Divided Hearts

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “It’s great,” Matthew said, slipping his hands in his pockets. “Very relaxing.”

  “I thought you’d appreciate it,” Nathan said with a smile.

  They strolled around another curve. A young woman walked toward them, looking down as she swished a branch of leaves beside her. Even from this distance they could hear her humming. As they drew nearer, she lifted her head, then stopped in the middle of the path.

  It was Cory.

  She now wore blue jeans instead of the skirt she’d worn to church this morning. Her hair was pulled back, accentuating the delicate lines of her face.

  Matthew couldn’t look away even as the gentle smile on her face was replaced by a frown.

  “Hello, Cory,” Nathan said. “Out for a Sunday afternoon stroll?”

  She looked warily at Matthew, then back at Nathan. “It’s lovely out today, isn’t it?” she said.

  “That it is.” Nathan turned toward Matthew. “I believe you’ve already met Matthew?”

  Cory’s glance skidded over him, then returned to Nathan. “Oh yes.”

  “How’s your mother?” Nathan continued, seeming unaware of the vague tension emanating from Cory.

  “She’s fine,” Cory said. “She was tired after church, so she’s having a nap right now.”

  “She’ll still be able to cater our function tomorrow? The forecast is for warm weather. We will take a chance and have it outside.”

  “Sounds wonderful. My mother hopes to be there.”

  “Excellent.” Nathan turned to Matthew. “Cory and her mother cater small functions on the side. They’re very good. We were fortunate to get them to do our anniversary supper.”

  Matthew watched Cory while Nathan spoke, but she kept her eyes resolutely on Nathan.

  “I guess I’ll find out for myself then,” Matthew said.

  Cory gave him a startled glance. He guessed she didn’t know he would be attending.

  “Are you going to be helping your mother?” Nathan asked.

  “I’m working most of the day but I hope to be there when I’m done.”

  “You won’t be too tired?” Nathan asked solicitously.

  “No. No, I’ll be fine.” She favored Matthew with a tight smile and Nathan a friendlier version. “I should go. Have a nice day,” she said.

  They stepped aside for her as she walked past, her pace somewhat quicker than before.

  “Nice woman, that Cory,” Nathan said when she was out of earshot. “Hard worker. She and her mother started their catering business a couple of months ago, and they’re already getting quite a reputation. I imagine the money from her stepfather’s will should help her business out.”

  “I’m sure it should,” Matthew replied vaguely. While he had discussed the situation with Nathan, he wasn’t sure what else to say. He still had hopes that Cory would sign the papers before he left. Knowing that he would see her tomorrow helped a great deal.

  “It always surprises me when a woman like her doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Nathan said. “She’s attractive and spunky and has quite a sense of humor.”

  “She doesn’t?”

  “Nope. I think half of the single men in town are in love with her but she’s kept herself aloof.”

  “She’s quite attractive,” Matthew conceded, curiously pleased to find out that she was single.

  “Oh, she’s more than that,” Nathan said, giving Matthew a knowing look. “She’s got a snap and vigor that catches your attention right away.”

  Matthew wasn’t about to dispute the snap. He’d been on the receiving end of it enough times.

  Nathan glanced at his watch. “We’d better go home. Mary should have had enough time by now.”

  They turned around, and as they walked back, Matthew wondered if they would run into Cory again.

  The idea was both appealing and confounding.

  “Coffee?”

  Matthew took off his glasses, and looked up at Cory holding a coffee pot, standing by his table at the restaurant. She didn’t look any happier to see him than she had yesterday.

  This morning, he decided to avoid the inn and Cory, so he stopped at Claire’s Coffee for a quick coffee and Danish, but it was packed. The inn was busy too, but at least he could get a table.

  “Sure. Thanks,” he said.

  “What would you like for breakfast?” she asked, while she poured the cup full, her eyes avoiding his.

  “Brown toast and two eggs. Over easy.”

  Cory’s curt nod was the only indication she heard him. He tried to superimpose the memory of her talking to Chris yesterday on this grim-looking woman, who listened to him and yet ignored him at the same time.

