Sweet on Peggy

by Stella MacLean

  When she met his open smile, she realized how much she’d been missing her dad. Marcus Anderson was gone, but her biological father was here, ready to be her friend.

  She followed him out to the cash, where he paid the bill. While she waited for him, a feeling came over her. She’d been alone in Eden Harbor, but now she wasn’t. She had moved here looking to start over. What she’d found was a family connection that filled the empty parts of her life.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE WEEK AFTER Peggy met her father, she felt so different. Everything seemed so new, so hopeful to her. She couldn’t explain it except that she had her dad, who loved her, here in Eden Harbor. A family she could count on.

  In the quiet hours when she wasn’t thankful to have found Bill, she’d spent time going over in her head how strange her mother’s behavior had been. Sure, not wanting to live in Eden Harbor had meant she couldn’t stay and feel as if her life was passing her by...maybe. But her mother’s unhappiness with living in Eden Harbor didn’t explain why she hadn’t told Bill that he had a daughter.

  She and her dad had met for coffee twice in the past week. She couldn’t get over how different he was from Marcus. Her dad loved to read. Bill only read the sports section. Marcus loved going to the movies with her mom. Bill didn’t have a favorite movie. Marcus loved the PBS channel. Bill liked the crime shows.

  Today she wasn’t going to think anymore about her two dads for a while. Neill and Sherri had invited Rory and her over to a barbecue. She had been too distracted to wonder why they’d been invited together, but she was so pleased to be going.

  Peggy had told Sherri about their complicated relationship, her feeling that Rory was hiding something. Peggy honestly believed that whatever he was hiding was the major reason why he wasn’t already in a committed relationship.

  In all the confusion of the past week, she hadn’t heard from Rory. She assumed they’d get a chance to catch up this evening. Seeing Rory would be great. She looked forward to a chance to talk with Sherri, another part of her life that she hadn’t paid as much attention to as she usually did.

  The whole thing with Bill Cassidy had thrown her life into a bit of an emotional pit. She was still trying to figure out her relationship with her new father. She wanted to get to know her dad, but she didn’t know how to do it. They didn’t need each other the way they would have had he appeared in her life when she was younger. They didn’t share many interests except volleyball. She’d volunteered to teach him to ride, and he cautiously accepted. But they had to wait for a school break because he was so busy.

  When she drove in her friend’s driveway and got out of the car, she could hear laughter in the backyard. Rory’s truck was parked at the curb, which meant that she was late. She glanced at her watch—six o’clock. No. She was on time. She gathered her purse, a bottle of wine, her freshly made samosas and headed to where she could hear voices. All three of them turned to greet her, but it was the guarded look on Rory’s face that made her cautious.

  “Hi, everyone. I’m late, am I?”

  “No. Not at all,” Neill said, coming toward her, his barbecue apron snugged around his hips and a huge red chef hat perched on his head. “Rory and I were just catching up.” He touched his hand to his head. “And this loud thing is Sherri’s idea. She thinks that if I’m going to have a career as a barbecue chef, I should look the part. What do you think?” he asked, hugging her before taking the bottle of wine she offered.

  “I think you look quite...”

  “Cute. He looks cute, doesn’t he?” Sherri asked coming across the deck from the back door and folding Peggy in a hug. “Gayle and Nate were invited as well, but they’re in Boston.”

  “I’m so glad to be here,” Peggy said, warmth at seeing her friend flooding over her. She had told Sherri a little bit about her first meeting with Bill and what had happened. She was looking forward to a few minutes alone with Sherri this evening when they cleaned up the kitchen after dinner.

  “What did you bring?” Sherri asked, taking the wrapped plate from Peggy.

  “I made my father’s recipe for samosas, something he learned to make when we lived in Indonesia. You don’t need to heat them up. They’re great the way they are. I also brought the sauce for them,” she said, aware that she was chattering like a schoolgirl. She couldn’t seem to stop herself as she sought Rory’s eyes.

