Only in Time

by Kelli McCracken

  Another round of laughter left his mouth. “Fine, fine. Sushi it will be.”

  Thank goodness Fiona didn’t stay mad for long. Guess it helped that she liked her boss. And Jonah liked her too. But he couldn’t deal with other women on a business level. Not on any personal level, either. If he learned anything from his mistake six years ago, it was to always keep up his guard, and never trust a woman with his dreams.

  Or his heart.

  CHAPTER 2

  Ally followed close behind the leggy hostess, wishing she’d worn her three-inch heels. Tall women irritated her, mainly because the suits at her old office treated her like an inferior, looking down at her with their condescending glares whenever she asked about a promotion. If she had a few extra inches of height, she could’ve looked them in the eye and showed them the brass that ran through her veins. They wouldn’t have had any other choice but to offer her their respect.

  At least John Muncy had faith in her. That’s all that mattered. His position with the company trumped the suits that made Ally’s life unbearable her first few months on the job. Funny how those same evil men thought giving her the Baker account would be her demise.

  But it’s the account that brought her to John’s attention. And back to Savannah.

  Her eyes swept the room, taking in the fully set tables with ivory china, miniature tea light lamps, and fluted glasses as blue as the sapphire ring on her finger.

  She twisted the ring with her thumb, each step taking her deeper into the restaurant. The scent of maple-glazed salmon floated to her nose, making her belly grumble.

  Maybe she would order the dish once she’d been seated. Have a nice glass of pinot noir with it.

  No. No wine. She couldn't. It wouldn't be fair to...

  The hostess’s sudden stop caused Ally to bump into her. Watching the young girl flash her fiery eyes in her direction made Ally's cheeks burn.

  “I'm so sorry,” she mumbled.

  At least the hostess’s glare subsided. “If you have a seat, I'll send your waiter over.”

  “Thanks,” Ally said, her eyes landing on her mother's face once the hostess parted from the table.

  Like a tidal wave making landfall, a surge of emotions flooded her heart. Maybe it wouldn't feel this awkward if she'd come home for Christmas at least once in the last three years.

  “Hi Ally-bear,” the tender voice said.

  “Hi, Momma,” Ally answered, slipping her purse off her shoulder before lowering herself onto a chair. “I’m not late, am I?”

  “Not at all.” Her mother gazed down at her watch, tapping the face with her finger. “You’re actually ten minutes early.”

  “That’s what I thought. It threw me off seeing you here. Normally you’re the one who’s late.” The heat of regret filled Ally’s face as she realized how hurtful those words sounded. Especially knowing the innuendo behind them. “Sorry, Momma. I didn’t mean that to sound the way it did.”

  The laugh lines around her mother's mouth deepened. “It's okay, sweetie. So, how is the unpacking going? I know how time consuming it is to settle into a new house.”

  “Yeah,” Ally forced a chuckle. “I never knew I had this much stuff.

  “You have a way of collecting things over the years,” her mother smiled, taking a sip of her drink.

  Ally’s eyes dropped to the fluted glass in her mother’s hand. The words leaving her mother's lips seemed to disappear as she stared at the contents swirling inside. “What’s in the glass, Momma?”

  The carefree smile spread across her mother's face fell with each second that ticked by. Her eyes locked onto Ally as she rubbed her lips together.

  “Water. It’s just water.” She moved the glass across the table. “Want to check?”

  Ally gazed at the pink lipstick on the side of the glass. She fought back the urge to grab it and bring it to her nose. They couldn't start out like this. Her mother promised things had changed. Ally wanted to believe her. Tried hard to believe. Prayed enough time passed and lessons were learned.

  Hadn't she promised herself that she wasn't going to care about this anymore? Yeah, somewhere between receiving her master's degree to landing a job with Muncy, Incorporated, she vowed she'd never allow the past and the pain it held to control her life again. She couldn't.

  Taking a deep breath, she met her mother's chestnut eyes. “I shouldn't have questioned you, Momma.”

  “Don’t apologize. I understand.”