  Yesterday, he had seen the first genuine smile on her face since he had come here. As she knelt beside Chris, taking care of his scrape, Matthew saw the animated and genuinely happy side of Cory he had first seen many years ago: The part of her that he only saw when she was with Deirdre, his cousin.

  That was the woman he wanted to see again. But he was dreaming.

  When she returned with his order, he tried to catch her gaze as he smiled. “Thanks, Cory.”

  “You’re welcome. Enjoy your meal.” The words held no inflection as she set his plate in front of him. They were automatic, and probably spoken hundreds of times during the day.

  It bothered him, and some niggling sense of annoyance goaded him into asking, “Have you thought any more about the will?”

  Her eyes met his, tentative and unsure.

  “I’ve been thinking about it,” she said, carefully. “I haven’t changed my mind.”

  He stifled a sigh, confounded by her stubbornness. “But, Cory, think of what you could do with the money. You could do something with your life, make it better...”

  As Cory’s eyes grew hard, Matthew could have kicked himself. Wrong thing to say, he thought as she glared down at him.

  “There’s nothing wrong with what I do.” Cory held his gaze a moment as if challenging him.

  Matthew held it, remembering what Nathan had said about the catering business. “No, I’m sure there isn’t. But you’re an intelligent woman, Cory. I’m sure there are other things you would like to do with your life.” He felt like he was taking advantage of her, using information she didn’t know he had, but he wanted to get this job finished. He had work waiting back at the office, and he didn’t have time to hang around here until she decided what she wanted to do.

  “So only dumb women work as waitresses?” she said, her mouth curving in a sardonic smile.

  “Of course not.” He couldn’t believe she was getting him tangled in his own words. He was paid to use words, for goodness’ sake.

  “I just think that you have potential beyond serving people food. I remember Deirdre saying that you were a good student in school.”

  Cory’s expression didn’t change. “You know a lot about me, Mr. McKnight. But not as much as you think you do.”

  With that, she walked away.

  Matthew watched her go, shaking his head at his lack of tact. At this rate, he would leave without accomplishing his mission.

  On Wednesday, he was due back at his office where the work was piling up, even as he sat. He couldn’t afford to alienate Cory. If he wanted to wrap this up, he had to use other tactics. Try to turn on the charm that usually worked with the women he had dated.

  Like Tricia, he thought wryly. Tricia who, in tears, had asked him why he couldn’t spend more time with her.

  He dismissed that memory. Tricia was sweet and had been a patient girlfriend, putting up with cancelled dates when a big case needed extra attention, when Matthew travelled for hearings in other towns and could only talk to her on the phone. He had to face the fact that his current life wasn’t conducive to maintaining long-term relationships. Late hours at the office and working weekends just didn’t mesh with having a girlfriend.

  He pushed the depressing thoughts aside. He had more important things on his mind—right now, all he had to focus on was get
ting Cory to sign the papers. Once that was done, he could put Sweet Creek and Cory Smith—correction, Luciuk—behind.

  She later set the bill on the table wordlessly. Matthew didn’t even look up at her, annoyed that she could make him feel ashamed.

  He had every intention of finishing his breakfast and leaving. He had promised Clint Fletcher he would stop by the paper and connect. After that, he was headed to Nathan and Mary’s to help set up for the party this evening. But that was it.

  How was he going to fill the rest of his time? He’d never had to face that prospect recently.

  He finished his toast, swallowed a last gulp of coffee, and wiped his mouth, getting ready to leave.

  “Cory, Cory, look at my bandage.”

  The voice of a young boy broke through the muted hum of the restaurant. Matthew glanced up at the boy running through the restaurant toward Cory, who was waiting on a customer.

  It was Chris, the young boy Cory had helped yesterday. He ran up to Cory, proudly showing her the bandage on his elbow.

  She squatted to get on his level, expressing her admiration. He gave her a quick hug.

  Once again Matthew saw the change in her. Once again, a smile softened her features.

