Breakwater Bay (7 page)

But it wasn’t cold. It felt like spring, and a little surge of optimism swelled inside her as she walked across town to meet Carlyn.

Carlyn was waiting for her at the entrance to the Cliff Walk near Newport’s grandest “cottage,” the Breakers, built by the Vanderbilts at the height of the Gilded Age.

“Leave that in the car,” Carlyn said, indicating the jacket. “You won’t need it today.” She tossed Meri the keys to her ancient Alfa Romeo and began stretching.

Carlyn and Meri had met over karaoke their freshman year and had been best friends ever since. Carlyn was a business major at Rhode Island College but caught the restoration bug when Meri dragged her to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Breakers. When Carlyn graduated, she turned her back on the financial district and signed on as fund-raiser for Doug’s first solo project.

As project manager for the Gilbert House restoration, she compiled data, kept the project on budget or came up with more funding, logged progress and setbacks, ordered supplies, answered phones, and occasionally went out to get lunch for everyone.

Doug was constantly trying to entice Carlyn to work solely for his projects. She was a gem, both as a preservationist and as a friend. She kept him dangling, mainly, Meri thought, because he was a willing victim to her teasing. Meri knew Carlyn loved the job, and though the pay was poor, it was a lot more satisfying to “crunch numbers for a worthy cause.”

Meri tossed her jacket in the front seat and locked the door. When she crossed the street, Carlyn was bent over touching her toes. She popped up, reminding Meri of a jack-in-the-box, though it might have been her reddish hair that began to frizz as soon as it hit the sea air.

Meri quickly stretched, and they started off north along the cliff. The air was brisk and there was a healthy breeze along the water. It was a perfect early spring day for jogging or speed walking or strolling, and the walk was already busy with people.

They began at a brisk walk until they passed the grounds of the Breakers, then broke into an easy jog, running side by side when the walk was wide enough, and single file when passing slower pedestrians. Parts of the walk had taken a beating in the last hurricane, but it was whole again.

Meri relaxed into the pace, breathed in the fresh air and sunlight, and cast occasional glances at the bay that glistened blue in the sun.

Students at Salve Regina were already stretched out on the lawn. Spring break was only a week away and they were getting an early start.

Carlyn suddenly veered right; Meri followed her down the forty steps to a small lookout. By the time she reached the bottom, Carlyn was turning around and heading back to the path.

Meri huffed out a breath, and taking a longing look at the water, began the climb up. Carlyn was jogging in place when Meri reached the top.

“I’m dying,” Meri gasped.

“Just another three-quarters of a mile and we’ll walk back.”

“Right.” Meri took a deep breath and started out again. By the time they reached the end of the walk at the Chanler Inn, Meri was wishing she was idly rich and could stop at the luxury hotel for brunch. But the Chanler was not for them. They would do their brunching at Barney’s Budget Breakfast and More.

Barney’s had great food. And their kind of ambiance: noisy, fun, and upbeat. Barney was actually a sixtysomething-year-old woman, with gray hair braided down her back. She’d lived in Newport ever since as a hippie she’d ridden into town on the back of a Harley and decided to stay. Her waffles could not be beat.

When they finally reached the end of the walk, Meri was still on her feet mainly by keeping the image of a double cappuccino like a dangling carrot to keep her going. Carlyn immediately started stretching, while Meri huffed her breath back to normal.

Well, Carlyn didn’t spend hours a day crunched up on a scaffold thirty feet above the floor. She went to Zumba class on Wednesday nights and spinning three times a week. She was a demon.

Meri counted carrying laundry downstairs to the basement and walking to the corner market as major aerobic exercise.

Carlyn barely waited for Meri to catch her breath before she started back the way they had come. At least she’d slowed to a power walk. Meri dragged herself beside her.

“You look beat,” Carlyn told her. “You need to get more exercise.”

“Tell me about it.”

Carlyn slowed to a normal walk. “So want to tell me what happened with Peter?”

“Just what I told you. He’s got an internship in L.A. He quit his job and is leaving next week.”

“I can’t believe he’s just leaving like that. What about the two of you? We all thought you were going to get married.”