  Her mother reached across the table to pat her hand, but Ally drew back. “It doesn't give me the excuse to treat you that way.”

  “But it's a natural reaction. One I understand.”

  This moment couldn’t get any more awkward if Ally had shown up in her lingerie. If she didn’t turn the conversation around soon, her mother would take a trip down memory lane. Ally refused to travel that uncomfortable road.

  She grabbed the menu from the table and opened it up. “How about we order our food?”

  “Can I give you something first?”

  Skimming over the entrée descriptions, Ally avoided her mother’s gaze. “Give me something? Momma, I thought I told you I didn’t want any gifts.”

  “Tomorrow is your birthday, baby girl. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t get you a gift?”

  No. The one thing her mother never forgot was her birthday. She wondered what kind of odd present she’d bought this year. Maybe another box of gourmet marshmallows or a self-stirring coffee cup to match the self-mixing martini shaker. Better yet, why not another pack of permanent salt-rimmed shot glasses.

  She shouldn’t think negatively. Her mother’s gifts had improved. Last year’s sweet pea scented candles turned out to be one of her favorite items in her home. She’d made five trips to Bath and Body Works to replace the candles once she used them.

  “You shouldn’t have bought a gift,” Ally sighed. “A card would have sufficed.”

  “Nonsense. Cards are impersonal.” Her mother lifted her purse from the floor to the empty chair beside her. “You’re my daughter. You deserve a gift.”

  Ally braced herself, hoping like hell this gift wouldn’t make her cheeks turn the same shade of red as her mother’s blouse. When her mother placed a small rectangular box in front of her, a few different scenarios raced through her mind. Maybe it was a bottle of her favorite perfume.

  She untied the pink ribbon, forcing a smile for her mother. The tape unlatched from the deep brown paper, causing her curiosity to peak when a creamy box stared back at her. Her eyes darted back to her mother’s.

  “I hope you didn’t spend much on me.”

  “Just open the gift.”

  Ally did. The box gave a muffled creak as she lifted the top. The contents inside shimmered in the glow of the table lamp, making the mother of pearl face look silvery. The black second hand ticked in a circle over the roman numerals.

  “Wow, Momma. The watch is really pretty.”

  “Do you really like it?”

  The need for approval thickened her mother’s voice, making Ally’s cheeks sting. She kept her hardened eyes toward the watch, saying a silent prayer. Their impending conversation would happen. There was no way around it. She wished her mother would wait until they finished dinner.

  A small thread of relief weaved its way through Ally’s heart when a waiter approached their table, ready to take their order. As he pulled his pen and pad to his chest, her eyes fell to the watch, again. The second hand continued ticking along while the minute hand neared the three. Six thirteen… This would be a long dinner. A long, uncomfortable dinner. At least she had something to look forward to after—

  A vibration sounded against the chair beside her, along with chirping. Her cell phone. She had a new text. As her mother continued with her order, Ally uncrossed the shoulder straps, opening her purse. Thank goodness her phone lay near the top. She gripped the black casing, placing the phone on the table, near her plate.

  “And for you, Miss?” the server asked.

&nb
sp; Covering the phone with her hand, she met the waiter’s questioning eyes. The earlier scent of salmon remained in Ally’s mind. She gave the server her order, watching as his pen flew across the paper.

  Once finished, he collected the menus. He might as well have collected her dress, too. Either way she was exposed. At least when she had the menu, she had a diversion from her mother’s eyes.

  Her gaze fell back to the phone. She pressed the center button, waiting for the text message bubble to light up the screen.

  Just confirming our ‘date’. Can’t wait to see you. It’s been way too long. Be ready to have some fun ~ Cassie.

  She smiled to herself, giving God a special thank you under her breath. Having her oldest friend still living in town made moving back more bearable. She’d have to ask Cassie if any of their other friends were around. One friend in particular.

  No. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about him. Once today had been too much. Her heart couldn’t handle it.

  “You okay?” Her mom’s voice cooed from across the table.

