Water Lily in July (4 page)

~*~

Rob spent the majority of Monday getting the boat ready to take out on Tuesday morning. By four he'd finished and drove to the garden center three miles outside of town. He picked out several water lilies in differing colors. He knew they meant levity, lightness and openness, and he loved the way they floated on the surface of the water, their huge leaves almost supporting the delicate flower. Delicate yet surprisingly hardy—like Kaylie.

He hadn't been able to get thoughts of her out of his head all day, bowled over as he was by her simple beauty and love for God, and he hoped—no, more than hoped−he yearned that she'd agree to spend the evening with him. He headed over to the keepers' cottage and rang the bell. He knew she was in, as her car was there, yet there was a long pause before the door opened.

Kaylie stood there, covered in mud and water. “Rob…hi.”

Somehow Rob managed to contain the surprise that ran through him. “Hi. You look…lovely.”

She laughed. “Thank you, but I know that's not true.”

He held out the water lilies. “These are for you. Well, for your pond.” He held out the mixture of orange and purple, as well as the traditional white, yellow and pink flowers.

“They are lovely.” Her smile covered her face as she took them. “And very timely.”

“Did you bathe in mud? I've heard it's good for the complexion.”

“Short story is yes. Long story is I've been cleaning out the pond. I don't think anyone's touched it since I last did it. The pump was clogged and there was about six inches of silt at the bottom. I've just refilled it. Come and see.”

He followed her through the cottage to the back garden.

Kaylie knelt by the pond and placed the lilies on the top. “There you go, Poseidon. You have some shelter now.”

“Poseidon?”

“One of the ghost koi. The other one is called Neptune. The goldfish are Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Mo.”

“That's original.”

“Not my choice. Lucas named them when he bought them. So, other than bringing me flowers…” She gave him the once over. “You look awfully smart. Are you going somewhere tonight?”

He reached into his pocket. “I have two tickets to see the new Gabriel Tyler movie, if you're interested.”

Her eyes lit up. “I'd love to. I'll need ten minutes to shower and change.”

“You have twenty,” he said looking at his watch. “That way we can eat first. If you're hungry.”

“Ravenous,” she said. “Feel free to wait in the lounge.” She ran inside the cottage and up the stairs.

Rob headed inside and into the lounge. It was smaller than his, but just as homey. Photographs dotted the mantelpiece and he headed over to look. He glanced over the ones of the male lighthouse keepers with their families.

A photograph of Kaylie in a gilt frame caught his attention. His hand picked it up before he realized what he was doing. She leaned against a tall blond man, his arms wrapped around her. Both were laughing and appeared to be very much in love.

His heart twisted and his stomach burned. Who was he? Why was he even bothering with her if she were involved with someone else? He was an idiot and should leave now.

“I'm ready.”

He turned around, the photo still in his grasp. His gaze went to her left hand, a white line visible on her ring finger.

Kaylie took a deep breath. “That's Phil.”

Rob put the photo down. “It's a nice photo. I'm guessing boyfriend. Do you see him much? I don't want to come between you, or step on his toes or anything…” He broke off, aware he was gushing and not making much sense.

“You're not going to get in the way. Phil's my husband.”

His gaze shot back to her left hand and he swallowed hard, feeling sick. “Husband?”

She crossed over to him and picked up the photo. “
Was
my husband. He worked on the oil rigs. We, uh…” Her eyes glistened. “He died three years ago in the Piper Delta chopper crash. We'd been married three days. He got a phone call while we were on our honeymoon. We couldn't afford to go abroad, so we were in the UK when he got recalled to sort out some computer glitch.”

“I'm so sorry.” Grief stabbed him and he wished he hadn't asked. He rubbed her arm. “I didn't mean to upset you. It must have been really hard.”

“It was. It's a little easier now. It's why I took the job—although I'm glad we don't use the chopper as a matter of routine. I rent out our house. I only lived there by myself. I put it on the market this morning with the letting agent. He seems to think the current tenants would buy it. He'll get back to me after the weekend.”