“So did I. Actually, I’m pretty sure he did, too.”

“But he’s still coming back east for law school, right?”

“I guess.”

“So it’s not over.”

They’d slowed to a pedestrian walk. Meri shrugged. “Well, I sort of gave him his freedom.”

Carlyn stopped outright and spun Meri around. “You dumped him?”

“No,” Meri said, stepping aside for a runner to pass. “I just told him to go and—hell, I’m not sure what I said or why. Suddenly I just felt like it was out of my control. I didn’t want to go to California and he didn’t want to stay here. And if we can’t even decide between us, if neither of us is willing to make a sacrifice, maybe it’s not the right relationship.”

They’d started walking again, but again Carlyn stopped. “Of course it is. You guys are perfect together.”

“I thought so. But actually it’s a good thing.”

“Okay, you’re losing me. Come on.” She dragged Meri over to a bench and sat her down. “Spill.”

“It’s not about Peter.”

Carlyn rolled her eyes.

“Really, it isn’t. Something happened. To me. I mean, I found out something this weekend.”

Carlyn’s face changed to apprehension.

“Oh, nothing bad. Nothing life threatening. But something about my past that . . . Oh hell, Carlyn. I was adopted.”

Carlyn’s mouth fell open. “Adopted? Wow. And you just found out this weekend?”

Meri nodded.

“That is so weird. Why wait until now to tell you? They did tell you, right?”

“Sort of. My mother left me a letter.” Meri pulled her feet up and hugged her knees.

“Okay, that’s weirder than just weird.”

“My dad—my stepdad—was there and Gran. They both knew, had known for a long time I’m pretty sure. The letter was from right before my mother died. I guess she didn’t want to die without telling me.”

“Okay,” Carlyn said slowly. “It’s weird. But does it matter? I mean it doesn’t change anything about you . . . except maybe your blood type.” She grinned, and Meri felt “normal” for the first time since she’d found out about her birth. But it didn’t last. It wasn’t just that she was adopted. She was pretty sure she could get past that. But it was the other thing.

“Are you freaked? You shouldn’t be. I mean, I know it will take some getting used to. But does it really change anything? You have a great family, and they haven’t changed.”

“That’s what Alden said.”

“Your neighbor out in Compton?”

“Yeah. He said my family loved me, and that was all that mattered.”

“Sounds like a pretty smart old dude.”

“Yeah, but there’s something else.” Should she tell Carlyn the whole truth? It would leave her vulnerable if it got out. Would there be legal ramifications? What could possibly happen? Her mother was dead, and Meri could hardly be held responsible. But Gran. What could they do to Gran?

“What? Go on and get it out. And we’ll figure out how to deal.”

Meri hesitated. Took a breath. If she couldn’t trust Carlyn, there was no one on earth she could trust. “I’m not sure the adoption was legal.”

W
hoa. You mean like black market kind of stuff?

“No. Not exactly.”

“Not exactly, how?”

“I don’t know if I should tell anyone.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die if you leave me dangling at this point.”

Meri smiled. She was so fortunate in her family and in her friends. She knew that. She’d come this far. And maybe Carlyn would have some advice.

“I don’t know all the facts. I was so blown away, I just fled back here without asking too many questions. I know I have to, but—” She shivered.

Carlyn dragged her to her feet. “Talk while we walk. I’m feeling the need of a triple-double shot something.” She slipped her arm into Meri’s. “Start from the beginning.”

So Meri told her about the letter. About her mother’s dead baby. About the teenager whose baby lived. How she was that baby and her mother’s baby was buried with the teenager.

“Holy crap,” Carlyn said when Meri had come to the end of her explanation. “I’m buying breakfast. Are you going to try to find your birth family?”

“I don’t know. I have to talk to Gran. See what she remembers. But, Carlyn, don’t say anything to anybody. What if my mother and Gran broke the law? Could they send Gran to jail?”

“Jail? Surely not. Do you think they could?”

“On your left,” someone called out.

They automatically moved aside and waited for a group of joggers to run by them.

“Maybe you should ask—” Carlyn stopped, frowning. “Did you tell Peter? Is that why you broke up?”

