Driftwood Lane (23 page)

“I’ll just bet you did.”

Jake felt a smile pull his lips. She was almost flirting, but he wasn’t going to point it out. The moment he did, it would be over. He scanned the crowd for people he might know and need to avoid.

“What turned you around?”

“Who says I turned around?”

She laughed, and the sound reminded him of the wind chimes on the porch, bright and happy.

“All right, I turned around. Or rather, God turned me around.”

“God?” Surprise lined her tone, raised her brows.

“I’m not a heathen, you know.”

“Sorry. Go on.”

He’d have to be careful here. No mention of motorcycles, the mainland, or the motorcycle ministry that finally opened his eyes. “Met a friend about two years back who took me under his wing. Good man. I wanted what he had.”

“Which was . . . ?”

He looked at Meridith. She took the kids to church faithfully each week. This wasn’t news to her. “A relationship with God. He showed me how it’s done.” Actually, Eva and T. J. had planted the seeds, but he couldn’t say that. He pulled the leather strip of his necklace, freeing the silver cross from his shirt. “This was his.”

“Where is he now?”

“Died about a year ago after fighting lung cancer awhile.” He’d been sick when he’d met up with Jake at a cycle hangout in Tallulah, Louisiana.

“No brothers or sisters?”

He thought of Eva and how hard he’d worked to find her after turning eighteen and heading out on his own. It seemed like the system had conspired to keep them apart. “Pretty much all alone in the world.”

“I’m an only child too.” She seemed to remember the kids. “Well, I guess I’m not. They feel more like my children than my siblings.”

“Responsibility will do that.”

“It is a lot of responsibility.”

Two women he knew from church approached, waving.

“Jake, we’ve been looking for you,” Sierra said.

The other one, Rowan, touched his shoulder. “A few of us are going out on my boat after the picnic, then back to my house for pizza and a movie. I hope you’ll come . . .” Her blue eyes begged.

“Can I let you know later?”

“You have my number,” Sierra said, her gaze flickering toward Meridith.

“Get a cell phone,” Rowan said, sashaying away. “You are way too hard to track down.”

Especially when he was hiding from the public at large.

“Girlfriend?” Meridith asked once the girls disappeared in the throng of people.

“Friends from church.” Jake rubbed his jaw, unsure why he found the attention embarrassing.

“You should go with them—you don’t have to babysit me.”

“Nah.”

Meridith removed the ice pack and put it in the cooler, then offered him a Coke. She closed the lid and propped up her foot again. The swelling had gone down, but it was still discolored.

“I can drive the car back,” he said. “I rode up with a friend.”

Meridith flexed her foot and winced. “That might be best. Thanks.” She settled her elbows on the aluminum chair’s arms. Her diamond ring glinted in the sun.

He wondered if she’d told Lover Boy about the kids yet. It was nearly May. School would be out in a month. Might as well ask, since she was so chatty.

He couldn’t seem to pull his eyes from the sparkling rock. “You tell him about the kids yet?”

She followed his gaze to her hand. “Oh.” She straightened the diamond, then cradled her hand in her lap. “I did, actually.”

He tried to read her expression, gave up. “How’d it go?”

“Not so well.”

Maybe Wyatt was right. Maybe it was about to hit the fan. He found himself irrationally pleased, and not just on account of the kids.

“You’re still wearing the ring.”

“It didn’t go
that
badly. I think Stephen needs time to adjust to the idea. And once he gets to know the children . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she finally pressed her lips together.

Maybe if they called off the wedding, she’d move to Nantucket, keep Summer Place. As soon as hope began to swell, a sharp prick of guilt popped the bubble. Meridith obviously loved the guy. Who was Jake to wish a broken heart on her? Besides, while a breakup might mean she kept the kids here, it also meant he was up the creek with his identity.

“Jake! Hey, buddy!” Another acquaintance approached, transferring his glass of wine for a handshake.

“Mr. Stanford,” Jake said, standing.

Did the man know about Eva? He prayed nothing would be said to give him away.

“You were right,” Mr. Stanford said. “Those windows made a huge difference in heating costs this winter.”

“Glad I could help. Mr. Stanford, this is Meridith . . .”
My employer? My friend? My late sister’s stepdaughter?
He closed his mouth.

