Count on Me (Bayview Heights Trilogy)

Author’s note: COUNT ON ME was originally published in 2000. For many of my backlist books, I revised the stories to be current enough to take place today when I republished them. I did not revise this story because the first book in the trilogy, COP OF THE YEAR, required placement in 1997. Since I kept the original date, cell phones and other technology are also not inserted. KS

Praise for
Count on Me

“With a cast of memorable characters interacting on a myriad of levels from friendship to love, Ms. Shay has penned a fascinating and emotionally gripping story. “
RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ stars, Top Pick

“Shay’s heart-touching, sympathetic approach, powerful story-telling ability and depth of characterization of not only the main characters, but also the secondary characters, speak of first-hand knowledge of teens, challenges, and matters of the heart. Consequently,
Count On Me
comes very highly recommended.”
Word Weaving

 “
Count On Me
is a powerful story not only about the restoration of love but also about the relationships between teachers and students. This story will open your eyes and your heart and I highly recommend it to you.” An Amazon Reader

“Ms. Shay doesn’t disappoint with this one. I can’t say enough about this author—pure perfection!”
Old Book Barn Gazette

Count on Me

By Kathryn Shay

Copyright 2011, Kathryn Shay

Previously published 2000

Cover art by Patricia Ryan

Amazon Edition

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Titles by Kathryn Shay

After The Fire

On The Line

Nothing More To Lose

Someone To Believe In

Close to You

Taking The Heat

Trust in Me

Promises To Keep

Ties That Bind

Still The One

Someone Like You

Maybe This Time

The Betrayal

The Father Factor

Just One Night

A Price Worth Paying

Finally a Family

Michael’s Family

Practice Makes Perfect

A Place to Belong

Against the Odds

The Serenity House Trilogy boxed set

Home for Christmas

Cop of the Year

Because It’s Christmas

Count on Me

Bayview Heights boxed set

PROLOGUE

 LIFE DOESN’T GET any better than this
, Zoe Caufield thought on the thirty-minute drive into New York City, feeling a little like Cinderella going to meet the prince. Through the open windows of her car, the air smelled of early fall and newly mowed grass. Soon she turned onto the expressway, and the country sights and scents gave way to honking horns and the smell of exhaust; traffic was heavy today, too.

But nothing could darken her mood. She was on her way to celebrate her birthday with the man she loved, and she’d just come from doing a job she adored. She smiled, thinking of how six of her favorite students had surprised her with an impromptu party after school today.

Zoe had taught science to At Risk kids, as well as regular health classes, at Bayview Heights High School for most of her professional life, but three years ago, armed with her certification in health education, she had volunteered to design and implement three health-education courses: Leadership, Women’s Concerns and Life Issues. A broad spectrum of students had signed up for them, including this core of bright dedicated girls. While careful to keep their relationship professional, Zoe often spent time with them outside of school. Now they called themselves Caufield’s Chicks. Though politically incorrect, it was an affectionate term.

They’re the daughters you never had
, Kurt had told her.

Still smiling, she thought about Dr. Kurt Lansing, her best friend Cassie’s brother-in-law. She had high hopes for the upcoming weekend with him. His green eyes had sparkled like rare jade when he’d held her close last weekend and whispered, “I’ve reserved a suite at the Marquis Marriott Friday night. Meet me there at six.”

Her heart fluttered, remembering his next words. “I have some things to say to you, Zoe. Important things. Your fortieth birthday is the perfect time.”

She’d stilled. Their yearlong relationship had only gotten better over the months, though Kurt’s initial reluctance to get involved—he’d been badly hurt by his ex-wife—had slowed it considerably.

“Are they, um, good things you want to say to me?” she’d asked.

“Oh, they’re good, sweetheart. They’re really, really good…”

“He loves me,” she said aloud in the car. She knew it, even though he hadn’t spoken the words. Neither had she, not that she didn’t feel them, but she didn’t want to put pressure on him. Yet she sensed his feelings every time he brought her tiger lilies, every time he sat up late with her to discuss a problem she was having with a student or share a fear about his clinic, every time he slid his hands over her body.

Thinking about the fire-engine-red lingerie she’d stuffed in her bag, she glanced at the dashboard clock. The clinic was just off the expressway. Maybe she’d stop there first, entice Kurt to leave early and have plenty of time to talk before their eight-o’clock reservation at the revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel.

After all, it
was
her birthday—the big four-0 no less. And Kurt had been making progress in controlling his own personal demon—workaholism. He’d once confessed to Zoe that his work habits had been partly responsible for the breakup of his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth. Zoe had met her a few times at events for Kurt’s daughter, Lauren, and had seen with her own eyes the pull the woman had had on him. Zoe sensed a calculating coldness in Elizabeth, which was why Zoe had been happy when, after about six months, Kurt confided that she had brought him a long way toward getting over his ex.

When the clinic exit came into view, she veered off the expressway and in no time found the medical building Kurt operated with two other doctors. As usual, the parking lot was packed. People needed help and Kurt wanted to save each and every one of them. He felt about doctoring as she did about teaching.

