Driftwood Cottage (14 page)

“I’ll drive down tomorrow afternoon,” he said eventually.

After the troubling thoughts he’d been having lately, maybe the fates were conspiring to show him the path his life could take. More likely, though, it was just Gram taking matters into her own hands and showing her unique intuition about what he needed even before he’d recognized it himself.

Connor had hoped to slip in and out of town without anyone in the family being the wiser. He didn’t want to stir up false hopes. Nor did he want the pressure of all the O’Briens chiming in with their two cents about the decision he might be facing. Until he actually met with Porter, he had no idea if moving back to Chesapeake Shores was a realistic option or not.

Connor had thought the location of Porter’s office, which was attached to his home on a side street a few blocks from Main, would work to his advantage. He’d even scheduled the appointment for late in the day. What he hadn’t counted on was the attorney’s lack of discretion or the town’s grapevine, one of which had to be responsible for the sight of a very familiar classic Mustang convertible sitting in Porter’s driveway—which meant Mick was inside. Connor heaved a sigh and almost drove right on by, but cowardice wasn’t in his nature.

He parked on the street, then walked past the weathered shingle hanging on a post in the yard and into the office, where he was greeted by Chelsea Martin, who’d
been a cheerleader back when Connor was playing ball. She beamed at him.

“When I saw your name on today’s schedule, I couldn’t believe my eyes, Connor,” she said, bubbling with enthusiasm. “How long has it been?”

“I’m guessing high school graduation,” he said.

“You’ve forgotten the bonfire on the beach a few days after that?” she teased. “I do believe we made out that night. I thought for sure you’d call.”

Connor winced. “What can I say? I was a cad back then.”

“Word around town is that you still are,” she said cheerfully. “Everyone just loves Heather and that adorable son of yours.”

“So do I,” he muttered, wondering if Chelsea was likely to be part of the package he’d be inheriting if he came back to town. Her clear-eyed view of him and his transgressions might be awkward.

“By the way, your father and grandmother are in with Mr. Porter now. I’ll let them know you’re here. They should be wrapping things up soon.”

Okay, so maybe Mick’s presence wasn’t part of some conspiracy, he concluded. Perhaps he’d just driven Gram over for an appointment. Then again, the timing was suspect.

As soon as Chelsea buzzed her boss, the door to the office opened and Joshua Porter waved him in. He looked to be at least eighty, with stooped shoulders, thick glasses and thinning hair. But behind the horn-rimmed glasses his eyes were bright, and he studied Connor shrewdly.

“You don’t look old enough to be out of law school to
me,” Porter said. “Then again, everyone’s looking like a kid to me these days.”

“I assure you I have the degree and the experience with a major law firm that Gram probably told you about,” Connor said.

“Oh, she’s been singing your praises for the past hour,” Porter said. “Of course, it made me wonder why she was in here seeing
me,
if you’re so darn good.”

“Because I prefer to keep my business private from family,” Nell said. “Even an old woman should have a few secrets that no one will learn about till she’s gone.”

Connor laughed and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “What kind of secrets have you been hiding from us, Gram? And why would you let Dad, of all people, in on them?”

She waved off the question. “Oh, we just let Mick through the door a minute ago. He wasn’t in here while Joshua and I were going over my affairs.”

Mick scowled at her. “Hey, I can keep a secret, Ma. You have no idea of all the things people have entrusted to me over the years.”

“Name one,” she said, then laughed at her own taunt.

Mick laughed, too. “You’ll not catch me that way.” He turned to Connor. “What brings you down here?”

Connor shook his head. “You actually managed to ask that with a straight face, Dad. Maybe you should ask Bree about joining her theater company.”

“Connor and I have some business to discuss,” Porter said. “And since it’s late in the day, we should get to it.” He took Nell’s hand in his. “That is, if our business is concluded.”

“You’ve done everything I requested, as always,” Nell told him. “Come along, Mick. Maybe we can go for a drive with the top down. It’s been a while since I’ve been out in that fancy old convertible of yours.”

“Absolutely,” Mick said eagerly, always happy to show off his classic car, though he was fiercely protective when it came to letting anyone in the family drive it.

Suddenly Connor recalled his mother sneaking the convertible out of the garage on occasion, almost always when Mick had done something to displease her. He regarded his father innocently, then addressed his grandmother. “Gram, I’ll bet Mom would take you for a ride in it anytime you’d like.”

