by Diann Hunt
“Is it hard for you? Not having kids, I mean?”
He shrugged. “Wasn’t meant to be. After two miscarriages, Ivy figured we’d better leave it alone.”
His hand covered hers and he looked her full in the face. “Is it hard for you?”
The way he looked at her made her give a silent gulp. A funny sensation hit her stomach and her hands trembled slightly.
“You know, I don’t feel so good. I think I’d better go home.”
Alarm entered his face. “Want me to go get the car?”
“No, if you’ll just walk me back to my house, I think I can make it.”
He put his arm around her. “Here, lean your head against me.”
Warmth shot through her. Maybe she was coming down with the flu. It had come on her so quickly, she couldn’t figure it out.
His shoulder was strong. Though they’d been running, the scent of citrus and woods still lingered on his shirt, calming her. She didn’t know if she was worn out from the run or what, but she could almost snuggle in for a nap against him. Her eyelids fluttered to a close as he held her tight.
Scott dropped his arm to her waist, helping her to her feet. “Just lean against me. I’ll get you there. Have you eaten today?”
“I had a glass of orange juice.”
“You need more than that before a run, Carly. That’s probably what’s wrong with you. I’ll get you home and at least get some toast down you.”
Scott was always a take-charge person. She liked that. Even when Gary made himself scarce during her breast cancer ordeal, Scott and Ivy were always there. Scott had taken charge many times with the medical professionals and the no-insurance problem. She didn’t think she would have survived it without his help.
Her dreamy moment was not to last. Jake was waiting at her house when they arrived.
“I thought that was you,” he said when they walked to the porch. He looked from her to Scott to her again, then back to Scott. “I’ll take care of her from here, thanks.” He pulled Carly against him with a jolt that almost yanked her spine out of alignment.
Carly straightened and tried to ignore the sound of cracking vertebrae. “I’ll be fine.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Come on in, Scott.”
Scott and Jake locked eyes. “No, that’s all right. I’d better get home. I need to let Superman out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Superman?” Jake questioned.
“His basset hound.”
Jake grunted. That made Carly a little defensive. Scott was a great friend, and she’d have to let Jake know that right up front. That was not going to change, no matter where the relationship with Jake went. Friends were friends for life. That’s just how it was. He’d have to accept that.
“Here ya go, boy,” Scott said, placing the bowl of dog food in front of Superman. Grabbing a drink from the fridge, he walked over to his recliner and plopped down, then picked up the phone and called his brother.
“Hey, Brian, how you doing?”
“Well, it’s about time you called me. Where you been? Out on a heavy date?”
“Hardly.” Scott told him about running with Carly and how she got sick.
“That’s too bad,” Brian said.
“Yeah. She was pale and weak.” He had felt her trembling beneath his fingers, but for some reason he didn’t want to point that out to Brian.
“That poor woman has been through a lot,” Brian said.
“Tell me about it.” His mind drifted back to her breast cancer days. It had hurt him so much to see her go through that. Being the amazing person she was, she trudged through every hard step. Most days, she took it with a smile. But on the hardest days, he and Ivy had been there for her, holding her, loving her through it all. Seeing her that way had been as hard on him as if Ivy had gone through it. Carly was family and had been for years. He couldn’t bear to see her suffer.
“I never would have thought Gary would do what he did to her,” Brian said, his voice sorrowful.
“That makes two of us.” Scott’s jaw clenched with the thought. “Gary was a total jerk. I couldn’t imagine in a million years walking out on a good woman like that, especially in her hour of need. It was cruel and heartless.”
“You would never have done that to Carly, would you, big brother?” Brian was teasing now.
“Let’s not go there.” Besides, who was he to talk? He hadn’t exactly been there for Ivy—which she’d so graciously pointed out, night after night.
Brian told him he needed a new computer and wondered if Scott would like to come along on Friday night to look for one.
“I’d like to, but Carly has invited me to dinner.”
“Oh?”
Scott heard the hope in Brian’s voice. “It’s not like that. She’s having a little dinner party, and if I know Carly Westlake—and I do—she’s going to have some woman there for me to meet.”
Brian laughed. “So we’re both working on you, huh?”
“No kidding.”
“I thought you were seeing someone already?”
Uh-oh, Scott was busted. “I am, but not exclusively.”
That seemed to satisfy Brian. For now.
Superman’s tags clanged against his dog bowl as he chomped his way through the last of his food. A couple of laps of water and he trotted over to Scott and plunked down near his chair.
“Carly still seeing that Marine guy?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t sound very happy about it.”
“I don’t know. Something about the guy just strikes me wrong. Can’t put my finger on it. He just doesn’t seem right for Carly.”
“Oh?”
Brian’s voice had an irritating, know-it-all quality to it. “Look, it’s not like that, Brian. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for Carly, but I’m not romantically drawn to her, so get that out of your head right now. This Jake guy seems too self-centered, and Carly needs someone to take care of her, that’s all.”
“Okay, if you say so. But shouldn’t you warn her?”
“I haven’t seen Carly this happy in a long time. I don’t want to burst her bubble.”
