Unraveled

by Heidi McCahan

  “Big day today. The annual Cove to Creek relay race,” Dad said.

  “Oh? Well, have a good time.” Mrs. Sullivan waved and turned back to stirring her coffee.

  Mom wrapped her arms around Lauren and kissed her cheek. She pulled back and smiled. “Good luck, hon. I’ll see you at the finish line.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  Lauren followed Dad outside. She stopped when he unlocked the door of his patrol car. “Dad, you can’t be serious. I don’t want to show up in that.”

  “Would you prefer the old, unreliable minivan?”

  Lauren frowned. “No.”

  He gestured to the passenger side. “Get in. You can ride up front today.”

  She climbed in reluctantly. The interior smelled of leather and spearmint gum. Dad turned the key and the engine purred. She had fond memories of racing Seth out the front door to see who could greet Dad first when he came home. The winner always got to sit behind the wheel and play with the CB radio. The loser was confined to the passenger seat. Seth almost always got there first.

  A few wispy clouds floated across a brilliant blue sky. The water was especially green and rather calm. “Beautiful day to win a race,” Dad said.

  Lauren glanced his way and smiled. “Yes, it is.”

  “You’ve been gone a long time, sweetheart. We’ve missed you. It’s been nice having you back under our roof again.”

  Lauren licked her lips. “I couldn’t stand it when I heard about Granny. I had to see her.”

  “Is that the only reason you’re here?”

  Holden’s chiseled features flashed in her memory, a lock of dark hair falling over his forehead. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m just concerned, that’s all. Seems like your situation with, uh, Holden caught you unaware.”

  Lauren’s throat tightened. She swallowed hard. “Unaware of what?”

  “Is there anything I need to know? Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  How did he know? “I’ve made a mess of things, Dad. It’s … complicated.”

  Dad gave her a questioning glance. “If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.”

  “Thanks.”

  Dad pulled into the empty parking lot behind the bank and turned off the engine. He reached across the seat and squeezed her hand. “Have fun today.” He let go of her hand and got out of the car, striking up a conversation with another police officer lingering nearby.

  The butterflies had multiplied. Maybe she should’ve eaten a little more. Jeremy’s black truck slid into the parking space next to theirs. He looked through the window and grinned. She waved but her hand froze in mid-air when Blake climbed out of the passenger side, then flipped the seat forward so Tisha could join him. You can do this. She pushed the door open and Jeremy greeted her.

  “Mornin’, sunshine.” He winked and stretched his arms high over his head. “I see you’re riding in style.”

  “Very funny.” She narrowed her eyes and punched his shoulder.

  “Careful, wouldn’t want you to hurt your hand.” His eyes twinkled as he flexed his muscles.

  Laughter bubbled up in her throat. She could never stay mad at Jeremy. Shoes scuffled on the pavement and she stole a glance at Blake. Their eyes met and the heavy ache of regret weighed her down. He was never good at concealing his emotions. Dark circles ringed his eyes and a pillow mark creased his cheek. This was a very bad idea.

  “Hey,” he said, his eyes flitting from hers to Jeremy’s and then toward the ground.

  “Good morning.” She managed a small smile and a polite nod in Tisha’s general direction. Tisha wiggled her fingers before pulling them back in the sleeves of her long sleeve gray t-shirt. Her sleek platinum blond ponytail bobbed on her shoulder as she jogged up and down in her fancy trail runners. At least she came ready to race.

  “Sleep well, big brother?” Jeremy reached out and rubbed Blake’s cheek.

  Blake frowned and knocked his hand away. “Not really. Why?”

  Jeremy shrugged. “No reason. Tisha, what do you think? Ready to win this thing?”

  She smiled and her sparkling white teeth gleamed in the sunlight. “You know it.”

  A shrill whistle rang out and they looked up to see Jess and Shannon waving from the registration table.

  “Let’s go check in.” Jeremy led the way across the parking lot. Lauren fell in step behind Blake and Tisha, who was chattering non-stop. Groups of people huddled around the registration table, talking and pinning numbers on each other’s shirts.

  “Wow.” Lauren looked at a woman’s number as she passed by. “This looks pretty official.”

