Safe Harbor

by Jennifer Moore

  Melanie studied the family pictures that hung in elegant frames along the café walls. The sight of smiling parents and children should make her homesick for her own family, but it created a different sort of ache. In over a month, nothing had been said in the news about her disappearance. Knowing her father hushed it up to maintain his reputation hurt worse than the cruel words he’d yelled or the painful way he’d jerked her arm.

  She turned her gaze to the man across the table. Seth had his own issues with his family. The pain they must have suffered and his guilt had to have been more than a young child could bear. He’d spoken about trying to be perfect. Probably feeling like he could never do enough to make up for something that he’d been too young to prevent, but had shaped every decision from then on. Based on the few things he’d said, she didn’t think his family had been much closer than hers.

  When she realized she was staring, she looked down at her plate, breaking off a piece of bread and sticking it in her mouth to cover her discomfiture.

  “Bread’s great, isn’t it?” Seth slathered butter over his slice.

  Melanie nodded as she chewed.

  “And make sure you drink some juice.”

  She glanced up and raised a brow.

  “Sorry, I’m just being a doctor for a little while until I’m sure you’re okay.”

  Melanie had to admit his concern made her feel important. Somehow, the way Seth watched over her didn’t leave her with the frustration of feeling dependent or helpless.

  When she’d left home, she had vowed never to allow a man to call the shots over her life. Were a pair of blue eyes and a white grin changing her position? She glanced up, studying him as he wiped a napkin over his mouth. Seth didn’t seem capable of violence, but what if she ever disagreed or challenged him? She couldn’t imagine him ever growing angry, but she’d never believed Senator Rutherford capable of hurting his daughter, either.

  Once they’d eaten, he folded the napkin, tucking it under the edge of his plate. “You ready?”

  Melanie nodded, feeling excited about spending the day at the carnival with Seth.

  He stood and pushed in his chair. “Just to warn you, I hold the town record for Whack-a-Mole. Three years now, undefeated.”

  “Oh my.” A smile grew on Melanie’s face. “I didn’t realize I was with a celebrity.”

  Grinning, Seth inclined his head. “Understandable. I am very humble about it.”

  Melanie giggled and shook her head.

  They bid Beatrice farewell and joined the crowd moving toward Grant’s Park.

  As she watched him from the corner of her eye, she noticed how straight he walked, swinging his arms, smiling at passersby. Seth was confident, strong where she was lacking, and she was tempted to lean on his steadiness. Knowing he’d also left behind family expectations to find his own happiness made her feel instantly connected. If only she’d been brave enough to do the same without feeling the need to hide.

  Seth would never even consider a marriage for a reason as ludicrous as winning over constituents. She glanced at him, and her cheeks heated when she saw his smile. What kind of marriage would Seth consider? And why did the question make her heart beat double-time?

  They stopped on First Street and waited for the trolley to pass, and then continued. Melanie smiled as she looked around the town. Lobster Cove residents had been preparing for the holiday for weeks. Flags, banners, and ribbons decorated the shops, and Melanie had heard excited chatter about the different carnival booths, the events, and the culmination of the celebration: a fireworks show over the lake. They reached the park, and music, the sounds of happy shouts, and the clangs and beeps of games filled the air. She smelled baked goods, fried food and barbecue, and saw the townsfolk consuming popsicles, soda, and ice cream to keep cool as they walked between exhibits.

  Seth pointed to the Whack-a-Mole booth and opened his mouth to say something when the sound of his name stopped him.

  “Dr. Goodwyn!” A young boy ran toward him, a plaster cast holding his arm at a ninety-degree angle. “Will you sign my cast?”

  Seth knelt on one knee and took the marker the boy offered. “Hey, Andrew! How’s the elbow feeling?” He scribbled his name on a blank space among the mostly child handwriting graffiti covering the cast.

  “Hurts a little. But I can still ride my bike.” The boy grinned, showing missing teeth.

  “But you always wear a helmet, right?” Seth spread his hand over Andrew’s hair like he was palming a basketball and shook it the slightest bit. “I can fix elbows, but heads are a lot trickier.”

