“Yeah? And what did ya come up with?”
“Tons of things actually, and I couldn’t decide.”
I inhaled a deep breath. “Is that why I smell Moe’s?”
He laughed, duckin’ his chin as he shook his head. “Awful, isn’t it? I ask you to dinner and want to impress you with my cooking skills and all I can do is serve you a couple of lobster rolls and make you a salad to go with it.”
“It’s not awful. Trust me, as someone who can’t cook to save her life, the inn, Moe’s, Suzan’s bakery, and Betty’s Café have been my best friends since I got into town. Course, now I have to do some of the cooking at the inn, so I guess that point is moot.”
“You know, I can teach you how to cook. If you like, I mean. I know how to make most things.”
“So, you’re tellin’ me, ya can cook like some fancy chef and when I come for dinner, you serve me take-out?”
We both burst out laughin’ for a moment before he settled and then slapped his hand across his forehead. “I know! I’m awful.”
“No, you’re not. It’s just funny.”
“But seriously, I can teach you. I mean, Helen will probably need you to take over more of the cooking anyway since she’ll be cutting back on work and traveling some.”
“I beg your pardon?”
His smile vanished.
“What do ya mean she’s going to be cutting back on work? And what traveling?”
“She didn’t tell you, did she?”
“Tell me what?”
He closed his eyes, lettin’ out a groaned breath. “Jerry didn’t tell me it was a secret. I thought you knew.”
“James?”
“I think it’s probably best if you ask her.” He spun around and fetched one of the lobster rolls from the refrigerator. Still wrapped he set it down on the counter in front of me. “I’ll give you a ride back to the inn. There’s no sense in you riding your bicycle all the way back in the dark.”
“You’re back early.” Helen popped a grape in her mouth as she pushed the swing backwards with her feet and watched as Rachel played with some toys on the deck.
“Why didn’t ya tell me?”
She stopped swingin’ but didn’t look at me. She merely smiled. “I knew he couldn’t keep a secret. Did it slip out or did he just come out and tell you?”
“It doesn’t matter. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I moved around to face her and crossed my arms. She smiled again, snortin’ a laugh.
“It’s not funny.”
“It kind of is. You should see the look on your face.”
“Helen.”
She crossed her arms. “Maggie.”
“Oh, come on. What are ya thinkin’?”
She heaved a deep sigh then patted her hand on the swing next to her, motionin’ for me to sit. “I remember when I used to sit out here with my grandmother. We would eat grapes and talk about the guests. Oh, it was mostly just gossip. Like if we overheard any fights between them or if they would go off in separate directions during the day, exploring the town on their own because while they pretended to be together, they actually couldn’t stand the sight of each other. You wouldn’t believe some of the things I’ve seen.” She leaned back, restin’ her hands behind her head. “But that’s not important. It seems like yesterday, though, I would sit out here and listen to her.”
“How long ago did she die?” I nestled down in the swing beside her, givin’ my own soft kick to restart it glidin’ back and forth.
“Going on twenty-five years, now. Which is how long I’ve been running the inn. She ran it for another thirty years before me, and her mother ran it another twenty-or-so years before that.”
“That’s a long time.”
“A long, wonderful, time.” With a far off look to her eye, she continued to rock back and forth on the swing. I waited for her to talk again, to finally tell me what was goin’ on. She said nothin’, however, and instead she just rocked and stared out into the darkness. The sound of the waves hittin’ the sand was the only sound around us aside from Rachel stackin’ blocks then knockin’ them over.
“So, what exactly is goin’ on?” I asked.
She grabbed my hand, squeezin’ it. “Several years ago, they found I had breast cancer. Not much is known about it now, but I did a round of what they said was chemotherapy. I don’t know what it did, but it made me so sick—sicker than the cancer ever did. I had to shut down the inn for months, it was awful. But they said it was gone, and they got it all. I have lived in fear each day that they were wrong. I started to get tired and I thought maybe it had come back.”
“And has it?”
“No. I’m still clean of any cancer.”
“Then I’m confused as to what is going on.”
She snorted as her eyes focused on the wood boards of the deck. They glazed over for a moment and I could almost see the memories swimmin’ inside her mind.
I laid my other hand on top of hers. “Helen?”
“I love this inn, and I have loved living here and entertaining guests. I just have loved everything about my life. Everything, except for one thing.”
“What is that?”
“I haven’t shared it with anyone. I’ve lived alone my whole life, never been married, never had children. I’m in my late sixties and I’ve only ever kissed one man. He wanted to get married and have children, but I was just too scared. So, I said no, and I let him slip through my fingers. I’ve regretted it ever since.”
“Why didn’t you tell him?”
“He left and I just carried on without him. I didn’t want to look desperate and chase after him, plus my grandmother was ill and I couldn’t leave. I have lived with a fifty percent chance that my cancer would come back and now I know it hasn’t, I’m ready to start actually living my life. Oh, I have no thought of retiring, not by any means, and not just yet. But with you here now, I think I can actually take some time off. Do a few things I’ve always thought about doing, but never had the chance.”
