Safe Haven

by Nicholas Sparks

  "What's that?"

  "You've already done so much for me that I'd rather do something for you this time. How about I make you dinner instead? At my house."

  He smiled, relieved. "That sounds perfect."

  15

  On Saturday, Katie woke later than usual. She'd spent the past few days frantically shopping and decorating her house--a new sheer lace curtain for the living room window, some inexpensive prints for the walls, a few small area rugs, and real place mats and glasses for their dinner. Friday night she'd worked until after midnight, plumping up her new throw pillows and giving the house a final cleaning. Despite the sun that slanted through her windows and striped her bed, she woke only when she heard the sounds of someone hammering. Checking the clock, she saw it was already after nine.

  Stumbling out of bed, Katie yawned and then walked toward the kitchen to hit the switch on the coffeepot before stepping out onto the porch, squinting in the brightness of the morning sun. Jo was on her front porch, the hammer poised for another whack, when she spotted Katie.

  Jo put the hammer down. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

  "Yeah, but that's okay. I had to get up anyway. What are you doing?"

  "I'm trying to keep the shutter from falling off. When I got home last night, it was hanging cockeyed, and I was sure it was going to give way in the middle of the night. Of course, thinking that the crash might wake me up any minute kept me from falling asleep for hours."

  "Do you need some help?"

  "No, I've just about got it."

  "How about coffee?"

  "Sounds great. I'll be over in a few minutes."

  Katie went to her bedroom, slipped out of her pajamas, and threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. She brushed her teeth and hair, just enough to get the tangles out. Through the window, she saw Jo walking toward the house. She opened the front door.

  Katie poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Jo as soon as she entered the kitchen.

  "Your house is really coming together! I love the rugs and the pictures."

  Katie gave a modest shrug. "Yeah, well... Southport is starting to feel like home, I guess. I figured I should start making this house into something more permanent."

  "It's really amazing. It's like you're finally beginning to nest."

  "How's your place coming?"

  "It's getting better. I'll bring you by when it's ready."

  "Where've you been? I haven't seen you around lately."

  Jo gave a dismissive wave. "I was out of town for a few days on business, and then I went to visit someone last weekend, and then I was working. You know the drill."

  "I've been working a lot, too. I've had a ton of shifts lately."

  "You working tonight?"

  Katie took a sip of her coffee. "No. I'm having someone over for dinner."

  Jo's eyes lit up. "Do you want me to guess who it could be?"

  "You already know who it is." Katie tried to stop the slow flush that was creeping up her neck.

  "I knew it!" she said. "Good for you. Have you decided what you're going to wear?"

  "Not yet."

  "Well, no matter what you decide, you'll look beautiful, I'm sure. And you're going to cook?"

  "Believe it or not, I'm actually a fairly good cook."

  "What are you going to make?"

  When Katie told her, Jo raised her eyebrows.

  "Sounds yummy," Jo said. "That's great. I'm happy for you. Both of you, actually. Are you excited?"

  "It's only dinner..."

  "I'll take that as a yes." She winked. "It's too bad I can't stick around to spy on the two of you. I'd love to watch how it all unfolds, but unfortunately, I'm heading out of town."

  "Yes," Katie said. "That's really too bad you're not going to be here."

  Jo laughed. "Sarcasm doesn't become you, by the way. But just so you know, I'm not going to let you off the hook. As soon as I get back, I'm going to need the full play-by-play."

  "It's just dinner," Katie said again.

  "Which means that you won't have any trouble telling me all about it."

  "I think you need another hobby."

  "Probably," Jo agreed. "But right now, I'm having plenty of fun living vicariously through you since my love life is pretty much nonexistent. A girl needs to be able to dream, you know?"

