Driftwood Lane (21 page)

Except she’d have to tell the kids. She wasn’t ready for that hurdle.

She sipped her coffee. Maybe she could kill two birds with one stone. If Jake stayed, they would be safe and the house would get finished. Plus, it would allow the children to bond with her before she broke the bad news.

When school let out in June, she’d tell them, then she’d put the house on the market.

Meridith drained her coffee, set the mug in the sink, then went to the garage to collect the summer decorations for the back porch. It was time to spruce up the exterior. She’d found boxes of chair cushions, conch shells, and knickknacks to decorate with.

She lugged the boxes to the back of the house, Piper wagging along behind her. Meridith beat the dust from the plaid cushions and set them in place along with the pillows.

Piper’s reddish-gold coat gleamed from the sunny spot where she’d settled. She watched Meridith for a moment, then laid her head on her paws with a heavy sigh.

Meridith rinsed the conch shells under the spigot, then placed them on the wicker table. Next she pulled out the long lantern strand. Dust rose, filling her nostrils, making her sneeze. She pulled a chair to the corner and began stringing the colorful lights.

The day was warming, no sign of a breeze, and Meridith was glad she’d chosen a short-sleeved top. Rounding the porch’s corner, she looped the wire over the hook and looked back on her work, making sure the strand was secure enough to withstand heavy wind.

The clack of the screen door started her. She spun, and the rickety chair wobbled.

“Sorry.” Jake rushed to steady her, but she’d already caught her balance.

He was always startling her, but how could she be mad after last night?

Jake scanned the porch appreciatively. “Nice.”

Piper, always eager for attention, came running at the sound of Jake’s voice.

Meridith stepped down from the chair and scooted it a few feet.

“Let me.” Jake took the string and looped it over the hooks one at a time. It took him two minutes to finish the porch.

“Show-off,” she said.

“Being tall has its benefits.”

And being strong. Words of gratitude formed in her mind, but it took a moment to order them. “I never thanked you last night.”

He scratched behind Piper’s ears. “No need.” He plugged the lights in the wall outlet, and they glowed dimly. “Hopefully there’s a wall switch inside.”

“I mean it, Jake. I don’t know what I would’ve done.” Heat worked into her cheeks. She pulled a cornflower blue pail from the box and set it on one of the tables.

“Your arms . . .”

She looked down, noticing the bruises. Brownish-gray blotches, Sean’s fingerprints on her skin. She rubbed the spots, wishing she could wipe them away. Seeing them there, she could almost feel Sean’s grip on her, feel the helplessness welling up.

“I should’ve beat the kid to a pulp.” Jake’s fists clenched.

“He’s long gone. That’s all that matters.”

“He should’ve been arrested.”

“I don’t think he meant to—to attack me that way. We stumbled, and he fell on me.”

“You’re wearing evidence that says otherwise.”

He had a point. And the night before, sand grinding into her back, she’d been convinced she was in danger.

“Don’t like the idea of you and the kids here alone.”

“Aren’t you the one who thought the partitions were silly?”

“Never said that.”

“Didn’t have to.” She gave a wry smile. She was pretty good at reading people. Like just now, he was thinking she was right.

“Maybe I did.” He leaned a shoulder on the shingled wall, looking every bit as cocky as he had that first day he’d turned up on her doorstep.

It didn’t bother her just this minute. “I know I said I was done with the repairs, but what would you think of finishing the ones that aren’t too costly?”

His gaze intensified. “Really?”

Meridith collected a basket and began filling it with shells. “You mentioned the fireplace. I’d like to get it working again. We have tree branches hitting the house, a couple trees that a stiff wind would blow over—if you do that kind of work. Not to mention the other things on the list.”

Jake walked to the railing, staring out to sea. When Piper joined him, Jake ruffled her fur.

Maybe he didn’t want to stay now. Maybe having the kids underfoot all week had been a pain. Maybe he’d been offended at the way she’d confronted him about being alone with Noelle—a notion that now seemed ludicrous in light of the way he’d come to her rescue.

“I mean, if you can’t, that’s all right. You probably have other work lined up.” It was only a couple months. They’d be safe that long, right? She saw Sean’s hardened face, heard the bitter slur of his words, and shuddered.

“I’ll stay.”

