Silver Linings (15 page)

“I do.” Manchester State Park had been one of her and James's favorite spots. They'd sat on the beach and talked for endless hours with the view of the Seattle skyline before them. The park was walking distance from the Flemmingses' house and Katie had often gone there to sit on the beach and think. Once James learned that was her favorite spot, he would join her.

Those times with James had been the most peaceful of her life: sitting on the sand, their backs braced against a large piece of driftwood. James would place his arm across her shoulders and she'd rest her head against his chest. Sometimes they would talk for hours and other times they didn't say a word.

“I see James hasn't arrived,” Angie said, gazing down at the name tags.

Katie noticed there were considerably fewer tags than there were when she and Coco arrived. Only a scattering remained, like a jigsaw puzzle with several pieces missing.

“He's a pharmacist, you know.”

“James?” As a matter of fact, she didn't know. At one time she'd heard he worked for Microsoft; perhaps she'd heard wrong.

“He said he worked for one of the hospitals in Seattle. Swedish or Virginia Mason, I don't remember which one.”

“He'd be good at that,” Katie whispered. James had enjoyed all the sciences, she recalled. The very classes she found the most difficult were the ones in which he excelled. Katie scored higher in the humanities, and though he hadn't really needed her help, she'd read through his class papers and made suggestions. Being generous with his praise, James insisted he would never have scored as high without her help. She didn't believe it for an instant.

“As I remember, James had a tendency to be late,” Angie said, as though familiar with his habits.

Katie didn't remember him that way.

“He isn't married, you know. He sent in his bio. Everyone will receive copies of the bios at dinner tomorrow night. I'm surprised how many of our class remain decidedly single,” Angie said, conversationally. “I'm thinking several of our classmates who used to be couples might reconnect. I've always loved a good romance, don't you?”

Katie smiled, encouraged by Angie's words. “I do,” she agreed.

Coco and Katie were away for the evening and the house was quiet, too quiet. Rover was asleep on the rug in front of the fireplace and I was at loose ends. I had a pair of guests due to arrive later this evening. Their reservation had come in weeks ago—a honeymooning couple, Finn and Carrie Dalton.

The phone rang, my personal one and not the business line. Caller ID told me it was Gina.

“Hello again,” I said. I hadn't talked to her in months, and now twice in a single day.

“Hi,” she said, and then without a pause, she added, “Listen, I talked to Rhyder and then to Rich and everything is arranged for tomorrow night.”

Surprised, my jaw dropped. “Everything? What do you mean by
everything
?”

“Your date with Rich,” she said, as if it should have been obvious.

“But I can't…tomorrow is too soon.”

“No, it isn't,” Gina argued. “Jo Marie, I went to a lot of trouble to make this happen. You're not going to back out on me now. I won't let you.”

It seemed I had lit a bonfire under Gina. She'd acted before I had the opportunity to properly think through what I'd suggested and change my mind. And I would have changed my mind. I'd been upset and angry at the time. No way was I ready to leap back into the dating scene.

“I have guests this weekend,” I explained. “Time away from the inn has to be planned well in advance. I can't just lock up and take the ferry to Seattle for the night,” I argued. “I have responsibilities.”

“O-k-a-y,” Gina said, dragging out the word as if she was thinking through this problem. “Then we'll simply come to you. There's got to be at least one decent restaurant in town.”

I bristled, taken aback by the slighting of Cedar Cove. “Actually, there are a few…”

“Then that settles it. Rhyder, Rich, and I will arrive around six tomorrow night.”

“The ferry…”

“Don't worry, I'll check the ferry schedule and work out the details. I'm not letting you out of this, Jo Marie.”

She wasn't kidding.

“It's time you got back in the game, friend.”

“But, Gina,” I fussed, my head spinning, seeking an excuse to put this off. “I don't know the rules any longer. The last date I went on was with Paul, and that was years ago now.”

“Nothing ever changes,” my friend insisted. “If it gives you comfort, Rich is as nervous as you are.”

