This was not the dinner party she had imagined, Sara realized, but she was finally learning that her imagination rarely matched reality. The truth was often so much stranger . . . and more interesting.
SINCE IT HAD BEEN SUCH A QUIET WEEK, WYATT HAD LET SARA TAKE OFF on Thursday and Friday to spend time with her parents. The Franklins left New England on Sunday morning, and Sara was sad to see them go.
“Well, we’d better get on the road. We have a long drive ahead of us,” her mother said, giving Sara yet another hug good-bye. “I’m happy we came up here to see you, sweetheart. We needed to see if you were really happy . . . and it seems that you are. That’s what really matters to us.”
“I know that, Mom. I’m glad you came, too,” Sara said. She thought she might cry as her father kissed her good-bye again, but she tried not to. She watched their station wagon until it disappeared down Clover Street, then she went inside, deciding she’d spend the rest of the day cleaning up her house and getting ready for the week ahead.
WITH HER PARENTS IN TOWN, SARA HADN’T SEEN MUCH OF WYATT. Everyone in the office was busy on Monday, unexpectedly so since it was New Year’s Eve and the week before had been so quiet.
As Sara finished up a story, she sensed someone standing near her desk. She looked up and saw Wyatt waiting to talk to her.
“Do you need this copy?” she asked, glancing at the clock and still managing to type at top speed. “I’m almost done. . . .”
“No, that’s okay. I can wait for that one,” he said. “You can go when you’re done, though. Everyone’s leaving early for the holiday.”
“Oh, right,” Sara said. She stopped typing and turned to him. She kept forgetting it was New Year’s Eve. Avoiding it was more like it.
“Are you going to Jane’s party?” he asked. His tone was offhand, casual, yet she sensed his interest in her reply.
“Uh, yes, I think so. I haven’t really decided, though. Having my parents here sort of wiped me out,” she confessed.
“Oh, come on, Sara. It’s New Year’s Eve. Nobody stays home,” Wyatt said, in a coaxing tone. “You have to come. I won’t know anybody there except for Jane.”
Sara didn’t know what to say. Wyatt seemed to be hoping to spend the evening with her. She felt flattered. It could be fun, she realized.
But she’d been thinking too much about Luke, ever since his phone call last week. Brooding about him, actually. Maybe tonight was a good time to get over that. She ought to ring in the new and ring out the old, as they say.
“Okay, I’ll try to come,” she said. Her vague promise met with an instant smile. “I might be a little late, though, okay?”
“Sure.” Wyatt shrugged. “I have to finish up here, so I’m going to get there on the late side myself.” He touched her shoulder for a moment, then headed for his desk. “I’ll be on the lookout for you,” he promised.
Sara didn’t know what to say. She smiled back at him, then turned back to the words on her computer screen, which suddenly looked like a foreign language to her. Well, it could be an interesting evening, she considered. If she wanted it to be . . .
At home, Sara had a long shower and a bite to eat, then took a nap, hoping she’d be more in the mood for a party if she didn’t feel so tired. When she woke up, it was almost eight. She didn’t feel much brighter, but she got up and dressed quickly in a thick brown turtleneck, jeans, and boots.
Main Street looked quiet as she drove through town. The Clam Box was closed, but the Beanery was brightly lit, and Sara could hear live music as she drove by. As she passed the green, the village tree caught her eye, making her think back to her evening with Luke the night of the tree lighting. She pushed the thought aside, but it still brought her spirits down.
Did she really want to go to this party? It was starting to feel more like a chore than something she really wanted to do. Jane had invited a huge crowd of people. She might not even notice if I don’t show up, Sara thought. Though Wyatt certainly would. Somehow the notion of meeting him there was starting to feel intimidating. He clearly wanted to spend the evening with her. It was almost like a real date.
