All for One

by Melody Carlson

  “That reminds me,” Abby said. “Mitch called here about an hour ago. I guess he tried your cell but couldn’t get through.”

  “Is he here yet?”

  “Yes. He decided he’d walk here from his hotel. I offered to call Paul to pick him up, but he said he wanted to walk.”

  “It’s a beautiful day for it.” Janie washed her hands at the sink. “Now tell me, Abby, what can we do to help?”

  Marley felt happy as she and the other three Lindas, along with Ashton, worked together in the kitchen. Really, she couldn’t ever remember preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner with so much joy in her heart.

  “I think everything’s as ready as it can be,” Abby said as she looked around the kitchen.

  “You know the old saying.” Marley grinned. “Many hands make light work.”

  “I have a surprise,” Caroline said as she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of chilled champagne and a carton of orange juice. “Mimosas!”

  “Perfect!” Janie exclaimed.

  “I’ll get the glasses,” Abby offered.

  As the five of them clinked glasses, Marley winked at her son. “Here’s to friends who are like family, and to family who are like friends,” she proclaimed.

  “Cheers!” they all said.

  Chapter 26

  JANIE

  As Janie sat at the Thanksgiving table, it wasn’t easy to pretend all was well. Certainly all was well as far as the challenges Caroline had faced this morning. Truly it couldn’t have gone better with Michael. But when Janie saw Victor, Donna, Marcus, and Ben walking into the inn, she felt a chill run through her. She knew that Victor had opted to eat with the Lindas to avoid the appearance that he and Donna were getting back together, but as far as Janie could see, Donna was not getting this message.

  “How about this great weather for your flight up here?” Janie said to Mitch as she passed him the rolls. Janie had arranged the place cards on the table, making sure to allow plenty of distance between her and Donna. As a result Janie was at one end of the table with Caroline, Mitch, Marley, Ashton, and Jack and his family. It was actually a rather comfortable grouping, and the conversation down here was flowing as smoothly as the wine that Mitch had brought with him from Napa Valley. At the other end of the table, where Victor’s and Abby’s families sat … not so much. Janie felt a tad bit guilty, but she thought Abby would understand.

  To make up for it, Janie decided to make herself extra useful after the meal was finished. “I’m in charge of cleanup,” she announced, “and Abby is banned from the kitchen.”

  “I’m Janie’s assistant,” Caroline said quickly, “since we weren’t here to help much this morning.”

  “Ashton and I are helping too,” Marley proclaimed.

  “Nope,” Ashton told his mom. “I’m helping. You’re staying put.”

  Both Marley and Abby protested, but, outvoted, they had no choice.

  “How are you doing?” Caroline quietly asked Janie as they rinsed plates together.

  “I’m okay.” Janie forced a smile for Ashton’s sake.

  “Hey, you can let your guard down around me,” he assured her as he set a stack of dishes by her elbow. “I know what’s going on out there. You have my sympathy.”

  “Thanks.” Janie lowered her voice. “I appreciate it. And the truth is”—Ashton and Caroline leaned in to hear—”I felt like I was about to die out there.”

  They both nodded in sympathy.

  “It’s the weirdest situation, and it’s taking all my self-control not to run out of here screaming.” Janie rinsed a plate and sighed.

  “Poor Janie.” Caroline patted her shoulder.

  “That Donna is a real piece of work,” Ashton whispered. “And that outfit she’s wearing!” He shook his head with a frown. “It’s so last year.”

  This made Janie and Caroline laugh loudly.

  “Sounds like you’re having way too much fun in there,” Abby called out.

  “I better go finish clearing,” Ashton said.

  “Yes, and spying,” Janie said in a hushed tone.

  He chuckled. “You got it.”

  “That Ashton is okay,” Janie said as he left.

  “He is adorable,” Caroline said. “I told Marley she should encourage him to move his drum shop to Clifden. I think he would fit in well in this town.”

  Janie loaded another plate into the dishwasher. She was obsessing over Victor and feeling excluded from the chance to get better acquainted with his sons. She already knew and liked Ben, but today was the first time she’d met Marcus. They’d exchanged a few words and his fiancée Katie had barely said hello before Donna interrupted them. Janie couldn’t help but feel Donna wanted to cut Janie off, ignore her, and push her away. Janie had no doubt that Donna wanted to paint a bad picture of her for her sons and future daughter-in-law.

  With cleanup done, they started serving dessert and coffee. Janie kept herself busy playing waitress, but after a while everyone was served, and eventually the meal—the longest meal of Janie’s life—was finally over. This was announced by Paul, who, seated at the end of the table next to Victor, stretched his arms back and yawned loudly. “The only thing missing here is football,” he said.

  Abby laughed a bit uncomfortably. “I haven’t gotten a TV for the inn yet.”

  “Which is why I’m inviting anyone interested to come out to my house to watch the big game.” Paul patted his midsection as he stood. “Any takers?”

  It seemed everyone jumped up to figure out what they wanted to do with the remainder of the day. Mitch and Caroline announced they were taking Chuck to the beach. Marley and Ashton planned to head over to Jack’s house to see a new painting he’d just finished and to help decorate the Christmas tree, which Hunter insisted they put up today.

