Читать книгу The Widower's Second Chance - Jessica Keller - Страница 11

Chapter Two

“Can we not talk about this right now?” Caleb dropped his voice and glanced around the Cherry Top Café to see if anyone was listening to him and Maggie. Burgers sizzled on the big grill in back and a grease tang hung thick in the air. A busboy clanked dirty dishes together as he cleared a nearby table. Tucked a block away from the popular town square, Cherry Top didn’t rank high on the must-hit tourist list, but that’s why Caleb ate there.

Maggie shoved the coleslaw around on her plate with her fork. “I’m not dropping this. Hear me out. It’s like your life is on hold. You’ve mourned long enough. I hope you know that.”

Mourned long enough? Impossible.

Caleb grabbed the saltshaker and slid it between both of his hands. “Seriously, Mags, leave it alone.”

“I can’t. You know, it’s hard for me, too, but I can’t keep digging in my heels hoping she’ll come walking into the inn again, either. Because she’s not going to.”

“Do you honestly think you’ve moved on?”

Maggie pursed her lips and looked outside.

A fly skittered against the windowpane near Caleb’s elbow, buzzing wildly in its attempt to break through the glass and get back out in the fresh air. Maggie grabbed the menu and banged the heavy papers against the window, ending the fly’s struggle for good.

She exhaled a long breath. “Besides, you’re the only family around that I have left to bug, so you have to indulge my meddling whims.”

“Not on this.” He shoved his plate toward the center of the table and tossed his napkin on top.

Maggie reached across the table and laid her hand over his. “You’re still young and have so much of your life left. My sister would have wanted you happy. You know that, don’t you?”

He snaked his hand from hers and dropped it in his lap under the table. “I am happy.” Sometimes. Like during the school year with students filing into his science classroom, or at the church’s summer camp when the teens talked at the end of the session around the fire pit about how much they had learned and grown that week.

Maggie offered a sad smile. “Well, Caleb Beck, you could have fooled me.”

Caleb leaned forward and lowered his voice. “If you wanted to talk about this we could have done it at the inn instead of out in public.”

People stared at him enough. Poor Caleb. He didn’t need to add this conversation to the list of reasons to pity him. Gossip had a tendency to spread like lice in Goose Harbor, especially among the year-round residents. He didn’t need anyone overhearing Maggie and thinking he couldn’t hack it as a teacher or youth-group volunteer, or continue on at Sarah’s Home. He was so tired of being treated like he was broken.

The high school’s soccer coach, a heavyset man in his mid-forties, walked past their table and waved his spoon at Caleb. What was the man’s name? Caleb offered a polite smile back.

Maggie tugged the giant clip out of the back of her hair, rearranged it a little and pinned up her hair again. Only, she missed a chunk of unruly curls, making it look like a crazy peacock feather coming out of the side of her head. “It’s not like I planned to dive into all this, but I felt like I needed to tell you that I’m okay with you dating again. In case you were worried about that. If you find the chance to have love again, you should. Okay? That’s all I’m going to say about it. Promise.”

He kept his eyes trained out the window at the tourists strolling toward the dock. “Thank you.”

The waiter dropped off their check, and Caleb had the man stay while he pulled out the correct change and enough for a tip. “Just keep everything.”

Maggie crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. “You don’t have to pay for me all the time.”

“Besides my sister, who else am I spending my money on these days?” Caleb leaned a little to put his wallet into his back pocket.

“How’s your sister doing?”

Scared. Lonely. Worried. He shrugged. “Shelby’s the same as always, I guess.”

“Okay, I know I said I wouldn’t bring it up again, and after this I won’t.” Maggie splayed her hands onto the table. “But there’s this girl in my Bible-study group at church. She’s cute and she really loves the Lord. I think you two would—”

“Leave it alone, Mags. Just let it be.” Caleb worked his jaw back and forth.

The image of the lake outside the window suddenly blurred. “I’m not going to date her.” He blinked a couple of times. “I have no intention of dating again. Ever. Got it?” He snatched his baseball hat off the table and jammed it onto his head. “I need to get home. I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

Maggie gave a small nod and clutched her purse as she scooted out from the bench seat. Caleb handed over her coat without a word. On his way past the front desk he took a handful of waxy mints from the large bowl by the register and tossed them all into his mouth. They tasted like medicine-flavored chalk—a fitting end to the day.

He held open the door for Maggie. “I’ll stop by on Saturday to fix the drainpipe.”

She nodded and clicked the button to make her car chirp. Good thing she knew better than to offer him a ride home. A man needed space for his mind away from everyone crawling over every inch of his hometown.

At least he did.

Caleb shoved his hands in his pockets and took the long route. Frogs croaked in the nearby stream, signaling the end of another summer evening. Near the residential section of the lakefront, a fishy smell hung in the air—which meant a fish fry at Cherry Top next Friday.

