The Inn at Rose Harbor (33 page)

Still, they had dated for several months before she was ready to introduce him to Josh. Josh and Dylan had instantly clicked and the two boys had compared notes. Josh learned that Richard had returned from his dates with Teresa in an equally good mood. The two boys wondered where they went or what they did to make them each so goofy.

In the years since, Josh had come to understand—at least on paper—that this was what it was like when people fell in love.

Teresa and Richard were meant to be together and now they would share eternity.

“Josh.”

Breaking off his thoughts, he looked up to discover that Michelle was alone. Apparently the woman from hospice had left or was outside.

“Lois contacted the coroner,” Michelle told him. “He’ll be here in a few minutes, and once the body has been released, the funeral home will be by.”

“What funeral home did you call?”

“Richard had already made the arrangements. He did that as soon as he learned that he was dying, and he gave my family the paperwork to make sure his wishes were carried out as stipulated.”

“Okay.” At this point Josh was grateful not to have to make decisions.

“He asked to be buried next to your mother.”

Josh nodded. That was the way it should be. “He loved her very much,” he said.

“And in his own way he loved you. I don’t think he realized it until the end.”

“That’s funny,” Josh whispered, swallowing hard.

“How do you mean?”

Josh’s gaze met hers and he felt the moisture gathering in his eyes. “I was just thinking the same thing. I hated him for so long … but I didn’t realize how close love and hate could be. I suspect he didn’t either.”

After my assurances regarding Rover, Grace left, seemingly relieved at how well my adopted protector had settled into his new environment. Eager to step back into my role as innkeeper, I set up a plate of cheese and crackers in case my two guests decided to return. If neither showed then I’d enjoy a cheese and cracker dinner along with a glass of wine—preferably Merlot or maybe a Malbec.

Rover had finished exploring the downstairs and then, with a sense of proprietorship, he curled up again on the braided rug in front of the fireplace and promptly went to sleep.

“You look mighty comfortable,” I muttered to Rover as I carried the cheese plate into the dining room.

Rover lifted his head from his paw and regarded me for just a
moment before peacefully returning to his nap. I brought out a bottle of red wine and wineglasses, and a large pot of tea. I’d add the hot water later, if anyone was interested.

In the distance, I could hear a car door closing. Rover heard it, too, and was instantly on his feet. I watched him carefully. If he was going to remain with me, then he would need to adjust to a series of strangers taking up residence for short periods of time.

Barking, he went to the front door and waited.

No more than a minute later the door swung open and Abby Kincaid breezed in out of the cold.

The instant Rover saw her, he stopped barking and wagged his tail furiously, welcoming her.

“Who do we have here?” Abby asked, bending over and petting my newly adopted guardian.

I released a silent breath of relief as Rover seemed to immediately recognize that Abby was a friend.

“This is Rover,” I answered. “I got him from the animal shelter this afternoon.”

“Really? Well, he sure is a friendly fellow.”

I grinned, relieved and reassured at the same time. “I just brought out a few snacks,” I told her. “Please, help yourself.”

Abby glanced at her watch. “I need to change for the wedding first but I should have a couple of minutes to spare before I head to the church.”

I returned to the kitchen and put on the hot water for tea so she would have the option. I added a few cookies to a second plate and delivered those to the table, setting the cookies next to the cheese and cracker selection. I’d already set out small appetizer plates and napkins. The table looked charming, if I did say so myself.

Rover returned to his place in front of the fireplace and resumed his nap. He seemed utterly content in his new life. And while the deep ache of missing Paul remained, I felt content, too.

I’d just finished putting the finishing touches on the table when
Abby reappeared. She was wearing a lovely pastel dress with cap sleeves and a lacy knit shawl was slung over one of her arms.

“Oh my,” I said, watching her. “You look absolutely stunning.”

“I do?”

This was no exaggeration. She was a pretty girl, but something had changed in the last two days. When Abby had first arrived it was as if the weight of the world was resting squarely on her shoulders.

“Tea?” I asked, when it became obvious that I was staring. “Or wine?”

