by Leanne Davis
“You’re not sorry, so quit saying you are.”
She smiled at Luke’s profile as he glared out at the ocean waves.
Something big had shifted between them.
Chapter Six
The next day at noon, Kelly and Tim met Sarah for lunch and a walk. Kelly was nearly giddy with the excitement that she was making a friend. Sarah couldn’t pretend to like Kelly for some kind of personal gain, because for so long, Sarah had disliked her. Sarah was a lot of things, but she was upfront and honest.
And although Luke had avoided her after their encounter on the beach, he’d been cordial toward her, which Kelly considered progress, but also a little disappointing. She should be glad that she and Luke seemed to be past their infantile squabbling, but this newer politeness, left her feeling cold. A stranger. It was odd to have no effect whatsoever on Luke Tyler.
That night, Luke was moving about his room and then going out the back door. When she eventually got the guts to go see what all the commotion was about, she found Luke carrying a box. Part of his room was torn apart. Luke was packing.
“Hey, Tim! Come here,” Kelly called before Luke could acknowledge her. Tim came bounding into the room.
“Let’s help Uncle Luke pack his things. He’s getting ready to move to his new place.”
“He doesn’t want to do this work,” Luke said.
“Sure he does. Seven-year-olds love anything that involves them. Right, Tim?”
“Sure! I’ll help. But I don’t see why you can’t just live here with us? Aren’t we all a family now?”
Luke sat down on his bed and patted it for Tim to come join him. “Sure we’re a family, and now we always will be. But your mom and John need their space, and you three need to be your own family without me tagging along.”
“But we like you.”
“I like you, too. More than anyone. But this is best for all of us. You know how sad I get when I think about my wife, right?”
Tim nodded, his eyes big.
“Well, if I don’t live in the house where she and I were together, then I won’t be so sad.”
“You won’t?”
“No.”
Tim frowned, and then nodded. “Then we should get you packed up and moved tonight!”
Luke laughed as he ruffled Tim’s hair, his hand looking like a helmet against Tim’s small head. “Well, not all of it tonight. But we’ll start.”
Tim ran to the closet and started yanking clothes off the hangers. Luke winced as Tim then wadded them up and stuffed them into a box that was already half full of Luke’s books. To his credit, Luke didn’t say a word. He got up and started on his dresser. Kelly admired how Luke handled Tim, the way he let go of his own hang-ups and let Tim help him, and how he made Tim understand hard things that should have made Tim cry, but instead, now Tim was glad to move Luke. Kelly beamed with pride at her nephew. What a little trooper he was. Tim cared more that Luke was happy, over his own needs of wanting Luke to live with them.
After several more boxes were filled, Luke threw them into the back of his truck. He came in looking tired. Tim wasn’t and bounded out the door, calling over his shoulder, “Let’s go tonight. I want to see your new house.”
Luke sighed but smiled as he grabbed his keys and wordlessly followed Tim. Did Luke have any idea how natural he was with Tim? How well he treated Tim without even seeming to try? What a stupid observation. She nearly smacked her own forehead. Luke was a teacher and a coach, of course, he was good with kids, and seemed naturally attuned to their needs and how to respond. It was a shame, beyond comprehension, that Luke wasn’t a father. Luke turned and interrupted her morbid thoughts, his eyebrows quirked.
“Coming?”
“Oh. Sure,” Kelly said, surprised and pleased Luke had included her. “Just a moment. I’ll meet you both at the truck.”
She ran back into his room and grabbed a box she’d personally packed, carefully carrying it to the truck and setting it at her feet. Luke was busy with Tim, so he didn’t notice that she’d dragged the contents of Luke’s bottom dresser drawer with her. He started his truck and backed out, making the short drive to his new condo.
“Shelly was a realtor. One of her co-workers, who was also her close friend, got me this place for a screaming deal.”
Kelly looked at Luke, surprised that he’d broken the silence between them with conversation, not to mention dropping that piece of information, for no particular reason. She was pleased that Luke had mentioned Shelly so off-hand. Luke had never said anything so casual about his dead wife, even in front of his own family.
“Well, let’s go see it,” Kelly said.
Luke sat staring at his new condo building longer than a person who felt good about moving would stare. Luke nodded, then got out. The building was kept immaculate: three stories high, four units glued together. The parking lot was quiet, and any houses and buildings nearby were cut from view by the roly-poly sand dunes.
Kelly trailed after Tim and Luke, through the single-car garage, into a utility room and spare bedroom, then up a flight of stairs to the second floor, which was the kitchen that opened to the dining and living rooms. A sliding door led to the balcony. It was small, but homey, and as befitting for Luke, in immaculate condition. Kelly went to the window and looked out. In the twilight, the beach seemed to glow.
“You still have an ocean view.”
Luke shrugged. “Why live at the beach if you can’t see it? The beach is what makes all the rain we get worth putting up with. It’s why I picked this place. The master bedroom is on the top floor.”
Tim ran up to look. They smiled at each other over his usual bubbly excitement about everything, mundane or not. Tim was exuberant with life in general.