His father scowled at him. “Don’t try to stir up trouble, young man. I know all about your mother taking this car joyriding on the sly.”

“And yet you remarried her anyway,” Connor teased.

Mick scowled. “Don’t think that same forgiveness extends to you. You’re just lucky you never put a scratch on it.”

Connor had only
borrowed
the car once. His mother had covered for him, or at least until this very moment, he’d thought she had. Apparently those two had no secrets, after all. He decided that shutting up would be wise. Mick seemed amused by his decision.

“Will we be seeing you at the house later?” Mick asked.

“I thought I’d stay for the weekend, if that’s okay,” Connor told him, changing his mind about hightailing it straight back to Baltimore. His presence was bound to be noted, anyway, thanks to this chance encounter with
Gram and his father. And it had been several weeks since he’d spent any real time with his son.

“Of course it’s okay. I’ll let your mother know. We’ll hold dinner till you get there.” Mick gave him a sly look. “Unless you have plans with Heather.”

“No plans,” Connor said, holding his gaze with a touch of defiance.

Mick muttered something under his breath that Connor couldn’t quite decipher, though he was pretty sure his father might have just called him an idiot. Mick left before Connor could confront him on it.

As Porter walked out with Mick and Connor’s grandmother, Connor looked around the office. The oversize leather furniture looked comfortable, if worn. The law books lining the wall behind the desk appeared well-used. Light flooded the room from a large bay window. He hadn’t noticed a room for a second office, which made Connor wonder if Porter intended him to work here or to set up a practice elsewhere, then funnel clients to Connor slowly as he phased out his own practice.

A moment later, Porter returned and closed the door. “So, let’s get acquainted. Why don’t you tell me about what you’ve been doing in Baltimore?”

Connor described the practice and his client list.

“Sounds depressing, if you ask me,” the old man said.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking the same thing,” Connor admitted, much to his own surprise. “But I’m not sure estate law and real estate transactions will be any better.”

“Want to know how I see it?” Porter asked.

Connor nodded.

“You practice law in a big city like Baltimore,
especially when most of your cases are divorces or custody battles, you see people at their worst. You get to know them just long enough to navigate them through a rough patch in their lives. That’s the last you see of most of them, am I right?”

“Pretty much.”

“Here, you’re going to be dealing with people you know. If you’re the kind of man I’m sure your grandmother tried to raise, you’ll care about what’s happening in their lives. It won’t be a bunch of filings and motions for you. And when all’s said and done, you’ll see your clients again tomorrow, in church or on the street or at Sally’s. You’ll know how things are going for them. They’ll invite you over for a drink in their new house that you helped them get. You may be around when they’ve had a run of bad luck, but you’ll also be around for the happiest moments of their lives.” He met Connor’s gaze. “You see what I’m trying to tell you?”

“I think so,” Connor said.

“Are you a part of the community like that in Baltimore?”

“No, sir.”

“You like it that way?”

Connor thought about the life he had, especially now that Heather and little Mick were gone. He was making good money. He had a great career. What he didn’t have was a life, not the kind that Joshua Porter was describing. Suddenly he knew what he had to do. Still, he was cautious.

“If I say yes, how will this work?” he asked the older man.

Porter outlined the ideas he had about a partnership.
“There’s another office in the back here. That’d be yours. Chelsea can probably handle working for both of us, but if that doesn’t pan out, we can always bring in someone else. I’ll start scaling back. I can’t say how much or how fast. Some of my clients may not want to change, and I’m not sure I’m ready to call it a day entirely, either.”

“Are you sure there’s enough work for two of us?” Connor asked.

“I know there’s more than I can handle,” the attorney said. “I say yes to everybody who walks through that door because right now I’m not willing to send them out of town to some stranger. There are plenty of other good lawyers in the area, but most folks like dealing with someone they know.”

What he was describing was a much slower pace than Connor was used to, but maybe having time for other priorities would be a good thing. Taking the job would mean a cut in pay, too, but the cost of living here would be much less. There were a lot of things he needed to weigh and consider.

“Let me think about this over the weekend,” Connor suggested. “Can we talk again on Monday morning before I go back to Baltimore?”

“Works for me,” Porter said, then bellowed in a surprisingly strong voice, “Chelsea, come in here!”

She popped her head in the door. “Yes?”

“Put Connor on my calendar for Monday morning.” He glanced at Connor. “Eight o’clock good for you?”