They traded greetings, and the man commented on Meridith’s injury. Jake just wanted him to go, but he remembered how chatty the man had been while Jake installed his windows.

Mr. Stanford engaged them in a lengthy conversation about landscaping while Jake pocketed his hands, trying to think of a polite way to end the conversation. He was saved by the return of Rita and the kids.

Mr. Stanford said his good-byes, and Jake took his seat, relieved. The kids listed the friends they’d seen while Rita and Lee packed up. Jake gathered Meridith’s supplies.

“Why don’t you come back to our house?” Rita said. “We always cook out the night of the tailgate picnic, and since the pool’s up and running we can swim. Unless your ankle’s hurting too much, honey.”

“Oh, can we?” Noelle asked.

Jake noted the way she traded looks with the Lawson boy and wasn’t sure he liked it one bit.

“Well, I suppose we could,” Meridith said. “We’ll need to stop by the house for our suits.”

“Jake, you’re welcome, too, of course.” Lee scratched his beard. “Otherwise, I’m overrun with women.”

Jake glanced at Meridith—didn’t want to wear out his welcome. But Meridith, seemingly undisturbed, was gently tugging her sock onto her foot.

“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.”

After running Meridith and the kids home for their suits, Jake drove the Galaxie to the Lawsons. The family lived in a mid-island home with a sloping front yard and a wide front porch lined with a plethora of daffodils.

The evening was so enjoyable, Jake forgot to return Sierra’s call. He had no trunks, but the adults didn’t swim anyway. They played spades on the patio, and he and Meridith won easily. By the time the kids were piling into the car to return home, Jake felt almost like they were a family. Meridith had, for whatever reason, let her guard down for the day.

He helped her to the car, and they started toward Summer Place in the dark. The wind blew across the open convertible, tossing his hair, and the kids huddled in the back complaining of freezing to death. Meridith pulled her blue sweater closed and hugged herself.

He wished she’d move closer so he could keep her warm. He imagined his arm wrapped around her shoulders, her face tucked into his chest against the wind. It was a picture he liked. Too much. Being near her all day, out of their element, had been revealing.

But it hadn’t revealed something new about Meridith so much as it had revealed his own feelings. Not that he hadn’t been aware of them; he just hadn’t realized they were rooted so deeply.

If only she weren’t already taken. And, okay, if she didn’t believe he was someone else.

Wyatt was right. He was an idiot. He was in the middle of a mess, but it wasn’t too late to ask for help—it was never too late. He sent up a silent prayer as he drove through the quiet neighborhood streets. Usually he made sound decisions and could calculate the outcome. This one had him baffled. And now that feelings were involved—his own—he had more at stake than he cared to.

He turned onto Driftwood Lane. The kids had quieted in the back, their teeth probably chattering too much to talk. Meridith had quieted, too, but when she carefully shifted her leg, he wondered if she was in pain.

“Ankle hurting?”

The night was too dark to read her expression. “I guess I need to keep it propped.”

“Tylenol’s worn off. You should take something before you turn in.”

“I will. I was just thinking about the Goldmans and the Mowerys. I hope they’re faring all right. I feel badly for being gone all day.”

“The Goldmans seem to know what’s what around here, and the other couple seemed pretty autonomous. I’m sure they all had a full day at the festival and are tucked away for the night.”

“You’re probably right.”

Jake pulled the car into the drive. “See, the house is dark.” The engine hummed, accented by the pebbles popping under the wheels.

“She’s a sweet ride. Purrs like a kitten.” He pulled the car into the garage. The familiar smell of mustiness and motor oil assaulted his senses.

He gave the house key to Noelle, knowing it would take him and Meridith a few extra minutes, and the kids took the short cut through the back of the house, probably eager to get into their warm pajamas.

“I’ll be up to tuck you in,” Meridith called after them.

Jake opened Meridith’s door, and she swung her legs out, setting her foot down gently. Jake grasped her hands and pulled. She weighed nothing, a feather in the wind. He helped her navigate the car.

“The basket and stuff—”

“I’ll come back for it. Come on, Hopalong.” He took one arm, braced at the elbow, and put the other around her. Her skin was cool, the sweater a too-thin barrier against the chill in the air. She walked gingerly toward the front of the house, taking the route with fewer steps.

Piper circled them, barking.

