Bayview Heights Trilogy (62 page)

“You’re
what?
” Mitch had asked,
dumbfounded.

“I’m reconciling with Elizabeth.”

“But you and Zoe are together.”

“Look, I’ve loved Elizabeth all my life. If
there’s a chance I can make it work, I owe it to her and Lauren to
try. I hate that I failed at my marriage.”

Mitch sighed, exasperated. “I know you hate
to fail at anything, but this time you’re being a fool. It’ll never
work. Elizabeth treated you like dirt for years. Then she cheated
on you.”

“I brought some of that on myself by
sacrificing my family for my work.”

“She’s a siren. She’s always had some weird
control over you. You’re going to get hurt big time—and lose Zoe in
the process…”

Once again, big brother had been right. After
only a month, Kurt realized he’d made a huge mistake. After three
months, life had become a living hell. He’d waited until Lauren
went to college to leave again.

Sipping the beer, he sank onto a chair by the
window. “Of course I gave up all rights to Zoe. That doesn’t mean I
stopped worrying about her.”
Or loving her
.

Mitch raked a hand through his dark hair.
“You’re not thinking of trying to get back with her, are you?”

“Of course not.” Please, God, don’t let him
think that. “I hurt her too much.”

“Good. Because I’d hate to have to scrape you
up off the floor once Cassie got finished with you if you tried
anything that stupid.”

Mitch glanced up as his wife of five years
entered the kitchen; she wore rumpled jeans and a Bayview Heights
sweatshirt, and a weary expression on her face. As always, several
strands of hair escaped her braid to fall onto her cheek.

“Speak of the devil,” Mitch said dryly.

Cassie’s smile bloomed at the sight of her
husband. “The
devil
is now asleep.”

“Which one?”

“The little one.”

In spite of the blanket of tension in the
room, Kurt smiled at the mention of his younger goddaughter,
six-months-old Camille, whose conception had been a surprise to
everybody—including Cassie and Mitch. Not only that, but both she
and her four-year-old sister, Alexandra, showed signs of their
mother’s innate rebelliousness. Mitch claimed that was why he loved
his daughters so much.

Cassie’s gaze traveled to Kurt and turned
steely. It was the same look she’d been giving him for the past
eleven months. “Hello, Kurt.”

“Cassie.”

Crossing to Mitch, she took a sip of his
beer. Then she focused back on Kurt. “What are you doing here?” The
edge to her voice was marked.

Mitch slid his arm around her waist and
pulled her close. “Cass,” he said, softly chiding her.

Cassie swallowed hard. Both she and Lacey
Taylor, Seth’s wife and another of Zoe’s friends, had frozen Kurt
out when he’d gone back to Elizabeth. He didn’t blame them a
bit.

“I came to tell Mitch—and you—a few
things.”

When Cassie stiffened, Kurt saw Mitch’s hand
squeeze her waist in warning. “Fine. I’ve got about, oh, ten
seconds, before Attila the Hun wakes up and realizes she’s
alone.”

Without preamble, he said, “I’ve left
Elizabeth.”

Cassie’s mouth dropped open, and she gripped
Mitch’s shoulder. Kurt’s heart ached, watching the woman who’d once
been like a sister to him. He’d lost her, too, when he’d made the
worst decision of his life.

Before she could berate him, he added, “And
there’s something else.” His eyes darted to Mitch’s. “The teen
clinic in Bayview Heights has been approved.” He jammed his hands
into his pockets. “I’m moving to town to open it.”

“
What
?” Cassie’s eyes were like
heated mercury now. “You can’t do that, Kurt.”

Mitch scowled. “I don’t think it’s a good
idea, either.”

Kurt raked his fingers through his hair “Of
course it’s not a good idea. It’s a
terrible
idea. Do you
think I’d do this to Zoe if I had any choice?”

“There’s always a choice,” Cassie said.

“The clinic has been approved, based on my
running it. Not only was my success with the other two part of the
town council’s reasoning, but the federal grant I wrote for the one
in Bayview Heights specifically names me as the operator.” He held
up his hands in a gesture of defeat. “The government was clear on
that, as was the council. You know some of them aren’t crazy about
having a clinic here, but Philip Cartwright and his group of senior
citizens finally got it passed.” Philip was the former editor of
Bayview’s newspaper and Lacey Taylor’s grandfather. “I tried to
sway the officials, but they were firm that without my
participation, the decision would be rescinded.”