“I came close to marriage once,” he said. “But she didn't like the way I'd be gone for days. She ditched me for a banker in the city.” He ran his gaze over her simple top and skirt. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you.”

He held out a hand. “Shall we?”

“Love to. When do you head out next?”

“Tomorrow morning, but I'll be back early on Thursday. Probably before 6:00 AM.”

“Would you like lunch here when you return?”

“That sounds wonderful. I'm always starving after a long trip.”

“OK, cool. Well, not lunch, unless you want salad.”

He laughed. “Come on, let's go eat. You fancy Chinese or the local pub again?”

“Pub's fine,” she said, grabbing her keys.

“In that case, my lady, your chariot awaits.”

4

Kaylie spent the week pottering around the cottage, but her usual onshore activities didn't hold her attention the way that they usually did. Instead, her mind was filled with thoughts of a tall fisherman with long brown hair, how he moved and spoke and the way his cologne preceded him into a room. She'd expected him to smell of fish, but he'd always taken care not to.

The water lilies he'd bought her were flourishing. She sat in the garden by the pond most afternoons and late into the evening. Would Rob call the lighthouse knowing she wasn't there? Who would answer him if he did?

Thursday morning, she left the cottage early to go food shopping. She hadn't slept the night before at the prospect of seeing Rob again and had resisted the temptation to go down to the harbor and wait for his boat to come in. Because that would put her in the girlfriend category, and she didn't think she was quite ready for that yet. Even if her heart was skipping a beat with just the thought of him.

She stood behind an elderly lady with ebony skin in the post office. “Morning, Miss Lydia.”

Lydia Wells, one of the ladies from church, turned and beamed. Despite the fact they had the same surname they were no relation whatsoever—no earthly relation, that is. “Hello, Kaylie. I'm sending my niece a parcel. How are you enjoying your leave?”

“It's fine. Well, honestly, it isn't the same. There's something missing.”

The old lady winked. “That would be your young man.”

Kaylie almost choked. “My
what
?”

“That young fisherman you're walking out with. Everyone knows you've been speaking on the radio for weeks and seen each other several times since you've been back.”

“Well, we haven't exactly been hiding,” Kaylie said, as they moved up the queue. “I mean, the beach and pub aren't really private, but the radio? Who could have…?” She broke off.

“Angus,” she chorused in unison with Miss Lydia.

She laughed awkwardly. “Joys of living in a small town, huh?” The queue moved again. “I miss talking to Rob each day. He's due back today, and I said I'd make him lunch, but I have no idea what. I know he likes fish, but I never cooked that in my life.”

“He won't mind what you cook. Actually, he's very partial to a nice piece of liver and bacon, with onions, green beans, and mash.”

“Thank you. I love beans covered in butter.”

Miss Lydia smiled. “And it won't spoil if he missed the tide either.” She winked. “But I know he didn't. His boat is tied up in its usual spot on the quay.”

Kaylie's heart leapt for joy. He was back and safe. Her turn came and she posted the letter, before heading to the butcher's. One of the things she loved about Wolf Point, was the high street didn't have one big name shop anywhere along its length. All local produce was sold by local people. She bought the meat and headed next door to the green grocer's for the vegetables.

Once home, she opened the doors and windows to let in the hot sunshine and faint breeze. She shoved a CD of hymns into the stereo and tied her hair into a ponytail. Reaching for the apron, she fastened it around her waist and pulled the pans from the cupboard. She spent the next hour chopping, frying and cooking. She sang along to the hymns as she worked.

A deep bass voice joined hers. She jerked her head up as a face popped up at the open kitchen window.

Rob grinned at her. “Hey, you.”

She returned his grin, her heart rate increasing exponentially. “Hi, Rob. The door's open, come on round.”

“Something smells good.” He appeared behind her and she turned to face him as he peered over her shoulder. “Is that liver?”

“Liver and bacon, with onions, green beans, mash and lashings of butter and gravy.”