Luke looked around the empty condo as if unsure what to do next. He had no tie to the place, and in fact, seemed disappointed by it.
“I think this will turn out good for you.”
He turned away, leaning his shoulder into the doorway of the slider. “What I told Tim is true. That house has too many memories, too many reminders of happier times. It’s John’s house now. And I want Tim to live there.”
“You really love Tim, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Why are you so surprised?”
“I guess I’m not. It’s hard sometimes for me to let go. For so long, Tim was only my nephew, and suddenly, I have to share that spot with you. I know it’s not real mature, but it’s how I feel.”
“You’re jealous of me?”
Kelly shrugged, embarrassed by her juvenile admission.
Luke laughed. “That’s actually kind of funny.”
“It’s not funny. Besides, I know how much Tim loves you. It’s just hard to share him. He’s such a great kid; he’d be ashamed to know I felt this way.”
“Or flattered. It’s kind of cute.”
“Cute? It should give you some more ammunition to add to your arsenal of ‘All that’s wrong with Kelly.’”
“Come off it, I’m not that bad. I don’t save up reasons to criticize you.”
“You’ve been out to get me since the first time you met me. Anyway, I guess my point is, that although I’ve loved that boy from the minute he was born, I see how much your family genuinely loves him, too, and I’m glad you all came into his life.”
“You sure?”
“I suppose Cassie couldn’t have picked nicer in-laws.”
“Me included?”
“I guess I have to include you, don’t I? Just remember, Tim has never had a lot of people in his life and your being there for him changes everything in his eyes.”
He tilted his head at her.
“What?”
“You hide the sentimental part of yourself well.”
“I don’t hide anything. You’ve never given me the time of day to see what I was like.”
“True. But you did come on pretty strong.”
“No, I didn’t. Not once to you. You just convinced yourself that I was coming onto you.”<
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He shrugged. “I guess your sister’s right. I should judge you on you, not your colossal act to the world at large.”
Kelly jerked back. “Cassie was right about what?”
Luke shuffled his feet, under Kelly’s sharpened gaze.
“What? Did my sister say something to you?”
“Your sister explained that you tend to keep everyone but her at arm’s length. That you try to keep anyone from looking past your face to see the real you.”
“She did? She doesn’t usually talk about me.”
“I know. It was extenuating circumstances. You know, me being her brother-in-law and pretty obvious in my dislike toward you.”
“You were obvious. But I haven’t acted any differently, so how are you seeing me different? Other than you quit thinking I want to jump your bones every time I happen to glance your way.”
Luke flushed. “Okay, that was me being an ass.”
“And over-the-top presumptuous. I get that all the time, you know. Just because I’m a model doesn’t mean anything.”
“Especially when you have your actor, right? What’s his name? Brett?”
“Oh that.” She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“That being what?”
“One of the reasons you so adamantly disapprove of me?”
“Yeah, maybe. I was married once, remember? How can I approve of home-wrecking?”
“Not that it’s anyone’s business, but I’ve never wrecked anyone’s home. Brett is only a friend of mine, just that and nothing more. And if you believe everything you read about me, you’ll also find somewhere that I’m a lesbian, with a picture attached of me pecking my lover on the cheek. That woman I’m kissing also happens to be Cassie. So that’s how reliable those stories are about me.”
“You’re joking? You and Cassie? They used your own sister for gossip?”
“They’d sell out their own children if it makes sensational gossip. So if you were judging me on that, well, now you see what kind of crap that is. So what else did Cassie say?”
“Ah hell, she just wanted me to be nice to you. You can’t fault her on that.”
“No, I guess not. But I’m pretty used to being judged wrongly, so don’t think I can’t handle it.”
“Having a personality isn’t really supposed to be a secret.”
“Isn’t that the problem? I had too much personality?”
His mouth twitched. “Okay, I might have been wrong.”
“Weren’t we talking about Tim? How did we get onto me?” She turned on her heel and stomped over to the sliding door, flinging it open and stepping outside. She looked over the beach. How had Luke gone from hating her to suddenly seeming to see her as clearly as Cassie did? And why was he smiling at her now as he studied her through the doorway? She hadn’t said anything amusing that she could remember.
Her cell phone chimed. Grateful for the distraction, she passed by Luke to grab it out of her purse. Only a second later, Luke’s own phone rang. They both flipped their phones off at the same time and glanced at the other in curiosity.
“Cassie’s dad and Estelle want Tim to spend the night with them tomorrow.”
“You’re kidding? My parents wanted him for a couple of nights, too. I’ll tell them the next night, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course, it’s okay with me. Cassie trusts your parents as much as she trusts me. You don’t have to ask my permission.”
She had snapped at him for no reason Luke could understand, especially when he was just being courteous to her. He couldn’t know that three nights being alone with him intimidated her. Therefore, it left her very unhappy about the plans on a selfish level, but it also thrilled her that Tim was being fought over by his grandparents. He didn’t have even one grandparent until he was six, and now he had four. Go figure.
“Feeling protective again?”
“Yes. Maybe.”
Luke grinned and took his phone out to call his mother back. “Don’t worry, you can hang with me.”
