The Promise

by JM Dragon

  Fern seemed to bring herself partially out of her stupor. “What happened?”

  Kris bit her lip, wondering if Claire was prepared to share the details with the woman who to her at least was a stranger.

  “I had an altercation with a train on a track. My bad, as they say, and this is part payment. I have memory loss, some recent ones, but many older. I apparently loved my gramps, but I can’t recall him at all. I’m sorry if at some time in my life I’ve upset you, Fern, but seriously I can’t remember you.” Claire sat back in her seat with a heavy sigh.

  Kris had the advantage of watching both women, and they looked solemn.

  “I think I understand. You might have broken my heart back then, but I bounced back. In fact, it’s because of you that I own this place. I’m respectable now. You can tell your father I said hi.” Fern stood unsteadily. “I’ll send you over another bottle, my compliments. Good night.”

  Before she or Claire had time to answer, Fern was gone into the ever-increasing throng of Friday evening revelers.

  They remained silent until Kris couldn’t hold back any longer. “Well that was a bit of a shock. And what was that about your father? That was an odd thing to say, don’t you think?”

  Claire didn’t look at her. Her eyes were glued to her injured arm. Then she looked up suddenly. “Thank God she’s sending over another bottle. I need more to drink.”

  Kris had a feeling this conversation regarding Fern, though far from settled, was over tonight. She understood that to a degree, even if the subject intrigued her.

  Kris stood and exited her side of the booth and seconds later sat next to Claire. “Scoot over a bit.” Claire duly did so. “I think right now you need a hug. You okay with that?” She didn’t wait for the answer. Instead, she took Claire in her arms and held her until she felt the tension Claire had hidden well release and her body sagged against her chest.

  “Thank you” was Claire’s muffled response as she kissed the top of Kris’s head, which was slightly bent toward her breasts.

  “You know this could get tricky.”

  “What could?” Claire tentatively asked.

  “Well, this ex business…how are we to know if they are or aren’t? Although, I could check the tabloids. We might have to become hermits.” Kris chuckled softly.

  Claire moved away so they were close but could still see each other, and Kris saw tears for the first time in Claire’s eyes. She gently touched her eyelids. “I’m sticking around, Claire, until you decide it won’t work.”

  Claire shook her head. “What if it isn’t me, but you?”

  “I guess it could happen. Except that when I’m around you, I never want to leave. Sounds silly, right?” Kris sucked in her lips, hoping she hadn’t said too much. Then again, they didn’t have the luxury of time to make decisions like this. Time was the one thing that was speedily running out, even if they did live in the same city. She had the distinct feeling if they parted without having this conversation, there would be no tomorrow for them.

  “I feel the same,” Claire quietly said. She smiled and kissed Kris, pulling away as the server announced his arrival.

  “Oh, girls, don’t bother about me, carry on. We love our customers enjoying themselves. That’s why I work here. Everyone is welcome. Here you go, our very best Merlot and compliments of the boss. You must be really good friends.” He popped the cork and placed the bottle on the table.

  “Won’t our server be upset that you’ve brought more wine? Means the tip will be shared,” Kris said.

  There was a girly laugh. “Oh, Tina knows. I’m the manager, and this was a favor for the boss. Enjoy, ladies.” With a flourish of hands, he left.

  Kris looked at the bottle, then at Claire, and sighed as she poured them both another drink.

  “What was that for?”

  “This night was supposed to be about us. We’d have been better off staying home. Next time I’m going to choose where we have dinner.” Kris smiled.

  Claire picked up her glass and nodded in the direction of Kris’s, and Kris took hers.

  “To you and me, alone without baggage. We could go to the beach when we leave here and take in a night sky. What do you think?”

  Kris knew visiting the beach after ten was a silly thing, really. It would be dark and maybe the tide might be in but…. “Yes, let’s do that.” She raised her glass to Claire’s and they chinked.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The sea was out.

