Dallas nodded.
“Smith Island cake.” Vanessa nodded. “There’s nothing else on the planet quite like it.”
“You can say that again. I’ve been eating like there’s no tomorrow, and there’s no gym to work it off at.”
“There’s a gym out on the highway,” Vanessa told her. “Though you probably wouldn’t want to go there. It gets pretty crowded. You’d have no privacy there.”
“I’m hoping that all the walking I’m doing will make up for it. I haven’t even driven my rental car since I got here.” Dallas placed the shorts on the counter near the cash register. “I will take these, but I think I’d like to see those skirts you mentioned. And maybe the sundress you have in the window. The coral one.”
“The skirts are right here. The dark denim ones are especially cute.” Vanessa led Dallas to the display. “The sundresses in your size are along the wall—that pink-and-gray number is nothing short of adorable—but I’m afraid we don’t have designers. Not the labels you’re used to, anyway.”
Dallas smiled at her. “They don’t need designer labels, they’re darling. I think I want to try on the coral one …”
Two pairs of shorts, one of the dark denim skirts which Dallas agreed were in fact especially cute, and two sundresses later—the coral and one that had pink-and-gray swirls on the skirt—Dallas left Bling with two of the shop’s signature brown-and-pink bags over her arm. She stood at the corner and waited for the light to change, a contented smile on her face. She and Berry had agreed they’d meet at Scoop at eleven-fifteen. Dallas was a few minutes early, but she didn’t mind. It gave her a little extra time to sit on one of the benches and watch the boats out on the Bay.
Strolling along Kelly’s Point Drive on a summer morning, she could almost imagine herself as the girl she’d once been, a shy, pudgy, lonely, sad eleven-year-old that first summer they’d stayed here, the one that followed her father’s death. She remembered how she felt coming to Berry’s that first time. They’d arrived in the middle of the night during a summer storm, her mother having gotten lost several times during the drive from New Jersey. The house had loomed large and dark and oh so spooky against a sky that was continuously split by lightning and rocked by thunder. She’d been too terrified to get out of the car. Wade, who was seven, had slept through it all. She’d been confused and didn’t really understand why her father had died and left them and had thought Berry a very strange person and Berry’s house a haunted mansion. She was certain that her first night in that house would be her last. Surely some terrible creature would slink out of the dark to do her in.
But Dallas had survived that first night, and every night thereafter. Berry had won her over with charm and humor and love, and before too long, the house had become home to her and her brother. She’d wept at the end of the summer when they left to return to a house that didn’t seem at all like home anymore. With her father gone, the light had gone out of their family, leaving her mother bitter and angry. It wouldn’t be until Wade was in junior high school, when their mother met her second husband, Antonio, on a winter trip to Florida to see her sister, that Roberta MacGregor found something that made her forget the bitter hand she believed she’d been dealt. The following summer, the summer when Wade left for college, Roberta had flown to Argentina to marry her polo player, and she’d never come back, not for either of her children’s college graduations or for Dallas’s wedding. To celebrate the birth of her only grandchild, Roberta had sent a case of champagne and a sterling-silver rattle engraved with Cody’s name and date of birth. If either Wade or Dallas felt her loss, neither had ever expressed it, even to each other. It had taken Dallas years to understand that what she’d perceived as her mother’s rejection was really Roberta’s way of putting behind her the loss that she’d never been able to accept or understand any more than her children had. If Roberta had found love and peace of mind with her new husband, Dallas could only wish her well. She was beyond judging and many steps away from being hurt by the situation. Roberta was simply Roberta, and that was that.
A police car was heading out of the municipal building’s parking lot as Dallas strolled down Kelly’s Point Drive. The cruiser slowed as it passed her, then stopped, and the driver’s window rolled down.
“Dallas MacGregor, is that you?”
Puzzled, she walked toward the car, then smiled when she recognized the man behind the wheel.
“Hey, you need to be careful. I heard impersonating a police office was a chargeable offense.” She rested an arm on the car door. “How are you, Beck?”
