Home at Last

by Judith Keim

  After fulfilling her task of taking photos following the ceremony and throughout the special wedding dinner, Lulu left the inn and sat in her car, unwilling to go home.

  She drove without purpose and then headed for Taunton Estates. The day’s activities had sent her emotions in a spinning circle. Being in the space she thought of as the “moon room” in the house where she and Miguel had made love might, she hoped, settle her thoughts.

  As she’d hoped, the driveway was empty of cars when she drove up to the house. The porch light was on, a round globe of light mimicking the moon above. In the main room downstairs, soft lighting shone a lemony yellow of welcome.

  Lulu went to the front door and searched for the key she knew was hidden so workmen could come and go. She found it under the flowerpot she’d noticed earlier that week, picked it up, and unlocked the door.

  Inside the entrance, she studied the furniture stacked in the living room. That area hadn’t needed much work, but all around it, new construction had expanded and opened the space.

  Awash in memory, she climbed the stairs to the second story. It was time to put things in perspective. She’d had one night of lovemaking, letting herself go in a way she’d never done before. And where had that gotten her? In trouble with a capital T.

  She owed Miguel a face-to-face apology for judging him, and then, she told herself, she had to let the memories of them together go. They’d become and would remain friends. That’s all. Because no matter how much she wished otherwise, he was the kind of man she didn’t know if she could trust. Not when he was such a magnet for others.

  Lulu entered the master suite and walked through it to get to the addition. The open space was just as she and Miguel had imagined. Easing herself down onto the floor, Lulu sat and gazed up at the moon above her, coating the earth below it with a silvery, shimmering glow.

  As she often did, she wondered about the expanse of the universe. Studying the moon and the sparkling stars scattered around it, she felt small, insignificant, alone.

  The sound of a car driving up to the house brought her to her feet. She ran to one of the front windows and looked out. The sight of Cami’s car slowed her heartbeat. It would be good to talk to her, get her perspective on things.

  She returned to the “moon room” and sat down. Cami would find her there.

  At the sound of footsteps on the stairs, she called out, “Up here!”

  A figure approached in the dark. A figure that was definitely not Cami.

  Lulu scrambled to her feet. “Miguel? Oh, my God! What are you doing here?” Her voice was giddy with happiness.

  Miguel stood in the doorway smiling at her.

  “I could ask you the same.” Miguel studied her, his dark eyes searching hers for what she didn’t know.

  “You’re supposed to still be in Chile,” she said nervously, suddenly fighting a new urge to run away. They’d talked about everything but what was still standing between them. Seeing him in person was a far cry from sending a safe email to him.

  “Yes, but with all that’s gone on with Rafe, I decided to surprise you both and shortened my visit.” His gaze rested on her. “What are you doing here, Lulu?”

  “I ... I came here to think about things.” She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

  “Well, maybe this is a good time for us to talk,” said Miguel. “We still have a lot to settle between us.” He walked past her to stare out at the night.

  Lulu fought for strength. “I’m sorry I judged you so harshly. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t think ...”

  He turned to her and gave her a questioning look. “I think about you all the time. Why else would I be here?”

  Tears stung her eyes. She wanted to say so much more, but she was afraid of revealing how much she liked him, how she’d come to treasure each message from him, how worried she was about something permanent happening between them.

  He studied her carefully. “Are you trying to tell me something? Maybe that the night together was something you’ll never forget? How much you really wanted our baby? That you can’t wait to have others? Is that it?”

  Lulu’s knees grew weak. It was as if he’d read her mind.

  His voice was soft, but his gaze was piercing, penetrating all her vulnerability, the fear that clutched the breath from her body. She was such a novice at loving relationships.

  He continued to challenge her with a look that demanded an answer.

  Feeling sick at the thought of making the same mistake as her mother had so many years ago, she blurted, “I ... I have to get out of here.” If she stayed another minute, she’d break down completely from the uncertainty of his reaction.

