Where There's Hope_A Well Paired Novel

by Marianne Rice

  “Your mother and I will bring Laney up to the corn maze in a few hours. Think you’ll be done setting up in town by then?” He sat down and unfolded the newspaper in front of him.

  “Should be.” She sipped her hazelnut blend and picked up a slice of banana bread, joining him at the table. “I’m surprised Delaney is still sleeping. She’s pretty excited to volunteer with her dance class.” They were dressing up as scarecrows and acting as guides throughout the maze for those lost. Later, a group of high school kids would be dressing up as zombies and monsters to scare the older crowd at night.

  This was the first year Delaney didn’t want to go trick-or-treat, claiming to be too old, but she still wanted to dress up and hand out candy.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the dance with us later?”

  “Nah. Not my thing,” she lied. “Besides, there’s so much work to be done on the house.”

  “It’s the town’s first dance. With the function hall at the winery being such a huge success, tonight sounds like it’s going to be fun. Everyone will be there. You work too much. Come with Delaney and your mom and me.”

  Her parents were looking forward to it; her mother even bought a new dress. They’d be adorable out on the dance floor. Too cute.

  Alexis had her new husband, Ben, to swirl her around. Mia always found a date. And Lily and Jenna would be going together. They asked her to be part of a trio but Hope had passed on that offer, too anxious to get into her new house. She was a party pooper, she knew. There’d be time for hanging out once she moved in.

  Delaney could have her first sleepover. And Hope could invite her friends over for appetizers and cocktails. Maybe even have a dinner party.

  “If you change your mind...”

  “I know, Dad. Thanks anyway. Dances aren’t my thing.” She stood up and wiped the banana bread crumbs in her hand. “Thanks for breakfast.” Hope brushed the crumbs in the trash and took another slice of bread for the road. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  By the time she parked behind the restaurant and walked the quarter mile to the common area, there were already a few tents up. While most of the action would take place at Coastal Vines, this would be the some-what headquarters. Where people could pick up a map and follow the trail to the local businesses, most not being on Seaview Drive.

  Jenna and other artists had their work set up at the function hall, which would turn into a dance later tonight. Jim Courtway had mowed his cornstalks into an intricate jack-o-lantern pattern that could only be identified by the sky. Ty and his father had built moveable stairs and platforms throughout so people could climb up and look out over the field to try to get their bearings. Delaney and her friends would have fun helping out at the corn maze.

  “What can I do to help, Celeste?”

  Ty’s mom, Celeste Parker, owned Books by the Ocean and tried her best to keep the ladies book club meetings focused on books and not cocktails, rumors, and men. More times than not, she failed at keeping order and had given up, leaving the women to their ways.

  “The pamphlets and maps are in a box behind the counter. Would you mind getting those for me?”

  “Not a problem.” It took her less than a minute to walk down the road to the bookstore. She reached for the door, and it opened too quickly as someone came out. “Oh, sorry. I—” Hope looked up into chocolate eyes and gasped. “Cameron.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”

  “Literally or figuratively? Because you’re still in my town. It’s kind of hard not to bump into someone.”

  Cameron licked his lips and shifted the box he held from one arm to the next. “Literally, I guess.”

  “So you plan on figuratively bumping into me?” She shoved her hands in her pockets, pulling her coat tighter against her body. The slip of a smirk wasn’t lost on her.

  “That doesn’t exactly make sense, but...I guess?”

  “I’m sorry I’m not as educated as Smithfield royalty.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Did you get to earn a masters degree in criminal law while you were in the slammer as well? How many initials do you have after your name now? Justin would have had four, had he not been murdered by you.”

  Cameron’s lips tightened, and he tucked the box more firmly under his arm. “I’m only going to say this once. I’m not a murderer.”

  “Technicality.”

  “I served my time for committing involuntary vehicular manslaughter. I’m not saying I wasn’t wrong.”

  “Being high on cocaine isn’t exactly right.”

