Finding The Way Back To Love (Lakeside Porches 3) (29 page)

Gwen shook her head and handed over the total plus a generous tip. “I’ll tell you all about the little ones the next time I’m in.”

“Tomorrow morning too soon?” Lynnie said with an eager grin. “It’s very special to have a new generation of Cushmans in Tompkins Falls.”

Gwen called a greeting as she came through the Cushman’s living room. “You all appear to be loving your sunshiny deck.”

“Aren’t they adorable under their very cool umbrella?” Gianessa flashed a smile.

The babies’ little blond heads locked onto Gwen’s voice. Jack lifted his hands as Gwen approached.

“It’s your Auntie Gwen,” Gianessa told them. She rose and did a languid stretch before taking the drinks and bag of food from Gwen.

“No one would believe you delivered twins two months ago. You look amazing.” She squatted down and offered her finger for Jack to clasp.

Gianessa opened the bag for her brownie and settled back in a shady armchair with her cold drink. “I’m going to be so wired in twenty minutes,” she predicted.

Gwen chuckled and swiveled to tell Jill, “Yes, Mommy will be wired.” Jill giggled as Gwen poked her belly. “I didn’t think babies could laugh at this age.”

“They can’t. It’s your magic.”

“Or my imagination,” Gwen said. She stroked Jack’s chubby cheek with her thumb before standing up.

The women watched the twins for another minute until both babies closed their eyes in sleep and their heads drifted toward each other.

“Are they always in synch like that?”

“Mostly, yes.” Gianessa gave a contented sighed. “Who’d have thought we could sit out on this deck before next spring?”

Gwen shielded her eyes with her hand as she stood at the railing to view the lake. “I am passionate about this lake. I love it in every mood, and most especially when the water sparkles like this—diamonds on lapis. I only see it this way in late fall when the sky is cloudless and deep blue.” She turned to Gianessa. “You and Justin have the best vantage point.”

“We do. He always wanted to build a house up here in the birches.” Eyes wide, she took in the beauty. A manicured lawn swept down from the new house, almost half a mile, from the birches to the lakeshore.

One of the sleeping twins made a bubbling sound. Gianessa and Gwen turned to see Jill with her mouth pursed in sleep. “This is heaven,” their mother said.

“And you deserve every beautiful moment.” Gwen drew her baseball cap out of her back pocket and fitted it on her head.

“Come sit. You have to have your lunch before you can eat your brownie,” Gianessa ordered.

“Yes, Mom.” Gwen plunked down at the table and reached for the bag. “When did they finish the deck?”

“Saturday. Justin took off work yesterday afternoon, and we hung here with the twins for a few hours. It did us all a world of good, just to relax and feel the warm breeze.”

“How are you feeling?” Gwen unwrapped her sandwich and spread out the wrapper on the teak table. She picked up half the sandwich with both hands and planted her elbows. She opened her mouth wide, took the first bite, and rolled her eyes.

Gianessa laughed. “Lynnie makes the best, doesn’t she?”

Gwen growled with pleasure.

“I’m healing quickly,” Gianessa answered the original question, “but I tire easily. I am so grateful for our round-the-clock nannies and for the nurse who comes every morning to help me start my day.”

Gwen eyed her. “But everything’s okay, or not?”

“I’ll be fine. I had it all planned to deliver naturally at full term and to have more babies in the years to come, but the universe had other ideas.” The crease in her forehead betrayed the sadness she felt about that. “We are so fortunate to have two healthy little ones—a boy and a girl.”

Gwen set down her sandwich and looked at the pink and blue bundles, side-by-side in the shade of the tan market umbrella. “Yes, you are blessed.” She turned compassionate eyes on her friend. “But I’m sorry there won’t be more.”

“Our children can grow up together, Gwen.” Gianessa cleared her throat and rallied her energy. “I believe you’re ready to have your own”

“Speaking of the universe, I had it all planned that Peter would propose and we’d get pregnant right away, but we can see how that worked out.”

