Beach Winds (30 page)

When she returned a few minutes later, she still looked tired and her eyes were faintly red, but there was a smile on her face and she moved with confidence.

She busied herself at the counter.
“I’ll make us some tea.”

“
No, thanks. A glass of water, maybe.”

Two mugs
and a clear glass pot of some kind were on the counter. Frannie poured the hot water over some bits of tea that looked like scraps of dried weedy stuff.

“
We have to let it steep for four minutes.” She laughed softly. “Don’t worry about this tea. It doesn’t have any caffeine in it. It won’t keep you awake tonight.”

He opened his mouth to
say ‘no’ again and then closed it.

She placed the mugs of tea on the table.

He looked down at his, doubtful. Tea.

“
I’m not much of a tea drinker. Hot, anyway.”

She smiled.
“I know, but please try it. This is a different blend than what you had before. You can decide whether you like it while I tell you a story.” She pushed the cup around by its handle. “I like you. A lot. You were very kind to come back here to check on me. I’m glad you didn’t arrive sooner, though, because I was a mess.” She brushed at the blanket. “I mean worse than when you found me.”

“
Much later and you would’ve been frozen.”

“
Not quite. It was cold, but not that cold.”

“
No offense, Fran, but I think you’re crazy.”

It was a throwaway line. People were always calling other people crazy. So why did she get that pale, rigid expression and then slosh her precious tea onto the table?

“It’s an expression. I’m sorry. I’m not a sensitive kind of guy.”

She shook her head.
“No, unfortunately, I think you may be right.”

“
There you go. That’s what I like about you. Your sense of humor. Your contagious optimism.”

Now she looked confused. She
’d smiled before so what was the deal? She wouldn’t have smiled if she thought he really meant it, literally meant it. Right?

“
I’m not crazy, but I have a nervous disposition. Sometimes, in stress, that sort of translates into crazy.”

“
You’re a woman. Don’t nervous and moody come with the territory?”

This time she did giggle. It contrasted oddly with her still red eyes.
“Only in the land of generalization.”

“
So let’s talk about crazy. Let’s talk about Laurel.”

Fran laughed.
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You refuse to let me be morose or tied up in knots.”

He shrugged.

“Why? You can be arrogant and rude, but also very kind. Why are you so kind to me?”

He didn
’t answer. He wasn’t a rescuer or a fixer. That was Maia’s shtick. He tried to think of something to say, something that would change the direction of this awkward conversation. He said, “I don’t think Will would mind if I told you.”

Her eyes, so dark they looked almost black
, stared. He forced himself to look away.

“
He showed me the verse you brought him.”

“
Yes?”

“
He was always around other people in the navy, and his family before that. When he retired, suddenly he was alone. He’d get down or gloomy. When a verse would catch his attention, he’d write it down and hide it around the house. Sometimes he’d happen upon one of those verses. It gave him something to think about, something outside of himself.” He shrugged. “That’s it. Not a big mystery.”

Frannie opened her mouth to speak
and then shut it. Finally, she shook her head and said, “We need cookies. Excuse me.”

What? Well, maybe cookies would be good. He watched her limp across to the kitchen cabinet, rumpled and still clutching the blanket trailing under her feet. She returned with a tin of some kind of girlie cookies. Tea cookies? She tucked the blanket under her arm while she worked the top
off the tin. No Oreos or chocolate chips here. Nope. She pushed the tin closer to him.

“
Thank you for telling me about Will and the verses. I understand about getting gloomy. Tonight I was upset about Laurel. I’ve told you some already, but there’s more wrong with us than that, always has been. You know, like chemistry? Bad chemistry. We never mixed well even when we tried. We haven’t tried in a very long time.”

“
It was bad when your dad was alive, too?”

“
Probably, but less noticeable then. I got older and more stubborn. I’m not a good daughter.”

“
Judging by how you looked at her when she showed up this afternoon, I’m not surprised to hear you say it. What I don’t get is why you two live together? Why not live your own lives? Why force yourselves on each other?”

“
I agree.” She sighed. “Oh, Brian. I’ve tried, but not hard enough.”

He took a small bite out of one of the cookies. Not great, but it was okay. He popped the rest of it in his mouth and reached for another. Not exactly satisfying, but they made the tea taste better.

“No matter what, it seems like I always get drawn back to the house and Laurel. I don’t blame Laurel for that. The fault for that lies with me.”

“
So, it’s simple. Move out.” He waved his arms around at Will’s kitchen and living room. “Hey, you’re already on your way to being gone from there. You’re here.”

“
You think like a guy.”

“
I hope so.” He thumped his hand on the table.

“
Believe it or not, Laurel depends upon me, more, I think, than I depend on her.”

“
By the way, Laurel wasn’t what I was expecting. Nice looking woman. Looked more like Glenda than the Wicked Witch of the West.”

“
Hmmm. Well, I understand what you’re saying. I wish I had her smoothness, dignity. Maybe her ability to wound with a simple word and look innocent while doing it. Not that I’d want to hurt anyone, but you know what I mean?”

“
How’d she get you back home before?”

“
She didn’t. Actually, she helped me. Allowed me to return home. I could say she almost rescued me. She certainly says it often enough.” She looked at the ceiling and then across the room before she continued. “It was a bad relationship, a boyfriend who didn’t work out. We had a bad breakup and then, well, he tried to intimidate me. He was a bully. Even after he was gone, my nerves got the better of me. I started imagining things, but they seemed so real, you know?”

“
Like what?”