A car full of teens flashed their headlights at him and pulled alongside the gravel on the road. They blasted the horn, all waving, as the car came to a stop.

“Mr. Beck!” One of the girls hung out the back window. “I have you for second period.”

He smiled and waved. “Only three more days until classes start. What are you guys up to tonight?”

Please don’t say a party. The town had seen a recent uptick in teen mischief down at the beaches at night. Lots of empty beer bottles and spent fire pits most mornings made Caleb worried for their safety. If only the town provided other outlets for the students during the summer. Most of their parents were too busy running shops in town to keep a good eye on their kids.

“Oh, you know. Same old.” The girl rolled her eyes. “Is it true we dissect cats in your class? Because if so, I might have to transfer out.” She pulled a face like she was gagging.

Caleb shook his head. “We stopped using cats years ago. It’s all on a computer now.”

“Good, because that’s sick. Not to mention, ethically wrong.” She smacked the boy in the car next to her in the shoulder. “You liar!”

“You guys be smart tonight.” Caleb made his way back to the sidewalk.

“Of course, Mr. Beck!” A couple of the teens laughed. The car peeled away and sped down the street.

Another car full of teenagers honked and waved at him as he walked home. He kept his hands in his pockets and gave them a nod. Hopefully he could at least plaster on a smile for them when classes started later in the week.

* * *

Paige glanced at the missed calls on her phone—three from Mom, but no voice mail. Mom probably wanted to see how she liked Goose Harbor, right? That, or she had news about the house. Right before Paige left home, her parents informed her they were planning to downsize and travel more. Not that she’d tell them, but Paige hoped her childhood home didn’t sell quickly. It would be nice to have somewhere familiar to return to if the situation in Goose Harbor didn’t work out after the first year.

She pictured her mother, already put together for the day and decked out in her usual pearls and heels.

The phone vibrated again.

“Morning, Mom, you’re up early. You caught me trying to get ready for my first day of work.” Paige looked between the two outfits she’d laid out on her bed.

“I wish you would reconsider leaving Chicago.”

Paige closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Not this again. Please. I don’t want to have this conversation right now.”

“You were so happy here. The plan had always been for you to stay close by. I can’t imagine you living somewhere else.”

“Plans change, Mom.” Paige yanked a hair tie from her wrist and worked it around in her hand.

“They don’t have to.”

Paige sank into the wicker chair beside her bed. “They did. You’ll see. This is for the better. Anyway, I like it here.”

Mom sighed. “I always took you for more of a fighter, Paige. Someone who would stand her ground. Stay and tackle things.”

“You know, sometimes leaving is fighting. Standing up for myself meant getting away, don’t you see that? It would have been easier to stay there, living with you and Dad, letting you guys take care of everything for me, and carrying on with my life. Leaving was harder, Mom. Much harder.” She started to pull her hair into a bun and froze. Leave it down. She wanted to wear it down for work today.

“If you ask me, I think you’re making too big of a deal about everything.”

“Too big of a deal?” Paige hated the tremble in her voice.

“Calling off a wedding that cost your father and me so much money without trying to fix your problems with Bryan, first? That’s overreacting at its best.”

Except that she’d been able to get most of the money back. All but the security fees.

“I don’t think sleeping with some woman a month before his wedding is a problem that we could have just fixed.” Just saying the words made the back of Paige’s eyes throb again. Don’t cry. No more tears because of Bryan. He didn’t deserve them.

Mom sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you, honey. From time to time, men make mistakes—”

Don’t say it.

“Like Dad?” The back of Paige’s eyes burned the second the words left her mouth. She shouldn’t have said that. She had promised her mom she wouldn’t bring it up again. “I’m sorry.” Paige waited. “Are you still here?”

“I’m not trying to butt into your life.” Mom’s voice took on a flat tone. “But you need to think through all your options with a rational mind. All those childhood books and movies, well, they lied, sweetheart. There is no one true love. There is no perfect match. There are just people, and you make it work because you made a promise to.” Her mother’s voice took on a stern, almost scolding tone.

Paige’s stomach churned.

“Even with his unfortunate mistake, Bryan is still a good catch. That boy is going to be something big someday, and I don’t want you to regret anything down the road. Believe me, I know all the feelings you have right now and how difficult it is.” She stopped, but started again when Paige didn’t jump in to fill the silence. “What sort of men are you bound to meet in who-knows-where Michigan? I’m sure there won’t be a senator’s son chasing you there.”

“Maybe I’m not looking for a man.” Prepared for a verbal assault, Paige gripped the armrest of the wicker chair.

“At your age, you should.”

Paige rested her forehead in her free hand. “I’m sorry about all the money you guys lost.”