  “Yep, things have changed a little since your last race, Lo-lo.” Jeremy said.

  Tisha shot her a look. “You’ve raced before?”

  “It’s been a long time.”

  “Don’t let her fool you.” Jeremy glanced back over his shoulder. “Lauren won this race back in the day.”

  Tisha’s mouth fell open.

  “We were a team. And that was a long time ago,” Lauren said, averting her eyes from Tisha’s gaping mouth.

  “Hey.” Shannon grinned and handed her a piece of paper with black numbers and fancy logo printed on it. “Are you excited?”

  Lauren looked at her number. 252. Sounded good. “I’m getting there. Big turn out?”

  “Almost three hundred entries. I don’t know where they all came from.”

  Lauren scooped up a handful of safety pins from the bowl. She turned away and bumped right into Tisha. Not exactly the person she hoped would pin her number on for her.

  “Would you like some help?” Jeremy held out his hand for the pins.

  He stood behind her and tucked the pins between his lips. “I’m glad you’re racing today. I know you wish you were somewhere else right now.”

  Lauren raised her chin. She was glad he couldn’t see her face. “This race is one of my favorite things about Emerald Cove. I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “My brother’s in a mood today. Don’t pay any attention to him.”

  Lauren stiffened. “That’s sort of a tall order, don’t you think?”

  “That’s true. You two never could stay away from each other.” He patted her on the shoulder. “You’re all set.”

  Her cheeks warmed under his bold declaration.

  A whistle blew and a man with a megaphone bellowed instructions for the racers to line up by age group. The runners moved toward the starting area in a large pack. Lauren recognized many of the people lining the course with lawn chairs, staking their claim on any chunk of vacant sidewalk they could find.

  The hum of conversation escalated as the runners fanned out and started to stretch their legs. Lauren stood next to Jess and leaned over to touch her toes, feeling the tug in her hamstrings. When she straightened, a familiar laugh rang out nearby. Lauren glanced at Blake in time to see Tisha smiling as she grasped his shoulder and stretched her quadriceps. Whatever. But she couldn’t look away. His sleeveless shirt emphasized his ripped biceps and broad chest. He hadn’t bothered to shave and the stubble on his cheeks sent her mind wandering back to their encounter at the Inn.

  “Enjoying the view?” Jess nudged her with his elbow.

  Her cheeks flamed and she averted her eyes. “Not really.”

  “Aunt Lauren!” A little boy’s voice floated over the crowd and Lauren turned toward the sidewalk. Perfect timing. Joshua stood next to his parents, waving enthusiastically and holding a big piece of poster board with her name printed in block letters with red marker. She waved back.

  “I’ll be right back, Jess.” She weaved through the racers until she stood in front of her family. “Hi, Joshua. That’s an awesome sign, buddy.”

  “Yep.” He grinned from ear to ear and wiggled the sign in the air.

  Lauren glanced at Angela and Matt, who were busy dispensing snacks to the little girls in their double stroller. Angela wore Gavin in a baby carrier, his little legs in tiny footed pajamas dangling from the opening
s. She bit her lip and focused on Joshua. Admiring a newborn would be enough to send her over the edge today.

  Matt looked up from the stroller and smiled. “Hey, it’s our favorite racer. Good luck, Aunt Lauren.”

  Lauren shivered, jogging in place to warm up. “Thanks. Are you saving a seat for Mom?”

  Angela nodded. “She’s at the hospital picking Granny up.”

  Lauren stared. “What?” Granny wasn’t ready for an outing. She puffed her cheeks and blew out a breath.

  “Don’t worry about it, Lo-lo. We’ll take care of Granny. Go race.” Matt patted her arm.

  Lauren pinched her bottom lip behind her teeth. It was hard not to worry. An air horn sounded and she jumped.

  “Relay teams,” a man called through a megaphone. “To the starting line. Race begins in three minutes.”