I leaned back against the swing and folded my arms across my chest as I cocked my head to the side and closed one eye. “This doesn’t by chance have anything to do with Jerry, does it?”
She laughed. “Jerry has asked me if I wanted to do a little traveling here and there. He’s leaving the gas station to one of his nephews and is retiring. I never thought he would be my type, but he’s just so cute and sweet. I find myself thinking about him all day.”
“Why Helen Stanford, I think ya are in love.”
She smiled as she ducked her chin. “I think I might be too, and I think it might be time I take him up on his suggestion. I don’t wish to burden you with the responsibilities of the inn, but perhaps we can find another gal to help out around here.”
“It’s not a burden at all. I love this place and I love my job. I can handle anything, and I’ll be just fine holdin’ down the fort while you’re gone.”
“I figured you would say that.” She heaved a deep sigh. “I don’t know why I put off telling you. It was foolish of me.” She lifted her hand, wigglin’ her finger. “Now with that settled. Why don’t you tell me what happened at James’s house tonight?”
“Are ya serious?”
“Yes, I want to hear what happened.”
“Nothin’ happened. I went, he gave me a glass of tea and your news slipped out in conversation, and then he brought me here.”
“You left there to come to talk to me?” She sat up, leanin’ forward. “How could you just leave the evening like that?”
I leaned forward too, meetin’ her braced shoulders with mine. “How could ya not tell me?”
“Remember what I said about letting something slip through your fingers?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t let James be the one regret you have in your life. Believe me it will come back to haunt you.”
A growl left my lips as I rested my elbows on my knees and buried my face in my hands. “Why does life have to be so complicated?
”
“Because if it wasn’t then it wouldn’t be worth it. Complications keep it interesting. If we didn’t have them we would get bored.”
“I really hope Rachel doesn’t have the troubled love life I have.”
Helen patted me on the shoulder, a slight chuckle whispered through her breath. “She’ll probably have one worse.”
SIXTEEN
Rachel
August 1996
The rumble from a truck engine purred through my open window, and I glanced up from the pile of tax files and checkbook registers taking over nearly every square inch. The mess of what felt like a never-ending list of different forms I needed to fill out and file caused my brain to hurt. I knew how to edit any novel. I didn’t know how read balance sheets and general ledger reports for all my business expenses.
I rose to my feet and sauntered over to the window, drawing the sheer curtains from the glass and screen frame. My breath shuddered in my chest as Luke jumped out of his old, Chevy and fetched a toolbox from the bed of the truck. He hoisted the giant chest with little effort as the sun beat down on his flexed arms.
The Navy had changed him.
And deliciously for the better.
Of course.
I bit my lip as the new version of a man I once knew strode toward the front door. With the same jet-black hair and sea blue eyes, his years in the military had put about twenty pounds of pure muscle on his once thin body, and the muscles rippled down through his chest and stomach, visible through his white t-shirt.
Oh my word.
A knock rapped on the front door and I flinched.
As I turned to head into the foyer to let him in, I stumbled over the rug lying on the office floor, hitting the wall as my palms smacked against the wallpaper. If that was any indication of how I would make it through this walk thru, I didn’t know if I could survive.
I checked my reflection in the mirror above the table next to the front door. While I had wanted to look nice, I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard to look nice.
Another knock pounded the door, and with a deep inhaled breath, I gripped the doorknob and swung it open, the wind from the wood blew my hair back over my shoulders.
“Hi Luke.” As soon as the words left my lips, I regretted them. Not only for the way I so casually used his name, like I’d been excited and waiting to see him, but because of the tone. So high-pitched and fake sounding, I wanted to cringe.
His eyes widened and he blinked as he furrowed his brows. “Oh, uh, good morning, Rachel.”
My fingers wrapped around the edge of the door, grabbing it so tight my knuckles turned white, and I stepped backward, turning my body to allow him inside. Between his broad shoulders and the toolbox in his hand, he had to walk through the doorframe sideways. The scent of his cologne whispered behind him as he passed, weakening my knees.
What the heck is wrong with me? This is Luke. Remember, Luke? You broke his heart. You walked away from him. Not to mention, your divorce has been final all of a month. Well, maybe two, I’d have to check the calendar . . . why am I even thinking all of this. Just stop.
I shook my head and bit my lip as I slammed the door with a little more force than I’d wanted.
Keep it together, Rachel. Just keep it together.
“If you want to go into the office, we can go over the list of repairs.” My voice trembled and I cleared my throat.
“Oh, okay.”
As he walked off to the room ahead of me, I forced my gaze toward the ceiling and away from the view of his backside in the perfectly fitted jeans.
Why, out of all the people in this small town, is it him who is available to do the work I needed?
“You’ll have to excuse the mess,” I said. Coming into the office, I skirted around him. “I’m still trying to get all the paperwork together. Plus, go through all the financials for the lawyer and the CPA. I took a few business classes in college, but it was never my dream to own or run my own business and I dropped out after just a semester.”
