The Way Back Home

by Barbara Freethy

  The carnival hawker, a young tattooed guy, was as blown away as Justin. “Man, this game is rigged, and you still got ’em all,” he muttered.

  “That was so cool,” Justin said, his eyes wide and impressed. “Can you teach me how to shoot like that?”

  “Why don’t you pick out your prize?” Gabe said, setting down the gun.

  “Not bad,” Alicia commented.

  “I wasn’t sure how you felt about guns.”

  “I grew up with a father and a brother who used to take me to the shooting range.”

  “That explains why Rob was so good.”

  “As good as you?”

  He shrugged. “Perhaps. I’ve always had a good eye.” He cleared his throat, a spark coming into his eyes as he said, “I bet Keith couldn’t do that.”

  “He’s pretty athletic,” she said. “But it wouldn’t be an even playing field, considering how much training you’ve had. If you want to impress me, you’re going to have to win at something you haven’t spent the last decade perfecting.”

  “Name your game.”

  She looked around. “Water-balloon toss?”

  He smiled. “Did I mention that I’ve handled grenades?”

  “Okay, forget that. How about tossing a baseball into a bucket?”

  “I was the star pitcher on our unit’s baseball team.”

  “Really? Rob let you be the star?”

  Gabe’s smile broadened. “Rob was the catcher, so he liked to think it was his calling of the pitches that won us games.”

  “I didn’t know you guys played baseball.”

  “Sometimes it was a makeshift game in the middle of the desert, a little taste of America’s favorite pastime when we were far, far away. Soccer was big, too. A lot of the local kids would bring by soccer balls and kick ’em around.”

  “So anything with a ball is probably out,” she mused. “Well, we still have the frog-jumping contest.”

  “When is that?”

  “This afternoon.” She gazed up at the darkening sky. Clouds had been blowing in all morning, and it was getting downright cold. “Hope the weather holds.” She drew the edges of her jacket closer together. “It doesn’t really feel like spring at the moment.”

  “Alicia!”

  She smiled at the woman jogging toward her. Jordan arrived as she always did, in a whirlwind of smile and hugs.

  “When did you get back?” Alicia asked.

  “Yesterday. Paris was amazing. And Italy was over the moon. I’m still giddy.”

  A tall, willowy strawberry-blonde with lightly freckled skin and beautiful green eyes, Jordan was an artist who’d recently met and married the man of her dreams, who’d promptly taken her off to Paris to fulfill more of her dreams.

  “You look happy.”

  “How could I not be? Philip treated me like a queen.” Jordan gave Gabe a quick, curious look. “Sorry to interrupt. Have we met?”

  “Gabe Ryder,” he said, extending his hand.

  “Oh, of course,” she said, shaking his hand. “We met when you were here before. You probably don’t remember me. I was waiting tables at Mullaney’s back then. I’m Jordan Wilms.”

  “It’s nice to see you again. And I do remember you. The painter, right?”

  “Very good. I recently got married,” she said, shamelessly showing off her ring. “Philip runs the Cantor Deli on Main Street.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. So, what are you two doing?” Jordan asked.

  “Actually, I’m going to get something to drink,” Gabe said. “Do you ladies want anything?”

  “No, thanks,” Alicia said, and Jordan shook her head.

  Before Gabe could take off, Justin came running over with a glittery sword in his hands and an excited grin on his face. “Look what Gabe won for me, Aunt Jordan.”

  “Very impressive,” Jordan said. “How did he do that?”

  “He shot the bull’s-eye six times in a row.”

  Gabe cleared his throat. “I got lucky. You thirsty, Justin? I’m getting a drink.”

  “I want to get a snow cone,” Justin said. “Can I, Mom?”

  “Sure. But don’t swing that sword at anyone.”

  She was surprised to see Justin slip his hand into Gabe’s as they walked away. The sight made her heart turn over.

  “That’s sweet,” Jordan commented, following her gaze. “Looks like Justin has a new friend. What about you?”

