Lucky 13

by Jillian Dagg

  "Do you have the same excuse for dating Karl?"

  His eyes were glacial as he looked at her. But she spoke firmly. “You want an excuse?"

  "Yes. Please."

  Cally realized then that Luke wasn't only angry at her. He was hurt. She had hurt him by dating Karl.

  Maybe even hurt his sister. But only out of ignorance. “I dated Karl mainly because he kept on bugging me. Also because Loretta wanted to go out with Don and I didn't want to let her down.” She glanced at Luke to see he was listening intently. “Also because,” she took a deep breath. “Karl had told me that he'd heard we were dating and I wanted to dispel the rumors."

  Luke seemed to swallow hard. “Course I didn't tell you he was married?"

  "No, you didn't. I find that strange for someone who told me he was honest."

  "It had nothing to do with honesty, Carolyn. All to do with protecting my sister. I just didn't want everyone to know about Karl and his relationship to me."

  "I wouldn't have told a soul. You could have trusted me."

  "I know that now.” He looked upset with himself.

  "I'd never, ever have gone out with Karl if I'd known, Luke. I hope I haven't hurt your sister."

  "My sister's getting past hurting,” Luke said flatly. “Besides, you're not the first and won't be the last, and you did stick to your guns and make him put you out of the truck. I realize you don't care for him. But..."

  "But I hurt you,” she said softly, hoping she was on the right track with him. But when they were together she could feel the compatibility they generated as a couple. She felt the sensation was something worth cultivating.

  For a moment she didn't think she was going to get an answer. Would he admit that he'd been hurt? Or maybe he hadn't been hurt. Maybe it was all in her imagination.

  His words, when he spoke, were jerky. “Yeah, you did. It was special what we had, wasn't it?"

  Cally felt pleasure consume her and nodded, “It was."

  He kicked a loose stone along the wooden plank. “Want to go for a walk?"

  "Yes. I'd like that. Let me go get my slicker and put on better shoes."

  They walked around the lake, the air steamy from the rain, the atmosphere heavy with pine and water aromas. Luke kept his hands stuffed into the pockets of an old black leather jacket. Cally kept her hands plunged into the pockets of her slicker. She figured what they'd had wasn't quite the same anymore.

  Somehow they would have to repair the rift, even if they had come to a partial understanding this evening.

  Or was it worth repairing the rift when he might go away anyway?

  If she wished Luke had told her anything, it was that Karl was his brother-in-law, and if she wished he had omitted to tell her anything it was his application to go overseas for a year.

  * * * *

  Sunday dawned sunny and warm once again. Cally would have preferred it be rainy, then she could have hidden away in her room and finished Luke's book. As it was, she felt she had to go out into the hot bright day. The afternoon's swim did her good after all and she actually did manage to get Luke's book finished. It was good and she told him so when she saw him at dinner in the restaurant.

  She sat with him whether he really wanted her there or not. Because she needed to be with him. That need was becoming desperate, more than desperate, necessary.

  By the time dinner was over the others began arriving back to the motel. Loretta hustled into the unit carrying some huge containers.

  "Goodies from my Mom,” she said. “Fruit, cookies, banana nut loaf. Help yourself, Cally. And Mom says you're to come home with me next weekend."

  "Oh, no, that's not necessary,” Cally said, inhaling the aroma of the chocolate chip cookies Loretta poked beneath her nose. She took one.

  "It is. I've told Mom all about you and she says you sound really nice and she'd like to meet my roommate."

  The cookie was chewy, full of chunky chocolate. “This is great."

  "She's a fantastic cook. Dad says that's why he married her. And my brother, Stan, says that's why he stays home and goes to college locally. Will you come? It'll be fun and beats hanging around this neck of the woods all weekend. Besides, after that we'll be working the following weekend."

  "All right,” Cally said. “I'll come. If you're talking to your Mom, tell her the cookies are wonderful."

  "Have another then."

  Cally smiled. “All right."

  Their extra working hours began on Monday. By the end of the week Cally felt wiped out and was really pleased to drive to Duluth in Vince's truck with Loretta.

  Loretta's mother was a plump friendly woman named Rosemary. Her father, equally as plump, was Bob.

