Ready to Fall (5 page)

My mouthful of pizza, I gestured for her to continue.

“Turned out money and things weren’t his only acquisitions. My husband also had the reputation for collecting girlfriends.”

“Ouch,” I mumbled with my mouth full. Swallowing some wine, I found my voice. “He sounds like a tool.” I wanted to call him an asshole, but refrained.

“Tool is too nice. Long story short, I caught him in flagrante delicto and the fidelity clause in our pre-nup kicked in. The affairs and even the divorce were kept hush-hush because of his family’s reputation. His parents strongly suggested I take an extended vacation while the final proceedings and settlement are ironed out.”

“What year is this? I swear you are talking about some 1950s bullshit, pardon my language, about controlling parents and making the problem literally disappear.” The part about controlling parents reminded me of Kelly’s mother and her own meddling in my life.

“At least they didn’t ship me off to Reno for a quickie divorce like the fifties.” Laughing, she hid her mouth behind her napkin. “Sorry, I’m talking with my mouth full.”

“No problem. As long as you don’t choke. No fancy rules in this house. That’s it? You’ve been banned to an island? For how long?”

“I wasn’t banned. Honestly. I could have spent the winter out in the Hamptons. Instead, I told the whole fiasco to Quinn over lunch and he offered Maggie’s cabin. Isolated on a beach in a place where no one knew me as Mrs. Woodley sounded like heaven. In reality, it’s a cold, dark, wet heaven.”

“I’ve never been to the Hamptons, so I can’t give you an honest comparison, but Whidbey is heaven on earth. You chose to move here during the challenging months. Wait until summer.”

“I’d love to see the summer here, but I only have the cabin until May. Then who knows where I’ll go. Maybe back to New York, start over. Or someplace new.”

“Did you grow up in New York?” I asked.

“Not the city. I’m from Upstate, which basically means the rest of the state except Long Island. Small town. Dad was an accountant, Mom ran the PTA, and my two older brothers were track stars.”

“Sounds idyllic. Your folks still alive?”

“They are. Happily retired in Florida—my second option for a hideout.”

“You had the option to be in Florida where it’s warm and sunny, but you chose here? Are you crazy?” The incredulousness obvious in my voice.

Sipping her wine, she stared at the fire crackling and hissing. “Moving in with my parents would feel like utter failure. They invited me, but I’m not sure it was heartfelt. Having their thirty-year-old divorced daughter sleeping in the guest room would be difficult on all of us. I believe the saying ‘You can never go home’ and so do they.”

“I can’t imagine living with my parents.” I shook my head at being trapped in Arizona, driving a golf cart around a neighborhood in a planned golf community.

“We agree about that. We have our first thing in common.” She raised her glass in a toast.

“Actually, that’s about the third thing we have in common. First, jalapeños on pizza. Second, we both like Pinot.”

“Are you keeping a list?” A soft smile formed on her lips.

“I wasn’t, but I am now.” I raised my own glass to clink with hers. “To things in common.”

“To things in common,” she echoed.

“Are you looking for a job? Not to pry into your financials, but do you need a job?”

“I’m okay financially. I’d love to get a job, but have no idea what’s out there. Working again would be another nail in the coffin of my old life.”

“What do you want to do? Or what can you do?”

“Ah, therein lies the rub. I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve worked, I’m out of practice. I can join a committee, plan a fundraiser, host a party, but not sure if any of those things will get me a job on the island.”

“Think about it and let me know. I know a lot of people. Figure out what you want to do and I’ll get the word out.”

“Thank you. Now, I’ve told you the horrible story of the demise of my perfect marriage, your turn.” She turned the tables on me.

What could I share with her? I wasn’t going to spew my life disappointments at her. We might have a few things in common, but I wasn’t ready to go deep tonight.

“I’ve never married, so no ex-wives lurking around.”

“I’ve seen a brunette around here. Who’s she?”

Ah, who was Kelly? The easy and partially true answer would be my girlfriend. Or would have been a few weeks ago, pre-dinner revelations.
How do I define her?

“The brunette is Kelly. Someone I’ve been dating.”

“Girlfriend?” she asked, apparently unashamed she might be prying.

“Not really. Things are complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

“Like you, she’s getting a divorce. Or was. Maybe still is. Pretty sure she still is.” My words tumbled out in a mess of uncertainty. Fuck, I sounded like a pussy.

“You don’t know if she is or isn’t getting a divorce?”

I took a deep breath and stretched my neck, rolling it from side to side before running my hand over the scruff of my beard.

“That about sums it up. We ran into each other again last summer. At that point, she was legally separated and it was only a matter of time. Then a few weeks ago I hear from her mother of all people she and the husband are still talking. Like I said, complicated.”

“Sounds messed up. Are you in love with her?”

Am I in love with Kelly?

“Look, I don’t mean to pry, but since I already am, I might as well give you some unsolicited advice.”

I couldn’t help but snort at her offer of advice, but waited for her to continue.

“Yeah, I’m the last person who should be giving anyone relationship advice. If you don’t know if you’re in love, then you probably aren’t. Marriages and divorces are complicated, and not something you want to be the third leg to.”

I listened to her words, knowing she said them from a place of kindness. “Tell me about it. Right now I’m in a holding pattern.”

“She’s a fool if she tosses you aside, but love makes fools of the best of us.” She reached out and gently touched my forearm. “I’ve sworn off the L word for now.”

“L word?”

“Love. For the time being I want uncomplicated, straightforward interactions. Nothing romantic. Nothing serious. No promises of fairy tales or happily-ever-afters.”

“Sounds like a smart choice. I don’t normally do the whole relationship thing. Kelly was the first for me in a while. Probably because of my stupid high school crush on her.”

“Ah, I wondered when you said you ran into her again. So she’s the one who got away?”