“Tea, please.” She reached for a small plate and took a couple of pieces of cheese and a few crackers.

“Your lunch with your friends went well?” I asked.

She smiled and her eyes brightened with joy. “It was amazing. I’ve known most of them my whole childhood. We didn’t stay in touch after high school graduation and, well, actually, the fault was mine. I wasn’t sure anyone would want to hear from me.”

“Oh Abby, I’m sure they did.”

“Well, you’re right.” She pulled out a chair and sat down next to me. “We had a marvelous time. My mother came, too, and she loved seeing my friends again nearly as much as I did.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Abby ate the cheese and crackers and sipped her tea.

“Lunch took a long time, didn’t it,” I mentioned casually. Abby had been gone for several hours. I assumed she’d spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about old times with her schoolmates.

“We were only together a couple of hours. I stopped to visit with the parents of a friend after lunch,” she explained.

I realized my comment might have come off as nosy, but that wasn’t my intent. Her hand shook slightly and she lowered the cup to the saucer and placed her hands in her lap.

After a brief pause, she continued. “I’m so very glad I did,” she added. “It was … at the home of Angela’s parents.”

I didn’t know who Angela was, but I didn’t want to interrupt.

“Angela was my best friend. She died in a car accident and her parents took her death hard … and because I was driving, they blamed me.”

“Oh dear.” I hardly knew what to say. While I fumbled for words of comfort, Abby spoke again.

“It was the first time since it happened fifteen years ago that we’ve been able to console each other and make peace,” she explained.

“Peace,” I repeated softly. I looked away and momentarily closed my eyes, savoring the word and all it meant in my own life.

“Are you okay?” Abby asked, her eyes wide with concern.

“Yes, of course, what makes you ask?”

She blinked and frowned ever so slightly. “When I spoke, your hand flew to your heart as though you were in pain or something.”

“No, no, I’m fine.”

“I think you must be,” she concurred, “because as soon as your hand was on your heart a look of serenity came over you.”

“I’m healing too,” I whispered.

“You?”

“I lost someone I loved very much.”

Abby blinked and reached for her teacup again. “I’m so sorry; I really am. I’ve known the pain loss brings.” We sat quietly for a few minutes, and then she glanced at her watch and then seeming surprised at the time she reached for her shawl and leaped to her feet. “I’m off to the wedding festivities.”

I stood, too. “I’ll keep the light on for you,” I said and walked her to the front door as she gathered her coat and purse. I waved Abby off.

As she backed out of the parking space a second dark vehicle pulled in.

Josh was back, too, but just from the way he climbed out of
his vehicle I could see that his mood was as dour as Abby’s mood was joyful. Apparently matters weren’t going nearly as well for him.

Again Rover came to his feet the instant he heard Josh’s car door close. My ever-ready guardian waited by my side as I held the front door open for Josh.

Rover barked furiously several times until I bent down and patted his head. “Josh is a friend,” I assured him. Amazingly Rover seemed to understand and he returned to his post in front of the warm fireplace even before Josh walked inside.

“You’re just in time for a late-afternoon snack,” I announced as my guest entered the inn.

He paused just inside the front door as if he’d heard my invitation but hadn’t assimilated it.

“There’s a cheese platter and some wine available, if you’re interested,” I told him.

He removed his coat and hat and then ran his fingers through his tousled hair. “Wine would be nice.”

I gestured toward the dining room. “I have both Merlot and Malbec in the reds and …”

“Merlot.”

As I poured the wine into a stemless wineglass I asked, “So how did your afternoon go?”

He hesitated before he spoke. “My stepfather died a short while ago.”

I set the wine bottle down with the finality of his words. “Oh, Josh, I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head, accepting my condolences. “This morning I would have told you I wouldn’t feel a blasted thing when the old man died. To my way of thinking he was finally going to get what he deserved in death. I had nothing good to say about him.”

I did my best to disguise my surprise. “And now?” I pressed.

“And now … I wish he’d lived longer. After all these years of bitterness, the two of us finally found common ground.”

