by Dawn Tomasko
“Right.” A finely arched brow lifted. Charlotte put her hands on her hips. "Is that what you're telling yourself?"
"Charlotte —"
She waved a hand. "Never mind, love. I stopped in to see how the house is coming along. The front porch looks like a wrecking ball came through."
"It did. Come in for a drink,” Sara held the screen door open. She pulled a glass from the dish drainer and added ice and lemonade. Charlotte plunked her bag down and took a seat at the table to catch up.
"Gabriel says he'll replace the porch. The deck boards were warped and twisted. Once he took it up, we saw the whole structure had rotted through."
Charlotte's bracelets clanged against the side of her glass. "We expected it. New materials are better. Salvaging old materials and mixing them with new could look off. The house is clean,” she smiled, looking around. "I see you're starting to chuck some of the old. Once you've painted, we can start shopping to decorate."
Sara's face lit up. Now that would be fun. "I've seen beautiful hand-loomed rugs at Claire Murray. I know they're expensive, but they would do so much for the place and be more authentic than shopping off-island. I did look online for slipcovers for the furniture."
Charlotte shook her head. "No, no, go for new."
"Even better, although I don’t know why the owner would spend money on furnishing they’ll end up leaving in the house. I'd love to go all out, really capture the sea cottage feel, but in a stylish, modern way. We can also look into local antique shops to bring in Nantucket history."
"Perfect. As for the rest, might mean a few trips off the island, but who doesn't love day excursions? You seemed to have settled in nicely.” Charlotte ran a finger down the side of her glass, gathered moisture on the way to the bottom. Quiet for a moment, she folded her hands on the table. "I have something to tell you."
Charmed by the hesitant quality of her friend's voice and the enigmatic smile, Sara knew the news would be good. "Yes?"
"We're pregnant!"
Both women screeched with joy and jumped up into a tight embrace. "Oh, Charlotte, I know how much you wanted this! You've waited so long. Congratulations."
Eyes bright, she fairly sparkled. "Well, I'm not getting any younger. If it didn't happen soon, I'd wonder if we should try at all."
"Nonsense,” she brushed a hand over Charlotte's soft brown waves. "You're only thirty-eight. Plenty of women have babies in their forties."
She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, but I don't want to. I want to be around to enjoy my grandchildren.” Charlotte's eyes filled. "Sara, I'm going to be a mommy."
"Oh, sweetie, I'm so happy for you. A baby,” she let out a wistful sigh. "I can’t wait to tell Bree. Boy, have we got some shopping to do! Let's go out to celebrate."
Eagerly, Charlotte nodded. "Gary and I want a special dinner. You'll come with us?"
The joy spread over her friend's face thrilled her. With a heart full of happiness, she squeezed Charlotte's hand. "I wouldn't miss it. Tell me when."
"Tomorrow works for us. Gary will make reservations. We're going for fancy. It's a special occasion, so dress up. Do you need to shop?"
"No, I brought all I own for clothes. Tomorrow works for me.” Her mind already started to sift through the dresses and shoes in her closet.
"I want to check with Gabe, too.” Charlotte watched Sara's smile falter. "I know last night was painful, but you're both important to us. Please don’t say you have a problem with this. I've been worrying about it, and Gary told me to stop —"
"No, of course not,” she said, too quickly. They sat back down at the table. "Don't spend time worrying about me. Of course, Gabriel should come."
Charlotte drummed her fingers on the table. "Even before last night, there seemed to be something about you two. Maybe I can help."
Sara rose, walked over to put her glass in the sink, rinsed it out. "No matchmaking, please."
"We want to celebrate with good friends. You and Gabe. You like him, right? I bet you're wasting your time obsessing about last night, and he hasn't given it a moment's thought. Guys are like that."
“Yeah, right.” Sara turned to her, leaned back against the counter by the sink. "I don't dislike him.” One shoulder rose in half a shrug. After a long silence, she sighed. "That’s the problem, Charlotte. I do like him. Really like.” Her nose scrunched. "It's confusing. We have fun and annoy each other, laugh and argue, and"
"Sounds like good chemistry to me,” Charlotte waggled her eyebrows. "This could be interesting. I mentioned the possibility to Gary."