On the other hand, he didn’t want her hurt again either. He rubbed his temples. He’d figure out something.
They talked a little more about Brian’s job and then hung up. No sooner had Scott put down the phone than it rang again.
“Hello?”
“You the one with the motorcycle for sale?”
“Yeah.” Scott proceeded to tell the man about his bike. He hated like everything to give this up, but he needed some cash fast. He’d do what he had to do to help Carly get her money back.
He had to.
sixteen
“Belinda, come on in. So great to see you.” Carly gave her old friend a hug. Belinda looked great. Not drop-dead Ms. Z-Cup gorgeous, but with her cropped red hair and shiny blue eyes, she was captivating.
“Thanks for having me. This is my first social event since I’ve moved back.”
“How are your parents?” Carly asked.
Before Belinda could finish filling her in, the doorbell rang again. Carly hoped it wasn’t Scott yet. If he saw Belinda and no one else, he would know right off this was a setup.
Opening the door, Carly knew she was busted.
“Hey,” Scott said with a big grin. He shoved some flowers into her hands.
“You didn’t need to do that, Scott.”
Looking down, he brushed a couple of leaves off his shirt. “It was a small price to pay for a free dinner.” He looked up and saw Belinda. “Oh, sorry. Hi.”
“Scott, you remember Belinda Beason from high school?”
He extended his hand. “Sure. How are you, Belinda?” Because she knew him so well, Carly could tell by the look on his face he didn’t remember her at all.
“Scott, why don’t you show Belinda out to the patio, and I’ll join you as soon as the others get here.” She smiled sweetly and could have sworn she saw a wisp of smoke blow from his e
ars.
“Sure, I’d be happy to,” he said between clenched teeth, his eyes boring into her own.
She stepped back slightly and batted her lashes a couple of times—she’d learned a few tricks from Melissa.
The door shoved open, averting her attention to Rita and C. J. as they stepped inside with Jake right behind them. Jake and C. J., in a serious discussion of the Indianapolis Colts, walked right past her.
“Well, hello to you too,” Carly called out.
Jake turned around, dazed. “Oh, sorry, Squirt.” He walked back over and gave her a peck on her cheek before rejoining C. J., who looked none too pleased.
“You’ll need to go to the patio,” Carly called out to the others while Rita hung back to walk with her. “Everything all right, Rita?” Her sister-in-law’s eyes were red and swollen.
Rita swallowed hard and shook her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Carly. I wanted to get through the evening, but I just don’t see how I can.” She dabbed at her nose with a tissue, then looked up. “I’m leaving C. J.”
Carly gasped. “What? Did you have an argument on the way here?”
“Yes, but it’s more than that. I can’t take it anymore.” More tears.
Carly watched the others make their way out back. Rita needed to talk, but this wasn’t exactly a great time.
“I’m sorry to spring this on you right now. You go on. I’ll be there in a minute, after I have time to calm down.” Another patting of her eyes with the tissue.
“Rita, I’m sorry.” Carly wanted to throttle that brother of hers for putting Rita through whatever it was he was putting her through. No doubt the financial stress was getting to be too much.
“It’s all right. We’ll talk later.”
Everyone gathered around the patio table. The serving cart was laden with bowls of creamy potato salad, corn on the cob slathered with butter, steamed broccoli, chilled watermelon balls, and seasoned grilled chicken. Carly passed the dishes.
“Where’s Magnolia?” C. J. asked as he plopped a spoonful of potato salad onto his plate.
“She’s meeting with the mission team that’s going to Russia next year.”
C. J. dropped his fork. “You mean to tell me she’s planning to go to Russia?”
Carly smiled. “She’s checking into it. Amazing, isn’t it? A woman her age.”
“I thought she didn’t have any money.”
Carly kicked him under the table. They locked eyes and he frowned at her. She didn’t care. He had no right to bring this up in front of everyone. Besides, what did he know about Magnolia’s financial situation? Everyone just assumed that because she had lived in an apartment and then moved in with Carly, she was broke. But Carly had an idea it might have something more to do with not wanting to live alone.
“This is hardly the place to discuss Magnolia’s financial status, C. J.” Carly gave him a look that let him know the discussion was closed. “Besides, I think Magnolia is doing just fine.” She had to set the record straight since Belinda was there. She wouldn’t have people thinking ill of her stepmom.
Speaking of Belinda, she and Scott didn’t seem to be hitting it off all that well. They were hardly talking that Carly could see. She needed to help them along.
“So Belinda, anyone special in your life?” Okay, maybe that was a little blunt, but Carly didn’t have time to dillydally. Melissa was closing in for the marriage altar, and Carly had to do what she could to save Scott.
Belinda blinked. Scott nudged Carly under the table, but she didn’t so much as flinch.
“Uh, not anymore. My husband and I recently divorced. That’s another reason I moved here.”
A slight groan bubbled in her throat. Belinda was pining an ex-husband? It would have been nice had she mentioned that in the produce department. Carly had the overwhelming urge to clean the table and tell everyone the party was over.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Carly said.