  He wasn’t looking at her. He was flipping through the pages of a woodworking magazine. “Did I interrupt an interesting conversation?” she asked, directing her gaze to Rory.

  “We were talking about older homes and house styles, wood finishings. You own the old Henderson farm, don’t you?” Neill asked.

  “I do.”

  “Did you realize that it’s the only Craftsman house left in or around Eden Harbor?”

  “No, I didn’t. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. The wood paneling and wainscoting in my house is truly spectacular. And so many nice windows.”

  “That’s part of why I liked this house,” Neill said, gazing up at the gingerbread work around the eaves and the tall stately windows. “We have a widow’s walk at the top of the house, but we never go up there. Someday I’ll fix it up and make a really exciting place for our children to play,” he said, smiling at his wife.

  “Neill and I want two more children. When we told Morgan, she was so excited, chatting away. You know what she’s like when she’s excited about something,” Sherri said, her smile sweeping from Peggy to Rory and coming to rest on her husband’s face.

  Sherri moved into her husband’s outstretched arm. Pulling her close, he kissed her. Rory’s gaze was suddenly on Peggy, his expression a smiling question mark. She smiled back, happy to be here, to be with her friends and especially to see Rory.

  Neill and Sherri stepped apart with a nervous laugh. “Sorry about that,” Neill said, “but we can’t seem to keep our hands off each other these days.”

  Sherri grinned up at him. “Why don’t you open the wine Peggy brought and start the barbecue? Peggy and I will go in and get the other food ready.”

  Peggy put the plate she carried on the table, took the foil off and opened the dipping sauce. “Something for you to enjoy while you barbecue,” she said, still unable to drag her gaze away from Rory. She could tell the shirt was new, the jeans faded to just the right shade of blue, but it was his eyes that held her. She would love to step into his arms the way Sherri had with Neill, but that was not likely to go as well as she would hope. She’d had one phone call from him this week. Nothing more. Yet he’d been so sweet and caring the last time she saw him. Rory seemed to blow hot and cold where she was concerned. Possibly he didn’t want to be in touch. She wasn’t sure and wasn’t willing to risk finding out on such a pleasant evening.

  Peggy and Sherri went in the back door and walked along a short hall into the kitchen. Everything gleamed in the large open space. Sherri caught her looking around in amazement. “I decided the kitchen needed a good cleaning.”

  “Want to do my kitchen? Nice as all the natural woodwork is, it needs to be kept clean in order to really show its beauty.”

  Sherri began taking the salad makings out of the fridge. “Why don’t you do this while I get the string beans and garlic potatoes started?”

  “Sure.” Peggy began chopping. “I didn’t know you and Neill were starting a family. I assume you have to be very careful with your health and your diabetes.”

  “I do.” Sherri began to cut the ends of the beans. “Peggy, can I tell you something?”

  She glanced at her friend. She was beautiful with her streaked blond hair and athletic build. The pale blue pants and matching top she wore fit her perfectly. She remembered the first day she’d met Sherri. She’d been nervous, wanting to make a good first impression with the clinic staff, especially Sherri. She needn’t have worried. Their friendship started the day they met. “You can tell me anything.”

  “I took the home test and I’m quite sure I’m pregnant.”


  Peggy gawked in surprise. She went around the kitchen island and hugged her friend. “This is so exciting! I’m so happy for you.”

  “I am, too.”

  She held her friend’s hand, delighted to be sharing this moment with her. “How far along are you?”

  “About two months, I think. Please don’t tell anyone about it. Neill and I haven’t told anyone yet. My mom will be so excited when I tell her. Of course I need to see an obstetrician because of being a high-risk mother. He’ll be able to confirm how many weeks along I am.”

  “I won’t tell anyone. Does Gayle know?”

  “Not yet. Mostly because she won’t be able to keep it from Nate, and he won’t be able to stop himself from worrying about me.”

  “That’s what cousins are for, aren’t they?” Peggy said, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time.

