by Clare Revell
His lips covered hers. As she responded, he deepened the kiss, tasting and possessing her. His arms held her against him and he lost all track of time. Until the porch light flicked on, illuminating them.
He pulled back. “I think that’s my cue to leave,” he said regretfully. “Same time on Thursday?”
She smiled. “I’ll be ready and waiting. Good night.”
“Good night.” He watched her go inside and then headed back to the car. Better watch it, Cal he told himself. Or you’ll be in too deep. Don’t mess with the affairs of the heart.
Too late came the reply. You’re already drowning.
****
Hattie stood in the queue in the bank. She’d kept the money under the mattress long enough and decided that Wednesday was the day to pay it in and open a new account. One Steve wouldn’t know about. Right now, the envelope was tucked into her sling as her purse was too small to fit all the notes it. Aunt Laurie had dropped her off and gone to work. After her shift finished, they were going fabric shopping.
She was going to give her aunt’s address as her place of residence, with her old address as back up. Holding the ID in her other hand, she moved up in the queue at the customer service desk. Why she had to queue for a scheduled appointment she had no idea.
Markus moved away from the cashier and smiled at her. “Hello, Harriet. How’s the arm?”
“It turned out to be broken after all, so I can’t work for six weeks.”
“I bet Steven’s not happy.”
“It’s got nothing to do with him. He doesn’t even know I hurt my arm, never mind anything else. I’m done working with him. I’m staying here for the time being. I might even find a job on the island and settle here full time.”
“You can’t quit the guest house. He depends on you.”
“It’s too late. I quit last week before I left.”
“Does Steven know where you are?”
She moved up in the queue, shivers running up her spine and a hollow pit in her stomach, as his comment unsettled her. “No, and that’s the way it’s staying. You promised not to tell him if I went out with you and I’m expecting you to honor that promise.”
“Do you have time for lunch?”
Hattie blinked. “That’s a change of subject.”
Markus grinned. “I guess so. But you do have to eat.”
“True. OK, once I’ve paid this in.”
He glanced at the envelope in her sling and his eyes widened for a moment before they narrowed. “Wow, that’s a lot of cash to carry around.”
“This would be why I’m paying it in.” She reached the counter. “Hattie Steele. I have an appointment with Mr. Clyde at eleven.”
“I’ll take you through.”
“Harriet, I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Sure.” She followed the woman down the corridor to an office, shoving aside the thought that Markus’s parting comment sounded more like a threat than a promise.
Twenty minutes later, and almost five grand lighter, she exited the bank into the bright, chilly sunshine. She always found it ironic that during winter the Earth was closer to the sun than in summer, yet the temperature was decidedly colder.
Markus leaned against the wall, chatting on his phone. “Here she is. I’ve got to go. Speak to you later.” He smiled at her and held out a hand. “Let’s go.”
Hattie slid her free hand into her pocket, out of his reach, and walked with him. He led her into the first eatery they came to, which happened to be a fast food outlet. She ordered chicken strips and chips and a lemon soda. Markus paid and carried the tray to a table.
He spent most of the time touching her hand, or rubbing his foot against hers, his eyes fixed on her. She found it disconcerting at first and downright creepy after ten minutes of it. “I was thinking, Harriet.”
“What about?” She pushed back in her seat, as far away from the table as she could politely get and picked up her soda, drinking slowly.
“About when we were kids and you used to come up here for the summers. Steven and I used to joke about being brothers, and you and I getting married before we reached thirty.”
She looked at him over the cup, suddenly finding the chicken in her stomach too greasy. Steve had said the same thing several times over the past few weeks. And she’d felt just as uncomfortable. “Really? I don’t remember that.”
“We did. Of course, we were only kids, but I always knew we’d end up together. And you coming back here to stay has to be fate. I like you, Harriet. I like you a lot.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t believe in fate. And I don’t feel that way about you.”
“Steven would like it.”
“Then marry Steve. Oh wait, you can’t. He’s already married.” She put the cup down, wiping her hands on the paper napkin. “Besides, your name doesn’t start with a P.”
Markus frowned. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“He said I have to marry someone whose name starts with a P.”
His frown turned into a grin. “Didn’t I tell you my given name is Peyton Markus?”
Hattie buried the laugh. He wouldn’t find it amusing and this really wasn’t the time for humor. “Isn’t Peyton a girl’s name?”
He sighed. “It’s a family name, handed down to the eldest child. So that’s one plus in my favor.”
“I can’t marry you, Markus. For one thing, you haven’t asked.” She stood up. “Thank you for lunch. I have to go and run the rest of my errands now.”
He grabbed her hand. “Is there another reason? I can fix the not asking you very easily. And I already have Steven’s permission to ask you.”
Her stomach plummeted and she felt sick. “Wait a minute. You asked Steve? When did you speak to him? You promised not to say anything.”
“Whist you were in the bank. So, sweet one, what’s to stop you from marrying me?”
She held his gaze. My heart lies with someone else she whispered silently. “I can’t because I don’t love you. Or trust you.” She tugged her hand free. “Thank you for lunch. I’ll see you around.” But not if I can help it.
