Sailing out of Darkness (Carolina Coast Book 4)

by Normandie Fischer

  Once again, she touched Teo’s cheek and whispered, “I think this has gone a bit beyond friendship. I didn’t want it to, but it has.”

  He touched her lips with one of his sweet kisses and said, “I hope so.” Then his eyes twinkled. “So glad to know you aren’t simply toying with me.”

  “Mr. Anderson.”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Good night.”

  She’d folded and packed the last of her things when she heard the door to the hall opening. “That you?” she called.

  “It is,” Teo answered, laughter in his voice. “And if it weren’t? What would you do then?”

  She met him in the salon. “Scream?”

  He held out a gaily wrapped package. “For you.”

  She slipped her fingers under the paper and loosened the tape. Gently prying the top off the box, she peeked inside. “Oh, Teo.” She lifted out a gloriously decorated mask, all gold and white with glittering jewels outlining the features and feathers tufting off the top. “It’s magnificent. Thank you, thank you.”

  “It’s not the one you first saw, but I hope you like it as well.”

  She touched his sleeve with her hand, then moved closer and wrapped her arms around his chest. It felt right, incredibly so, to hold Teo and to feel his heart thump next to her own.

  “One of many gifts I plan to give you, my darling Samantha.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’m thinking over a long span of years.”

  “Re-eally? That sounds promising.”

  “A promise, yes.” He kissed her fingertips.

  “But not yet.”

  “No, not yet.”

  27

  Teo

  A cormorant’s head slips through water,

  Its body submerged like a half-coiled cobra,

  Ducking for fish, then flying off boldly,

  Does this spell trickery or merely dead weight?

  The breezeless air wouldn’t last, not when forecasters promised thunderstorms by morning. Teo kicked off his shoes and carried a glass of water to his terrace. Venice had been delightful, but he was glad to be home.

  Lights flickered from the beach and from boats at the quay. Music filtered up from a waterfront café, discordant notes almost overwhelmed by a neighbor’s loud stereo. He leaned back in one of the deck chairs and turned up the volume in his head.

  It was strange, being alone after all those days in Venice. Yes, he and Samantha had spent time together before the trip, dinners mostly, but he hadn’t enjoyed the closeness of shared breakfasts for two in... well, he couldn’t exactly remember when. The time with Janet didn’t count, because, obviously, their marriage hadn’t included true closeness—not if she could end it with an outstretched pen.

  Returning inside, he flicked on his computer and waited for it to boot up. He hadn’t checked on his e-mail since he’d left, a treat, that vacation from social media chains he felt compelled to endure for his writing’s sake.

  One hundred twenty-nine unread messages showed up, and those didn’t include the ones that automatically went into various folders. He scanned the list, surprised to find one from David.

  Dad, David’s note skipped the “dear” part and then tossed out this: Tootie tells me you’re spending a lot of time with her boss. What’s that all about?

  Teo shot back with, Dear David, lovely to find a note from you. As to your question about Samantha, I’m enjoying the friendship of a delightful lady.

  As he glanced down at the rest of his e-mails, trying to decide which to keep and which to toss, David responded. Ah, so the boy was online, hovering.

  David: You took her to Venice?

  Teo: I did.

  David: Dad, wake up. You don’t know anything about her. Besides, she’s older than you.

  Teo lifted his hands, dropped them into his lap, and tried to calm the sizzle that made him want to hit the Caps Lock button and yell back at his son. What did David know about Samantha? Older, bah!

  When his breathing had slowed enough for him to answer, Teo typed: So what? I’m older than you are. Is that a problem?

  He huffed and hoped that would be the end of it. It wasn’t. David’s next line read, You don’t want to mess with a cougar.

  Teo snorted. A cougar? Samantha? Where did a nineteen-year-old get off thinking he could talk like that? And to his father? Teo ground his teeth, wishing he could reach out and smack the boy.

  How did David even know such a word?

  Teo closed the messaging box until he’d cooled enough to respond and spent the next minutes deleting unwanted e-mails. Finally, he opened the box again and typed, David, I love you. You’re my son. But you’re not my keeper. And I won’t allow you to be rude about a friend of mine. Do I make myself clear?

  David’s next: Abundantly. As long as she stays just a friend, I’ll shut up.

  Big breath. Big sigh. Fingers to keys. And if she doesn’t, I’d advise you to remember your manners.

  My manners? David wrote. Manners don’t have anything to do with this. You’re setting yourself up to be taken. I mean, vulnerable like you are? You’ve got to be careful, Dad, real careful. Women like that? They’re bound to be after your money.

  Teo was surprised that he could want to correct his son’s grammar in the middle of an overwhelming desire to club the kid. What, are you worried that there will be less for you if I find someone to love? Or are you implying that, because your mother couldn’t stand my deformed leg, any woman with whom I spend time must only want my money? Let’s drop this now before we say more that we’ll regret. I do love you, but my relationships are not open for discussion.

  Period. Have a good night.

  Closing down the computer, he rolled his chair away from the desk and just sat there, drumming his fingers on the chair’s arms. The nerve of the boy.