  Katie's first stop was the hair salon. There, a young woman named Brittany trimmed and styled her hair, chatting nonstop the entire time. Across the street was the only women's boutique in Southport, and Katie stopped there next. Though she'd ridden past the store, she'd never been inside before. It had been one of the stores she'd never imagined herself either wanting or needing to go into, but as she began to browse, she was pleasantly surprised not only by the selections, but by some of the prices. Well, on the sale items, anyway, which was where Katie focused her attention.

  It was an odd experience to shop alone in a clothing store like this. She hadn't done such a thing in a long time, and as she changed in the dressing room, she felt more carefree than she had in years.

  She bought a couple of sale items, including a tan formfitting blouse with beading and stitching that scooped a bit in the front, not dramatically but enough to accent her figure. She also found a gorgeous patterned summer skirt that complemented the blouse perfectly. The skirt was a little too long, but she knew she could fix that. After paying for her purchases, she wandered two doors down, to what she knew was the only shoe store in town, where she picked up a pair of sandals. Again, they were on sale and although ordinarily she would have felt almost frantic about shopping, the tips had been good over the last few days and she'd decided to splurge. Within reason, of course.

  From there, she went first to the drugstore to buy a few things and then finally rode across town to the grocery store. She took her time, content to browse the aisles, feeling the old, troubling memories trying and failing to reassert themselves.

  When she was finished, she rode her bicycle home and started the preparations for dinner. She was making shrimp stuffed with crabmeat, cooked in a scampi sauce. She had to recall the recipe from memory, but she'd made it a dozen times over the years and was confident she hadn't forgotten anything. As side dishes, she'd decided on stuffed peppers and corn bread, and as an appetizer, she wanted to make a bacon-wrapped Brie, topped with a raspberry sauce.

  It had been a long time since she'd prepared such an elaborate meal, but she'd always loved to cut recipes from magazines, even from a young age. Cooking was the one enthusiasm she'd been able to share occasionally with her mom.

  She spent the rest of the afternoon hurrying. She mixed the bread and put it in the oven, then readied the ingredients for the stuffed peppers. Those went into the refrigerator along with the bacon-wrapped Brie. When the corn bread was done, she placed it on the counter to cool and started the raspberry sauce. Not much to it--sugar, raspberries, and water--but by the time it was ready, the kitchen smelled heavenly. That went into the fridge as well. Everything else could wait until later.

  In her bedroom, she shortened the skirt to just above the knee, then made a last tour of the house to make sure everything was in place. Finally, she began to undress.

  As she slipped into the shower, she thought about Alex. She visualized his easy smile and the graceful way he moved, and the memory started a slow burn in her belly. Despite herself, she wondered whether he was taking a shower at the same time she was. There was something erotic in the idea, the promise of something exciting and new. It was just dinner, she reminded herself again, but even then, she knew she wasn't being completely honest with herself.

  There was another force at work here, something she'd been trying to deny. She was attracted to him more than she wanted to admit, and as she stepped out of the shower she knew she had to be careful. He was the kind of man she knew she could fall for, and the notion frightened her. She wasn't ready for that. Not yet, anyway.

  Then again, she heard a voice inside her whisper, maybe she was.

&
nbsp; After toweling off, she moisturized her skin with a sweet-smelling body lotion, then put on her new outfit, including the sandals, before reaching for the makeup she'd purchased from the drugstore. She didn't need much, just some lipstick, mascara, and a trace of eye shadow. She brushed her hair and then put on a pair of dangly earrings she'd bought on a whim. When she was finished, she stepped back from the mirror.

  That's it, she thought to herself, that's all I've got. She turned one way, then the other, tugging at the blouse before finally smiling. She hadn't looked this good in a long time.

  Though the sun had finally moved toward the western sky, the house was still warm and she opened the kitchen window. The breeze was enough to keep her cool as she set the table. Earlier in the week, as she'd been leaving the store, Alex had asked her if he could bring a bottle of wine, and Katie put a couple of glasses out. In the center of the table, she placed a candle and as she stepped back, she heard the sound of an engine approaching. She saw from the clock that Alex was right on time.

