Beach Rental

by Greene, Grace

  The lawn chair sighed as Juli took her seat again and reclaimed the sketchbook. “This sounds more like a philosophical discussion than an art lesson.”

  “It’s all a part of life, Juli. It’s just life.”

  ****

  More than a week had passed since she’d asked for Luke’s help. He hadn’t contacted her and she didn’t know what that meant, but then Ben said, “Maia called while you were out. She said you owed her a lunch. She suggested tomorrow, if that works for you.”

  “I’ll call her back.”

  “No need. Maia said to tell you she’ll be there tomorrow anyway and to come at noon if you want to do lunch.”

  “Do you mind? Would you like to come along?” Juli kept her fingers mentally crossed.

  Ben shook his head. “Thanks, but no. I’ll let you ladies have your fun.”

  She felt like deception was scrawled in lurid letters across her forehead. Ben leaned over and gently planted a kiss right where the letters should have been written.

  Maia had called. Had Luke enlisted her help? Was he using Maia as cover? After the way Maia had looked at her when she was leaving the gallery, she wouldn’t have called on her own.

  Juli took the groceries from the paper bag as Ben climbed the stairs, headed toward a nap.

  Ben’s naps were more frequent. Sometimes he had discomfort—Ben’s word. He said it wasn’t pain. The doctor had prescribed some pills for him to take as needed. Ben said they made him drowsy.

  Juli didn’t ask him how he felt because he didn’t like the question.

  Was she deceiving him? Technically, yes. She wouldn’t lie to herself about that, but Ben shouldn’t have to worry about her past. Her previous life didn’t mesh well with her new one. Juli would stop the mashup before it got messier, she hoped—with a little help from Luke.

  ****

  Maia wasn’t at the gallery when Juli arrived. There was a young man with thick black hair behind the counter. His hair looked disordered on purpose, probably plastered with stiff hair gel. “Is Maia here?”

  “Are you Juli?”

  He was wearing a dress shirt that was at odds with his frame. Maybe his father’s or brother’s shirt. Clearly, he hadn’t asked his mama or anyone else to iron it for him. It looked clean, though.

  “I am.”

  He held out his hand. “I’m Brendan. I’m new. Maia’s at the bank. She’ll be back soon.”

  Juli shook his hand. She’d been co-workers with enough kids his age to know he was trying hard to be courteous. “I’ll hang out here until she gets back.”

  “Why don’t you come in the office and we’ll chat ‘til Maia returns.”

  Juli spun around. Luke stood in the office doorway.

  His voice sounded relaxed, reasonable. For Brendan’s benefit, no doubt. Juli walked into the office. “What did he say?”

  She was surprised by her breathlessness, her taut nerves. When Luke walked toward her, she nearly jumped.

  Luke went to the office door and closed it. The latch clicked softly. He walked back to his desk. “He said he’ll stay away.”

  “And?”

  Luke stood in front of his desk with his arms crossed. “And what?”

  Maddening. He wanted to punish her—whether for marrying Ben or for asking him to help her resolve the problem with Frankie. Juli resisted the urge to meet him stance for stance, stare for stare. She pretended there was no need, that no electricity was passing between them, snapping and twisting like a loose livewire, threatening to burn.

  “I’d like to know what you said to him and what he said back to you. I’ll probably have to deal with him sooner or later.”

  “You’d do better to avoid people like him.”

  “People like him? I should find a better quality of friends, is that right?” Was it hypocritical of her to resent him for saying what she’d already been thinking?

  Luke walked to the window. “I told him exactly what you suggested.”

  “That you’d call the police about the theft at the Hammond’s house?”

  “He wasn’t happy about it, but he seemed to believe me. I’m not confident we can trust him to stay away.”

  “Why wouldn’t he? It’s not like he had any solid reason to think he could benefit from my relationship with Ben.”

  Luke turned back to face her. “I think there was something more on his mind. I didn’t probe. He looked like the type who’d consider any uncertainty an opening.”