“I’ll be here,” Connor said.

“You have any questions over the weekend, give me a call. Otherwise, I’ll see you Monday morning first thing.”

Connor took another look around the office, then met Joshua Porter’s gaze. He thought of all the mentors he’d had in Baltimore. The men might be more polished and a whole lot wealthier, but few of them had told it like it was the way this man had. Connor instinctively liked and trusted Porter, and he liked even more the picture Porter had painted of practicing law in Chesapeake Shores.

He already knew what he was going to do, but he also knew he needed the weekend to let the idea percolate. It was a huge decision with lots of ramifications, including the fact that Heather and his son would be in his life on a daily basis.

That could be sweet torment or, if he let it, the best thing that had ever happened to him.

H
eather was in the middle of teaching her quilting class on Saturday morning when Megan dropped into the shop, her eyes alight with excitement.

“Do you have a minute?” she asked Heather, after greeting Laila, Connie and the other women in the class.

“We’ll be wrapping up in another hour,” Heather said. “Could it wait?”

“Go ahead, Heather,” Laila said. “We’re all ripping out stitches, anyway. It’ll just make you insane to watch us.”

Heather chuckled. “Who knew I’d wind up with a beginners class filled with perfectionists? Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.”

She joined Megan on the sidewalk outside the store. It was one of those rare spectacular days in June when the air was soft and springlike, rather than oppressive. It felt good to be outside, even for a few minutes. Heather studied Megan, who was barely managing to contain some kind of big news. “Okay, what’s up?”

“Have you spoken to Connor lately?”

Heather shook her head. “It’s been a couple of weeks. In fact, I was about to call and bug him because he hasn’t seen his son.”

“Not to worry. I imagine you’ll be seeing him before the weekend’s over.”

Heather regarded her with surprise. “He’s in town?”

“Came down yesterday. And do you want to know why?”

“To see little Mick, I imagine.”

“That, too, of course, but he was here to meet with Joshua Porter,” Megan announced, clearly brimming over with delight.

Heather shrugged, not getting what the fuss was about. “Who’s that?”

Megan looked disappointed by her reaction. “Oh, wait, I forgot that you weren’t actually here when all that paperwork for the shop and apartment was being signed. Porter’s an attorney, the only one we’ve had in town for years and years.”

“Why was Connor meeting with him? Does he need an attorney?” Unexpected panic suddenly tore through her. “He’s not going after full custody of our son, is he?”

“Heavens, no,” Megan said, looking horrified. “Connor would never do such a thing. He knows you’re a wonderful mother.”

Heather’s pulse slowed at Megan’s reassurance. “Then what’s this all about?”

“Well, Connor hasn’t said a word to me, but I do know that Porter was going to ask him to join his practice,” Megan told her. “They met yesterday afternoon to discuss it.”

Heather’s eyes widened, and her heartbeat accelerated
all over again. “Here? Connor might practice law in Chesapeake Shores? I don’t believe it! For as long as I’ve known him, all he’s talked about was making partner in a big-time law practice.”

“Well, apparently he’s reconsidered. At least he seems to be taking Joshua’s offer seriously,” Megan told her, then studied her worriedly. “You’d be okay with that, right? I mean, you do think it would be for the best if he moved back here.”

Heather didn’t know what she thought. It would be great for little Mick to have his dad close by, but for her? It would mean facing, every single day, the fact that she and Connor weren’t going to have the life she’d once dreamed of. And it would be happening before she really had her feet solidly under her and had established a new and totally fulfilling life of her own.

“It’s not a done deal?” she asked eventually, hating that her reservations had put a damper on Megan’s excitement.

“No, I don’t think so,” Megan said, frowning. “Oh, Heather, will it be too hard for you? We, none of us, thought of that.”

Heather stared at her. There was something in Megan’s voice that suggested she’d had something to do with this unexpected turn of events. “You’re behind this?”

“In a way,” Megan admitted. “Not me so much as Mick and Nell. Mick had the idea and Nell went to Porter.”

“Does Connor know that?”

She nodded. “Apparently, it didn’t take him but a split second to figure it out.”

“Then I’m surprised he didn’t run the other way,” Heather said.

“Frankly, so am I, but he hasn’t. I find that encouraging. Not only would this be a fresh start for Connor—perhaps change the way he looks at the world—but I believe it could finally turn things around for the two of you.”