“I know, honey. It’s just a shame what a waste it all turned out to be. Bryan really is a nice boy.”

She needed to change the subject. Talking about anything else was better than this. “So have you guys decided if you’re going to put the house on the market?”

“The for-sale sign is already in the yard.”

“So fast?”

“Yes. The first open house is this weekend.”

After hanging up, Paige shoved the conversation to the back of her mind. Bryan couldn’t ruin today. From time to time, men make mistakes.

Mistakes and choices were two very different things.

She pulled on jeans and a loose knit shirt. From the paperwork she’d received it looked like they’d be in and out of training for most of the day, but maybe she’d be able to stay late and start putting together her classroom. If so, that would be dusty work that included a lot of time organizing books on the floor. Jeans wouldn’t impress her coworkers, but they were the best option.

She’d walk to work as long as the weather stayed nice. Doing so didn’t leave her a lot of time for breakfast this morning, but it would help her save money to put into her dream-house account. Living with Maggie so far seemed fun, but Paige needed to prove to herself that she could make it without depending on anyone else.

The mouthwatering smell of baked cinnamon and frying bacon propelled her out of her bedroom. Grabbing her bag, Paige rushed out to the kitchen.

Flour and eggshells covered the large island in the center of the kitchen, and Maggie whirled around, grabbing muffins and restarting the coffee machine. She wore her curly hair clipped back.

An elderly woman teetered by the sink, loading dishes into the washer. Her nylons wrinkled around her ankles like elephant skin, and her flowered dress would make a queen bee envious. A silver waterfall of hair dived down her back.

Maggie noticed Paige and smiled. “Sorry about the mess. Breakfast is the busiest time around here. Every room is booked today with people trying to take in the last of the summer.”

“Right.” Paige laughed. “I forgot the whole breakfast part of a bed-and-breakfast.”

“I’ll see you after school.” Maggie backed through the set of doors that led to the hotel portion of the inn.

The old woman dried her shaky hands off on a kitchen towel. “You must be the pretty new schoolteacher that Magpie told me about. You’re going to be the one teaching Shakespeare and those sorts of books, right?”

“Yes, I’m Paige.” She extended her hand.

“Ida Ashby. I live right next door, and you’re welcome to pop by any old time.”

“Thanks. I better head out to the school. I don’t want to be late on my first day.” With the kitchen looking like a Tasmanian devil had spun through it on a tirade, skipping breakfast sounded like the best option.

“Wait one moment, dear, and I’ll walk halfway there with you.”

“Mrs. Ashby, there’s no need to—”

“And it’s just plain Ida, if you don’t mind.” Ida pulled her coat down from a peg by the back door, scooped up a bundle of flowers from the counter and motioned for Paige to leave with her.

Paige took a deep breath and followed after. The sound of Lake Michigan lapping against the shore worked the tightness from her muscles. She batted away the earlier conversation with her mother. Today she’d focus on new beginnings.

Ida looped her arm through Paige’s. The skin on her hands was thin and delicate like the finest tissue paper. “I like to come help Maggie sometimes in the morning when I’m feeling up to it. The poor dear is always taking on too much alone. I’m glad she has you for companionship, at least for a little spell.”

“Have you lived next door a long time?” Paige matched her longer strides with Ida’s shorter, slower pace.

Good thing she’d skipped eating at the inn. If Ida changed her mind and decided on walking the whole way to school, Paige might end up very late.

“Oh. Long enough. I came to Goose Harbor with my husband many years ago.” Ida unwound her arm from Paige’s and stopped as they approached a small bridge.

A metal railing bordered the sidewalk to protect people from falling off into the stream below. Water churned over rocks and surged down a path that led to a mill. The wheel of the mill slapped the water in a steady rhythm. Below the mill, the water pooled, creating a large pond where ducks squawked at each other and sunned themselves on the muddy shore.

Ida shuffled to the edge of the metal fencing. “Here’s the place. It’s kind of you to be company for me on my errand today.”

Errand?

Paige hooked her hand on the strap of her messenger bag and took a step backward. “Actually, I need to make sure I get to the school on time.”

“It’ll only take a moment.” Ida tugged a dead bouquet from the railing and handed it to Paige.

The dried buds crinkled in her hands. Paige peeked at her watch. Fifteen minutes until she needed to check in at the gymnasium.

Ida worked the fresh bouquet into the place where the decaying one had been. Her fingers shook, making her miss the metal rings a couple of times. “I leave new flowers here every week for my Henry.” Ida pressed her palms to her lips and kissed them. Then she fanned out her hands in a gesture that sent the kiss down the river. “He fell right here. We were on a morning walk and his heart failed him exactly where you’re standing.” Her voice grew softer with each word.