“Yeah, me too.” Belinda smoothed the napkin on her lap, then looked back to Carly. “But I’ll get through it—with the help of great friends like you.” She glanced at Scott, who made such a dramatic gulp that it took him three swallows to get his Adam’s apple moving again.
“People can’t get you through some things. You just have to work it out yourself,” C. J. said with a sneer, his words showing the tiniest hint of a slur.
Had he been drinking?
“Yeah, but friends make it easier. Still, people can’t help if you don’t let them,” Rita countered.
“And what if they’re given the chance to help, but they don’t?” C. J. turned and stared at Carly.
She knew exactly what he meant by that. She had denied him the five thousand dollars he needed. Maybe she should rethink this matter. He was obviously in over his head. But when would this end?
“Sometimes people need to learn to stand on their own two feet, and the best thing someone can do for them is to let them stumble till they get there,” Scott said.
“I was talking to my sister, Scott,” C. J. said.
Sudden tension.
“C. J., that’s uncalled for. Scott’s right. Sometimes people need tough love. I’m sure it’s not easy for them to make that decision.” Carly held her ground, though she hated that C. J. was making this a public matter.
“Yeah, that’s like when Dad spanked us and said, ‘This hurts me more than it hurts you.’” C. J. gave a bitter laugh. “We both know that wasn’t the case.”
“Friends can’t always fix it, C. J. But they can stand beside you,” Carly said. This conversation had definitely taken a wrong turn.
A deep shade of pink now stained Belinda’s cheeks, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. They needed to change the subject and fast.
“Some things people can’t forgive.” C. J. glanced at Scott, then on around the table. “Not that it matters. I don’t have to account to anyone but myself.” With that C. J. banged his napkin on the table and stormed into the house.
Rita’s eyes welled with tears. She put her napkin down, then rose and walked after C. J.
“Anyone care for more potato salad?” Carly asked, lifting an apologetic smile to Belinda.
Small talk followed, and soon Rita surfaced, her face tear streaked and stained with red splotches.
“We have to go, Carly. I’m so sorry. I’ll talk to you soon.” With that, she and C. J. called the evening to an abrupt end.
The others stayed a respectable amount of time. Belinda was the first to leave. “Thank you for inviting me. It was good to see everyone again. Give me a couple of months. I’m sure I’ll be better company by then.” Carly didn’t miss the subtext, I’ll consider Scott after I’ve had time to heal.
“Carly, can I see you a moment?” Scott asked as he prepared to leave.
She wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but she knew it was coming so she walked him to the door.
“You realize you owe me for this one.”
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked, hand on her heart, eyelashes aflutter.
His eyes penetrated hers to the point she almost gulped. He put his hand on her arm. “Carly, I’ll let you know when I’m interested—really interested—in dating, all right?”
Something in the way he said that made her heart stumble. “O-okay.”
“See you later.” Scott gave her arm a squeeze and left. She stared after him and wondered where that left him and Melissa. He obviously wasn’t too interested or he would have said so.
Carly shrugged. Obviously, she wasn’t doing so great with the matchmaking stuff. She’d let it ride. For now.
Jake was the only one still there. Carly rejoined him in the living room and plopped on the sofa beside him.
“Well, that was a total bust,” she said, running her fingers through the side of her hair.
Jake looked perplexed. “Why do you say that? I thought it was nice.”
Was he serious? Totally clueless? On drugs? What?
“You didn’t notice
C. J.’s little performance?”
Jake waved his hand and chuckled. “Aw, he’d just had a little too much to drink before he came.”
“And you think this is acceptable?”
He blinked. “What’s the big deal?”
“Did you happen to notice his attitude?”
“Not really.”
Okay, she didn’t want to go into this. She could feel her blood pressure rising. “Maybe it was just me.”
He yanked her next to him in that irritating way of his. In fact, her arm hurt where his fingers crushed into her skin. Why wasn’t he more careful?
And when had she decided it was irritating rather than endearing?
“So what’s Katelyn doing tonight?”
Jake noticeably stiffened and took his arm down from her shoulders. “She’s at home watching TV.”
He needed to talk about this. Carly wasn’t going to let him off so easily. “Has she made any friends at school yet?”
“How would I know that?” He was clearly on the defensive.
“I just thought maybe she’d had phone calls or friends over, that sort of thing that might let you know. Have you asked her?”
He scooted away and glared at her. “What’s with you tonight?”
“What do you mean?”
“Look, Squirt, I know you mean well, but Katelyn is not your problem. She’s mine.”
“I don’t see her as a problem at all,” Carly quipped. “She’s a kid who needs encouragement.”
“I’ve provided well for her. I’ve been there for her. She misses her mom. We both do. I can’t bring her back. She can’t bring her back. It’s just the way things are. There will never be another who can replace what we’ve lost.”
His last comment hit her like a punch in the stomach. She stared at her hands. “I see.”
He sighed. “Look, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“It’s all right.” She stood. “Listen, Jake, it’s been a long night. We’re both tired. I think you’d better go.”
He stood. “I’ll call you later.”
Carly shifted on the park bench where she’d met Rita after work. The aged wood felt hard and uncomfortable beneath her. Either she was getting old or she needed more padding on her backside. Yeah, that was it.