Where There's Hope_A Well Paired Novel

by Marianne Rice

  Her curiosity piqued, Hope sat down and doodled on a piece of scrap paper, pretending to ignore the conversation.

  “Your mother is a sweet woman.”

  The man let out a scratchy smoker’s cough followed by a laugh. “No one’s ever accused Binny of being sweet.” The man took out a pack of cigarettes and tapped them against his palm.

  “I respect your right to smoke, sir, but Maine has a no smoking in public places ordinance.”

  Hope rested her elbow on the table and lowered her forehead into her palm, not wanting to witness what would come next. Either the heavy smoker would verbally attack Cameron about his right to smoke wherever he goddamn wanted to, or he’d put his cigarettes away making Cameron look like the respectable, law-abiding citizen. It was a lose-lose situation.

  “All you young uppity folks,” he muttered. “I wasn’t gonna light up. Just habit, I s’pose.”

  “We appreciate it.”

  We. Hope rolled her eyes, doodling even more furiously. She and Cameron would never be a we.

  “That’s what Ma said. You was the manners-type. Too good for the apartment above the store, but she likes you anyway.”

  When she heard the smoker’s heavy feet trail off, she picked up her head and studied Cameron’s profile. Gone was the insecure stance of earlier. His stance was strong and sure. The little tick in his cheek pulled right as he watched the man walk away.

  He must have felt Hope’s attention on him and turned to look at her, the charming smile still on his face. Again she felt the tug at her lips and bit the inside of her cheeks to prevent them from mirroring his.

  “Seems like you have yourself a little fan club around here.”

  Cameron shrugged.

  Hope sucked in the sides of her cheeks and stood. “Sounds like you don’t need me anymore either. I’ll let Celeste know I’m leaving.”

  “Hope.” She stilled, keeping her eyes averted, looking out over the ocean. “I...I’m not who you think I am.”

  Yeah. She was beginning to think the same thing. Which scared the crap out of her.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CAMERON WATCHED HOPE walk away. He hadn’t planned on volunteering for the Fall Festival. Small towns thrived on rumors, speculation, drama. And the more aloof he was, the less likely he would be part of the daily dish. Just a regular guy coming into town to do his job. He didn’t want to make enemies and sure as hell hadn’t planned on making friends.

  Just a decent living earning enough to help support his niece and her mother. He didn’t need to live as simply as he did. Growing up in an extravagant home, although it was the norm for his neighborhood, with only the finest, the best, the most rare at his fingertips didn’t spoil him. Instead, Cameron grew up resenting high-society. Normal was all he wanted. What he craved.

  A normal car. Or rather, a truck. Normal clothes. A normal teenage job. Hell, a teenager working was out of the norm in his neck of the woods unless it was an internship. Cameron never asked for much. Just to be normal.

  Working at CC’s Boatyard made him feel like a workingman. It would never earn him millions, and for that, he was thankful. When he asked Dwayne about picking up extra shifts this weekend, he hadn’t expected to be volunteered as the welcome committee to the Fall Festival. And he sure as hell hadn’t expected to be sitting next to Hope for three hours.

  It was nice, though. The way she treated everyone with a friendly smile, he could hardly tell if she was talking to someone she knew or a tourist. It was during the few moments of silence in between foot traffic that he noticed her nerves.

  She doodled and kept her eyes averted from him as much as possible. And Cameron couldn’t blame her. She didn’t know the whole story. The truth about what happened that night. Or a few weeks before.

  When she was ready to hear it, he’d tell her. In the meantime, he’d wait it out and do his job. When she rounded the corner and dropped out of sight, he let out a deep sigh. Running into Hope on a regular basis would be a problem.

  Seeing her again after all these years caused his heart to race and his hands to sweat profusely. She’d starred in his dreams every night since the first time they met, and now they were working side-by-side. Sort of.

  Self-doubt crept its way to the front of his thoughts again. Hope was out of his league, too good for his tainted past, and she reminded him of it every time he saw her.

  Except today. They’d been so busy interacting with people, talking about the activities each small business had at their location, that for a few minutes they’d been partners.

