A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  Betsy felt terrible. “I’m sorry Fran. I can see I offended you. Of course, it’s different for each person. It’s great you were fulfilled caring for your son’s children. From what Kathy tells me, they are wonderful young women.”

  “I’m not offended,” Fran said. “Devon’s in school all day now, so I only go there in the morning after Jason leaves for work to get her and Tina off to school. I don’t have much to do.” She looked at Betsy curiously.

  “What are you going to do with Laura so far away now? Will you get a job?”

  “Oh no. I worked full-time all my life. I want to volunteer at a soup kitchen. Cooking for big groups, now that’s what I want to do.”

  Fran’s interest perked up. “That would be something I could really get into. I like to cook, too.”

  Betsy swept her eyes around the beach house kitchen, at the fancy mixers and other appliances a foodie might own. “I can tell,” she said laughing. “Why don’t you join me?”

  “I’d love to, but we live two hours from here,” Fran said, disappointed.

  “Oh, right. Well, what if you join me when you’re here? And I can find something up by you for when I’m visiting Kathy and Laura.”

  Thinking for a moment, Fran wasn’t familiar with the feeling she had, of warm excitement, even hope. Was Betsy going to be her friend? Looking directly at her, Fran smiled. “I don’t have any friends,” she said. “Maybe that’s why I was so involved in my son’s lives.”

  “Yes you do,” Betsy replied, grinning. “You have me and we’re about to run amuck. Tell your husband not to expect you at dinner from here on out. He’ll have to come to the Atlantic City Mission for his meals from now on.”

  The women grabbed on to each other’s arms, laughing at the vision of the two of them behind the counter at the mission, wearing hair nets and white uniforms, serving meals to hungry people. “Oh, I can’t wait,” Fran said. “I can’t tell you how excited I am.”

  “Me, too,” Betsy replied. Then in a soft voice, with reverence, she glanced over at the family playing a card game. “We have Harley to thank.”

  Chapter 33

  During the week between Christmas and New Year, Kathy and Laura moved from Betsy’s trailer in Sea Isle to an apartment within walking distance to Jason’s house. Because he’d taken the week off to be with the girls while school was out, Jason had offered to help her, but Kathy didn’t want to impose on their budding relationship. Borrowing a pickup truck from a fellow Black Jack dealer and with her help, she loaded the few household possessions she owned into the back and drove with Laura to Pennsylvania.

  “Do you realize this is exactly half way between me and Jason?” Bea said as they moved a dresser into position. “You really picked a perfect place.”

  Needing Bea’s help to unload the truck, Kathy swore her to secrecy. “I’d rather that Jason not know I enlisted your help,” she explained. “He’ll wonder why I refused his help.”

  “I understand,” Bea said. “Sometimes I think Dave stays in our marriage because he’s afraid I won’t be able to handle the house and kids alone.”

  “I’ve never been married so I don’t know about that, but I can see how needing each other would be part of the relationship. I’m just not ready for him to think I’m dependent on him.”

  With a finger on her chin, Kathy turned around in the center of the living room, trying to get a feel for the place. “I’m not sure this will be home. It doesn’t seem like it, but it will be a place to hang my hat for a year.”

  “It’s in a nice, quiet neighborhood. I think it will be great. And you’re so close, we can have meals together. Harley and I used to do it, and sometimes when Fran cooked over there, she’d make enough for my family. I have to admit, I’m not a big cook.”

  “I’d love to cook but I’ve worked nights for so long I forgot how. That’s my excuse,” Kathy said.

  “Well, you’ve got a week before school starts to break in your kitchen,” Bea said. Then pensively, “Are you ready?”

  “To teach? Gosh, I hope so,” Kathy replied. It was scary; the thought of starting her chosen career almost ten years since she’d finished her student teaching, hoping she’d be good at it. She loved kids and loved science and history. It’ll be fine.

  “I’ve got to get some furniture,” she said changing the subject. “Right away.”

  “Is your stuff in storage?” Bea asked.