  He crossed and uncrossed his legs. He felt like hitting something. Instead, he grabbed his cane and wandered back out to the terrace.

  The sky had opened itself to a full moon, a huge orb that rose over the eastern hills. It would be hours before David would see it. Of course, the San Francisco sky might be too overcast to reveal a moon—and David’s mind might still be hanging out in the gutter, unable to see the orange-yellow of first rising, the lighter, paler, but no less brilliant white-yellow as it made its slow path through the night sky.

  Years ago, a young David had sat with him, enthralled as they’d watched the moon and planets through a backyard telescope. That David would never have used words like cougar to describe a woman. Any woman. Much less Samantha.

  The morning brought an ability to sling off the sheets along with his anger. Boys of nineteen, on their own for the first time, did a lot of chest beating. That’s all it was. If anything ever came of his relationship with Samantha and his son had a chance to know her, David would discover just how wrong he’d been.

  Samantha.

  Her face appeared. Of course, it did.

  Teo laughed slightly, without much humor. She was constantly on his mind. He pictured her eyes closed as they’d kissed, the flush on her cheeks when she’d broken away. He saw her fussing outside Florian’s, worried about Tootie. But the image that stopped him was of her teeth chattering, not from the cold, but from emotion as she’d told him of loving Jack.

  No. Teo shook his head. The past tense of her affair didn’t seem to be the stumbling block, but he’d seen the expression in her eyes the moment he’d spoken in future tense.

  It was too soon. She didn’t seem to be commitment phobic. Just that it was much, much too soon. He’d seen it, that momentary panic before she’d said, “But not yet.”

  The realization of how much he wanted a now and a forever with Samantha surprised him. All his fears had been supplanted by a craving for this woman, this friend.

  Yes, she was attracted to him. She couldn’t have kissed him like that if she weren’t. But she’d been attracted to Jack and had hopped into bed with him, which certainly had erected a wall she
seemed unable to scale.

  He hoped she’d learn to forgive herself. If she couldn’t, the two of them didn’t stand much of a chance.

  There was still the issue of his crippled leg and scarred flesh. He’d surprised himself by this new willingness to risk another woman’s reaction. Another woman’s revulsion.

  After changing shoes, he picked up his cane and clopped toward the beach to clear his head. And there, ahead of him and entering an Internet café, was Samantha. Of course, she’d want to check her e-mail for word from Tootie. And from her children and that other employee. The one from Raleigh. And all those questions about India and that brother/ghost named Rick. Too many questions and no answers.

  Sighing, he limped on down the hill, ignoring the tug of that café and an espresso, hoping for patience, his old, familiar friend.

  Ha. Friend? Companion, certainly. On the lonely nights after Janet had left, on the long slog toward healing, he’d learned to wait. To bide his time.

  But that didn’t mean he liked it.

  He’d rather be proactive and find a way to solve the problem for Samantha. But that was impossible. To do so, he’d need superhuman powers not only to investigate, but also to travel in space and intervene.

  Ah. He knew One who could manage that. They weren’t as intimate as he’d have liked yet, but the last months had been edging them into a unity of purpose, if nothing else.

  28

  Samantha

  Patterns in the universe, stars upon a course,

  Oh, that I were yours today, and yesterday was not.

  Sam logged on to the computer as soon as the Internet café opened. Tootie hadn’t called, but perhaps she’d written. And yes, there it was.

  Jack got sent to some kind of clinic in Durham. Believe it or not, they’re treating him for lead poisoning. Seems he got very sick very quickly. You know what the grapevine’s like in a small town, so they may be exaggerating. I’ll keep you posted.

  Jack with lead poisoning? Forget waiting for a written answer. She punched in the house phone number on her way out of the Internet café.

  “Hello?” Tootie’s voice sounded tinny.

  “Did I wake you? I’m sorry. I forgot. You want me to call back?”

  Tootie cleared her throat. “Hold on.” Another cough to clear it and then, “Sorry. No. This is fine.”

  “I just got your e-mail about Jack. What’s going on? Is he all right?”

  “Yeah, well, it’s like a twenty-eight-day treatment. Sounds horrible to me. They have to put this stuff in him to flush out the lead poisoning.”

  “So what’s...I mean, do you think I should...?

  “According to India—”

  “You saw her?”

  “Yeah, last night on my way home. According to her, he should be almost back to normal, maybe a few side effects, but they don’t know. Anyway, she’s taking care of him. She said he lives with her now—or rather again—so she’s got it covered. She didn’t seem all that worried.”

  “Did she say how he got sick?”

  “Breathing lead dust on a job site, something like that.”

  “That’s horrible. But wouldn’t his workers be in worse shape, I mean, exposed to it all the time?”

  “You got me. We’ve all been wondering, but what do we know?”

  “Can you find out where he is?” Sam fought the images that kept popping into her mind. “I would like to send flowers or something.”

  Tootie did a little ahem thing. “Do you think that’s such a good idea? I mean, with India camping out there and everything? She, uh, she said he didn’t want to see anyone.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Jack.” Not when he loved being the center of attention. “Okay. Could you at least let me know if you hear anything else?”