“Damn it,” Cassie said. “First Jerry Bosco
gets on the council and then the school board, and now you’re
coming back to Bayview.” Kurt knew Jerry Bosco was a retired
teacher who had given the high school a lot of grief when he worked
there. “Could things get any worse in this town?”

Kurt winced.

“Cass...” Mitch said again.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you, Kurt,
but I won’t let
you
hurt
her
again.” Cassie put
her hands on her hips. “Do you have any idea what you did to her a
year ago?”

“Yes, I do.”

Pacing, Cassie acted as if she didn’t hear
him. “She cried for days. She missed school. You know what a
Pollyanna she’s always been. But she was depressed for a long time,
and so sad it broke my heart.”

Each detail pierced him deeply. “I’m
sorry.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes sorry’s not
enough.”

There was a wail from upstairs. “Oh, hell,”
she said, and with one scathing look which encompassed both
brothers, stomped out of the room.

Silence became a brittle presence in the
kitchen.

Finally Mitch spoke. “Like she said, buddy,
she doesn’t mean to hurt you. She’s just protective of her
friends.”

“I know. I reveled in it when she felt that
way about me.”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t been there for you,
either, have I?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does. I think it’s...” Mitch
peeled back the label on the bottle. His brother still sometimes
had a hard time expressing his emotions. “I think we all felt a
little abandoned when you went back to Elizabeth.”

Why wouldn’t they? The Lansings and Taylors
and he and Zoe had become close friends during the time he dated
Zoe. They’d enjoyed countless dinners and attended school events
together, and even took a group vacation to the Bahamas. Kurt had
broken up more than a relationship. He’d broken up a close-knit
family of friends.

That Elizabeth had disliked Mitch from
childhood and grown to hate Cassie added to the difficulties
between the brothers.

Kurt shrugged. “I’m sorry,” he said
again.

“Me, too.” Mitch studied him. “Look, where do
you plan to stay here in town?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Cassie and I are moving into the new house
in a few weeks. This place hasn’t sold.”

“Really? This is a great condo. I’d buy it in
a second.”

“Then it’s yours.”

“Thanks. I’ll move in after you’re in the new
house.”

“No, you’ll move in now.”

Kurt shook his head firmly. “Cassie won’t
want me under her roof.”

“Cassie’ll do what’s right. You’re family,
Kurt.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Kurt
stared at his brother. “Thanks, bro. What about Zoe? Would it be
best if I told her about all this?”

“No. Let Cass tell her tomorrow.” Mitch
glanced at the clock. “Zoe just got back from Paris this morning
and she’s probably sound asleep.”

An image of Zoe, rumpled and warm in bed,
poleaxed him. He could still remember what she smelled like, what
she tasted like. He stood up to diffuse the feeling. “Fine. I’ll do
my best to make this as easy on her, and you, as possible.” He
headed out of the kitchen to exit through the garage. When he
reached the side door, he heard behind him, “Kurt?”

He pivoted.

“It’ll be nice to have my brother back.”

Emotion swirled inside him. “Will it?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks.” He left then, walking out into the
chilly September air. Alone.

o0o

“‘I WANT TO BE happy...’” On her way to the
principal’s office, Zoe sang the words to the famous song from
No, No, Nanette
in French; she’d seen the show in Paris
with Pierre just a few days ago.

And it felt good. She
did
want to be
happy; she was happy, truly happy, for the first time in months.
Kurt Lansing’s absence had put a gaping hole in her life for too
long. Though she missed him desperately, she’d learned she could
indeed be happy without him.

Seth’s new secretary, a sweet young woman
named Naomi, smiled up at her when she entered the office. “Well,
if it isn’t the world traveler.”

“
Bonjour, mon amie
.” Zoe turned to
Nancy, the financial secretary. “
Mes amies. Comment allez
vous?
” Both women chuckled.

“You look wonderful, Zoe,” Nancy said, eyeing
her black French jeans, red top and high black sandals. “Paris must
have agreed with you.”

“
Oui, oui
.”

“Meet any interesting Frenchmen?”