  Ally blinked the stinging sensation from her eyes to meet her mother’s gaze. “I’m great, just a little hungry.”

  “Let’s play a little catch-up. It will take your mind off your stomach.”

  Not really. If anything, she’d lose her appetite, but she could only hold her mother off for so long. Sitting five feet away left Ally with no other choice than to talk.

  “I really do like that watch.” She blurted. Grabbing the case, she unfastened the clasp. The metal cooled her wrist.

  “Here, let me help you with that,” her mother offered with outstretched hands.

  Ally raised her arm, extending it over her plate. She stared at her wrist, watching her mother drawing the ends together before the clasp snapped shut.

  “There you go.” Her mom rotated her arm until the watch faced upright. “It looks great.”

  Moving her hand back to her side, Ally noticed the waiter walking back to the table. He set her water down first, her mother’s drink next.

  Her stomach wobbled at the sight of the orange garnish. In the center, a ruby red cherry floated above the ice. A Tom Collins. Her mother’s favorite. It had to be.

  Big brown eyes glared at the glass. Her mother pressed her lips tight, inhaling a deep breath as she shook her head. “I’m sorry, young man. You made a mistake. I ordered a sweet tea.”

  “Oh,” he replied. Ally noticed his eyes go to the tray where the order pad lay. “I’ll get that changed for you. Pardon my mistake.”

  “It’s fine,” her mother managed a smile as she slid the coaster forward.

  Ally studied her mother’s face. Did the server really make a mistake or did old habits die hard?

  As though she read her mind, her mother’s eyes shot across the table. They roamed her face, lingering toward her mouth. “Are you thinking the worst of me?”

  The crack in her mother’s voice jarred Ally. She took a deep breath, allowing the scent of toasted shallots and butter to distract her. Food. Her comfort zone.

  Stroking the edge of the table, she took a deep breath, meeting her mother’s eyes. “Momma, you said things are different.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  Nor did Ally want to. What good would it do them to rehash this? It’s not like they could jump in some time machine and change the past. Mistakes were made. Ally survived. Moved away. Made something of her life. Why couldn’t they move forward now?

  “We’re making a fresh start. If you say things are different, I have to believe that. Otherwise, this won’t work.”

  “I promise you, baby girl, I am different. If I could take back my transgressions, you know I would.”

  No, Ally didn’t know. Many failed promises passed over those pink tinted lips. Just like many hurtful words. She would have fared a physical beating better. Broken bones healed. Broken hearts didn’t. No matter how much time passed, the ache inside her heart thrummed onward.

  Deep down Ally knew her best chance at recovering would be to make peace with the past. If her mom wanted to act like a mother now, who was Ally to refuse? It’s not like she had other people to turn to in Savannah besides Cassie.

  “You can’t change what happened, Momma. All we can do is move forward. Don’t go digging up bones.”

  “I’ll dig up a cemetery full if it means I get your forgiveness. That and to be a part of your life, like I should have all along.”

  When Ally noticed her mother’s lips tremble, she reached across the table to pat her hand. “It’s a process, Momma. We’ll get there.”

  Her mother gave her a tight smile and nodded. She slipped her hand from underneath Ally’s to swipe at the wetness on her cheek.

  Then a voice cleared from beside them. “Here you go, Ma’am. I’m terribly sorry for the mix-up.”

  The server placed a new coaster on the table before setting a glass of tea by her mother’s plate. Her mother gave him a nod as she picked up the glass, taking a long swig.

  “Your food will be out soon. Can I get either of you anything else?”

  “No, thank you.” Ally waited until he was out of hearing range before forcing her eyes to her mom’s face. “Let’s play another version of catch-up. How about you tell me what’s new in the South?”

  You could always count on a true southern woman to serve up a good dish of news. Not that they were gossips. More like conversationalists. Add in life near an army base, and the chit-chatting women increased. Heck, she missed listening to the stories. She missed the southern hospitality even more.

  “Do you remember Karen Sims from the base?”