Sara's eyes widened. "You didn't talk to Gabriel about any of this?"
"Hell, no, I would never do something like that.”
Unconvinced, she pushed away from the sink to walk back to the table. Palms flat on the wood surface, she leaned close to her friend. "I didn't come here to get a man. I came here to find myself."
"You already know who you are, you're only making adjustments. Maybe someone found you. I'll hold you to your promise to stay open to all possibilities. Try not to plan so much, lighten up on an attempt to control every situation. Be spontaneous."
Lighten up? Sounded simple, but it was far harder to do. "I know it here,” she pointed to her head. "But here?” she fisted her hand between her breasts.
"Natural chemistry exists. Look at Gary and me. We didn't get off on the best foot personality-wise, did we? Underneath it all, something special happened, stewed away even when we both refused to admit it. Some things are true whether we want them to be or not."
"Don’t I know it,” she said. She and David lacked chemistry, a fatal flaw for a marriage. But joy over the baby news took over, and she grinned, a dimple appearing in one cheek. "Let's talk about happy things. There's the baby, the cottage, my classes, my soon-to-be business —"
"A hot piece of male eye candy hanging around your house.” Charlotte rested her chin on her hand, giving Sara an expectant look.
"Charlotte, please,” she shook her head and then huffed out a breathy laugh. "We have a lot to focus on, to think about."
"You're a good multi-tasker."
Gabe sprawled on the couch at his cottage. With bare feet propped on the coffee table, and hair still wet from the shower, he settled on the sofa. With the remote in hand, he let out a sigh of pure contentment. Comfortable, Gabe wore a loose t-shirt and his favorite ratty sweats. All day, he'd looked forward to the chance to chill on the couch, channel surf and relax.
Visits to prospective clients kept him busy. Between giving estimates and doing the actual work, life here could be sustainable. Maybe Nantucket would be the place he'd decide to call home.
At noon, he'd headed to the Steamship Authority to accept delivery of Sara's countertops. Two out of three pieces came in damaged, and he'd sent them back on the next ferry. A thirty-minute conversation with the supply house to reorder them had been damned annoying, but he'd ironed it out in the end. Good thing he hadn't torn up the old ones or she'd be working off sheets of plywood. He shot her a text to let her know.
After more work related errands, he finally stopped at the grocery store to snag a frozen pizza, six-pack of beer and a few other essentials. Stretched out on the couch with the breeze flowing through, pizza in the oven and a cold beer, Gabriel settled in for a relaxing night.
Then his cell phone rang. "Ah, damn it.” Mom's name came up on the screen. If he let it go to voicemail, he'd only have to call back. Without good reason, Gabriel didn't ignore his mother's calls. No need to make her worry. He respected her far too much.
"Hey, Mom."
"There's my gorgeous son,” she began, warm affection in her voice. "I started to think you'd forgotten us back in America."
He laughed, crossed his legs at the ankle. That was how many Nantucketers referred to the mainland. "How could I forget you?"
"You always say the right thing."
Gabriel reached for the remote and muted the sound. "Hardly, but it's great to hear your voice. How are you?"
He grimaced. "Sorry. Business is booming and I've been juggling a lot of projects and estimates."
"I know,” he pictured her pacing the parlor, a habit when she chatted on the phone. "Sam told me."
"Are you checking up on me, lady?” he chuckled and stood up when the oven timer sounded. Phone propped on his shoulder, he slid on an oven mitt and took the pizza out.
He put his empty beer bottle in the sink and grabbed another. Until the pizza cooled some, he headed back to the sofa. Gabe loved his mom, and they had a great relationship, but he wasn't up for the subject of the family business, especially his brother and Nicole. He hoped she didn't bring it up.
"I ran into Sam because he's on a project in the neighborhood and we talked for a while. Talking about you with him made me miss you more. So I’m coming out to see you."
Gabriel stilled. "You are? Alone?"