  Her brother, Stan, had a black pony tail and was surprisingly tall and skinny for the amount of food he ate. They lived in a small sided house on a rocky hill overlooking Lake Superior. Cally enjoyed herself immensely. The meals were superb, the company funny and homey, reminding her of how much she missed her own family.

  Loretta hadn't got a job for the autumn yet but she had a number of applications at various companies around the city. Between shopping, she drove Cally around in her mother's car to show her the places she had applied. Cally was pleased she was beginning to know her roommate better. Loretta really wasn't a flirt, but she did fall in love easily. She was over Don, though, she said. Both women, friends now, drove back to Echo Lake with Vince on Sunday evening ready to begin a two-week work stint with no let up.

  Tired. Cally hadn't known the meaning of the word until her extra hours began piling up. She barely felt like moving after dinner and often crawled into bed early. She even noticed the men were walking slower by the end of the two weeks. Everyone was looking forward to their first weekend off after the heavy workload.

  "Do you want to go home this weekend?” Luke asked her on Thursday evening when he found her sitting at the picnic table by the lake enjoying a cooling breeze after a scorching day.

  "I hadn't thought about it,” she said, noticing his eyes appeared bleary as if he hadn't been sleeping well.

  He sat beside her on the bench, his elbows resting behind him on the table. “I'm going down if you want.

  It'll be a break."

  "Okay,” she said. “I'll call Essie to let her know."

  "Fine. Same schedule as last time. All right?"

  "All right. Thank you."

  He shifted a little and she felt the pressure of his shoulder against hers. For a moment they glanced at one another and Cally had the feeling he wanted to kiss her but he couldn't here in full view of the motel.

  Essie was delighted to hear from Cally and said, for sure she would love to see her but she wasn't going to be home all weekend. She had to work. Why didn't she stay with Mother? Cally thought that might be a good idea and so did her mother.

  On Friday, as they took off in the Mercedes, Cally informed Luke that she would staying at her parents’ house, not her sister's. She explained where it was.

  "It's closer to me by the sounds of it,” he said.

  "It is."

  "Do you want to see my house this weekend?"

  Cally hadn't thought he would want to see her. “I'd love to see your house."

  He smiled at her. “What I'm saying is, forget all the Karl bit and call a truce. Melanie and Karl have been talking things over and I believe Karl is willing to be a little more responsible. As long as I keep him employed."

  "Are you willing to do that?"

  "Stanfords is willing. Let's say that. I probably won't be here much longer."

  Cally felt her throat turn dry. “Have you heard about that overseas position?"

  "Yes. I've been chosen. It's mine if I want it. I have a couple of weeks to decide."

  "That's great, Luke."

  "It is. I just have to make some choices, that's all."

  Cally rubbed her denim clad knee. “You're single, free from responsibility. Why not?"

  "I'm not really free from responsibility. No one ever
is. I have the house and ... Well, I just have to make a decision."

  "I'd go,” Cally said, and she meant it. “I wouldn't want to miss the chance to travel and learn a new work experience."

  Luke glanced at her. “You would?"

  "Sure I would."

  "Even if it's not the greatest place for women's rights."

  "For a year, I'd put up with that. Like I've put up with it for a few months this summer.” She spoke mainly in jest but Luke grimaced.

  "Has this summer really been forced labor for you?"

  "No. I've enjoyed it really. It's just that you were so anti-me being there at first."

  "Only because I felt an attraction and saw the difficulty of that.” He slapped his palm against the steering wheel. “Hey, what an admission, but it's true. We are attracted to one another. I was watching you long before that day of Rick's accident."

  "I felt it that day,” Cally admitted, wondering what was going to happen. So they admitted they liked one another, more than liked one another, and then he went away.

  This weekend might be her last shot with him. A couple more weeks and she'd be leaving Stanfords for good.

  Back in her childhood bedroom, Cally spent a wakeful night. Luke had arranged to pick her up tomorrow afternoon so she could see his house. Her mother had immediately invited him back for supper afterwards. Essie and Paul and the rest of the family were also coming.

  That was fine, she thought, turning over on her side, determined to fall asleep this time. But each time she saw him, each time she was with him, the experience lingered, etched in her dreams, her mind, her memories, forever.

  Chapter Ten

  It was a traditional home, a family home. Two story double garage, landscaped grounds, balconies off the upstairs room to catch the view of a pretty lake. Cally loved it. Loved it so completely she would like to live there.

