As they turned into her driveway, she was about to ask him to stay for lunch when his expression quickly changed. He looked confused.
“Are you expecting someone?” Paul stared out the windshield.
She turned to follow his gaze. A small car with a rental sticker on the bumper was parked in front of the house and a woman was sitting on her porch.
Not just a woman. Carol Dalton was on her porch. Even after all these years, Nancy would know her sister anywhere.
THIRTEEN
Nancy’s butt might as well have been glued to the worn seat of Paul’s truck. She was frozen in place by shock, or confusion, or most likely complete and total disbelief.
“Do you know who that is?” Paul squinted out the windshield.
Carol stood up, her lean frame an almost unmistakable mirror image of Nancy’s.
His mouth dropped open. “Holy shit.”
“Holy shit’s right.” The immediate shock was gone and quickly replaced by anger.
What in the hell was Carol doing camped on her front porch? After this many years, what was the point in showing up now? And of all the times in the world to appear, why did it have to be this one?
Paul turned to her. “I’ll be back.” He started to get out and she grabbed his arm.
“It’s okay. I’ll go talk to her.” She started to open her door to get out. By the time she managed to get herself turned in the seat and wrestle her crutches from the back seat, Paul was right there.
He took her crutches and held out his hand for her to use as support. Once she was on the move, he stayed close by her side as they slowly made their way up the driveway.
“Do you want me to stay?” He kept his voice low enough she would be the only one to hear.
“Yes.” If this was the same old Carol on her front porch, she wanted back-up.
Carol watched as they walked toward her but didn’t speak until they were at the bottom of the steps.
“Hi Nan.”
It was odd. Paul called her Nan all the time and it never bothered her. Actually, she liked it. It was more familiar than if he called her Nancy and if there was one thing she wanted it was for them to be more familiar.
But Carol. That was different.
This was a woman who left her son when he needed her most. A woman who could sleep with her sister’s husband for years and act like nothing was going on. A woman who didn’t even show up when their dad died. Worse yet, when her own son died.
“Why are you here Carol?” Nancy kept her words short and tried to be as emotionless as she could manage, even as anger made her want to rip the diamond earrings right out of her sister’s ears.
Then she wanted to stab them back through again.
To make matters worse, Carol looked pretty good for a woman Nancy thought might be as dead as their shared bedmate. Her hair was colored a rich but light brown and fell in perfectly straight, shiny, well-behaved strands to just below her chin. Her skin was smooth and surprisingly tan, making Nancy wonder just where she’d spent the past few decades.
Carol hesitated. “I came because I heard about Thomas.” She licked her lips, barely putting a dent in the perfectly complimentary shade of peach glossing them. “I just wanted to be here for you if you needed me.”
Nancy glanced sideways at Paul. His brow was furrowed and he appeared to be as perplexed as she was. “Well, thank you, but Thomas is fine now.”
A flash of confusion passed across Carol’s face then her expression softened. “Oh, I know he’s in a better place. But that can’t take away the pain of the loss for you.”
The realization of what was going on made Nancy feel sick. Paul’s arm snaked around her waist, strong and solid, giving her the strength to push out her next words.
“Carol, Thomas didn’t die.”
Carol’s head bobbed back as her eyes opened wide in shock. “I’m so sorry.” She placed a hand on her chest. “I heard your son died.”
Nancy shook her head. “No.” She swallowed hard. “Your son died.”
Nancy expected shock, crying, at the very least confusion but Carol appeared to be none of those things. She looked… blank.
“Carol? Did you hear me?” Nancy glanced at Paul then back at Carol, not really sure what else to say.
Finally Carol blinked. “Yes. Sorry.” She stared across the yard. “It never occurred to me it was Rich they meant.” She pulled a tissue from her pocket and began dabbing at her eyes as her chin began to quiver. “I guess it should have since you were the only mother he had.” She dropped her head and began softly crying, her face in her hands.
Paul’s hand squeezed her hip. She looked up at him as he leaned down. “Let’s go inside so you can sit and prop that foot up.”
She nodded and leaned against him as he all but lifted her up the few wooden stairs to the porch. If the shit wasn’t stuck to the fan and slowly flying off in clumps, the gesture would have been enough to get her engines running again. Luckily, it appeared there was no lack of chivalry in the man gently directing her across the deep green planks of the farmhouse’s wrap-around porch.
She patted Carol on the back when she reached the porch, the anger from earlier in check. For now. “Let’s go inside.”
Paul held the screen door as Nancy unlocked the deadbolt. He let Carol follow her in before coming in and shutting the door behind them. Nancy peeled off her jacket and hooked it on the wall beside the door then moved directly to the couch. She needed to sit down.
Actually, what she could really use was a drink, and a nap. Maybe a good roll around with the man carefully hanging his coat by hers. Unfortunately all those things would have to wait. Some probably longer than others.
Nancy stared at their coats, side by side, and tried to process what in the hell was going on.
If Carol truly was back because of the incorrect belief Nancy needed her, would she expect the same now that the tables had turned? If she did, she might be sorely disappointed because Nancy wasn’t sure she had it in her.