  “I don’t know how I feel about him,” she admitted.

  “When did he come back?”

  “Two days ago. He just showed up and announced that he was moving into Rob’s house. He claims Rob gave it to him.”

  “Seriously? His house? Did he offer any proof?”

  “He had a letter from Rob. He gave it to me, but I haven’t had the guts to open it yet. It would be hard to see Rob’s handwriting, especially on something he wrote fairly recently.”

  Jordan’s gaze filled with compassion and concern. “How are you handling his being here?”

  “It’s fine,” she said awkwardly.

  Jordan gave her a knowing look. “Come on, Alicia. I was here three years ago when you cried your eyes out for a solid week. He broke your heart.”

  “Well, I’m not in love with him anymore.”

  “Are you sure? He’s still damn hot.”

  She dragged her gaze away from Justin and Gabe, who had gotten in line by the snow-cone machine. “He dumped me, Jordan. I’m not putting myself in that position again.”

  “I bet there are some positions you’d like,” Jordan said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

  “You have sex on the brain.”

  “Well, I did just get back from my honeymoon.”

  “Was it everything you hoped it would be?”

  “And more. I’m so happy, Alicia. I never imagined that Philip had such a romantic side, but he was incredible.” She laughed as she blinked away a happy tear. “Anyway, as much as I loved Europe, I’m happy to be home. The month passed quickly, but it was still a long time to be gone. I’m so inspired by everything I saw, I’m itching to paint again. I have an offer from a gallery in San Francisco to show some of my work in their summer sidewalk art show, so I have a lot to get done.”

  “I’m glad things are falling into place for you,” Alicia said. “You’ve worked hard, and you deserve it.”

  “And what about you? How’s your dad?”

  “Getting better.”

  “When I left, you were still debating if you were going to reopen the business.”

  “We’re trying to make it happen, but there’s a lot of resentment around town, and I’m having trouble getting some of our guides back.”

  “I heard that Kenny Barber is going to Wild River Tours. Phil said he stopped into the deli the other day and told him they made him a great offer.”

  “I wish he would have told me that instead of ignoring my calls.” She also wondered again what he’d been doing at her boathouse the night before.

  “He probably just wants to avoid an awkward situation. Speaking of awkward, Philip was approached by Wild River Tours to do box lunches and dinners for their overnight trips. I told him to turn it down.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Honey, you and I have been friends most of our lives. I’m not turning my back on you.”

  “Thanks,” she said with a smile, touched by Jordan’s loyalty. “I appreciate it, but if Phil can make some money off Wild River Tours, then he should do it.”

  “I just don’t like the way they’re trying to take over your runs.”

  “We don’t own the river.”

  “No, but your reputation was impeccable for sixty years, and it’s time people stopped blaming you for what was an accident.”

  “I hope they will. Not just for the sake of the business but because it’s been hard coming into town and not knowing who’s trying to avoid me.”

  Jordan frowned. “I thought things might h
ave gotten better since the funeral. My parents said there was a good turnout.”

  “Yes, there was, but not many people came back to the house. Just a few friends.”

  “I should have been there.”

  “No, I didn’t want you to come back,” she said with a definitive shake of her head. Jordan had already left on her honeymoon when they’d gotten the news of Rob’s death. “There was nothing you could do. And Rob was so excited when he heard you were finally going to see real art; he wouldn’t have wanted you to miss that.”

  “I miss him already,” Jordan said. “It doesn’t feel real.”

  “Not to me, either, but it felt a little more real when Gabe moved into his place. It’s weird looking out my window and seeing the lights on in Rob’s house, knowing it’s not my brother there.”

  “I can’t believe Gabe is going to live in River Rock. I thought one of the reasons you two broke up was that he wasn’t cut out for life in a small town.”

  “It was hardly a breakup,” she corrected. “More of a one-night stand.”