  The boy laughed. “Yeah, my mom always makes me.”

  “Listen to your mom.” Seth stood and waved to a woman holding a bag of cotton candy.

  “Thanks, Dr. Goodwyn.” Andrew rushed back to join his mother.

  Heat spread through her chest as Melanie watched the scene. Seth had been so comfortable and so gentle with the boy, and though the encounter lasted less than a minute, Melanie felt something inside her that she didn’t quite understand. The warmth increased when Seth turned and his gaze found hers.

  He glanced toward the carnival game, but another child, a girl this time, caught his attention with a shy wave.

  The girl was small with her dark hair held back in red, white, and blue ribbons. She held the hand of a man who stood talking with a couple.

  Melanie couldn’t begin to guess a child’s age, but the girl was too young to be a Trawler. Maybe six?

  Seth waved back.

  The girl turned her face against the man’s leg.

  Melanie’s heart went out to the little girl. She knew exactly the feeling of being too shy to speak.

  Seth caught Melanie’s gaze and tipped his head toward the Whack-a-Mole booth. As they walked toward it, they passed closely by the little girl.

  She peeked from behind the man’s leg.

  “Hi, Halle,” Seth spoke in a soft voice.

  “My throat doesn’t hurt anymore.” Halle’s voice was nearly a whisper.

  Seth greeted the man, shaking his hand and knelt down until he was eye level with Halle. “Did you take all your medicine?”

  She nodded making the ribbons bounce. “All of it. Just like I promised.”

  “I’m so glad. You wouldn’t enjoy the carnival if you were still sick.”

  “I rode on the Ferris wheel.”

  “What a lucky girl. Maybe I’ll have to try it out.”

  Halle glanced up at Melanie. “Is she your wife?”

  At the words, Melanie felt her heart seize, and she saw the back of Seth’s neck turn red.

  “This is my friend, Melanie.” He motioned for Melanie to join them.

  She stood behind Seth, unsure of what to do. Should she kneel?

  “Mel, I’d like you to meet one of my favorite patients, Halle.”

  “Hi, Halle.” She waved awkwardly, not having any idea how to talk to a young child. Aside from the Trawlers, she’d seldom had contact with children. Certainly never back home. And with the kids on her team, knowing what to say was easy, she just showed them how to play softball.

  Seth rose. “Hope you enjoy the carnival, Halle.”

  “You, too, Doctor Goodwyn.”

  Seeing his wink and smile, Melanie realized how much Seth enjoyed what he did. He was comfortable around the people, and he seemed to especially connect with the kids.

  Seth will be a good dad. The thought hit her out of the blue and brought her up short. Music played over the speakers, people laughed and called to one another and the whirrs and bleeps of the carnival games sounded around her, but Melanie tuned all of it out, her mind zeroing in on the notion.

  He glanced to see why she stopped, raising his brows in a question.

  Melanie smiled and continued walking toward the carnival booth. She’d never had such a thought—about anyone. Of course, she’d dated and assumed she’d eventually get married. But most of the guys who she’d gone out with were social climbers, not the type to be thinking
about parenthood. Usually not much time passed before a guy mentioned how much he wanted to meet her father, or somehow work into the conversation how beneficial a government internship would be to his career. While the comments could have been nothing more than innocent conversation, she had never been completely sure of the reasons they’d asked her out in the first place.

  She’d never considered any of those dates as potential fathers. Why hadn’t she? In just the last few minutes, the bar has been raised on future husband qualifications, and the direction her thoughts were taking made her nervous.

  Seth approached the Whack-a-Mole booth and handed two bills to the teenage girl behind the counter. “Wanna go first, Mel?”

  Flashing a smile, she shook her head. Her mind still spun from her unexpected thoughts. “I came to watch the master.”

  He twirled the foamy mallet and spread apart his legs. The look in his eyes was one of fierce concentration as he waited for the game to start. Once the moles began popping out of their holes, Seth pounced.

  Melanie put her hand over her mouth to hold back a laugh. She didn’t want to distract him, or hurt his feelings, but the sight of a grown man so intent on a carnival game was something she’d never witnessed in her life.