Paige cupped Ida’s hands. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Oh, it’s been years now.” Ida let out a long breath. “But I still miss Henry every single day. That’s how it is with true love, you know? It doesn’t go away just because the person does. Your heart just keeps right on waiting for them.”

If true love existed, maybe Ida was the only one to have found it. Because Paige sure hadn’t. And neither had her mother. Men like Henry no longer existed.

“I’m sure Henry was an amazing man.” Paige offered a reassuring squeeze.

“He served as mayor to this town for thirty-six years. A very good man. I know some people think I’m silly for leaving flowers here every week. Thank you for being kind to a crazy old lady.” Ida’s eyes filled with tears.

“No, thank you for letting me come along.” Paige bit her lip. She’d be late to work, but seeing Ida like this tore at the raw place in her heart where Paige stored her own hurt and pain. What would it be like to love someone like Ida loved her Henry? “Are you going to be all right? I feel bad leaving you here like this.”

Ida pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “Don’t worry about me. People see tears and get all flustered and want them to stop. But know what I say? It’s okay to mourn the life you thought you were going to have. You can’t heal if you don’t allow yourself that much.”

“As long as you’re sure you’re okay.”

Ida smiled, revealing a smudge of red lipstick on her front tooth. “Now, you better skedaddle on down to the school, and I’ll go on back and help Maggie clean up. If I made you late, just tell them you were humoring Ida and everyone will understand.”

Paige jogged into the parking lot with two minutes to spare. She joined the line of teachers near the end of the gymnasium.

A woman with spiked black hair, who looked about her age turned around and offered a smile. “I’m Bree. You must be the new English teacher.”

Maybe she looked as out of place as she felt.

Paige clutched the strap on her bag. “Am I the only new person this year?”

“Yes, and it’s been the talk among the teachers for the past week.”

They arrived at the temporary desk set up near the front of the large room. Portable tables and chairs arranged in four rows occupied most of the space in the gym. Paige and Bree each gathered a training manual and a teacher binder.

“Want to sit with me?” Bree snagged a table two rows back, near the edge.

“Definitely. I don’t like feeling like the only one here no one knows.”

“You’ll be fine.” Bree opened her binder. “I hope you slept well because these teacher-institute days are boring, but you probably know that from your last position.”

The principal strolled up to the microphone near the front of the gym. “This is your warning. We’ll start reviewing safety protocol in five minutes, so if you want to grab a bagel or coffee, I’d do so now.” In jeans and a hooded sweatshirt bearing the school’s name and a roaring panther on his chest, the man didn’t look his age.

Paige leaned closer to Bree. “In Chicago, I sat through a training with five times as many teachers crammed into a smaller room with no air-conditioning.”

Bree scrunched her forehead. “Well, that explains it. We knew whoever got hired must have amazing experience.” She jutted her thumb to indicate a woman seated in the back row. “Steer clear of Amy Lambert, okay? She works as a part-time aide and applied for your position. To say she was angry about getting passed over for the job would be an understatement.”

Paige peeked over her shoulder at Amy. The woman’s head was bent down as she read something on the table in front of her. Her brown roots showed along the part of her bleached blond hair. She wore a deep purple suit, which made her the best dressed person in the room.

A couple of teachers shuffled by with plates full of fruit and Danishes.

Paige pressed her hand over her stomach when it grumbled. “I think I’m going to go grab a bagel. Do you want anything?”

Bree yawned. “A cup of coffee would be great.”

When Paige made it to the back of the room she found a couple of onion bagels and a pile of energy bars. The bars looked like freebies that had spent the better part of a year stuffed in the back of someone’s filing cabinet. An onion bagel would have to do. Next, she made her way to the coffee machine.

“If everyone could please take your seats I would like to begin.” Principal Timmons’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker.

Paige snatched her plate and Bree’s cup of coffee and whirled around to rush back to her table.

Instead she smacked into the man standing behind her. Caleb. Of course.

Coffee splattered across his shirt and ran down her arms. Caleb yelped and all the papers he’d been holding fluttered to the ground.

The foam cup hit the floor with a loud, hollow thunk.

Was everyone staring at them? Klutz. That would be the first impression she made to all her coworkers.

Paige rapid-fire blinked. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

“So you pour coffee on me?” Caleb laughed.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Paige grabbed a wad of napkins and dabbed at his soaked oxford shirt.

Caleb caught her hand and held it. “Hey, I’m kidding. The coffee’s not even hot.”

“Still. Your shirt is ruined. Coffee doesn’t come out easy.”

“It’s fine.” His hand over hers was warm in a comforting way. She finally met his inviting chocolate gaze and he winked at her. A girl could get used to those eyes...lost even.

Except, Paige had promised herself she wouldn’t let another man into her life.

Breaking eye contact, Paige tugged her hand away from his and took a step backward.

She needed to be careful around Caleb. Much more careful.