  He’d never been to a corn maze and would have liked to check it out, but since Delaney was there he’d stay away.

  And he’d stay away from the dance as well. Not like he had any desire to go to it. He’d overheard Hope tell her friends that she wouldn’t be at the dance, no matter how much they prodded. Still, doing the two-step or whatever the heck they did in these parts wasn’t his thing.

  “I’m glad you’re still here,” Celeste called from a distance.

  Where was he to go? Hope had left, and he couldn’t exactly abandon his station. “I can pull an all-nighter if you need.”

  A sly smile crept across her face as she neared. “I’m glad you offered.”

  Cameron couldn’t imagine staying out here until the middle of the night. Foot traffic would slow as the sun set, or even before.

  “My husband, Wade, and Ty went up north for the week to moose hunt, and Connie and I are on the prowl for a date to tonight’s dance.”

  “I don’t really know many men around here except Dwayne.”

  Celeste laughed and squeezed his forearm in a motherly fashion. “You’re a funny one. Connie and I want you to take us tonight.”

  Cameron coughed. No. Absolutely not. Only he couldn’t put it so bluntly. “I, uh...”

  “You offered to work all night. I’m taking you up on that.” She winked. “You don’t even have to pick us up. We’ll meet you there.”

  And she’d trust him to show. That was the way of the people in this town. Open. Honest. Trusting.

  “I’m sure you could find someone better than me to escort you two lovely ladies.”

  “I don’t think so,” Celeste laughed. “You’re a hot commodity around here.”

  The afternoon had been filled with accolades. It had been a long time since he’d heard any. Not since...ever.

  The only time he’d ever been made to feel like he was worth something was during that trip to New York. It had been a life changer for him. If only it had meant something to her too.

  “I’ve got the Jeffreys coming here in a few minutes. Why don’t you enjoy the next few hours around town? We’ll meet up with you tonight at Coastal Vines.”

  He wouldn’t hurt her feelings, not after she’d been so kind to him. Of course, once she got wind of his past she’d be chasing him out of town with a shotgun. In the meantime, he figured he deserved a night of innocent fun. It would be a brand new experience, for sure.

  FASHIONABLY LATE WOULDN’T go over so well, and he sure as hell didn’t want to be the first one at the dance. Cameron studied himself in his rearview mirror and hoped he’d come at a good time and dressed right. His wardrobe was limited to work clothes—one good pair of jeans and a couple button downs. He’d put on his blue checked shirt and clean jeans, scrubbed under his fingernails extra hard, and even shaved.

  The thin layer of facial hair protected him from the biting air off the Atlantic, but tonight he’d be in the presence of two dignified women, so he opted for clean-shaven. Cameron stepped out of his truck and was greeted by a high, shrill whistle.

  “Well hot damn, Celeste. You sure did one hell of a job finding us the sexiest date in Crystal Cove,” Connie clucked, and her sister laughed. Her long, navy coat covered her from neck to calf, and he could barely see her sensible heels in the darkening night.

  “And like a gentleman he shows up right on time.” Celeste held out her elbow, and Cameron looped one arm through hers a
nd the other through Connie’s. They were almost identical in their outerwear and their freshly done hair.

  While they were most likely similar in age to his mother, their style was older yet their personality and energy younger. Carefree. Something his mother had never been.

  “I wasn’t sure what time to be here.”

  “Never keep a lady waiting, is what I tell Wade. He’s as slow as molasses making us late everywhere we go.”

  “Honey, you’re going to make all the ladies jealous of us you know,” Connie teased as he slipped his arm away from her to open the door. “And such a gentleman.”

  The function hall was decked out in twinkling lights and bales of hay with pumpkins and mums in every corner and on the tables. In the back, a bartender worked behind a bar top and opposite him, a live band.

  There were a handful of kids twirling around on the dance floor and what appeared to be their parents, watching from the perimeter. Cameron recognized a few of them from earlier.

  Hoping to avoid making a spectacle of himself on the dance floor, he found them a few empty seats at a table. “Can I get you ladies a drink?”