A sound of exasperation came over the line. "What do you mean, alone? Don't you want to see your father?"
"Sure,” he replied hesitantly. "Of course, I want to see Dad."
"You know he's gotten over your leaving the company.” No point in trying to keep anything from his mother. "What's going on?"
Shit. "I'm sorry, Mom. I’m just tired. Long day. Tonight is the first night I've taken a breather in a while.” He raked a hand through his hair. To stay on schedule, many times he continued to work in the small work shed out back well into the night.
"Your father is working and can't come. Neither can your brother, so it'll be only me. If the time isn't right I can wait,” she offered, but he knew by the sound of her voice, it wouldn't fly.
Relief flowed through him. "No, don't wait. Come on out. The cottage is charming but small. Do you want to stay with me or do you want a hotel reservation? I can sleep on the pull-out couch."
"Oh, I don't want to put you out,” she said breezily. "Put me up somewhere nice."
Gabe smiled. While his mom certainly could be considered down to earth, she did love her creature comforts. Once when he and Michael were young, the whole family received an invitation to go camping with friends. Not traditional camping, but Winnebago style, with all the bells and whistles. His Mom declined, although he and Michael did go and had a blast. His dad stayed behind to work. "You got it. I'll ask Charlotte what she thinks would be an excellent place for you to stay."
"Thank you, love. How does Tuesday sound?"
"Sounds good. Will you be on the ferry?” he asked, but he already knew the answer. Toni Donovan, take a three-hour ferry ride after a four-hour road trip? He didn’t think so.
"Ah, no, dear. I'll book a flight out of Westchester. Not that you didn’t already know it.”
He barked out a laugh. After a long pull on his beer, he told her, "I think the flight is under ninety minutes. Let me know your arrival time and I'll pick you up at the airport."
"I'll send an email with the details. Wonderful! I can't wait to see you. So, fill me in on what you've been up to."
Gabriel's mind worked on how to adjust the schedule to accommodate his mother's visit. Because she planned this trip expressly to see him, he wouldn't see much of her if he ran his week the way he originally intended.
"Not much, mostly work, like I said."
The only response she gave was silence.
"Mom?"
"Mmm-hm."
"You stopped talking."
Could he hear her toe tap the floor as she waited for him to elaborate? "Tell me what's up. You think I don't know you?"
Shoulders tight, he vaulted off the couch, opened the slider and padded barefoot out on the back deck. With the sun near the horizon, the air held a chill, which cut right through his thin sweats. The views of the water stretched out farther than Sara's, but he could still see the setting sun shimmer on the waves.
He'd missed her today. Did she miss him? "I met someone."
"Ah. I see.”
"You sound like a therapist.” He could practically see her in a chair with a pad and pen while she tapped a finger on her chin.
"Do I?” Laughter threaded her voice.
"Yeah, you do. I’ve dated a lot of women, Mom. Nothing new.”
“But it is, or you wouldn’t have brought it up at all. She’s someone special.”
Yeah, she was. “Okay, Dr. Freud. Yes, she is very special. Aren't you going to ask me how I 'feel about that'?"
"Don't be fresh. Tell me about her."
He stared down at his bare feet, used his big toe to push lines in a pile of sand on the deck. A good sweep with a push broom wouldn't hurt. He'd been so busy he didn't notice much about the cottage lately. "The situation is complicated."
"Life usually is, love."
"Yeah, well.” He paced back and forth. "Her name is Sara Shepard. She’s no stranger to Nantucket but recently moved out here and is renting a beach house out in Madaket. The Silvas are managing the eventual sale of the property, and they hired me to remodel the cottage. There’s a lot of work. The house has needed attention for a long time."
"That's a cozy arrangement. How long do you plan to stay? At first, it was a single project, but your work list grows by the minute. You’re good at what you do, son, and it comes as no surprise to me. You’re making quite a name for yourself."