“You mean to say he hasn't dated since his divorce?” This wasn't boding well for either of us. I could see this was a nightmare in the making. Gina and Rhyder would be happy and in love, doing their best to prove to Rich and me how perfect we were together. Blind dates like this were the worst.

“Rich has started dating, but he hasn't met the right woman yet.”

He'd probably gone from one dating disaster to another. He was likely traumatized by the whole thing. I know I'd been before I met Paul. “How do you know we're a good fit?” I asked.

“I don't, but you're a good person and nice; both of you have been through hell.”

This sounded more and more like a terrible idea all around. “Gina, seriously, I wish you'd talked to me before you set this up.”

“I did talk to you,” she reminded me. “Tell you what. I'll give Rich your phone number and the two of you can connect, and afterward if you decide you'd rather not meet him then fine.”

“He has the same option, right?”

“Of course. Can you agree to that?”

“I suppose,” I said, with some reluctance.

“Good girl. Now, don't get cold feet on me. You're going to like Rich. He's a great guy.”

I'd lost count of how many times I'd heard similar statements only to be sadly disappointed. Apparently, some people's definition of
great
didn't exactly line up with mine.

Not twenty minutes after I ended my call with Gina my cell rang again. I didn't recognize the number, which pretty much told me it was Rhyder Marlow's brother, Rich.

“This is Jo Marie,” I said, keeping my tone as even as I could manage.

“Hi, Jo Marie. I'm Rich. Gina suggested I call you.”

He, too, sounded deadpan, as if amused about being dragged into this by my cheerleading friend.

“Gina thought it might be a good idea if we talked before meeting tomorrow night.”

“Yeah.”

Silence.

I swallowed, unsure what to say next. “I understand you're divorced?”

“Two years now. You're a widow?”

“Going on two years.”

“You date much since your husband…since you've been a widow?”

I thought about Mark and decided against mentioning him. “No. You?”

“Some, and to be frank, they haven't been great experiences. I recently met a woman with ten cats. Ten. I'm allergic to cats and I won't go into what her house smelled like. Then there was this woman who had this diet thing going. I swear it took her thirty minutes to order dinner. She insisted on talking to the chef personally and, well, let's just say the night didn't go well.”

He hesitated and then said, “My last date wasn't all that great, either. I need to ask you something. I don't mean to be offensive, but are you one of those women who is starved for sex?”

My eyes widened. This wasn't the kind of question I expected. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry, I have to ask. The last woman, after the cat lady and the diet freak, seemed like a decent sort. After our dinner date she wanted to know how soon it would be before we had sex because she said her body needed that release every day.”

“Every day?”

“That's what she said.”

For a moment I was speechless. “Where did you meet this woman? A strip joint?”

“No, church.”

“You met her in church?”

“Yup.”

I couldn't help it, I laughed out loud. And then Rich laughed, too.

“You can rest assured I'm not a sex fiend.” It'd been so long that I felt like a virgin all over again.

Rich chuckled and I could tell that we were both more comfortable. “I find that infinitely reassuring. Gina mentioned you own a bed-and-breakfast and that if we're going to meet for dinner we'll need to come to your side of the water.”

“I have guests this weekend. I
casually,
and I emphasize
casually,
mentioned to Gina that I
might
be ready to date again and the next thing I know she's got this blind date arranged.”

“That sounds like Gina. She's a real firecracker. When she gets going on an idea there's no stopping her.”

“I'm still reeling with the news she's marrying Rhyder. The two of them could barely tolerate each other, the last I heard.”

“You're telling me. I can remember shortly after Rhyder started working at the bank that he was considering quitting because of this woman who made his life miserable.” He paused. “You should see the two of them now; they can't keep their hands off each other.”

“Interesting.” It boggled my mind to think of Gina and Rhyder in love.

“It's been sort of painful, you know,” Rich said, growing serious. “Seeing the two of them together and so much in love. I didn't think my little brother would ever take the leap into marriage, especially after what happened between me and Melissa.”