  “I’ll have a water, please. I’m driving.” Celeste took her lipstick out of her purse and dotted her lips.

  “Not me. I’ll take a gin and tonic.” Connie pulled out a few bills from her purse, and Cameron put his hand up.

  “Your drinks are on me.”

  “Oh, wouldn’t that be tasty?” he heard Celeste purr behind him as he walked toward the bar.

  He had to chuckle. The woman cracked him up, and he was sure he’d made their night by escorting them to the dance. The band announced they were taking a five-minute break and mingled with the crowd. Cameron looked around as he waited in line wondering if he’d see her.

  No. She’d said she wasn’t coming. A familiar laugh pulled at his gut and he turned to his left, spotting a young girl with long dark blonde hair and a familiar smile. She wore fitted jeans, brown boots, and a white top with a thick burgundy scarf. Stylish and feminine yet young and innocent. She had to be nearing twelve.

  Delaney. Her name meant Hope believed in them, whether she knew it or not. The young girl was a spitting image of her mother yet evident traces of Justin. It was the shape of her eyes. He couldn’t tell the color from where he stood, but he knew. She was his niece. A group of girls giggled around her, chatting, taking selfies, and making silly faces into their phones.

  Not wanting to be caught staring, Cameron glanced away wondering where her grandparents were. If he’d recognize them, see hints of Hope in them, hear her in their laughter.

  The band started up again and couples meandered to the dance floor, holding hands and swaying to the Brad Paisley song. When he made his way to the front of the line, he ordered himself a beer and the ladies’ drinks. Juggling the bottle and two glasses, he worked his way through the maze of bodies, tables, and chairs, finally reaching Connie and Celeste.

  “We were just telling Diane about our date.” Connie sipped her gin and tonic, grinning at him above her glass. “Richie’s up north hunting as well, so she’s all alone.”

  Cameron glanced at the woman to her left and opened his mouth to introduce himself, but no words came out.

  The Windward mouth. Or whatever her maiden name was.

  “I’m not alone. I have four twelve-year-olds with me,” the woman said, eying Cameron speculatively.

  “And we have Cameron,” Connie countered. “Diane, meet our date. Cameron—”

  “Hope?” Diane rose from her chair and craned her neck to the side, her eyes darting behind Cameron.

  He didn’t need to turn around to see her. The fresh citrus scent wrapped itself around him, and he swallowed. Hard.

  “I didn’t think you were coming,” Hope’s mother said, rounding the table, ignoring Cameron. “Is everything alright at the house?”

  Not knowing if he should acknowledge Hope or not, he kept his back to her and slowly brought his beer to his lips.

  “Sort of,” he heard Hope mutter.

  “Meaning?”

  “I, uh...” She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “Can we go somewhere else to talk?”

  “Now, sweetie,” Connie interrupted. “If there’s a problem, we’re all here to help.”

  Cameron kept his attention on the dance floor, his back rigid and his body unsure how to respond.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Hope Windward. If you need help, we’re the ones to ask. We’re family.” Connie set her water down and moved past Cameron to stand closer to Hope. “What’s going on with your new place?”

  “I...it’s dark.”

  “When Wade leaves on these trips, I get a little spooked at night too. Being home alone can do that to you. You’re just not used to it is all.”

  “No, Connie, that’s not it. I mean...the electricity. It worked and then flickered, and now the backside of the house is completely dark. I tried the electrical panel. Nothing.”

  “Didn’t Melissa have the house checked out before renting it to you? If there’s faulty wiring that could be dangerous. I’m surprised Ty didn’t go over it with a fine-tooth comb. I’ll be having a few words with my son when he gets home,” Celeste huffed.

  “It’s not that. There’s a plumbing issue too. The upstairs toilet runs. They probably didn’t notice because it hasn’t been used in so long.”

  “We can’t have you going back there not knowing if the house is safe. Let’s wait until the men come back from their hunting trip before going back. I want my girls safe.”