Exiting the car, Zoe hurried into the clinic, breathing a silent prayer that the town board of Bayview Heights would accept Kurt’s proposal to open a clinic for teenagers. There had been opposition from newly elected officials, so the proposal had been stalled, which was crazy since Kurt’s two city clinics were so successful he’d been approached by medical organizations all over the country—and beyond—to consult on setting up similar facilities. Surely the town would give approval and then Kurt could move to Bayview and maybe they could build a life there.

Zoe entered the building, humming a song from the upcoming school musical this year. After greeting the receptionist, who told her Kurt was in a meeting, she strolled into the waiting room outside his office, adjacent to the front desk. Pouring herself a cup of coffee— its strong aroma permeated the whole room—she sat and perused the area. The chairs were somewhat worn, and the walls could use a new coat of paint. A little plant in the corner drooped from neglect. But good medicine was practiced in this clinic, she knew.

Fifteen minutes later, the door to Kurt’s office swung open. Zoe looked up from the magazine she’d been flipping through to the man she loved; he was dressed in a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal muscled forearms. His dark hair was disheveled; she knew he ran impatient hands through it when he was upset. He was gazing down at a gorgeous blonde, outfitted in an expensive-looking suit and fashionable heels.

His ex-wife, Elizabeth.

Zoe’s mouth fell open as the woman reached up and encircled Kurt’s neck with her long, slender arms. Bringing his head down, she kissed him thoroughly on the mouth.

Zoe’s stomach lurched.

Elizabeth drew back and soothed a palm over Kurt’s angular cheek. “I’ll wait to hear from you.”

Without even seeing Zoe, Elizabeth floated gracefully out the door.

Leaning against the doorjamb, Kurt stuck his hands in his pants pockets and watched Elizabeth go with a torn expression on his face.

Finally Zoe stood.

It was then that Kurt’s head snapped toward her. “Oh, my God. Zoe?”

 Keep cool. Don’t overreact. A show of temper will not get you what you want.
“Hi.”

“We were...” He glanced at the clock. “I thought we were meeting at the hotel.”

She just stared at him. His face reddened, the way it did when he got too much sun on his boat.

“Come inside,” he said, standing back from the doorway. She tried to deny the guilt in his voice.

Woodenly, Zoe crossed the worn floor and entered Kurt’s office. Everything seemed the same—two big windows, a battered oak desk, mismatched filing cabinets, the picture of her and Kurt smiling on the deck of the
Lady L
.

“Have a seat,” he said stiffly.

She sank onto a padded chair, glad for the support.

He leaned against his desk, his hands digging into his pockets. “I don’t know what to say.”

Releasing a heavy breath, she studied him. Damn it, she wasn’t giving in to insecurities and hurt pride. “I trust you, Kurt.” Though they’d made no commitments to each other, about four months ago he’d asked her not to see other men and had promised not to see other women. “It didn’t look good, but I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

His throat worked convulsively, but he said nothing. Zoe fidgeted like her kids before a test. “Kurt, you’re scaring m—”

“I slept with Elizabeth.”

At first everything seemed accented. The ticking of the clock was louder. The drone of voices outside the office rose in volume. The coffee smell that wended in from the waiting room turned her stomach. She grabbed on to the edge of the chair with both hands. “When?”

“It doesn’t matt—”

“I asked when.”

“Last Monday night.”

Zoe tried to remember where she’d been Monday night. She’d been playing volleyball on the high school teachers’ team; before she’d left for the game, Kurt had called and teasingly ordered her not to flirt with Alex Ransom, one of Bayview Heights’s vice principals, who’d had a crush on her ever since he’d been an eighteen-year-old student in her class.

“I don’t understand,” Zoe said, struggling to stay calm. “Did she come to see you? Or did you go to her?”

Kurt stared back at her, his green eyes bleak. “She came to my apartment to talk about our daughter. Lauren’s gotten into trouble already this year.”

“Where, Kurt? Where did you sleep with her? In the bed where we’d made love the weekend before?”

The color drained from his face. Finally he said, “Zoe, don’t.”

She rubbed her hands across her face, willing herself to think clearly. So much was at stake here. But all she could see was the man she’d been more intimate with than anyone in the world, naked and entwined with the beautiful Elizabeth.

Could she ever live with that?

Did it even matter? A cold feeling of dread seeped into her. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

He nodded. “Yes.” His voice was gravelly. “She wants a reconciliation.”

 I’ll wait to hear from you.

Oh, God, he hadn’t told her no. Zoe covered her mouth with her hand, afraid she might be ill.

“Zoe, I’m—”

She stood abruptly. “Please, don’t say you’re sorry.” She lifted her face to take this on the chin. “Obviously you’re considering going back to her.”

He stared at her. Swallowed hard. “Yes.”

In that minute everything changed.

And could never, ever be the same again.

CHAPTER ONE

“I MADE A MISTAKE.” Twilight peeked in through the kitchen window as Kurt faced his older brother and willed himself not to shrink from Mitch’s icy green gaze. They’d had several volatile discussions over the past eleven months, three days and several hours. Their disagreements had rivaled those they’d had when Mitch had first gotten back from Vietnam twenty-five years ago, when Kurt had tried to keep his brother off a downslide to nowhere.