  She drew a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Then, after walking across the room and opening the door, she stepped out onto the porch. Dressed in jeans and a blue shirt rolled up to his elbows, Alex was standing at the driver's-side door and leaning into the car, obviously reaching for something. His hair was still a little damp near his collar.

  Alex pulled out two bottles of wine and turned around. Seeing her, he seemed to freeze, his expression one of disbelief. She stood surrounded by the last rays of the setting sun, perfectly radiant, and for a moment all he could do was stare.

  His wonder was obvious, and Katie let it wash over her, knowing she wanted the feeling to last forever.

  "You made it," she said.

  The sound of her voice was enough to break the spell, but Alex continued to stare. He knew he should say something witty, something charming to break the tension, but instead he found himself thinking, I'm in trouble. Serious trouble.

  He wasn't exactly sure when it had happened. Or even when it started. It may have been the morning when he'd seen Kristen holding Katie after Josh had fallen in the river, or the rainy afternoon when he'd driven her home, or even during the day they had spent at the beach. All he knew for sure was that right here and now, he was falling hard for this woman, and he could only pray that she was feeling the same way.

  In time, he was finally able to clear his throat. "Yeah," he said. "I guess I did."

  16

  The early evening sky was a prism of colors as Katie led Alex through the small living room and toward the kitchen.

  "I don't know about you, but I could use a glass of wine," she said.

  "Good idea," he agreed. "I wasn't sure what we were having, so I brought both a sauvignon blanc and a zinfandel. Do you have a preference?"

  "I'll let you pick," she said.

  In the kitchen, she leaned against the counter, one leg crossed over the other while Alex twisted the corkscrew into the cork. For once, he seemed more nervous than she was. With a series of quick movements, he opened the bottle of sauvignon blanc. Katie set the glasses on the counter next to him, conscious of how close together they were standing.

  "I know I should have said it when I first got here, but you look beautiful."

  "Thank you," she said.

  He poured some wine, then set the bottle aside and handed her a glass. As she took it, he could smell the coconut-scented body lotion she'd used.

  "I think you'll like the wine. At least, I hope so."

  "I'm sure I'll love it," she said, raising her glass. "Cheers," she offered, clinking her glass against his.

  Katie took a sip, feeling inordinately pleased about everything: how she looked and felt, the taste of the wine, the lingering scent of the raspberry sauce, the way Alex kept eyeing her while trying not to be obvious about it.

  "Would you like to sit on the porch?" she suggested.

  He nodded. Outside, they each sat in one of the rockers. In the slowly cooling air, the crickets began their chorus, welcoming the coming night.

  Katie savored the wine, enjoying the fruity tang it left on her tongue. "How were Kristen and Josh today?"

  "They were good." Alex shrugged. "I took them to a movie."

  "But it was so pretty outside."

  "I know. But with Memorial Day on Monday, I figure we can still spend a couple of days outside."

  "Is the store open on Memorial Day?"

  "Of course. It's one of the busiest days of the year, since everyone wants to spend the holiday on the water. I'll probably work until one o'clock or so."

  "I'd say I feel sorry for you, but I'm working, too."

  "Maybe we'll come in and bother you again."

  "You didn't bother me at all." She peered at him over the top of her wineglass. "Well, the kids didn't bother me, anyway. As I recall, you were complaining about the quality of service."

  "Us old guys will do that," he quipped.

  She laughed before rocking back in the chair. "When I'm not working, I like to sit out here and read. It's just so quiet, you know? Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one around for miles."

  "You are the only one around for miles. You live in the sticks."

  She playfully slapped his shoulder. "Watch it. I happen to like my little house."

  "You should. It's in better shape than I thought it would be. It's homey."

  "It's getting there," she said. "It's a work in progress. And best of all, it's mine, and no one's going to take it away."

  He looked over at her then. She was staring out over the gravel road, into the grassy field beyond.

  "Are you okay?" he asked.

  She took her time before answering. "I was just thinking that I'm glad you're here. You don't even know me."

