Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart

by Joachim, Jean C.

  Kit had been upset by the emergency phone call and the long flight. She didn’t calm down until laying eyes on Zoe. Her daughter broke her leg on the ski slope then compounded the trouble by coming down with pneumonia. What she had hoped would be a week’s trip turned into three. She nursed Zoe back to health while Johnny went back on the road.

  The pneumonia scared Kit, who moved into Zoe’s room, sleeping on a cot next to her daughter’s bed, listening for every breath. Her cell phone never recovered. She couldn’t place any outgoing transatlantic calls from the room. Kit had no way to communicate with Tunney, or he with her.

  After a short rest, she called Tunney at the office.

  “Nichols Building.”

  “Hi, Anne Marie. Is Tunney in?”

  “Kit? Is that you?”

  “Who else? Is he in?”

  “Tunney? He’s in Seattle. In fact he’s moved to Seattle.”

  “What?”

  “He put his house on the market. He’s trying to sell this business.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” She slumped down into a wing chair.

  “Nope. Tunney’s done with this town.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “He’s gone. I think he’s going to take me with him.”

  “If he calls, please tell him I’m back. I need to talk to him.”

  “Like I told you. Tunney has moved on.”

  “Like I told you, I don’t believe you.” There was an edge to her voice.

  “Your funeral. I’ll give him the message.”

  “When I asked him about his love ‘em and leave ‘em reputation, he denied it.”

  “What do you think he’s going to say? He’s a womanizer…they never own up.”

  “Please tell him I called,” She hung up the phone figuring Ann Marie wouldn’t relay her message.

  Unwilling to believe Anne Marie, Kit needed convincing, which included a drive to Tunney’s house. Sure enough, a for sale sign was perched prominently in the front yard. The house looked deserted. Shock settled over her. At home, a package sat on her doorstep. Inside were the first copies of her book, Dangerous Love Letters.

  The book cover was gorgeous. She ran her hand over the cover, a sob catching in her throat. The hero resembled Tunney. Her book had been a lifelong dream come true. But the experience turned to ashes because he wasn’t there to share it. The man she adored was gone. Tears spilled over, splashed on the new cover and beaded up.

  “I deserve to celebrate this moment. If not with Tunney, then with a friend.”

  She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sank down on the stoop for a moment. A small smile snuck across her face as she pushed to her feet. She drove to Bon Appetit for dinner.

  “Hey, Kit! Long time. I thought you went to Europe?” Don greeted her as he wiped down the bar.

  “I did. Now I’m back. Seen Tunney?”

  “Nope. I heard he’s moving back to Seattle. What happened?” Don placed a Cosmo in front of her.

  “I don’t know.” Her gaze dropped to the floor to hide her hurt from Don.

  “Not like Tunney.” Don soaked his towel then squeezed out the water.

  “What do you mean?” Kit slid onto a seat at the bar.

  “He’s been looking to meet the right girl for a long time. I’d have made book on you being her…” Don wiped the towel over the bar in front of Kit.

  “I heard Tunney was a womanizer?”

  “Tunney? Hah! That’s funny. You don’t think so, do you?” He then wiped down the rest of the bar.

  “Anne Marie told me.” Kit sipped her drink.

  “Oh, her. She’s been after Tunney for years. Never gonna happen for her.”

  “So he’s not…?”

  “He’s too fussy. Like I said, he’s been lookin’ for the right girl for five years. I thought you were it.” Don threw the towel in the sink and took a drink of his beer.

  “Me, too.”

  “Is this seat taken?” a handsome, blonde man asked, looking at Kit.

  “I don’t think so,” she said, trying to smile.

  The man sat down.

  “Here, Don, here’s a copy of my new book. Please give it to him, if he ever comes in again, will you? I’ve lost my appetite.” Kit drained her glass and pushed to her feet.

  The man turned to Don,

  “Something I said?”

  “Something I said,” Don replied.

  * * * *

  On Bay Street at the old Victorian

  Spring’s coming early this year or I’ve lost track of time. Kit paid the cab driver. The daffodils Mary had planted were still blooming along the front walk, nestled in between shrubs under the front windows. The house was cold. Kit turned up the thermostat, and made a note to lay a fire after unpacking.

  Ten cities in six weeks. The book signing tour exhausted her. She loved meeting people, watching her book sales climb, but everybody wanted to know who “Nick” was in real life. They all asked about the dedication, too. Talking about the book and Tunney, her inspiration for Nick, kept the pain in her heart from healing. She missed him every day even though he had turned his back on her.

  Kit lugged her suitcase up the stairs before calling her daughter, whose leg had mended. Zoe would be spending spring break on the road with her dad. Kit accepted the arrangement as long as skiing wasn’t part of the plan, seems as if peace had been made with Johnny. She admitted he’d been right about them. Their relationship died long before he left, though refusing to see it didn’t change the facts. She no longer regretted her divorce or living in Willow Falls. The community had embraced her now. Tonight she’d be reading from her book at a special Kiwanis fund-raiser.