  And Matthew found himself slightly jealous of a five-year-old boy.

  Chapter Four

  “I hear congratulations are in order,” Matthew said as he shook Clint’s hand. He sat down in the empty chair in Clint’s office.

  His friend and client sat in his own chair, his hands steepled in front of him, and grinned. “Yes. The amazing Nadine Laidlaw fell for my obvious charms and agreed to marry me.”

  Matthew shot a glance behind him.

  “What are you looking for?” Clint asked.

  “Checking to see if Nadine is listening.”

  “She’s covering an event in Fort Henday. Some anniversary or such.”

  “Lot of that going around,” Matthew said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

  “Yes, I saw the notice for the Stanleys celebration on the church bulletin.”

  “But you weren’t in church?”

  “Nadine and I were visiting her grandmother. I check the bulletin online. Ever the reporter,” he said with a grin.

  Matthew looked around Clint’s office, remembering the reception area he had walked through. The offices of the Sweet Creek Chronicle were modern and clean—a testament to Clint’s vision for the paper.

  “The newspaper business is going well?” Matthew asked.

  Clint nodded. “Yep. Especially now that I’ve got my editor under control.”

  “Sounds like Nadine isn’t someone you control,” Matthew said with a chuckle.

  “I like to think I can.” Clint responded with a grin of his own. “At least she lets me think I can.”

  “And that business with Skyline?” Matthew asked, thinking of a case where Nadine was definitely not under control. As editor, she was on a mission to find out what had happened to her father, who had died while working for that Skyline. Matthew had warned Clint more than once that Nadine’s quest for justice was putting them in Skyline’s legal crosshairs.

  “Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about them anymore,” Clint said, leaning forward, his clasped hands on the desk. “They declared bankruptcy shortly after Nadine found out the truth about her dad—he wasn’t at fault as the company had claimed all this time.”

  “She can’t sue them?”

  “She won’t. She just wanted her dad’s name cleared, which it was.”

  “And I just want to move on.”

  A voice behind Matthew made him spin around in his chair. He got up as he came face to face with a very attractive young woman, with long brown hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She wore a denim jacket over a black t-shirt and black jeans. Casual and comfortable, he thought.

  “Nadine, this is Matthew. Our legal counsel,” Clint said, getting up and walking around the desk. He slipped his arm around Nadine’s shoulder and gave her a gentle, one-armed hug. “Matthew, this is Nadine. Fiancée extraordinaire.”

  “Doesn’t that make me sound interesting,” Nadine said with a chuckle. She held her hand out to Matthew, who had also stood. “Nice to finally meet you face to face. Glad I don’t have to cause you and Clint any more hasty emergency meetings.”

  Matthew smiled back, shaking Nadine’s hand. “Nothing wrong with seeking justice,” he said.

  “No. Just how it’s done,” Nadine replied. Then she turned to Clint, resting one hand on his chest. “Do you have time to come with me to the flower shop tomorrow? I want to talk to Giselle about the centerpieces.”

  “Do you really need my input?” Clint asked.

  “Yes, I do. Giselle is adorable and fun, but she’ll bat those gorgeous brown eyes at me, and in no time I’ll be ordering massive peony and rose arrangements that will take over the whole table.”

  “What makes you think I’m immune to sweet Giselle’s charms?” Clint said in mock horror.

  “United front, mister,” Nadine said, tapping her finger on his chest. “I also have to talk to her about my bouquet and the church flowers. I need your backup and for you to use those horrible words that no bride-to-be dares utter.”

  “Those words being?” Clint asked.

  “We can’t afford it.”

  “Ah. Those. Yes. I can pull that out.”

  “I knew I could count on you.” Nadine stood up on tiptoe and brushed a kiss over Clint’s cheek. She straightened his tie in a fussy, girlfriendly gesture then gave Matthew a quick grin. “Nice to meet you.”

  She spun around, and as quickly as she came, she was gone.

  “So. That’s Nadine. I can see how she could cause you trouble,” Matthew said as the door closed behind her.