“Perhaps you can take a few night classes to get you back into it.”
“I thought about that too. Course, driving into Bangor once or twice a week wouldn’t be fun. But, you know, if it will help me, I guess I could—or should—try.”
He shrugged as his eyes danced around the room. It was as though I was the last thing he wanted to look at, so he looked at everything else instead.
I cleared my throat again and slid into my desk chair, motioning him to take a seat across from me.
“Would you care for a glass of water or something to eat?”
He shook his head as he sat and set the toolbox down on the floor, the metal clunked against the hardwood floors.
“So, how are you?” I asked, placing my elbows on the desktop.
“I’ve been good. You?”
“Fine, just fine.” Except for the fact my mother just died, my husband cheated on me and then divorced me, and I’ve inherited an inn I never thought I’d ever want. Oh, and I quit my job.
“I was shocked to hear you’d moved back,” he said.
“I bet. I was shocked I agreed to move back.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I didn’t think I’d move back, either.”
“Your dad mentioned you’d just gotten out of the Navy.”
“Yeah, I probably should have re-upped, but I felt like it was time to call it quits.” He chuckled slightly under his breath before his face grew serious.
Our eyes finally met, and the piercing, sea blue color of his shuddered through my body just as they had all those years ago in the hallway at school. Underneath his new muscles was the same young man I’d fallen in love with, and for a moment I stepped back in time—a time where we were young, crazy, and in love, stealing nights together and spending our days dreaming about our futures.
“So, I’m planning to reopen the inn and as I’m sure you could see, it needs a lot of work. Your dad said you could do most of the work yourself?”
“I’m sure I can. If I can’t, I know people who can get what you would need done. They are pretty reasonable price wise too.”
“Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” I motioned toward the papers scattered on my desk, holding my hands over them and making a huge circle. “I know my parents weren’t broke by any means, and my mother had some good life insurance. But from the look of this place, I’m sure the money will go quick. I have some too from my divor—well, from my savings account, so while I think I’ll be able to afford it all, anywhere I can save would be a blessing.”
“Can I see the list?” He outstretched his hand, and I grabbed a few pieces of paper, fumbling them for a moment before I handed them over with my trembling fingers. Luke’s eyes fluttered from the parchment to my hand as he grasped the list.
His eyes traced each item. “I think I’m about to give you more good news.”
“What’s that?”
“I think I can take care of most of this myself. If I really can’t, though, I’ll have Drake take a look. He won’t be much more expensive than me.”
“I saw him and Bridget the other day at my mom’s funeral. They seem happy.”
“Yeah, they are, and they lucked out buying Moe’s. Man, I would have loved to have the place myself. Course, the hours are long.” He shrugged. “Not that I have much of a life right now.”
“I understand that.”
“About your mother’s funeral, though, I’m sorry I didn’t make it.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m also sorry for your loss, too. She was a really nice lady.”
I stared at him for a moment. “She sure thought the world of you. Sometimes I thought perhaps she loved you more than me.”
“Of course she did. I was the preacher’s son. The boy who wouldn’t corrupt her impressionable teenage daughter.”
I bit my lip, remembering how she used to talk about how other boys would use their persuasive powers to lure the girls into dri
nking or having sex. But the preacher’s son was another story. I was safe with him. We wouldn’t drink. We wouldn’t party. We wouldn’t have sex. At least hiding behind her delusions had made it easy to have our fun. Weekends were often full of drinking down by the lighthouse and making out in the bed of his truck. And of course, it wasn’t long after we started dating my virginity sailed away with the tide. “She was so mad at me that night.”
“What night?”
“The night you proposed.”
“I bet she was. She wanted us to get married about as much as I did.”
I ducked my chin, dropping my gaze from his. “Well, you don’t have to apologize for missing the funeral. It was really nice seeing everyone who did come, though. I didn’t think so many would stay in Shadow Brook after graduation.”
“We weren’t all itching to get out of here like you were.” His tone bit with a mild irritation between the words igniting a slight flicker of annoyance in my chest.
“Well, I’m sorry if I didn’t want to stay here my whole life. And, didn’t you just say you never thought you’d come back again? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.”
His jaw clenched and he closed his eyes for a moment before exhaling a deep breath. “I think we should get to walking around so you can show me what’s a priority.”
Before I could answer, he rose to his feet, bending down to fetch his toolbox. “Unless you already know where you want me to start.”
“No, I’m not sure. I mean, at first, I thought the kitchen so I can serve the guests meals. But then I thought why cook if there aren’t any rooms for people to stay, and there are restaurants in town for them to eat at, so, I think we will start with the bedrooms.”
“Great. Let’s go.”
“We should probably start with the biggest room.” I cleared the last step upstairs and made my way down the hallway with Luke right behind me.
“Looks like the staircase could use some work, the railing is loose and so are a couple of the steps.”
Another Yesterday Page 17
