A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  Introducing Kathy as Harley’s knitting buddy, the women embraced her, making her feel at home, welcomed. Fran pulled out a chair for her. “Sit, sit,” she said. “We’re getting ready to have cake and coffee.”

  “I found out last night from Dave and Jason that Harley was gone,” Kathy explained. “It was a shock to me. I mean I knew it was advanced but I guess I thought we had plenty of time.”

  “We all thought that,” Fran said, Maryanne nodding.

  “I thought it was going to be the end of her suffering, that it would be a relief,” Maryanne said. “Hopefully, it was a relief for her. But it was far from a relief for us.”

  “Jason never talks about it,” Fran said.

  “What happened?” Kathy asked.

  “The time she was awake became shorter and shorter,” Maryanne said. “The last Sunday she was alive, she knew what was happening, calling everyone around her to tell each person how much she loved them. That night, we got together, talking about all the wonderful times we’d had as a family, and when Harley was awake she started talking about her father, Daddy, she called him.

  “’I keep seeing him,’ Harley had said. ‘Who?’ I asked. ‘Why Daddy,’ she replied. ‘Who else?’ I’m a nurse so I know it’s not uncommon for patients to hallucinate at the end, but I think I was just too close to the situation. ‘Daddy’s dead,’ I said. ‘I know that,’ Harley said, snickering. ‘He’s coming to get me.’”

  Kathy started to cry, covering her hands with her face. “My dad is gone, too,” she said. “I imagine he’d come to get me, too if I was in Harley’s shape.”

  “I believe he was coming to get her,” Fran said. “Just like she said.”

  “I don’t have that kind of faith,” Maryanne said. “Although she got me thinking about it, she was so insistent. We rarely talked about him.”

  Wiping their eyes, the women agreed that maybe there was something to it. “At least she wasn’t alone,” Bea said, blowing her nose.

  “I never had the feeling she was scared or dreading going,” Maryanne said. “It was very comforting.”

  “That’s just like my Harley,” Bea said. “I was honored she wanted me there with her.”

  “I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Maryanne said. “You, too Fran.”

  “It was too much for one person,” Fran said. “My son was at the end of his reserves.”

  “Did she go in her sleep?” Kathy asked.

  “Sort of,” Bea said. “She was sleeping all the time by then and never woke up again.”

  “It was the length of time she lasted after those last words that took the toll on everyone,” Maryanne said and the other women nodded their heads.

  “The way you took care of her, Bea, was a testimony to your friendship. It was beautiful,” Maryanne said.

  Fran nodded her head in agreement, weeping. “I guess we needed this, as painful as it is. We have Kathy to thank. We haven’t talked about it. I know I’m not getting over it like I should be.”

  “You’ll never get over it,” Bea said. “None of us will. We’ll just learn to live with it.”

  “Guess what I made for lunch?” Fran announced, ready for a change of topic. “Harley’s macaroni salad.”

  “Did I just hear my wife’s macaroni salad is making an appearance today?”

  It was Jason, in from getting the boat ready to launch. He acknowledged Kathy with a nod and a wave.

  “You did,” Bea said. “I made a chocolate cake, too.”

  “Hurry up because we’re getting ready to take the Last Call out for its maiden voyage this summer.”

  “Oh my God, I hate that name,” Fran said shaking her head while Kathy and Bea laughed. “Okay, tell your father and brother to clean up for lunch.”

  After they ate, the men left with the older girls to put the boat in the water and set out crab traps. Kathy was glad for the chance to see everyone and hear about Harley’s last days. When it was time to go she didn’t have to worry about saying goodbye to Jason. Bea and Maryanne walked out to the car with her and Laura.

  “Here’s my phone number,” Kathy said. “Thank you so much for letting me crash your party.”

  But they wouldn’t call her and Kathy didn’t come by the cottage again that summer.

