Seaside Whispers: Matt Lacroux (Love in Bloom: Seaside Summers)

by Melissa Foster

  Mom’s gone. Dad’s not drunk.

  I’m home.

  “Right here, Pop. I brought dinner.”

  His father stepped out from the den down the hall with his reading glasses on the bridge of his nose and a crossword puzzle in hand. A welcome sight after his bout with alcohol. His father looked good. He’d long ago lost the belly he’d developed from drinking, and though he had a little more silver in his brown hair, he looked healthy.

  “Bring it into the kitchen.” He motioned to Matt to follow him.

  Matt paused when he passed his mother’s sewing room. He still had memories of her glancing up from behind her sewing machine, a warm smile always in place. You should learn to sew, Matty. You never know when you’ll need to fix something. Matt never needed to be offered the chance to learn more than once. He’d taken her up on it, and by the time he was twelve he could sew better than most moms in the neighborhood. The familiar ache of missing her filled his chest. He cleared his throat to push the emotions back down and followed his father into the kitchen.

  “I figured we’d grill out back.” He began unpacking the bag and his father pulled out the cutting board and meat tenderizer. Or, as his father called it, the take-your-frustrations-out-on-the-steak mallet.

  “I knew you would. The grill is ready.” His father unwrapped the steak and used the mallet to tenderize it as Matt prepared a salad. “So you finally came to your senses with Mira?”

  “It was never a matter of coming to my senses. She’s a single mom. I couldn’t exactly go out with her for a day here and there. That wouldn’t have been fair to her or Hagen.” He pushed the bowl of salad to the side and leaned against the counter. “I’ve got three months.”

  “And then?”

  “And then I’ll figure it out.” They worked in silence for a few minutes. Matt sliced potatoes, thick, the way his father liked them, brushed them with olive oil and seasonings, and laid them on aluminum foil, then he brought the sides of the foil together, leaving air around the potatoes, like a shiny sac, and folded them together. He put them in the oven and headed outside to grill.

  “How’s the boat coming along?” Matt asked after they set the steaks on the grill and settled into the chairs on the deck. He and Pete were refinishing a sailboat. His father had taught Pete to refinish boats when he was just a boy, the same way he’d helped each of his five children find their niche. There was always an endless supply of books available for Matt, and trips to the library that were like trips to the candy store for other kids. He’d taught Grayson and Hunter to work with metal, and he’d turned a shed into an art studio for Sky. Now, as he listened to his father tell him about the work he and Pete were doing on the boat, he realized he wanted to do those things for his own children. These thoughts didn’t surprise him, as he’d been thinking about family more and more over the past year or two. But the yearning was stronger now. And he wanted to do those things with Hagen.

  “We’ll probably finish it up in a month or so,” his father said.

  Thinking of Hagen, Matt said, “Hagen wants to build a boat, and I told him we’d start with a raft. Would you like to build it with us? I could sure use your help.”

  His father’s eyes narrowed and his lips curved up in a smile that told Matt he knew what he was up to. “You don’t need help with anything. You could build a raft when you were thirteen without anyone’s help.”

  Matt laughed and got up to flip the steaks. “Fine, you got me. I miss you. I want to build a raft with Hagen, and I want to spend time with you. Is that a crime?”

  His dad joined him by the grill. “I’d like that, Matty. That boy is sharp as a tack, isn’t he?”

  “He is. We built a robot last weekend.”

  “I know. Mira told me. That’s where the boy gets his smarts, you know. She’s a bright woman. Pushy as all hell, but—” He laughed and patted Matt on the back. “You know I like that in a person.”

  “You must. You raised five stubborn children.”

  They joked about what it was like when Matt and his siblings were growing up, and they reminisced about his mother, easing some of the deep-seated pain of her absence. When dinner was ready, they ate out on the patio, and Matt eased into a conversation about the hardware store.

  “How are things at the store, Pop?”

  His father waved a dismissive hand. “No sense in getting all wrapped up in that.”

