Just Me

by L. A. Fiore

  “My happy place is just overflowing.”

  He bent down so that our eyes were level. “I am so glad to hear that.”

  And then he was kissing me.

  ***

  “What do you want to do tonight, Lark?” Poppy asked as we sat on the sofa watching a repeat of Game of Thrones.

  “I don't know.” It was my last weekend home and everyone but Bastian and Poppy had to work.

  “You're disappointed aren't you?” She asked.

  “I was really hoping to spend the weekend with everyone. I know that's kind of selfish.”

  “That's not selfish, Lark,” Poppy said with a smile.

  “Why don't we go to that Italian place you've been wanting to try? Isn’t that the one that Mr. Alfonso’s cousin opened?” Bastian asked before he draped his arm over my shoulders and kissed my head.

  I forgot Mr. Alfonso had mentioned that. “Yeah, I can drown my disappointment in pasta and cheese.”

  On the way to Lombardi's, I couldn’t shake the melancholy. Though good food always made me feel better, I was conflicted about my move to Maine. I wasn't going to be gone for that long and, thankfully, Bastian was coming with me, but this move felt like my first step into adulthood, and that was scary.

  We opened the door to the restaurant with Poppy acting edgy. That should have been my clue that something was up. As soon as we walked inside, my feet just stopped moving. A banner hung from the ceiling: Congratulations, Lark. We'll Miss You, and a huge cake sat on one of the tables. But it was the people, everyone I wanted to see, all standing around staring at me that had those blasted tears leaking from my eyes.

  I walked to the Wrights and wrapped my arms around both of them. “Thank you.” I whispered through my tears.

  “Did you really think we were going to let you go without a huge send-off?” Dr. Wright asked.

  “I did.”

  “Silly girl.” Mr. Wright chided.

  I took a step away from them and wiped at my eyes. “I didn't need all of this, but thank you.”

  “It wasn't just us, honey. You've made a lot of friends here and they wanted to wish you well,” Dr. Wright said with kindness.

  “You ready to party?” This statement coming from the reserved Mr. Wright made me laugh.

  “I am, but only if you agree to dance with me later.”

  “You're on, kiddo.”

  Poppy whisked me over to a table that had a mouthwatering spread: fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, toast rounds smeared with pesto, bruschetta, bowls of olives and blocks of cheese. We plated up a sampling and headed to where Bastian and Caden were chatting with their boss and his wife. Sophia appeared a short time later, moving in that endlessly exuberant way of hers, to pull me over to Shawn and Tyler who were in the midst of a debate on what was better, Coke or Pepsi. Ms. Whitney and I discussed my apprenticeship just before Mr. Wright found me for a dance.

  Toward the end of the evening my uncle arrived with both Deena and Carol, and as soon as the girls saw me, they ran over.

  “We miss you,” Carol said as she hugged me hard. We spent a half an hour chatting before Poppy came over to offer them cake. I watched them go as my uncle stepped in front of me. Sadness lurked just behind his eyes.

  “Be safe, Lark, but have a good time.”

  “I will.” I hesitated a moment, because I didn't want to bring up the subject of my aunt. Yet it didn't feel right to ignore it completely. “How are you doing?”

  “I'll be fine.”

  I hugged him. “I'm sorry about Aunt Kim.”

  He held me close, “I'm sorry for her too.”

  Bastian came up to me later in the evening, while I chatted with Sophia and Tyler, and wrapped his arms around me. “Dance with me. Excuse us, guys.”

  He swept me away to a clearing and pulled me into his arms. He held me close, but I wouldn't call what we were doing dancing, because it was so much better than dancing.

  Bastian brushed his lips over mine. “Are you having fun?”

  “I am. You knew, didn't you?”

  “Of course.” He teased. “Are you ready for Monday?” He asked.

  “I am, but only because you're coming with me.”

  Sincerity drifted into his expression. “You couldn't keep me away.”

  ***

  Bastian drove as I sat looking out the window thinking about the day after my going away party.