  As she hurried down the steps and out the front door, he called from behind her. “I know you have trouble trusting others, Lulu, but maybe it’s time to trust yourself.”

  Her pulse pumping so hard she couldn’t catch her breath, she ran to her car, got inside, started the engine, and tore out of the driveway.

  In the rearview mirror, she could see Miguel standing in the driveway.

  When she got home, her mother was watching television. She looked up. “How was your ...” her mother started to say and stopped. “Oh, dear! What’s the matter?”

  “Miguel’s back,” Lulu managed. She struggled to catch her breath and stop her tears.

  She raced upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door.

  A short while later, Lulu heard the sound of a car and peered out the window. Miguel’s truck was pulling to a stop in the driveway.

  Shaking, she plunked down at the top of the stairs and waited.

  The doorbell rang.

  Dolly barked and raced to the door. Her mother followed.

  “Hello, Miguel. What do you want?” Her mother’s voice was cool.

  “I need to talk to Lulu,” came his reply.

  “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what’s going on, but I don’t think she wants to speak with you. Haven’t you hurt her enough?” Lulu was surprised by the anger in her mother’s voice.

  “Hurt her? No, I don’t want to do that. Listen, it’s important that we talk.”

  “Lulu came home upset because of you,” her mother said sternly. “I think you should leave.”

  “Leave? Wait! You don’t get it! We need to talk because I ... oh, hell! I love her!”

  Her mother’s gasp broke through the silence. “Oh, my! Yes, indeed, you do need to talk. Come inside. I’ll take the dog for a walk and leave you two alone.”

  “Lulu?” her mother called to her. “Miguel’s here. You’d better come on down.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Lulu heard the sound of the front door click shut after her mother left with Dolly. Gripping the handrail for support, she walked slowly down the stairs, one scary step after the other. Miguel was right. It was time to trust him, trust herself. Miguel was not her father or Will or the other people who’d hurt her. It would be, she realized, the biggest decision of her life.

  Miguel stared up at her, shifting his feet back and forth, looking as nervous as she felt.

  Her gaze never left him as she approached him. The wistfulness she saw in his expression touched her.

  She stood in front of him, saying what she knew she must. “All those things you said to me back there? They’re true. Every one of them.”

  “Oh, Lulu.” He reached for her and drew her up against him. “I had to be sure.”

  In his arms, wrapped against his chest, a peace washed over her. She let her tears flow.

  Rocking her gently, he whispered, “They were true for me too. I tried to tell myself we were just friends, but I couldn’t forget that night with you.” His voice caught. “Or the baby we made together.”

  “I wanted that baby so much,” Lulu said, her words soft and true.

  He lifted her chin and stared into her eyes with such love, her breath caught. She emitted a long, trembling sigh.

  His lips came down on hers, searching for and finding what she hadn’t y
et put into words.

  When they broke apart, he cupped her face in his hands. “It’s true, Lulu. I love you. I think I have from the moment Cami called you ‘Weezie Lopez.’ Other women might be interested, but you’re the only woman I want in my life. It seems so right. You and me.”

  Lulu filled with joy. “Yes. Oh, yes.”

  His lips met hers, and she responded with her whole heart.

  Their kiss told a story of its own, exposing their true feelings for each other, promising a happy future together. After they finally broke apart, Lulu gazed at Miguel in a daze, still lost in the sensual feelings he aroused within her. Her eyes filled. In so many ways, he was everything she’d ever wanted.

  Giving her a steady look, he sighed. “I love you so much.”

  She smiled at the tenderness in his expression. Living with him might be full of challenges, but it would all be worth it, because in his arms, she felt at home at last.

  FIVE YEARS LATER

  Lulu sat on the stone bench next to Cami in the special grove of trees reserved for family. She studied the freshly turned earth where Rafe’s ashes had been placed next to Lettie’s. “He was a dear, dear man,” she said, her heart aching with sadness. “I loved him so much.”

