His Inherited Wife

by Barbara McMahon

  “Sorry, lady. That’s the way it’s going to be today. Take what you can carry and what you need for the next few weeks. There will be other days when they’ll be open for furniture removal.”

  He handed her a sheet of paper with phone numbers, contact names, moving companies and other information. “Call that number on Monday, to get an appointment to get the rest of your things out. They won’t start renovations until everyone has vacated their space.”

  “Hello, dear,” Thelma said, coming up to Shannon. “Isn’t it terrible? Edward and I don’t know what we’re going to do. We’ve been moved to a small motel near downtown. But we can’t afford to stay there until the apartment is renovated. Where did you get to?”

  “I had a friend come get me. I’m staying with him temporarily. Otherwise, I guess I’d be homeless. I can’t believe they may raze the place. How bad was the fire?”

  “Pretty bad,” Edward said, following behind his wife. “I think I heard the fire exposed all the code violations which have to be met now before they’ll issue certificates of occupancy again. With rent control, this place was perfect for us. We could so easily afford it. Now, we’ll be hunting at today’s rates. With a fixed retirement income, I don’t think we’ll find anything in the city we can afford.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find something else,” Shannon said, hoping it was true. Though she knew herself how expensive housing was in San Francisco. Hadn’t it taken her several days of hunting to find something she liked and could afford, and that was with the help of Maryellen.

  “I’m not so sure,” Thelma said sadly.

  Jase joined her. Shannon looked at him in surprise. “Found a parking place?”

  “Couple of blocks over. What’s going on?”

  She told him, then introduced her neighbors. The four of them moved to the edge of the sidewalk, deciding to wait together until their allotted time to go in.

  When Shannon walked up the fire stairs to the fourth floor, she could smell the smoke stronger than ever. The hallway seemed forlorn, the wet carpet squished underfoot. The bright red sticker on her door reminded her of the fireman’s hurried questions to make sure the apartment was empty when she left.

  She opened the door. Cold damp air met her. Two windows were broken, the wet carpet contained puddles of standing water.

  “It’s a mess,” Jase said unnecessarily.

  Sadly she looked at her furniture, her sodden magazines, the wet afghan on the back of her sofa. “It could have been worse,” she said. “At least I do still have my furniture.”

  “Let’s go, we’re down to twenty-seven minutes,” Jase said, heading for the small drop-front desk. “I’ll pack up your desk.”

  “I have some plastic bags in the kitchen. Even if they got wet, we can use them to carry things,” Shannon said, shaking off the feeling of depression and crossing to her small kitchen unit. With no window, it had not been subject to as much water as the other parts of the apartment. She pulled out all the bags she had and went back, giving a handful to Jase.

  “I’ll start with my clothes,” she said, continuing to the bedroom.

  Thirty minutes went quickly. One of the security guards for the apartment knocked on the door. “Time’s up, ma’am,” he said when Shannon went there. Jase had already made several trips carrying bags to his car. There were half a dozen sitting by the front door, all she had been able to pack.

  “We’re ready.” She had most of her important things: jewelry, clothes, papers. The furniture she couldn’t take, but knew she could arrange a moving company to come at an allotted time in the near future. At least with the windows broken, the air would circulate and hopefully dry things out before they were totally ruined.

  “This feels so weird,” she said ten minutes later when she and Jase headed for his apartment, his car jammed with her possessions. “This time last year I was wondering what to do about Thanksgiving with Alan’s family. Now, I’m a widow with no place to live, far from home and friends.”

  Jase looked at her. “You’re not going to cry, are you?”

  “No, I’m not. If I did, what would you do?”

  “Panic,” he said.

  She smiled. The man had never known a moment’s panic in his life. “Life sure throws curves.”

  “You’re not homeless, you’re staying with me. You’re not far from friends, you’ve made some here, and your friends in Virginia are only a phone call away.”

  Shannon nodded. All true, but she felt homeless, and lonely.

  They unpacked the car, and Shannon spent most of the afternoon going through her things, washing her clothes to get rid of the smoky smell and the water stains. Some of her papers were wet, so she spread those out to dry.

  Restless while waiting for another load of laundry to finish, she went to the kitchen and began to make a coconut cake. Baking was soothing and something she loved to do.

  As she was frosting the cake some time later, she gave thought to what to have for dinner. Fried chicken came to mind. It was comfort food and today she needed some comfort. Plus, men loved fried chicken. She’d bought plenty of chicken when she and Jase had gone shopping. There was a casserole she liked with chicken, too. But tonight she opted for comfort food.

  She had the pieces frying in the oil when she heard the front door. She hadn’t seen Jase all afternoon. He’d said something about going to the office. Had he really been afraid she was going to cry earlier? She smiled again at the memory of his succinct answer.

  The first of the fried chicken was draining on paper towels as the next batch browned in the hot oil. She had homemade biscuits cut out and on the pan ready to pop into the oven. Vegetables were simmering on the stove. It was a little early to eat, but she was hungry, and after being at work all afternoon, she suspected Jase would be as well.

  He appeared in the doorway.