  Lauren’s heart sped up. “I better go. See you guys.” She waved and turned back into the crowd, bumping shoulders and hips and trying not to step on toes. This had to be a record turnout for the relay race. Blake and Jeremy stood huddled with Tisha and Jess near the starting line. Blake caught her eye as she moved closer, but his expression was unreadable. She glanced away. Maybe he would run the first leg and she could avoid talking to him until after the race.

  “Runners, listen up.” Megaphone man piped up again. “Some part of your body must touch the tower. The hill is muddy and wet. No hitting, tripping, shoving. We’re watching you.”

  “When did they add all these new rules?” Lauren asked. “He is such a killjoy.”

  “I think somebody complained after a certain incident with a girl named Susannah,” Jess nudged her.

  Lauren huffed out a breath. “That’s ridiculous. She totally tripped.”

  “First racers to the starting line.”

  “Wait. Who’s going first?” Lauren glanced from Jess to Jeremy.

  “We thought you could run anchor. Tisha will start us out,” Jeremy said.

  Great. That meant a lot of standing around. Waiting. With Blake. She’d have to take a warm up lap around a parking lot. Anything to ease the tension between them.

  “Here we go.” Tisha bounced up and down like a pogo stick as the first wave of runners took their places along the white line spray painted on the asphalt on Main Street.

  Lauren checked her shoe laces, stretched one last time and took a deep breath. The crowd began clapping and cheering. A shot rang out and the runners surged forward. The crowd erupted in more shouts and someone banged on a cowbell. Lauren couldn’t help but smile. Their enthusiasm was contagious.

  “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” A strong hand clapped her shoulder and Lauren turned to see Mr. Peters, her old math teacher, grinning from ear to ear. “Decided to come home and defend your title?”

  “Hi, Mr. Peters. No, I—”

  “Blake, nice to see you again.” Mr. Peters turned away before she could answer and shook Blake’s hand. “I hear this rafting thing is really taking off. How about that?”

  “It’s going well so far, Mr. Peters.”

  “Glad to hear it. Well, guess I better find my team.” Mr. Peters turned away then came back and leaned in close. “Oh, Lauren. I hear Susannah Farmer is running this year. Better watch your back.” He chuckled and disappeared into the crowd.

  Lauren cringed and shook her head. Never going to live that down.

  Blake met her gaze and quirked a curious eyebrow.

  “I didn’t push her. Seriously.” He was there. Didn’t he remember?

  “I know, I know. She totally tripped.”

  Lauren swallowed hard and looked around. “Do you really think she’s here?”

  Blake shrugged. “It’s possible. I heard she was back in town for her class reunion.”

  Lauren craned her neck to check out the other runners, but none fit the image of Susannah she carried in her memory. Of course the girl wouldn’t look the same as she had ten years ago. Instead of worn out tennis shoes and faded shirts that were once the trademarks of the race, the runners lined up nearby wore expensive nylon shorts and form-fitting tops. She looked back at Blake. “Things have really changed around here, haven’t they?”

  A muscle in Blake’s jaw tightened. “In more ways than one.”

  For a moment, the race and the other runners, the spectators—all of it—faded into the background. His eyes held hers and she longed to tell him that her feelings for him hadn’t changed. Time and distance had muddled everything. Guilt had nearly snuffed out any chance at happiness. But deep down, she was still that same girl he’d fallen in love with when they were teenagers. Not now. She shook her head, breaking eye contact. “I—I need to warm up some more. I’ll be over here.”

  Before Blake could answer, she’d slipped through the crowd and headed for the bank parking lot, her stomach twisted in knots. Mrs. Putnam had told her a dozen times that concealing the truth would eventually consume her. That running away didn’t solve her problems. Lauren jogged in a slow circle. How ironic. The opportunity to break free stood right in front of her and she’d turned tail and run. Only a few more days. Then she’d be on her way back to Portland. The reality of her situation socked her in the stomach and she stopped jogging. Could she really leave again and not tell Blake the truth?

  twenty four

  A smattering of applause broke out as Blake came down the hill and rounded the corner. Lauren waited at the starting line, poised for him to tag her. His side ached as he sprinted down Main Street. At least this was one time she couldn’t run away. Jeremy stood between Tisha and Jess, hands cupped around his mouth. “C’mon, bro!” His brother’s words of encouragement spurred him forward, neck in neck with another runner. He crossed the line first and touched Lauren’s outstretched hand.