“Great. I heard you were back.” The town’s chief of police put the car in park. “I was planning on stopping out at your aunt’s place to say hello, see how you were doing, and here you are.”
“I’m here and I’m doing fine. Congratulations on your marriage, by the way. Berry showed me the pictures she took at the wedding of you and your beautiful bride. Berry said she’s an absolutely lovely person. I’m still trying to figure out how you got so lucky.”
“Believe me, so am I.” Beck grinned. “You’ll meet Mia if you hang around St. Dennis long enough. How long are you planning on staying?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ve been enjoying myself too much to give serious thought to anything this past week.”
“Well, that’s a good sign, then. You enjoy yourself, you’re more likely to stay a little longer this time than you did the last few times you were here.” He paused, then asked, “How long’s it been, anyway?”
“Three years, I think.”
“Well, whatever it’s been, it’s been too long. Good to see you, Dallas.” He put the car into drive. “You need anything, anyone bothers you, you have problems with any of the tourists, you give me a call, right? Berry has my home number and my cell.”
“You give out your private numbers to everyone in St. Dennis?”
“Nah. Just the special ladies.” He smiled, and she understood he’d been keeping an eye on Berry.
“I appreciate that, Beck. Berry’s always been so independent, I forget how old she is and how alone she is here.”
“You’ll be in for a tongue-lashing if she hears you used the O-word and her name in the same sentence,” Beck reminded her. “And she’s not alone, Dallas. She has an entire community looking out for her. But for the love of God, don’t let her know anyone’s keeping tabs on her. Heads would roll.”
“My lips are sealed.” Dallas stepped back to allow the car to pass. “But thanks, Beck. I do appreciate it, and I appreciate you letting me know.”
“Berry’s a legend in St. Dennis, Dallas, you know that. She’s a treasure.” He rolled up the window as he eased the cruiser on by.
Dallas waved and continued on down the road toward the Bay and Scoop, thinking how life sometimes took the oddest twists and turns. She remembered the summer when Gabriel Beck just sort of appeared in town, a sullen boy in his early teens who seemed to have it in for just about everyone who had the misfortune of crossing his path. It wasn’t long before she and the entire town heard that he’d been dumped off by his mother on the front porch of his unsuspecting father, Hal Garrity, who at the time was the chief of police. Back then, Beck was a wild child, the kid who bordered on bad but who never seemed to cross that line. Somehow, he’d gone from being as close to juvenile delinquent status as any kid in St. Dennis ever had, to a respected officer of the law and a man beloved by his town, even by those who’d been plagued by his adolescent antics. Dallas was happy to see that life had turned out so well for Beck. She’d always liked him and his dad.
That’s how it is in places like this, she thought as she took a seat on a wooden bench at the end of the path that looked out on the Bay. People look after each other.
It had never occurred to Dallas that Berry needed looking after, but she was pleased to know that someone cared enough to keep tabs. A lot of someones, she suspected. It was comforting to know that Berry would be checked up on after Dallas and Cody returned to Califor
nia. Berry’s ego aside, it was clear that she wasn’t as strong as she’d been the last time Dallas had visited. The concept that Berry was, after all, human, and susceptible to the effects of time just like everyone else, was a foreign one. Dallas never thought of Berry as anything but hale and independent. If anyone could live forever, surely it would be Berry.
It bothered Dallas to think about a day when there’d be no Berry in St. Dennis, in her life.
Some other day, she told herself, and pushed the thought aside.
It was hot sitting in the sun and she was getting a little cranky waiting for Berry and Cody.
“Well, how dumb am I to be sitting right outside an air-conditioned ice-cream parlor while I complain about the heat?” she muttered. She picked up the bags from Bling and her shoulder bag, and went inside.
“Looks like someone’s been shopping.” Steffie was leaning on the counter near the cash register.
Dallas smiled and held up the bags. “I could really lose my head in that place.”
“Vanessa would be delighted to hear that.”
“The woman has fabulous taste. If Bling was in California, I’d be there every day.” Dallas paused near the menu board. “What do I want today?”