“So you made peace?”

Josh reached for the wine, sat down, and brushed the hair from his forehead. “Yes, I suppose you could say we made peace. Peace,” he repeated as if hearing the word pronounced for the first time. “For most of my adulthood I hated him. And he deserved it. After my mother died he threw me out of the house.”

“How old were you?” I asked, already disliking this man for being so heartless.

“A teenager, just weeks from high school graduation.”

“You did graduate though, right?”

“Yes, with help from friends who let me live with them.”

How anyone could do that to a motherless boy I didn’t know, but then I was only hearing one side of the situation.

“In many ways Richard shaped me into the man I am. I got tough because I had to be tough. The military was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time. I was forced to be a man and accept responsibility for my own life instead of relying on anyone else.”

“Did you have any contact with your stepfather after you left the military?”

He looked away and shrugged. “As little as possible.”

I sipped my tea. This was a difficult conversation and so very different from the one I’d just had with Abby.

“I was back in Cedar Cove for Dylan’s funeral,” he told me, “but that was years ago.” Then he seemed to realize I had no idea who Dylan was, and he added, “He was my stepbrother. We got along fine. Early on I accepted that Dylan would always be the favored son and I was fine with that.”

“What happened to your stepfather after he lost Dylan?”

Josh shook his head. “Frankly, I don’t know. I didn’t stick around Cedar Cove long after Dylan’s funeral. I didn’t hear from
Richard for several years and probably never would have, if one of his neighbors, an old friend, hadn’t contacted me.”

So that was the reason he’d returned.

“I came, but not out of any concern for Richard. There were some things of my mother’s I hoped to collect. The timing worked out at the job and this friend seemed to think it was important that I come. Personally, I thought it would be a waste of time, but I agreed to visit.”

“And now?”

“And now I can honestly say I’m glad I came. Richard gave me a few of the things that my mother brought into the marriage and … more.”

Josh’s gaze mellowed and I wasn’t sure if it was the wine or the events of the afternoon. “Richard sincerely loved my mother.”

“And so did you.” Instinctively I recognized that the bond between these two men had been Josh’s mother. Love for her was the thing that had finally brought them together. I found that thought comforting. Love had reached beyond the grave to touch Josh and his stepfather. Paul’s love for me had done the same.

“I loved my mother very much,” Josh murmured. “I wish now I’d taken the time to try harder with Richard.” His words echoed with regret.

“But you made your peace with him?”

Josh nodded, and he appeared to be deep in thought.

“What now?” I asked.

“Once the coroner has released the body I’ll see to the burial arrangements,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“So you’ll be staying on for the funeral?” I only had him scheduled for these three nights, but it would be easy enough to extend his visit, as I didn’t have anyone else on the books until the following weekend.

“No, I’ll be checking out on schedule.”

My surprise must have shown because he added, “Richard requested
there be no services. There’s nothing here for me any longer. There never really was, but at least I’ll have the things that once belonged to my mother.”

“I’m pleased for you, Josh.”

“Yes, I’m pleased, too.” He took another sip of his wine and then set the glass on the table. “I better head over to the funeral home before they close. I don’t imagine much is required of me, but I feel I should check in.” He stood and hesitated as if he’d just thought of something.

Before I could ask if there was anything more I could do, he turned and went upstairs to his room, taking the stairs quickly as if in a rush.

The wedding ceremony was lovely. Abby sat with her extended family and watched as her father reached for her mother’s hand. While Roger and Victoria exchanged vows, Abby saw her mother dab at her eyes, a tissue clenched in her hands.

Abby felt tears blur her own vision a couple of times herself, but they were tears of joy, of shared happiness for her brother.

The dresses the maid of honor and bridesmaids were wearing were all various shades of lavender, each in a style most flattering to the woman who wore it. Abby thought fondly of Angela as she took in the dress styles, remembering her friend’s wedding plans and sketches. The church was decorated with lavender pew bows and the altar was surrounded by white and green calla lilies. The colors, the music, the words … it was all just so lovely, so perfect.