“Hardly. She was the one who never paid me any attention in school. I played soccer with her brother and I don’t think she ever looked in my direction twice.”

“Like I said before, she’s a fool. Who wouldn’t look at you twice?” Her words had a flirty edge to them I didn’t miss.

“I was a long, lanky guy who was more obsessed with soccer than girls. I didn’t fill out until college.”

“You definitely filled out.” Her eyes widened and her hand covered her mouth. “Did I say that out loud?”

“You did.” I watched as her cheeks turned crimson.

“No more wine for me. I’ve lost my filter. First, I’m giving you love advice when I don’t even know you. Now I’m ogling you out loud. Clearly I’m not fit for human company these days. Maybe I should get myself a dog.”

Her squirming and clear embarrassment made me want to laugh or hug her. I did neither.

“I should head home before I completely embarrass myself.”

“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed. Your cheeks turn bright red.”

“Please, can we blame that on the wine?” Her blush deepened.

“Honestly, I’ve enjoyed spending time with you tonight. We should hang out more often. You’ve probably figured out it’s pretty quiet down here on the beach in the winter. It’s nice to have the company.”

“You’re too nice. I’m going to hide now.” She wrapped her cardigan around herself like armor.

“I’m not that nice.”

“You are. You saved me from the closed flue, you helped me buy a car, and presently you’re overlooking my foot-in-mouth syndrome. All nice things.”

“If you say so. Give yourself time to get to know me before you make that decision. Bachelor for a reason.”

“I have no problem with that. I’ve sworn off relationships and you’re in a “it’s complicated” situation. Only thing for us to do is be friends. I could use a friend on the island.”

Friends sounded good. Diane fit the mold of one of the summer wives who arrived every Memorial Day, but there was something else about her. Something deeper and maybe wounded tugged at me to be her friend.

“Friends it is.”

“Let’s shake on it.” She stuck out her hand and I shook it.

“We don’t have to spit swear or anything like that, do we?” I asked.

“I thought maybe a blood pact. I’m sure you have a knife around here somewhere in this manly house.”

“You aren’t serious?” She couldn’t be serious.

“The expression on your face right now. No, no sharing of bodily fluids as friends. Spit, blood, or other fluids.” With a resolution to her voice, she nodded and shook my hand again since I still held hers.

“Good on the no knives. I don’t like human blood.”

“Are you telling me you aren’t a vampire so I’ll invite you into my house, and then you’ll actually be a vampire and kill me?”

This time I didn’t hold back my laughter. “Your mind works in wild ways,” I said after the laughter died down.

“You didn’t answer the question. Are you a vampire?”

I started to answer no when two things happened simultaneously: the power went out and Diane screamed.

D
IANE
NOT
ONLY
screamed, but practically jumped into my lap. Her hand clutched my shirt and her nails dug into my chest through the flannel. The whole scenario couldn’t have been timed better. Talk turned to vampires and then the lights go out. A warm glow from the last of the fire lit the room, so we weren’t in complete darkness. My laughter broke the silence that descended with the dark.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“I am. I’m sorry, but you have to admit, it’s pretty damn funny.”

“My being scared out of my skin is funny?” She attempted to sound offended, but I could hear amusement in her voice. “Vampires are scary.”

“If they’re so scary, and you believed I am one, why jump toward me when the lights went out? Have you no sense of self-preservation?”

Full giggles erupted from her. Leaning back, she released my shirt, tilted her head back, and let her laughter out. After a moment, she composed herself. “Oh my god, I’m the idiot girl who goes back inside the cabin or upstairs in the horror movie! I’m the one everyone yells at for not running for help when I had the opportunity.”

“Pretty much. You’re toast.” I leaned forward toward her exposed neck and spoke in a Transylvanian accent. “Don’t worry, I bite, but it will be painless after the fangs sink into your flesh.”

When I stopped about an inch from her neck, she froze in place. Her laughter stopped, and I wasn’t sure if she was breathing. Pulling back, I stared into her eyes, which were wide in the low light of the fire.

“Breathe. I wasn’t going to bite you,” I said.

She shuffled and sat more upright, breaking whatever tension was rising between us. “I know. I never believed you were a vampire. That accent gave you away. What was it? Jersey?”

I chuckled and rubbed my nails over my scruff. “Transylvania, of course. Jersey? Really?”

“Maybe Philly. Not Eastern Europe. You might want to work on that a little more.” Her words teased, but her posture had slipped into something more formal. I’d clearly crossed a line, but I had no idea what that line was.

The wind howled outside, lashing rain against the windows. Babe raised his head, gazed outside, and sighed before dropping back down on his bed.

“Do you think the power will be out for a long time?” Worry crept into her voice.

“Hard to say. Might be an hour or a few days.”

“Crap.”

“You have enough wood. There should be flashlights, candles, and extra blankets a plenty over there, but you’re welcome to sleep here tonight.” My offer was genuine and without ulterior motives.

“How would Kelly feel about that?”

How would she feel about me having Diane here? Good question. “She wouldn’t like it. Let’s say she gets a little possessive of me.”

“Can’t blame her. I’d hate to create any trouble for you. If I could borrow a flashlight, I’ll be fine once I get inside. I can sleep by the wood stove if it gets colder. Maggie has several down comforters; I should be warm tonight. I’ll be fine.”

Her words were brave, but an undertone of concern and uncertainty lay beneath them.

“You sure? I’ve got the generator, which should kick on pretty soon. You’d be more comfortable over here.”

“I’m sure. Now that I have confirmation my fears about a paranormal monster living next door are unfounded, I’ll be able to sleep at night.”

“Glad we cleared the air. If you’re worried about Dave down the road, you know the guy with all the hair, I can assure you he’s not a werewolf or shape-shifter.”