  “And I’m not going to stand in the middle of the sidewalk defending myself. The fact of the matter is...you don’t have all the facts. If you’d ever like to hear them—”

  “I read about the case online.”

  “Don’t believe everything you read.”

  “Your dad even said—”

  “My father is...” Cameron clenched his jaw and looked away. Hope could read the tension in his face. The sadness in his eyes. “My father is...an influential judge.”

  Which didn’t make any sense. If his father was influential, why hadn’t he pulled any strings to get Cameron out of prison?

  “You’re saying you’re innocent?” Hope rolled her eyes and sneered.

  “No. But things aren’t always as they seem. I don’t want to relive the past. I’m more concerned about my future,” he said softly. And for a moment, Hope almost believed him. Shame on him for using Justin’s looks to get to her.

  Cameron’s eyes turned toward her again, and he gave her a half-smile. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness because I know that’s too great a thing to ask. I am, however, hoping you’ll let me start over. Make amends for my past sins and prove I’ve rehabilitated myself. I promise not to interfere with your life or to ever cause any more pain upon you or your daughter. I’m sorry for the pain and suffering I’ve already caused you. From the bottom of my heart, I truly am.”

  With downcast eyes, he walked past her toward the tents where Celeste and a growing crew were working.

  She didn’t want to feel sorrow, feel pity, but his tone, his mannerisms, his words did things to her insides that made her soften. He made it sound like he wasn’t completely at fault. Like there were pieces of the story she didn’t know.

  Shame on her for having compassion, even if only for a millisecond. He was a murderer, and nothing he said or did would change the fact that he took her daughter’s father away from her.

  Hope opened the door to the bookstore again and stepped inside. Connie, Celeste’s sister, had come up from Portland to help. She’d be a welcome distraction.

  “Hi, Connie.”

  “Hey, doll. I haven’t seen you in ages.” Connie rounded the counter and gave her a tight squeeze. Ever since high school when she and Ty dated, Hope had befriended his entire extended family. They were all still very close.

  “Delaney has a dance recital in Portland in December. We’ll have to go out for lunch while we’re in town.”

  “Absolutely. Email me the details. Frankie and I will buy tickets. We love watching her dance.”

  “You’re too sweet. I’m sure she’d love to have familiar faces in the crowd.”

  “Speaking of familiar faces, what’s with the strong, handsome fella who just left here? I saw you two talking outside. Is there romance in the air?” Connie fanned herself with her hand and puckered her lips in glee. “Such a gentleman with manners and class. That fella...” She patted her heart.

  Hope didn’t see Cameron in the same light as Connie. Sure, he was nice to look at. Yes, the way his sweatshirt stretched across his chest and how he handled the box with ease meant he was probably strong as well.

  As for manners, well, he hadn’t told her to ‘F’ off when she’d called him a murderer for the tenth time. She knew she was being obnoxious about it. That was part of her plan. To set him off, have him dig his own grave, and then bug off.

  Only he hadn’t.
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br />   “Your Spidey senses are way off, Connie. I don’t even know the man.” Which was true. She only knew of him.

  “If I were young, single, and beautiful like you, I’d be all over that one.”

  Normally she’d laugh at Connie’s meddling, but not when it came to Cameron. Besides, she was hardly young. Not that thirty-one was old. Being a mother of a twelve-year-old aged her, though. And she was a far cry from beautiful. “One out of three ain’t bad.”

  “You young people. Shaped by the Internet and social media. You’re a stunning young woman, Hope. My word, with that smile that lights up a room brighter than Julia Roberts’ laugh, and eyes as sweet and warm as my mama’s cinnamon rolls, you’re a real catch. Not to mention you’re kindhearted and—”

  “Blah, blah, blah,” Hope teased. “I wasn’t dishing for compliments.”

  “I know that, honey. You work too hard, though. Ty says you’re fixing up a home for you and Delaney and won’t accept help from anyone.”

  That wasn’t entirely true. She just didn’t want to be a burden to her friends.

  “Ty has his hands full with work. There’s no reason for him to drop everything when I’m capable of cleaning up the home on my own.”