  Kathy never discussed her history with anyone but Harley and it seemed Harley had kept her confidence. “Nope, I don’t have anything. I’ve always lived with my mom. I mean, for a few years before Laura was born I was on my own, but after she came along, I stayed with Betsy.”

  Curious about Laura’s father, Bea waited, hoping she’d fill in the blanks, but nothing more was said. Nothing had been said when they first made contact with her on LoveMatch.

  “Besides, this is a fresh start and anything I had from my old life wouldn’t fit in. I really didn’t want to take our beds from my mother’s house, but she insisted. I think she’s going to turn our bedrooms into craft rooms so we can’t move back in.”

  Laughing, Bea agreed that was probably what her mother had done when she moved in with Dave. “So what’s next?” Bea asked. “We have an entire week.”

  “I guess everyone is going to recover from Christmas. I’ve got to get settled before school is back in session.”

  That was how Kathy and Laura started integrating into the Jones’ life. The girls were ecstatic about helping Kathy decorate her apartment. Surprisingly, she gave them free reign.

  “You’re not going to let Tina decorate your living room are you,” Fran asked, a look of horror on her face.

  “Granny, what’s that supposed to mean?” Tina asked. “I thought you liked my style.”

  “I do, I do,” Fran said quickly, trying to redeem herself. “It’s just that you like those bright colors and Kathy seems so…”

  “Dull,” Kathy finished her sentence. “You can say it. I’ve been told I’m plain all my life.”

  “No, I wasn’t going to use that word!” Fran said, mortified. “What I was going to say is that you are more conservative. Don’t get me wrong, Tina!”

  She pulled her granddaughter over and kissed her, eliciting giggles. “You’ll never get bored with Tina’s decorating, that’s for sure.”

  “I could use a little excitement in my house,” Kathy said. “That settles it. Tina, you’re in charge.”

  “I already know how I want to do the bathroom,” Angie said. “It’ll be a surprise.”

  “It is the dullest apartment,” Kathy replied. “Bland. I think it needs all the surprises it can get.”

  “We should keep Daddy away until it’s finished,” Tina said. “He’ll be shocked.”

  “Will he ever,” Angie replied.

  “You’re not going to sabotage it, are you?” Kathy asked, giggling.

  “No, I promise you, you’ll love it,” Angie said.

  And she did. The living room was warm and inviting. They’d found a couch at the Salvation Army that was covered in nubby violet fabric and made that the centerpiece of the room. It was easy adding to it. Kathy loved it, and Jason was impressed.

  “My girls did this? Wow, it’s great!”

  “Now I can entertain,” Kathy said. “You’re all invited for dinner on Saturday night. We can have game night here if you’d like.”

  “We’ll bring card tables and folding chairs,” Bea said. “I’m so excited!”

  The girls were happy, too. All except Angie. “I never thought I’d say this but I don’t want to go back to school,” she complained. “I feel like I’m missing out on too much.”

  “Finish out the year,” Jason said. “I don’t like you gone, either. You can do like Bennie’s doing; community college and online classes at Drexel if you want, or go someplace closer.”

  “I’ll do online. I wish I’d thought of it sooner.” Jason hugged her, understanding that her senior year in high school wa
s overshadowed by Harley dying.

  “Going away to college probably seemed like an escape at the time,” he said, Angie nodding.

  “I’ll start the countdown now. Six months until June! Freedom!”

  The week passed in a blur. Jason and the girls stayed busy, one day picking up Melissa and her family and together driving to Northeast Philly to see Kelly. The girls went off to play with Melissa’s little ones while the sisters cornered Jason.

  “What’s going on with Kathy?” Melissa asked. “We like her very much, so feel free to talk about her.”

  Jason laughed, his sister-in-laws always to the point. “She’s moved nearby, so it will be easier for us to see her more often,” he said. “That’s about it.”

  “But what about the romance department?” Kelly asked, pressing. “Harley wanted a companion for you, Jason. Not just a mother for the girls. She was worried about you, too.”