  Chapter 27

  Autumn

  The week before Labor Day, Angie would move into her dorm at Penn State. The entire family went along; Jason, Devon, Bea, Michael and Dave would go in Harley’s SUV packed with some of Angie’s things. Joe and Fran would bring Maryanne in their van, also packed solid with more belongings. The girls and their cousins were brining up the rear in Jason’s car. It would be a weekend they would all remember because they were so excited for Angie. After what the family had been through, the sacrifices they’d made, the sadness of Harley losing her life at such a young age, this was finally something they could rejoice over.

  After moving her in, the aunts and grandmothers made sure her bed was perfectly made, her clothes put away neatly, doing everything for her they knew Harley would have wanted; they could leave for home in peace.

  Tiffany spent an extra half hour preparing for work Tuesday after Labor Day. Labor Day became an icon when Jason told her in early June he couldn’t even think of dating anyone until Harley had been gone at least six months. In June, she’d stuck her neck out, taking a step of faith, and asked him to have dinner with her.

  “I’m not ready yet,” he said. “It’s too early.”

  Waiting through the summer was torture for her, so Thursday before Labor Day weekend, Tiffany cornered him in the lounge at work. They hadn’t worked together all week and she was paranoid, feeling like he’d purposely avoided her.

  “What’d you do? Ask Steinberg to assign you to any room I’m not in?”

  “Tiffany, you’re insane,” Jason said laughing. “Now you’re going to blame me for us not working together. What’s really wrong?” It was the wrong thing to ask.

  “It’s been six months, Jason,” she said, trying not to sound shrill. “I’m ready to take whatever this is to the next level.”

  But Jason wouldn’t be rushed. “I’m not ready yet, Tiffany. Yes, she’s been gone for six months, but I’m not a machine. My girls wouldn’t like it either.”

  “I know you’re not and I’m sorry I’m pressuring you. But I’m getting tired of this. I’m not asking you to marry me, Jason. I just want more from you.”

  “We have coffee together every day. We just had dinner last Friday.”

  “We were on call together in the hospital. A hospital dinner doesn’t count. It’s not enough,” she said. “I want to meet your kids. If I’m not good enough for them, then I’ll find someone who thinks more highly of me.”

  “So is this a threat?” He didn’t want to date anyone openly yet, but he didn’t want to lose a chance with her, either.

  “No, not at all,” she said. “But if you aren’t going to move on, I need to. I don’t have anyone else in mind, but it won’t be difficult for me to find someone.”

  “So you’re threatening me,” he said, chuckling. “Look, come to the beach this weekend. You can meet the family, but as someone I work with, got it? It’s too early to say we’re dating.”

  “I understand that. What do you take me for? Besides, if you think what we’re doing is dating then you and I are on the wrong page.”

  “We’re just friends,” he said, adamant. “Friends who work together.”

  “Right,” she said, trying to appreciate the small move he’d made. Meeting the family would be huge.

  “What time should I arrive?”

  “It’s for one day,” he said, emphatic she understand it wasn’t for the entire weekend. “Saturday or Sunday or Monday.”

  She thought for a moment, and Jason could see the wheels turning. If she arrived on Sunday, she might try to wheedle an overnight invitation. “Maybe Monday would be better,” he said. “Around noon.”

  “Okay, Monday it is. See
you then!” she waved her hand in his face and flitted out of the lounge.

  The idea that he’d be there for the long weekend and gave her one day to visit occurred to her, but she choked down the disappointment. Hopefully, there’d be plenty of holiday weekends coming up at the shore.

  When Jason got home from work, he asked the girls if they wanted to head right down to the shore or have Friday Night Movie night at home and leave Saturday. They’d held on to Friday Night Movie night and maybe it was time to switch things around. “It’s the last long weekend at the beach until Thanksgiving. What do you think?”

  “I don’t know,” Tina said. “Movie night gives us a chance to unwind from the week and get everything ready to go so we’re not rushing around.”

  “What if we get ready now?” Angie said. “Neither Bennie nor I have classes on Friday. We can do all the last minute things to prepare, and then when you and Devi and Daddy get home, we can jet after rush hour traffic.”

