Working My Way Back to You

by Doreen Alsen

“Like Saturday? Not much. Reviewing the video of Friday’s game. You want to save me from that?”

  “How about lunch in this place I know in Bar Harbor?” So no one she knew would witness her humiliation.

  “That sounds nice. Around two?”

  “Works for me.” She’d convinced Anita to have Danny at her house all day.

  “What time should I pick you up?”

  She took a beat to think. “Let’s meet there.” She stopped as Tina played Für Elise. Making the same mistake in the same place every time. Beth closed her eyes. Nothing like practicing your mistakes.

  Kill me now.

  “Why don’t we ride together? It doesn’t make sense.” Jeff sounded puzzled.

  “I’ve got my reasons. Listen I have to go, I’m in the middle of a piano lesson. I’ll text the address of the restaurant to you. I’m really glad you called. Gotta go.” She ended the call before he could protest more.

  Once she blew his world apart, he’d be grateful they came in two cars.

  Couldn’t think about it now. Tina needed her lesson.

  “So, Tina, let’s pick out another piece for you to play, okay?”

  ****

  Jeff worked really hard to not be offended that Beth didn’t want to share a ride with him. It felt all kinds of wrong. He wanted the emotional connection they had ten years ago. The trust.

  He went into the kitchen and pulled a beer from the refrigerator. He twisted off the cap, leaned against the fridge and sulked.

  He needed to cool off.

  Okay, maybe she had a right to be cautious. He’d married Katie, and of course that had flattened her. He had to make it right for her. He regretted marrying Katie with every breath he took. Although if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have Cookie.

  He remembered the moment he’d fallen in love with her. He’d been trying to find the chorus teacher to talk to her about putting him on the ineligible list. The auditorium seemed like the best way to start. But the chorus teacher wasn’t there.

  Instead, he’d found Beth. She was playing the piano, totally lost in the music. Every note wrapped itself around him.

  Wrapped around his heart.

  He was gone, head over heels for this girl who held magic in her fingers. He’d surprised her when she finished playing. She’d thought she was alone. He asked her to hang out with him after the game on Friday night. She said yes.

  When his team, the Addington Minutemen had lost, he’d been seriously pissed off and more than a little depressed. Beth had been perfectly fine with blowing off the party and just being with him.

  He’d been her first kiss, her first lover, her first everything. He would have done anything for her, but he was a kid. Once her father had whisked her away he had no options. He’d had to wait until Beth contacted him.

  Which she’d never done.

  And Jeff had a problem of his own.

  He never should have married Katie.

  Damn his lonely heart. His weakness.

  In his defense, he couldn’t wait for a woman who’d disappeared into the ether forever. He’d had to move on with his life.

  He would help her with her issues, heal all her broken places, make her trust him again.

  Or die trying.

  He supposed he should be happy, lucky even, that she’d called him. Beth had something going on, but so did he.

  He’d bring that up on Saturday. He needed more from her. Could she meet him halfway?

  Chapter Eleven

  “Mom, can you take me to the Sharks’ game tonight? I really want to watch the game.”

  Danny stood in front of her, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans, looking up with hope in his eyes.

  Beth crouched in front of him “I’m sorry, sweetie. I can’t. I’ve got a lot to do.” Liar, liar pants on fire.

  He pulled his hands out of his pockets and fisted them on to his hips. “I need to go. All the Junior Sharks are going. I’ll let everybody down if you don’t take me. Plus, the team is having pizza after, at Lobster Lanes.”

  He took after Jeff, she thought. He had her coloring and eyes, but Jeff’s spirit.

  “I bet Mrs. Parks can give me a ride if you’re too busy.”

  When had her child begun to challenge her like this?

  Since Jeff Myers had become his coach and Danny had gotten a huge case of hero worship.

  “I’ll call Mrs. Parks.”

  Danny jumped up and let out a loud whoop. “Don’t bother, Mom. I already asked since I knew you couldn’t. She said since I’m hanging with Ben tomorrow, I can stay overnight.” He lifted his eyes to her, the blue eyes big and round and manipulating.