She hurried from the shop and almost ran down towards where she said she’d meet Aunt Laurie. By the time she got there, she was shaking.
Her aunt hugged her, sitting her down on a bench. “Goodness, child, whatever is the matter?”
“Markus said he’d spoken to Steve, so presumably Steve knows I’m here. That means he’ll be down here begging me to go back. Or pressuring me to marry Markus.”
Aunt Laurie handed her a tissue. “Marry Markus? Where did that come from?”
Hattie took a deep breath and used the tissue. “I bumped into Markus at the bank. He asked me to lunch, said he’d spoken to Steve and asked his permission while I was paying in the money. Steve said yes. He’ll insist on my marrying Markus now. And before you say he wouldn’t do that, you know he will, or he isn’t my brother.”
Aunt Laurie hugged her. “No one can force you into marriage, dear. It’s illegal in this country. Now dry those eyes and let’s go fabric shopping. Then I feel a cream tea coming on with huge scones and clotted cream.”
Hattie smiled slightly. “Sounds good.”
“And you can tell me all about this date with Cal and the fantastic lights. I’m intrigued.”
“Dancing,” Hattie said, getting to her feet, thoughts of Cal whirling in her head, blowing away her fear. “He took me ballroom dancing.”
14
Cal picked Hattie up at four on Saturday afternoon, and whistled softly. “Look at you.”
She did a twirl. “You like?”
“I more than like.” He was bowled over by the way her shirt fitted, the way the skirt flowed around her ankles, showing off her matching sneakers. Even her sling matched. He kissed her gently. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you. So do you.”
Laurie appeared in the hallway. “You kids have fun.”
&nbs
p; Cal grinned. “We will. And I promise I’ll have her back by ten.”
“Or parked out the front by ten,” Hattie added, elbowing him.
His cheeks burned, the sensation worsening as Laurie laughed. “No parking outside my house,” she told them. She winked. “I know the two of you far too well.”
He cleared his throat. “I assure you my intentions are entirely honorable.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’d hate to have to find my baseball bat.” She grinned and waved as she shut the front door.
“You told her about that?” Cal asked, mortified.
Hattie giggled. “I merely asked if she had one. She asked why and I said to make errant men behave themselves. How was I to know she would assume I meant you and not Uncle Reg?”
Cal chuckled and led Hattie over to his truck and opened the door for her. “Does Laurie ever quit with the teasing?”
“Nope.” She shook her head, her blonde hair spiraling around her face, showing off her neck and the ribbon fastened around it. “Especially if she likes or approves of someone.”
“I’m glad she approves. It makes seeing you so much easier.” He ran around the truck, got in and started the engine.
“How are the Edgemont’s repairs coming on?”
“They’re getting there. Another week should see them finished. It helps not being on call this week and only back up crew next week.”
“So we have to share you with the pager.” She rolled her eyes.
Cal mimicked the expression right back at her. “Are you dissing the pager?”
“No, no, I wouldn’t dare to diss the pager.” She tried to keep a straight face and failed.
“Good. Because my pager is as important as say, your right arm is.” He grinned, knowing it was her left arm that was broken.
“Oh, funny ha ha. It’s a good job I like you.”
“Like you too.” He concentrated on the driving for a moment, his brain whirling. If he were honest, he more than liked her and had long since stopped fighting it. “So, have you decided what you’re going to do long term?”
“Stay here. Aunt Laurie said I can stay with her until I find a place of my own, and then said not to rush finding somewhere. I think she likes the company. I need a job, but not sure what. Maybe in a café or somewhere, and although there’s no rush there either, it won’t hurt to start looking and see what’s around.”
“I’m sure something will crop up. God’s timing is always perfect.”
“Yeah.”
He parked the truck and led her into the Palladium. The huge, decades old hall was surrounded by pillars holding up the gallery. A massive stage filled the front section and he could almost imagine the old time music hall performances that must have occurred here in years gone by. Tables and chairs set around the edge of the hall, the large floor in the middle cleared and ready for dancing. Lights glimmered overhead, the orchestra played quietly.
Cal handed in their coats and took the number in exchange. Taking hold of Hattie’s hand, he led her over to the table which matched their number. He could tell by the huge grin on her face how much she enjoyed eating her sandwiches and cake off the bone china plates. Even the tea tasted different from the bone china cups.
She giggled and stuck out her little finger as if she were having tea with the Queen. And when they danced, it was as if they were floating on air. The lessons had paid off as he no longer trod on her toes. He was disappointed when the evening came to a close and it was time to take her home. He debated a late evening walk, but she looked shattered.
He escorted her to the door of her aunt’s cottage.
“Thank you, Cal. I had a lovely time,” she said, trying to hide a yawn.
“So did I.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “I’ll see you tomorrow in church.”
“Count on it. Good night.” She let herself in, softly closing the door behind her.
He looked at the closed door for a moment then headed back to his truck. He wasn’t sure where God was leading either of them; he just prayed that they were both going in the same direction.