  “She’s been good for me,” Clint said. “A reminder of why I started in the newspaper business and the best woman I know.”

  Matthew felt a glimmer of envy at the loving tone in his friend’s voice and the satisfaction on his face. He looked settled. Content.

  “So, why else are you in town?” Clint asked, getting back to business. “Besides the anniversary.”

  “What makes you think I have another reason.”

  “You’re a lawyer. You guys always make sure you can create billable hours.”

  “Why does that sound like a slam?”

  “It isn’t. Just a joke.” Clint shrugged as if to underline that salient fact.

  “As a matter of fact, I do have another reason—”

  “Like I said—”

  “It’s a personal thing though. To do with Cory Smith, I mean Luciuk.”

  “Cory, as in Sweet Creek Inn Cory?”

  “The same. I need her to…well…do something, and I’m having a hard time convincing her. She’s quite the forceful personality.”

  “That’s true. Great waitress but, yeah, I wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with her. Nadine is challenge enough.”

  “That doesn’t sound very encouraging,” Matthew said, rubbing his chin with a forefinger.

  “Oh, I’m sure you can flash that McKnight dimple at her, give her a soulful look with your baby-blues and she’ll fall for you like a toddler tripping over her own laces.”

  “Yeah. Not so much, though that’s an interesting visual.”

  Clint laughed, and the conversation moved back to the wedding and the plans, and how Matthew should come. Clint spoke of the acreage he and Nadine were moving onto after they got married and the plans they had for it. While Clint spoke, Matthew felt a twang of envy at his friend’s happiness. At how settled he was in his work and in this town. Clint had lived in the city once. He knew what it was like, and yet, here he was, seemingly happy and settled.

  And for a moment, Matthew wondered if he could do the same.

  “Matthew, would you mind moving some of those chairs over there? Some of us old folk will want to get out of the sun.” Mary Stanley pointed to a spot shaded by tall pine trees. “I can’t believe the day turn
ed out so beautiful. I’m going in the house to get something cool to drink. Why don’t you join us? It will be a while before the caterer comes.”

  “I’ll do that.” Matthew smiled his acceptance.

  Mary nodded once and left.

  When Matthew was done, he looked around the yard, checking everything one more time. Tables were ready for the caterer, and chairs had been set around low tables, on the patio, on the grass, and in the shade of the trees that sheltered the large yard. Pots of flowers were scattered through the yard, adding a splash of color.

  Matthew remembered his parents’ twenty-fifth anniversary celebration. It had taken his mother months to arrange and had taken her another month to relax from all the stress of the organization.

  He couldn’t imagine his parents celebrating an important occasion such as a fortieth wedding anniversary with a simple supper and reception served outside.

  Which, he had to admit, was more appealing. Thankfully, the weather had cooperated, obliging the day with sun and the faintest breeze to keep any bugs away.

  Now, all they had to do was wait for the caterer.

  Matthew checked his pants, making sure they were still clean. Thankfully the supper was a casual affair and he didn’t have to wear a suit.

  He gave the yard a quick once-over then walked toward the house. The patio doors were open to the large family room, which was empty.

  Nathan and Mary are probably in the kitchen, he thought, walking through the open doorway. He stopped suddenly.

  Nathan and Mary Stanley stood by the kitchen counter, arms wrapped around each other, exchanging an ardent kiss.

  Matthew knew he should leave, yet he couldn’t look away from the sight of a man and a woman, sixty-seven and sixty-five, obviously enraptured with each other.

  He was about to turn when Nathan lifted his head and grinned over his wife’s shoulder at Matthew. “Hello, there. I’m afraid I’ve distracted Mary from getting your drink.”

  Mary’s head whipped around, and color flooded her cheeks as she pulled away from her husband. “Oh, dear.” Her hand fluttered over her hair as she turned to the fridge. “I’m so sorry, Matthew.”

  “Oh, don’t fuss, Mary. It’s not like he’s never seen an old married couple kiss before,” Nathan chuckled.