“I think you want something light but fruity and refreshing. Maybe the lemon meringue. It’s brand-new. Want a taste?”
“Sure.”
Steffie grabbed a plastic spoon from a cup and opened the freezer case. The spoon disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, a pale yellow confection mounded in its bowl. She handed the spoon over the top of the case to Dallas.
“Oh, man, that is truly heaven.” Dallas sighed after she’d licked the spoon clean.
“I just made it this morning. It has homemade lemon curd in it.”
“Sold. I’ll have two scoops.” Remembering the meal she’d had the night before, she added reluctantly. “No, better make it one. In a bowl, please.”
“How ’bout one generous scoop?”
“You’re the devil, aren’t you? The real one, the one who leads us into temptation …”
Dallas reached up for the bowl just as the door opened behind her. Expecting Berry and Cody, she glanced over her shoulder, ready to admonish them for being late.
“Grant,” Steffie called from behind the counter, “you’re just in time to say hey to Dallas.”
“Hey, Dallas,” he repeated as if on autopilot.
“Grant.” Dallas forced a smile and hoped it didn’t look as forced as it felt. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Thanks.” He put a friendly hand on her shoulder, as anyone might do when greeting an old friend. “You’re looking good.”
“I’m good.” She nodded and tried to ignore the fact that, beneath her shirt, her skin was starting to warm at his touch.
“I heard you were in town.” Was he avoiding eye contact? Or was she? Either way, Dallas was okay with that.
“Since last week.” She nodded again, then told herself to stop. “Bobble-head” was not a good look for anyone.
“My daughter said you might be thinking about getting a dog.” His hand slid away—across her shoulder and down her back—as he walked past her to the counter. She relaxed slightly and exhaled a breath she hadn’t been aware she’d been holding.
“My son would like a dog, but there’s been no decision yet.”
“I’m sure Paige told you we have lots of adoptable dogs at the shelter.” He turned to his sister. “How ’bout a double chocolate malt with a dabble of raspberry and some chocolate sprinkles?”
“Oink,” Steffie muttered, and Grant laughed good-naturedly.
He’d always been like that, Dallas recalled as she took a seat at a small table just inside the door. He’d always laughed easily and had a great sense of humor. Maybe that’s why she’d never forgotten what his laughter sounded like, or the way his mouth turned up when he smiled. Or the way he—
“Hey, Mom!” The door flew open and Cody burst through.
“Whoa, pal.” Dallas put an arm out to reach for him. “Take it easy. And quick, catch the door before it bangs against the—”
The door hit the wall.
“—wall.” She jumped up to grab it and pull it back. She held it while Berry came inside, then closed it quietly. “You owe Steffie an apology, Cody.”
“I’m sorry I let your door bang.” Cody didn’t look the least bit concerned but he sounded sincere. One out of two wasn’t bad, when you were dealing with a six-year-old.
“I forgive you,” Steffie told him solemnly. “Now come over here and sample this new flavor and tell me what you think of it.” She dipped into the case. “It’s chocolate chip fudge.”
“Sorry to be late, dear.” Berry sat her handbag on the chair next to Dallas’s bags from Bling. “The story hour ran late, and …” Behind her dark glasses, her eyes scanned the shop. A huge smile spread across her face when she saw the man leaning against the counter. “Why, is that Grant Wyler?”
“Just waiting here for you, Miss B.” Grant put down his bowl of ice cream and crossed the floor in two strides to plant a kiss on Berry’s cheek. “How’s my favorite pinup?”
“Oh, dear, I can’t believe you found those old photos on the Internet.” Berry blushed prettily. “You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”
“Are you kidding? I printed them out,” Grant teased. “On glossy paper. Poster size. Got ’em hanging on my walls at home.”
“Oh, you do not.” Berry pretended to be flustered.
“Oh, I certainly do. Just the other day, I was thinking I’d have one made a little bigger for the waiting room at the clinic.”
“Grant Wyler, you’re just … naughty.” Berry laughed coquettishly.