  “First, you don’t tell me ‘don’t bother’. You should have asked me first.” Her fingers tingled, but she stuck to her story. “But just this once, I guess it’s okay if it’s okay with Mrs. Parks. I’ll call her to make double sure. Remember. This is a one-time thing. You always have to ask me first.”

  Danny rolled his eyes. “Why won’t you come to the game?”

  “I told you I have things to do.”

  “You never had things to do on a Friday night before I joined the Junior Sharks.” He lifted his chin, an act of defiance if she’d ever seen one.

  Her heart clenched. What to say? “I’m sorry, I just got some extra work. We had extra expenses this month.”

  “You mean my football equipment, right?” His lower lip jutted out. “It’s all my fault.”

  “Oh no, no, no baby. There are a lot of other reasons.” She ran her hand down the back of his head. “And somebody loaned us your equipment, so that’s not it.”

  She was telling the truth this time at least.

  “I’m sorry I’m so ’spensive.” He leaped forward and banded his arms around her neck.

  She felt the wetness on his cheeks against her. Beth had to nip his guilt about their finances in the bud. “You were and are the most precious thing in my life. I want you to do what you want to do.”

  “’Cept I don’t want to play the piano any more.” He extricated himself from her embrace.

  Dear Lord. “You have so much talent, baby. You’ll be sorry if you give it up.” Like Beth had.

  Danny stared at her. “That’s what Grandfather said.”

  Hmmmmm. “What else did Grandfather tell you?”

  “He told me sports were a waste of time, they just took time away from studying the Bible and from exploring the gift from the Holy Spirit, which was my music.”

  Beth’s ears buzzed. She forced herself to breathe. “I wish you had told me that.”

  Danny shrugged.

  “You are a gifted piano player, so you can’t quit because you will regret it.” She hated agreeing with her father, but there was no help for it.

  He made a face.

  “It’s just one half hour a day of your life. It’s not like I’m sentencing you to life in prison.”

  “Feels like it.”

  “The sooner you get to it, the sooner you’ll be done, so scoot.”

  He dragged himself to the piano with all the enthusiasm of a death row inmate.

  Too bad. He’d get over it.

  ****

  “Who’s calling now?” Jeff picked up his chirping phone. Katie’s name came up on the caller I.D. “Katie.”

  “Jeff, I need you to come to Addington this weekend to take care of Cookie.”

  “Why?” Not that he didn’t want to see his daughter but his ex-wife always had ulterior motives.

  “A chance came to go to a spa this weekend and I’m taking it.”

  “Good for you. Sounds like fun.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Why don’t you send Cookie here to stay with me?”

  “That’s not going to happen, Jeff, and you know why.” She sniffed. “You owe me this weekend. It’s really hard being a single parent.”

  Here came the emotional blackmail. “Katie, I wish you’d“

  “Unless Beth’s more important to you than your daughter. If that’s the c
ase, I can take Cookie to my parents for the weekend.”

  “No, I’ll come.” Beth would understand why he had to break their date. “I’ll leave first thing Saturday morning.”

  “That’s too late. I need to leave first thing on Saturday. You need to come tomorrow.”

  Of course. “I’ll leave right after the game.”

  “Forget the game.”

  “What the hell, Katie? The game is my job! I just can’t up and blow it off.”

  “Don’t speak to me that way.”

  “Sorry.” He did the math in his head. “The earliest I can get there is 1:30.” Jeff’s skin crawled at the thought of staying at his former house while Katie was there. “I’ll stay at my mother’s until it’s time for me to be there for Cookie.”

  “That would be at 5:30. My ride comes at 6:00.”

  “No problem.” A headache was brewing right behind his eyes. Katie had that effect on him. “Can I talk to Cookie?”

  “Of course.” Her voice held the smug note when Katie got her way.

  “Hey, Daddy! Guess what!”

