by Robin Wells
He did, too, damn it. He was trying to force her to admit that Paul was in the past. He thought Paul was no longer relevant, and he wanted her to think that, too. He refused to accept that Annette might be uncomfortable that her late son’s wife had—correction; had had—a relationship with another man. And he was doing it in such a subtle, low-key, rational fashion that she looked like the unreasonable one.
Well, she would be the height of reason. She drew a deep breath. “Look—I really appreciate the offer, Zack. And I’d like to take you up on it for the next few nights, but as for the long term… Well, my insurance will pay for leasing a place while my home is rebuilt, and that’s what I’d like to do.”
“There’s no decent rental property in this town. I looked into that before I moved here.”
And that had been just a few weeks ago. Katie’s spirits sank. The market was unlikely to have changed in that amount of time. Still, maybe Eula knew of something. “One of my clients is a real-estate agent. I’ll give her a call.” Katie rose to get her phone, only to realize that it was back at her house, along with her purse, her car keys, and everything else.
She had nothing. For the moment, she was completely dependent on Zack. “Can I use your phone?”
“Sure.”
“And your phone directory, if you have one.”
She sank onto Zack’s couch and called Eula.
“Oh, I heard, dear, and I’m so sorry!” Eula exclaimed. “I already have several places in mind for you.”
Katie’s chest relaxed. “You do?”
“Yes. The Mercer place is for sale, and there’s an adorable three-bedroom a couple of miles south of town…”
“Oh, I don’t want to buy a house. I just need to lease a place for six months or so while I rebuild my home.”
“You might want to rethink that, Katie,” Eula said. “The nearest rental is in Hammond.”
That wouldn’t work. Gracie needed to live in Chartreuse in order to attend the local school.
Katie extracted a promise that Eula would do some checking, but when she hung up the phone, her mind was already whirling through other options. She knew Bev would take her in, but Bev and her husband lived in a tiny house with their son who’d moved back after college, and they didn’t have room. Lulu and several of her other friends had a spare bedroom, but Gracie needed her own space, and then there was the matter of Annette.
“This is a no-brainer, Kate.” Zack handed her a cup of hot tea and sank onto the far end of the sofa. “You and Gracie can stay here, and Annette is more than welcome to come, too. I’ll be traveling a lot, so most of the time, you’ll have the house to yourselves.”
He was right. It seemed like a perfect solution. But still…
“There’s no reason this can’t work, Kate. Unless…”
“Unless what?”
His dimple flashed as he smiled. “Unless you’re afraid you can’t keep your hands off me.”
Which was exactly what she feared. “In your dreams,” she scoffed.
“Actually, that is my favorite fantasy.” He grinned again, and then his eyes grew somber. “Seriously, Kate—let me help you out. I promise to behave. Nothing will happen between us that you don’t want to happen.”
Oh, God. That was not a promise that would be of much help—because when she was around Zack, she wanted things she had no business wanting.
“I’ll move into the garage apartment,” he said. “We won’t even be sleeping under the same roof. I won’t say or do anything that might make you uncomfortable.”
She looked into his blue eyes, so clear and steady, and she believed him. Aside from the disappearing act—which she now knew was not his choice and not his fault—he’d never let her down. He was a man who played by the rules and kept his word. She could trust him.
She wasn’t so sure about herself.
“Besides,” Zack continued, “we’re going to have a seventeen-year-old chaperone living with us.”
That was true. There was no reason this couldn’t work. It was a logical solution.
And really, she didn’t have any other option. She slowly nodded. “Okay. We’ll give it a try.”
He gave her that smile, the one that made her melt. “Good. It’s settled.”
But Katie had never felt more unsettled in her life.
“Annette?”
“Sweetie!” Annette switched the phone to her other ear at the sound of Katie’s voice. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. How did you find out?”
“Dorothy went by the drugstore, and Nellie told her that your house was practically cut in two by a tree. I’ve been trying to call you, but your cell phone went right to voice mail.”
“My phone is in my purse, which is still in the house. I literally only have the clothes on my back.” Katie gave a small laugh. “Well, truth be told, not even that. My clothes are in the dryer, so I’m wearing Gracie’s clothes.”
“Oh, no! So all of your belongings…” All of Paul’s belongings!
“Yeah. But I did bring Paul’s ashes.”
Thank God. Annette hadn’t wanted to ask. The topic was a sensitive one and she didn’t want to make Katie feel bad, but it bothered her that Katie kept his remains in the house rather than putting him to rest.
“We’ll have to go back and get the rest of the stuff in the morning,” Katie said. “The fire marshal won’t let anyone back in tonight. The thing I’m most upset about is the photos.”
All the photos from her wedding and marriage! Annette’s chest ached at the thought.
“A lot of them are in the part of the house that’s still standing, so I hope they’ll be okay.”
“They’re only things,” Annette said. “The important thing is that you and Gracie are all right.”
“We’re fine.”
Annette hesitated, then charged ahead. “I heard you’re staying at Zack’s house.”