“Unless and until he dealt with his issues, it wasn’t going to work.”

“I see that now. I underestimated how damaged he is by his father’s alcoholism and his wife’s . . .” She shook her head and gazed out at the sparkling lake. “It shocked me that he would just wash his hands of our relationship because I’m an alcoholic. And I know I need to move on. I really do want to marry a strong, honest man who’ll go the distance with me.”

“So,” Gianessa said with a sly smile, “are you ready to start fresh with a new guy and see what happens?”

“You said that like you’ve got a guy in mind for me.”
Let your friends help you, Gwen, remember?

“In fact,” Gianessa said, “Sunday afternoon, we had some of the new Tompkins College faculty for
hors d-oeuvres
.”

“Are you really up to entertaining?” Gwen scolded.

“Full disclosure. I made a guest appearance. Justin did all the work.”

“Okay, tell me about the new guy.” She took another juicy bite of her sandwich.

“You and Rand Cunningham will turn heads when you walk into a room together. He’s that perfect for you.”

“Good looking?”

Gianessa blew out hard and shook her hand as if it needed cooling.

“And he probably has an interesting brain, if he’s one of the new crop of professors at the college.”

Gianessa confirmed it. “Brilliant communications professor, knows how to get the students fired up. Bit of an egotist, but I think he’s teachable.”

Gwen narrowed her eyes. “How young is this guy?” A slice of tomato slipped out of the sandwich and plopped on the wrapper.

“As a matter of fact, Sunday was his twenty-ninth birthday.”

Gwen retrieved the tomato and popped it in her mouth. “That’s only three years difference. Has he ever been married?”

“Broke up with a fiancée a couple of years ago and still hasn’t found anyone he’s serious about.”

“And he broke it off why?”

“Said his girl decided she didn’t want children after all.”

Gwen tipped her head back and forth. “So far so good.” Her hands dripped with mustard and tomato. She gestured at Gianessa with her chin. “You never told me you were a matchmaker.”

Gianessa laughed and waved it away. “I had the opportunity to screen him, with you in mind. I liked him.” She raised her eyebrows. “So, shall we have him over for homemade pizza this Saturday afternoon? It will be a very early supper, five o’clock, since I’m ready for bed by eight these days.”

“You found a way to make gluten-free pizza?”

“Justin and I have perfected our crust. You won’t know the difference.”

Gwen wiped her hands and forearms with half a dozen napkins, gathered her mess back into the bag, and sat back with her brownie. “I’m game.”

Chapter 14

Gwen arrived at the Cushmans Friday evening, fashionably late. With wet feet.

Gianessa answered the doorbell and laughed at Gwen’s woebegone face.

“Squish.” Gwen pointed to the puddle forming around her probably ruined loafers. “I need to fix my potholes, girlfriend.”

“So I see.” Gianessa handed her the kitchen towel from her shoulder. “I have very cute slippers you can wear,” she said with a conspiratorial wink.

Gwen’s eyes lit up. “Pink with kittens?”

“I
never
share those. These are black with gold braid, perfect with your black cashmere sweater.” She lowered her voice. “And those skinny, dark-indigo jeans are going to kill the guy. Very sexy, Dr. Forrester.”

While Gianessa fetched the slippers, Gwen toweled her feet and studied her date. Rand Cunningham stood with his back to her, beside Justin, at the wall of rain-lashed windows. The two were deep in conversation.

Justin gave her a surreptitious wave. She drew a chuckle from him by lifting one bare foot and waving back with the towel.

Rand continued his monologue, oblivious of Gwen and Justin’s exchange. Gwen liked the rear view—longish blond hair, striped shirt, navy sweater over his shoulders, preppy chinos, a tight butt, and polished Cole Haan loafers. The look tallied with the immaculate, white Mazda MX-5 Miata in the driveway. So much for her expectation of a starving scholar with a mountain of grad school loans to pay off.

Gianessa pressed soft slippers against Gwen’s arm. “What do you think?”