  Seeing what she was doing, he looked taken aback.

  “Damn. Shannon, I’m not going to be home for dinner,” he said.

  It took a minute for the words to sink in. She looked at all the chicken she’d cooked. Enough for tonight and tomorrow for lunch. Entirely too much for a single person.

  “Oh?” The biscuits were ready to cook and the cake sat in splendor on the counter.

  “I should have told you. It slipped my mind with the fire and getting your things and all. I, uh, have already made dinner plans,” he said.

  A date. She felt a sinking sensation. Jase was going out on a date. And it wasn’t with her.

  What was she thinking? He had every right to go out with whomever he wished. She had plenty to do; she could finish her laundry, and see if her papers dried out.

  Tears threatened. She had planned such a nice dinner but he’d rather go out with someone else.

  “That’s okay. The good thing about fried chicken is that it tastes as good cold the next day.” She dared not look at him. He was too astute to not notice how the news had hit her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be. Really, it’s okay. Go and have fun.” She held her breath, willing him to leave before she made a fool of herself.

  He stayed in the doorway for another moment, then left. She heard him close the door to his room.

  Getting dressed to take somebody out to dinner.

  Why did it hurt so much? Jase was her partner, they ran a business together. Actually he did more of the running, but she felt she was making a definite contribution with the new women’s safety project.

  If she’d been at her apartment tonight, she’d never have known that he was going out.

  Unless she’d invited him to dinner and been turned down.

  She was so pathetic, mooning over a man who thought of her as his best friend’s wife.

  She finished the batch of chicken and put the remaining pieces in. Her appetite had fled, but she’d finish preparing the meal and eat it. Maybe she’d go out to the local bookstore after dinner and find an excellent book that would capture her imagination and keep
her occupied through the evening.

  “I won’t be late,” Jase said a few minutes later.

  She looked at the doorway, wishing she hadn’t. He looked gorgeous. His dark suit and pristine white shirt set off his tanned skin. The dark red tie gave the finishing touches, not that he needed any embellishments. He would cause heads to turn wherever he went—especially from the women.

  Her emotions under tight control, Shannon smiled and waved. “Have fun,” she said. “Don’t hurry home on my account. I have plans for after dinner.”

  “What plans?” he asked sharply.

  She was taken aback by his question, and attitude. “What do you care?” she asked, stalling for something better to say than going to a bookstore.

  He drew in a deep breath. “Curiosity.”

  “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. You go on now, you don’t want to be late.”

  He hesitated a second, as if he had something further to say, then turned and left.

  Shannon was puzzled by his reaction.

  Later, at the bookstore, Shannon got a stack of books and went to the coffee bar section. Settling at one of the tables with a tall coffee, she perused each one, trying to see if the subject matter had any appeal. Sipping the hot beverage, she glanced around. There were couples with their heads close together, talking softly. Two guys at separate tables busy with laptops. Another single woman was leafing through a magazine, an empty dessert plate and coffee cup to one side. Shannon felt a moment of kinship with her.

  She chose two books, knowing she had to put the others back, but not making a move. The coffee bar was bustling and she loved to people watch. It beat returning to an empty apartment whose owner was out on the town, probably with some fabulously beautiful blonde. She couldn’t see Jase going out with anyone who wasn’t accomplished and entertaining. He was too dynamic to put up with a shy woman.

  Would he like someone who deferred to his every wish? Or did he prefer the spark of dueling, not getting his way in everything?

  She realized she didn’t know him as much as she thought she did. He had avoided her over the last few years, ever since he’d moved to the West Coast. She’d missed him more than she’d thought she would.

  She looked at her hand. Slowly she withdrew her wedding ring. She was no longer married. Hard as it was to admit, she was now single. And unless she wanted to remain alone on Saturday nights, she had to start seeing other people again. Other men. She’d liked being married and she couldn’t envision the rest of her life living alone.

  Maybe she wasn’t quite ready to marry again. But she was ready to start living again. Alan had told her over and over those last weeks to move on, to celebrate life, do everything she could that he no longer could do. Make love, have children and name one for him.

  Tears blurred her vision. She blinked, hoping no one saw. Gathering her books, she went to replace the ones she didn’t want. It was time to honor her promises to Alan and really move on.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SHANNON ROSE EARLY on Sunday. Once dressed, she went to the kitchen to fix a picnic lunch with the leftovers from last night’s dinner. She packed chicken, biscuits, some celery and a large piece of coconut cake. A bottle of cold water from the refrigerator completed her meal. She had put it all in her backpack and was ready to leave when she heard Jase.

  Darn, she had wanted to be gone by the time he got up. She hadn’t heard when he’d come in last night, but it was after she went to bed, so it wasn’t as early a night as he’d suggested.

  “What are you doing?” he asked. Dressed for running, he hadn’t yet shaved. She swallowed at the intimate morning scene. Her heart kicked into high gear again. She was getting tired of her reaction around the man. She longed for peace and tranquility, and instead she got hot and bothered.

  “I’m going to Golden Gate Park for the day. There are some wonderful walking trails, and I want to see the Conservatory of Flowers. I heard it’s a must-see.”