  His arm was a blur. The faster he moved, the more people stopped to watch. He hit the little mole heads so quickly that there was hardly a pause between “thumps.” When the buzzer went off, a cheer from the bystanders rose.

  Seth turned and wiped the back of his arm across his forehead. “Whew!” He bowed for the crowd, and then looked to the digital scoreboard above the game.

  “Three ten.” The girl took the mallet. “That’s the highest score I’ve seen.”

  “I have a good luck charm.” Grinning, Seth jerked his head toward Melanie.

  She knew her cheeks flamed red and wondered what it would be like to possess his level of self assurance.

  “You can choose a prize.” The girl pointed to a row of stuffed animals hanging along the top of the booth.

  “Normally, I only play for the glory.” His breath came out in huffs. “You choose, Mel.”

  She pointed to a penguin. A warm feeling spread through her chest as she thought how similar the bird looked to a puffin.

  When Seth took it from the girl, he held it over his head like a victory trophy then presented it to Melanie. “This guy can keep your misguided bear in line. Penguins are Sox fans.”

  Feeling like a teenager in a movie, Melanie just rolled her eyes. She’d been given gifts by men before, but never a tacky prize from a carnival game. The gift made her feel special in a way she couldn’t explain. And she knew it was completely ridiculous. She held the penguin up to her ear. “What’s that? Your name is Mariano Riviera?”

  Seth threw back his head and groaned. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

  She laughed, patting the toy’s head. “Of course we’re watching the game this weekend. And you’ll love your big brother, Jeter.”

  He groaned again, but the sound was followed by a smile and a wink.

  The pair wandered through the carnival, stopping occasionally at a booth to look at the carnival merchandise or to try out a game. They ate ice cream, and Melanie greeted a few of the kids from her team. She knew a few other people from the coffee house and exchanged hellos with them as well. But Seth knew everybody.

  A few people stopped him to ask about medical problems they were having. Instead of making an excuse, he listened each time, giving advice or telling them to come into the clinic tomorrow. He smiled as he greeted Lobster Covians old and young, always taking the time to speak with someone. Never acting like he was too busy.

  Melanie was reminded of her father when he campaigned—hugging, shaking hands, smiling, waving to everyone he saw. Even kissing babies. But with Seth, his attitude seemed different. And though she didn’t know him well, she could tell he wasn’t just putting on a show. He actually cared about the people.

  After a few hours of wandering, snacking, and greeting neighbors, the two decided to head back to Seth’s car for a blanket to save a spot on the grass for the fireworks show.

  As they passed through the ride area, Seth pointed to a couple standing beside the temporary metal fence surrounding the carousel. “There’re Nathaniel and Val. He’s been my best friend since we were kids. Is it ok if we go say hi?”

  “Of course.” She hoped he couldn’t tell that her heart rate had sped up. She fought to keep her breath steady.

  “Nathaniel! Val!” Seth called out to his friends.

  They turned, and Melanie studied the couple. Nathaniel seemed a bit older than his companion—maybe in his early thirties, like Seth. The woman, Val, had blonde hair and a bright smile. While they were both attractive, she thought the couple seemed mis-matched based on their personal fashion sense. Nathaniel dressed in the same conservative New England-style as Seth while Val had a more eccentric style that Melanie would classify as “cowgirl.”

  “Val, Nathaniel. I’d like you to meet Melanie Owen.” Seth touched the small of Melanie’s back, urging her to take a step forward.

  Melanie could tell by the way he smiled that their meeting was important to him, but hearing her assumed name reminded her to be on guard. Would either of these two recognize her?

  Nathaniel darted a glance at Seth, then shook Melanie’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Hi, Melanie.” Val smiled and offered her hand. “Nice meetin’ ya.”

  Her accent was southern. Maybe the “cowgirl” label wasn’t so far off. “Likewise.” Melanie shook Val’s hand and smiled.

  “Been here long?” Seth asked.

  “Just arrived.” Nathaniel waved at the children on the carousel.

