She stared out the car window on the way home, lost in thoughts, her mind replaying the events of the evening, while Eli and Jamie carried on about the local man who had broken the state flounder record earlier that day.
Eli squeezed her thigh. “You’re awfully quiet. Is something bothering you?”
“I can’t stop thinking about this Annie Dawn character. I can’t put my finger on it, but something about her gives me the willies.” Shivering, Sam wrapped her pashmina tighter around her shoulders.
“No kidding.” Jamie reached over from the backseat and ruffled his mother’s short hair. “I’d say you already made your feelings about Annie Dawn pretty clear.”
Sam shifted in the passenger seat to face him. “I wasn’t rude to her, if that’s what you’re implying. I just wasn’t as quick to forgive her crimes as the rest of you.”
Jamie shrugged. “I’m surprised you’re so down on her, when you’re usually the first to help others in need. That’s all I’m saying.”
Perhaps she was taking her frustrations with her personal life out on Annie.
Sam turned to Eli. “What about you, Mr. Policeman? She stole Bill’s watch, for crying out loud. You, yourself, saw her pick pocket that man. Which is something I’d expect to happen on a crowded street in a big city, not at a private wedding at someone’s home.”
“There’s some truth to that. But, as we all agreed earlier, she’s just a kid who deserves a break.” Eli waited for traffic to clear before turning left at the main intersection in the center of town. “Don’t worry. I fully intend to honor my promise by keeping a close eye on her.”
“You’ll change your mind about Annie, once you get to know her,” Jamie said. “She’s smart. She’s only sixteen, but she acts like she’s thirty. And she knows a lot about guy stuff. I’m glad she’s staying. She’ll be fun to hang out with this summer.”
Eli sought out Jamie in the rearview mirror. “Do I detect more than a platonic interest in Annie?”
“You know I’m in a relationship with Sophia,” Jamie said with a wide grin. “Now Cooper and Sean, they’re a different story.”
Sam chuckled. “I noticed. Funny thing is, Annie seems more interested in Bitsy than either of the twins.”
Eli pulled into the driveway of the yellow Cape Cod cottage and parked in front of the detached garage. Jamie reached for the door handle. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to do whatever it is you do when you’re alone. But don’t stay up too late now, you hear?”
They watched Jamie disappear around the back of the house. “He seems like he is in a good place,” Eli said. “I know it hasn’t been easy for you raising him alone, but you have done a great job with him.”
“Thanks, Eli. I am proud of the young man he’s become. But the truth is, Jamie and I would never have survived without my family’s help.”
Eli ran his finger down her cheek, and then traced her lips. “Have I told you how hot you look tonight?”
She smiled. “About a million times.”
Placing his hand on her neck, he pulled Sam to him, kissing her gently on the lips, and then with more urgency. “Can I interest you in a make out session on the front porch swing?”
“Perhaps,” she said, her voice throaty with desire.
He rubbed the silky fabric of her ice-blue sheath between his fingers. “This dress looks amazing on you, but I’d rather see it lying on the floor while your naked body lies next to me in bed.” He ran his hand across her breast.”
Her breath caught. “I thought we were going to make out in the swing.”
He pressed his lips against her neck. “I changed my mind. I can’t grope your breast on the front porch.”
She rubbed her body against his. “That’s never stopped you before.”
Eli fell back against the driver’s seat. “Because Jamie has been away at college for most of the year.” He raked his hands through his dark wavy hair. “I feel like I’m making out in the driveway in the family station wagon while your father is inside pacing the floors waiting for you to come in.”
Sam laughed. “I can assure you Jamie has no interest in what we’re doing out here. If he’s not already asleep, he’s texting with one of his friends or talking to Sophia on the phone.” She opened the door and got out of the car. “Come on. Let’s sit on the porch for a while and talk.”
Sam and Eli walked hand and hand around to the front of the house. They settled in on the bench swing and sat in silence for a while, listening to the crickets chirp. The sweet smell of confederate jasmine, growing in the flower bed that bordered the porch at their feet, filled the air. Sam tilted her head back against the swing and closed her eyes. “That breeze feels nice. It won’t be long before it’s too hot and humid to sit out here.”
“Only a few days if the weather forecast is accurate.” Eli snuggled up close to Sam. “I wonder what Faith and Mike are doing right now—certainly not making out on the front porch swing.”
“I doubt they are making out at all with Bitsy around.” Sam cracked one eyelid. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. My poor niece has been through so much for someone so young. How great was it to hear her talking again tonight?”
“Pretty terrific. I’ve missed hearing her call Faith ‘Mama’ in her sweet Southern drawl.”
“Hopefully the worst is behind Bitsy, but I doubt she’s completely cured,” Sam said.
“She may never be completely cured. But they’ll work through their issues together, as a family.” Eli placed his arm around Sam, and pulled her close, giving her a gentle squeeze. “We could be a family too, you know? Just the three of us—you, me, and Jamie.”
Sam drew away from him. “Do we have to talk about this tonight?”