The door had opened on Naomi’s question.
“She’s stringin’ one along and breakin’ my heart,” Alex Ransom
quipped from the doorway. Handsome as sin, he had disheveled dark
hair that fell across his forehead. “Tell me Pierre didn’t talk you
into going back to France anytime soon.”

“No, he didn’t.” She reached up and hugged
Alex.

He held on tight.

Over his shoulders, she saw the door to
Seth’s office open. Letting go of her friend, Zoe sidled around
Alex with her grin still in place. “Hi, Seth. How’s the father of
the year doing?” she asked archly. Seth’s wife, Lacey, had given
birth to twin boys last year, bringing the total number of children
in the Taylor family to five. Seth’s son from a previous marriage;
their adopted son, Josh; their own little Philip, who was now
almost two years old, and the twins.

When Seth didn’t answer, just stared at her
blankly, she cocked her head.

She was totally unprepared for the man who
stepped to the doorway, and she froze, along, it seemed, with
everyone else.

Alex’s strong hand on her shoulder broke the
spell. Though her smile faltered, Zoe straightened and said evenly,
“Hello, Kurt.”

His beautiful green eyes were dark with
fatigue. His sculpted mouth was bracketed with lines of stress. She
hadn’t seen him in five months and wondered how someone could age
that much in so short a time. His meticulously cut navy suit and
striped shirt were ill-fitting. He reminded her of an exhausted,
overworked intern. When he gave her a weak smile, the cleft in his
chin became visible. She would
not
think about the times
she’d kissed that cleft.

“Zoe.” Even his voice was tired. Her heart
ached with the knowledge that Kurt, the man she’d once loved more
than any other man in the world, was not doing well.

Apparently Elizabeth wasn’t taking very good
care of him. The thought hurt, though she chided herself for having
it.

Seth stepped between them and hugged her
warmly. “Zoe, welcome back.” He whispered in her ear, “I’m
sorry.”

She squeezed him to let him know she was all
right. “If you’re busy, I can come back. Cassie’s hot to talk to me
about something, anyway, so I—”

“You haven’t talked to Cassie today?” Seth
asked.

“No. We had the faculty meeting this morning
and a department meeting after that. I just stopped in here to
check on the volunteer placements for my Life Issues course, then
she and I are going to lunch.”

Zoe recalled Cassie’s excessive nervousness
today and had chalked it up to her leaving Camille. Even if it was
only for half a day—Cassie was teaching mornings this year and
Mitch was working afternoons at the police station—Zoe knew Cassie
had a devil of a hard time leaving her child. Zoe cast a worried
glance at Kurt. “What’s going on, Seth?”

Quickly Seth pivoted to face Kurt. Some
silent signal passed between them. “Come into my office for a
minute.” He glanced behind her. “Alex, can I do something for
you?”

The vice principal was throwing visual
daggers at Kurt. “No, I’m going to wait for Zoe.” He squeezed her
arm. “I’ll be out here.”

Kurt stiffened visibly. At the display of
Alex’s affection?

Seth herded her and Kurt into the office and
shut the door. For a minute Zoe couldn’t breathe. She hadn’t been
this close to Kurt in months. Even at Lansing gatherings, she’d
given him wide berth. But now she was forced to sit next to him,
and the first thing that assaulted her senses was his scent.

God, I love the way you smell.

Yeah? I think I put on Aramis.

It’s different on everybody. Hmm...the
best on you.

Nervously she clasped her hands in her lap,
her ruby ring digging into her finger.

“Do you want to tell her or should I?” Seth
asked Kurt; there was definite anger in his voice. She rarely saw
the principal angry, but it was clear that something was upsetting
him.

“I will.” Kurt shifted in his seat. She was
forced to face him. Up close the lines around his mouth were
deeper. “The teen clinic has been approved by the town
council.”

Forgetting what was between them, she said,
“Oh, Kurt, what good news. We need it so much here. I thought it
was a lost cause.” But wait. What did that mean in terms of...She
addressed Seth. “How does that affect us?”

“One of the things that got the clinic okayed
was that our kids would be doing their volunteer work there.”

Well, that was good. It would be hard for her
to supervise her students at the clinic, given that she’d once
anticipated working there with Kurt, but her discomfort was a small
price to pay for such an important facility. She could get along
with whomever was in charge. “That’s good, Seth. We need more
placements.”