Hang out with Luke? Yeah, that would be the day. After Luke hung up the phone, Kelly studied him as he glanced around the now darkening condo. He looked so sad. So confused about why he was standing there.
“It must be so hard,” she said, her tone soft as if in reverence to his obvious sadness.
“What?”
“Having to watch John get married, and become an instant father. Then having an entire family live in the house you bought for your own wife and child. It must be excruciating to watch your parents become grandparents, and you who are the uncle, not John.”
Luke’s gaze shot up to her face. Blazing.
“Why would you bring that up now?”
“Everyone thinks it, they’re just too afraid to say it to you. You, your loss, and pain should be acknowledged, especially now, after the wedding. Selling your house to your own brother and your brother’s new family, I think, was very brave and decent of you.”
“Brave?”
“Well, yeah. You could have sold it for a lot of money, and you didn’t. You could have sold it to strangers so you’d never have to step foot into it again. But instead, you made it so a little boy who loves your house could have a permanent home. You put Tim before yourself. And I think that’s a pretty special thing to do.”
“I don’t begrudge Tim any of it. Nor my brother and Cassie. They haven’t had an easy road either.”
“Still, even after all you’ve lost, to get out of yourself that much, it means you’re a very decent person. A good brother. A good uncle.”
“I’m a good uncle, not so much decent guy, not anymore.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s true.”
“That’s not true. You still teach kids, coach, live your life. You don’t hurt anyone. You haven’t turned your pain and loss on others. You’ve done a good job of hiding your emotions, but you’re still a good person.”
“I wouldn’t say I live my life,” he said, his tone so low, she almost didn’t hear him. He looked into her eyes suddenly. “Besides how would you know what I am?”
“By your actions, your demeanor, what everyone thinks about you.”
“So you believe the rumors about me, but I’m not supposed to believe the rumors about you?”
Kelly nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I just said.”
“Yeah. Okay. Sure. Has anyone ever told you you’re very strange?”
“No. No one has.”
“Why does your tone sound so pleased by my observation?”
“Because no one seems to observe me other than to comment on my face.”
“I don’t get it.”
“No. No, you wouldn’t.”
He turned and called Tim down, locking up after he shooed them both out of the condo. Tim was non-stop chatter once he learned his plans for the next few days. Kelly stewed with nerves over living alone in the house with Luke, when Luke didn’t seem to hate her anymore. She wasn’t so sure she was all that excited about the change. Now she had expectations to meet, and she didn’t see how she could. Or if she wanted to. And what was her sudden interest in Luke? Making Luke’s life easier in any sense of the word? When had she gone from feeling bad for Luke to wanting to help him?
Chapter Seven
After dropping Tim off at Harry and Estelle Everharts’, Cassie’s dad and stepmother, Kelly went about doing some of the errands she’d finally convinced Luke she could do for him while he was at work. What else did she have to do all day? After lunch with Sarah, she planned to go to the condo and start unpacking what she’d bought, as well as some boxes that she’d already left there. It was satisfying to help Luke. He needed to get out of the house he shared with his wife, perhaps even more than Tim and Cassie needed to move into it.
Kelly flopped down in the booth across from Sarah for lunch, strangely fulfilled by the way she’d spent the day so far.
“So let me get this straight. You’ve been out shopping
for Luke? As in buying cleaning supplies and groceries for his new condo? Why?” Sarah asked after Kelly explained her morning activities.
“Why not? I’ve got nothing but time in a town that thinks I’m the local leper. You got any better ideas?”
“I can’t believe you and Luke Tyler are actually getting along. You two have been like two cats circling each other, fighting over whose territory is whose. What happened?”
“My sister informed him he was wrong about me. She likes to do that, convince people to like me.”
“And I gather he does now? Like you?”
Kelly laughed to cover the little shiver of longing for just that—for Luke to like her. How ridiculous to long so much for someone else’s approval. Someone she wasn’t even related to. First, she started out seeking Sarah’s approval, and now Luke’s. What was wrong with her? Why was she trying so hard to fit into a place she would be leaving within a few weeks?
“He’s humoring me because I have nothing to do while Tim’s off visiting all the grandparents.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s why a man would want you around. Get a clue,” Sarah said, rolling her eyes at Kelly.
“Well, it’s true.”
“Okay, if that’s what you need to believe.”
****
Kelly left Sarah an hour later and made the short drive from Main Street to Cardinal Lane, where Luke’s new condo was located. She parked, carried everything in, and looked around as she made a mental list of what to do next.
After opening the slider to the afternoon warm air and sounds of the ocean waves, Kelly was ready to work. How surprised Luke would be when he arrived to find his new home well on the way to being settled in.
Her life in L.A. was extremely lonely. She didn’t have a social life to speak of, other than the fake one her publicist made sure to cultivate. It used to surprise her how little it took to create the image she needed in order to become famous and sought after for gossip. All that she did was show up here and there at well-known nightclubs and hot spots around Hollywood, wearing something fabulous, appearing drunk, or with men, and staying just long enough to get photographed. Then Kelly went home, sober as a child, with no man, and was in bed by midnight in order to be up early for the following day.