mouth. “Sandra, you know Abby, of course. You knew her parents, too, I imagine.”
Sandra nodded. Her sour expression made it plain she recognized that she’d been set up.
When Abby had pulled up a chair, the mayor scowled at Jenny. “Nothing you have to say is going to convince me to change my mind about this,” she told them, her tone unyielding. “Blue Heron Cove is a bad idea and I’ll go right on opposing it.”
Abby drew in a deep breath and fought for calm. She remembered everything Seth had said the night before. “Would you mind telling me why?”
Sandra looked startled by the direct question. Or maybe she was more taken aback by the lack of animosity behind it.
“You’ve been gone a long time, Abby. What do you know about our population?”
“That most people have lived here for years. That some of them have struggled to make a living.” She looked the mayor in the eye. “That’s one reason I want to do this. I think it will help the economy out here. There will be construction jobs, at least for the next year or two. The owners of these new houses will spend money in the restaurants and businesses.”
“Tourists are coming to do that now, and they’re not making this island too expensive for people to go on living here,” Sandra countered. “We have a lot of folks living on fixed incomes. Taxes go up, they could be chased off.”
“Taxes could go down,” Abby argued. “Because the value of these properties will be higher than average, the owners will be contributing more to the tax base.”
“And expecting more in return.”
It was exactly as Seth had predicted, Abby thought, discouraged. How could she possibly prove that the mayor’s fears were unfounded?
Jenny had been silent up to now, but she frowned at the mayor. “Why all the negativity, Sandra? Can’t you see any of the positives in this? Have you spoken to any of the business owners in town to see how they feel? They’re your constituents, too.”
For a moment, Sandra looked disconcerted, but then her jaw set. “Someone has to look out for the retirees and the families of the fishermen who started Seaview Key,” she insisted. “I intend to be that someone.”
“But this could be your chance to make a real difference in this community, to take Seaview Key forward,” Jenny protested. “We’ve been stuck in the same rut for years.”
“You’ve made a nice living in that rut, haven’t you?” the mayor retorted. “Why do you suddenly need more?”
“Because I look around and see potential,” Jenny told her. “I don’t want Seaview Key to change too much, any more than you do. What Abby is proposing seems like the perfect compromise, a
compromise whose time has come. Seems to me there are three possibilities. This community can grow in a reasonable way. It can be overwhelmed by some other developer who comes along and isn’t sensitive to our way of life here. Or it can die.”
“We’re hardly at risk of dying,” the mayor protested.
“You’re wrong,” Jenny said flatly. “Young people won’t stick around if there are no opportunities here. We’re already seeing that, Sandra. We’re increasingly a community of seniors on fixed incomes, just as you said. That’s a surefire path to dying a slow death.”
“What about your own great-granddaughter?” Sandra retorted. “She’s chosen to settle right here with her husband and baby.”
“Kelsey’s an exception to the rule,” Jenny granted. “She loves Seaview Inn and the history of the island. The inn can provide a decent income for her. Her husband has the kind of work he’s able to do anywhere. Most of our young people don’t have that same opportunity. They’ll take their talents to someplace where they’ll be appreciated, where they can establish businesses that will thrive or work for companies that can pay them well.”
She sat back and let her words sink in. Abby fell silent, as well. Her heart dipped when Sandra eventually stood up.
“I’ll think about what you said,” she conceded grudgingly, then scowled at Jenny. “And out of respect for our long friendship, I won’t hold it against you that you got me here under false pretenses.”
Jenny grinned, clearly unrepentant. “What false pretenses? I promised you lunch. I’m buying. You got exactly what I said you’d get.”
Abby had to swallow a laugh at Sandra’s expression. Slowly a smile tugged at the older woman’s lips.
“I just wish I’d ordered the steak,” she grumbled. “That salad was the cheapest thing on the menu.”
Jenny patted the seat beside her. “It’s not too late. Sit back down and order it. I’ll have one, too.”
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