  “How about you, Victor?” Paul asked. “Want to bring your boys over and place some wagers on the big game?”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I promised to drive the kids out to see the lighthouse this afternoon,” Victor told him.

  “I just got a new camera,” Katie explained. “I can’t wait to use it, and I absolutely adore lighthouses.”

  “It’s such a lovely day for that too,” Donna chirped, as if this was all part of her plan. “I’ll just run upstairs and change into something more casual.”

  Victor tossed an uncomfortable glance at Janie, suggesting that perhaps Donna had just invited herself into this outing. Maybe it was fatigue, stupidity, or plain impatience, but Janie suddenly decided to join this crazy game.

  “What a splendid idea,” she said to Victor. Donna paused at the foot of the stairs. “I heard that the Christmas lights will be lit for the first time tonight. If you stick around long enough, they’ll have carolers and cookies and everything.” She made a firm nod as if she’d just decided something. “In fact I think I’ll drive up there myself. Anyone care to join me?” She glanced at Abby. Everyone else was gone or had other plans.

  “I’m beat,” Abby admitted a bit sheepishly. “In fact falling asleep in front of a football game is surprisingly appealing.”

  “That’s okay,” Janie said in a cheerful tone. “I’m fine on my own—”

  “Why don’t you come with us?” Victor said eagerly.

  “Oh, you wouldn’t have room,” she told him.

  “Actually, if we could take your car, we’d have even more room. It would be more comfortable for everyone.”

  Janie glanced at Donna, who was still at the foot of the stairs. Although she was partially in the shadows, Janie could see a frown on her face. Common sense warned Janie this might not be such a good idea, but she just didn’t care.

  “Sure.” Janie grinned at Victor. “I’d be happy to have someone ride with me.”

  Victor turned to Ben now. “You know you
r way to the lighthouse. Do you mind waiting for your mom to change? That way we can head out now, and Katie will get there while there’s still good light for her photos.”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  Victor handed Ben the keys. “Great. Meet you up there.” He turned to Janie. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded. “I’ve got hiking shoes in my trunk.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?”

  Janie couldn’t help but notice the surprised expressions on Marcus’s and Katie’s faces as they hurried out the door. She tried to act calm and normal on the outside, but on the inside she felt like singing and dancing.

  As they approached her car, she remembered that she’d had a bit to drink with dinner. Though it wasn’t much, she was still not comfortable driving. Stopping Victor on the sidewalk, she quietly explained her dilemma. With a solemn face he held out his hand for her car keys. “In that case I must insist that I drive.”

  “Uh, thanks.” She handed over her keys and then he chuckled, pointing to her sporty silver Mercedes parked across the street.

  “All right!” He nodded victoriously to Marcus and Katie. “I’ve been dying to try out this little beauty, but Janie has never once invited me to drive it for her.”

  Without further ado Marcus and Katie got in back, and Janie sat next to Victor. Just as he pulled out, a disheveled Donna popped out the front door, holding her shoes in one hand and waving frantically, as if she expected them to stop and wait for her to pile in. Fortunately Janie seemed the only one to notice this. Although she felt a twinge of guilt, she had a strong suspicion Donna would repay Janie for this intrusion on her excursion.

  Instead of worrying over this, Janie decided to play tour guide by pointing out sights of interest along the way. A couple of times she even suggested they might stop to allow Katie to take some photos, but Victor seemed intent on reaching the lighthouse. Perhaps he was as worried about Donna as Janie was.

  “Easy on the curves, Dad,” Marcus said. “You don’t want us getting carsick on Janie’s nice leather seats.”

  “Oh, they clean up nicely,” she assured him.

  “This car has great suspension,” Victor told Janie, “but I guess I could slow down a bit.”

  Before long they were in the parking lot and emerging from the car. “We’re going to head straight up the trail as fast as we can go,” Marcus informed his dad, “so Katie can make the most of this late-afternoon light.”

  “Since we’re the old folks, we’ll meander on up and take our time.” Victor winked at her, and just like that Victor and Janie were alone, slowly walking up one of the twisty, shadowy trails that led to the lighthouse.

  “Is this the regular lighthouse trail?” Janie asked as they turned another sharp corner. “I don’t recall it going this way.”

  He chuckled. “Actually I thought we’d stop by the blow hole first. Do you mind?”

  She smiled. “Do you think we should let the others know which route you took?”

  He pulled out his cell phone and, holding it up for her to see, he turned it off. “I’m sure we’ll meet up with them in time. Besides, it’s probably more than an hour before we have to get up on top to see the Christmas lights, right?”

  “Yes, but we don’t want to get lost on this trail.” She paused by a mossy boulder that overlooked the ocean, turning to peer into his face.

  “We don’t?” Now he reached out and pulled her close to him. “Oh, Janie, I have missed you so much.”

  She felt a strange mix of emotions now—giddy happiness and fretful concern, not to mention curiosity. They all churned within her, almost as wildly the waves down in the inlet below. “I’ve missed you too.”