His eyes lit up. “That is my all-time favorite meal. How did you know?”

“A little bird told me in the post office this morning. She was mailing a parcel to her niece.”

“That would be Miss Lydia. Her niece is Sam West. She and her husband go to the same church as my sister, Tori.”

“Do you see your sister much?”

“No. She wanted me to go up tomorrow and stay there until Wednesday. I was going to go, but I don't know now.”

“Why not? What's stopping you?” She handed him a tall glass of ice cold lemonade.

“Because I'm having severe Kaylie withdrawal symptoms,” he intoned with a dead straight face.

Kaylie choked on her drink, the bubbles shooting up her nose. “I'm sorry?”

“Angus did his best Kaylie impression on the radio every day, but it just isn't the same.”

Kaylie stood there, her jaw open, not sure whether to laugh, cry, or be offended.

Rob chuckled and pushed her mouth closed with his index finger. “I have also discovered that you and I are the talking point of the town.”

She nodded slightly.

Rob grinned. “So come away with me. Really give them something to talk about.”

Kaylie's cheeks burned. “I beg your pardon?” she managed.

“All above board.” He chuckled. “Tori and her husband Darren have a huge house with more than enough room. We'd have separate bedrooms and them as chaperones. And London is only half an hour by train from her place.”

“I couldn't possibly impose.”

“You wouldn't, and I know Tori won't mind. You dish up, and I'll ring her now to check.”

Kaylie nodded, not sure what to say. She pulled plates from the cupboard and dished up while Rob went outside. He sat by the pond, trailing his hand in the water, the hot sun beating down on him.

Even if his sister did agree to her tagging along, could she go? The townsfolk would have a field day with it if they found out. Perhaps they could just vanish. Her car being parked out front for days was nothing unusual. And Rob was quite often gone for long periods of time.

Did she want to go with him? Yes.

Did she like the idea of him having ‘Kaylie withdrawal symptoms?' Yes.

Could she stand to not see him until the middle of next week?

She paused.

The answer to the last question was no. But it was too soon to admit her true feelings to herself, never mind anyone else. Kaylie put the plates on the table and picked up the cloth to wipe down the worktop. What was wrong with her? Was it simply the fear of losing him, of losing someone else that she'd dared to open her heart up to? Every single person she'd ever loved had left her or died.

Except Jesus—He had never left her. She knew that. But as much as she loved Him and knew He loved her, sometimes she just craved human companionship and affection.

Just holding hands, or watching the sunset or being able to text and getting a message back within seconds. She closed her eyes. Those few horrid moments after the accident had made the TV news, when she'd texted Phil and not gotten a response filled her mind again. Then her phone rang and she'd thought it was him, only to have her hopes smashed when it wasn't.

“Kaylie…where'd you go?”

She opened her eyes. Rob's concerned face was inches from hers. His hand rested on her arm. She held back tears.

“Are you all right?” He pulled a hanky from his pocket. “Here.”

Kaylie took it, blotting her eyes. “I'm sorry.”

“Don't be sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her.

She leaned into him. Funny, he didn't seem at all awkward around crying women. Not like most men she'd come across. Phil had never known what to do when she'd cried.

“I had lots of practice comforting Tori,” Rob said, almost as if he knew what she was thinking. He rubbed her back gently. “She says it's fine for you to come if you want. I was only teasing just now. I didn't mean to upset you, and I'm sorry if I did.”

“You didn't,” she managed. She sucked in a deep breath. “I saw you on the phone and thought about the fact I had no one to call. And that got me thinking about trying to text Phil after the accident…”

“Ah.” He kissed the top of her head. “Are you coming with me?”

“I'd like that.”

“So would I. Once we've eaten, you go pack, and I'll do the dishes.” He led her to the table and sat down, grabbing her hand. “Shall I say grace?”

5

Rob slowed the car to a halt outside Tori's four-bedroom, two-story townhouse in the center of Headley Cross. As soon as he'd turned off the engine, the front door opened, and a small red-headed figure in pyjamas ran down the drive.