One of the girls lowered my step down to me and called my name to get my attention, reluctantly I had to turn away from him and take it. Then I was herded out with the rest of the girls and back into the main workout area. The door closed behind us and I felt giddy, like a kid in high school. Only it was more than obvious that the captain of the football team was no longer even remotely interested in this particular cheerleader. Then I remembered that I was mad at him, too. That I was not speaking to him either.
Yes, he was here, working out. And so was I. And he looked scrumptious. But I was going to ignore all that, wasn’t I? It was then that I took into account my own appearance. Once again, I was subpar in the attractiveness department. I wore a sloppy tank top leftover from Stephen’s marathon days over a sports bra that was finally getting comfortably loose over my big boobs, and work out pants that were stretched out and faded. My Reeboks had seen better days, and oh, Lord, I looked down. Yup, one green sock, one blue one. I really needed to get my workout outfit together before going to bed at night I thought as I took my step in hand and resigned myself to another grueling class.
When I got back from the Piggly Wiggly, it was all I could do to put the groceries away before checking my messages as the flashing light indicated that clearly there was one.
But I wasn’t going to get my hopes up. It was probably Viv or Tessa. Yesterday they had managed to talk me into lunching at Magnolia’s and then later in the afternoon we had all sat at the base of “our “ tree drinking Margaritas. Viv and Tessa had reasoned that the chant and the magic had worked, but that operator error had occurred in the form of one ditzy, insecure brunette. They were both eager to be the next en“chant”tresses and we had circled the next Friday the thirteenth on the calendar.
When everything was finally put away, I pressed the series of buttons to get my messages.
It was Jeter again, and he said there was something he’d found in Henrietta’s closet that he knew I’d like and could I come over?
I gave a great sigh and collapsed on one of the bar stools. I did not feel like visiting Jeter, I did not feel like baking a treat, I did not feel like bringing home another relic that I’d have to haul up to the thrift shop. But why put it off? It had to be done.
I grabbed the Boston Crème Pie I had just put away and walked out the door.
Jeter must have seen me coming for he opened the door just as I got to it. The huge grin on his face made me smile. I’d forgotten how easily one’s spirits could be lifted if they just concentrated on helping others.
“My favorite,” he said as he took the cake from me and smacked his lips. I was doubtful as to how he was going to eat it as it didn’t appear he had his dentures in.
“Hi Jeter. Thanks for bringing up my trashcan when I was away last week.”
“Think nothing of it, it’s what’s neighbors do.”
“Yes,” I murmured, feeling like I should be doing more for this lonely old man than I was.
He put the cake on the counter and picked up a scarf of some sort. It was woven through with beautiful shades of purples and blues. I had never seen anything like it.
“Here, thought you’d enjoy having this.”
He put it in my hands and I ran my fingers over the soft material. It felt like cashmere. It was a gorgeous pashima and it smelled of White Diamonds, not tobacco. I had my doubts that Henrietta had ever had anything so fine; it just didn’t fit with the other items I had been given over the years.
“Jeter, where did you get this?”
“It was Henrietta’s. She left it at the Pink Palace last night while we were there, but I saw it and made sure it made its way back home.”
My eyes popped wide. “Jeter! You didn’t!”
“Didn’t what?”
“Didn’t take this from the Pink Palace last night.”
“Yes, she’s always leaving her things behind, I have to collect them or she’d lose them for sure.”
Everything clicked in place. “Jeter, where do you keep the things you bring home, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Why in her closet with the rest of her things, of course.”
“Can I see them, please?”
“Sure.”
I followed him through the living room, down the hallway and into the master bedroom. He opened the door to the walk-in closet and I took in the vast array of sweaters, coats, shoes, purses, umbrellas, and hats. My eye was drawn to the top shelf where a tiny little purse in colorful silk, outlined with sequins sat. Tessa’s no doubt. The one she had bought at Island Breeze that I had admired so much. I hadn’t even known it was missing, maybe she didn’t either.
“Jeter, Jeter, Jeter,” I whispered. “Oh good God.” My head reeled from the implications.
“We have to talk,” I said as I took his hand and lead him back to the living room. We talked about what he had done and why and then he sat next to me while I called Lisa and asked her if she could come by when she got a minute. She said she’d be right over so I asked Jeter to go put his teeth in so we could have cake and coffee with her. I made the coffee and he found his dentures just as Lisa pulled up.
An hour later I had helped Lisa load everything that she and I suspected had not been Henrietta’s into the back of her cruiser. She was going to have Lynn Wiedman send out a broadcast bulletin on the Sea Trail web site so that anyone who was missing anything could come to the station and claim it.
I gave her a hug for being so understanding and for not charging Jeter, but really, how could you? Then I walked back home and found the message light blinking again.
“Got your flowers. They were dead by the time I saw them. My sister forwarded the note to me in Raleigh. Now I’ll have to wait for my secretary to call me and read it to me when it gets there unless you’d like to call me and tell me what it said.” He sounded irritated.
