Last Resort: Marriage

by Pamela Stone

  “I…What would you think if you got calls from another man?”

  “You think the reason I’m sleeping on the boat is so I can bring another woman here?”

  Charlotte took a deep breath, beginning to understand her misjudgment. “No, I know you wouldn’t do that.”

  “Oh, so if I’m on the boat, I’m innocent? But how do you know for sure?” The line hissed when he reached the deck and the breeze hit the phone. “I’ve got it. Listen for the freakin’ splash, sweetheart.”

  She barely heard a splash before the connection went dead.

  AARON SCANNED THE WATER, taking count of the snorkelers, trying to concentrate on anything to take his mind off Charlie. Bogus marriage or not, how could she think he’d sleep with someone else while they were still married? What kind of lowlife did she take him for?

  Eight hours later and blood still pounded through his veins from her call. Grabbing his cigarettes off the table, he lit one and took a long drag. He hadn’t wanted that damn phone in the first place. It was like she’d saddled him with a damn umbilical cord.

  The woman calling the bungalow was obviously another Thurman stooge hired to cause trouble. For all he cared, Thurman could take a long walk off a short pier, but Charlie?

  Screw them both!

  He turned back toward the water, listening to the four retired couples laughing. They were totally taken with snorkeling. No glass bottom boats for this crowd. What kind of people would he and Charlie be when they were sixty?

  He had to get thoughts like that out of his mind. There was no future. There never had been. She didn’t trust him. And she didn’t respect him. She might care for him—she definitely cared about him—but he’d never measure up to her standards. There would always be suspicion. He’d always be a low-life, womanizing wharf rat.

  Charlie would move back to Boston and marry some guy more in line with her upbringing. Become superwoman. Give one hundred and fifty percent of herself to her family and one hundred and fifty percent to Harrington’s. She’d be so committed, she’d lose herself trying to be perfect at both.

  He couldn’t erase the image of Charlie with another man. He couldn’t stomach the thought of some other guy sharing her bed.

  He pushed back from the rail and rubbed his arm. God, he was ready to get back in the water. But his arm hurt like hell after the one day he had. The kid from the dive shop that was helping today had things under control, so Aaron decided to check on a couple items at his desk, anything for a distraction.

  He opened the bottom drawer and glared at the book he’d bought last week. Simple Steps to Studying for Your GED. Simple for who? He slammed the drawer. They should have titled it The Idiot’s Guide to Studying for Your GED.

  Not that a crappy piece of paper would make a difference. He couldn’t afford to think like this. He wasn’t the man for Charlie. A hell of a lot more than education or the distance between Boston and the Keys separated them.

  THE LAST THING AARON WANTED when he dropped the day’s receipts off at the resort boutique for Rosa was to run into Charlie. But, as he started through the lobby there was a commotion at the counter. He turned to find two boys with Down syndrome accompanied by their moms. They looked nine or ten and they were shoving each other and grinning from ear to ear.

  Rosa touched his arm. “You ought to take them snorkeling.”

  He smiled at their exuberance and handed her the receipts and checks. “Think their moms would go for that?”

  “I bet they’d love the idea.”

  “Maybe I’ll track them down after they get settled in and suggest it.”

  Rosa stuffed the envelope under her arm. “I need to get these entered and deposited.”

  The women rounded up the boys and herded them toward the elevator. That was when he caught sight of Charlie. She was standing to the side of the counter, rubbing her forehead, and frowning at the boys. Concern or pity? He backed out of sight.

  That’s the way Charlie would look at him if she knew.

  THE AFTERNOON AARON ARRANGED to take the Down syndrome boys out to the reef, he arrived at the hotel only to be met by Charlie. She was standing with the mothers and talking to the two boys. He glanced suspiciously at her shorts and beach bag.

  He nodded at the women and smiled at the kids. “Afternoon. You guys ready to see some cool fish and coral?”

  “Yeah. I’m Timmy.” The bigger boy beamed. “He’s Jon.”

  Jon clutched his mother’s hand and grinned.

  Aaron shook hands with Karen, Timmy’s mom.