  “We need to get together and have a long talk. What are you doing for your birthday tomorrow night?”

  “Absolutely nothing, and don’t try to talk me into anything,” she said firmly. “I don’t want to celebrate. I just want to get through the day.”

  “I don’t want you to be alone on your birthday.”

  “It’s what I want, really.”

  Jordan frowned. “Fine. We’ll go to dinner one night next week and catch up. It will be like old times.”

  “Not exactly old times,” she said with a sigh. “Kelly is back. She came home for her mom’s surgery. I ran into her yesterday, and it was a very brief, very uncomfortable thirty seconds.”

  “I was hoping you two might be able to work things out.”

  “I wish we could,” Alicia said, feeling the pain of lost friendship deep in her heart. “But Kelly blames me for Brian’s death. I can’t change her mind, and I’m not going to try.”

  “I might try. The three of us were best friends for years. I don’t want to be torn between you two.”

  “You don’t have to be. You can be her friend, and you can be mine.”

  “This is a small town. That would be weird.”

  “I don’t think she’s planning on staying.” Alicia paused as Keith and David walked toward them. Keith’s boyish smile lightened her heart. One of the things she liked most about him was that he wasn’t part of any of her past drama. Meeting him had made her feel like she could start over. And their relationship was good. She needed to make sure she didn’t mess it up.

  “Jordan,” he said. “Good to see you. How was the honeymoon?”

  “Very beautiful and romantic,” Jordan replied.

  “I’ll bet. Where’s Phil?”

  “The deli has a booth over there,” she said, waving toward the food court. “He’s selling sandwiches.”

  “I’ll have to get one later.”

  “Where’s Justin?” David interrupted.

  “He’s over at the snow-cone machine,” Alicia said. Gabe and Justin were sitting on the top of a picnic table, and she could see Justin talking a mile a minute.

  “I want one, too,” David said.

  “That sounds good to me.” Keith smiled. “You want anything, Alicia?”

  What she didn’t want was for Keith and Gabe to get better acquainted, but she could hardly tell him that. “I’m fine, thanks. You two go ahead.”

  “Well, well,” Jordan muttered.

  “Don’t,” she warned.

  “Gabe and Keith are friends?”

  “They both had dinner at my house the other night. I made it clear to Gabe that Keith and I are involved.”

  “Are you involved with Keith?” Jordan asked. “You didn’t seem so sure when I left.”

  “Keith has been very supportive, and Justin and David are like brothers already. They adore each other.”

  “You can’t be with Keith just because Justin and David are friends.”

  “It’s not just because of that, but it’s also not a bad thing. Justin needs a father figure, and Keith is a great dad.”

  “No argument there. But I want you to have a man you really want, not just a man who’s good for your kid.”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t made very good choices in the past, Jordan. Connor was a disaster, and my fling with Gabe wasn’t my best idea, either. Maybe Keith is exactly the kind of man I should be with.”

  “You and Connor were kids when you got together, and I’m not so sure Gabe was a big mistake. Maybe it was just bad timing.”

  “I thought you liked Keith.”

  “I do. He’s a wonderful guy, and if you love him, then I’m all for it.”

  “But …” Alicia prodded.

  “But I have been your confidante through every crush you’ve ever had, and I’ve never heard you talk about Keith the way you talked about any one of the other men who’ve passed through your life.”

  “That’s exactly it,” she said. “They all passed through my life. They didn’t stick, and I need someone to stick, especially now.” She straightened. “Anyway, this is a carnival, and we’re supposed to be having fun. So, maybe we should get a snow cone.”

  “You go ahead. I’m going to help Phil sell sandwiches.” She shivered as the wind picked up. “It doesn’t feel much like spring today.”

  “Storm coming in tonight, I heard. They’re anticipating a couple of inches of rain by tomorrow night.”

  “The river is already high,” Jordan said.

  “Yeah,” Alicia said with a sigh. “And it looks like it’s going to get higher.”