I heaved a big sigh and slumped down into my desk chair. I stared out the window at all the flowers in full glorious bloom. He hadn’t gotten my note. All the courage I had mustered to put my feelings into words and he hadn’t gotten the note. Was I going to call him?
In for a penny, in for a pound . . . I picked up the phone, punched in his number and got his machine. No way was I leaving him a message for an apology and a declaration of love. I hung up the phone and picked Gimlet up. Then I buried my nose into the fluff of fur at her neck and cried.
This was never going to get better. In the next day or so his secretary would call and read him my note and they’d both laugh. I was feeling like the world’s biggest fool because apparently Matt didn’t need me anymore. If he was in love with me, surely he’d have found a way for us to smooth all this over. Look what he’d done with his company; he’d found a way to work things out there. He didn’t want to work this out because he wasn’t in love with me. There I’d said it. By now I knew that part of the grieving cycle was to stop denying your feelings, to give in to them, to let them have their way. But I had to stop crying, at least for now as I was clearly upsetting my dog. She was licking my face furiously trying to stem the tide and keep ahead of the tears. I carried her into the bedroom and put her on the bed. Then I went into the closet to get my bathing suit. A long soak in the hot tub would do me good.
Chapter Thirty-two
Assets Ahoy Itook the portable phone out to the hot tub. Because if I didn’t it would ring. This was insurance that it would not and that I could enjoy my quiet meditation while hot water eased the strain out of my body. I lifted the plastic wine glass that held my second glass of wine and took a generous sip. I needed to remember that I’d only had a dolce latte for lunch and that it was well past the dinner hour and I hadn’t eaten any dinner either.
My head was resting against the headrest of the lounger and my eyes were closed as I listened to the birds chirping their nightly serenade. An unusual number of car doors opening and closing drew my attention so I sat up and watched as one man after another exited his car, grabbed a grocery bag and ran up the steps to Bill and
MaryAnn’s condo. It looked like a stag party of some type. Boy, they’d better not smoke in her unit, I thought, she’ll have a fit if they burn anything.
I surreptiously watched as six more men parked their snazzy cars and ran up the stairs. Well as least they’re not too young, I thought, as I admired expensive SUVs, luxury sedans and even a jaguar convertible. Then a husband and wife came out of the unit opposite MaryAnn’s and went down the steps and got into their van. When they backed out of the space, I sucked in air so fast that I had to grip the side of the hot tub to keep from going under. The van had been blocking Matt’s corvette from view. Matt was back in the condo and he was having a party with his friends. I was buoyed for a second when I realized that at least they had all been male friends, so far.
Visions of men carousing, drinking and playing cards came to mind. Then it occurred to me that maybe this was a bachelor’s party and scantily-clad strippers came to mind. Maybe it was co-ed and he was back in the game.
I watched for half an hour but there was no other activity. I got out of the tub, dried off and fixed myself some dinner. Then I sat on the screened-in porch picking at it and sipping a glass of wine as I pretended to read. An hour went by, then two.
Then I saw Matt on the back deck. I knew it was him by the way he held his hand in his pocket, it was verified when he put a cigar to his lips and lit it. The glow from the flame illuminated his lips and chin for a few seconds and then as he clicked the lighter closed I saw him toss his hair back with his other hand.
It occurred to me that he’d planned this. He’d known I’d recognize his car in the parking lot. Why was he staying there right behind me where I couldn’t ignore him? Was he just trying to get to me?
A sudden surge of anger went through me. I thought for a minute that I should wait, calm down, and see if it was the wine playing with my emotions. But no, I didn’t wait. I picked up the phone that I’d left on the hot tub steps. I knew the number, had committed it to memory long ago. I punched it in and could hear it ringing in my ear and somewhere off in the distance.
I watched Matt put his cigar in an ashtray and go inside to answer it. He hadn’t looked over at me, or if he had, I hadn’t seen him. I climbed back into the hot tub.
“Yeah?” No doubt about it, he knew it was me. “It’s Cat. Get the binoculars from the top of the fridge.”
“What?”
“Don’t ask questions.”
“Oookay.” I saw him walking past the living room window of the condo toward the kitchen. “Got ‘em.”
“Go to the screened-in porch off the guest bedroom.”
Aminute later I heard him say, “Okay. I’m there, now what?” he was deliberately making his voice sound droll, as if all this activity was beyond him.
“Put them up to your eyes and look at me.” I heard him put the phone down.
I flicked on the hot tub lights, and stood up. Then I pulled my straps down baring both breasts. I was fighting back with the best weapon I had.
“Jesus!” He had said it loud enough that I could hear it through both the phone and from across the parking lot.
I watched him pick up the phone as I slid my straps back up.
“Can you come out an play?”
“Uh, I have company now, but I’ll see what I can do.” I heard him disconnect.
I sank back into the tub and submerged myself completely. Then I floated back to the lounger and smoothed my wet hair away from my face and draped it down my back. I looked up at the stars and watched a few of them blink at me. I had turned off all the lights, so I didn’t see him until he was climbing the stairs leading up to the deck. Then there he was, standing just a few feet away. He had changed into swim trunks. I sat up on my knees to drink in how good he looked.