“Are you sure?” Her words rushed out.

“Glad to.”

She smiled. “All right then.”

He straightened, winked, and she felt it down to her bones.

“Back to the fuse box. The electric will be off awhile today, that okay?”

“Sure, fine.”

She watched him go, a new appreciation for those sturdy shoulders and thick arms. Now she wouldn’t have anything to worry about.

But something stirred inside at the sight of him walking away that made Meridith wonder if she’d only exchanged one set of worries for another.

Meridith pulled the sliding door and settled at the patio table with Rita. With the electricity off at Summer Place, she’d welcomed her new friend’s invitation. The unseasonably warm weather had spurred the Lawsons to fill their pool early, and the kids had jumped at the chance to swim in the heated pool.

The smell of chlorine and sunscreen filled the air. Squeals of laughter and the splashing of water as Max did a cannonball made Meridith smile. Noelle sat on the curled ledge kicking water at Rita’s fourteen-year-old son.

“The kids seem to be doing well lately,” Rita said. “I think Brandon’s flirting with Noelle. Look at that.”

“Noelle’s flirting right back.” After worrying about a crush on Jake, Meridith was relieved to see Noelle interested in a boy her own age. Yet another part of her knew that would only make leaving the island harder.

“Brandon and I are singing in church Sunday. I think he’s nervous. Who am I kidding? I’m the nervous one.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great. I’m looking forward to hearing you.” She’d noticed Rita singing during the service. “You really love church,” Meridith said. “Yours is a lot different from mine back home.”

“I love church because I love God, you know? He’s so good to me.”

“Of course. We’re very blessed.”

“It wasn’t always like that for me. When I met Lee, I was stuck in a rut. It was all just head knowledge.”

“What do you mean?”

Rita sipped her Diet Coke. “Oh, you know. I believed in God, I knew Jesus was God’s Son, knew I was a sinner. I knew it here.” She pointed to her temple. “But I didn’t know it here.” She placed her hand on her heart.

Meridith watched Ben backstroke across the width of the shallow end. His arm seemed good as new. He wiped water from his face, smiled at her. Meridith gave him a thumbs-up.

“It’s like you and your siblings. Before you came here you knew about them, right? Knew they existed?”

Meridith nodded. “Sure.”

“But you didn’t
know
them. There’s a vast difference. I see the way you look at them.”

“They’re good kids.”

“That they are. Ellie!” She turned her attention to her daughter. “Look before you jump. You almost landed on Max.”

Meridith pulled her wrap more tightly around her.

“Go on in,” Rita said, “The water’s warm.”

“Aren’t you swimming?”

Rita chortled. “Oh, honey, my bathing suit days are long gone.”

“I might get in later. I’m too comfortable to get up. How’s your gallery doing?”

“It’s slow. But it’ll pick up soon. The festival weekend is usually busy. How are things with your fiancé—Stephen, is it? Must be hard to be apart.”

“We’re okay. Today’s Tax Day, so his schedule will ease up.”

“Maybe he can come for a visit. He needs to meet his new kids!”

Meridith grimaced. “Actually . . . I haven’t exactly told him I’m keeping the children.”

“Oh dear.”

“I’ve hinted at it, but with the stress of tax season—well, I guess I have no excuse now, do I?”

“How do you think he’ll react?” Rita tucked her glossy hair behind her ear. Her warm and caring eyes made Meridith want to spill it all.

Meridith shrugged. “He’s a rational man. I think he’ll understand, especially since there’s no other viable option.” But the tone in Stephen’s voice when she’d mentioned it before belied her words. “I’ll tell him soon.”

She scanned the pool, accounting for all the children. The wicker crackled when she leaned back.

“Honey, what happened to your arm?” Rita frowned, reached over, and ran her fingers across the bruises. “Both of them!” she added, noticing the other arm.

The sleeves of her cover-up had ridden up. Meridith pulled them down. “Oh. It’s nothing. A guest caught me by surprise last night.”

“
What?
Did he attack you, Meridith?”

“Sort of, but Jake came and, well, kind of punched him, and everything’s fine now.”

“Jake . . . ?”

“The contractor I told you about.”

“Oh, right. Thank God he was there! Did you call the police?”

“No. Jake booted him and his friends from the house.”

“But are you okay? You must have been terrified!”