Paul’s hand on her shoulder, snapped her away from the complicated mess of emotions running through her head, and she jumped under his touch.
“Sorry.” He knelt by the arm of the couch where she sat and held out his hand. “Here. Take these.”
Two blue gel caps sat in his palm. She grabbed the pills and popped them in her mouth. He held out a glass of water and she swallowed them down then set the glass on the table before propping her foot beside it.
Carol was still standing by the front door, looking around, occasionally dabbing at the corners of her eyes with her mangled tissue. She hadn’t been in the house in twenty-five years and some things had changed since then. And not just furnishings.
“Why don’t you sit down?” Nancy pointed at the couch across from her.
Paul leaned in as Carol walked across the room. “I’m going to the kitchen. Call if you need me.”
Nancy touched his cheek, for the first time noticing he’d shaved. The barest bit of stubble colored his skin and the scent of aftershave still lingered. The concern in his eyes was evident. It made her want to wrap her arms around his neck and tell him how much she appreciated him. How much his being here meant to her. But it would have to wait.
She nodded and watched as he walked away, already missing his reassuring closeness.
Nancy crossed her arms over her chest. The last thing she wanted to deal with right now was her sister. It might seem heartless considering she’d just had to break the news to Carol that her son was dead, but if the woman cared that much about Rich she wouldn’t have walked away without a second thought.
In all truth, part of Nancy wanted her to suffer. The way Rich suffered when she left.
Only Carol was an adult. Rich was a child when she disappeared. He was too young to understand why his mommy was gone. Every day he waited for her to come back and every night he’d cried himself to sleep on Nancy’s lap when she didn’t.
Nancy narrowed her eyes at Carol as she sat d
own. No. She didn’t want her to suffer the same as Rich. She wanted her to suffer more.
Carol shifted on the couch, crossing one leg over the other. Her well cut black slacks met matching ankle boots with a thick, low heel. A fine-threaded tan sweater clung perfectly to her shoulders in an impeccable fit. She folded her hands in her lap. Her eye caught on Nancy’s foot propped on the coffee table.
“Is your foot hurt?”
No, she was wearing this medical shoe as a fashion statement. “I sprained my ankle and broke my toe.”
“Oh, that’s awful.” Carol shook her head. “That must make things difficult.”
Nancy glanced in the direction of the kitchen. Not so far it hadn’t, but mostly because of the man sitting patiently while she tried to figure out what in the hell to say to her sister.
Carol leaned forward. “If it would help you out, I could stay here while your foot heals.”
Nancy was shocked. So shocked, she actually started laughing. This whole situation was outrageous. “Did you actually think you could show up and I would welcome you with open arms?”
Carol’s eyes shot wide as a hand went over her heart. “I just thought--”
“You thought what? All was forgiven? We were all here eagerly anticipating your return so everything would be complete again?” Nancy shot up from the couch, ignoring the instant pain the movement caused. “You chose to leave. You only thought of yourself and as far as I’m concerned, you can leave again.” Nancy’s arm shot out, her finger pointing at the door.
Carol blinked quickly and swiped at the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t think anything. I just wanted to help, show you I was sorry.”
“Yeah?” Nancy cocked an eyebrow. “Well, if you really want to show me you’re sorry you can start by apologizing for fucking my husband.”
****
Paul jumped up from the kitchen chair. He was doing his best to stay out of what was happening in the next room, but from the sound of it, things were getting very heated, very quickly.
He crept to the doorway. Nancy was standing up yelling, her finger pointed at Carol, who sat on the couch, her eyes as wide as saucers, mouth hanging open. She’d been gone long enough to miss two important developments. First, Nancy was no longer the cautious older sister, unsure of exactly how best to handle her younger sister’s bad behavior. Second, Nancy knew her secret.
After a few seconds, Carol seemed to regain her composure. “You found the letters.” Her voice was quiet, her face pale.
“I didn’t.” Nancy spat the words. “Your son did.”
“Oh.”
“Did you ever think about him? Just once wonder how he was? What you leaving did to him?”
A tear ran down Carol’s cheek. She shook her head. “I thought he would be happy with you.”
Nancy rubbed her hands over her face, leaving them to rest at her temples. “You expected me to be able to make up for the fact that he didn’t have a father and his mother didn’t care enough about him to stick around?” She shook her head. “You are a selfish bitch Carol.”
Paul moved further into the room. The only other times he’d seen one woman call another a bitch hadn’t ended well and he wanted to be close in case this situation was headed that same way.
Surprisingly, Carol nodded. “You’re right. I was. I thought he would be better with you. You were always a much better mother than I was.” She wiped at her eyes. “I really thought he would be better off with you.”
Nancy dropped her hands to her hips. “You just left to go do whatever you wanted and expected me to raise your son and mine. My husband had just died. Did you even consider that?” Nancy stopped and cocked her head as her eyes narrowed.
“Oh my God. That’s why you left.” The words were quiet, as if she was talking to herself. She dropped to the couch. “You need to leave.”
Carol looked surprised. She looked at Paul where he stood just inside the living room door. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the door jam. If she thought he would help her, she had another think coming.
