“That depends. What’s the occasion?”
“Ben’s taking me out for our twenty-fifth anniversary.”
“Well, if you’re going to the library, pick the blue. But if you want to knock his socks off, go with the red one.”
“Red it is.” She laughed. “What about you? Are you and Nate going out?”
“Yes, I don’t know where, but since it’s the first time we’re actually going to dinner I wanted to dress up. How do I look?” I held my arms out to pose in front of her.
“I think he better hold on to his socks.” She grinned. “Have a good night, honey,” she called as she rushed out.
“You too!” I yelled, not sure if she heard me. Who knew a woman of her age could move so fast.
When I heard a knock at my patio door, I glanced once more in the mirror to check my hair, making sure no stray strands were falling out. Once I was satisfied, I rushed over to open the door for a very good-looking guy in a black suit and dark gray dress shirt. The contrast between the tailored black suit and the unruly blond hair was very sexy.
“Wow! You look gorgeous,” he said, gazing at me with dark eyes.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I leaned up to give him a kiss and then quickly pulled back. “Let’s go.” I followed him to the driveway. “Where are you taking me?” I asked once we were inside his car and cruising down the street.
“The Orchid.”
It was very hard to get into The Orchid since it was the fanciest restaurant in town, located right at the edge of the Marina. The building was mainly windows, so you ate your dinner while watching the yachts out on the lake. At the back of the restaurant was a small patio right above the water.
“How did you get a reservation? Wait, let me guess, the Rileys.” He nodded as he leaned over to put a CD into the car stereo.
“Why are they so nice to you?”
He shrugged. “I guess they like my work and Lauren’s dad knew my father.”
He pulled into the parking lot up in front of the restaurant where a valet stood waiting. When the car came to a stop, he opened the door for me. Just as I climbed out Nate tossed the keys to the guy and then took my hand.
As we walked into the restaurant, I noticed how beautiful it was. I had been here with my parents many times, but I never really noticed the beauty until tonight. At that thought I panicked, glancing around quickly, hoping I wouldn’t see them. I sighed in relief when no one looked familiar.
“Nathan Green,” Nate offered as we approached the hostess.
“Yes sir, right this way.” She guided us to a table overlooking the fountain out front.
“Perfect, thank you.” Nate pulled my chair out for me.
“Have you been here before?” I asked him as I sat down, placing my small clutch purse on the table beside me.
“Actually, no. I bet you have though.”
“Yes, but I’ve never enjoyed it until tonight.”
We ordered our drinks, taking our time looking over the menu. When the waiter returned I ordered the spinach and goat cheese stuffed chicken while Nate chose the prime rib, medium rare. After our waiter walked away Nate asked me about my trip to the grocery store.
“I had a few problems. But I took care of them.” He didn’t need to know I had help. The article from the checkout popped in my mind “Did you hear about the two people that were killed?” When he shook his head, I continued. “I was waiting in line and I noticed on one of the newspapers that there have been two deaths in Creekford. Animal attacks. Can you imagine?”
His eyes widened and his face paled. “Where were they found?”
“In the woods over in Baycroft Park.”
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, our waiter came, bringing our meals. The conversation was forgotten as we enjoyed our dinner.
Chapter Seventeen
The Three Lucys
After dinner, instead of leading me to the car, Nate took my hand and together we walked to the Riley boat. I sat in my usual spot as he started it and pulled out onto the lake. He slowed down after a few minutes. “Come here, it’s your turn.”
“What’s my turn?”
“To drive. You can’t expect me to do all the driving, can you?” he asked, giving me a lopsided grin.
“I’m not going to drive someone else’s boat.” I was terrified to break something.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me over. “It’s really quite easy. Just steer like you would a car.” He placed my hands on the wheel and after a few minutes, he let go. He was right, it was easy. He told me where to go. And when we came up on the spot where we had parked the last time, just beside a small island, he showed me how to slow down and eventually stop.
We lay down on the deck again and Nate took me in his arms for a long, amazing kiss. It was intense and full of feeling. He pulled back and stared down at me, his eyes filled with emotion. “Megan,” he whispered.
“Yes?” I asked, breathless.
“I love you.”
I smiled widely, a warm glow spreading inside me at the words I wanted to hear, but wasn’t sure I ever would. It took three years for him to even speak to me and admit he liked me, I wasn’t expecting these words for a while. I was so glad I didn’t have to wait. I reached up and touched his cheek with my hand; his skin was soft. “I love you too,” I whispered.
He smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. He kissed me again, taking us to new levels. It felt so amazing, kissing and embracing, now that we knew how we felt about each other. It meant so much more.
Eventually, we pulled apart and stared up at the night sky.
“Sit up,” he commanded, tugging me up with him. “I want to give you this.” He pulled a small box out of his jacket pocket. “It’s been in my family for generations.” When he opened the box, a necklace shone from inside. It was a gold chain with a half-moon pendant. It meant so much that he wanted me to have something that had belonged to his family.