“I’ve been called worse. Actually, I believe I’ve been called worse by you.”
“Never, dear boy.” Berry shook her head.
“What can I get for you?” Steffie addressed Berry.
“I’ll come up there and take a look.” Berry went to the case to look inside. Grant followed and grabbed his bowl of ice cream from the counter where he’d left it. When he returned to Dallas’s table, Cody was right behind him.
“Grant, this is my son, Cody Blair. Cody, this is Mr. …” She corrected herself. “Dr. Wyler. He’s Paige’s father. Do you remember Paige?”
Cody nodded. “You’re the veterern … vetererarian.”
“Veterinarian,” Dallas corrected.
“The dog doctor.” Cody looked up at Grant and extended his little hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Dallas smiled. It was always a surprise when your child remembered the manners he’d been taught. Her smile faded when Grant reached a hand to take Cody’s. Dallas remembered those hands …
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Cody,” Grant was saying as Dallas’s heart began to speed up just a little.
“You have lots of dogs and you give them to people who want them.”
“I run a shelter where we take care of dogs that are waiting for new homes. Cats, too,” Grant told him.
“Mom said maybe I could have a dog,” Cody said. “Maybe you have a dog for us.”
“Maybe I do. That’s up to your mom.”
“Actually, it’s really up to Berry, since it’s her house we’d be bringing a dog to.” Dallas tried to focus on a freckle in the middle of Grant’s forehead but she couldn’t help but meet his eyes. He held her gaze for a long moment before she blinked and looked away. Blue eyes. So very blue. She’d written a poem about his blue eyes when she was sixteen. It had been embarrassingly bad. She blushed at the memory.
Cody scrambled off his seat and ran to the counter, where Berry stood talking to Steffie.
“A dog’s a big responsibility.” Dallas cleared her throat. “I don’t know if Cody’s ready to take on that kind of responsibility.”
“Taking care of a pet is a great way to learn responsibility.” Grant leaned on the back of the chair that Cody had vacated and brought himself eye level with Dallas
. “But of course, it’s up to you. And your aunt.”
“We need to give it some more thought, but thanks. If we decide to take on a pet, we’ll be sure to come to you first.” Even to herself, she sounded stiff and formal.
“Good. I think it would be great for your aunt to have a dog in the house with her.” He loaded ice cream onto his spoon and raised it to his mouth, then licked the spoon clean. “A dog would make a great companion for her.”
“I don’t know that Cody would want to part with it when we leave.” She tried to look away, but couldn’t. She remembered that mouth, those lips.
“When do you suppose that’s going to be?” Grant asked as another spoonful of ice cream headed for his mouth. Dallas fought hard against remembering the many places where that mouth and those lips and those hands had been, once upon a time.
“I haven’t really thought about it.” She sat riveted to her chair, visions from her past dancing merrily in her head. Shoo, she demanded. Go away. Go away now.
Grant appeared to be about to say something else when Cody bounced back to the table.
“Aunt Berry is thinking about it,” he announced gleefully. “She said she would think about it today and she’s going to talk to you some more.” He pointed at his mother. “So you should talk now.”
“We’ll talk when we get home, Cody.” Dallas could feel Grant’s eyes on her. She looked up at him and tried to project calm, tranquillity. Which is where being an actor comes in, she mused. “Do we need to call first, if we wanted to pursue a dog through your shelter?”
“A call is always a good thing. Gives us a heads-up, a little time to look over the dogs that might be contenders.” Grant pulled his wallet from a back pocket and a business card from the wallet. He scribbled something on the back with a pen he took from the counter next to the cash register and handed the card to Dallas. “Now you have all my numbers. The clinic, the shelter, my house, my cell.” He looked down into her eyes and added, “You can find me anytime you want me.”
“Good to know.” Dallas tucked the card into her pocket.
The Chesapeake Diaries Series 7-Book Bundle: Coming HOme, Home Again, Almost Home, Hometown Girl, Home for the Summer, The Long Way Home, At the River's Edge Page 39