  “Hope you don’t mind if your wife tags along.” Charlie smiled. “I need a break from the office.”

  Why would she want to go out on the boat with him when Thurman was lurking around? He narrowed his eyes. “I guess we’re ready.”

  She smiled and handed Aaron a box. “Your new cell phone came in.”

  He took the box and watched her casually stroll toward the boat with Olivia and Karen as if it was the most natural thing in the world that she’d replaced the phone he’d tossed overboard.

  Charlotte ignored Aaron’s befuddled look and started talking to Karen. She needed this opportunity to be with him. And with her away from the resort, maybe Perry would let his guard down and Security could pick up something on the cameras.

  She deposited her beach paraphernalia in the corner and helped him cast off the lines. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky today, so hopefully the water would be calm.

  Karen and Olivia were exceptional women. They had met through their sons and become fast friends.

  The boys’ exuberance was contagious. Every activity brought delight to their faces. Both kids could swim, but not well. Aaron made sure they wore flotation devices, making it easy for them to stay on top of the water and use masks to view the undersea world. Charlotte helped Karen with Timmy while Aaron coaxed and worked with the smaller, more timid Jon.

  Olivia, Jon’s mother, brushed up against Aaron. “You are so patient with him.”

  Charlotte told herself there was no reason for her twinge of jealousy, but when Aaron beamed back at the woman, Charlotte’s heart stopped. “He’s a cool kid. Not afraid of anything, are you, buddy?”

  Jon grinned at the compliment and stuck his face back in the water.

  “It’s great that you and Karen take them on trips. They’ll love swimming with the dolphins tomorrow.” Aaron winked at Jon as he surfaced. “Dolphins are really smart and they even let you touch them.” He flashed Olivia another grin. “Don’t skip the glass bottom boat in Key West. Kids get to see the reef and fish. And for the adults, they serve champagne while you watch the most awesome sunsets.”

  Jon bounced. “I have a camera.”

  Charlotte was so distracted watching Olivia and Aaron that she was caught off guard when a floundering Timmy grabbed her shoulders. Before she could react, she went under with Timmy’s weight trapping her beneath the surface. In a panic, she sputtered and clawed to reach air.

  Aaron’s arms came around her waist and dragged her up until she could gulp in air. He held her against him with one arm and steadied Timmy with the other. She took deep breaths and tried not to frighten Timmy.

  “Okay?” Aaron asked.

  She nodded, not wanting to call attention to herself. It was hard to speak. “Thanks.”

  Having had enough swimming for the day, she climbed onboard and unrolled the mat Aaron kept under the bench. She spread the picnic dinner out on the deck, and called the others in.

  One would think Olivia might put on a cover-up over her skimpy swimsuit, but no such luck. The boys were eating and passing around pictures of the reef, but both Karen and Olivia had Aaron engaged in conversation. He seemed totally immersed in Karen’s story about Timmy’s accomplishments. Almost subconsciously the women would touch his hand or giggle to draw his attention their way. And as each spoke, Aaron gave her his undivided attention. Like schoolgirls, they vied for his affection.

  Charlotte turned as Jon raced across the de
ck. “Mom, I saw a fish like this,” he squealed.

  The women started looking at the pictures the boys brought them and listening to their stories.

  Glancing back to Aaron, Charlotte found him staring at her legs. His eyes were molten lava. She blushed, realizing she was sitting on the mat where they’d first made love.

  He excused himself, stood, and walked over to stare across the water. She resisted the urge to follow, pleased that she wasn’t the only one with memories.

  After their picnic Timmy tugged Aaron beside him onto the bench to read one of the brochures. He sat patiently and let the boy sound out the words. At thirteen, Timmy was still struggling with some sounds. Aaron helped him with a couple words, but mostly sat and watched him read as if it was the most interesting thing he could be doing.

  She tried to concentrate on the conversation around her, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off Aaron and Timmy. She shook off the melancholy and tried not to think about kids, and babies and a family of her own.