  “Of course you can do it all on your own. No one doubts that. But there’s no harm in accepting a helping hand.”

  “Speaking of.” Hope didn’t want to get into it with Connie. She loved the woman, truly, but Hope had bigger issues to deal with today. Like figuring out how to deal with Cameron. “Celeste sent me in here to get the box of pamphlets for the Fall Festival Trail.”

  “Oh.” Connie pointed out the window to the empty sidewalk. “That’s what your new friend had under his arm. He beat you to it.”

  Great. “I suppose I should head back out and see what Celeste needs.”

  They hugged goodbye, and Hope slogged back to the welcome station. Cameron had his back to her, his hands stretching high over his head as he fixed a corner of the awning. The edge of his sweatshirt pulled up revealing his tanned, toned hip. He turned, still focusing on the canvas overhead, and Hope gasped.

  A stomach flat, yet corded with muscle, and those V things at his hips was not what she needed to see this morning. It didn’t matter what kind of body the man had, he took something from her daughter. Something, someone, he could never give back.

  “Do you think you two can hold the fort down for a bit?” Celeste popped up from rummaging through a box at her feet and set a rock on top of the pamphlets so they wouldn’t fly away in the ocean breeze. Hope hadn’t even noticed her, too focused on the sinful body in front of her.

  Damn him and his Justin looks.

  “Where are you going?” Hope panicked.

  “I had a large shipment come in last night and need to go through my inventory. I expect heavy traffic today.” She handed Hope a clipboard and pointed to a highlighted list. “I’ve marked everyone’s cell phone. I’m sure you have their numbers anyway, but wanted to be prepared. People don’t have to follow the trail in any particular order. We’re encouraging them to stop by as many of the local shops and farm stands as possible. Don’t forget to mention the dance tonight as well.”

  “I...uh...” Hope looked over Celeste’s shoulder at Cameron who had stopped fiddling with the awning.

  “With Ty and his father hunting up north, I asked Cameron to be the muscle around here. The wind keeps knocking the awning over, but I think it will hold.” Celeste turned to Cameron. “Don’t you think?”

  “It should hold.” Cameron slid a pair of pliers in his pocket and rocked back on his heels. “I doubt Hope needs me around here. She can handle—”

  “Nonsense,” Celeste interrupted him. “You’ll stay. Hope works too hard and could use an extra hand.” She turned and patted Hope’s arm as she brushed by her. “Call if you need anything,” she said with a playful wink.

  First Connie, now Celeste.

  “I didn’t mean to—”

  “Just shut it.” She balled her hands into fists, her short fingernails biting into her palms.

  “I’m sorry. I—”

  “Excuse me?”

  Hope spun around at the new voice. A young couple with a toddler and a baby in a stroller stood on the other side of the table, a pamphlet in their hands.

  “Hi,” Hope said awkwardly. “Can I help you?”

  “Yes, please. Our son would like to see some farm animals. Do you know if there are any at the corn maze?”

  Putting on her best customer service smile, Hope pointed to the map. “There are pigs and a few cows up at the Courtway farm. Down the road from the maze, Coastal Vines has goats and a big, friendly dog named Hemsworth. Your son will love him.”

  “Winery?” The woman’s eyes lit up.

  “The very best. There’s an arts and craft fair going on in their function hall, and there will be a family-friendly dance there tonight.”

  “That sounds like fun.”

  It would be. Too bad Hope had to miss out on it. “There’s a bounce house at the corn maze. If you can sneak away for a bit, Lily at the Sea Salt Spa is giving free manicures.”

  “Oh.” The woman beamed up at her husband. “Think you can handle the kids for an hour?”

  The husband kissed his wife’s cheek and picked up their toddler. “A manicure and a winery. This could spell trouble.”

  “The Happy Clam has local beers on tap and an impressive kid’s menu. Sounds like it’s a win-win all around,” Cameron chimed in behind Hope, his breath warm against the back of her neck.