Ah, damn. The subject of permanent residence on the island hadn't come up in previous conversations, and he didn't plan to talk to the family about it until he came to a decision. In truth, he'd been too busy enjoying himself to think so far ahead. He ran a hand along the porch railing. A run with a sander would smooth out the weather-roughened surface. If Sara ever came over, and he sure as hell hoped she would, he didn't want her to get splinters. "I’m happy, and I have more projects than I can handle. As for the future, I’m taking it one day at a time, which is part of the fun. Have you and Dad ever been here?"
"Your father and I took a vacation there before you were born. We rented a house on the water. It's beautiful."
"According to Gary, it's changed, but it's still Nantucket at the heart of it. Gary’s cool, a good buddy. The beaches are incredible. Work is satisfying. There are a lot of reasons to stay."
"One in particular?” she questioned softly.
Warmth spread through him as Sara's face surfaced in his mind. "Yeah, Mom. Sara factors in."
"What is she like?"
"Beautiful. Very different than the type of women I’ve dated. She’s feisty but still soft. Deep in ways I haven't experienced with another woman."
"My goodness, this doesn’t sound like my son. This man is a whole new you, appreciating the subtleties in a woman’s personality,” she teased, fascinated and maybe a bit proud. "In business, you're incredibly focused, Gabriel. Any woman on the receiving end of serious attention from you is lucky. I can't wait to meet her."
Gabe squirmed, a bit disquieted by the idea of the two women together. A meeting with his mom might hit Sara's panic button. They needed to talk about it and what happened at dinner the other night. When would be the right time? He doubted she would be ready yet. "Mom, do me a favor? Whatever's between us is unofficial. Still in the early stages if you know what I mean. We barely reached a point where she might consider us friends. She's going through a rough patch with her daughter and her ex. There are issues."
"Everyone has issues. Don't you have a few?"
Yeah, he did, and when his mom came to the island, he hoped they would enjoy their time together without the shadow of his brother between them. He sure didn't miss her continual efforts to get them to patch up their problems. That part of his life would come together at the right time. When he was damn good and ready.
Chapter Nine
Monday night, Gabriel came to pick Sara up for dinner with Gary and Charlotte. Inside the cottage, he lounged against the doorjamb while he waited for her to finish up. Dark eyes on her the entire time, arms crossed and long legs splayed out,
he reminded her of a panther scoping out prey. Dressed in dark dress slacks, pale blue shirt, black tie and a summer weight jacket, his transformation amazed her. If she thought his work clothes were smoking, this look shocked her system. Heat bloomed in her chest, spread through her body, enough to jar her girl parts out of their deep slumber.
"Hi,” her voice came in a rusty squeak. After she had cleared her throat, she tried again. "Don't you look handsome?"
Gabe grinned at her, a knowing look in his eyes. The temperature in the room rose several degrees if the sweat along her hairline was any indication.
"Same goes,” he murmured in appreciation. The timber of his voice stoked the embers in her belly.
Gabriel's eyes roamed over her clingy blue dress, cruised down her legs to heeled sandals with silver accents. The hem stopped at mid-thigh, and the back of the dress dipped low to reveal plenty of bare skin. By the gleam in his eyes, she'd chosen well.
Because of the occasion and the restaurant Charlotte picked, she took extra care with her appearance. Maybe Gabriel had a bit to do with it, but when he looked at her the way he did at this moment, she considered the effort well worth it. She couldn't remember a time she felt this way. The appreciation in his eyes made her feel beautiful, sexy, even if she didn't plan on going any further with him.
"Let me explain about the other night."
"There's nothing to explain. I had a great time with you.” Gabriel smiled down at her and reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sara, it’s okay.”
Searching his eyes, she saw nothing but truth. Nearly giddy with relief, she squeezed his hand. "Thank you. Let me get my purse,” she murmured and turned toward the coffee table for a silk clutch.
"Whoa.” Sara turned to back in time to see his passion-dark eyes roam over her. "Your dress… "
The slow burn of pleasure ignited over his low growl of approval. Fire pulsed through her blood. Come on, Sara, calm down. It's just dinner. Dinner between two people who work together and might become friends. As she walked toward the door, he lifted his shoulder from the jamb.