  He leaned in and kissed her, and everything about his kiss felt as solid and reassuring as it had felt before. But even as she kissed him back, she wondered: Was this right? Was it smart? Was it even safe? Janie imagined Donna bursting up here, armed with something more than a butter knife, as she forced Janie over the edge of the cliff like a scene from a Hitchcock movie.

  “We need to talk.” Janie pulled away and looked into his eyes.

  “Those four words that nobody in love ever wants to hear.”

  She blinked. “In love?”

  He was still holding to her hands, squeezing them warmly between his own. “Of course. You know that I love you, Janie. Haven’t I made that clear?”

  She cocked her head to one side. “Clear in a foggy sort of way.”

  “I know, I know.” He tipped his head back and let out a deep sigh. “Donna has confused and complicated and convoluted almost everything. I had hoped that she’d come to her senses by now, that she’d realize I don’t love her anymore. She needs to remember that she was the one who ended our marriage in the first place. I want her to just move on and go home.”

  “Have you told her that?”

  “I’ve tried.”

  “But have you specifically said those exact words to her, Victor?”

  “She makes it difficult.” He ran his hand through his hair. “It’s like she has radar, Janie. Every time I’m about to make everything very plain and clear, she throws up some kind of smoke screen. She does or says something very thoughtful and sweet, or she brings up the boys or starts talking about Marcus’s wedding, or else she goes all spiritual on me and starts talking about God. That’s when I get really confused. Take it from me, Donna is a confusing woman.”

  Janie made a sad smile. “She knows how to work you, Victor. She’s slowly but surely reeling you in.”

  “She can’t reel in what she hasn’t hooked.”

  She studied him closely. “Are you sure about that?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean she hooked you once, Victor. Why shouldn’t she be able to hook you again?”

  He looked out over the ocean with a firm jaw. “Because I don’t love her.”

  Janie believed him.

  “The truth is, I feel a little guilty for not loving her.” He turned back to look at Janie. “Especially when she starts talking about God, about the promises we made … until death do we part and all that.” He shook his head. “Even though I know I don’t love Donna, I still want to honor God.”

  Janie wanted to turn and run from him. She wanted to grab her car keys and get out of there as fast as she could, let Victor sort this mess out for himself. It was one thing for him to admit he felt no love for his wife, but once he started bringing God into it, Janie felt lost too. She had no good answers.

  “I know I’ve frustrated you,” he continued gently. “I can hardly believe how patient you’ve been with me.”

  Janie looked out over the ocean, watching as the clouds on the horizon began to turn peachy. She was in over her head.

  “I can’t believe how you hang in there, Janie, and you do it with such grace and dignity. Any other woman probably would’ve run away screaming by now.”

  She wanted to tell him that was exactly what she felt like doing. Instead she took in a deep breath and prayed a silent prayer, asking God for clarity, for direction, and most of all for peace. Then she simply smiled.

  “What is it?” Victor asked hopefully. “Why are you smiling?”

  “It’s hard to explain.”

  “Please try,” he urged.

  “Well, when you said that thing about wanting to honor God, I could understand. Not totally, but in a way I got it. I want to honor God too.”

  Victor looked slightly confused.

  “So I have a question for you,” she said quietly.

  “What?”

  “Do you experience a sense of peace when you’re with Donna? Do you feel centered and happy and hopeful, peaceful?”

  He actually laughed. “No way. In fact just the opposite is true.”

  “I’m no expert, and I
could be wrong, but I was under the impression that God gives us a sense of peace when we obey him. I believe that God has our best interests at heart, and when we’re in his will, I believe we experience a peaceful calm, even happiness.” She looked into his dark eyes. “I know that I do.”

  He nodded eagerly. “So do I.”

  “And?”

  “You’re absolutely right. I have none of that with Donna.” He balled his hands into fists. “I swear if she were with me right now, I would be thinking about jumping off this cliff.”

  Janie felt alarmed. “And now?”

  “Now, when I’m with you, I feel like I know who I am. I feel a calm and a peace. I know who you are too, Janie, and I feel like I know who God is.”

  “But with Donna? Do you know who God is?”

  “No!” he exclaimed. “You have totally nailed it, Janie. When I’m with Donna I begin to see God as I saw him in my childhood—as this old white-haired man who’s scowling and shaking his finger at me, despising me for my weaknesses, condemning me to hell for how bad I am. It’s pathetic and depressing, but it’s the truth.”

  “I don’t believe that’s God.”

  “No. That’s not my God.” Victor took in a deep breath and smiled. “My God is loving and forgiving. He’s gentle, kind, encouraging. He doesn’t want to beat us down and torture us. He wants to lift us up.”

  “That’s what I believe too.”

  Victor pulled Janie toward him again, holding her tight. “When I think of God like that, well, I know that I need him in my life.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I know I need you, too, Janie.”

  “Me, too.” She sighed and rested there in his arms for a while, but finally she pulled away. “I think that’s what you need to tell Donna.”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  “If you don’t mind, I will drive myself back home.” She held out her hand for her keys. “Don’t worry, I am completely sober.”

  He frowned as he handed them over. “I know you’re right, but I also know this isn’t going to be easy.”

  “I have one suggestion for you.”

  “What?”