Breakwater Bay (21 page)

“Of course not.” Alden tossed her jacket to her. “Let’s go.”

“And you really don’t mind if I stay overnight in Newport on Thursday? We’ll be back on Saturday.”

“I think it sounds like fun.”

“You won’t miss me?”

He opened the car door for her. “Of course I will. I always miss you. I’ll live.”

“If you’d rather I didn’t go . . .”

“Go. Have fun. It’s four days away; you may be sick of being stuck in the country for that long.” He closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. A strange mood had come over Nora since they’d come home from sailing.

They’d laughed and worked together out on the water, too busy to talk much, but he was sure she’d had a good time. But as soon as they started for home, she’d grown quiet, pensive almost.

Was she missing her other family?
Her other family.
He tamped down the anger that could still blindside him at unsuspecting moments. Not because his marriage hadn’t worked out. That had been pretty obvious from the beginning, if only he’d been looking. But that Jennifer gave him two kids and then took them away. No. That he’d let her take them.

And now Lucas was like a stranger to him. He’d grown from boy to adolescent and Alden had missed it all.

“Daddikins?”

“Yeah?”

The car hit a pothole as he turned onto the car path that joined his house to the Calders and both houses to the county road. “Sorry about that.” He hadn’t been paying attention. He really should come down and fill it in. Hell, he could call someone to come repave the whole damn thing, though a little manual labor would be good for his soul. “What were you going to say?”

“I was thinking . . .”

Alden waited, but she didn’t say more.

A minute later they came to Calder Farm. He stopped in the drive and turned to his daughter, but she jumped out of the car. He got out after her.

“Whoa, who’s that with Meri?” Nora asked.

Alden looked toward the dunes and saw Meri walking toward them, hand in hand with . . . “That’s Peter Foley. Meri’s . . .” He hesitated. Boyfriend? Significant other? Fiancé? “Friend.”

Meri dropped Peter’s hand and waved.

Alden and Nora waited for them to reach the house. Alden and Peter shook hands, and Nora introduced herself with the first bit of enthusiasm she’d shown since the morning’s sail.

“Peter surprised me with a visit,” Meri explained.

“Thought she might want a ride back to town,” Peter said. He smiled at Nora.

Okay, so he was charming. Alden didn’t trust charming. And neither did Dan Hollis. Alden had to admit, though, Peter had never done anything to trigger their distrust. Maybe it was just jealousy, not wanting to lose Meri from the family fold.

Peter was a man going places and he would take Meri with him. But he didn’t have an artistic bone in his body. Probably thought Meri would be just as happy decorating their McMansion as restoring a historic building.

They walked toward the house together. Peter held the door and Meri and Nora entered together, Alden following close enough to hear Nora whisper to Meri, “Hot, hot, hot.”

They both giggled. Alden felt about ninety.

I
f Meri hoped that having Gran, Alden, and Peter together over for dinner would bring them closer together, she gave up hope when Peter announced that he was going to L.A. for an internship.

“It’s a great opportunity, even though it means being away from Meri for the summer.” He paused to smile at her.

That at least kept him from seeing her grandmother’s tightened lips and Alden’s raised eyebrows. Nora just looked from person to person, aware that something was going on, but out of the loop.

Meri sighed. Smiled. “It’s only three months, and I’m really busy with Gilbert House.” She helped herself to another roll even though there was already one on her plate.

“So then will you be coming back to Newport for law school?” Gran asked politely.

Meri could tell she didn’t approve of the news. They’d all been expecting Peter to propose this summer.

“That’s the plan. This roast is delicious.”

After that, Meri just marked the time until dinner was over. Things had certainly taken a turn for the strange. Hopefully she was the only one who noticed.

Gran, of course, was meticulously polite and interested in Peter’s every word. Alden was excruciatingly civil, only it came off, at least to Meri, as cold and condescending. Though maybe she only picked up on that because she knew him so well.

Nora was hyperattentive, trying to look like a poised adult while hanging on Peter’s every word. By the time dessert came, Meri felt like she was watching a one-act play starring her postponed fiancé.