“Oh, Nate, I love it, thank you.” He stood up to fasten the clasp around my neck and then wrapped his arms around me. I leaned in for a kiss. “And I love you,” I said when we finally pulled apart.
When he sat down again, he pulled me with him, to lean against the deck’s railing. We sat snuggled up, so close to each other I could feel the heat from his body. “Tell me about your childhood. Were you always so distant with your parents?”
“No.” I shook my head slightly. “They didn’t become consumed with appearances until my dad took over the company from his father and we moved into our house after my grandparents died.”
“I thought I heard Mr. Riley say once that your house belonged to the Stewarts. Did your grandparents buy it from them?”
I stared at him, wondering if he was kidding, before I remembered he wasn’t from here. He had only moved to Creekford three years ago. “No, my grandparents were the Stewarts, my mother’s family. She’s an only child so the house went to her when they died. She has cousins that could have gotten the house, but my grandmother was the oldest within her family so it went to her only child.”
A quick look of terror crossed his face, but he quickly recovered with a slight smile.
I frowned. “What?”
“Nothing. Tell me about your mother’s family. You never mention them.”
“There’s not much to tell since she was an only child. I don’t have any cousins. But my grandparents were the best. You know the type; my nana always made me chocolate chip cookies when I came over, even though they had a cook. And my grandfather always had gum in his pocket and he would sneak me a piece when no one was looking. My mother wouldn’t let me have any.”
“They seem wonderful. When did they die?” He reached over and pulled a brown fleece blanket out of a wooden box that was attached to the railing, unfolding it over our laps.
I lifted the blanket up to my neck, snuggling under it. A cold breeze had suddenly come out of nowhere turning the once warm air chilly. “When I was nine. My granddad died of cancer
and my nana went a few months later. My mom said she died of a broken heart. I miss them. They weren’t snooty like my parents are now. But when we moved into the house and my mother started mingling with all the rich women in town, she changed. And when my father’s company took off, she wasn’t even the same person.”
I paused for a few seconds watching a falling star. “My mother, my nana and I used to go on treasure walks in the woods behind the house. I’d find pine cones, snails and flowers and put them into a basket my grandmother carried. They’d ohh and ahh every time I found something. Then I’d get excited to run back and show my granddad. He’d stand in the kitchen door to watch for us and yell, ‘Where are my three Lucys?’”
“What?” he asked, straightening up and staring at me, the look of terror from earlier returned.
“What do you mean what?”
“You said something about his three Lucys.” He paled and the terrified expression on his face deepened.
“Oh, that’s what he called us when we were together. In my nana’s family the first daughter born of each generation was named after some ancestor that was killed a long time ago.” Nate’s eyes closed, a look of misery flitted over his face. “Are you okay?” I asked, leaning up to him. He had turned away from me and all I could think to do was rub his back. He was silent for several seconds and then abruptly stood up, moving over to stand on the other side of the boat.
He stood with his back to me, staring out at the water. “Is something wrong?” He was really starting to worry me.
After a few torturous minutes of strained quiet, he turned around and started the boat. “We should go,” was all he would say before he pulled the throttle and took off. I flew back into the cold metal railing as he sped off.
I just sat on the deck, where he had left me staring at him, wondering what I had said to make him act this way. He never once glanced my way and each time I yelled over the motor to ask what was wrong, he ignored me.
Once he docked at the marina, I followed him as he took long quick strides to his car. It was difficult to keep up with him while I was wearing my three-inch heels.
He opened the door for me and then silently climbed into the car and drove away.
He was quiet all the way to his home and distant when we arrived at the cottage. He said he was tired and went to bed early. I lay in the bed right next to him, but he felt miles away.
The next morning, Nate decided to make me breakfast, blueberry waffles. He was still in a mood, although he tried to hide it. He acted normally, kissed me back when I kissed him, even laughed a little. But he was somehow distant. When he smiled, it didn’t reach his eyes. And I wasn’t exactly sure, but he seemed to touch me less. If I wasn’t in the room, his face would take on a far-off, distant expression and when I walked in, he’d recover with a slight smile. I was worried, but I didn’t know what to do to bring him back, so I tried to act normal. Hopefully he would snap out of his mood soon.
We were sitting in his kitchen listening to the radio as he prepared our waffles. “I have something to ask you and remember, you said you loved me.” At least I hoped he still did.
He set his coffee down on the marble counter top. “I’m afraid to ask. But what is it?”
I took a deep breath. “Okay, so you know that graduation is Saturday, right?” He nodded. “Well, my parents are all about the show. They really care what people think and they have a need to constantly impress them. They don’t pay attention to me for months, but when I’m graduating they want to have a dinner party. And they want my boyfriend to come.” I paused, waiting for a reply, but when he didn’t speak, I decided there was only one thing to do: beg. “Please. I know it sounds awful and they will act like we’re all so close and that they actually know you. But I really could use the moral support.”
He smiled slightly. “Of course I’ll go. Where is it?”
“In our garden, right after graduation. They’re inviting people my father works with too.” I stood up and hugged him tightly to me. I could have sworn he tensed at my touch, but I chose to ignore it. “Thank you so much. I love you even more now.” I gave him a few pecks on the cheek and then sat back down again to finish eating. “What are you doing after graduation?”