  “Me too,” said Cami, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “He was a special person, loved and respected by all he knew. And he and Nonnee gave me a wonderful life.” Her voice caught. “I’ll always miss them.”

  Lulu wrapped her arm around Cami’s shoulder. “You were so lucky to have such amazing people raise you.”

  “I hope my son will be as good a man as Rafe,” Cami’s voice hitched with pain.

  “He’s so adorable,” said Lulu. At three and with his shiny black hair and dark eyes, little Rafe was the spitting image of his great-grandfather. “My two girls love that little boy.”

  “Chandler’s very good with him,” Cami said. The corners of her lips turned up. “She’s very determined he listen to her.”

  A bubble of laughter rose from Lulu’s throat. “Such a bossy four-year-old, she is.”

  Tears moistened Cami’s eyes. “Whenever I was worried about being able to accomplish something, Nonnee would remind me that as a Chandler and a Lopez I could do anything I put my mind to.”

  “And you have so far,” Lulu said. “Look at all you’ve done. The Chandler Hill Inn continues to win awards, as do the wines.”

  Cami arched her brows. “As long as my wines keep up with Taunton Estates wines and those of Lone Creek, I’m happy.”

  Lulu laughed. Competition among the three wineries was fierce, producing the best pinot noirs in the valley.

  “Do you think Rafe is with Nonnee now?” Cami asked her softly.

  Lulu nodded. “I’d like to think so.”

  Cami let out a sigh. “Me too. They shared such an incredible love.”

  Lulu patted her stomach, feeling life. “Chandler announced that she and Autumn want a baby sister. I haven’t told Miguel yet, but I’m pretty sure this new baby is another girl.” Still amazed at how her life had turned out, Lulu clucked her tongue. “After losing our first baby, we seem to be making up for lost time. Two babies, and now a third.”

  Cami’s smile was warm. “If it’s a girl, Miguel will love it. Little girls adore him.”

  Lulu laughed. She had no worries about other women grown or small in his life. Since they’d surprised everyone with their elopement, beating both Becca and Cami to the altar, Miguel proved to her everyday how much he loved her.

  Lulu lifted her face to the gray sky. Contentment washed over her. Life was good. Her mother continued to do well, keeping busy with her activities in the valley and contributing to the care of the grandchildren who meant so much to her. Though Lulu knew she’d miss Rafe, she understood he wasn’t unhappy at the end, that he’d waited long enough to be with his beloved Lettie, and she had to let him go to her.

  Gazing at Cami, Lulu’s heart welled with love. Life, like some thought, had turned out to be a bunch of circles. In this case, it had given her a new family, new friends, a new life.

  A hawk circled above her, its wings spread wide, golden feathers against the gray. Watching it glide effortlessly above her, Lulu thought of the continuity of life and sent up a silent thank you for having known a man like Rafe. He’d given her a new faith in people and an abiding love for the family around her.

  “I’m so glad you’re here with me,” said Cami. “Together, we’ll make all we’ve been given even better, in memory of Nonnee and Rafe.” Her smile was sweet. “After all, I consider you not only a Lopez but an honorary Chandler too.”

  So very grateful she’d found the sister she’d always wanted, Lulu hugged Cami. “Together we can do anything,” Lulu said, believing it with her whole heart.

  Thank you for reading Home At Last. If you enjoyed this book, please help other readers discover it by leaving a review on your favorite site. It’s such a nice thing to do.

  Enjoy an excerpt from my book, A Summer of Surprises, a Seashell Cottage Book., which will be out in mid-2020.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Jillian Conroy listened to her sister, Cristal’s, voice on her cellphone and drew a deep breath. A call from her sister was always a surprise.

  “So, start all over again, Cristal, and tell me exactly what it is you want me to do.”

  “It’s easy, Jill. My friend, Hope Thomason, recently inherited the Seashell Cottage on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and she just needs someone to live at the cottage for the summer while we do our European tour, the one we’ve been talking about for years.”