  “I don’t want to get all wrapped up in anything.” Besides Mira. “I’m just wondering how business is going.”

  His father pushed to his feet and carried his plate into the kitchen. Matt gathered the other dishes and followed him in. He wasn’t about to let him get off that easy.

  “Come on, Dad. Please talk to me.”

  With a heavy sigh, his father turned to face him, his features lined with regret. “You only call me Dad when you are being serious. Let’s not get serious, Matt. The business isn’t going to stay in the family, so what’s the use of pouring my energy into it? I want to retire in a year or two. Hell, I’d like to retire now, spend more time with Bea and you guys. But I’ve got to keep the business going long enough to get Mira through her CPA exam.”

  Hearing his father refer to Mira as if she were his daughter should have surprised him, but it didn’t. He’d seen the picture of Hagen above his father’s desk at the store. No one besides family had ever been pinned to that wall. That was more telling than any words could ever be. But he was surprised that his father knew about Mira’s plans to take the CPA exam.

  “You know about that?”

  “Of course I know about that. She’s too smart not to try to do better for herself. The way I figure it, when she passes the exam, she’ll get another job, and I’ll close up shop. Pretty simple.”

  There was nothing simple about his father closing the business he’d worked his whole life to create. “You worked hard to make Lacroux Hardware mean something to this community, and to our family. Even if none of us want to spend eight hours a day there, that doesn’t mean we want to see it fail. Is that what you want? To close the business as if it never existed?”

  His father shook his head and shrugged. “Matty, I built the business to leave something to my children. You know that. And it’s not surprising that you all went out in the world and found your own paths. That’s what your mother and I wanted for you. It’s what we encouraged each of you to do. The store is an outdated dream. A dream that had legs and gave us a comfortable life. But time has passed, and its legs aren’t what they used to be. It served its purpose, and it’s not going to stay in the family, so it’s time to think about letting it go.”

  Matt didn’t know if it was because of Mira or his father, or because he was in a nostalgic frame of mind and thinking about a future with both, but when the words “What if I’m not ready to?” left his lips, he didn’t try to fight them.

  “Then I’d say that makes no sense. You’ve got a career at Princeton and a big book deal, promises of a lecture circuit. What would you want with the business?”

  “I’m not sure I’d disagree with you, Pop, but would you be opposed to me and Mira taking steps to see if there’s a way to make the business more competitive? You never know. Maybe it will stay in the family after all.”

  His father crossed his arms, a Lacroux habit when confronted with a situation they didn’t want to deal with. He lowered his chin, and Matt knew he was weighing his answer.

  “It won’t cost you a penny,” Matt assured him. “Let us do a little research, talk to a few people, and see if there are any viable solutions.”

  “She’s talking about new computers and an accounting system, Matt.” He lifted his hand and rubbed his finger and thumb together, indicating a pricey endeavor.

  “Talking and buying are two different things.” Matt moved to the sink and began washing the dishes. “She’s thinking of a co-op, where you and other small-business owners work together and form a business so—”

  “Form a business? Why would I wa
nt another business when the one I have is already in trouble?” He grabbed a dish towel and began drying the dishes.

  “Because there are plenty of small businesses just like yours out there. Mira has a list of a dozen other family-owned hardware stores already, and they’re probably struggling just like yours is. In order to compete, you have to be creative. Working together, you can all reap the benefits of bulk buying and passing on larger discounts to your customers.”

  His father set the plate he was drying down and shook his head. “Running another business to save this one? I don’t know, Matt. I’m getting closer to retirement every day. I don’t have the energy to run another business.”

  “No, but Mira does.” He paused, letting the idea sink in.

  It might not be fair, throwing Mira into the mix, but the more Matt thought about it, the more he didn’t want his father’s business to perish. He was proud of what his father had built, and always had been, even if his aspirations had led him in a different direction. But now that he was back on the Cape, he couldn’t imagine walking through Orleans and not seeing his father’s store. Matt had seen fierce determination in Mira’s eyes, had heard excitement in her voice as she’d outlined her business plan for the co-op. Technically, Mira wasn’t family, but it was clear how much she adored his father and liked working at the store—He’s like a surrogate grandfather, and selfishly, I don’t want Hagen to lose that connection.