“I have a job at Riley’s Department Store. It’s just entry level, probably mail room or stocking shelves.” He looked over at me. “What are your plans? Are you going to college?” His expression was unreadable. Did he want me to be here or go away to school? Just yesterday I was sure of the answer, but ever since he told me he loved me I couldn’t tell.
“I don’t know what I want to be, so I’m taking a year off. I’m thinking of working at the shelter full time, if they’ll let me.”
“I think they would be lucky to have you.”
I took a drink of orange juice just as the news started from the radio. “Another body was found in Baycroft Park. Police believe a wolf was responsible. Animal control is in the woods today in search of the animal,” a male newscaster reported.
“Wow. I can’t believe that. That’s three people in two weeks. Why would an animal do that?” When I looked up at Nate, he was staring at the radio with his jaw locked. For a second, I thought his eyes were yellow. “Your eyes: I swear one just changed color.”
I jumped up, rushing over to investigate, but he pulled away from me, covering his eyes. “No, it’s fine. I’ll go look in the mirror. Can you watch the waffles?” He rushed to his bedroom, the click of the lock echoing into the kitchen.
I really didn’t want to believe that he was acting so strange because he told me he loved me, but what was I supposed to think?
I lifted the last waffles out of the waffle maker and set them on a plate for him.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said as he strolled back out, pulling the silverware drawer out to retrieve a fork.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I think I got something in my eye and it started to water. You must have seen the light reflect it.”
“Mmm... these are amazing. Did you make these from scratch?”
“Yes, I love to cook. It relaxes me.” He stabbed his fork into his food, shoving it into his mouth. After he finished chewing he said, “I just remembered that I have a ton of paperwork to do for the shelter. How about I drop you off at home and I’ll call you later.” He took a sip of coffee, his eyes peering at me over the mug.
“I could come with you,” I suggested, hoping that I was imagining that he suddenly wanted to get rid of me.
“No, you need a day to yourself. You’re probably getting sick of me.”
“That will never happen, I love you.” Now I knew he was trying to get rid of me.
“I love you too.” He scarfed his food down and threw our dishes in the sink. I wasn’t even finished eating.
He ushered me into his room so I could get changed and get my stuff. I was probably forgetting something, but I didn’t have time to make sure I had everything; he rushed me out so quickly.
I had been leaving extra clothes and makeup at his house. It was beginning to look like we lived together. I noticed he had the picture Julia took of us last week out on the mantel, one that was taken at the shelter and a few of my things were placed around the house. He always made me feel welcome, until today. But overnight he became a different person. I just wished I knew how to get the old Nate back and I hoped desperately that he didn’t regret saying those three words. I know that after we said them I felt closer to him, but obviously, it had an entirely different effect on him.
I really didn’t have anything to do when I arrived home, so I studied for my last two exams. One was tomorrow and the other Wednesday. All that homework made me hungry. I slammed my book closed when I had absorbed as much about fifteenth-century England as I possibly could and left my room in search of food.
“Mmm, homemade doughnuts, my favorite. What’s the occasion?” I asked Mona, stepping into the kitchen.
“No occasion. With you at Nate’s and you
r parents gone all the time, I’ve been bored out of my mind.” She plunked some dough into the oil. The hot liquid bubbled and the dough started to darken. “What are you doing home? You’ve been joined to Nate’s hip for a month.”
“He blew me off. He said he had to do paperwork for the shelter, but he was acting really strange.” When she raised her eyebrows, I sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“What’s that on your neck?” she asked, pointing to the necklace Nate gave me.
“It’s nice, isn’t it? I’m not sure what it means, but it’s a family heirloom. He gave it to me last night, right after he told me he loved me.” I lifted the moon pendant and glanced at it. The feelings from last night when he gave it to me rushed back. What happened afterward quickly erased the happiness I felt, leaving only doubt and fear in its place.
“Oh, that’s sweet. Did you say it back?”
“Of course. I also asked him to come to my graduation garden party Mom and Dad are having.” I chose to keep the rest to myself as I sat down on the stool.
“Oh good, you’ll need support for that. Are they allowing you to have one friend?”
“It was their idea for me to ask him. It looks good for him to be there since he helps run a charity.” I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair.
“You don’t have to worry about that until Saturday.” She picked a doughnut off the plate lined with paper towel and handed it to me. “Try one, they’re good.”
I took it from her, eager for one of my favorite Mona specialties. I took a bite and wasn’t disappointed; crunchy on the outside and so moist and chocolaty on the inside.
“Oh, they’re so good. I’m taking some with me into my room. I have a feeling I’m going to be bored.” I left her singing along to an oldies station and dropping more dough into the pot.
Back inside my room I decided to clean out my closet. I had given the charity clothes I hated because they were paid for out of guilt. But I hadn’t gone through clothes that didn’t fit me or I no longer wore. It took a lot longer than I thought it would, which was good since I didn’t have anything else to do.
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