Fighting off a quick burst of hope, Heather shook her head. “Connor’s core values aren’t going to change, no matter where he’s living, Megan.”

Megan sighed. “I hope you’re wrong about that.”

“I wish I were,” Heather said. “But I don’t think I am.”

And that meant if Connor made this move, she was going to be right back where she started, in the middle of a life that would never be everything she’d once hoped for.

Connor had found an old T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts in his closet to wear on Saturday morning. He planned to call Heather and make arrangements to pick up Mick for the weekend, then spend the day with his son fishing on the dock or hanging out at the house. The less he saw of Heather while he was pondering this move back home, the better. He didn’t want her presence to influence his decision one way or the other. The move had to be right for him. It would require some serious adjustments of his career ambitions that he wasn’t entirely sure he was prepared to make.

He’d just fixed himself a bowl of cereal and poured a cup of coffee when the kitchen door opened and Kevin came in, looking harried.

“Boy, was I glad to hear you’re in town,” his brother said. “I have a crisis.”

Connor regarded him with concern. Kevin was a former EMT and had been a medic in Iraq. He was usually unflappable. “What kind of crisis?”

“Have you heard about these speaking engagements Uncle Thomas has lined up all over the region?”

Connor shook his head. “But I assume he’s doing talks about preserving the bay.”

“Exactly. He did one for Shanna here last year, and it went so well, he enlisted her and Connie to put together a whole string of them. There’s one this afternoon over in Easton.”

“I’m still not hearing anything about a crisis.”

“They sell books at these events and sign people up for memberships in the foundation. There needs to be a couple of people to handle that. I’d told Shanna I’d stay here and run the store, but now Henry’s sick with some kind of stomach virus and this morning Davy threw up, too. I can’t watch them and the store, so she’s staying home with the boys, I’m taking over at the store and you’re going to pitch in by helping Connie at the event.”

“But I’d planned on spending the day with little Mick,” Connor protested.

“Take him along. He’ll have a great time. It’s outdoors and somebody’s bound to be selling hot dogs and stuff.” Kevin gave him an imploring look. “Please, bro. You’ve got to help me out. Otherwise we have to close the store and I have to watch the boys so Shanna can go. I do not do well with sick kids.”

“You’re a former EMT, for heaven’s sake,” Connor said.

“Not the same when it’s your kid throwing up and looking miserable,” Kevin told him. “You’ll see when you
start spending more time with your son.” He grinned. “I hear it won’t be long before that happens.”

Connor frowned. “I see the O’Brien grapevine is working at warp speed these days. I haven’t said yes to Porter’s offer yet. I might not.”

“Of course you will,” Kevin predicted with confidence. “So, can I count on you today, bro? It’s about time you pitched in with a few family obligations.”

Connor gave him a mock scowl. “Watch it, or you could provide me with a reason to stay right where I am in Baltimore.”

Kevin shook his head, his expression serious. “You’re smarter than that. Not that you’ve shown much evidence of it recently, but we’re all betting on that changing.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” Connor sighed. “Okay, count me in. Tell me where I need to go and when I need to be there.”

“Connie has the information. You can ride over with her. The books are already packed in the trunk of her car.” Kevin hesitated, then said, “There’s one more thing.”

“Uh-oh,” Connor replied, regarding him warily. “What’s that?”

“Keep an eye on her and Uncle Thomas,” Kevin requested.

Connor stared at his brother in shock. “Connie and Uncle Thomas? You have to be kidding me!”

Kevin shrugged. “It’s not like there’s anything official going on. It’s just a vibe I got when I saw them together recently in Annapolis. But I’m a guy. What do I know?”

“I’d like to point out that I’m a guy, too. I may not be any better than you at assessing the situation.”

“You’re a lawyer. It’s part of your job to read people.
And nobody knows these two particular people better than you do.”

“Jake knows his sister. What’s his take?” Connor tried to imagine what Jake’s reaction would be. Given the age difference between Connie and Thomas, it probably wouldn’t be good. “He might have quite a lot to say about this.”

“I’m not sure there’s anything for Jake to have a take on,” Kevin warned, “so don’t go spreading tales. I just want to hear your assessment after you’ve spent some time with them. I’ll let Connie know to pick you up—be ready to go in a half hour. I think that’s when that quilting class over at Heather’s store wraps up.”