  “I was going running, but if you wait a few minutes until I get dressed, I’ll go with you,” he said.

  “No need. I wanted to explore on my own.” She did not want the man with her all day long. She wasn’t sure she could maintain any distance if he spent that much time with her.

  “You don’t want me along?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “Why not? Alan said to watch out for you.”

  “That’s why. I’m all grown up and I can manage perfectly well on my own. I want to see something of San Francisco besides the financial district.”

  “What if I said I wanted to take you, not for Alan, but for me,” he asked.

  She paused a heartbeat. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

  “I think it’s a great idea. Add enough food for me.” He turned, then stopped, looking over his shoulder. “Did you have breakfast?”

  She shook her head, still debating whether to add food, or flee the minute he reached his bedroom.

  “We’ll go to Sharlie’s. It’s got the best bagels in town.”

  Jase went to his room and changed into jeans and a pullover. Getting a jacket—October was nice, but not that warm—he debated shaving. But from the skittish way Shannon was acting, he didn’t dare delay.

  Last night had been a monumental mistake. He’d seen the meal she’d prepared, and the disappointment in her eyes when he’d told her he was going out. He’d felt an inch tall.

  She didn’t want him to go with her today, but he wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass. It was time she got out and started living again. Alan had wanted the best for her. The man had been crazy about her, despite the age difference.

  Jase had wondered when Alan first told him he was seeing her if it was an attempt to recapture his youth. But the man had genuinely fallen for Shannon. Who wouldn’t? Jase thought. And she’d made Alan very happy.

  Had she been as happy as Alan? Not since his death. Jase wanted to chase away the lingering sadness from her eyes. Show her there were lots of ways to live. She needed to grab for the gusto, as the old slogan went, and he’d be happy to show her how.

  When he returned to the kitchen, Shannon was just closing her backpack. He hoped that meant she’d added enough food for him.

  “Aren’t you going for your run?” she asked. “We could meet up some place later.”

  “I can skip a day or two. Have you had Sharlie’s bagels?”

  She shook her head.

  “They are hot from the oven. Slather a flavored cream cheese on them and it’s the best breakfast in the city. Got all you need?”

  She nodded and lifted the backpack.

  Jase reached over and took it. “I’ll carry this.” It wasn’t that heavy, but there was no need for her to carry it. Besides, they wouldn’t get separated if he had her lunch.

  They drove the short distance to the shop and Jase found a parking place only a block away. As they headed back, Shannon commented, “We could have walked this distance.”

  “True. But then we’d have to walk back to get the car. It’s too far to walk to Golden Gate Park and then hike around the park and walk home. Though if you want to train for a marathon, it’d be a good run.”

  The bagel store was crowded. The line serpentined as people patiently waited their turn to order. In the back, huge vats of boiling water gave off clouds of steam. The oven’s shelves were constantly rotating and spilling out hot bagels. The glass-front counter displayed all the varieties the shop offered. Seven people waited on the customers, and still the line was long.

  Shannon glanced at the crowded tables. “Think we’ll find a place?” she asked, stepping a bit closer to Jase to let a man pass.

  Jase threw his arm around her shoulder and gently urged her to move in front of him, out of the line of traffic. He felt the tension rise in her but didn’t remove his arm.

  “If not, we’ll walk back to the car and eat them as we go. But I think the turnover is pretty fast, so we should get something.” He could smell
Shannon’s own special fragrance over the aromas of the cooking bagels.

  She always smelled fresh and sweet. Was it her soap, or did she wear some perfume?

  She continued to hold herself stiffly. He wanted her to relax—preferably against him.

  When the line moved, he shifted positions and put both hands on her shoulders, loathe to break the contact. Leaning forward slightly, he spoke softly in her ear.

  “What kind are you going to have? I can recommend the poppy seed ones, onion ones and the cheddar cheese.”

  She looked over her shoulder and Jase felt a stab of desire. Her face was only inches from his. It would take so little to lean a bit closer and kiss her. For a moment he envisioned doing that. But it was neither the time nor the place. Much as he wanted to kiss Shannon, he’d bide his time. He was not looking for a kiss-and-run date. He wanted more from her. With her.

  “Which are you having today?” she asked.

  From the way her gaze focused on his mouth, Jase knew he wasn’t the only one thinking about a kiss.

  “I’m having the poppy seed with one of the flavored cream cheeses.”

  “I might try that as well,” she said, turning her head back to face forward.

  By the time they picked up their order, there were several tables available. Taking one near the front windows, Jase sat opposite Shannon. The coffee smelled delicious. The warm bagels were chewy and fresh. He watched Shannon daintily try the one she’d gotten, enjoying the look of supreme satisfaction on her face.

  “Delicious!” she said. “Good choice. You come here often?”

  “Most weekends. I usually go for a run and stop by to pick them up and take them back to the apartment to eat. These are better—still warm.” He looked at her hand as she raised the bagel for another bite. Her ring was missing.

  “What happened to your wedding ring?” he asked.

  “I took it off when I was out last night. I’m not married anymore.”