  Gabe watched Alicia brush the hair away from her face as she and Jordan continued what appeared to be a fairly serious conversation. It was clear that at least one person in town had not turned her back on Alicia.

  “Justin is very impressed with your shooting skills,” Keith said with a friendly smile as he and David brought their snow cones over to the picnic table.

  Gabe tipped his head, feeling a little uncomfortable with Justin’s adoration. Justin’s smile reminded him so much of Rob. He’d seen Rob look at him with that same confidence, but he’d let Rob down, and if he stayed too long in River Rock, he’d probably let Justin down, too.

  “Have you ever shot a gun?” Justin asked Keith.

  Keith shook his head. “Only a water gun, buddy. Usually at one of my sisters.”

  Justin and David giggled at that.

  “Do you have any siblings?” Keith asked him.

  “Nope, only child.”

  “Sometimes I wished I was. I have three sisters and a younger brother.”

  “Big family.”

  “Yeah, my parents liked a lot of kids around. Half the neighborhood had dinner at my house. Good times.”

  Gabe certainly didn’t have any happy childhood stories to share.

  “Is it time for the frog-jumping contest?” Justin asked.

  “About a half hour more to go. Why don’t you two get the frogs out of the car?” Keith suggested, handing his keys to David. “You can practice, get warmed up.”

  As the boys left, Keith gave him another easy smile. “How long do you think you’ll be staying in River Rock?”

  “Not sure yet.”

  “It’s a great place if you’re into small towns.”

  “Alicia tells me you moved here a couple of months ago,” Gabe said, deciding that this was the perfect opportunity to follow up on one of Rob’s other requests: Make sure this guy she’s seeing is good enough for her.

  Keith nodded as he chewed on some ice. “Yeah, we moved here in September. I teach history and coach soccer and track at the high school.”

  “Where were you living before?”

  “We were in San Francisco, but David and I were both tired of the city. When I saw the job here, I decided to take it.”

  “It’s not too quiet around here for you?”

  “I like the peace, the calm. The p
ace is just right.”

  Peaceful and calm were also perfect words to describe Keith. He didn’t seem to get too worked up about anything. Gabe had never felt relaxed, not once in his entire life. He was always trying to get somewhere, beat somebody, win something. What would it feel like just to be happy in the moment? He couldn’t imagine things ever being that good. Even when his luck seemed to change for the better, he was always preparing for the other shoe to drop.

  “My wife was actually the one who wanted to move here,” Keith said. “She had the idea right after David was born. A friend of hers grew up here, and she used to spend summers on the river. She had great memories of this place. We came here once for a long weekend, and we picked out a few houses to check out the next summer. She wanted David to grow up in a place where he had room to run and where everyone knew their neighbors.” His expression grew sad. “But then she was diagnosed with cancer, and we never made it back. She died four years ago.”

  “I’m sorry,” Gabe said, realizing that he’d misjudged Keith, thinking the guy had never had a hard day in his life.

  “Thanks. Anyway, last year, I decided to make her dream a reality, and I’m glad I did. David was having a rough time at school in the city, and it was hard for him to make friends, but he and Justin just clicked from the first day they met. I like teaching in a place where the kids aren’t quite so tough. Not that there aren’t challenges, but it’s nothing like the public schools in a big city.”

  “No, it’s not. I grew up in a tough neighborhood in San Diego. I can’t imagine what it would be like to go to school here.”

  “It’s a little old-fashioned,” Keith said with a grin. “Frog-jumping contests and all. But at least here, David will have a childhood.”

  “And maybe you and Alicia …” Gabe suggested.

  Keith nodded, a hopeful smile on his face. “Maybe. She’s a little gun-shy after what happened with Justin’s father, and Rob’s death really shook her up. She was counting on his help to get the business going or to talk her father into quitting.”

  “I don’t see that happening.”

  “It should,” Keith said. “Like I said yesterday, she needs to move away from that business.”