  Kit drove over to the Kiwanis building loaded down with books to give away in a raffle. Dressed in black wool pants, a thin black V-neck sweater and a tweed blazer, she congratulated herself on preparing properly for the chilly Kiwanis hall. A potluck dinner started at six-thirty with her reading at seven-thirty.

  The hall buzzed with people milling about. Kit, surprised at the huge turnout, stopped to greet her new Willow Falls friends. As people filed in to hear her book, she noticed Josie and Al Gallant, Darlene McDaniel and Cleve Baker, her friends from the children’s Christmas party, hogged the first row. Word had spread about Kit and Tunney, he being a favorite in Willow Falls. Not only had his business created jobs in town, but he’d been a big contributor to local causes, generously donating money, his time and muscle.

  His dad had been hailed as a local hero, something he shunned all his life. Kiwanis threw a big party when Dan came back to Willow Falls. He and Mary were embarrassed by the attention, but they understood how people in small towns feel about their own.

  Folks turned out more to get a look at the woman who had won Tunney Nichols’ heart, as rumor had it, than to learn about her book. She sat down to read and it wasn’t long before everyone in the hall knew the book was about Kit and Tunney.

  Kit explained the premise of the book, then opened to a favorite chapter.

  As she sat down to write, Katherine opened the small velvet box with the engagement ring from Nick. She liked to look at the small diamond, glittering in the lamplight as she wrote to him.

  Dear Nick,

  Today was a hard day. I had to tell my mother we broke up and you moved away, like you told me to. She was upset and said some very unkind things about you. I had to pretend to be upset, too. I thought about the danger you might be in. It made it easy for me to cry.

  I haven’t lied to my mother since I was seventeen. Mom did say she hoped I hadn’t been sleeping with you, since you dumped me. I couldn’t help but blush. Mom got flustered. She never talks about those things and I can’t hide the truth from her very well, but I’m trying. I’m going to avoid her or Mom’ll figure out I’m lying.

  The children in my class are a challenge this year. I have some students with learning problems and uncooperative parents. I miss being able to talk to you about them. You always give me
good advice. Besides I love your way of reducing my stress level!

  Are you in danger? I worry about you, though I know how smart you are. Still, one slip, you could be gone. I try not to dwell on the danger, but sometimes in the middle of the night I wake up from a bad dream and think about you, wondering if you are alive. If you’ll make it back to me. When I reach for you, the bed is empty, cold and lonely.

  I am volunteering at the local ASPCA to keep from obsessing about you 24/7. You are always in my heart. I love you, be safe.

  Love,

  Katherine

  Dear Nick,

  My friend, Anna, asked what I saw in you when I told her we had broken up. Besides, good looks, she asked, what’s so great about Nick? I had to bite my tongue to keep from bragging about you. But I couldn’t resist just one thing. I told her you had a good heart. Anna scoffed, “If he had such a good heart, how come he broke yours?” I had no answer.

  It’s so hard for me to keep quiet sometimes. I want to tell them how much I love you. How funny you are, how sweet. How you seem to know so much about so many things. You can build anything, fix anything, make my heart sing. But I can’t tell her.

  I realize this is going to be a lonely year for me, not only missing you, but keeping my distance from my friends, who disparage you now they think you hurt me.

  The other problem for me is their good intentions. They have already started talking about fixing me up. Seems everyone knows some lonely, terrific guy who just can’t find the right girl who’d flip over me, etc., etc. I hope you forgive me if I go on a few blind dates to keep them quiet. I’m just protecting our secret. Don’t worry. There aren’t any more out there like you. I’m sure of that.

  Hoping you are safe, all my love,

  Katherine

  Before long she had drawn a large crowd. They sat quietly; listening to every word of the love story…so quiet she didn’t realize how big the crowd had grown until she stopped reading and looked up. People applauded. Kit flushed with pleasure before getting up to sign the books given to raffle winners. Josie Gallant came up to her.

  “So, when are you and Tunney getting married?”

  Kit dropped her pen, which landed with a clatter on the metal-topped table.

  “What?”

  “When? Are you going to have your wedding reception here at the Kiwanis Hall?”

  “Josie, what are you talking about?” Kit rested one hand on her hip.

  “Obviously this story is about you and Tunney. So, when does it become permanent?”

  “This story is about made-up people, not me…certainly not Tunney,” she said, knowing that wasn’t entirely true as her dedication to him read “to the love of her life.”

  “Okay. If that’s the way you want it. But you’re not fooling anyone here.”

  Josie opened the book she won for Kit to sign, and gave the author a hug. All the warm smiles on the faces of the listeners brought the idea home to Kit. Everyone knew about her and Tunney. She was embarrassed. Maybe in a small town, love is a hard secret to keep.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  At Bon Appetit

  Tunney returned to Willow Falls to sell his business. His house had been sold; selling the business had been the last item on his list before he became a full-time Seattle resident. While still in Willow Falls, he had to have one last dinner at Bon Appetit.

  “Tunney! How you been?” Don said, giving Tunney a hearty handshake.

  “Fine, Don. Fine.” Tunney slipped onto an empty seat at the bar.

  “Heard you moved to Seattle.” Don fill up a stein with beer. He placed the frosty glass on the bar.

  “I’m only here to settle up some business things. I’ve got a buyer for my business.”

