Maid for Love (A Romantic Comedy) (9 page)

Which only meant she was searching her arsenal of words for the most pointed ones. The battle wasn't over. Sure she knew what was coming, Zoe began to count backwards from five. Four, three, two, one....

"I want nothing more than for you to be happy," her mother began, right on cue. "Which is why I want to stop you from throwing away your chance at happiness with Michael. He's a good man."

"Ah, we can agree on that, at least."

"Don't be smart with me, young lady. You may be too old for me to ground but I am still your mother. And I care desperately what happens to you."

Her mother's last few words took the fight right out of Zoe. "I know, mother. And I realize that I sound ungrateful to you," she took one hand off the steering wheel and held it up to forestall her mother from launching into a long speech. "But I have to do what I have to do. It's my decision how I handle my future, not yours."

"But your Aunt Matilda, who I might remind you has a gift not unlike yours, told me that you aren't going to be able to erase Michael's memory. You're up against something too powerful. I think she's right. It didn't work before and it's not going to work when you try it again."

Zoe pulled into the parking lot with more than a little relief. This was not a conversation she wanted to continue. She put the car in park and shifted in her seat so she could face her mother. "Here's what's going to happen. We are going to go in there and have a lovely evening. Good food, good conversation, great company, nothing more. That's it. One lovely evening. So please don't say or do anything to jeopardize what is simply a nice family dinner. That's all I ask. Can you promise me that much?"

In answer, Marlene got out of the car, slammed the passenger door shut, and headed into the restaurant without a backwards glance at her daughter.

CHAPTER NINE

Zoe could not have been more on edge during dinner if they'd all been dining on a rickety bridge overlooking shark infested waters. Not that the food wasn't delicious, it was. Despite the influence of surf on the menu, the entire group opted for turf and enjoyed a round of top sirloin steaks. The restaurant's retro country club ambiance was charming and the wait staff was top-notch. Best of all was how much Josh, Kathryn, and Marlene, appeared to be enjoying each others company. Michael was a charming and gracious host. All of this, Zoe realized, should have made the evening perfect.

So why then did she feel perfectly miserable? 

The trip to Nantucket hadn't turned out at all like she'd planned. It had seemed so simple in theory. But now she felt consumed with guilt for thinking only of herself. She'd been selfish enough to set this all up because she'd wanted one more weekend with Michael. But it wasn't enough because it wasn't forever.

She looked up from the steak she'd been pushing around her plate and met Michael's gaze across the table.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" His voice was rich and warm, full of concern.

All conversation at the table ceased as everyone looked at her.

"Is something wrong, Zoe?" Kathryn's expression was just as concerned as her uncle's.

"You've been quiet," Josh added.

Marlene pushed back her chair and got to her feet. "There's nothing wrong with Zoe that a moment outside with her mother won't fix." She came around to Zoe's chair and slid a hand under her daughter’s elbow. "Come along, darling."

Obediently, Zoe got to her feet and followed her mother out onto the restaurant's back deck. A handful of families occupied the tables but they barely glanced over as Zoe and Marlene headed to a quiet corner.

Her mother spoke first. "Darling, why on earth are you acting like you're at a wake?"

The description struck Zoe as quite apt. She felt as if she was in mourning for a future that she and Michael weren't going to have. "Because that's just what it feels like."

Marlene's groan was one of exasperation. "Zoe, can't you see that you can make a choice here? You can decide how your future will turn out." She looked around before leaning closer to her daughter. "Your ability is just that, a special gift. Not a curse, not a burden, and certainly not a life sentence."

Zoe leaned against the deck railing and focused her gaze on the boats that bobbed in the sea. Her mother made it sound so easy. But that shouldn't come as a surprise, they were two very different women who made very different choices in life. Her mother had given up her gift to marry Zoe's father. While she was glad of it, that didn't negate the pain and suffering her mother experienced after the loss of her husband. Nor did it take away the helplessness Zoe had felt watching her mother struggle to find a way to fill the void in her life.