****
Hattie found the next week flew by in a whirl of dancing lessons, volunteering at the shop and looking for work. She loved spending time with Cal and made excuses to drop by where he was working, bringing lunch and various cakes and nibbles from recipes she’d found stuffed in a folder at the back of one of Aunt Laurie’s kitchen cupboards. Some of them she recognized as Nanna’s.
She offered him the box of apple muffins and watched hesitantly as he bit into it. Barely able to wait while he chewed and swallowed, she asked, “Well?”
“You should sell these for a living.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” she quipped, doing the same thing she was accusing him of.
He swallowed. “Well, don’t ask questions while I’m eating, then. And you can talk.”
She grinned. “That’s do what I say, not do what I do.”
“Yes, mum.” He chuckled. “Being serious, you should sell these for a living. Or some of your desserts. Or both. Or open a patisserie or your own café or something.”
Hattie pointed her finger over the top of the cake at him. “That’s rather a lot of ‘ors’ in the same sentence.”
“Yes. Or you could open a guest house.”
“Or not.” She shoved the cake box under his nose and he took another one. “Maybe I just type up Aunt Laurie’s unfinished book manuscript.”
“Laurie writes?” The look of incredulous amazement made her want to laugh.
“Not since Uncle Reg died, but she’s a bestselling author. Have you heard of Lee Fredricks?”
“Yes. He writes naval action books. I have all of them at home. Why?”
“That’s Aunt Laurie.”
Cal choked on the piece of cake. Hattie thumped him on the back and handed him a bottle of water. He chugged for a moment then looked up. “Wow. I never knew…she kept that one quiet. I honestly thought Lee Fredricks was a bloke.”
Hattie laughed. “It’s her initials. Laurie Elizabeth Emily and Fredricks was her grandmother’s maiden name.”
“Wow. That is going to take some getting used to. And you say that she’s got a part written one?”
“Yeah. She stopped writing the day Uncle Reg died. Maybe if I type it up, she’ll write the rest of it. She handwrites the first draft completely.”
“Wow.”
Hattie nodded. He still had that awed look on his face. “So I take it you’re a huge fan.”
“She has to be one of, if not my all time, favorite author. She has been for years. I might just have to ask for her autograph when I take you home.”
“You will not. She’ll kill me for telling you her secret.”
He grinned and took another cake. “Have you heard from Steve yet?”
“No.”
“You need to call him.”
“Not yet. I’m hoping Markus didn’t tell him after all; else he’d have been here by now. Or he’s just biding his time to catch me off guard.”
“Speaking of Markus and his ongoing marriage proposals…”
She sighed. At least Cal hadn’t been judgmental when she’d told him. “I haven’t seen him all week which has actually been really nice as he seemed to be stalking me. Not in a creepy way, just kept appearing almost everywhere I was for a day or two. He’s away on business or something. No doubt as soon as he gets back, he’ll ask again.”
“What will you say?”
“Same as always.” She held his gaze. “I don’t want to marry him. End of. Now can we please talk about something else?”
“Sure.” He gripped her hand tightly, his gaze making her feel like she was the only girl on the planet. Something that Markus never did.
And let’s face it. Markus has taken you out twice, First time you almost drowned and the second time it was lunch. He hasn’t kissed you, held you, laughed with you…
“Hattie, can I ask you something?” His voice was lo
w and serious. Had she done something to upset him?
“Sure.”
“Would you go out with me?”
“We are out. And we’ve been out most nights since I’ve been here.”
He ran his hand down her cheek, setting her skin ablaze where he touched her. “No, I mean date properly. Will you be my girlfriend?”
“Yes.” A tsunami of joy overwhelmed her. His lips claimed hers and she lost herself in the sensations and emotions flooding her soul.
He broke off and leaned his forehead against hers. “Maybe you should just stay here with me.”
She frowned slightly, her joy tempered. “What do you mean?”
“Stay here with me,” he repeated.
“I won’t live with you.” Heat flamed in her cheeks. “I can’t. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I’m not asking you to live with me. I’m asking you to marry me.”
“Marry?” Shock ran through her. He’d only just asked her to be his girlfriend and now he was proposing?
“Yes, marry me. I don’t need an answer right now. Think it over. Take as long as you need.” His fingers moved slowly through her hair. “I love you, Hattie.”
He kissed her, long and slow, until she lost all sense of who she was.
When he broke off, she smiled. “Is that an incentive for me to say yes?”
He grinned. “It can’t hurt. I—I don’t give my heart easily or often, but you… I fell for you the day I first walked into your guest house.”
“Steve’s guest house,” she corrected.
“OK, Steve’s guest house. And when I left I never thought I’d see you again. You coming here must be a God-thing.”
She waved the empty cake box under his nose. “And my cooking has nothing to do with it? Or Aunt Laurie being your favorite author?”
Cal grinned. “Nope. I know this is sudden, especially with Markus asking you as well. I’m not doing it to annoy him or to compete. I just didn’t want you to marry him—without letting you know how I felt.”
“Shut up.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry?”