  Seth shifted, twisting slightly to include Melanie in their circle. “Mel and I were on our way to set out blankets by the lake. Want us to save you a place for the fireworks?”

  “We have a blanket in the car.” Nathaniel lifted his chin toward the town center. “I’ll grab it and help you save some spots.” He turned to Val and raised his brows. “If Val doesn’t mind me leaving her with the kids on her day off.”

  Melanie thought it was a strange thing to say, but she’d had such limited interaction with young families that she wouldn’t judge their parenting approach.

  Val waved her had in the air. “Course not. Go ahead, and we’ll catch up when y’all get back.”

  Seth touched Melanie’s arm and leaned to speak close to her ear. “Will you be okay here with Val and the kids for a minute?”

  Melanie nodded. “Sure.” She knew her voice was quiet and hoped she didn’t sound hesitant. Staying with Val didn’t bother her at all. She smiled, hoping Seth wouldn’t worry about making her uncomfortable. Inside, she prayed Val wouldn’t ask too many questions.

  Glancing up, she saw Nathaniel studying her. His expression seemed curious, but she didn’t know whether it was because she looked familiar, or if he just wondered about her as Seth’s friend. She tipped her head forward to let her hair fall in front of her face and tried for a nonchalant attitude.

  She couldn’t believe her life had come to a point where she cowered in a corner and hid her face while a calliope played carousel music. What am I doing? Melanie’d asked herself the same question all day, and she still had no answer.

  Chapter Four

  Seth felt Nathaniel’s gaze as the two walked down Second Street toward the movie theater parking lot. He knew his friend was curious about Melanie, but Seth wasn’t sure exactly what to tell him. Melanie and I are complicated. How else could he describe a relationship that began with him breaking into her apartment?

  “So Melanie, is it?” Nathaniel finally broke the silence.

  “Yep.” Seth glanced at him, hoping to see anything in his friend’s expression that might give an opinion. “You sound skeptical.”

  “Curious. I didn’t know you were seeing someone. Why haven’t you mentioned her?”

  Seth blew out a breath. He could think of
a hundred reasons he hadn’t told Nathaniel about Melanie on their morning runs. He, of course, hadn’t known her long. And the only occasion that was even close to a real date was their picnic. But he didn’t think those reasons were what kept him from bringing her up. Something about Melanie made him want to keep her and their budding relationship to himself. He wanted to protect her secret, even if he didn’t understand her reasons behind it. He also didn’t want to answer the myriad of questions Nathaniel was sure to ask. He was an attorney after all. Talking about her felt like a violation of her privacy. And if there was one thing Melanie wanted, it was privacy. “We’re not really seeing each other. She’s new in town, and we just happened to come to the carnival together.”

  “Uh huh.” Nathaniel cocked a brow.

  “What does that mean?” Seth crossed his arms, a mixture of defensiveness and confusion battled within his thoughts And also a little pleasure at knowing Nathaniel might think there was more to the relationship.

  Nathaniel shrugged. “Nothing.”

  They split to walk around a cluster of women.

  “How’s Val?” Seth said when he rejoined Nathaniel on the path between the carnival booths.

  “Changing the subject?”

  “Curious.” Seth mimicked his friend’s earlier statement.

  “Val’s great. Best nanny I’ve ever had. The kids adore her, and I don’t know how we ever got along without her.” Nathaniel gave him a sidelong glance.

  The look seemed intended to show just how easy it was to answer a question. “Gonna be rough when she leaves at the end of the summer.” Seth knew he was prying, but he wanted to see if he could get any reaction.

  Nathaniel stuffed his hands into his pockets and stared straight ahead.

  Seth figured his friend’s action was an answer in itself.

  When they reached the parking lot, Nathaniel clicked his fob, opening the car’s trunk. He pulled out a cooler, blankets, sweatshirts, and a backpack, piling the items behind the car.

  “Wow.” Seth lifted the cooler from the asphalt. “What do you have in here? Bricks?”

  Nathaniel grinned. “You know Val’s a southern girl. She doesn’t mess around when food’s involved.”