“Yes. He has two extra bedrooms upstairs, and he’s moving into the garage apartment. You can stay in the master bedroom downstairs when you’re discharged.”
“Oh, Katie—I don’t want to put him out.”
“It was his idea. He’s going to be traveling a lot, so…”
The thought of staying with a man she’d never met—the father of Katie’s child—made her stomach cramp. “Oh, Katie. I don’t think…”
“Really. It’ll be fine.”
She didn’t want to upset Katie any more than she already was. For heaven’s sake, the poor girl had just lost her home.
The home she and Paul had built together. Annette pressed her hand to her stomach. Oh, dear Lord—Paul had put so much time and work into that place. Every weekend, it seemed, he and Katie had tackled one project or another.
“We’ll worry about that later,” Annette said. “Right now, you just need to focus on yourself and Gracie. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s been pretty much hiding out in her room, which is the same thing she did at my house, but she came out and ate dinner with us. You wouldn’t believe the food people have brought over here.”
That was one of the advantages of living in a small town, Annette thought; people cared for one another. In times of need, neighbors fortified each other with a timeless symbol of support and nurture: food. When Paul had died, she and Katie hadn’t had to cook for a month.
Katie filled her in on the details of the house’s damage.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, dear,” Annette said. “I was terribly worried.”
“How about you? How are you feeling today?”
“Oh, I’m fine. I walked the full length of the corridor three times today using a walker. Blake is a slave driver, but he says I’m making progress.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“I’m about to go downstairs and have dinner with Dorothy and Harold in the dining room. I’m taking the elevator, of course, but it’s a much-needed change of pace.”
“Have a great time
. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Katie, I’ll understand if you miss a day. You’re going to be awfully busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you.”
Annette hung up the phone and sighed. She loved that girl, and she knew Katie returned the affection. So why did she feel as if she was losing her?
No, that wasn’t what she was feeling at all. She felt like Paul was losing her. Which made no sense, but it grieved her heart all the same.
• • •
“We’re so glad you could join us for dinner,” Dorothy said as Annette shuffled into the dining room using her walker. The hostess led them to a table by the window, and Harold pulled out Annette’s chair. Dorothy folded the walker and set it to the side, then smiled as Harold pulled out her chair in a courtly fashion.
Annette never failed to be impressed by Harold’s impeccable manners. He had early stage Alzheimer’s and often forgot things, but manners were never one of them.
Annette smiled at the couple as she unfolded the black cloth napkin on her lap. “Thank you for inviting me. It’s so nice to get out of my room for a change.”
“Have you talked to Katie?” Harold asked.
“Yes.” Annette was filling them in on the details of her phone conversation when the waitress stopped by their table. “Will there just be the three of you this evening?”
“No, dear,” Dorothy said. “We’re expecting someone else to join us.”
Annette’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
Dorothy looked up and grinned. “And here he is now.”
Annette turned to see Dave standing behind her, tall and handsome in a navy sports jacket and open-collared shirt. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“Actually, dear, Dave arranged this dinner.” Dorothy’s eyes gleamed with mischievous excitement. “He thought you wouldn’t come if he just invited you to dinner himself.”
“He was right about that,” Annette muttered. Despite all logic, her pulse thrummed at the sight of him.
Dave pulled out a chair and sat down next to Annette. The spicy scent of his aftershave kicked her heart into a faster gear. “I thought it was time to get you out and about.”
“That’s right,” Dorothy said, nodding vigorously. “It won’t be long before you’re a goner.”
“What?”
Dave smiled. “I think she means before you leave here.”
“Oh! Right.” Annette smiled at Dorothy.
Dave picked up the cloth napkin and unfolded it. “Sorry I’m late. I stopped by to see Katie.”
“How was she?” Annette asked.
“Fine. Shaken up by the whole thing, but fine.” Annette watched him drape the napkin across his thigh. She’d always loved Dave’s thighs, always loved the way they felt so firm and solid and masculine. It was probably her favorite body part on a man. When Dave used to kneel over her when they were making love, his thighs used to…
“Katie said you’re going to stay at Zack’s when you’re discharged.”
Dave’s words pulled her back into the moment. She brushed back a strand of hair, hoping her face didn’t look as flushed as it felt. “That isn’t decided yet. I don’t even know the man.”
“Living with him is a pretty good way to get to know him,” Harold commented.
“That might be the way young people do it today, but it’s not exactly my preferred arrangement,” Annette said.
Dave and Harold laughed.
“Besides, I’m afraid I’d just be in the way.” Annette took a sip of water.
“Well, I have a solution.” Dave folded his hands on the table. “You can stay with me.”
Was he crazy? “No.” She adamantly shook her head. “No way.”
“Why not? I have a one-story house, and all the rooms are handicap-accessible. It even has grips in the bathroom.”
“Oh, that’s right. You bought your house from Mamie Duncan,” Dorothy said. “She was wheelchair-bound after her stroke, and her kids fixed the house so she could get around.”
Dave nodded. “It’s the perfect arrangement for you.”