  “That’s it?” It didn’t sound like something difficult. In fact, it sounded like a great way to escape the memories of the past. School would be out in another week, and she didn’t have any exciting plans for her summer break from teaching. Maybe some extended time on the Gulf Coast would do her good. But every time she tried to do something for her sister, it cost her emotionally and often financially. A requested lunch date would end up with Jill paying for it. What was supposed to be a fun event of shopping turned into a nightmare when Cristal pouted that the dress Jill bought was the one Cristal wanted. Their relationship had always bordered on the toxic.

  “There’s one more thing. A friend of Hope’s family, Greg Campbell, is an older man who’s agreed to do some work on the cottage. He’s staying in one of the guest rooms for a few weeks until the work is done.”

  “An older man, you say?”

  “Yes. He and Hope’s father are friends. They’re the same age.”

  Jill let out a sigh of relief. Too many friends had been pushing her to start dating again. She had no interest in doing so. Not after Jay’s death two years ago.

  “Think about it. I’ll call you tonight for your answer.” Cristal hung up before Jill could ask any more questions.

  Clicking off the call, Jill sat in a chair and stared out the window of the kitchen inside the small bungalow she called home in Ellenton, a small town in upstate New York. She should’ve sold it months ago. The memories she held of her life in the house weren’t pleasant. She’d thought by clearing Jay’s things out of the house following his automobile accident, she’d be able to chase away the unhappiness she’d known with him. But now the space just seemed empty. And lonely.

  Her thoughts settled on her sister. Three years older than she, Cristal was the beauty of the family. Their mother had declared to anyone who would listen that Cristal got her beautiful features, naturally blond hair, and bright blue eyes from a relative of hers, while Jillian looked like the Davis side of the family. The comparison was painful. Without the highlights she had to add every few months, Jillian’s hair was a dishwater tan. Her hazel eyes held no trace of blue. Worst of all, Cristal’s tall, willowy figure seemed to taunt Jill’s shorter, curvy shape. It was a bad match-up all around. If it weren’t so much like a well-known storybook scenario, it would be almost comical.

  Restless, Jill got up and paced the kitchen. It wasn’t their different l
ooks that had made her relationship with Cristal so difficult. It was Cristal’s tendency to manipulate others in order to get her own way. Jill knew how foolish it was to keep old hurts stored inside, but every once in a while, a hurt poked through the shell she kept around herself. How could she forget that Cristal stole her date in college, the one guy she’d dreamed would be hers forever? It was just one of the ways Cristal had hurt her through the years. A snort of disgust left Jill’s mouth. She might not have even paid attention to Jay except Cristal thought he was a hottie. How was that for stupid rivalry?

  Before she could go any deeper with that thought, the phone rang. Jill knew who it was before she even checked Caller ID. Her mother, Valerie Davis, had a nose for trouble. No doubt Cristal had phoned her for support.

  “Hello, Mom,” Jill said without enthusiasm.

  “Hi, honey. Cristal called to tell me that she’s arranged for you to have a very nice summer break. She’s so thoughtful that way.”

  “She asked me to do her a favor so she and her friend can travel to Europe,” Jill said calmly, still uncertain as to whether she should go ahead with the idea or even what it entailed.

  “Well, if you don’t do it, I’m sure they can find someone else to stay at the cottage. It sounds lovely. You should be grateful to Cristal for thinking of you,” chided her mother. “A whole summer to relax.”

  It would be useless to argue. “Maybe you’re right,” said Jill. “I could use the break to get away.” The idea suddenly appealed to her. This change in her normal routine might give her the opportunity to think things through, make some major decisions about her life, give her a fresh start. God knew she’d been in an emotional rut even before Jay had been killed.

  “Splendid,” her mother said with satisfaction. “I’m glad you’ll help your sister out. It would mean so much to her. She and Hope have been planning this summer tour for a long time, and poor Cristal has been working very hard.”