“Yes, Sam, as a matter of fact we do have to talk about this tonight.” Retracting his arm, Eli sat up straight. “I’ve been trying to have this conversation with you for months. We aren’t teenagers, you know. We’re middle-aged adults who have been dating for nearly a year. Marriage is the next logical step for us, and I, for one, am ready to take the plunge. You owe it to me to at least tell me how you feel.”
“You already know how I feel.”
Eli’s mouth fell open. “How could I possibly know how you feel when you shut me down every time I mention our future?”
Sam jumped up. “You want to know how I feel, then I’ll tell you how I feel,” she said, her voice a loud whisper. “I love you, Eli Marshall. You and I respect one another, which is a rare thing these days. At least with most couples I know. We have fun together. And the sex is mind-boggling. I don’t see how a marriage license could possibly make our relationship any better.”
He stood to face her. “For starters, we wouldn’t be sitting out here on a swing. We’d be lying in our bed together, in our bedroom, in our house, exploring each other’s body parts.”
“I see. This is all about sex,” she said, her voice a soft hiss. “You’re upset because I won’t make love to you while my son is under the same roof. If it means that much to you, Eli, we can go to your apartment.”
“This is not about sex and you know it. Sit back down and let’s talk about this rationally.” He dropped down to the swing, pulling her with him. “I have enough money saved to buy a small house on the inlet, nothing as fancy as Moss Creek Farm but something we could be proud of. I want to grow old with you, watching the sun rise and set every day over the water.” He lifted her chin. “I love you, Sam. And I love Jamie, every bit as much as if he were my own son. I’m pretty sure he sees me more as a friend than a father, but our relationship is strong. Marriage is the next natural step. I, for one, don’t see what the problem is.”
“The problem is marriage in general. Too many of them end in divorce. Look at Faith and Curtis.”
“You can’t compare us to them. Curtis is a sadistic asshole who deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison for putting his wife and child through hell.”
Sam crossed her arms over her chest.
“What about Bill and Jackie? He cheated on her for crying out loud.”
“Their problems stem deeper than his infidelity, as you well know.” Eli stared out into the dark night. “I actually admire them for admitting their mistakes and trying to work through their problems.”
“But Jamie needs me—”
“That’s a cop out, and we both know it. No doubt your son needed you this time last year when he was confined to a wheelchair, struggling with depression, but all that is behind him. He doesn’t need you now. He got his baseball scholarship back. He’s making solid grades. And he can’t stop talking about the redhead named Sophia.”
“You don’t understand, Eli. Jamie and I are a family, the two of us against the world. That’s all we’ve ever known.”
“Are you saying there’s no room for one more?”
“I’m saying there’s no reason to upset the apple cart,” she said, her chin set in defiance.
Eli slid over on the swing, putting distance between them. “I hate to tell you, my friend, but the apple cart is losing a wheel whether you want it to or not. Jamie is already in college. He lives in Columbia for the majority of the year. The coach redshirted him this year, but he’ll be playing, maybe even starting, from now on. He’ll be lucky to get a month off next summer. He’ll get married one day, and I can’t see him bringing his bride home to live with his mama.” He softened his tone. “You’ll make it that much harder for Jamie to fly the coop if he is worried about you being alone. Your son wants you to be happy.”
An awkward silence settled between them. Sam tried to imagine her life without Eli. Her love for him was not in question. But she worried it wasn’t enough.
Finally able to put voice to the concerns she’d had for the past few weeks, she said, “You’re younger than I am, Eli. You need to find someone you can start a family with. You’ll make a good father. Being a parent is the greatest joy in life. I don’t want to be the one who deprives you of that opportunity.”
“I can have all that with Jamie.”
“Jamie will be twenty years old in December. Going fishing with a young man his age is a far cry from holding a newborn in your arms.” Sam stood and pulled Eli to his feet. “I have loved you with every fiber of my being these past months, but I can’t hold you back from finding the woman you’re meant to be with.”
“You are the woman I’m meant to be with. There has never been any doubt for me.” He took her by the arms and looked so deep into her eyes she was sure he could see her heart breaking into pieces. “You forget how well I know you. And I sense there’s more you’re not saying. Talk to me, Sam. Tell me what’s really bothering you.”
“I’m sorry, Eli. I just can’t give you what you need.”
He raked his hands through his wavy hair. “You’ve had an emotional night, with the excitement of the wedding, Bitsy breaking her silence, and the drama with Annie. Please, don’t make this decision until you’ve had a chance to think about it.” His voice was full of desperation. “Get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll talk again in the morning.”
“There’s nothing left to say. Thank you for all you’ve done for my family and me.” She kissed him on the cheek. “But I have to say goodbye.” She turned her back on him and went inside.
Through the window, she watched him, head lowered and shoulders slumped, make his way to his police cruiser parked on the curb. Although Sam sensed that she was making the biggest mistake of her life, she was convinced that breaking up with Eli was the right thing for both of them.
When his taillights disappeared down the street, Sam turned off the porch lights and locked the front door. Careful not to wake Jamie, she tiptoed through the house to the kitchen, switching off lamps along the way. She opened one cabinet, then another. She’d long since removed every drop of alcohol from her house, but that didn’t stop her from searching anyway.