“I see what you mean. Very nice back view.” She took the slippers. “Ooh, these are sexy.” She slipped on the black velvet mules and gave Gianessa a quick hug.

“Go get him, girlfriend. I’ll ask Justin to put the pizza in the oven, and we’ll let you two get acquainted.” She beckoned her husband with a megawatt smile and a crook of her index finger.

Rand stopped his monologue when Justin excused himself. He caught sight of Gwen and lifted his nearly empty beer glass in a gesture of welcome. “Dr. Forrester?” His smile was as white as his Miata.

“Gwen.” She offered her most charming smile. “Rand, welcome to Tompkins Falls and to Tompkins College.”

Bright blue eyes appraised her from head to toe. “Thank you.” He raised one eyebrow. “Can I get you a drink?”

“I’m good. The pizza just went into the oven, and I can hold out until we sit down.” She grinned and tested, “I love it that Justin and Gianessa cook together.”

“Yes.” His tone was dismissive. He gestured to the view. “Too bad the rain set in. I’m sure this is a beautiful view on a sunny afternoon.”

“You know, for me, it’s always a beautiful view.” She moved closer to the glass and peered through the downpour to the gray lake. A stiff wind stirred up whitecaps in its path as it bullied across the surface. “Times like this I wish I were a poet or an artist who could capture that moody, gray dynamic, the wind and waves and—”

“I actually write some poetry.”

“Do you? I’m a fan of Mary Oliver.”

Rand shook his head. “Not my taste, I have to say.”

“What do you write about?” When he didn’t answer, she chuckled. “Or is that a ridiculous question? I’m a psychologist, and I don’t know your field.”

“No, I’m just thinking how best to respond. Do you know much about the current movements in poetry?”

“Not at all.”

“Well,” he said with a shrug. “Perhaps I’ll do a reading one day, if you’re interested.”

“I’d like that.”

“Are you from around here, Gwen?”

“I grew up on this lake.” She pointed to the cluster of round islands. “Just south of the last island. Do you enjoy water sports?”

“I rowed crew at Groton, but that’s a dozen years ago. I’m a golfer half the year and play squash and tennis indoors the other half.”

Definitely comes from money.
She waited a beat, expecting him to ask what sports she played, but he did not. “Tell me what you like so far about the Finger Lakes.”

When he launched into a recap of the winery tours he’d taken with colleagues, she felt her head sink into her shoulders like a threatened tortoise.

Rand had catalogued his favorite wines at each of six vineyards by the time Justin announced, “Ready when you are, folks.”

Gwen’s neck cricked as she swiveled toward Justin. Their host stood with his hands on the back of a chair at the dining room table.

He gave her a smile of encouragement. “Gwen, if you’ll sit here, we’ll have Rand directly across from you. Rand, do you care for another Heineken?”

Shoot me now
. Her gaze locked with Gianessa’s.

“Gwen,” Gianessa beckoned to her from the kitchen, “give me a hand with the, er . . .”

“Yes, coming.”

Gianessa drew her close and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“I
loved
Heineken. It spells vacation in Maine to me. How will I ever kiss a man with Heineken on his breath?”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that tonight, right?” Gianessa giggled. “Fix yourself something to drink. Unless you want to bargain with Rand for one of his beers?”

“Not funny.”

“Hurry before the pizza gets cold. Justin, what are we missing?” she called.

“Just you and Gwen, sweetheart.”

It took nearly an hour but, between Gianessa’s charm and Justin’s bonhomie, Gwen’s shoulders finally relaxed. Rand eased back in his chair after he finished the last slice of their pizza.

“Delicious,” Rand said. “That crust rivals any I’ve had in the Finger Lakes.”

Justin reached across the table to give his wife’s hand a squeeze. “We thank you,” he said, “and we agree with you.”

Gwen laughed.

“Every vegetable tasted fresh from the garden,” Rand added. “What were those cheeses, Gianessa?”

Gianessa shook her finger. “The cheese is my husband’s forte. What did you use, dude?”