  Mr. and Dr. Wright cornered me and handed me both a credit card and checkbook and insisted I use both as often as I needed. The roll of bills they slipped me had my eyes almost rolling into the back of my head. I was going to miss them, but they insisted I keep my room at their house “just in case.”

  My farewell with Poppy and Sophia turned into a cry-fest, but I just had to remember I was going away for only a few months and not the rest of my life. Besides, they’d be off to their own colleges soon enough.

  I turned my head to see Bastian looking thoughtful and reached over to touch his thigh. “Are you okay?”

  He glanced over at me. “Yeah. I was just thinking that in a few weeks, I'm going to miss you like hell.”

  “Me too, but there is email, texting and Skype if we can't bear not seeing each other.”

  “Thank Christ.”

  “Did you hear about Poppy and Caden?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he told me the other day. I don't know…I can see them together.”

  “Me too.”

  His glanced over at me. “But?”

  “Well, if it doesn't work out with them, I think we need to consider Caden when we work out our plans for the fall. I don't want him to be alone and considering he thinks of us as his family, I don't want to leave him behind.”

  He reached for my hand and brought it to his lips so he could kiss my palm. Unconsciously, I curled my hand around the kiss he planted there and when he saw this, he grinned.

  “I remember when you curled your hand into my kiss that first night after Damian's party. Seeing you do that, knowing you were holding my kiss there, sent me flying high that night.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh, yeah, I spent the entire weekend thinking about you and when I saw you on Monday, I knew I'd do anything to make you mine.”

  “I am.”

  “Fuckin' straight.” But his tender gaze stopped my heart.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Harrington, Maine wasn't what I expected. As we drove through the main part of town, it felt a bit like the fictional town of Amity from Jaws. Everything was just slightly on this side of weathered and worn, but instead of giving the place a desolate feeling, it seemed both welcoming and charming.

  We followed the directions to Logan Dupree's house and when a lighthouse loomed before us, I couldn't control my awe.

  “He lives in a lighthouse.”

  Bastian looked over at me. “That's really freaking cool.”

  He climbed out and came around to open my door. I finished texting Poppy and Sophia to let them know we had arrived and climbed from the car. The sound of the water lapping at the shore lulled me into an almost hypnotic state.

  “I could really get used to living this way,” I said just as the door opened to reveal the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her long hair was a dark chestnut and full of curl and her eyes were the exact shade of turquoise as Bastian's. Her belly stood out quite a bit from her slender form, and peering from around her legs was a black-haired, green-eyed boy, who was, hands down, the most adorable child I'd ever laid eyes on.

  “You must be Larkspur and Sebastian. I'm Saffron and this little fella is Hunter. Please come in.”

  She held the door wider as Bastian touched my back so I could precede him. As soon as Saffron closed the door, she turned to me and smiled. “We are so glad you're here, Larkspur.”

  “Please call me Lark.”

  At that moment, a giant of a man entered the room. He stood an inch or two taller than Sebastian, and his face was covered completely under black whiskers, but it was the eye
s, as green as my own, which held my interest, because in them I saw a flood of emotions that I couldn't even begin to name. His voice was deep but soft when he greeted us.

  “Lark, welcome.” He moved toward me and held out his hand. “It's nice to officially meet you.”

  And when his large hand closed over mine, I felt something move through me. Chalking up my reaction to being tired, I said, “It's very nice to meet you. This is my fiancé , Bastian.”

  Logan turned to Bastian. “Welcome to Harrington.”

  “It's nice to meet you, sir.”

  “Please call me Logan.”

  “We'd love for you to stay, maybe have something to eat, but you must be tired, so if you would rather we can take you to the house,” Saffron said.

  “We could stay for a bit,” I said.

  “Great. Come, there are others who would like to meet you.” We were whisked through the house and out the back. A mouthwatering spread of food stretched across a table and a fire pit burned. Sitting around the fire pit were two guys who looked so much like Logan, I knew they had to be his brothers.