“Tell Connie I’ll meet her there. I have to grab little Mick anyway, if Heather agrees.”

“Perfect,” Kevin said. “Thanks for doing this, bro.”

“Not a problem,” Connor told him. In fact, he was just discovering that Chesapeake Shores might have more fascinating things going on than he’d ever envisioned.

Thomas finished his speech, then took time to talk to anyone who lingered afterward with questions. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from glancing across the green to where Connie was doing a brisk business selling books about the Chesapeake Bay. While watching the piles of books dwindle was satisfying, he realized he was more interested in the woman selling them. She had a smile for everyone, and her laughter rang out whenever his nephew made some comment to her.

Thomas had been surprised when he’d seen Connor and his boy arriving with Connie. In fact, he’d even had a momentary pang at the thought that even though Connor
was a bit younger than Connie, the two of them made much more suitable companions than he ever would with a woman her age. Of course, Connor’s heart belonged with the mother of his child, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Still, Connie no doubt had opportunities to meet many men closer to her own age than he was.

When the last of the stragglers had wandered off, Thomas crossed the green. Connie looked up from her sale and smiled at him, then went back to writing the receipt. He glanced toward Connor and saw that his nephew was watching him intently.

“How’d we do with donations and memberships today?” Thomas asked, forcing his attention away from Connie.

“I don’t have anything to compare it to, but it seemed okay to me,” Connor said. “About forty people signed up for the foundation, and donations topped a thousand dollars. I think there are additional pledges on some of the membership applications, too.”

“Fantastic!” Thomas said enthusiastically. “I knew this was going to work after the event Shanna held last summer. Can’t imagine why none of us ever thought of it before.”

“Connie seems very excited about being a part of it,” Connor said, glancing her way.

“She’s been a godsend,” Thomas said, then added quickly, “As has Shanna.”

Connor smirked. “Of course.”

Thomas heard the suggestive note in Connor’s voice, latched on to his nephew’s arm and dragged him away from the table where Connie was still making book sales.

“Is there something on your mind?” he demanded irritably. “If there is, out with it.”

“Not a thing,” Connor swore, but there was still a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Anything you want to tell me?”

Thomas studied him with a narrowed gaze, wondering just what Connor was not saying. He certainly wasn’t going to be the one to bring Connie’s name into the conversation.

“Nothing,” he said stiffly. Although he was surprisingly disappointed not to have the opportunity to share so much as a cup of coffee with Connie, he could see that today wasn’t the day. “I need to be getting back to Annapolis.”

“Since you’re this close to Chesapeake Shores, why not come on over for the rest of the weekend?” Connor suggested. “There’s plenty of room at the house. I don’t think Dad would throw you out. Or perhaps there’s someplace else in town you could stay,” he added suggestively.

“You know, if you were my son, I’d have plenty to say about all these looks and innuendoes of yours,” Thomas told him.

Connor actually had the audacity to laugh. “But then Dad doesn’t know what’s going on, does he? I’m sure if he did, he’d have a few things to say to you himself.”

“There is nothing going on,” Thomas said in a fierce undertone, glancing over to make sure that Connie couldn’t overhear. “And if you suggest otherwise, I’ll call you a liar. Don’t be stirring up trouble, young man.”

Connor’s expression sobered. “Hey, I’m just giving you a rough time. If you’ve got a thing for Connie and she’s reciprocating, I think it’s great.”

There it was, spelled out in plain English, Thomas thought with a sigh. “She’s a lovely woman,” he conceded cautiously. “I’ve noticed that. It’s gone no further. I doubt it will.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not about to make a fool of myself at this stage of my life,” Thomas said. “Now, can we let this go before she wonders what the two of us are whispering about?”

“I think it would be a crying shame for you not to at least spend a little time getting to know each other,” Connor argued. “Why don’t we all go for something to drink? Little Mick could use a snack before we head back anyway.”

It was an invitation Thomas couldn’t bring himself to turn down. “A half hour, just so we can tally the results of the day,” he said finally.

Connor grinned. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

Sadly, right at this moment, that excuse was the only thing that kept Thomas from feeling like an old fool.

Connie was quiet as she and Connor drove back to Chesapeake Shores. Little Mick had fallen asleep in his car seat the minute they’d hit the road. Connie had agreed to let Connor drive. She’d spent most of the ride staring out the window, her expression pensive.

“Something on your mind?” Connor asked eventually.