"You're not me, Zoe." Her mother's voice had lost its frustrated edge. "If you're thinking what I think you are, you're way off base."

Zoe turned to face her mother. There was just enough evening light left to read her mother's expression and she didn't like what she saw. It was not the regret she'd expected to see. It was pity. She pushed back from the railing and turned to go but her mother reached out and grabbed a hold of her arm. "Wait, Zoe, just let me say one more thing. You need to make a decision."

"What decision might that be?"

"It all boils down to one question you need to ask yourself."

"Which is?"

"Is Michael enough for you?"

The words pierced Zoe's heart. Michael was more than she ever could have hoped for, more than she could have ever expected. The question was ludicrous. She wasn't going to dignify it with an answer. She shook her head. This conversation was not going to happen. "No."

Marlene's eyes widened and her hand went to her throat. "Oh, Zoe, no."

"You don't-" but Zoe's words faltered as the horrified look on her mother's face sank in. Her mother wasn't looking at her. She was looking at something over Zoe's shoulder. She whirled around.

Not something. Someone.

"Michael." Zoe's heart constricted in her chest. "Oh, God." Judging by the shocked and hurt look on his face, there was no doubt that he'd overheard her. And misunderstood her. "You don't understand. I meant that...my mother asked-"

He held up his hand to stop her convoluted explanation. Without looking directly at her, he addressed her mother. "Marlene, would you please take my niece and nephew home in Zoe's car?"

Zoe met her mother's worried eyes and nodded. "My keys are in my purse."

Despite her obvious reluctance, Marlene nodded. She laid a brief but reassuring hand on Zoe's arm as she passed by her. She paused to look up at Michael. "You didn't hear what you think you did. Listen to what Zoe has to say." With a last sympathetic glance at her daughter, she headed back into the restaurant.

Zoe took a step forward and closed the space between Michael and herself. He didn't move back but he radiated a distinct wariness that pained her. "Michael, please hear me out."

"I've heard enough." He looked away.

A cold chill that had nothing to do with the Atlantic breeze ran through Zoe. As she stared up at Michael she felt a pang of fear at the thought of losing him. Her mother's question ran through her mind. Was Michael enough? Enough for her to give up her gift? Enough for her to surrender her abilities so that she could have his love? Absolutely yes. Now she just had to make Michael see the truth. She reached out to touch his arm, but he shook his head.

"Don't."

"We need to talk. I need to talk. Please."

"Not here." He stood back so she could pass in front of him. "Let's go."

His tone of voice made it clear that he wasn't willing to negotiate. With a calm composure that belied her thundering heart and shaking hands, Zoe made her way back through the restaurant and out to Michael's car. He opened the passenger door and she slid in.

She stared unseeingly as Michael drove back toward the beach house. The thought of seeing Josh and Kathryn, of having to face them, made her heart ache. It wasn't fair to them that they were caught up in all of this. Thank heaven her mother was with them. As crazy and unpredictable as Marlene was, Zoe knew she'd handle the situation with the teens as gently and tactfully as possible.

She shifted in her seat. The moonlight coming in the window allowed her to see how tightly Michael's jaw was clenched. As the miles slipped away, Zoe realized that she had a choice. She could fight for Michael or give up without a struggle. There was no need for her to think. She knew what she wanted. "Pull over."

"What?" Michael shot her a quick glance. "Why?"

Zoe drew in a sharp breath. It was time to not only jump in the deep end but to swim the blasted English channel if that was what it took to make Michael hear her out. "Pull over. I'm sick."

The last two words did the trick. Michael pulled onto a scenic overlook. He switched off the engine and came around to open Zoe's door. He reached across her lap and unfastened her seatbelt. He then knelt down beside her. "What's wrong?"

Zoe touched her chest.

"You're having chest pains?" Michael's voice held more than a note of panic. "Let me call 911."

"Michael, wait," she tried to interrupt him as he pulled out his cell phone.

"Don't try to talk, Zoe."

"But-"

Michael held up his hand. "I'll get you help, just hold on."