  As soon as we stepped outside, a dog—more like a pony—came barreling toward me.

  “His name is Reaper. He looks scary, but he's really very sweet,” Saffron said, and as if to prove to the new people his mistress was right, Reaper rolled onto his back with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The sight was so ridiculous, I bent down to rub his belly.

  “You've done it now. He'll love you for life,” Logan said. When I looked up at him, I saw that his brothers had approached.

  “Lark and Bastian, I'd like to introduce you to my brothers Broderick and Dante.” Both had the same black hair as Logan—Dante's hair was cut short and spiky and Broderick's was shoulder-length—and those intense green eyes. They were all roughly the same height and build and could have easily passed for triplets.

  Broderick took the opportunity to ask Bastian, “I hear you're looking for some work while you're here?”

  “I am, sir.”

  “Just Broderick. Logan mentioned you had an apprenticeship this summer.”

  “Yes, through the Donnelly brothers in Concord. We're restoring an old sea captain's house. Descendants of the original owner want to return her to her former glory.”

  “Wow, I'm a lawyer by trade, but having spent time working on my place, I definitely have the bug. Is restoration what you want to do?”

  “Yeah, I'm starting an engineering program in the fall at Columbia with a focus in restoration.”

  “I'm jealous. I think I'd do that if I had it to do all over again. I could definitely use you for as long as you're here. Once you and Lark get settled, give me a call and I'll take you out to the site.”

  Bastian offered his hand to Broderick as a smile spread over his face. “Thank you.”

  Dante chimed in. “Let's eat.”

  ***

  Later that night, Logan and Saffron drove in front of us to the house that was going to be our temporary home. As soon as I saw it, I loved it: the weathered cedar shakes, green shutters and brick chimney.

  Bastian was just helping me from the car when Logan and Saffron stepped up next to him. Logan's attention was on my car.

  “This is a beauty,” he said.

  Bastian nodded at the Porsche Logan had ridden over in. “So's that.”

  Logan's grin in response looked wicked. “Did you do the restore work?”

  “I did.”

  “It's beautiful, you've got a gift.” I didn't miss the pride in Bastian's eyes at the remark, someone who actually appreciated what he was capable of doing with cars and not embarrassed by it.

  “I wanted it perfect, but safe for Lark,” Bastian said.

  “It's her car?” Something moved across Logan's expression but I couldn't discern what it was. “Can I help you bring your things in?” He asked.

  “That would be great.” Bastian turned to me, his hand still wrapped around mine. “We'll do this. It's been a long day and I think Saffron looks like she wouldn't mind getting off her feet.”

  “You can say that again,” Saffron muttered which earned her a chuckle and a kiss from Logan.

  I knew the house was stocked with food; it was one of the things Saffron contacted me about. “Okay, if you're sure. Maybe I'll put on some warm milk.”

  Tenderness looked back at me. “Warm milk sounds great,” Bastian said.

  I turned then and reached for Saffron almost without thinking, because she was huge and I didn't want her to fall. A smile touched her lips at the gesture. “Does warm milk have a special meaning?”

  “The last time I moved, Bastian made me warm milk before I went to bed.”

  “The last time you moved?”

  “When I turned eighteen, my aunt kicked me out of the house, so I moved in with Bastian for a time.”

  Saffron stopped walking and turned to face me. “Your aunt kicked you out of the house? Why on earth would she do that?”

  “It's a long story, but basically she loved my uncle, my mom saw him first, she became the consolation prize and I was the constant reminder.”

  Anger gave her a funny pinched look. “She took her jealousy out on a child?”

  “Yeah.”

  I noticed she curled her hand into a fist and the sight of this very pregnant woman doing so, pulled a smile from me. “Come, I'll make you some warm milk too.”

  “Once you are settled, I'll show you around town,” she said.

  “I'd like that.” We made our way into the house. “Are you sure there isn't more than one in there?”

  “I know, right? I’m the size of a small car.”