“
Like noises. Outside. At the windows. I felt followed. At first, I thought it was real, it felt real, but then, after a while, as my nerves got worse and I couldn’t sleep properly and all, I lost my job. Laurel persuaded me to move back in with her and everything calmed down right away. That’s not a coincidence. Some people aren’t good alone.”

He couldn
’t decide how to express himself on this. He didn’t want to belittle her. Her confidence sucked as it was, but honestly, this was too much.

“
I don’t understand women. I tell Maia the same. Why isn’t a noise, a noise? Because there’s nothing there, doesn’t mean there
wasn’t
something there. Well, you know what I mean. Like a logical cause.” He broke a cookie in half and pushed the crumbs into a little pile. “You girls get all worked up over those things. If something is scaring you, then call the cops. If not, then move on. Get stronger locks. Cut back the bushes. You get the idea.

“
Like that gull that hit your door. If you were scared enough to sit up half the night, why weren’t you scared enough to call the local police?”

“
Because I knew I’d look silly. I kept my phone with me. I would’ve called for help if anything else had happened. How did you know about that?”

“
Juli told me.”

“
Oh.”

“
They don’t do that.”

“
Do what?”

“
They roost at night. At least, as far as I know. Not that I’ve given it much thought. Did you have a light on? Porch light?”

“
No light. It flew smack into the side of the house. It made a big noise when it hit. Besides, how else would it get there?”

“
You’re feeling better. I can tell because you’re ready to argue. You want to start a fight.”

The cookie tin was
more than half-empty. He hadn’t been aware of eating so many, but it must have been him. He put the lid back on and looked up. She was sitting there with that stupid blanket and her arms crossed and looking like she couldn’t decide whether to throw a punch or laugh.

“
There’s more,” she said.

“
Okay.”

“
I’m taking control of my life.”

“
Sure.” He didn’t know what else to say.

“
I’m going to pursue this family thing no matter what, no matter who gets in the way or tries to stop me.”

He frowned.
“Who would try to stop you? Aside from Laurel, I guess.”

“
I don’t know, but sometimes a person can be their own worst enemy. I’m going to believe in myself.”

He opened his mouth to say
easier said than done
but stopped himself.

“
I’m going to prove I can manage on my own. I don’t need anyone to protect me.”

“
We can all use a little help sometimes.” Had he started this? He hadn’t meant to, not to push her to the point of…what? Putting herself at risk? She was a nervous type. He was no better than Maia, butting in and interfering in people’s lives. And what about himself? He’d kissed her only a few hours ago. Not planned, sort of. She’d been pissed about it. She hadn’t even mentioned it tonight, so maybe she still was. What did that mean now that she was telling him all this stuff? Did he owe her something?

He pulled at his collar. It was getting over
ly warm in the room. He said, “Make sure you know what you’re doing, and if something scares you call the police. That’s what they get paid for.” He stood and the chair scraped against the floor. “Stay off the roof, will you? At least, until the weather warms up.”

“
I will.” She stood and walked with him.

He paused before opening the door.

“Can I ask you something?” He didn’t want to, but it bugged him that she hadn’t mentioned it. He could feel the words happening despite himself. “Are you still angry?”

“
Laurel—”

“
Not at Laurel. I mean me. For earlier today, you know?”

“
When you kissed me?” She put her hand on his arm. “Feels like ages ago, doesn’t it? I’d all but forgotten.”

She didn
’t sound mad. In fact, he’d just been called forgettable. Ticked him off.

“
Well, I’m sorry.” And he was, too.

“
That you kissed me? Seriously?” Her voice ended the sentence nearly an octave higher.

The corner of his mouth twitched. He tried to pull it back into place. Maybe he wasn
’t so forgettable, after all.

“
I’m not sorry if you don’t want me to be.”

She shook her head.
“I think
you’re
crazy.”

Maybe he was. Hadn
’t he known she was trouble, right from the first? “Meaning you’d rather not talk about it tonight?”

“
Crazy smart, is what you are.” She smiled sweetly and then stood on tiptoe and placed a quick kiss on his cheek before stepping back. “Frankly, it’s been a long day. Thank you for rescuing me tonight.”

“
Was that a rescue? Looked like you had it pretty much under control.”

She groaned.
“Just say ‘you’re welcome.’”

Brian touched her cheek.
“You’re welcome, Fran. I’m glad I could help whether you needed it or not.”

“
The last word.” She nodded. “That’s it, exactly.”

“
What?”

“
The last word. You want it, I want it.”

He opened his mouth to speak but then stopped.

She laughed.

“
So tonight the last word is mine? Then let’s make it ‘thank you.’ Thank you, Brian Donovan.”

Something was happening inside his chest. He opened the door, glad to feel the cold air blow in and cool him off as he stepped outside.

She held the door, keeping it open. “I almost forgot. Did you like the tea?”

The tea?
He tried to bring his brain back around to tea.

Her face lit up
and she punched his arm playfully. “You did! There, you see? Aren’t you glad you tried it? You never know when you’ll find something special, unless you give it a chance.”

****

A couple of days later, Brian walked into the restaurant and stood in the entry way for nearly a minute as his eyes adjusted to the low light of the interior. Before the hostess came from wherever she’d been hiding, he’d already spotted the woman. She looked up. She was too far away for him to actually read her eyes, but he felt them upon him.

“
Sir? How many?”

He smiled at the girl.
“Just me.” He nodded toward her table. “I’m joining that lady over there.”

Brian followed her to the table. As he pulled out his chair, he asked,
“Cup of coffee?”