Secrets of the Lost Summer (30 page)

Twenty

O
livia stopped at the mill in the morning. Her mother was quiet. Too quiet. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

“Nothing. I’m just thinking. You’re going to Boston?”

“Just for the day. I have to see two clients. I’d like to cut back on freelance work, but I can’t just yet.”

“You’ll get there. Everyone in town’s talking about Carriage Hill. Your mother-daughter tea was a hit. Liv…” Her mother swiveled around in the chair and looked up at her elder daughter. “I’ve booked our flights.”

“To California?”

“We’re flying into Los Angeles in late August. I want to go before we get too busy with fall. You know we’re always nuts here then.”

“What about Dad?”

“I bought a ticket for him but I’m going, with or without him.”

Olivia noticed her father in the doorway. He obviously hadn’t overheard anything. He walked into the office. He glanced at the large piece of paper on the desk, a few colorful dots floating in the middle. “Working on more dots, Louise? I’m not on the page anymore? What’s your therapist say about that?”

She scowled at him. “I changed you to dark blue, because of your eyes.”

“Ah. I’m right there with you. I guess that’s good.”

Olivia smiled with relief. Her mother’s good-humored openness about the dots was a surprise, but Randy Frost, the rock of Knights Bridge, the man everyone counted on, had finally figured out that his wife was seeing a therapist—or she’d told him. Either way, he didn’t seem shocked or upset.

“I finished with the therapist,” she said. “It’s up to me now. My doctor can give me a prescription for antianxiety meds, just as a backup. I’ve learned to pay attention to how I talk to myself. The therapy wasn’t about getting rid of fear altogether. It really was learning when to and when not to listen to the fear, understanding where it’s coming from and carrying on in spite of it.”

Olivia watched as her father tapped a thick finger on the map of California. “What about this trip makes you afraid?” he asked.

“I worry about being so far away from home. I’ve calculated how far it is from each of our stops and how long it would take us to get back here. It’s not that bad. Information and planning help how I talk to myself about going.” She glanced up at Olivia. “My therapist put me in touch with a pilot. My fear of flying has more to do with being away from home than with the mechanics of an airplane, but he asked me to imagine a model plane suspended in Jell-O and explained that’s what it’s like with a real plane flying at high speeds. He also said to remember that the plane wants to fly.”

“I hope it wants to land, too,” Olivia muttered.

“You two,” her father said. “We could always drive to California.”

Her mother shook her head. “We’re flying.”

“Buy the tickets, then.”

It was half challenge, half protectiveness. She thrust out her chin. “Bastard. I already did.”

Olivia laughed and headed out. Her own problems with flying had little to do with fear of being in the air but in a confined space, unable to get out if she wanted to. She wasn’t claustrophobic in every setting, but the thought of flying brought on a crawling sense of panic. Jess was convinced Olivia was taking on their mother’s anxieties.

Jess, who couldn’t wait to go on an adventure but never did.

Dylan was at Smith’s when Olivia stopped for a coffee to-go. “I’m at a loose end,” he said, sliding off his stool at the counter and easing next to her. “I can go to Boston with you.”

“What if you’re not invited?”

“Am I not invited, Olivia?”

She couldn’t resist a smile. He was so damn sexy. And he knew it. She sighed. “You can come with me, but I’m driving.”

Dylan, of course, invited himself into Olivia’s former design studio and charmed Jacqui Ackerman. When Marilyn emerged from her office for a guilty hello, Dylan charmed her, too. Marilyn, who already knew he was an ex-NHL player and partners with Noah Kendrick in NAK, Inc., couldn’t resist an opportunity. “I’d love to get out to Knights Bridge and see Carriage Hill. It sounds idyllic. Olivia’s design skills must come in handy. The change seems to be working for her. She looks so relaxed.”

“She has family and good friends in Knights Bridge,” Dylan said.

“In Boston, too,” Marilyn said. “A support system is critical. I’ve only been in town a short time. Before that I was in Providence, but Olivia and I have been friends for several years. I’m excited about working with her, even if she’s just freelancing now.”

Olivia was happy to pretend not to hear Marilyn and left her with Dylan, joining Jacqui in her office. “I appreciate the offer, Jacqui,” Olivia said immediately, “but I’m not coming back full-time. I just can’t right now.”

Jacqui nodded as she sat at her desk. “I understand, especially now that I’ve met Dylan McCaffrey.”

“Dylan’s not a factor in my decision.”

“No?” Jacqui smiled. “That’s too bad.”

They chatted about freelance jobs for a few more minutes. On her way back to the conference room, Olivia ran into Marilyn, ducking into her office. “It’s so good to see you, Liv, but not in a million years would I have guessed you’d walk in here with Dylan McCaffrey. You never were a big hockey fan, but I remember him as a player.” Marilyn paused in the hallway. “How did he end up in Knights Bridge?”