  “I’m okay,” he replied, trying to sound convincing. “It’s too early.” There were still so many raw areas; he slept hugging Harley’s long johns, rolled into a ball. How could he involve himself with another woman romantically when her clothes were hanging next to his in the closet? Her toothbrush was still in the holder next to his.

  A month after she died, Fran and Maryanne asked him if he was ready for them to take Harley’s things away, and he decompensated. “Don’t touch her things!” he cried.

  Going through the motions of life was easy for him; pretending he was great while on the job, finding comfort in the routines he and the girls had established. Even bringing Kathy into his life along with her daughter, as long as they kept it simple, he was fine. But beyond that, thinking of a life stretching over that hump that was the loss of the love of his life, forget it.

  Fortunately, Kathy was occupied with settling into the new apartment with Laura before school started. The time she spent with Jason was enjoyable but stress free. As long as she was willing to take her time and wasn’t making any demands on him, they’d be okay. One of the things that had attracted her to him was her self-reliance. And, he thought, she was the complete opposite of Tiffany.

  Tiffany. So regretful for having made Harley worry about Tiffany to the point that she’d resort to the online dating thing, the guilt was ongoing for Jason. Fortunately, over Christmas vacation, the resident would give her an engagement ring, which Tiffany was quick to brandish around, holding her hand close to Jason’s nose so he wouldn’t miss it.

  The diamond was impressive, and Jason saw right away what she was attempting to prove to him. “Tiffany, congratulations! That’s fantastic,” Jason said, relief flowing through his body like ice water, giving him goosebumps. “That’s an impressive rock.”

  “Yes, he’s in love with me,” she said, her nose in the air.

  “Well, I’m very happy for you,” Jason said. “You deserve it.”

  Although Tiffany’s engagement wouldn’t exonerate his bad behavior before Harley’s death, it did clear the way for him to move on with his life without having to worry about Tiffany showing up again. “How long are you going to wait until you take your relationship with Kathy to the next level?” Kelly asked.

  “She’s already involved with the family,” Jason said. “She’s at every family function. Game night, holidays, trips to the shore.”

  “You know what we mean,” Melissa said.

  “I’m not ready to give up my life with Harley,” he said. “You want the truth, there it is. I think the girls like it this way, too. She could be at the grocery store, or visiting you, or down with Maryanne. When I’m ready to say goodbye to Harley, maybe I can do that again, with Kathy. You’re assuming she wants to be with us.”

  “The woman moved to a different state, almost next door to you. How much more proof do you need?”

  “It’s only been a month,” Jason said. “Can you give us a little longer before you start pressing us to get married?”

  The sisters laughed, getting his point. “Oh, right,” Melissa said. “It seems like much longer because Harley met her a year ago. Kathy had a head start.”

  “Could you give me a year, too?” Jason asked. “Jeesh, she was your sister.”

  “We know, Jay,” Melissa said, hugging him. “I’m sorry. We could happily go on forever pretending she’s in the next room, but I don’t think that would be fair to you.”

  “Gosh, I miss her,” Kelly said. “I can’t believe it’s been almost a year already.”

  Devon came into the room, going to Jason and putting her arms around him. “Daddy, I miss Mommy,” she said, bursting into tears.

  “Did something happen back there?” Kelly whispered.

  “We do, too,” Melissa answered. “Are you sad today?”

  “Being with you guys makes me miss her. I saw the pictures on your dresser, Aunt Kelly.”

  Kelly nodded, shrugging her shoulders. “I have my memorial, too.”

  They huddled around her, soothing her. “It’s too early,” Jason whispered. “Everyone needs more time.”

  Chapter 34

  March

  Joe Jones slid into the crawlspace under his cottage in Sea Isle with a wrench in his hand, preparing to turn the water on. He could hear his wife of forty years walking around above him, opening windows even though it was still only fifty degrees outside. “I’ll give the place a good airing out,” she’d said.