  Lauren took off with a slight lead over the other teams and he doubled over, hands on knees, gasping for breath. His legs were splattered with mud.

  “Great run, man. How do you feel?” Jeremy asked.

  Blake stood up, chest heaving, and reached for the cup of water Jeremy offered. “That hill’s crazy steep.”

  “You’re telling me. I almost bit it a couple of times.”

  Blake’s breathing slowed and he accepted another cup of water from Tisha.

  “You looked amazing out there.” She let her fingers brush against his before she let go of the cup.

  Good grief. “Thanks. You too.” He finished the water and tossed both empty cups in the trash. “Let’s jog down by the hill and cheer for Lauren.”

  Jeremy arched one eyebrow. “For real?”

  “Why not? She’s got the toughest leg of the race. Besides, I saw Susannah Farmer waiting to run anchor for the guy who was right behind me.” It was also the only discreet way he could think of to avoid Tisha’s not so subtle advances.

  Jeremy rubbed his hands together. “Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we’ve got ourselves a race.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Jess said.

  They jogged through the crowd, Blake’s legs protesting with every step. But he knew if he didn’t cool down, he’d be in bad shape tomorrow. He watched Lauren up ahead, weaving in and out of the slower runners. A little boy held out his hand and she gave him a high five as she ran by. The front runners left the pavement of neighborhood streets and turned onto the trail. Lauren had managed to hang on to the lead, but a lean, long-legged girl wearing orange and black was gaining ground.

  “Let’s go, Lauren!” Jess yelled.

  Lauren swung her arms faster to propel her body forward. A flash of orange surged toward the front of the pack. Susannah.

  “She’s going to catch her,” Blake said.

  “Maybe not. Lauren hates to lose,” Jeremy said.

  Rocks and chunks of gravel trickled down the hill, giving way under the runners’ feet. Susannah made short work of the hill, while Lauren struggled to gain a foothold. Don’t give up. Blake kept his eyes on the water tower that stood at the top of the hill, a fresh coat of green paint blotting out the years o
f graffiti applied by exuberant graduates.

  Somebody let out a whoop as they smacked the water tower with their hand. Blake watched Susannah make her way back down the hill. She smiled sweetly and said something to Lauren as she ran by. Blake couldn’t help but laugh. He’d give anything to have heard that little exchange. So it was a rematch after all.

  “Is she talking trash?” Jeremy asked.

  “Looks like it. I bet Lauren loved that.”

  Blake watched Lauren start her decent down the hill. As the runners jostled for position, Lauren caught her toe on a rock and stumbled forward. Blake’s heart stuttered. Panic surfaced. Sliding down the steep muddy hill face-first would mean the end of the race. She regained her balance after a few awkward strides. Blake exhaled the breath he’d held.

  Susannah was already at the bottom of the hill and headed back toward town. When Lauren followed a minute later, discomfort marred her features. “You’ve got this,” Blake jogged along the edge of the course, calling out encouragement because he knew her body protested.

  “Let’s go, Lauren. Don’t let her win this race,” Jeremy yelled, clapping loudly.

  While she didn’t acknowledge them, it must have helped because the creases in her brow relaxed and she kicked harder. The distance between Lauren and Susannah diminished. Did Lauren have enough reserves to pass her?

  The finish line came into view and the crowd lining the street began to cheer. Blake spotted Granny sitting in a wheelchair on the sidewalk in front of the church. She looked regal, with her silver hair pinned up in a twist and a beautiful blue quilt wrapped around her legs. The rest of the family surrounded her, clapping and cheering as Lauren approached. A faint smile crossed Granny’s lips and she lifted her hand and waved. Even Emmy and Ava were excited. They sat in their stroller, smiling and waving rainbow-colored pinwheels.

  “Whoa. Check that out.” Jeremy pointed. Blake looked down Main Street. Susannah had slowed to a jog. She was just a few strides ahead of Lauren and noticeably limping. Here’s your chance. Susannah stole a quick glance over her shoulder and winced.