  Juli nodded. Frankie would stay away, at least for a while. She hoped he’d move on to something else and forget her entirely. “Thank you, Luke.”

  “I did it for Ben.”

  “I didn’t think otherwise.” Dignity was a handy mask for humiliation. Juli reminded herself that Luke’s opinion did not define her and stood straighter. They reached the door at the same time, their hands and bodies in close contact. Juli’s capacity for masking her emotion had reached its limit.

  Luke was helping Ben, not her. He despised her, and she, him.

  Whoever said it was a thin line between love and hate was right. In a flash of insight, Juli realized that despite whatever else she felt, she was attracted to Luke.

  She was disgusted with herself for not being a better person. She had money and comfort and a husband, if in name only, who respected and cared about her. Luke was nothing more than an annoyance—a bully who constantly put her down. She would remember that; it should be easy.

  Juli slipped past him as he opened the door. Brendan was speaking with a customer and Maia was waiting by the counter. Juli hesitated. Was the lunch invitation real? Brendan might wonder about her closeted meeting with Luke, especially if the lunch plans evaporated.

  Maia stepped out from behind the counter. “Are you ready to go?”

  “I am.” She crossed her arms to hide her shaking hands.

  “I hope you don’t mind staying on Front Street. Something close and quick?” Maia lowered her voice as they exited the gallery. “I don’t want to leave Brendan for too long. Luke will be able to help him, but I want him to learn the job the way I like it done.”

  Juli used the walk down Front Street to pull herself together. They stopped at the restaurant where she and Ben had brunched on that first morning. The memory was sweet and helped banish other thoughts.

  The waitress led them to a corner table near the windows.

  Maia said, “You looked a little pale. The short walk did you good. I’m so glad you could make it.”

  So, Maia hadn’t invited her as a cover for Luke.

  “I’m glad, too.” Juli spoke tentatively.

  “I meant to call sooner. It’s been so busy. Eileen quit and left me short-handed. That’s two in a row. I have to keep Brendan.”

  “No need to explain.”

  “When Luke suggested I take a little time away during the day—said, in fact, I was overdue for our rain check, I knew he was right. You know how it is. You get so focused on the work it’s easy to lose sight of enjoying life.”

  So Luke did suggest it. Juli let it simmer in her brain for a few minutes while the waitress took their orders.

  “Their garden salad is great. You’ll like it.” Maia bubbled on, “And what about the art lessons? Are you enjoying them? Anna’s amazing, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, to both.”

  Maia leaned forward and spoke almost in a whisper, “She says you are very talented.”

  “What? You’re exaggerating. I’ve barely started to learn.”

  “No, indeed. Her exact words were that you have a lot of natural talent.”

  “That means my work is amateurish.”

  “Stop it, Juli. That’s not what it means. And, in the end, the fun and the experience is the goal, isn’t it? Satisfaction? No one can take that away from you.”

  Another reminder of her temporary life. It was good to be reminded. It was foolish to forget it.

  Maia continued, “When you’re ready, I want to display some of your art at the gallery.”r />
  “What?” It shot through Juli like a cannon blast. “That’s crazy.”

  “Not at all. Everyone starts somewhere don’t they? Why not the gallery? We spotlight a lot of local artists.”

  Juli was grateful to receive her salad and rolls. Never did anyone more attentively butter their bread or inspect their salad. Maia was keeping her off-balance, as if continually yanking at an invisible rug beneath her feet. Juli opened her mouth to speak and was cut off once again.

  “How is Ben these days?”

  “He’s good.”

  “I’m so glad. He was very sick when he went to the doctor. It was coincidental and had nothing to do with his current condition, but that’s how they found it. He was recovering when you met. It’s so romantic—meeting in the garden at the party.”

  “I didn’t know he’d told you.”

  “Oh, my, yes. He went on and on about this wonderful girl he’d met. Well, you should know I’m a romantic at heart. Unlucky in love, that’s me. I told him not to let love slip through his fingers. Not many chances come along. Oh, my, but Luke was angry.”