  "I think I know you well enough."

  Katie said nothing to that. Alex watched as she lowered her gaze.

  "You think you know me," she whispered, "but you don't."

  Alex sensed that she was scared to say any more. In the silence, he heard the porch creaking as he rocked back and forth. "How about I tell you what I think I know, and you tell me if I'm right or wrong? Would that be okay?"

  She nodded, her lips compressed. When Alex went on, his voice was soft.

  "I think you're intelligent and charming, and that you're a person with a kind heart. I know that when you want to, you can look more beautiful than anyone I've ever met. You're independent, you've got a good sense of humor, and you show surprising patience with children. You're right in thinking that I don't know the specifics of your past, but I don't know that they're all that important unless you want to tell me about them. Everyone has a past, but that's just it--it's in the past. You can learn from it, but you can't change it. Besides, I never knew that person. The person I've come to know is the one I want to get to know even better."

  As he spoke, Katie gave a fleeting smile. "You make it sound so simple," she said.

  "It can be."

  She twisted the stem of her wineglass, considering his words. "But what if the past isn't in the past? What if it's still happening?"

  Alex continued to stare at her, holding her gaze. "You mean... what if he finds you?"

  Katie flinched. "What did you say?"

  "You heard me," he said. He kept his voice steady, almost conversational, something he'd learned in CID. "I'm guessing that you were married once... and that maybe he's trying to find you."

  Katie froze, her eyes going wide. It was suddenly hard to breathe and she jumped up from the chair, spilling the rest of her wine. She took a step away from Alex, staring, feeling the blood drain from her face.

  "How do you know so much about me? Who told you?" she demanded, her mind racing, trying to piece it together. There was no way he could know those things. It wasn't possible. She hadn't told anyone.

  Except for Jo.

  The realization was enough to leave her breathless and she glanced at the cottage next door. Her neighbor, she thought, had betrayed her. Her friend had
betrayed her--

  As fast as her mind was working, Alex's was working as well. He could see the fear in her expression, but he'd seen it before. Too many times. And, he knew, it was time to stop playing games if they wanted to be able to move forward.

  "No one told me," he assured her. "But your reaction makes it clear that I'm right. That's not the important question. I don't know that person, Katie. If you want to tell me about your past, I'm willing to listen and help in any way I can, but I'm not going to ask you about it. And if you don't want to tell me, that's okay, too, because, again--I never knew that person. You must have a good reason for keeping it secret, and that means I'm not going to tell anyone, either. No matter what happens, or doesn't happen, between us. Go ahead and make up a brand-new history if you want and I'll back you up word for word. You can trust me on that."

  Katie stared at him as he spoke, confused and scared and angry, but absorbing every word.

  "But... how?"

  "I've learned to notice things that other people don't," he went on. "There was a time in my life when that was all I did. And you're not the first woman I've met in your position."

  She continued to stare at him, wheels turning. "When you were in the army," she concluded.

  He nodded, holding her gaze. Finally, he stood from the chair and took a cautious step toward her. "Can I pour you another glass of wine?"

  Still in turmoil, she couldn't answer, but when he reached for her glass, she let him take it. The porch door opened with a squeak and closed behind him, leaving her alone.

  She paced to the railing, her thoughts chaotic. She fought the instinct to pack a bag and grab her coffee can full of money and leave town as soon as she could.

  But what then? If Alex could figure out the truth simply by watching her, then it was possible for someone else to figure it out, too. And maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't be like Alex.

  Behind her, she heard the door squeak open again. Alex stepped onto the porch, joining her at the railing. He set the glass in front of her.

  "Did you figure it out yet?"

  "Figure what out?"

  "Whether you're going to take off to parts unknown as soon as you can?"

  She turned to him, her face registering shock.

  He held open his hands. "What else would you be thinking? But just so you know, I'm curious only because I'm kind of hungry. I'd hate for you to leave before we eat."