  When they headed back toward Marathon, Jon clamored to help drive the boat. Olivia seemed surprised that her son took Aaron’s hand and left her sitting on the bench visiting with Charlotte and Karen. “He never goes any place without me.”

  Karen smiled. “I think he’s enjoying having a man around to take an interest.”

  “No wonder why. His own father would rather pretend he doesn’t exist.” Olivia frowned, then turned to Charlotte and shrugged. “You two have a wonderful life here.”

  Charlotte smiled, surprised by the comment. “Yes, we do.” She left Timmy and the women scanning for dolphins and went to check on Aaron and Jon.

  She stood back, watching the way he related to the child. The boy stood with his legs braced apart, and peering over the steering wheel. The T-shirt Aaron had given him reached to his knees. “I wish you were my dad.”

  Keeping one hand on the wheel, Aaron helped him guide the boat. “But you already have a dad.”

  “He’s always busy. He never plays with me.”

  “Well, dads have to work,” Aaron said.

  Jon chewed his bottom lip and looked as if it was taking every bit of concentration he had to hold the wheel. “I wish he ran a scuba boat and I could help him every day.”

  “Maybe you could visit him at his job.”

  “Nope, no kids allowed,” Jon said. He looked adorable with the adult-sized blue Brody’s cap backward and barely staying on top of his head.

  Aaron gripped the wheel as they rode over a wave. “If you were my son and I wasn’t spending enough time with you, know what I’d want you to do?”

  The cap threatened to topple off as he shook his head. “What?”

  “I’d want you to tell me. Sometimes dads get so busy working they forget their kids need them, too.”

  Jon frowned. “He doesn’t have time.”

  Aaron caught the cap as it fell and placed it back on Jon’s head. “Maybe, maybe not. Couldn’t hurt to ask.”

  She exchanged smiles with Aaron and her heart threatened to burst. Every time she thought she had him figured, he surprised her.

  She imagined him with his own son, taking him on the boat, teaching him to swim, snorkel and dive. She did a mental double take. Was that what was going on? She was pushing thirty and she craved a child? Aaron’s child.

  Olivia took Jon’s hand. “Come quick. Look at the dolphins.”

  Aaron watched him race to the rail, pointing off the starboard side.

  Taking a deep breath for courage, Charlotte looked into his eyes. “Aaron, I’m so sorry about the other night.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I overreacted.”

  “I warned you I’m not good at this romance game.”

  “We aren’t exactly playing on a fair field when it comes to romance.” He massaged the back of his neck and tried to smile. “We aren’t supposed to win. Remember?”

  “Yeah, I know.” She fought back the tears and searched for anything to keep from making a fool of herself. “It was nice of you to take the boys out to the cove. You have an admirer in Jon. He stuck under your wing all afternoon.”

  “Kid needs his dad.”

  “Yes, he does,” she agreed.

  He studied her. “Seeing a little of you in Jon?”

  “When I was his age, I’d already made up my mind to run a hotel. I didn’t understand other kids. I was only interested in shadowing Edward.” How did he manage to always draw her out?

  He checked the gauges. “I thought little girls dreamed of being princesses. Or maybe an actress like your mom?”

  “She didn’t have the power Edward had,” Charlotte replied, and then stopped. “I’ve always wanted to be like him.”

  She glanced at the sunset and decided it paled in comparison to watching Aaron drive. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

  To her amazement, he started talking. “When I was fifteen I met a team of Navy SEALs. I’m not sure how Whistler got involved, but the plan was to take them out and drop them close enough to board a tanker anchored off Bal Harbor. Man, I thought they were the coolest, toughest guys in the whole world.”

  “So why didn’t you become a SEAL?”

  He shrugged, pulling alongside the dock. “Education.” He jumped up. “Why don’t you help them gather up their stuff? I think I’ll hose down the boat then grab a beer at the Gecko.”

  Not once had Aaron invited her to join him at the Gecko. He obviously didn’t want her intruding on his fun, female or otherwise.

  He’d just started to open up, but then he’d caught himself. There still seemed like a piece was missing. “See you later.”