“Okay.” Carol stood and crossed to the door. She quietly pulled it open. She turned to look toward Nancy. “I really am sorry.”
Nancy didn’t acknowledge her sister, instead continuing to stare at the floor until the door clicked quietly closed and Carol’s footsteps tapped across the wooden plank porch.
She turned toward the doorway where he stood. Her face was unreadable.
“You okay?” He was waiting for more yelling or tears. Either would have been a reasonable reaction to what she just experienced.
She furrowed her brow. “I don’t know.”
The sound of her phone ringing made her jump. “Shit.” She twisted on the couch, her eyes scanning the room. “I don’t know where I left my phone.”
He was already halfway across the room, headed to the rack where her purse was hooked under her coat. He yanked both off and quickly dropped her purse on the couch beside her. As she dug around inside it, he took her coat back to the rack and hung it up.
“Oh God, I forgot to call Thomas.” She cringed, her eyes slightly squinting as she answered. “Hello.”
He didn’t want to seem intrusive so he started back toward the kitchen. He made it two steps before she waved her hand, grabbing his attention.
“I’m sorry.” She motioned for him to sit on the couch beside her. “It’s been a little crazy and I totally forgot.”
Her eyes stayed glued to him as he sat down. She giggled. “You’re kidding.”
“Jerk. I wouldn’t go back there anyway.” She rolled her eyes at Paul. “No, I’m fine. I’ll tell you about it later.” She relaxed back into the couch. “I’m still sorry.”
Nancy hung up and slid her phone onto the coffee table. “Thomas was supposed to pick me up from the print shop next to the hardware store.” She chuckled. “I guess when I wasn’t there he went to the hardware store looking for me and Neil was all fired up.”
Yeah. He seemed like the kind of guy to find his nards after the fact. “He give Thomas a hard time?”
She shrugged. “Sounds more like it went the other way around.” She leaned toward him ever so slightly. “Just so you’re aware, none of us are welcome in his store again.”
He shrugged. “At least there’s some good news for the day.”
Nancy sat for a minute then blew out a long breath shaking her head. “I don’t even know what to think right now.”
“I can imagine.”
She leaned back against the couch. “Would you want to watch a movie?”
There was nothing he wanted to do more. All that mattered to him was that Nancy was okay and he would do whatever it took to make sure that happened.
“I would.” He grabbed the remote off the table and handed it to her.
Instead of turning the television on, she stood up and started walking in the direction of the kitchen. “I’m going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?”
He stood up and went after her. “I can get it. You go sit back down.” That foot was going to take forever to heal if she didn’t start taking it easy.
She stopped and turned to him. “I’m not as helpless as it appears.” She sighed and started walking again. “At least I hope not.”
He laughed. “It’s not about being helpless. It’s about being injured and I’m positive you are as injured as it appears. I’ve seen your foot. I was the one who put your toe back where it belonged, remember?”
She opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine. “The doctor said as long as I’m careful it will be good as new in a few weeks.” She pulled out a glass and held it up, raising her eyebrow in question.
“I don’t drink.”
“Really?” She eyed him. “When did that happen?”
He took a deep breath and hoped she wouldn’t connect the dots. “Few months ago.”
Nancy watched him, her expression thoughtful. “After Rich died?”
The woman was too perceptive for he
r own damn good. At least for his anyway. “Yeah.”
She pointed her finger up and down his mid-section. “That why you lost so much weight?”
Paul’s hand went to his stomach. It was smaller than when he spent his evenings in the bar, but he was a long way from what he once was.
“I lost a little I guess.” He watched as she poured her glass half-full, wondering if she would realize Rich death wasn’t just the timing of his sobriety, but also the reason for it. Seeing the damage alcohol could do to innocent people, especially Nancy, it changed him.
She smiled. “Do you feel better? Lighter?”
He didn’t, not at first. The weight of his spare tire was nothing compared to the weight of loneliness he’d been drowning around for years. But now… “It’s easier to get up a ladder than it used to be.”
Nancy took a sip of her wine, watching him as she did. She put her glass down on the counter. “Paul, I’m…” She stopped and looked down at the bits of foil she’d peeled from the neck of the bottle littering the counter. Gently, she used her fingers to dust them into a pile. She stared at the pile of gold shards for a second, then looked up at him.
“I have so many things I want to say to you, but I don’t know where to start.”
He swallowed hard. “I—”
“I don’t want to be alone Paul.” Her words tumbled out in a rush. “I never did.”
“There’ve been enough men in town chasing after you. There was no reason for you to be alone.” He hated saying it, pointing out how many other men wanted her, talked about having her. He’d been in more than one fight over the years with some asshole who made a rude comment about her.
“I didn’t want them.” She walked to stand in front of him. “I’ve been waiting so long for you to forgive me, hoping that maybe one day we could be together, but I don’t want to wait anymore.” Her voice quivered. “It’s too hard. I’m too tired.” She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she seemed more collected.
“Did you mean what you said? About me being yours?” She licked her lips, biting the bottom one for just a second before whispering, “I just need to know.”
Regret (Never Waste a Second Chance Book 2) Page 12