She watched Peter, too. There was nothing not to like. He was smart, kind, good-looking, and on a career track that would bring security to his family. There was definitely chemistry between them.

She loved him, although it hadn’t happened at first sight. She’d thought he was kind of arrogant and too self-assured. But she’d gone out with him and they hit it off. And their relationship had grown into something stronger. Not a great passion, but everyone knew how those turned out; just look at Heathcliff and Cathy.

Peter pressed his knee against hers under the table. He was ready to leave. And it
was
getting late.

She pushed her chair back. “I’ll help you with the dishes, Gran, then we’d better get back.”

Nora glanced quickly from her to Alden.

Meri knew Nora had meant to discuss her plan to stay with Alden at the end of the holiday, but it would have to wait. “You’re coming on Thursday?” Meri asked.

Nora started. “Yes, if that’s okay.” She looked at her father.

“I’ll bring her in.”

“Good, drop her off at Gilbert House. Carlyn and I will take her to dinner; you, too, if you can stay.”

“Thanks,” he said drily. “You go on back to Newport. You won’t be any good in the kitchen with one hand. Nora and I will help with the dishes.”

Meri looked quizzically at him. He often helped with the dishes. But he seemed anxious to get rid of her. Or maybe just Peter.

“Thanks.” She turned to Peter. “I’ll get my things.”

Everyone began clearing plates. When she returned with her bag a few minutes later, they were all in the kitchen. Alden was washing, Nora drying, and Gran dividing leftovers into plastic containers, while Peter watched.

Peter took her bag and they all walked out to the drive to see them off.

Meri said her good-byes while Peter put her bag in the trunk of his car. She kissed Gran, hugged Nora. She gave Alden a quick hug and said in his ear, “We didn’t get to talk, but I just want you to know, you don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“Ready?” Peter called from the car.

“Bye, see you on Thursday.” She got into the car. The three of them waved as Meri and Peter drove away.

“Absolutely American Gothic,” Peter said and sped up.

Meri took a last look back, but they had already gone back inside.

D
on’t you guys like Peter?” Nora grabbed the dish towel she’d left on the table and went back to drying.

“Of course we do,” Gran said. “He’s a lovely young man.”

“Dad?”

“Lovely.”

“Well, I think he’s cool, for an old dude.”

Gran looked to the ceiling and shook her head.

“He’s in his thirties,” Alden said.

Nora grinned mischievously. “Well, old for me, probably a baby from where you’re looking.”

“That must make me ancient.”

“Makes you the best dad ever.” Nora stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

“And don’t you forget it, young lady,” Gran told her, with a twinkle. “Your father’s in his prime.”

Her words startled Alden into a laugh.

Nora looked dubious. “So what’s wrong with Peter?”

“Nothing at all,” Gran said. “I guess we just don’t want our little girl getting married and going away. I’m sure we’ll feel the same when you decide to get married.”

“Which won’t be for another twenty years,” Alden added.

“Not to worry, Papa. I’ll never leave you.”

Alden saw her shoot a look toward Therese. Nora turned resolutely back to him, and he wondered what she was going to drop. God, please don’t let her be pregnant or on drugs or . . .

“Actually, I mean it. I want to stay here . . . with you . . .”

“I’m not following.”

“I want to live with you, go to school here, bake cookies with Gran. I hate New Haven, and I hate living in that house.”

Panic rushed over him in one drowning tsunami. Had something really happened? He looked at his daughter and saw Riley Rochfort, practically the same age, pregnant and unwanted. And running from something they had never understood.

“Is someone hurting you?” His voice sounded foreign even to himself.

In his periphery, he saw Therese’s eyes widen. But Nora just rolled hers. “If you mean is Mark doing the dirty with me, no. He’d be singing falsetto if he tried.”

That’s my girl,
Alden thought.

“It’s like this. Living there is like being in a hotel. Without room service,” she added.

Gran pulled out a kitchen chair for him to sit down and poured him another cup of coffee. He sat.

That put Nora on the other side of the table from him. She stood there with her hands braced on the kitchen table, like a lawyer for the defense.

“So can I? Ple-e-e-ase?”

Gran pulled out another chair, but instead of sitting, Nora pressed Therese into it and pulled another one close to hers before she sat. Gran was obviously considered an ally. Had they discussed this before?