She glanced at her watch. It was still too early to arrive at Jane’s. Wyatt had to stay at the office and close the issue. He wouldn’t be there until much later, and she didn’t want to look as if she’d been sitting there hours, waiting for him. Even if a guy liked you, it was always better if you didn’t seem too eager, Sara thought. Then she realized she really was thinking of Wyatt with a dating strategy, and that made her feel nervous again. Nervous but excited in a good way, too, she mused, with a small smile.
At the end of the block, Sara turned her car around and drove through the village to Providence Street. She parked in front of Lillian’s house, assured by the lights in the living-room windows that her grandmother was home.
I’ll just look in on Lillian and wish her a happy New Year. When she starts to drive me crazy, I’ll go to the party, Sara decided.
As usual, her grandmother took a long time to answer—partly because she walked so slowly and partly because she had to check carefully to see who was calling. Some visitors found that, though they knew full well that Lillian was home, she just didn’t let them in.
Sara always felt as if she’d passed some secret test when the door finally opened and her grandmother greeted her.
“Oh, it’s you,” Lillian said curtly. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. I just came to wish you a happy New Year.”
Her grandmother looked surprised. “Oh . . . well, come in then.” She stepped aside so that Sara could enter. “I detest New Year’s Eve. It’s a ridiculous tradition, so much enforced merrymaking and revelry. Most people aren’t happy at all and end up crying in their soup,” Lillian remarked, as Sara followed her to the living room. “Just another day on the calendar, if you ask me.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Sara said.
“And why some freezing night in the dead of winter? I would think April or even May would make much more sense as the start of a new year—” Lillian continued.
The phone rang, interrupting her diatribe. Sara was grateful. This visit could turn out to be even shorter than she’d expected. Lillian picked up the phone and said hello. Sara could tell that it was Emily calling to wish her mother a happy New Year before she went out.
“You’ll never guess who’s sitting here with me,” Lillian remarked. “Sara Franklin,” she continued, as if Emily would need her own daughter’s last name. “All right, say hello if you wish.”
Lillian handed over the phone, and Sara heard Emily’s voice. “Sara, what are you doing there?”
“I just stopped by to wish Lillian a happy New Year. I didn’t realize she doesn’t recognize the holiday,” Sara joked. “Happy New Year, Emily.”
“Happy New Year, dear. I wish you all good things. I hope it’s a great one for you.”
“You, too,” Sara said sincerely. She gave the phone back to Lillian, who continued her conversation.
“Well, enjoy yourself. Yes, I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
Lillian hung up the phone and gave Sara a meaningful look. “Dan Forbes again tonight. She’s been seeing a lot of him lately. Do you think it’s getting serious?”
“I don’t know,” Sara said honestly. “She doesn’t say much about him to me.”
“Me, either. But there are signs, you know. She’s been looking brighter lately. I thought it was a new lipstick. But she hasn’t gone out like this on New Year’s Eve since . . . well, since I don’t know when. I think it’s time I ask to meet him,” she said, nodding her head.
Sara smiled at the image of Lillian questioning Dan on his intentions. Dan would handle her well, she thought.
“Dan planned to leave on a long sailing trip before he had that accident,” Sara said. “As far as I know, he’s still going.”
“A man’s plans can change. History has shown us that. A man will even give up a crown, if
he meets the right woman,” Lillian stated flatly. “I’d hate to see Emily disappointed at this stage in her life,” she added.
Sara felt the same. Privately she also sensed that Emily had fallen hard for Dan. But she’d never heard Lillian openly express that kind of concern for her daughter.
The doorbell rang. Lillian stared at her. “Now who could that be? I hope it’s not Ezra, trying to drag me off to one of those senior-center soirees he’s so fond of.”
So she did have an invitation for the evening, Sara realized. Good old Dr. Elliot. He never liked to see his old friend Lillian left alone, even when Lillian defied most attempts to include her.
“I’ll get it. Be right back,” Sara said, smiling to herself.