  “Sure thing. Anything I learn, I’ll send an e-mail.”

  “Or you have my new cell number. Use it if you’re at the store.”

  “So, are you having a great time? When do you go back to Reggio?”

  “We’re already here. I’ll tell you all about the trip some other time. I’m sorry I woke you.” Sam clicked the End button.

  Jack might be wasting away in a hospital bed, tubes running in and out of his flesh. She needed to know he was okay, but, of course, she had no right.

  Intimacy lingered, didn’t it? Even one that carried this much pain. And India’s years with Jack had to count for something.

  Sam tucked the phone back in her purse and sighed. She didn’t want to go back to her room. Instead, she turned toward the boardwalk. And there, moving away from her, was Teo’s limping form. She felt a stab of regret as she turned off along the water’s edge.

  She shed her shoes to feel the touch of sand. It was warmer than the air and squeaked when she planted her feet on it. She bent to pick up a handful, let it sift between her fingers into tiny piles at her feet before she grabbed another handful and then another, until the piles grew to form one larger hillock. If she left it there, it would keep its shape until the tide flattened it and shifted those grains into something new and different.

  Here in Reggio, her life had done just that—shifted. But was the new thing she’d found real or illusory, too easily formed, something that would wash away on the next tide? Something based on need and propinquity?

  She shivered as she stepped gingerly around the sand pile. Maybe if she talked to Teo, he’d help her make sense of things. But not today.

  Today was for worrying.

  Her fretting hadn’t dissipated, but she eased it the next afternoon as she and Teo strolled along their favorite path next to the sea. She tucked her arm in his before delivering the latest news.

  “Breathing lead dust?” He stopped to face her, and his frown formed crevices between his brows. “That doesn’t sound right.”

  “I didn’t think so either.”

  He resumed his limping gait. “I’m no expert on poisoning, but in my line of work you pick up a few things. I’d be surprised if you could inadvertently inhale enough lead dust to put you in the hospital.”

  “What then?”

  “I haven’t a clue, but I would think he’d have to ingest it in some form.”

  As the sand turned to rock, Teo led them away from town. He balanced with his cane, continuing to hold her arm, and Sam took care to stay on level ground.

  “I hate not knowing,” she said. “Tootie told me people are talking, but no one other than India has any answers.”

  “Do you think India’s a reliable witness?”

  “Oh, Teo.” She pressed her cheek against his shoulder. “I don’t know what to think.”

  Bringing them to a stop, he rubbed her back with his free hand, a soothing motion that evoked a sigh. He spoke softly. “Whatever’s going on, he’s being treated for it. He’ll be okay.”

  “I hope so,” she said, leaning in. “I certainly hope so.” As she lifted her head, she noticed he wore a different, lighter scent, not the lime. She sniffed. “Something new?”

  “You noticed, did you?” There was a laugh in his voice as he backed toward the sea wall and set his cane to one side. “Come here.” His hands slid to her face, his lips eased upon hers lightly before he let her go.

  They stood side by side, listening to the gulls shriek, to the sound of waves in the background, and farther away, the roar of traffic, the occasional horn, a shout, laughter.

  Tomorrow, as soon as the Internet café reopened, she’d investigate lead poisoning. Tomorrow, she’d figure out what was going on.

  “You were right,” she told Teo over the remnants of her seafood stew. “Lead poisoning is cumulative.”

  “I thought so.”

  “The article said that unless a grown man ingests it in substantial quantities, the poison would take a long time to affect him.” She ripped apart a chunk of bread and dipped it in the last of her broth, staring at it before she popped it into her mouth.

  “And you don’t imagine Jack chomped on paint chips or drank solder.”r />
  She just glared at him.

  “Of course not,” he answered for her.

  At that, she pushed her plate away. “You almost finished?”

  Looking down at his half-eaten stew, he didn’t answer.

  He liked mussels and clams. She was a shrew.

  “I’m sorry. Please, eat, enjoy,” she said, waving toward his bowl.

  He pulled meat out of another shell. “Feeling restless?”

  “My muscles are all twitchy.” She twirled her spoon between her fingers. “And I went for a walk this morning.” The spoon went back in the bowl. “Maybe just not a long enough one.”

  She tried to calm the jitters, because she had absolutely no reason for feeling this way. None at all.

  Teo set his fork and spoon at the proper angle on his plate and waved toward the waiter. “Il conto, per piacere.”

  Leaving bills and an apologetic smile because of his leftover food, Teo ushered her out of the restaurant.

  “This is driving me crazy,” she said, finger-combing hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ears.

  “I can tell.”

  Instead of taking that as it was probably meant, she glared at him. “I need to walk.”

  “I’ll join you.” His voice remained pleasant.

  She didn’t want pleasant either. She didn’t know what she wanted. Probably someone to take charge and make everything better, but then she’d manage to feel guilty about that as well. She sped up the pace, which was not easy for Teo and his cane. Now, wouldn’t a friend have slowed and been sympathetic? Obviously, not this one. Fine, she wasn’t a nice person.

  A mile later, her muscles still twitched and the bones in her thighs hurt. What was that, arthritis?

  Yep, she was old.