“Nora, dear. I think your father needs a little more explanation than that.”

Nora nodded and began drawing a figure eight with her finger on the wood. “They’re all happily going about their lives, together as a family. Even Lucas, but mainly because he’s clueless. He eats, he sleeps, he thinks. He’s happy.” She almost wailed the last word. “But it’s
their
family, Mark and Jennifer, and Henley, Ryan, and little amoeba Mason.

“Ugh, she even made us look at pictures of that little worm floating around. I can’t stand him already.”

Alden fought back a smile. Maybe she was just jealous. He would like to ask Jennifer for her take on the situation, but he knew it would only result in her blaming him for inciting Nora to rebel. Would the woman be as clueless with her own children as she was with—He stopped, shocked at his thought. Nora and Lucas
were
her own children. Alden’s and hers, but not hers and Mark’s. Could that possibly make a difference to her?

He glanced at Therese, who was looking back at him as if she were thinking the same thing.

“So can I stay? Meri and Gran think it’s a good idea.”

Gran gently smacked Nora’s hand. “Meri and Gran said you would be welcome but that you should discuss it intelligently with your father.”

“I know and that’s what I’m doing.”

Alden knew he should nip this in the bud, but he was beginning to get attached to the idea. It would certainly change his lifestyle. He nearly laughed out loud. Holing up in that behemoth of an old house, monthly trips to Manhattan for work and a modicum of pleasure—he had no lifestyle. Could he possibly be any good for his daughter?

“Have you discussed this with your mother and Mark?”

“No way. She’d just say no, because it involves you.” She hesitated, bit her lip. “Why is she so mad at you? Is it because you stuck her with me and Lucas?”

“God no. Whatever gave you that idea?”

Nora shrugged. He could see that she was fighting back tears.

Fortunately Therese was quicker than he was. She put her arm about Nora’s shoulders. “Your father loves you very much. And he only allowed your mother to take you two because he thought she could give you a better life.”

Because he’d been a fool,
Alden admitted to himself.

“Well, you were wrong, Dad.” She flung herself at Therese and burst into tears.

“I’m sorry,” he said. And watched her cry.

That’s why he’d let them go, he thought, looking at Therese rocking his daughter. Because a woman knows how to comfort and sustain. At least most women. At least the Calder women. Maybe Nora was right. She would be a lot happier here with him and Therese and Meri. He stopped himself. Meri would most likely marry Peter and go wherever Peter got a job. Gran was getting older. Would she be up for lending support to his sometimes troublesome daughter?

He stood up. “Let’s go home, Noddy. We’ll talk about it later.”

She looked up, her pale complexion flushed and her eyes swollen pink. “You never call me Noddy anymore.”

Because until tonight he’d thought she was too old for childhood nicknames.

Therese pushed herself slowly out of her chair. “You take the rest of that cake home. You might need a midnight snack.” She began collecting containers that she put into a plastic bag.

She walked them to the door. “You’ve got six more days here; don’t let your worries keep them from being perfect.”

Nora nodded jerkily. “Let’s walk, Daddy. We can come get the car tomorrow.”

So they walked home, Nora leaning against him.

“Were we bad kids?”

“No, never. It was my fault. Actually it started when we came here to live.”

“At Corrigan House?”

“Yeah, I guess the way I had talked about it, your mother thought it was going to be one of the gilded mansions of Newport. Instead it was this.” He gestured to the dark shadow of the three-storied monster ahead of them. “I thought it was a perfect place to raise children. But your mother hated it. She insisted we move back to Manhattan.”

“But you said no.”

“Right.” It was one of the few times he’d held firm, at least in the early years. He’d been stupid enough to think Jennifer would grow to love it as much as he did. She’d lasted long enough to have Lucas, then the traveling started. And with it the affairs. And he sat by and let it happen because he was happy without her.

In those days he’d hired a cook, Geraldine, who at her interview said, “Most folks just call me Fat Gerry.” Nora and Lucas took to her immediately. And he hired a nurse-housekeeper of sorts, Bernadette. They all got along fine, except when Jennifer was there.