  “Mom, I—”

  “Cameron can check it out for you.” Connie gripped his shoulder and spun him around. She was strong for an older woman.

  He held his bottle mid-way to his mouth and paused, glancing from Connie to Celeste to Diane to, finally, Hope. Her lips made a fine line, her jaw clenched, her eyes spitting fire.

  “I don’t think so,” he and Hope said at the same time.

  “Of course you will.” Connie took his beer bottle from him, taking a swig for herself before setting it down. “All day I heard how wonderful you are with engines and carburetors and electrical work. What’s a little house wiring compared to the intricate work of a fancy yacht?”

  “Well...”

  “I’m sure Cameron has better things to do than to check out the faulty wiring at—”

  “Nonsense,” the meddler said. “He didn’t have any plans, which is why we roped him into taking us two broads out. I’m sure he’d rather spend an evening in a dimly lit house with a beautiful young woman than hang around all night with women old enough to be his grandmothers.”

  “You’re lovely women. I’m enjoying my evening with you.” He glanced at Hope again, reading the struggle in her face.

  “See? And he has impeccable manners.”

  “Do I know you from somewhere?” Hope’s mother asked, still studying him inquisitively.

  They’d never met. He’d never seen pictures of her, but he wondered if Hope had told her mother about him. And what exactly she’d said.

  Hope stepped in between them, her back to Cameron, blocking Diane from his view. “You’ve probably seen him around town. I’m really fine, you guys,” she said to her fairy godmothers. “I’ll call an electrician in the morning.”

  “No!” Celeste said. “That’s a waste of money.”

  “Says the woman whose husband and son are carpenters,” Connie teased.

  “You know what I mean. They’d be insulted if you paid someone to look at the wiring. Just let Cameron take a peek. I’m sure he can figure out the problem.”

  He appreciated Celeste trying to be a matchmaker, but she was making an uncomfortable situation even worse.

  “Fine,” Hope relented.

  Cameron jerked his head toward her in shock.

  “I’ll give you ten minutes to make a diagnosis. If you can’t figure it out, you’re outta there and I’ll call in the professionals in the morning.” Hope waved, and Delane
y came running over. “Just so we’re clear. You’re sending a stranger to my house. We’ll be all alone. If I’m not back in thirty minutes, send the police.”

  The women laughed, thinking she was kidding. Cameron knew she wasn’t.

  “Mom, you’re not coming back so soon, are you?” Delaney hugged Hope in a pout. “I want to stay until the end of the dance.”

  “Your mother came by to check out the party. She’s going back to the house and will see you in the morning.” Diane patted the top of Delaney’s head. The little girl did a quick fist pump and ran back to her gaggle of girls.

  “I’ll be back.” Hope spun on her heels and marched out the door. Cameron took that as his cue to follow her.

  “Thank you for inviting me to the dance.” He picked up Connie’s hand and kissed her knuckles, then did the same to Celeste’s. They ooh’d appreciatively, and he chuckled. “Mrs. Windward, it was nice meeting you as well.” He tipped his head and picked up his coat from the back of the chair.

  “I know you from somewhere, don’t I?”

  Hiding his concern, he shrugged into his coat. “You’ve probably seen me around town. I work down at CC’s Boatyard.”

  “Hm. Maybe. Thank you for checking out my daughter’s home. You’ll let her know if it’s not safe to stay there, right?”

  “Absolutely. I won’t let anything happen to Hope.” Diane’s eyebrows shot up, and Cameron took that as his cue to leave. “Have a good evening, ladies.” He bowed out, his legs taking long-ass strides to the door.

  The parking lot was full, and he hadn’t a clue what kind of car Hope drove or where she lived. He wouldn’t be surprised if she took off without him.

  A sedan across the way flashed its high beams at him. Shielding his eyes, he made his way over to the car and leaned over to see if it was Hope behind the wheel.

  She rolled down the window a crack and grumbled, “123 Farmhouse Road.”

  Before Cameron could reply, she had the window up and peeled out of the parking lot, gravel kicking up behind the tires.

  “This isn’t going to end well,” he said to the empty night air.