  As usual, his daughter’s voice smoothed out the rough edges caused by her mother. “What, Cookie?”

  “I got a loose tooth!”

  “That’s awesome! I guess you’re going to get a visit from the Tooth Fairy soon.”

  “Don’t be silly, Daddy. Mommy told me there’s no such thing as the Tooth Fairy and only babies believe in her.” She sighed. “I’m not a baby, I’m six years old.”

  Who told a six-year-old that the Tooth Fairy didn’t exist?

  Score another one for Katie.

  “Did your mom tell you that I’m coming to stay with you this weekend?”

  “Yep! I’m so excited! I got everything all planned. We’re gonna go to the zoo and take a boat ride and have a tea party!”

  “Say good night now, Cookie,” said Katie’s voice in the background. “It’s past your bedtime.”

  “Okay! Good night, Daddy!” She blew a little raspberry-like kiss through the phone.

  “Good night, Cookie.”

  Katie came back on the line. “Five-thirty and no later. See you Saturday morning.” She hung up.

  He stared at the phone wondering if he should call Beth right away or wait until the morning.

  The morning. He wanted to wait until he wasn’t so mad at Katie.

  Hey! And maybe he could talk Beth into coming with him.

  He hoped she’d say yes.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Oh. That’s disappointing.” Beth pressed her lips together. Jeff was canceling their lunch date on Saturday.

  “Doesn’t have to be. You can come with me.”

  “With you. To Addington.”

  “Yeah, it’ll be fun. And you’ll get to meet Cookie.”

  She was totally not ready for either thing. Besides she didn’t have anyone to stay with Danny while she went hauling off to meet her son’s half-sister. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”

  “If you’re worried about running into Katie, don’t be. You can stay at my mom’s until Katie leaves.”

  Beth’s heart sank. “She’ll find out. You can’t ask Cookie to lie to her mother.” And really, she thought, I don’t want to be some big secret. Even though she herself had one heck of a doozy of a secret. Which made her the biggest hypocrite on the face of the earth.

  He blew out a breath. “You’re right,” he paused, “you’re right. So I guess I’ll have to take a rain check. What about next weekend?”

  “That’ll work.” She bit her lip.

  “It’ll have to be Sunday. The Junior Sharks have their first game on Saturday. I’d say Friday night after the game, but it’s an away game.”

  Beth knew that. It was all Danny could talk about. She’d hoped to tell Jeff by then so she could go to the game. She’d figure something out. “Sure, Sunday sounds great. Call me when you get back from Addington.”

  “Will do.” His voice dropped so it sounded low and intimate. “I’ll be thinking of you the whole time. How about you? Are you going to think about me?”

  “Yes.” She wouldn’t be able to think of anything else than telling him about Danny.

  “Good!” Beth heard the satisfaction in his voice. “Uh, I’ve got to run to class. I’ll talk to you on Monday.”

  “Sounds good. Have a safe trip and a good weekend with your little girl.”

  “Will do.” He disconnected.

  Beth sat there for a long time, trying to get her emotions under control. The longer she put this off, the worse it got.

  ****

  “Hey, Mom!”

  “Hi, sweetie.” Beth cradled the phone against her ear. “Are you having a good time?”

  “The best! We got pizza for dinner and the Sharks won the game! But I knew they would because Coach is the best! We got ice cream to celebrate! And the new Refractor game is mad cool!”

  Of course Coach was the best. “Wow! What a night.”

  “Yep! I called because I want to say good night and I love you across all dimensions!”

  Tears pricked her eyes. “Good night and I love you more.”

  “Bye!” He yawned.

  “See you tomorrow!”

  Beth picked up a picture of Danny and her taken last month during the Lobster Crawl Festival. She traced a finger over his chocolate ice cream smeared face and her heart beat a little harder.