  “You won’t tell Rory, will you?”

  “I’d have to be seeing Rory on a regular basis to have that kind of conversation,” she said ruefully.

  “Things not going well there?”

  “I don’t know. He’s so sweet when I see him. The other day he encouraged me to talk to Bill Cassidy, to learn what I could about him. It really helped. Yet I’ve barely heard from him since then.”

  “Funny guy, really. Wonder what he’s not telling you?” Sherri mused as she put the green beans on to steam and the potatoes in the microwave.

  “I have no idea.” Peggy mixed the salad greens together, placed them in a cut glass bowl before drizzling dressing over them.

  A few minutes later she watched as Sherri organized the vegetables on a tray to take out to the deck. “I can’t believe this is happening. After everything you and Neill have been through, it must feel wonderful.”

  “It is. When I remember the moment Neill came back into my life and didn’t even recognize me...” She sighed. “So glad that part of my life is over.”

  “Yeah, come to think of it, that was really strange. Gives me hope, though, where Rory’s concerned.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning Rory can be kind of strange at times, so maybe it’s all part of the male makeup.”

  “Could be.”

  The women filled the other tray with glasses and napkins before joining the men out on the deck. Peggy was pleased to see that all the samosas she’d made had disappeared. Neill had just about finished the marinated chicken breasts, and Rory was setting the table with orange-and-turquoise plates and matching cutlery from a cart placed along the side of the deck. The image of him doing domestic chores fascinated her. The other men she’d dated all seemed to have some sort of allergy to house chores.

  They ate together, laughing and talking about Eden Harbor, about the upcoming fall fair plans and how successful the fund-raiser for the fire station had been. Peggy really enjoyed this time together with her friends and Rory. He was a good conversationalist and listened intently while Neill told the story about his return to Eden Harbor and laughed as Sherri playfully interjected her version of the story.

  When they finished, the women cleaned up the kitchen and the men put the barbecue things away. All so perfectly natural and normal. Peggy wished her life could be like this someday.

  After about an hour out on the deck, Rory leaned forward in his Adirondack chair and said, “Sorry to be a party spoiler, but I have to be at a job outside of town for seven thirty tomorrow morning, and I’m not sure how to get there. My truck doesn’t have GPS, but one of the workmen is going with me and he says he knows the way.”

  “Oh. Wish you could stay longer,” Sherri said, sneaking a look at Peggy.

  Peggy held her gaze for a second. “I don’t have a long drive to work tomorrow, but I am on the early shift, which means I have to be there by seven.” She gathered up the plate and plastic container she’d brought and rose. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” she said, giving Sherri a very gentle hug.

  Neill came to her, wrapping an arm around Peggy’s shoulders. “It’s been great. Thanks for the delicious appetizers. Sorry that Rory and I motored through them without a thought to you girls.” He winked at Rory.

  “That’s okay. We’ll live,” she said, aware that Rory was standing on the other side of her.

  Neill grinned. “If I’m not mistaken—” he nodded in Rory’s direction “—there’s a man here who would like to spend a little time with you.”

  Peggy was mortified to feel her cheeks flush.

  After saying good-night to Neill and Sherri, Rory took her hand and walked with her along the driveway. “Can we go out tomorrow evening? I’d like to see you, talk a little bit about what’s been going on in your life and mine.”

  Was he about to open up to her? Did she want him to? Her life was already pretty complicated. She gazed up into his face, seeing the intensity of his gaze under the streetlight. There was something so sincere about Rory, and at other times he could be so...removed. There were moments when she wished they could start over again, recapture the excitement of the night at the Wayfarer Inn.

  Every time she thought about Rory, and there were lots of those moments, she wanted more of him. Yet his on-again, off-again behavior had her totally confused. This man was intriguing, provocative and gorgeous. He could make her laugh and bring her to tears of frustration. He was... In the ethereal light created by the streetlight, she felt Rory’s nearness like a magnet pulling her to him. “I’d like that.”