  Chills crept up her spine, and her toes curled in her boots. When the happy family left, another showed, asking for directions and clarifying questions. It was already eleven by the time Hope looked at her phone.

  “I can man the booth if you want to go to the corn maze to see Delaney,” Cameron said as he neatened the pile of maps. Hope opened her mouth, ready to bite his head off when he held up a finger to stop her. “I’m not creeping on you. You’ve told at least a dozen people today that your daughter is volunteering there and you’d be over before noon.”

  “Oh.” Yes, she supposed she had talked about Delaney a lot.

  Time had flown by, the townspeople and visitors all in a good mood, chatty about the weekend’s events. She nearly forgot Cameron was with her until he stepped in, his voice deep and low, giving directions and spouting out fun facts about the town.

  “Did it really take you thirty minutes to get to work from Woodbine last week?” The neighboring town wasn’t as sprawled out as some of the others. The far end of Woodbine was only ten miles from the ocean. It should only have taken fifteen minutes. Twenty during a storm. She hadn’t heard the rest of his story, too busy talking with another couple.

  “Like I told Chevy,” he started.

  “Chevy?”

  “Said his name was Chevy and lived in Dodge.” Cameron smirked. “I got stuck behind a tractor up on Turkey Hill. It’s too narrow and windy a road to safely pass, so I moseyed behind him for a good five miles.”

  “Moseyed?” The upscale Connecticut was starting to sound too comfortable in her redneck town.

  His lip curved into a delicious grin, and Hope looked away before she found herself grinning back. “It seems to be the way of life up here. Moseying. I like the slow pace. There’s too much of the rush, the quick fixes, the go-go-go in the rest of the world. You live in a nice place here, Hope.”

  Ugh. She really didn’t like the way her name rolled off his tongue.

  “Hey. Is you the young man who’s working for Dwayne?” Simon Gardner pointed his gnarled finger at Cameron. A retired fisherman for nearly a decade, his hands had aged and curled with time. While he pointed in Cameron’s direction, the tip of his finger aimed to his left.

  “Yes, sir,” Cameron responded, nodding to Simon.

  “You trying to cause a riot down in Camden?” He rubbed his brow with the back of his hand and clicked his tongue around the dip in his mouth.

  “Excuse me?�
� Cameron looked to Hope and then back at Simon.

  “You’s all the talk down there.” Cameron shifted his feet, his shoulder slumped, and his head dropped a fraction. “Says you’s the best damn mechanic around and’s gonna put them guys in them fancy shops in Camden out of work. Dwayne says he ain’t gonna let you get bought out by one of them prissy places neither.”

  Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets and dipped his head. “Thank you for the compliment, sir.”

  “Don’t sir me none. Name’s Simon. People call me Si.” He turned to Hope and winked. “You be nice to this boy, you hear, Hope? We needs him around town. Willie says some hot shot from Rockland’s bringing his fancy yacht to get looked at. Means more business for your restaurant and other places.”

  “That’s um...nice,” Hope murmured.

  “Nice? If this guy’s as good as they say,” he waved his gnarled hand toward Cameron, “he’ll be bringing in business from up and down the coast.”

  “I’ve come across some excellent mechanics in New England,” Cameron offered.

  “Hogwash. I don’t go for that humble crap. You’re good, you talk about it. It’s when those numbly-nuts go try to talk shit like they know what they’re yapping about that drives me batty. I hope you stick around. Dwayne’s gushing over you like a little schoolgirl. It’s a funny as hell sight, I tell ya.”

  “Just doing my job, si—Simon.” Cameron kicked the toe of his work boot into the dead grass in what appeared to be embarrassment.

  The unwelcome flutters in her belly aggravated her. Cameron was not a likeable man, and he had no right winning over the townspeople. Pulling the wool over their eyes was more like it. When Simon left, she opened her mouth to berate him but another fan showed up, singing his accolades.

  “Thanks for helping out my mother last week. She said you’re the best tenant she’s ever had. Though that doesn’t say much considering the riff-raff she usually gets in there.”