  “Rush hour will last all weekend. Don’t even worry about that,” Jason said.

  “What do you think, Devon?” They turned to her, deep in thought.

  “I’m ready for the shore,” she said. “We can have family movie night while we’re there.”

  “Okay! We’re leaving for the shore on Friday.”

  Jason had an ulterior motive; they’d have the extra time down there so sharing it with Tiffany on Monday might not seem like such an imposition. He was going to wait until Monday morning to tell them she was coming so no one would have the time to stew about it.

  Tiffany put as much planning into the trip as if she were going on a cruise for a week. Plus, she was going to show up on Sunday, not Monday. Monday everyone left the shore and traffic would be horrible. She’d text him when she arrived. Wisdom told her she’d better keep the upper hand with Jason or he’d constantly be shoving her aside.

  As it was, he was having second thoughts and was going to call her and cancel when, after breakfast on Sunday, sitting out under the trees with his mother, Tiffany pulled up.

  “Who’s that so early?” Fran asked.

  “Oh boy, it’s a woman I work with. I told her to stop by this weekend,” he said, seething. He approached her car and the look on his face let her know he wasn’t happy.

  “Hey, what a surprise,” he said.

  “I sent you a text,” she spouted, defensive.

  “I’m having coffee with my mother and don’t have my nose glued to the phone,” he said, not caring that he was rude. “This is really an imposition. My mother-in-law is here.”

  “They’ll never suspect a thing,” she said, embarrassed, her feelings hurt but refusing to give in. Turning the car off, she reached into the passenger seat to get her bags, leaving the overnight bag on the floor.

  “Hi, Mrs. Jones!”

  Moving beyond Jason, she went directly to his mother. Ingratiating herself into the family was the goal for the weekend, even if she had to become the kitchen help.

  Fran put out her hand to reach Tiffany’s extended for a shake while Jason introduced them. It was weird, but not as weird as showing up unannounced was. “What a wonderful place. I just love these small towns along the beach.”

  “Thank you,” Fran said, rising. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “I’ll get it, Mom,” Jason said. “Stay put. Tiffany, come inside and I’ll show you around.”

  Before they went inside, Jason let her have it. “I don’t like to be manipulated,” he hissed. “If I wasn’t worried about you making a scene in front of my mother, I’d throw you out.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, biting her tongue. “I really did think it would be better if I came today. Traffic will be horrible going home tomorrow and everyone will be thinking about leaving just as I arrived.”

  Exasperated, Jason tried to pull himself together. Maryanne stood motionless in the kitchen, staring absently out the window. “Maryanne, this is Tiffany. Tiffany works with me and Harley…with me in the OR.”

  Maryanne turned to her, pale and unsmiling, making an effort. “How nice,” she said. “You worked with Harley?”

  “Well, I work in the OR and Harley worked in recovery, but yes. It’s so nice to meet you,” Tiffany said, avoiding mentioning anything about their loss.

  “So just here for the day?” Maryanne asked, looking at Jason, suddenly curious. Was her son-in-law already dating?

  “Just for the day,” she answered. “I have another friend down here so just stopping by to say hi. I won’t stay long.”

  “Oh?” Thinking it was inconvenient to have this young woman here on a family weekend, she turned back to Jason. “Are you taking the boat out, because if you are, I’d like to go along for the ride. I’m in the mood.”

  “Probably,” Jason replied, handing Tiffany a cup of coffee. “It looks like a perfect day to fish.”

  “Do you fish?” Maryanne asked Tiffany.

  “Oh, no. I’m a vegetarian.”

  “Who’s a vegetarian?” They looked up as Tina walked in.

  Tiffany raised her hand. “I am, so no fishing for me.”

  “Me either.” Tina looked at her carefully, seeing an attractive young woman, not much older than Bennie. “I’m Tina.”

  “Oh, sorry honey,” Jason said. “This is my third daughter, Tina. Vegetarian.”