“No, Piper. Back!” Jake said, fearing she’d trip Meridith. The dog sure was keyed up.

They navigated the flagstones slowly in the dark. When they reached the steps, a breeze stirred the wind chimes, stirred her hair, and the familiar citrus scent wafted toward him.

“Lean on me,” Jake said as they took the steps. When they reached the top, a shadow by the swing moved. Jake dropped Meridith’s elbow and stepped in front of her, the confrontation with Sean still fresh in his mind.

The shadow moved again. Too tall for Mr. Goldman or the other guests.

“Who’s there?” Jake braced his feet, his guard up, ready to pounce.

Thirty-two

Meridith turned to see why Jake was suddenly alert, the muscles in his arms hardening. She peered around him, and a familiar form emerged from the shadows.

^“
Stephen!” Meridith hobbled forward and embraced her fiancé. “What are you doing here?”

“I missed you.” He pecked her on the lips, but his embrace felt stilted. Then she remembered Jake.

She pulled away and cleared her throat. “Stephen, this is Jake, the contractor I hired. Jake, this is my fiancé, Stephen.”

Jake extended his hand. The grasp seemed more like a challenge than a handshake. Or maybe it was her imagination.

“Nice to meet you,” Stephen said.

“Same.” Jake’s voice seemed deep after Stephen’s. “I’ll turn in now,” he said to Meridith. “You’ll be all right with your ankle?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Her laugh wobbled. “Good night.”

She’d never gotten around to telling Stephen that Jake was staying there, and now she wished she had. Boy, did she ever.

Stephen would have questions. She wasn’t blind to the way it must look, a cozy family returning from a day at the festival. Not to mention the way she’d been curled into Jake’s arms as he’d helped her up the walk.

The screen door slapped into place, leaving them alone.

Meridith huddled into her thin sweater. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“He’s staying here?” Stephen’s voice had an edge she hadn’t heard before.

“It was a trade. I couldn’t afford the repairs, remember? Jake offered to trade for room and board.”

“I’ll bet he did.”

“Stephen. This is a bed-and-breakfast. We have people here all the time. What’s one more?”

His sigh filled the space between them. Piper sniffed at his pant leg, and Stephen nudged her away. “You’re right. Sorry. I’ve been waiting a while, and I’m hungry.”

There was the old conciliatory Stephen she knew and loved. She almost told him he could’ve knocked—the guests would’ve let him in—but mentioning it now was pointless.

“Well, let’s get that taken care of.” She hobbled toward the door.

“What happened to your ankle?”

She rolled her eyes, though he was behind her. “I was carrying a cooler and didn’t see a dip in the ground. It’s twisted, that’s all.”

“Did you have it looked at?” He set his suitcase inside the door.

“It’s not that bad. Just a little swollen. Have a seat, and I’ll fix you a plate.” She remembered the picnic basket in the car. The trunk would smell by tomorrow, but she wasn’t hobbling out there now.

Meridith prepared a salad and brought it to Stephen. He’d settled on the sofa’s end beside the antique table.

“Here you go. I need to tuck the children in.”

He took the plate. “Should I meet them now?”

That he was eager to meet them warmed her. “Why don’t we wait until morning? They’re pretty tired—might even be asleep already. I’ll be right back.”

Meridith limped up the back stairs. Ben and Noelle were already asleep, but she listened to Max’s prayers. Downstairs again, she stopped in the kitchen for Tylenol. Remembering Piper, she let the dog in the garage and retrieved the picnic basket while she was there. The extra walking made her ankle throb.

Above her, she could hear Jake still stirring, and wondered for the first time what he thought of Stephen’s arrival. Having the two of them there would be uncomfortable. It only proved what she’d been reluctant to admit. An attraction was one thing, but her feelings for Jake had gone beyond that. Leaving the disconcerting notion for later, she returned to the living room.

She limped to the armchair, then wondered why she’d chosen to sit catty-corner rather than beside Stephen. The time apart had made things awkward, she decided, multiplied by their disagreement over the children. Or maybe she’d only chosen the seat so she could prop her foot on the ottoman.

“Sorry we weren’t here when you arrived. If I’d known you were coming . . .”

That he’d come without warning wasn’t Stephen-like at all. He wasn’t the spontaneous type.