  Except Luke was trying to decide what to do when he went away and wanted her input. Should he rent it out, or have a family member look after it?

  "What about a friend renting?” Cally said as they sat out on the deck around a redwood table drinking iced tea.

  "Good thought,” he said. “You know, when I built the house, I had someone in mind to marry. Two years ago now. We'd known one another for a long time. Maybe too long. When it came right down to it, we both admitted we were good friends but nothing else. Marriage wouldn't work."

  Cally nodded. She didn't particularly like hearing the house had been built for another woman. “Did she have any say in the design? I mean, is that why it's a very family oriented house?"

  He smiled. “No. If she'd had her way, it would have looked like a cedar henhouse. She's an architect."

  "Oh. You mean, she likes way out?"

  "That's exactly what I mean.” He leaned his forearms on the table. “Actually, Carolyn, I believe, when she saw this house, she realized how different we were. I saw it as well. Plain as anything."

  "Aren't opposites supposed to attract?"

  "Opposites will always be different. I prefer being on someone's wavelength. As we are."

  But you're going away, Cally's heart cried. You'll be gone for a year.

  She finished her iced tea with a gulp and glanced at her watch. “I think we should be getting home. I'll want to help Mom with the meal."

  "Okay. Let's go,” he said and she saw him considering her as they planned their departure and he locked his house, the house she wouldn't mind living in with Luke.

  Stupid, she scolded herself on the short drive to her parents’ home. He doesn't want you that way. He's only kissed you once and that was before the Karl episode. He likes your company, but that's it, a way to pass the summer without getting involved and having any awkward leave taking. She certainly wasn't going to make his departure difficult for him. If the shoe were on the other foot, she wouldn't want him begging her to stay. She'd be on that plane in a flash, looking forward to her new adventure.

  Essie and Paul were already at the house waiting when they arrived.

  Essie hugged her and whispered. “See you're still getting along with Luke, hon."

  Cally laughed. “Getting along might not be the right words. We've had our difficulties this summer."

  "Is it serious?"

  "No. He's going away, you know."

  Essie looked worried. “I didn't know. Where?"

  "Saudi Arabia."

  "You're kidding?"

  "No. He's been offered a job over there and I believe he is going to accept. Who am I to stop him?"

  "Go with him?"

  "Go on, Ess."

  "I'm serious. If you love him, marry him and go with him."

  Cally gave her sister an incredulous look. “How come you've suddenly come around to this way of thinking?"

  "Since I fell in love with Paul, idiot. We're going to get married but we're going to wait until Matt comes home on leave next spring."

  "That means I'll have to move out of your house.” Cally immediately thought about practicalities.

  "True. Paul will sell his and move into mine. We've planned that."

  "I haven't planned anything with Luke, you know, so don't go saying anything. He might not want to marry me."

  Essie gave her an intense look. “But would you marry him?"

  Cally didn't answer because her mother came bustling in at that moment, but she thought she probably would.

  Luke fitted into her family like a foot into an expensive shoe. Cally secretly had wanted something to feel wrong. But all the men in her family, being engineers like Luke, gave them all a common thread. And of course Luke was the type of man women fell madly in love with. Why hadn't she seen that at the beginning of the summer? Or maybe she had. Maybe the way she'd observed him all the time for the first few weeks should have been a clue to the way she was going to feel when she was pushed along a more intimate pathway with him.

  She saw him out of the house to his car and by the car he pulled her close to him and kissed her. Cally held his arms and his kiss took her into a little bit of heaven. Oh, she did want him, and she would marry him. Essie had her answer.

  "Do you want to meet my parents?” he asked when they were apart and he was breathing a little unsteadily.

  She wet her lips, still tingling from his kiss, with the tip of her tongue. “Do you want me to?"

  "I know they'd like you, but ... I have to make some decisions, Carolyn. You know that. I didn't expect to meet you when I applied for that position."

  She touched his chest and stroked the soft flannel of his shirt. “It's okay. I understand. I didn't expect to meet you either. I'll meet your folks another weekend."

  "Okay. See you here at four tomorrow,” he said.

  She realized she had helped him over a hurdle and he seemed relieved. More convinced than ever that she had been a summer dalliance, she said tensely, “I'll be waiting."

  She waved him away and went into the house. The rest of the family left then, and she was alone with her Mom in the kitchen.