Perfect, except for the fact that Dave would be there. Annette shook her head. “It’s kind of you to offer, but I can’t stay with you.”
“Why not?”
“We’re not married anymore.”
“So? Katie’s not married to Zack.”
“I know,” Annette said. “And that bothers me.”
“You want her married to Zack?” Harold asked.
“No!” The word came out more vehemently than she’d intended. Iris Huckabee and Myrtle Mann at the next table looked over at her. Annette lowered her voice. “I don’t want her seeing Zack at all, to tell you the truth, and it bothers me that she’s staying with him.”
“Why?”
“He’s a—a poker dude.”
Dave’s lip curved in amusement. So did Harold’s.
“That’s what Gracie called him,” Annette said defensively.
Dorothy’s eyebrows knit together. “Gracie thinks he pokes her?”
The ladies at the next table leaned forward, dropping all pretense of not listening.
“No!” Annette whispered. “He’s a professional gambler.”
“Not anymore,” Dave said. “He owns a risk-management firm that counsels some of the largest companies in the world. He’s entirely respectable.”
It figured that Dave would stick up for him. “There’s no such thing as a respectable gambler. Besides, I don’t think Paul would have liked the idea of Katie staying with him.”
Dave leaned back in his chair. “Under the circumstances, I’m not so sure.”
Annette stared at him. “You can’t be serious! You know how people gossip in this town.”
“Well, they’re gossiping anyway.” Dave took a sip of his water. “They do have a child together.”
Annette’s chest tightened. “That was years before she met Paul.”
“Yeah, but it’s still grist for the gossip mill.”
“Well, living with him will just make it worse. Everyone will think that something is going on between them.”
“What if something is?”
Annette’s heart squeezed. She rubbed her temples. “Do you think it is?”
“Well, I wouldn’t blame her. He’s a toastie, that’s for sure,” Dorothy said.
Annette looked at her blankly.
“I think she means hottie,” Harold said.
Great. A hottie. Just the kind of man she wanted her daughter-in-law living with.
“Katie and Zack’s relationship really isn’t any of our business,” Dave said gently.
Annette’s brow knit. “Do you think they’re having one?”
“I think we should stay out of it, and I think you’d be a lot more comfortable staying with me.”
Comfortable? How did he figure that? Annette opened her mouth to protest.
Dave held up his hand. “Don’t give me an answer right now. Take your time and think it over. You’d have a private bedroom and bathroom, and I’d be happy to drive you to and from physical therapy. Katie’s likely to need help with that, anyway. She’s going to be busy rebuilding her house and seeing to Gracie.”
It was true. Neither Gracie nor the storm damage to her house had been in the scheme of things when she’d made plans to stay with Katie during rehab.
She didn’t have a lot of options. She couldn’t go back to her own home in New Orleans; it had been raised twelve feet off the ground after Hurricane Katrina and now had a twenty-four-step porch, and she wasn’t supposed to climb stairs on her own. Her insurance wouldn’t pay for her to stay at Sunnyside after the end of the week, and the rates in the rehabilitation wing were too expensive for her to cover on her own.
“I’d welcome the opportunity to help you, Annette.” Dave’s eyes were warm, his voice earnest. “God knows I owe you. It would be a small way of making amends.” He put his hand over hers. The warmth of his palm sent a shock wave through her, right through her
skin, straight into her bloodstream. “Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
In fact, until she made a decision, she was unlikely to think about anything else.
“So here’s your room.” Zack opened the door to a bedroom at the end of the hall with two dormer windows overlooking the backyard.
Katie followed him inside, carrying the urn. “Oh, this is lovely!” The room was decorated in white and spring green with splashes of coral, in a mix of gingham and floral fabrics.
“The interior designer intended for this to be Gracie’s room, but Gracie said it looked too girly.” He leaned against the doorframe and watched her as she set the urn on the dresser.
She fingered a green gingham pillow. “Well, her loss is my gain. I love it.” She ran her hand over the top of a white vanity with a a tufted floral stool. “This is the sort of room I dreamed about having when I was a girl.”
He nodded. “I remember you showing me a room with green checks and flowers in a magazine.”
She stared at him. She’d found the photo in an issue of Redbook that a bait shop customer had left behind. She used to lie on the saggy mattress on the built-in bunk of her mother’s trailer, put a transistor radio under her pillow to drown out the sound of her mother with men in the next bedroom, and pretend that she was in the room in the photo. “You remembered that?”
He nodded. “I remember a lot about you.”
She gave him a dry smile. “I’m sure I was at the top of your mind when you were dating Cameron Diaz.”
“Actually, I googled you when I was dating her.”
She hated the way the news pleased her. She gazed out the window as a distant bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. A string of thunderstorms was rolling through southern Louisiana, and it looked like another one was on its way. “Really? Why?”
He lifted his shoulders. “She reminded me of you.”
Cameron Diaz had reminded him of her? Pleasure curled through her like a warm toddy.
“So what did your Google search turn up?”
“You and your husband had bought a house.” He picked up a vase on the dresser and looked at it. “It made me kinda sad.”