  AARON WATCHED CHARLIE LEAVE. Why had he told her about his dream to be a SEAL? Why not just go ahead and tell her he’d been a hoodlum one step away from getting shot on the streets of Miami? Becoming a SEAL had seemed like his only escape.

  Just lay yourself open for ridicule, Brody.

  Someone like Charlie, with all her degrees, couldn’t begin to understand how even a dream as simple as joining a branch of the military was solar systems out of his reach.

  Screw it! There might not be anything he could do about dyslexia, but he was damn tired of hiding from it. He had trouble reading letters and numbers, but he wasn’t stupid. Passing the GED wouldn’t rescue his marriage, but it would be one step toward feeling better about his lack of education.

  Cleaning the boat could wait until morning. He needed a drink.

  He walked into the Gecko, waved at Raul, and straddled the only vacant stool at the bar. “Good crowd.”

  “It’s been this way all afternoon. Figured you’d be home with the little wife.”

  Aaron wrapped his hand around the neck of the frosty amber bottle Raul plunked in front of him. “Don’t start.”

  Raul quirked an eyebrow. “No progress on Thurman?”

  “Security has him on camera all day. Rosa has her ear to the resort grapevine. Trust me, he’ll screw up soon enough.”

  “If he does, Rosa will hear about it.” Raul drew a beer and took it down the bar to another customer.

  A voluptuous brunette squeezed between Aaron and the guy on the next stool. “It’s really crowded in here.”

  He didn’t comment.

  She leaned around and smiled into his face. “Dance?”

  “No.”

  The girl looked disgruntled with his one word rejection, huffed, and moved on to more willing prey.

  The band stunk. What they lacked in rhythm they made up for in noise. You couldn’t hear the singer, much less understand the lyrics. Probably a good thing.

  God, he was bored with this scene. What was that song? Something about a row of fools and a row of stools. For once, he was ready for Spring Break to end and the village to settle back into some measure of sanity.

  He hadn’t noticed Raul approach until he spoke. “So why don’t you get your ass home to your wife? Make it work.”

  “Save your advice to the lovelorn for your other patron
s.” He took a swig of beer.

  Raul slammed a bowl of peanuts on the bar. “You’re a hardheaded SOB. Never took you for a fool, though.”

  Aaron swiveled on the stool and took a swig of beer, watching the brunette drag Sal onto the dance floor, wiggling her butt like an excited puppy. “What in hell is keeping that skirt on?” At least there was no sign of the Frenchman tonight.

  “A few months ago, you’d have had that lady in bed in thirty minutes flat, but you didn’t give her a second look.” Raul glanced at the crowd. “There isn’t a lady in this room who can hold a candle to what you’ve already got, mi amigo. And you know it.”

  Resting his elbows on the bar, he scrubbed both hands across his face. “That’s not the point.”

  “You don’t think you’re good enough for her?” Raul cleared the empty beer bottle and popped the top on another.

  He raised an eyebrow and studied the cold beer. “Can’t you hear the sparkling party conversation? Her upper-crust friends are talking about their Ivy League college days and I’m describing what it’s like to go Dumpster diving in South Miami.”

  “If you love the lady, make it work. Your inferiority complex is your problem, not hers.” He flashed a knowing grin. “Novel experience to fall in love with one’s own wife, yes?”

  Aaron tilted his head, but didn’t comment.

  Raul took a cigarette and held the package out to him. “Smoke?”

  He shook his head and shrugged. “Trying to quit.”

  As he made his way to the bungalow, he chewed on Raul’s words. Love? Were they falling in love? Damn close.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Aaron stuffed a couple changes of clothes into his faded duffel. “I’m booked solid the next sixteen days. It’s easier if I sleep on the boat.”

  Charlotte stepped into his path. “We still need to keep up the pretense until Perry’s gone.”

  “Fine. I’ll sleep here two or three nights, but if you’re going to make the breakup believable, it’s time to start showing signs that things aren’t going so well.”

  Breakup? She swallowed. Intellectually she knew their arrangement was temporary, but not emotionally. “I guess you have a point.”