“Poker party,” he explained, “and no one’s too happy about me leaving it.”
I smiled. So it was just a boy’s night out, and he wasn’t a happy bachelor setting his sights on new horizons by hosting a party. Although why I thought he would have been was beyond me.
“My secretary called this afternoon. It was interesting getting that kind of information third hand. I sent you a fed ex in reply, you should have it tomorrow.”
“What’s it say?”
“Nothing,” he deadpanned.
“Nothing?”
“No. It’s just a box, a Tiffany’s box . . . with a ring inside.”
“A ring?” That I was astonished clearly showed on my face.
“Yes, a diamond ring to be specific. I’m tired of all this.”
“Adiamond ring?” I was stunned; I didn’t know what to say other than to keep repeating him.
“Is there any other kind of engagement ring you’d like?”
“Uh, no. A diamond one will do just fine.”
“I’ve always enjoyed variety, and damned if I didn’t enjoy the hunt, but I swear to God I never thought that once I fell in love, that the woman would be so hard to chase down. And damn, you scared me! I thought for sure that I’d lost you and I couldn’t begin to figure out why.”
“I thought the same thing,” I whispered.
“You hurt me, it took a few days to let the wound heal. Then it was hard to keep the anger at bay. Every time I saw you, I wanted to grab you and pull you close, but my pride had been sorely abused.”
“I’m sorry, I blame it on my own insecurities. I thought you were too good to be true, so when something came along that caused me to doubt, I found it easier to make that a self-fulfilling prophecy than to fight the overwhelming tide of doubt.”
“Funny,” he said with his head tilted off to one side, “I thought you were the one who was too good to be true. I love you Cat and you never have to worry about another woman—sisters, yes, another woman, no. Never.” His eyes were fastened on mine and I saw such tenderness in them that it made my chest swell. “Marry me Cat, accept the security of being my wife so we never have to worry about these kinds of issues ever again. And I need the security of being your husband, it was making me physically ill to think that maybe you’d found another man.”
“No. Once was not enough, but falling in love twice is going to be my limit. I love you, Matt and I would be the happiest woman in the world to be your wife, well, second only to my mom. She’s going to be beside herself.” I reached up to kiss him and as I did I ran my fingers down his chest. He damned near purred.
“Good, now how about sharing that view again, now that I don’t need binoculars to appreciate it.”
“Uh, you first.” Suddenly I was shy.
He hooked his thumbs in his trunks and pulled them down, letting them fall to the deck. “Done deal.”
At that moment he could have had a lucrative career in porn.
I reached behind my back and unhooked my top, then tossed the sodden scrap onto the deck beside the hot tub.
“Jesus,” he whispered. “You are magnificent. I can’t believe you’re going to be mine.”
I enjoyed his perusal and his praise. I watched his hungry gaze as he stepped closer and walked to the edge of the hot tub.
“Come on in,” I whispered.
“Nothing doing. I want you in bed.” He put his arm out, snagged me by the waist and lifted me from the tub. He carried me effortlessly through the screened-in porch to the door leading into the house. He stood me up on the mat and smiled down at me. “The lady of the house will have our heads if we get water on her floor.” Unceremoniously, he stripped off my bikini bottom and dropped it on the porch floor before picking me up again.
As he carried me through the dark house I told him that Gimlet would insist on being in the bedroom with us, it was either that or she’d whine at the door until we let her in.
“I don’t mind an audience as long as she doesn’t criticize. I hope she enjoys the show and barks for an encore.”
I laughed as I reached up to tousle his hair. “Hard to believe that this all started when you bought that weight machine in Virginia.”
“I’m sure glad
that I did, I have a feeling that I’m going to need some additional stamina for the honeymoon.”
His lips took mine as he laid me down on the bed and followed me down with his body.
I had done what I could to change the bedroom, not to diminish the memories, but to make it receptive to new ones. And boy was he creating new ones.
Epilogue
We were sitting on the sofa watching Ladyhawke when Lisa called to say they had arrested Mr. Japonika and that he’d pretty much stepped in it when his alibi didn’t pan out. A witness had put him in the same block at the time the murder had taken place. I said I’d call the victim’s daughter in the morning and give her the news if it was all right with her. Then I walked back to the sofa.
“Why do people think life comes with a guarantee? So you buy a piece of land and someone alters the view. Should you have any recourse?”
“That’s what zoning’s all about. And no, unless you have something in writing, anything’s subject to change,” he murmured as he stroked my ear.
“Will I look out my back door and see a carnival setting up someday?”
“It’s possible, but not likely. As long as the Carolina Conference Center thrives so will the resort and the golf courses, it’s what brings people here in the first place. The golf courses are pivotal at Sea Trail as it’s a resort community that counts on tourism and not just new development. And yes, your view out the back door is likely to change, but not because of anything having to do with Sea Trail.”
The Widows of Sea Trail (The Widows of Sea Trail Trilogy) Page 23