  “Meet me at my apartment tomorrow evening around eight? I’ll cook dinner.” He smiled that special smile, the one that made her feel warm all over. “I don’t cook dinner for just anyone.”

  “That means I’m among the lucky ones?” she asked, wishing he’d kiss her.

  He didn’t. Instead, he took her keys, unlocked her car door and held it open for her. “I promise you a great dinner.”

  She slid into the seat and looked up at him. “See you tomorrow. Can I bring anything?”

  “Only yourself.”

  “I didn’t know you could cook. Guess I’m about to learn a whole lot of things about you.” She sincerely hoped so. Maybe tomorrow evening would be the time when she would finally learn what made him seem so distant, yet so touchable. “It’s a date,” she said, her pulse pounding in her throat.

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY Rory stopped work early. He had to get into town and pick up all the things he needed to make Peggy a special dinner. He wanted to impress her. He had his mother’s recipe for lobster thermidor, and he needed to assemble the ingredients. When he reached his apartment, he’d forgotten that he hadn’t tidied up at all before going to work. There were dirty socks, shirts, newspapers, dishes scattered everywhere, the accumulation of stuff dropped wherever during the past days due to the long hours he’d been working.

  Shoving everything in the bedroom into drawers, cupboards and the washing machine, he then tackled the kitchen counters and filled the dishwasher. Heading for the living room, he scooped up sweatshirts, T-shirts, socks and dirty dishes, depositing the dishes in the dishwasher and the dirty clothes under his bed, as the hamper and washing machine were both full. He gave the bathroom a quick scrub. His collection of wooden figures purchased over the past twenty years were the only personal things he’d taken the time to unpack from his storage unit across town.

  Grabbing the deodorizer from the closet, he gave the L-shaped living room a quick spray, filling the air with the sweet scent of lavender. He hoped Peggy liked it. At least it hid the prevailing man smells in the apartment.

  He’d taken a quick shower and was just cleaning the lobster shells after putting the lobster meat and other ingredients into a bowl when the doorbell rang. “Coming,” he called out, wiping his hands on the large white towel around his waist that doubled as an apron.

  When he opened the door, his heart literally skipped a beat. No, make that several beats. Peggy was standing there, her face alight, her hair shining, but it was the red body-hugging top that riveted his attention. Hot was the only word that came
to mind. “You look...perfect.”

  “Thank you. Am I on time?” she asked with a tilt of her chin and a smile.

  “Yes! Absolutely. Of course,” he said, moving aside to let her come in.

  Get a grip!

  He watched her walk into his Pullman-styled kitchen...those pants cupping her bottom. Heat rose through him.

  Steady. Take a deep breath.

  “I’ve never been in one of these apartments,” she said, glancing around. “The wooden figures. My father collected wood carvings.” He was pleased she’d noticed them. Her gaze swept the floor. “And a blanket on the carpet. Huge pillows. What are we doing tonight?”

  “I’ll fill you in on my plan for this evening once I’ve gotten this dish together.” He pointed at the counter and the ingredients spread all over. He put the saucepan on the stove, adding ingredients as he mentally ran through all the steps to making the lobster dish.

  “We’re eating lobster out of the shell?” she asked.

  “We are.” He noted that she’d climbed up on one of the stools beyond the raised counter. “I’m filling the shells with the meat mixed into this sauce,” he said as he beat eggs and stirred them into the pan on the stove. “You’re not allergic to shellfish, are you?” he asked, mortified that he hadn’t thought to ask her earlier. He grimaced and glanced at the fridge door, noting that business card of his favorite pizza place.

  “No. I love shellfish. I’m just not very good at preparing it.” She came around the counter and stood next to him, her fragrance wafting around him, distracting him to the point where he nearly burned the sauce.

  “Did you know that lobster thermidor is a French recipe from the famous Café de Paris?” he asked, to ease the drumroll beat his heart was doing.