Meridith nodded. “I was. I was so relieved when Jake showed up. It was late at night, and I was alone on the beach—won’t do that again.” She gave a dry laugh.

“I’m just glad you’re okay. This Jake guy seems like quite the hero.”

She’d only vocalized what Meridith had been thinking. “We’re lucky to have him around.”

Thirty

It was Saturday night before Meridith got up the nerve. The kids were tucked in bed, their church clothes laid out on their dressers. Meridith had washed her face, brushed and flossed, and changed into her nightshirt. She could delay no longer.

She punched in the number on her cell and paced while it rang.

“Hi, honey,” she said when Stephen answered.

“Meridith. I was just thinking about you.”

She smiled. “That’s nice to hear.”

“I was watching the news, and it occurred to me that I never asked about your dad’s taxes—did you file?”

That’s what he’d been thinking? “My dad filed before he passed.

I checked weeks ago.”

“Oh, good. I was worried. Not that I thought you didn’t have it covered, but you’ve been out of your element there.”

“No kidding.” She hadn’t told him about Sean. No sense in worrying him, especially since Jake was here.

“No word from the uncle?”

“No.” Meridith bit her lip. She had to tell him. He needed time to adjust to the idea before she brought the children home.

“I miss you. I want you to come home.”

“I know, but I can’t. You understand, right?”

He sighed. “You’re going broke paying your mortgage without a paycheck coming in. You’re losing your savings.”

If only he knew Summer Place was draining it too. “When Summer Place sells, I’ll get it back.” At least she hoped she would. “Anyway, I wanted to talk about the children.”

“What is it?”

She closed her eyes and plunged in. “When I come home, they’re coming with me, Stephen.” She waited for the response. And waited. Meridith’s fist knotted, clutching her cotton nightshirt. Why wasn’t he responding?

She continued, “Their uncle hasn’t contacted them. He obviously won’t be interested in guardianship, and frankly, I don’t think he’s fit anyway. And there isn’t anyone else. They’d go to foster care, probably be separated, and I can’t let that happen.”

“But—we’re getting married.” He sounded stunned.

“They’re my siblings.”

“They were strangers two months ago.”

“Well, they’re not now. They’re blood relatives, Stephen, and I care about them.”

He gave a deep sigh. “I understand you feel a certain obligation. You’re really caught in a bad spot. But where am I in this decision? It’s
our
future, not just yours, and this isn’t the kind of decision you make alone, Meridith. Not when you’re engaged.”

“I should’ve said something sooner, I know. But you were knee deep in taxes, and I—”

“We’re talking about raising three children.”

“You’ll love them, I know you will. And the oldest is thirteen— four years, and she’ll be off to college.”

“You’re missing the point. Don’t I get a say?”

He was right, of course. But what if he decided he couldn’t do it? “I’m sorry, Stephen, I know you’re right. But what do you want me to do? They’re my siblings. I can’t abandon them. I thought you’d understand; you know about my childhood. How can I not offer them the stability of a good home?”

“It’s very admirable of you, but—”

“You’d be a wonderful father, Stephen.”

“I’m not ready for that.”

The words, so pointedly spoken, made her reel. He hadn’t gotten upset, wasn’t yelling. He was calm and cool like always, but he wasn’t budging.

“What am I supposed to do then, Stephen?” Even after three deep breaths, after closing her eyes and counting backward from ten, she wasn’t ready for his response.

“I guess you have a choice to make.”

Thirty-one

Mrs. Goldman made one last adjustment to the daffodil wreath and stepped back. Meridith surveyed the decorated Galaxie. The aqua finish gleamed under the April sky, having been washed and waxed by Ben and Jake. The color set off the garland of yellow daffodils and the spray fanning from a yellow bow above the license plate.

“It’ll be the best one!” Ben said. Piper licked his hand, then sat at his side, tongue lolling sideways from her mouth.

“Thanks, Mrs. Goldman,” Noelle said.

“Oh, honey, I look forward to this every year. So much fun. I’ll be watching for it in the parade, but I have to go wake Mr. Goldman now, or he’ll sleep right through the festivities.” The woman scooted back into the house, her gray wispy hair and yellow tunic fluttering in the wind.

The wind chimes jangled, making a riot of noise.