  Claire was thankful. They’d said good night to Shirley almost immediately after they arrived home. Shirley had seemed pensive and though communicative on the journey to Seasons, she shut down when they arrived. Neither of them broached the change in the housekeeper; tonight was their night. They needed each other.

  Alone.

  That crazy woman Fern had made everything tense, although she had provided more wine and they brought most of it home. In fact, as she stared out at the sea, with a full moon illuminating the expanse, she was grateful for Kris and her upbeat attitude about tonight’s events. It would have been bad enough if an ex she remembered appeared. How much more awkward would a total stranger turning up be if she couldn’t remember the woman? Becoming a hermit might be a good option. Kris was right about one thing: that quip about her father was odd. Surely Fern hadn’t been having an affair with him at the same time.

  “You’ve gone all quiet. Are you going to sleep on me already?”

  Turning to Kris, who was seated next to her on the blanket they’d placed on the beach, Claire smiled. She took Kris’s hand and squeezed it gently.

  “Not likely. Believe me, you are worth staying awake for. What do you think of the view?”

  Kris grinned and rested her head on Claire’s shoulder. “Perfect, I have a marvelous view courtesy of Mother Nature and the most important woman in my life at my side.” She sighed.

  Claire was once more amazed how Kris could say all the right things naturally. She fell more and more under her spell. “Got that right on both counts.” Kris sucked in a deep breath and waited, fully expecting Kris to say something more. It didn’t happen. Instead, Kris leaned farther into her shoulder and relaxed.

  A minor wind that was surprisingly warm tickled her ears. Can my life get any better than this and what Kris is offering me? I know if I said “Let’s go to bed” right now, she would. I know I have to make the ultimate commitment though. Otherwise she becomes like all the rest of the women in my past—disposable. I won’t do that to her. She deserves the real thing. Damn, when did I get scruples about taking a woman to bed?

  “What time is Melissa arriving? Do you know?”

  The whispered question reinforced her need to do something about where this relationship was going or could potentially go. Except the word potentially wasn’t right with Kris. It would be all in or nothing.

  “Not sure, but knowing Grams it will be in the morning. She’s definitely a morning person, up at the crack of dawn most days.” Claire placed her arm around Kris’s waist and hugged her closer. She could hear her heart beat and would swear theirs beat in unison. How odd. “I was thinking.”

  Kris chuckled and looked up.

  Claire dipped her head and kissed the sweet smile that graced Kris’s lips. “Yes, I know, dangerous. If you never had to go back to the city, would there be anything there you would regret leaving behind?”

  Kris gently pushed herself away from Claire so they faced each other. “I don’t understand. You mean stay here or go someplace different?”

  “Either. I was thinking about here.” Claire waved her free hand across the expanse.

  “Knight, of course. I miss him every day, but I can take him with me at least.” Kris pursed her lips. “Not sure about here though. Maybe cats wouldn’t be welcome. I was thinking about Buddy.”

  Claire nodded. “He’d be welcomed. Buddy seems to have disappeared. I hope nothing has happened to him.”

  Kris touched Claire’s cheek and smiled. “He was courting, Clai
re. Probably they are getting ready to migrate. I’d say he’s going to bring his offspring back here for sure, especially if he thought his best buddy was around with treats.”

  Claire frowned. “Really? Wow. I never thought of that. Stupid me.”

  Kris stared at her, and Claire was lost in the serious, brown gaze. “I guess the cottage has that effect on people, huh? Look at us. Who would have thought it?” Kris narrowed her eyes, then kissed Claire.

  The kiss deepened to the extent that they didn’t come up for air for some time. When they did, Claire gasped at the way her body throbbed. She clung to Kris, hoping her world would stop spinning. “If I could make it happen, Kris, would you stay here with me?” Her voice was wafer-thin.

  Kris leaned her forehead against Claire’s and drew in a slow breath. “Do you mean it and is it even possible?”

  “I mean it, and if I talk with Grams…sure, I think it is. Grams always gives me everything I ask for.”

  Kris gave her a wide-eyed look and simply nodded.