  “Mira is invested in the business and the community. She’s like family. I know you feel that way. Why hold on to the business just to let it—and her—go? Why not let us try to save it? To build it into something more, something she can dig her fingers into and make you proud of?” He paused again, allowing his father time to think about the scenario he’d just laid out. “If you won’t consider it for yourself, consider it for her.”

  His father wiped his hands on the towel. He leaned his palms on the counter and his chin fell to his chest. “Mira,” he whispered.

  “You’re here for only a few months, Matt. If you break her heart, she might leave the business anyway.”

  And if I don’t, your dream of keeping it in the family just might come true.

  Chapter Eleven

  WEDNESDAY EVENING MATT picked up Mira and Hagen to go shopping for camping supplies, looking dangerously handsome in a short-sleeved white linen button-down and khaki shorts.

  “Matt!” Hagen ran to the door, and Matt crouched to hug him, melting a little more of Mira’s heart.

  “How’s it going, big guy?”

  “Good! I brought my robot to camp and my friends loved it. My teacher said I’m going to make a great scientist one day.”

  “You’ll be great at whatever you want to be when you grow up.” He pulled a Princeton baseball cap from behind his back and put it on Hagen’s head. “To keep ticks out of your hair while you’re camping.”

  Hagen beamed at Mira. “Look, Mom!”

  “That’s a pretty sharp-looking hat.”

  “Hello there, gorgeous.” He leaned in for a kiss on the cheek, and his masculine scent consumed her. “I’d have brought you one, but I thought you’d rather have this.” He handed her a small envelope and held a finger up to his lips, then glanced at Hagen, who was going up on his toes to look at his new hat in the hallway mirror.

  “What have you done?” She opened the envelope and read the handwritten note. Sunshine, I would be honored if you’d join me on Nantucket for a weekend of pampering and relaxation. I promise to bring you home sexually sated (if you’d like) and rejuvenated for another week of mommying. Yours, M.

  Her hand covered her heart. She opened her mouth to thank him, but all that came out was, “Matt…?”

  “Too presumptive?” He wrapped a hand around her waist and whispered, “We don’t have to fool around. I just want to be with you.”

  She shook her head and pressed her lips together in an effort to calm her rampant emotions. “It’s not that. It’s just so romantic. Nantucket? I’ve never been there.”

  “I’m ready to go!” Hagen dashed out the front door with his robot under his arm.

  “On our way,” Matt called after him, then he gazed into Mira’s eyes and said, “We’ll leave Friday after you finish working. You deserve romance, and I want to be the man who gives it to you.”

  “I want that, too.” It was a small admission, but it felt enormous, because she meant it in every possible way.

  Mira’s head was in the clouds the whole way down to Hyannis, where they enjoyed dinner at a waterfront restaurant. Hagen, refusing to take off his special hat, fed the seabirds pieces of bread, while Matt and Mira took pictures and snuck kisses. Mira made a mental list of what she needed for the weekend—sexy lingerie, condoms. Ohmygod. Condoms. She pondered the Nair hidden in her bathroom. Matt didn’t seem to care about what he’d felt down there the other night, but they’d been so hot and bothered, maybe he just hadn’t noticed.

  “I talked to my father, and I think it’s safe to start working on the co-op,” Matt said quietly.

  She was glad he inherently understood that some topics weren’t meant for Hagen’s ears. She had a much harder time keeping her excitement over the prospect of the co-op contained. “He agreed?”

  Matt wiggled his hand, indicating not so much. “But he’s getting there. He won’t fight us on it. I think we can move forward.”

  “Really?” She felt her eyes widen. “Matt, this is huge,” she said in a hushed whisper. “But I’d like to talk to him about it, just to be sure. I would hate for him to think I was doing anything without his approval.”