But Zoe wasn't about to wait. She glanced over at the car's ignition. The keys were still in it. With one quick glance at Michael, who was pacing anxiously beside the car and not watching her, she decided to go all out. She reached over and grabbed his keys before getting out of the car.  "Michael."

"She just said her chest hurt. No, no history of heart disease that I know of."

"Michael," she tried again to get his attention, this time using a louder voice.

He whirled around.

"I'm fine. Really." She gestured to his cell phone. "Tell them it's a false alarm and hang up."

He frowned. "What?"

She walked over to him, took the cell phone out of his hand, and spent two full minutes convincing the emergency operator that she was perfectly healthy. Once that was done, she held the phone out to Michael. "My heart is aching. I'm not having chest pains."

Michael grabbed his cell phone. "Get back in the car."

Zoe didn't move.

"Let's move, Zoe. This evening is turning out to be an unmitigated disaster. I've had enough."

Her fingers closed around his car keys. "That makes one of us." She was pushing the envelope but she didn't care. Correction, she cared very much. Enough to do whatever it took to get Michael to listen. She might not get a second chance so she wasn't going to waste this one.

"I mean it, Zoe. Don't tempt me to leave you here."

"You'd never do that." She heard the confidence in her voice. He was too much of a gentleman to risk her safety. "Besides, I have the keys."

For a long moment there was only the sound of the Atlantic waves rolling in. And then the ever-so-soft sound of Michael cursing under his breath. "Zoe, give me the keys."

"I will. After you hear me out."

"Unbelievable. Are you blackmailing me?"

In answer, Zoe simply rattled the keys.

Michael closed the distance between them with surprising speed but Zoe was still able to duck when he made a grab for the keys. He might well be bigger, stronger, and more agile than she was but the darkness of night was on her side. "Ready to listen?"

Instead of answering her question, Michael reached out and pulled her close. Close enough she could hear his slightly labored breath, close enough she could smell the muskiness of his cologne, and when she placed her hand against his chest, she was definitely close enough to feel his heart beating rapidly.

"Do you really think I'm in the mood to play games?" he demanded. "What's next? You drop my keys down the front of your dress?"

"Not what I had in mind." She pulled back just enough so that she could have the free use of her right arm. "This isn't a game to me, Michael. I'm playing for keeps." And then before he had time to say anything, or try to stop her, she pitched his keys into the darkness.

CHAPTER TEN

The keys made a pinging sound as they bounced off of a rock. The next sound she heard was Michael's sharp intake of breath.

"You didn't just do that."

"I did." Zoe felt a rush of confidence in her choice. If nothing else, her brazen out of character behavior might convince Michael how much she loved him. "So now you have a choice. We can sit and talk in the car like two mature adults or you can start crawling around looking for your keys."

Michael swore under his breath.

"So what's it going to be? Car or beach combing?" There was a pause, long enough and quiet enough that it unsettled her. "Michael?"

"I guess I'm going to have to go with beach combing considering that I need the keys to unlock the car."

It was her turn to gasp. "Why did you lock the doors? That's ridiculous."

"That's rich, Zoe. You throw my keys out to sea and yet I'm the one who is ridiculous because I lock my car doors? I can claim force of habit as a defense. What's your excuse? Insanity?"

"Love."

"What?"

Startled was better than angry, which gave her hope. "I love you, Michael."

"Don't go there."

"I'm already there." She wished she could see more of his face than just its outline. "Look, I know tonight didn't go the way you hoped it would."

"You don't know the half of it."

"I'm sorry. I wish I could rewind the tape and start the evening over."

"It's not just tonight, Zoe. You've been acting strange ever since you reappeared last week."

"I can explain."

He sighed. "I guess you're going to get your chance now that I'm a captive audience. But if you're going to try to tell me that you love me, you can first clarify why you walked out on me last year without so much as an explanation."

"We did talk about it. At great length. Don't you remember?"

"What I remember is that we had a very bizarre one-sided conversation where you tried to brainwash me into thinking that we weren't meant to be together."