  Claire grinned, and her heart, she was damn sure, was floating next to the moon on the sea. Then she made a decision that no matter what happened she would never regret. She moved to kneel beside Kris and puffed out her chest.

  “Will you marry me, Kris, and live at Seasons with me?”

  Kris opened her mouth, then shut it and stared at her in amazement.

  “I know it’s unexpected, but I want you to know I’m serious about you marrying me. I’ll go one better to ensure you know that I mean this. I will go to Broome and ask your parents for your hand in marriage. I just want to know that if I get their blessing you will say yes.”

  Claire held her breath, waiting.

  Kris traced a finger over Claire’s lips and shook her head, but she was smiling.

  “You forgot the most important thing. The rest is irrelevant.”

  Claire frowned and tried hard to think what she could possibly have missed.

  “I’m…damn, I’m sorry. What did I miss, Kris?” she pleaded.

  Kris smiled. “I love you, Claire.”

  “Well yeah, I figured if you contemplated this you’d…ah. Oh, how crappy am I. I’m sorry, my love. I love you. I think I have from the first moment I saw you sneaking a peek at me from the window of your room that first day.”

  “You…you fell in love me then? How is that possible?” Kris breathlessly asked.

  Claire chuckled and pulled her close. “You entranced me from a distance. Believe me, attraction is never quite what you expect, and love is ever more volatile. Kris Lake, I do love you. Will you marry me?”

  Kris almost fell over as she excitedly replied, “Yes, yes, and oh yes. I love you, Claire. It was breaking my heart to think I might not see you again after Sunday morning.”

  Claire grinned, tilted Kris’s chin back, and winked. “Never going to happen. There is nothing in my life that could possibly do that.”

  Kris moved forward, and seconds later, they were lying on the blanket, uncaring of the beautiful backdrop, simply engrossed in each other.

  Chapter Thirty

  The car pulling up the driveway had the three occupants of the house nervous for different reasons.

  Shirley waved toward the door. “Go greet your grandmother, Claire. She will like that. Kris and I will wait here.”

  Claire nodded, then gave Kris a wink. She ambled to the door, opened it, and slowly progressed down the steps to the car and opened the driver’s door. “Mother?”

  Anna Tremont smiled at her, withdrew long legs from the vehicle, and once standing, enclosed her in a hug.

  “Darling, are you pleased to see me?”

  The throaty words didn’t quite register for a few seconds, and then when they did, Claire drew away. As always, her mother’s outfit was perfectly coordinated. She wore pale beige linen trousers, an opaque silk blouse, and a string of pearls that did actually look good with the simplistic outfit. Her dark blonde hair was in a flattering modern mid-length style, along with perfectly applied makeup.

  “I’m surprised.” Claire glanced to the passenger side and gave Grams a concentrated look. Her grams shrugged and climbed out of the car. “What brings you here? You haven’t been to Seasons for years from what Grams said.”

  Her mother glanced at Grams and then tilted her chin upward. Claire wasn’t sure what that was all about, for it looked defiant to her.

  “I’ve left your father.”

  The four words spun in the air all around them. Claire was sure they became 3-D images about to crash into her.

  “What? Why? I’m home on Sunday, couldn’t it have waited?” Claire took a step away from her mother.

  “No, it couldn’t. You can’t go home, at least not to the house. It isn’t our home any longer.” Anna tried to make eye contact with Claire, but she looked away.

  “Grams, what the hell is this all about?”

  Melissa pursed her lips, walked over to Claire, and wrapped her in a hug. Gram’s hugs always worked, but not today. She pulled away angrily.

  “I don’t get it. You’ve lived with that womanizer for almost forty years, and now…now it’s time to call it quits?”

  “Claire, it doesn’t matter when your mother finally came to her senses. I think you should applaud her courage.”

  “No! No, she’s been a damn coward for years and now she suddenly gets a backbone. I want to know why.” Anger flowed through her like a roller coaster. Turning away, she shook her head. This is so not what I want in my life right now. Complications. “I’ll see you both later. I need some fresh air.” She stalked off.