  Ally nodded, remembering her mother’s closest friend. “Of course. You always said she was the best bridge player this side of the Mason-Dixon.”

  “That’s the one,” her mother chuckled. “She and I joined a book club a couple months ago. We’ve only read a couple books, but we like it so far.”

  “Glad to hear you’re reading again. Do you have room on the bookshelf for new books?”

  The way her mother’s lips curved upward eased the tension forming at Ally’s temples. She placed her lips on the straw, enjoying the bitterness of the lemon water.

  “That’s the great thing about e-readers. They don’t take up any room on the shelf.”

  Ally choked back the water, hoping it wouldn’t spew from her mouth. Had she heard her mother right? “You have an e-reader?”

  Her mother’s eyes drifted past her as she nodded. Ally turned in time to see the waiter stepping up to the table, a large, oval serving tray balancing on his shoulder as he spread out the serving stand.

  They waited until he placed their entrées before continuing their conversation.

  “I may be old, baby girl, but I refuse to be outdated. If I can tackle the Internet, I can handle an e-reader.”

  Chuckling at her mother’s sense of humor, the knots in her stomach loosened. She gazed down at the watch, noting the minute hand touching the six. They were going to make it through their first dinner without issues. She’d finish in time to meet up with Cassie, who promised her a chance to unwind. She needed to unwind.

  The sweet scent of glazed salmon filled her nose. Lordy, she was hungry. She placed a piece of the fish in her mouth, the tangy goodness melting like butter on her tongue.

  “So,” her mother began while piercing her vegetable with a fork. “You’ll never guess who I recognized at our book club.”

  Did her mother expect her to remember all of her old friends from the base? The only reason she remembered Mrs. Sims is because they were neighbors.

  But her mother’s other friends…they’d faded from her mind years ago. Or maybe she’d blocked those thoughts. Her mind filed most of the memories of her life in a place where they couldn’t haunt her.

  “I give up,” Ally teased. “Who did you recognize?”

  “Bethany…oh, what’s her last name? Her husband is Michael.”

  Why did that name sound familiar?
Her father served with a Michael. Or was it Mitchell. No, Michael. He did have a wife. Becky. Or maybe it was Bethany. Michael and Bethany McCabe. That did sound—oh god!

  “Do you mean Bethany McCabe?” she pressed her lips when her mother nodded.

  “That’s it. You were friends with their son… Oh, what was his name?”

  Ally noticed her mother’s mouth moving, but every sound vanished. She didn’t need to hear the name pass over her mother’s lips. Hearing Jonah’s parents’ names had been enough. She sucked in a deep breath. Damn, she could use that glass of pinot noir about now.

  CHAPTER 3

  The soft swoosh of passing cars filled Ally’s ears as she hurried down the sidewalk. Time wasn’t an issue, nor was it the reason for all the rushing. She’d never been late for anything a day in her life.

  Nerves, on the other hand, became the dirty little culprit responsible for her haste. Each step made her heart take an extra beat. Meeting with an old friend had a tendency to kick up the adrenalin.

  At least she’d arrive early. That way, she and Cassie could get a good seat and catch up before the show started.

  Exactly when had she thought moving back here would be such a great idea? Too much had changed during her absence. Or maybe she was the one that changed.

  Losing everything that’s important to you had a way of taking your life down a different path. Usually one you’d never choose for yourself. Lord knows she wouldn’t have chosen to lose her father. She wouldn’t have chosen to leave Savannah, or Cassie, or…

  She couldn’t think about him right now. That O’Hara chick had it right. About tomorrow…another day…don’t stress about the stuff you can’t fix today. Yeah. She would deal with memories of him, later. Besides, her mom didn’t mention anything about him living here. Why was she so eager to see him anyway? It’s not like they had a good thing going, when she left.

  While she waited for the crosswalk sign to change, the rich scent of roasted coffee beans filtered out of the coffee shop on the corner. Her eyes drifted past her shoulder to the green and white Starbucks logo on the window. Thoughts of a tall Cinnamon Dolce Latte made her mouth water.