  She’d given up a lot to be his mother but she didn’t have a single regret. He was her life, her whole world across all dimensions.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Imagine that. After all these years she just turns up again.” Jeff’s mother Nancy had come with Cookie and him to the zoo. They sat on a bench, watching his little girl make faces at the monkeys.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty unbelievable. I always imagined finding her and…and boom! there she is.” Jeff still had trouble believing Beth was back in his life.

  “Cookie! Don’t get so close to the edge!” Nancy called.

  “‘Kay!” She scrambled backward.

  “It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve got another granddaughter out there and I’ll never meet her.”

  “I know, Mom, but Beth’s father gave her no choice.”

  “Bob Pritchard was a holier-than-thou sanctimonious pain in the butt. He tyrannized that girl and her mother. Still…once he died Beth could have gotten in touch with you.”

  “I told you. She decided not to because I married Katie.”

  She sniffed. “Marrying Katie was a huge mistake.” She smiled. “At least you and Cookie are out of it.”

  He glanced at his daughter and felt his heart constrict. “I have to make Katie let her come to Lobster Cove. I’m calling my lawyer on it.”

  “Good luck. She’s always been jealous of Beth. But I can’t say I’m too broken up about Katie forcing you to come to Addington. That way I get to see you.”

  “You can come to Lobster Cove, you know.”

  “It’s really far away. I’m too old to travel so far.”

  Jeff’s mother had raised him by herself. He’d inherited her eye color, but that was where the similarity ended. Her hair was a little grayer, her face a little more lined, but her smile remained as bright and loving as ever. She’d worked herself nearly to death to give him the life she wanted for him. A wave of love swamped him. “You don’t look old. You look beautiful.” He kissed her cheek.

  She laughed. “You really inherited your father’s charm, that’s for sure.” She patted Jeff’s hand. “You look so much like him.” Her eyes softened.

  “I wish I could remember him.”

  “You were so young when he died. I would have died right along with him if I didn’t have you.” She sniffed again, blinking back tears. “You saved my life.”

  Jeff cleared his throat. “You’re the best mom in the entire world.”

  “And don’t you forget it.”

  ****

  After church Beth took Danny for lunch
at Maggie’s Diner.

  “Hey Beth, long time, no see!” Sally greeted them. “Hey, Danny!”

  “Hi, Ms. Pelletier.” Danny loved coming to Maggie’s.

  “Go ahead, grab a seat. I’ll be right over.” Sally picked up a coffeepot and went to do some refills.

  “Thanks, Sally.”

  Beth steered them to an empty booth and they slid in.

  “I want blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup and whipped cream.”

  She grinned. “I knew you were going to say that!”

  “That’s ’cause I always order it.” He rolled his eyes. “I even know what you’re gonna order.”

  Beth leaned back against the blue vinyl covered booth seat. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah. A blueberry muffin with fruit salad.”

  “Oh, you’re so smart.”

  Danny rolled his eyes again. “Mom, you always order a blueberry muffin and fruit salad.”

  “You’re still smart.”

  “That’s ’cause you’re my mom.” He winked at her.

  She laughed. “That’s right.”

  Lately he’d been so at odds with her. It lifted her heart to drift into their routine and banter.

  “I’m glad we could come here after church again. I like coming here.”

  “Okay.” Sally appeared at their booth wielding her order pad. She dropped a glass full of crayons on the table. “I bet I know what you want. You,” she pointed her pen at Danny, “want blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup and lots of whipped cream.”

  “And chocolate milk.”

  “Right. Also with whipped cream.” She turned to Beth. “And you want a blueberry muffin, the fresh fruit salad. Coffee?”

  “You got it in one.” Beth nodded at her son. “I’m an open book.”

  Sally narrowed her eyes. “Are you? I think you might have a story or two to tell.”

  All the saints and angels! “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Right.” Sally snickered. “I’ll go put in your order.”

  Danny selected a green crayon, turned his placemat over, and started to draw.

  “What are you making?”

  “A football field.” He grabbed his tongue with his teeth, the ultimate sign of concentration.

  “A football field. Wow. I guess you really did have a good time at the game on Friday.”