  The door to the main house opened, and Kris stood at the entrance. Claire saw her, but this wasn’t the time for a nice, friendly chat. Not even with the woman she loved.

  Kris’s heart plummeted at the anguished look on Claire’s face as she tore off in the direction of the beach. She was ready to go after her, when Shirley spoke behind her.

  “Let her go, dear. Give her a little time. It will all work out, trust me.”

  Kris turned to the older woman in puzzlement. Then she diverted her attention to a tall, blonde woman accompanying Melissa as they climbed the steps. Her features were familiar.

  Claire’s mother. She never said…hmm, she obviously didn’t know. That might explain Claire’s departure a little. Kris drew in a shallow breath. Women like Anna Tremont always frightened her, not that she knew many. Something about their bearing unnerved her. They moved as if they owned every inch of the planet they walked on and ordinary people were of little interest to them.

  Anna breezed by her with a haughty look.

  Melissa, on the other hand, enclosed her in a hug. “Shirley tells me things are going splendidly with the cottage and Claire. Thank you, my dear. I knew you were the person for the job,” she whispered.

  Kris gave a half smile. I wonder if she’d think the same thing if she knew we are in love. Would that change everything? At this juncture, she wasn’t going to add that to the mix.

  “Mrs. Rank, you’ve haven’t changed a bit. I’d like my old room made up, then Mother and I will have brunch. We set off early and I’m famished.” Anna’s eyes seemed to scan the hall for a few seconds, then she spoke again. “You can have your girl take my bag to my room. I’ll be in the study making calls.”

  The heavy clip, clip of high heels resonated on the wooden floor as she disappeared to the study.

  Yep, people like that are frightening.

  “I’m so sorry, Kris. My daughter is spoiled. It is something I have lived to regret over the years. Now please, how have the renovations been going? And Claire, how has she been?” Melissa linked her arm in Kris’s and led her away from the door and down the hall. Melissa smiled warmly at Shirley. “Ignore Anna, Shirley. We will eat lunch at the normal time.”

  “Oh, I planned to do just that, Mrs. Jackson. I will of course make up the room Miss Anna suggested. I assume you will be going tomorrow with the others?”

  Kris felt Melissa stiffen, a
nd then she nodded. “Yes, of course.”

  †

  A minute later, they were in the conservatory, and Melissa sank down on the wicker sofa. A sigh accompanied the action. “It’s glorious here on a sunny day. I forget how wonderful it is to live here and enjoy the benefits of nature. The city is marvelous, but it can’t beat the raw beauty of natural light and fresh air.”

  Kris sat down opposite Melissa. “So why not live here more? I would if I could. I love it here.” She knew she was gushing, but it was the truth.

  “Strangely enough, the reason may be a moot point now since Anna has left Carl. She was the main reason I didn’t retire here, and Claire of course. Perhaps things will change. It is time for this family to seek the happiness Seasons has always tentatively held for us, had we really reached out and grasped it.”

  Kris pursed her lips to stop smiling. Melissa sounded like Shirley when she was being cryptic. “Well that’s good, right? I know Claire likes it here. She’s been a great help with the renovations of the cottage. It’s not quite there yet, but I have hired a local painter to finish off the outside of the second story. Shirley has promised to make sure he does what I requested.”

  Melissa chuckled. “I’m sure that will happen. Shirley is no fool, and not many will cross her in this town.”

  Kris grinned. “To be honest, I don’t understand that comment. She is a wonderful woman and has been so friendly to me.”

  Melissa laughed and shook her head.

  “Yes, a woman of many faces is our Shirley. If she has indeed taken you under her wing, then you are privileged. I was married, Anna was ten, when she began working here as a mere slip of a girl and not attractive at all. From what I heard it was one of the reasons Cook chose her. It was interesting, really, how it all turned out. Tragic too.”

  Kris nodded. “Shirley told us about her and Ricky. It was a lovely, heartwarming love story and, yes, tragic. I think she sees Claire as the child she never had. I’m probably totally off base, of course, but something in what she said made me think that.”