“I thought I’d have a peaceful evening on my own, and I’m bombarded with company,” she heard Lillian mutter, as Sara left the room.
The bell sounded again. “Be right there,” she called, crossing the foyer. She swung the door open, expecting to find Ezra.
The last person she’d expected to see was Luke McAllister.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“LUKE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” “That’s a fine greeting. You sound just like your grandmother.” When she didn’t answer, he said, “I just spoke to Emily, and she told me you were here.”
He’d been calling people in town looking for her? That was interesting. Sara felt her heart jump-start with a hopeful spark.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Sure. Of course. Come in the living room,” she said, leading the way.
“Who is that?” Lillian’s voice called out to them before they even reached the doorway.
“It’s Luke McAllister, Lillian. You know Luke,” Sara said, feeling wary of her grandmother’s reaction.
Lillian watched them enter, with a guarded expression. “Of course, the famous party crasher. This is becoming a habit with you, young man. This is the second time you’ve come to my home on a holiday, uninvited. Don’t you think that’s odd?”
Sara thought Luke would be angry, but he only laughed.
“Very odd, considering the welcome I get. You think I would have learned my lesson the first time, Mrs. Warwick.”
Lillian looked surprised at his reply, at first. Then her eyes narrowed, and she sat back in her chair. “Slow learner, I suppose. Well, sit down, the both of you. It’s unnerving to have you standing there, gawking at me.”
Sara and Luke glanced at each other, then they each sat down at opposite ends of Lillian’s old-fashioned sofa.
“So, how is your project coming along? Any new developments?” Lillian asked Luke.
Sara knew that her grandmother had been opposed to Luke’s efforts. But Lillian respected anyone who persisted despite obstacles, and Luke certainly met that criteria.
Luke briefly updated her on the plans, and Lillian seemed impressed. “So, you spent the week in Boston. Why didn’t you stay for the big holiday tonight? I imagine it was far livelier there than up here in Cape Light.”
Luke looked uneasy for a moment. “A little too much noise for me, I guess. . . . I needed to get back anyway.”
Lillian stared at him a moment, then glanced at Sara. “Yes, I’m sure.” She yawned—very theatrically, Sara thought. “Excuse me. While your company is stimulating, it’s getting close to my bedtime. I’m sorry to end the party early, but I’m old and boring and I do need my rest.”
Sara was tempted to laugh out loud but decided to let her grandmother get away with this transparent ploy without remarking on it.
“All right, if you say so,” Sara said, coming to her feet. Luke stood up, too, looking very relieved, Sara noticed. “I guess we’d better go then,” she said, glancing at him.
“I guess so,” he agreed.
They said good night to Lillian, and Sara leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Happy Monday night in December, Lillian,” she teased her.
“Thank you. The same to you, I’m sure,” Lillian replied.
Once they were outside together, alone on the porch, Sara felt awkward with Luke. “Well, what now?” she asked him.
“Why don’t we walk into town and see if anything is going on? I think I noticed something at the Beanery.”
“Yes, I did, too,” she said, falling into step beside him. “When did you get back?”
He glanced at her, then looked ahead again. “Just now.”
“Oh.”
“I was surprised to catch up with you. What happened to your party?” he asked curiously.
“Oh, that.” Sara paused. She’d forgotten all about the party. “It was too early to go there. Besides, I don’t really know anybody there except for Jane . . . and Wyatt,” she added.
He looked over his shoulder at her, but didn’t say anything.
Wyatt. Oh, dear. Well, she’d have to make up some polite excuse on Wednesday, Sara thought. It looked like she wasn’t going to be meeting him at Jane’s after all. Lillian was right; plans can change.
“How’s the job going?” Luke asked evenly.
“It’s all right. It was quiet this week.”
“No big front-page stories?” he said.
“Not really.” She jammed her hands in her pockets, sensing a certain note of derision in his voice. He was still mad at her, she guessed. She wished he wasn’t.