  “We’ve missed you, buddy. Wait! I have something for you.”

  Don dug out the book Kit brought.

  “You got this from Kit? I thought she went to Europe?”

  “Only for a few weeks, to take care of her daughter. The kid had a skiing accident, then got pneumonia. Pretty rough for a while.”

  He felt a lump in his throat. She didn’t go with Johnny on tour. He had jumped to the wrong conclusion. He opened the book.

  Dedication: To Mary and Dan Nichols, who made me believe in undying love.

  Tunney got misty. Then he turned the page.

  With deep appreciation to Tunney Nichols, the love of my life and the inspiration for this book.

  His chest constricted, he couldn’t breathe. Kit loved him. She didn’t lie, she didn’t leave him. But he had left her, with no word. Oh my God. What have I done? I took off…no better than Johnny. Will she ever forgive me?

  “She’s giving a reading at Kiwanis tonight…in case you’re interested.” Don raised his gaze to Tunney’s as he dried two wine glasses.

  * * * *

  She still had four more books to sign when she glanced up. Her heart lurched, her mouth went dry. There stood Tunney, in the doorway, with her book tucked under his arm. He approached her slowly.

  “I heard I can get a book signed here.” He wore a wary expression.

  She went back to penning a brief message and her signature, her head down focused on the page, trying to control the trembling of her hand.

  “Don’t you live in Seattle now?” she asked, looking at him coolly.

  “Not anymore.”

  “Where do you live now, Timbuktu?” The sarcasm dripped easily off her tongue but she couldn’t deny the prick of tears at the back of her eyes.

  “Willow Falls.”

  Her heart leaped, but she chewed her lip to keep her emotions in check while finishing the last book.

  “Why?” She stood up straight, her gaze meeting his.

  The last signature given, the woman closed her book, looked at Tunney and Kit then smiled. A man came up behind her, tugged her sleeve, motioning for her to move out of the way. Folks stopped to listen, leaving the noisy room silent.

  “Because you’re here.” His lopsided grin spread slowly across his face.

  “I thought you were through with me. You sure took off fast enough.” A lump formed in her throat, her eyes watered.

  “I didn’t know. I didn’t know where you went…or why. I waited to hear from you…for weeks. After two weeks, I assumed you changed your mind, took the job with Johnny’s band. If I had known the truth…”

  She opened his copy of the book but the pen shook too much for her to write.

  “My cell phone fell in the sink at the airport…I had no way to reach you.” Her voice shook.

  “I see.” He stepped closer to her.

  “But if you believed me, had some faith …”

  “If you hadn’t lied to me about being married…”

  “We’ve been over that.” She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions and the wobble of her fingers.

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you.” He reached out, putting his warm, dry hand over hers.

  “Me, too.” She shook him off.

  “Too late now?” His eyebrows formed a question and his eyes became liquid.

  Kit looked away from him, clasped her hands together but didn’t answer.

  “How’s Zoe?” Tunney slipped two fingers in-between her hands.

  “Zoe’s okay now, but she broke her leg, then got pretty sick.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you.” He stepped closer to her.

  “I told you I wasn’t going to take the job. Why didn’t you believe me, trust me?”

  “I waited for two weeks…your history with the truth wasn’t too good. Someone else I once cared about took off to pursue a career, like I thought you were doing.” He closed his hand around hers.

  “How long does it take to earn your trust?” She brought her gaze up to his but didn’t move her hands.

  “I’m sorry. I should have trusted you…” He stepped closer. No one in the room made a sound.

  “When I came back, Anne Marie told me you had left for Seattle…at first I didn’t
believe her. Then I saw the for sale sign on your house. I…knew then you were gone for good…” Tears welling in her eyes spilled over, running down her cheeks.

  Tunney took her in his arms.

  “I shouldn’t have left you. Can you forgive me?” He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket with one hand while the other drew her closer.

  “I’ll think about it.” She didn’t move out of his embrace.

  “Please, Kit. I’ll never leave you again,” he whispered, stroking her hair.

  He pulled her into a sweet kiss. Then a more passionate one. The spectators burst into applause. He cracked his lopsided smile.

  “Aw come on, Sweetie, he said he was sorry…we all want to go home.” Josie Gallant piped up.

  Kit pushed away from him as a blush stole up her neck. Laughing as she wiped her eyes.

  “Okay, I forgive him.”

  “She said the book wasn’t about them. Hmpf.” Agnes Green muttered.

  People started to file out.

  “We haven’t finished the renovation yet.” he said, holding her coat up.

  “I thought…”

  “We have to repaint the living room…Bordello Red, wasn’t it?”

  Kit slipped her coat over her shoulders.

  “To go with the Lurid Lavender in the dining room…you’re right.”

  “I don’t think there are any vacant rooms at Gracie’s Mansion…”

  She turned to face him

  “Right! You sold your house. Need a place to stay? You can stay with me tonight.”

  “In your room or the guest room?”

  “What do you think?” A wicked grin spread across her face.

  “I’m not sure. You’re pretty mad at me.”

  “I may be mad, but I’m not stupid.”

  “What do you mean?”