  Old habits of leaving their cottage in perfect condition when they left it make the transition back into shore life after winter so much easier. Over the past year, they’d kept it open until after Christmas at the request of Jason. Joe knew it might have its roots in guilt, the sudden affection Jason seemed to have for the place; in years past, they had to beg him to bring his family for a weekend. There were always excuses; he was too busy at home, he was on call for work, one of the girls had a sporting event they had to participate in.

  As long as Jason didn’t have to show up, their other son, Dave was off the hook. But when Harley got sick and all she wanted was to spend every second she had left down the shore, it changed the dynamic for everyone. Even extended family started to show up, and the dream Fran and Joe had of a house full of people with fun and games and delicious food finally happened. Not since their sons were little boys did they have so much fun.

  Now, of course, with Harley gone, although it was still busy every weekend, it was different. Kathy and her daughter were sweet and they fit in but it was going to take time for the older people to get used to them. They were after all, strangers. The grandmother, Betsy, had become in a few short months Fran’s best friend, and that was helping the transition. Betsy was expected to arrive any moment, saying she’d looked forward to the reopening of the house like the second coming.

  “Now that you are in my life, I don’t know how I survived before. I was so lonely,” she’d said.

  The water ran through the pipes, Joe heard the telltale squeaky sound. On hands and knees, he crawled out the crawlspace opening, greeted by the sound of tires on gravel.

  “Welcome to the shore!” Betsy shouted, spotting him at the side of the house.

  “Fran’s inside,” Joe called, waving. “It’s good to be back.”

  “I just talked to Jason,” Fran said, coming out to greet her. “They’ll be down around noon. Kathy is enrolling Laura in T-ball and registration is this morning.”

  “I brought a pan of macaroni and cheese,” Betsy said, pointing over her shoulder. “That recipe you gave me that has the cream cheese in it.”

  “Oh my lord, women how the hell is a man supposed to stay healthy with cream cheese in every dish.” Standing up, he brushed the dirt off his knees.

  “You’ll get over it,” Fran said. “Are you putting that boat in the water this weekend?”

  “I think so,” Joe said. “Good weather forecasted.”

  “Well you’ll burn the cream cheese off then,” she said, laughing.

  Family members steamed in for the next two hours; Maryanne came up from Delaware, al
so unloading food. Joe peeked under foil covering a large pan of something still hot.

  “Bread pudding?” he said, smelling vanilla and cinnamon. “I’m sunk.”

  Maryanne gave a rare laugh. “Me too, but you only live once,” she said. The impact of her words, the realization that it had been a year to the day that Harley had died was sobering, but they moved beyond it.

  “Thanks,” Joe said, leaning in to give her a kiss. “Fran is inside with Kathy’s mother.”

  “I like her,” Maryanne said. “I can see why Harley chose Kathy for Jason.”

  “I’m glad,” Joe said.

  Jason and Bea told the family about Harley’s plan to find the right wife and mother for her family. It mystified Joe, how unselfish it was for Harley to spend the last days of her life planning for her family like she did, slipping in a new family member to help take her place.

  Fran watched Joe and Maryanne walking toward the cottage, could hear their conversation about Harley and Kathy, imagining the wheels turning in her husband’s head. He was such a blessing; she needed to make sure she told him how much she loved him as soon as she had a chance.

  Handing the pan of pudding to Fran, Joe turned back to the car. “This is just the beginning of it,” he said.

  “What’d you do?” Fran asked, astonished. Maryanne was as thin as a rail, yet she cooked non-stop.

  “I had a slow week,” Maryanne replied, laughing. “There was nothing to do but cook. Now maybe you can relax this weekend.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Fran said, meaning it.

  “You know how it is,” Maryanne said. “Before I retired, there was no time.”

  “Well, I’m so happy you want to be with us,” Fran said. “I feel like Harley is still alive, lurking somewhere.”

  “Me too, but sadly, she’s not. Her absence is slowly becoming a reality to me. She won’t be here this weekend.”