“Luke, listen . . . I’m sorry,” she said haltingly. “I know I’ve been sort of . . . awful lately. As if this job is the biggest thing in the world. I’ve been terribly self-centered about it, and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn’t mean to.”
He stopped walking and turned to her. “Okay. Your apology is accepted,” he said simply.
She felt puzzled. He didn’t sound as if he really forgave her or even understood what she was trying to say.
“What does that mean? You still sound mad at me.”
“I’m not mad,” he said slowly. “I’ve just had some time to think about things since we had that argument.”
His quiet words made her apprehensive. There was something sad—almost final—in his tone.
“I’m happy you like your job and that things are working out for you, Sara,” he went on. “But I can see now that things aren’t going to work out between you and me. It was sort of foolish of me to even hope for that.”
Sara felt breathless, as if the wind had just been knocked out of her. “That’s not true. We had an argument. It doesn’t have to be the end of everything,” she insisted.
“Isn’t it? Think about it. I thought that once you had settled things with Emily and started at the paper, things could go forward with us. I guess I was waiting until I thought you had some room in your life for a real relationship,” he confessed. “But to hear you tell it, you have even less room and time now. Or maybe you just want to keep your options open—in case someone more interesting comes along.”
Sara knew he meant Wyatt, and she also knew that there was some truth to his accusations, however painful that was for her to admit.
Sara took a deep breath. She looked down the sloping street, edged with mounds of snow that took on a bluish shadow beneath the streetlights.
“I know what you’re saying is partly true. I know I’ve acted sort of fickle or something. I think I just got scared,” she admitted.
“Well, at least that’s honest,” he said. “That’s just what I was trying to say. You’re not ready for a real commitment and I am. It’s nobody’s fault,” he added, in a kinder tone, which somehow hurt just as much as if he’d been yelling at her.
“Why did you come back here then and look all over town for me, if that’s the way you feel? Now who’s acting fickle? I don’t get it, Luke.”
“I have a lot of feelings for you, Sara. Even after the way you’ve acted, I still wanted to be with you tonight. I guess I missed you.”
She felt a little better, hearing this admission. “I missed you, too,” she said sincerely. “I felt so awful after we had that fight. I care about you. A lot. I know that now. Doesn’t
that count for something?”
“Of course, it counts for something. It counts for a lot,” he said softly. He looked down at her briefly, then looked away. He seemed uneasy, and Sara had a bad feeling that she was not going to like what he had to tell her.
“But there’s something else going on now. I’m leaving here. I decided to go back to Boston. I really just came back tonight to say good-bye.”
Sara felt breathless and stunned. “You’re leaving? You mean . . . forever?” She felt as if she might burst into tears and struggled to hold them back. “I don’t understand. How could you leave? The center isn’t even open yet—”
“I know it seems abrupt, but I think it’s the right thing to do. New Horizons offered me a job last week. Dr. Santori said they could send their staff here to run the center in the spring, but I don’t have to stay. They’ll train me, so I can help set up new centers in other cities. It sounds like interesting work, with lots of travel. Besides, I’ve been wondering what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.”
Sara couldn’t believe it. She’d never imagined that Luke would want to leave Cape Light. Not after he’d worked so hard to establish himself here.
“I didn’t know you were thinking of leaving here,” she said. Her voice sounded flat and distant to her, as if someone else were caught in this awful conversation. “I thought you were set on opening the center and working there as a counselor.”
“Well, I was. But this just came up, out of the blue. It made me start thinking that I might be ready to go back to the city.”
Ready to go back. He said the phrase as if he thought of his time here as some long convalescence. Maybe it had been, she reflected. Maybe he needed to go back to Boston just to prove to himself that he could, that he wasn’t hiding out here in the country. Lillian had definitely been right. Plans change.
“Listen, I’m sorry you’re so upset. I honestly didn’t think you would be. I mean, you always tell me you don’t plan on staying here forever.”
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