  “Nice to meet you, Tina,” Tiffany said, trying to hide her shock. The young woman looked like a renegade with messy, matted dreadlocks covered with a bandana. What was Jason thinking, allowing his child to go around looking like this?

  “Are you from around here?” Tina asked and Jason picked up on it right away, his daughter wanted to know who Tiffany was, and more importantly, why she was there.

  “Oh, no. I live in Philadelphia. I’m down here for the day to see friends and thought I’d drop in and bug Jason.”

  “Ha! And it worked,” he said sarcastically. “Let’s go out and have our coffee. What time are you supposed to be at your friend’s place?”

  “They’re expecting me around noon,” she lied, defeated. “I thought I’d get an early start to beat traffic.”

  Leading the way, Jason left the cottage with Tiffany following. She didn’t bother to say good bye to the women, her idea clearly a mistake. It was too soon, even she could see that.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Forget it,” he said. “It doesn’t take much to rock the boat right now. If you waited until tomorrow, Maryanne would be back in Delaware. I just don’t want to make things worse for her.”

  “Yes, I get it.”

  Pausing at the chair, he waited until she sat, hoping his mother wouldn’t start asking questions.

  “Is everybody up?”

  “I only saw Tina,” Jason answered.

  Fran got up to leave. “Let me go light a fire under those girls. Nice meeting you,” she said.

  “Same here,” she said, waiting for Fran to enter the house. “Well, that is certainly not how I imagined it would be.”

  “And what was that?”

  “I guess I thought I could ingratiate myself into their lives by helping out. And what’s with your daughter’s hairdo? That was unexpected.”

  “What? Tina’s dreads? We love them. If you knew Tina, you’d agree they are exactly right for her. She did that in honor of Harley’s baldness when we forbade her to shave her head.”

  “Oh, well I guess that makes it okay,” she said, the negativity bubbling up in her throat. “But no kid of mine would walk around like that.”

  The words were out before she knew it, and she quickly turned to Jason. “I’m just kidding, like I would know how to raise a teenaged girl.”

  “Exactly,” he said. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

  Looking out to the shore, Jason saw the very first sign of autumn; someone was walking on the beach with a sweater on. “It’s cold for Labor Day weekend,” he said. “Makes me sad.”

  “What? The fall?”

  “
Yep, the leaves changing color, falling. Cider and donuts. They’re things Harley loved. Last fall, we left here and stopped at cider mill on the way home.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You don’t know what a cider mill is? Give me a break,” he said, laughing out loud.

  “You mean like where they press apples for juice?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “How old are you again?”

  “Look, I was raised in northeast Philly. We don’t have cider mills up there.”

  “Didn’t you ever go to New Hope or any place in Bucks County?”

  “No, why would we? We lived in Philly. Everything you need is right at your fingertips.”

  Jason couldn’t help it; he burst out laughing and spent a full minute at it, confusing Tiffany. “Is this really just about apples or are you making fun of me?”

  “Both,” he said. “You need to get out of the city.”

  “Well now you’re talkin’,” she said. “Although here I am and feeling unwelcome.”

  “Sorry, but you brought that on yourself. And insulting my daughter is not the way to ingratiate yourself, as you so eloquently put it.”

  “It was just an observation. I didn’t think you’d have a kid with dreadlocks, so shoot me.”

  “Tina’s a free spirit,” Jason said. “She’s at the top of her class, plays the violin beautifully, and has never given us one second of worry.”

  “Chill out, Jay! I just commented about her hair. You don’t have to get defensive.”

  “Our kids are off limits to…” He caught himself, almost saying, “To you.”

  “I’ll never say another word,” Tiffany replied.

  They sat quietly for a while, finishing their coffee. “Where should I put my cup?”

  “Just leave it,” he said. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Do you want to take a walk and then I’ll leave?”

  “I guess we could do that,” he said, looking at the cottage, wondering how many pairs of eyes were staring out the window. “I’ll let them know inside.”