“He must really love Gina.”

“He does. I said it was painful to see them together, but it gives me hope, too, you know?”

“I do know.”

“So,” he said, expelling his breath, “what do you think? Do you want to meet? It's up to you; I'm good either way.”

My inclination was to decline. I wasn't ready, but then I realized I might never be ready. I'd had nearly two years of living like a nun, cloistered away in my bed-and-breakfast. If anyone were to study my lifestyle they would assume I was in my sixties instead of my thirties.

“Okay,” I said. “Let's give this a try.”

Rich didn't respond right away, and when he did his voice betrayed him. He sounded relieved. “I was hoping you'd say that. I would like to meet you, Jo Marie. Be warned. I'm just a regular guy, and not particularly handsome.”

“Are you on Facebook?” I asked.

“Sure. Isn't everyone?”

“I suppose, though I haven't been on much since Paul died. But I'll friend you so you'll have a chance to see what I look like.”

“I already know. Gina showed me a photo of you and her from a few years ago. You're…lovely.”

“Well, thanks.” His compliment flustered me.

“I'll send you a friend request so you'll get a look at me, too.”

“Okay.” We ended the call a couple minutes later and as I turned off my cell, I realized I was smiling. As soon as I thought about Mark, though, the pleasure vanished.

Mark was the one who'd driven me to this point. I remained angry with him and at the same time grateful. He was gone now, if not yet from Cedar Cove then from my life. And with his departure I was about to enter into a new phase, opening myself up to fresh possibilities.

I heard the sound of a car and Rover was instantly on his feet. He headed for the front door, which told me the Daltons had arrived. I walked onto the porch.

Finn Dalton climbed out of the car. He was a tall and chiseled man, dressed in a flannel plaid shirt and jeans. An outdoorsman, from the look of him. He could have walked off the pages of an REI catalog. He went around to the passenger side and opened the door. Before his wife could climb out, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was a deep, lingering kiss.

His wife, when I caught sight of her, was petite in comparison to her husband. The two wrapped their arms around each other and started toward the door.

“Welcome to Rose Harbor,” I greeted.

“Thank you. I'm Finn Dalton and this is my wife, Carrie.” He smiled down on her and repeated, “My wife.”

Carrie smiled up at her husband and then glanced toward me. “In case you haven't guessed, we're on our honeymoon. Finn and I have one last night before we fly back to Alaska,” she said, as they walked up the steps.

“You get us registered and I'll get the suitcases,” Finn said, before turning back to the car.

Carrie followed me into the house.

“How is it you happened to book this inn?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity. If they were flying out of Sea-Tac the next day, there were far more convenient hotels than Rose Harbor.

“Finn hates being in the city. He'd rather drive miles out of the way than endure the traffic and noise. He's lived in Alaska nearly his entire life and it's where we've decided to settle ourselves and raise our family.”

I wasn't sure I had as adventurous a spirit as Carrie. “You're willing to move to Alaska?”

“We're both writers. I love my husband and I'll go wherever he goes, live wherever he lives. We've given it nearly two years to be sure this relationship will work.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she said.

I gave her the registration sheet to fill out, which she did in quick order. I took her credit card and processed it and then handed her the room key. “I have two other guests on the second floor. There's a third floor with only two rooms. I'll give you the entire floor.”

“Thank you. That would be perfect.” Her gaze held mine. “Like I said, we're newlyweds.”

She didn't need to elaborate—I got the picture.

While I gave Carrie the keys to the front door and explained where to find what she needed, Finn returned with the luggage. I told him where to go and he hauled it up the two flights of stairs, taking the steps two at a time. He returned in what seemed like seconds.

“You ready, Mrs. Dalton?” he asked Carrie.

“Ready? Finn, please, there's no need to carry me over every threshold we cross.”

“On our honeymoon there is.”

Before Carrie could protest, Finn lifted her and carried her up the stairs. Carrie looked over her shoulder at me and grinned from ear to ear before laying her head on her husband's shoulder.