“No. I was deliberating whether to tell him when he told me he was leaving for L.A. It made the whole question academic at that point.”

“Maybe you should ask him. He worked in the legal department. He’s going to study law. Maybe he can do some research.”

“No. I shouldn’t have even told you. It puts you in a really awkward position. I know. But—”

“Stop. That’s what friends are for.”

“But you have to promise not to tell. Unless you’re under oath. Please.”

“Of course I won’t tell. I’ll even plead the Fifth.” They started walking again. “Are you okay with all this?”

“I don’t know. At first I didn’t believe it. Then I was shocked. And hurt and angry and confused. But two days later, I’m jogging with you. And life goes on. It wasn’t like it was my fault. And I know my family loves me and would do anything for me. I’ll come to terms with it. I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite us all in the butt.”

“If it hasn’t by now, I doubt if it will.”

“Famous last words.”

“Just don’t go stirring things up. Though I guess that’s a stupid thing for me to say.”

“Why?”

“It’s kind of your life’s work. Uncovering the past.”

A
lden had just reached in the freezer for the coffee when his cell phone rang. He checked caller ID and answered it.

“Daddy.”

“Hi, honey; you’re getting an early start.”

“We’re going to church.” Nora dragged out the last word. “Are you sick? You sound hoarse.”

“I’m fine. I haven’t had my coffee yet.”

“It’s almost eleven o’clock.” A pause. “Were you out late last night?”

“I was up late working.”

“Oh. You know, you should really get a life.”

“I have one, keeping you in designer jeans and Lucas in computers.”

“I mean a real life. Anyway, I have a proposition for you.”

“Am I going to like it?” He measured coffee into the coffee filter.

“Of course. I want to come there for spring break.”

“Great. When is spring break?”

“It starts this Saturday.”

Alden shook the fog out of his brain. “I thought you all were going to Boston next week.”

“
They
are. I don’t want to go. Please let me stay with you.”

Between her age and her normal personality, Nora could often be dramatic, sometimes jaded and worldly, but today she sounded like his little girl. “What happened?”

“Nothing, I just want to come home. Please. They’re just doing stuff for Henley.” She drew out the name of her half brother. “He’s such a butthead. They’re just making me go so I can babysit when they want to go out. They already treat me like Cinderella. And after the baby comes, it’s just going to be worse.
I
don’t have a life.”

Another baby.

“If it’s okay with your mother and Mark, I’d be glad to have you. What about Lucas?”

“They bribed him with the computer museum. He’s such a geek. Make her let me come. I don’t care about computer museums or their ‘family time.’” The last two words dripped with teenage disgust. She was obviously quoting. “They can have their stupid family. Lucas and I are just an afterthought. Not that he even notices.”

Alden wanted to tell her he was sure they both loved her and Lucas. But he wasn’t sure. And he didn’t want to make light of something that was upsetting her.

He passed a hand over his face. His unshaven face. “Look, I’d love for you to visit, anytime, but not if it’s going to cause dissension in the family.”

“Not you, too. Please, Daddy. Please. At least talk to Mom.”

Alden heard another voice in the background, a voice he knew. “Nora? Aren’t you ready yet? We’re going to be late for church.”

He turned on the spigot to drown her out. Poured water into the coffeemaker and turned it on.

“Oops, busted.” Nora moved the phone away and he heard a muffled, “I’m talking to my father,” delivered in her “officious” voice. “I’m going
there
for spring break.”

“Give me that.” A scuffle and Jennifer took the phone. “What’s going on? Did you instigate this?”

Jennifer. Still looking for an argument. Anger swelled inside him. He knew it was a purely reflexive reaction. Life with Jennifer had been one long argument from the minute they’d driven up to the house, the moment she realized she wasn’t going to be living in the lap of luxury in a Newport-style mansion, but in an old house in need of repairs. How had she gotten it so wrong? Certainly not from him.

“Well? I’m waiting for an answer.”

“Nora would like to come here for spring break.”

“Did you put her up to this?”

“He didn’t.
I
called
him,
” Nora said from the background.

“Nora, go downstairs.”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. You can send both of them if you want.” He stopped himself before he said he would take them anytime. She would never let them come for a visit if he did.