“It’s a long story—”

“Why don’t we have lunch together and catch up? Dylan can join us.”

Six months ago, Olivia would have accepted the invitation without hesitation. Even now, her first inclination was to say yes. Despite Marilyn’s behavior the past few months, Olivia still found herself wanting to reconnect with her. They’d been such good friends, and she hated to give up on a friendship.

Dylan appeared just down the hall. “Parking meter’s running out.”

There was no parking meter. They’d parked in a garage. He just wanted to get out of there, or to get Olivia out. She smiled at Marilyn. “Thanks, but another time.”

Instead, she and Dylan walked over to Newbury Street for lunch at her favorite restaurant, her first visit since running into Marilyn and Roger Bailey there. Dylan looked just as at ease in the restaurant as he had in his leaking kitchen in Knights Bridge. Olivia expected it would be the same at NAK headquarters or on the ice.

They sat across from each other at a small table. “I almost asked Marilyn to join us,” she said.

“From the freezer to lunch.”

“I’m not proud of that, you know.”

“Why not?” He leaned back, studying her. “You want her to like you.”

“I don’t care—”

“You care. It’s okay. Confrontation isn’t easy for everyone, and you don’t have to confront her. You just can’t trust her. She’s got crazy-bitch eyes.”

Olivia had no idea if he was serious. “Crazy-bitch eyes, Dylan?”

“Yeah. You can see her scheming behind those eyes.”

“You’re prejudiced because you found her in my freezer.”

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowed, intense. “I’m prejudiced because she did you wrong.”

Olivia felt a surge of warmth at his solidarity and protectiveness and realized that by keeping Marilyn’s betrayal to herself for so long, she had also isolated herself. Her family and real friends couldn’t offer their support because they didn’t know anything was wrong. As Dylan continued to watch her, she squirmed, the warm, good feeling about him turning to physical desire—which, she suspected, he could tell.

She changed the subject. “How did you make the transition from hockey player to working with Noah Kendrick?”

“I was injured and eventually cut. It’s not something I expected, but I knew it could happen. The idea is to save your money.”

She eyed him. “But you didn’t.”

“Not enough. I was never one of the big-money players. I kept thinking I’d be one. A lot of people believed in me, but it just didn’t happen. Then it didn’t matter. I loved the game, and I had a great run.”

“That’s a good attitude.”

“It didn’t come naturally. I worked at it. I think certain people bring out the best in us, or we allow them to. I was with the wrong team for a while but then I got with the right team. I know a lot of guys who would have given their eyeteeth for the opportunity I had.”

“Regrets?”

“Yeah, sure, but I had a good time. I worked hard. I always focused on improving my skills. I had a few tough injuries.”

“Were you smart about the game?”

“Yes, and I had a great team and coaches the last couple years. I still got cut, though. That’s life. I didn’t want to tell anyone I’d blown most of my money. I pretended all was well with my folks. My father wanted me to start an adventure travel company with him, but we never got to it.”

“How did you and Noah end up working together?”

“He asked me to help him. I was sleeping in my car out on Coronado and he knocked on my window. He needed a right-hand man. Someone to watch his back, basically. I accepted, and everything took off once he was able to focus and get rid of some of the loons around him. Banging around the NHL gave me good insights into people, and I learned not to stick with the crazies. You can find all kinds of reasons to stick with someone but sometimes what you have to do is cut them loose and move on.”

Olivia noticed his penetrating gaze and knew he was talking about her, too. “It can be easier than letting them cut you loose. So you’re loyal to Noah?”

“Yes. It’s not like you and this Marilyn woman. She used your energy, talents and goodwill to get what was good for her. She was never a friend. That’s key in my philosophy.”

“Would you have seen through her?”

“I didn’t have anything she needs. I deal with people who want access to Noah. You are who you are. Don’t beat yourself up over what you did to help Marilyn. Would you be happier if you hadn’t helped her, and she was still your struggling friend?”

Olivia considered his words. “It doesn’t matter anymore, does it? What’s done is done. I’m mad at her for what she did but we had some good times together.”

“Olivia, I don’t want you to be anyone but who you are. You’d never have written to me about the junk in my yard if you hadn’t caught her and your big client together. It was here, wasn’t it?”

“My favorite restaurant.”

He made a face. “Think she worried you might walk in?”

“I don’t think she gave it a moment’s thought. She liked the restaurant and she wanted to impress a client, so she brought him here.”

“There’s where you and I are different. You’re nicer. I think she knew. I think she was eaten alive with envy when you were doing well and she wasn’t, and she loved the chance to stick it to you.”