  “Absolutely.”

  On the way to the mall, Mira began making another mental list—for the co-op. Could this day get any better?

  They held hands walking into the mall, and when Hagen noticed, he moved around Mira to Matt’s other side and took his hand. “You’re Mom’s boyfriend,” he said matter-of-factly.

  Oh yeah, the day just got miles better.

  Matt glanced at Mira, and she knew he was looking for approval to confirm Hagen’s comment. “We had a talk about us.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I hope that’s okay.”

  Matt draped an arm over her shoulder and kissed her temple. “Anything you do is okay.” He smiled down at Hagen. “How do you feel about that, little man?”

  Hagen shrugged. “Good. But I wish you weren’t going back to New Jersey.”

  Matt bristled. Mira had wrestled with telling Hagen the truth about Matt being in town temporarily. When she weighed the pros and cons, she felt it was better to prepare Hagen for Matt’s return to New Jersey than to let him build false hope. When he’d pushed about whether that would mean Matt would no longer be her boyfriend, she’d finally alluded to a long-distance relationship. She’d waited, dreamed, hoped, and fantasized about being with Matt for too long to even allow herself to consider anything less.

  “I’m not sure if I’m going back or not, but I’m glad you feel good about me and your mom,” Matt finally said. “Because I enjoy spending time with both of you.”

  “But you aren’t my boyfriend,” Hagen said. “You’re my friend.”

  “Right.” He arched a brow at Mira.

  “He wanted roles, so I gave them to him.”

  “Friends are good,” Matt said, then quieter and for her ears only, “for now.”

  She tried to pretend her mind wasn’t racing with that open-ended comment as they shopped in the outdoors store. Matt filled a basket with a first aid kit, bug spray, a battery-operated lantern, a utility tool that had no knife but a fork and spoon that folded up to fit in Hagen’s palm, and a compass.

  “All right, little man. Time to find the sleeping bags.” He took Hagen’s hand, and Mira touched his arm.

  “Drake has sleeping bags, and I’m sure he has all the other stuff, too. I usually just send him with a new pair of pajamas and a few little toys or books to keep him busy.”

  Matt’s brows knitted. “Every boy needs his own camping gear. Would you
mind if I bought him a sleeping bag? I don’t want to step on your toes.”

  Hagen blinked serious baby blues at Matt and tugged on his hand. “Tell her it’s guy stuff.”

  Mira could see she was outnumbered, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Flattered, for sure, but she didn’t want Matt to think he needed to spoil Hagen. She also didn’t want Hagen, who wasn’t a needy child, to think he had to have new things for every outing. One look at her son and boyfriend’s hopeful expressions and she relented.

  “Okay, but this doesn’t mean every time you have an outing you need this much new stuff.”

  “I know,” Matt and Hagen said in unison, which made her laugh.

  They arrived back at her cottage later that evening with new pajamas, a sleeping bag, and a host of camping paraphernalia that Mira’s man and boy considered essentials. Matt and Hagen spent the next hour meticulously going through each item, removing tags, discussing proper usage, and then packing the lot into Hagen’s camping backpack.

  When they tucked Hagen into bed, he insisted he wear his hat, but Matt convinced him to hang it on the bedpost so it didn’t become misshapen. His robot sat in the middle of his desk, next to his book about building robots. Mira was glad Matt had given them extra batteries, because he’d been playing with it every free minute and had already gone through the first set.

  She stood in the doorway listening as the two of them discussed the raft-building information Hagen had learned from studying the website. Matt listened intently and complimented him on his research skills. Research, that was exactly what her son loved. She hadn’t been able to pinpoint it until now.

  “How would you feel about Mr. Lacroux helping us build the raft?”

  “Mr. Neil?” Hagen asked. “I’d like that.”

  Matt ruffled his hair. “Yeah, Mr. Neil.”

  Hagen threw his arms around Matt’s neck. “It’s going to be the greatest raft ever.” He settled back onto his pillow, and Matt smoothed the covers. “Matt?”