  “I’m sure he was worried—”

  “He was. But they were fussing over Ben as if he was already gone. They meant well, but it was their issue, not his, if you know what I mean? They have to deal with their grief and not burden him. Does that make any sense?”

  “Yes, but it’s understandable.”

  “Sure it is. I’ve been half in love with Ben since the day I met him, but he never got over his first true love.”

  “You are a romantic.”

  Maia laughed. “Isn’t that what I said?”

  “Would you ladies like dessert?”

  “No, thanks. Can we have the check?”

  Juli was about to rise from the table when Maia reached over and put her hand on Juli’s arm. She sat back down.

  “Juli, I know you and Luke aren’t getting along. I know you’re trying to hide it from Ben, not wanting to catch him up in the middle.”

  “That’s true.”

  “You’re both good people, Juli, and you’re doing the right thing by trying to work it out. I’m glad you were willing to speak with him today. It’s funny how people can have the same motivation, but still be at odds.”

  “It’s human nature, I guess.” A catch-all response. It sparked something reckless within her. She was fed up with using good manners to mask the truth. “It’s all Luke’s fault, anyway.”

  Maia sat back, startled. “Luke’s fault? What is?”

  “That I met Ben. I was serving at the party and Luke—didn’t know his name then—looked through me like I wasn’t there. It hit me wrong. I don’t know how to explain it. I felt anonymous, but not by choice. Nameless. Pointless. I went outside because I needed air and that’s where I met Ben.”

  “That’s how you ended up in the garden?”

  “Luke’s fault, like I said.”

  Maia beamed. “Fate. I call it fate. You and Ben were meant to be together.”

  “If that’s what it is, then I hope fate will be kind for a change.” Juli stood. “I’ve been kicked in the gut by fate more than a few times and I’m ready to kick back. Hard.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  When she returned home, Ben was sitting in his rocker reading a Devotional. Juli wasn’t sure what that was, except that it was a ‘topic for the day’ sort of thing. She curled up on the rattan sofa to read a novel, but every time the rocker squeaked she looked up at Ben and felt guilty. Devious. Juli couldn’t regret not telling him about Frankie, or even about asking Luke for help. She didn’t want to interfere in his relationship with Luke and, regarding Frankie, she didn’t want Ben looking over his shoulder for the creep whenever they left the house. She didn’t want to risk Ben trying to act the hero.

  Ben was rational. More likely he would try to reason with Frankie, but when it came to people like Frankie, it was better to play hardball.

  “You look pensive,” Ben said.

  Juli met his eyes, thinking for the umpteenth time that she should tell him and be done with it. It wasn’t a big deal anyway. She opened her mouth to tell him, but said, instead, “Maia thinks the world of you.”

  “Maia is a sweetheart.”

  “She is. Ben, if you were lonely and you two are such good friends, then why me? Why not Maia?”

  “Maia?” He looked bemused.

  Juli frowned. “Yes.”

  “Maia is a friend. More like a sister, I guess. I never thought of her that way.”

  “But for companionship….”

  “Why do you ask?”

  No way would she tell him about Maia’s feelings. It would be like a betrayal.

  “No reason,” Juli said.

  “Are you still wondering why I pursued you?”

  She shrugged. She hadn’t been, but now she was interested.

  “It’s been almost two months and you haven’t packed your bags and fled, so I guess I can tell you.” He left the rocker and sat next to her on the sofa, close, but not quite touching.

  “You, Juli, woke my heart.” He reached out and took her hand, examining the rings on her finger. “I hadn’t considered remarriage in nearly fifteen years. Never even crossed my mind.” He turned her hand over, palm upward, and traced the life line and heart line. “How did you speak to my heart? I know you weren’t trying to and I wasn’t looking for it. It just happened.”

  Juli reached over and put her free hand on top of his so that she clasped his hand between hers, but she didn’t interrupt.