She’d never been much of a drinker until the previous summer when Curtis had threatened their family and nearly destroyed Sam’s house, when she’d sought solace in a glass of wine, which had quickly become an addiction. As the officer assigned to her case, Eli had been there for Sam both in a professional capacity and then on a more personal level once their mutual attraction began to grow. A recovering alcoholic himself, Eli helped Sam understand that she couldn’t blame her alcoholism on Curtis. The addiction had been there all along, lying dormant, waiting for a spark to fly and light the flame. Eli nurtured Sam through those dark days and set her on the twelve-step plan to a clean life.
Who would chase the ghosts from her closet, if not Eli? She opened another cabinet. He deserved so much better than her.
Jamie appeared in the doorway. “What are you looking for?”
“A drink.” She slammed the cabinet door and turned to face him. “You don’t happen to have any beer hidden in your closet, do you?”
He scrunched his face up in confusion. “Since when do I hide beer in my closet?”
“Isn’t that what teenagers do? I’ve heard other mothers talk about it.”
“Not this teenager.” When she reached for another cabinet, he grabbed her hand. “Why do you need a drink, Mom?” He took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Unable to hold back the tears any longer, she said, “Eli and I broke up.”
A pained expression crossed her son’s face. “But that doesn’t make any sense. The two of you love each other.”
“That’s the problem. Sometimes love just isn’t enough.”
Five
Faith
Faith woke the following morning to find her daughter sleeping peacefully, sucking her thumb, wedged between her body and Mike’s. She noticed her new husband staring at her. “Not the most romantic way to begin our life together,” she whispered. “I should have taken Jackie up on her offer to let Bitsy stay at the farm last night. At least we would’ve had our wedding night to ourselves.”
He smiled, his adoration for Faith written all over his face. “You made the right decision about last night. We’ll have plenty of time for romance later, once she settles into her new home.”
Mike and Faith had talked about it at length before the wedding. They wanted to send the right message to their daughter, that the marriage was the beginning of their lives together as a family. With Bitsy in silent mode, Faith had no way of knowing how her daughter felt about Mike, aside from her actions. Bitsy appeared to enjoy his company. Faith often found her curled up in Mike’s lap with a book or helping him with one of his many weekend projects. In the end, they’d agreed to tread carefully, at least during these first few weeks while Bitsy transitioned to their new circumstances.
Faith tried to pry the thumb from the child’s mouth, which only made her suck harder. “Her front teeth are coming in crooked, just like the dentist said they would if she didn’t stop sucking her thumb.”
Mike pressed his lips to the top of Bitsy’s head. “Lucky for us, the best orthodontist in town is a friend of mine.”
“One of the things I most love about you is how quick you are to offer a solution instead of deliberating the problem ad nauseam.” Faith slid further under the covers. “I’m sorry, Mike. I hope you aren’t having doubts about marrying me. I know how anxious you are to start our own family.”
“Hey.” Mike searched under the covers for her hand. “I came into this marriage with my eyes wide open. You told me about the complications with Bitsy’s delivery, so I’m well aware that any additions to this family will happen by unconventional methods. We’ll pursue those means when we are both ready, when Bitsy is on solid ground.” He brought Faith’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “Besides, if we never have more children, it won’t be the end of the world. Making sure Bitsy develops into a mentally stable adult is the most important thing.”
She leaned across her daughter to kiss him. “Thank you, Dr. Neilson, for taking such good care of Bitsy and me. This house, you, our family—it’s all a dream come tr
ue for me.” Her gaze drifted to the bank of windows that looked out over the inlet creek. “I will never get tired of the view.”
“Nor will I,” he said, staring at his new wife and not the inlet. “Do you feel safe?”
“How can I not with all this souped-up security?” She frowned. “I hope I can figure out how to use the features. Lord knows, I’ll never remember the passwords.”
“We’ll start with the features we’re comfortable with, and go from there. In case you need it, I have a file stored on my laptop with all the pertinent information, including the passwords.”
“It just occurred to me how the nanny cams might come in handy now that I’ve hired Annie to babysit for Bitsy. Are they easy to use?”
“Very.” Rolling over on his back, he took his iPhone off the nightstand. His fingers flew across the screen. “We can watch the nanny cams live from any mobile device.” He held the phone up to show Faith the camera view of the three of them lying in bed together.
She scrambled to sit up. “Hold on a minute. Where is that camera hidden?” she asked, her eyes darting around the room.
“It’s attached to the top of that frame.” He pointed to a pastel of water lilies hanging on the wall in front of them.
“I’m not sure I like the idea of being on camera while we’re… well, you know…”
He chuckled. “I haven’t thought about it like that, but I know what you mean. Might give a guy stage fright. I’ll dismantle it this afternoon.”
“Good.” She slid back down again beneath the covers. “What if I’m at work and can’t watch the camera live? Does the system record it?”
“Yep.” He returned his phone to the bedside table. “It’s set up to record all detected motion on a hard drive that’s installed in the utility room.”
Bitsy stirred between them. Plucking her thumb from her mouth, she asked, “Can Annie babysit for me today?”
Lowcountry Stranger Page 3