  For the next hour I watched as Saffron drank three mugs of warm milk and ate at least a pound of cookies. I realized she was pregnant, but I didn't know anyone could eat that much in so short a time. When they left, Logan had her wrapped tightly in his arms since she was half asleep. Bastian and I watched from the door as he helped her into the car and with a quick wave, he climbed in himself and drove off.

  We closed up the house and went to bed where Bastian edged up next to me. “So, what do you think of the Duprees?”

  “I like them a lot.” I said sleepily.

  “Yeah, they seem like really good people. Very welcoming.”

  My eyes found his. “They were, weren't they?”

  “Yes, but it was nice.”

  “It was.” I shifted so I was leaning over him. “I'm really glad you're here.”

  He flipped me to lay under him and when his mouth took mine, yep, I was really, really glad he was here.

  ***

  By Wednesday, Bastian and I were unpacked enough to take Saffron and Broderick up on their offers. After breakfast, Broderick stopped by the house to take Bastian to the site and as Broderick waited in the kitchen with a cup of coffee, Bastian stuck his head into the bedroom.

  “Have fun today. If you need anything, call me.”

  “Okay. Are you excited to see Broderick's house?”

  “I am. I can't lie. I'm really eager to get my hands involved in a project.”

  I joined him at the door, my fingers gripping the waistband of his jeans. “I'm happy you have work and that it's with Broderick. I like him.”

  His arms came around me. “Me too.”

  ***

  An hour later Saffron and I were walking down the main street in town. I worried the walk might send her into labor, but she seemed completely unconcerned.

  Saffron spoke up from my side. “I have to warn you we are a very small town, so you and Bastian are big news. We don't get newcomers here often, so please don't mind the stares. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they dedicated a festival to you.”

  “A festival?”

  “Yes, we are festival-crazy in Harrington. I think it's because we have no other major forms of entertainment, so we make our own.”

  “I did notice the flyers for the swordfish festival coming up.”

  A big smile spread over Saffron's face in res
ponse. “That is my favorite festival.”

  “Swordfish, really?”

  She looked at me and laughed. “Exactly, that was how I felt about the festival, since I hate swordfish. Well, I don't have a problem with the actual fish. In fact, I caught one once and let it go.”

  “So why do you like that festival now?”

  She gestured to a bench and once we both sat, she turned to me. “Four years ago I was given the job as crowd controller for the swordfish festival.”

  I looked around at that, which brought a laugh from Saffron. “Again, exactly how I felt. What crowds? Anyway, there I was working the ‘crowds’ and I see Logan flirting with Chastity, who can come across about as friendly as a rattlesnake and since Logan didn't speak to me then, well, I had just had all I could take.”

  “Logan didn't speak to you?”

  A wistful look covered her face as she remembered. “Not for the first six months of our acquaintance.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Yeah, it was like a game. He'd come into Tucker's, a local bar, and I'd try to get him to talk.”

  “There's clearly more to the story.”

  Her grin was razor sharp. “Oh, yes, there is. Anyway, so I'm standing in the middle of a festival I loathe, the smell of swordfish funnel cakes making me ill.”

  “Swordfish what?”

  “Funnel cake. Don't eat them, Lark. Never, ever eat one.”

  “I think I can safely say there's no chance of that.”

  “So there I am, the man I like is flirting with a rattlesnake, children are weeping, dogs are howling and something just snapped. So I took a funnel cake and launched it at Chastity, nailing her right in the face. I followed that up with another one, which hit Logan square in the face. A food fight ensued, and it was the best time ever, until I had to clean up the mess. We budget now for clean-up, so it's all good.”

  “So you basically turned the festival into a large food fight?”

  “Yeah.” A dreamy look passed over her face and I suspected there was far more to why the swordfish festival meant so much to her; couldn't deny I was intrigued since we were talking about a festival dedicated to a fish.

  “Saffron, I have to say this is the oddest little town I've ever visited. I really think I'm going to like it here.”