  “When you left that night after driving me home, I couldn’t sleep. You know how it is sometimes, when you aren’t well? You sleep so much that then you can’t sleep at all? I was wakeful and I kept thinking about you. You seemed ‘shiny’ in my mind. That sounds stupid and I can’t explain it better, so leave it as said. We’d barely even seen each other. It was dark, remember? I saw you only by the dashboard lights. I enjoyed listening to you, but I was so tired. How could I trust my memory? I’d just about talked myself out of thinking of you. Then I remembered you worked at Singer’s. I figured I’d go, get another look at you. Seeing you again, facing reality, would show me how foolish I was.”

  “You shocked me when you walked in that morning. I didn’t know what to think. It seemed so…unreasonable that you would track me down.”

  “When I saw you, I knew I was right. Reason and logic had nothing to do with it.” He added his other hand to their clasp. “I don’t care if I sound like a fool now. I have no regret. I hope you agree.”

  Juli put her head on his shoulder. “I told myself you were crazy and that I was crazier, but you’re right—I don’t regret it.” Over time, given time, they might feel differently, but in the short term, this marriage arrangement had been a wise choice for them both, and short term was all they had.

  Juli sniffled and touched a hand to her eyes.

  “Are you crying?”

  He sounded concerned and she almost giggled. She knew his romantic heart was hoping to offer comfort.

  “Ben, when I was a child I heard a fable about a bet between the sun and the wind to prove which was stronger. Do you know it?”

  “Where they took turns trying to wrest a coat from a man to prove their strength?”

  “That’s it. The wind blew and blew and the man clutched his coat tighter. The sun beamed and gradually warmed him and the man gladly removed his coat.”

  “That’s how I remember it.”

  “Well, to me, you are the sun.”

  That evening, when he went upstairs, Juli wondered how it would be if she went with him. She felt tenderness and something like love.

  And they were married.

  Ben didn’t ask for that sort of companionship. Never had. Was it was a physical problem or was he was just sticking to their agreement—expecting no more from her than she wanted to give? Rather than risk hurt or embarrassment, she watched him go upstairs each night, always earlier than she.

  And because she co
uldn’t bring herself to ask, he went alone.

  ****

  On Wednesday, Ben said, “I want to fix whatever’s wrong between you and Luke. I can’t have my two favorite people at odds, practically baring their fangs at each other every time the other is mentioned.”

  It took Juli a moment to choose which expression to put on her face. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you are both reasonable people. You both think you’re hiding how you feel about each other, probably thinking you’re protecting me, but you’re fooling yourselves. Not that I don’t appreciate your effort, but every time I’m talking to one of you I have to be careful about mentioning the other. It's ridiculous.”

  He walked over to where she sat, studying, and leaned over the back of the chair. “Luke will be very helpful to you when I’m gone.”

  Juli frowned and closed her book. She was perfectly willing to put the world history textbook aside. Seemed like it went from one war to another. It got old.

  “Why do you talk like that? I’ll take care of myself. I always have.” She tried again. “When I’m on my own again, I’ll go back to my life. Luke won’t figure into it. You’re the only thing Luke and I have in common.” She walked over to the kitchen counter and dropped the book on top of the other two. Grammar and math. Ugh.

  Ben followed. “Then do it for me. When I bring you two together, try to be open with each other. I know you both. You are wonderful people.”

  Juli swallowed her pride and faced Ben with a smile on her face. “When do you plan to hold this peace treaty discussion?”

  He ignored her sarcasm. “What time is it?”

  She looked at the kitchen clock. “Nearly one o’clock.”

  “How about now? He’s bringing lunch.”

  Luke knocked on the door. He and the pizza boxes were visible through the glass. Juli shrugged. If lunch didn’t go well, it wouldn’t be her fault. Luke had helped her with Frankie and she owed him. She owed Ben, too.

  Ben opened the door and said, “Come on in.”

  Luke saw Juli and paused in the doorway.

  “Come in. Pizza’s getting cold.” He moved aside as Luke entered. “We’re going to share lunch today.”