“I can’t believe you call him ‘dude.’” Gwen let out a laugh.

“And he loves it,” Gianessa insisted.

“I do.” Justin nodded. “Mainly mozzarella and Italian fontina. Did you miss having meat, either of you?”

“Not I,” Rand assured him.

Gwen shook her head. “And you made your own dressing for our salad, Gianessa?”

“Always,” their hostess confirmed. “That way it’s fresh, and it’s free of additives.”

“Those babies of yours will have only the best,” Gwen predicted.

“That’s the plan,” Justin confirmed. “You just missed seeing them, Gwen. Nanny put them down a few minutes before you arrived.”

“Before I arrived
late
,” Gwen translated with a laugh.

“But you’ve seen them, right?” Rand asked her. It was the first time he’d looked directly into her eyes all evening.

“Yes, and I adore them.” Gwen liked the answering crinkle at the corner of his eyes.

“Gwen had Jill laughing the other day, Justin.”

“What?” Rand protested. “Infants can’t laugh, can they?” He turned to Gianessa as the arbiter.

“Their Auntie Gwen has magic powers,” Gianessa claimed.

“Does she?” Rand tipped his head as he contemplated Gwen.

“Stop, you’re embarrassing me.” Gwen’s face flamed.

Justin intervened. “Gianessa tells me I should start up some faculty soirees, like we had in London. I want to know what you two think about that.”

“Say more,” Rand encouraged.

“Yes, I don’t know anything about faculty soirees,” Gwen lied. Justin had done intensive therapy with her last spring, and she had heard about the lively, alcohol-free soirees on his old campus.

“We used to gather once or twice a month,” Justin said. “Faculty and spouses or invited friends. We’d play music, read from our work, talk about ideas and trends, drink espresso and tea, that sort of thing. Nothing formal, just a pleasant time together.”

“How many would come, Justin?” Rand asked him.

Justin picked up a spoon and studied both sides of the bowl. “A couple dozen on average, though we may not get that many here at our small college. There were a few regulars, but the makeup varied each month.”

“Mostly from the humanities?” Rand asked.

“No, we had a married couple from the natural sciences who never missed a soiree. In fact, she was an accomplished poet.”

“Rand,” Gwen said, “you could read your poetry.”

Justin jumped on it. “Ah, do you write? I should have known.”

“I do,” Rand said with a nod.

“Do you publish?” Gianessa asked.

Rand favored her with a smile. “I don’t have a book out yet, but I have placed a few poems in literary magazines.

“I’m much more active with a community of poets online. Among us we have several well-respected poetry sites that give voice to new talent.

“I actually edit one of those sites with a friend. We’re always on the lookout for serious, talented students in creative writing programs.”

“That’s right.” Gwen reached her hand across the table and rested her fingers on his hand. “I heard you’re brilliant at motivating your students.”

“I won’t even ask you who said that.” Rand blushed to the tips of his ears.

Justin held up his hands. “Couldn’t have been anyone at this table, could it, Gianessa?”

The four of them laughed.

“And I think our hostess needs to call it a night.” Gwen gave Gianessa’s hand a squeeze.

“You saw that yawn, didn’t you?”

“I’ve enjoyed this so much,” Gwen told them.

“Yes, delightful,” Justin agreed.

“Gianessa, let Gwen and me clean up for you,” Rand offered.

“Nonsense,” Gianessa told him.

“Careful, Rand,” Justin warned, “you’ll get a reputation as a perfect catch.”

“I’m sincere,” Rand said with a note of humility.

“I know you are,” Gianessa replied, “but Justin and I have it covered.”

“Mostly, our housekeeper has it covered,” Justin said with a chuckle. “My job is to load the dishwasher and start it up, and Maya will do the rest, first thing in the morning.”

“In that case,” Rand said, “I’ll say goodnight and walk Gwen to her car.”

Gwen exchanged Gianessa’s slippers for her wet loafers and thanked Justin for helping her on with her coat. As she preceded Rand on the curving walk to her car, she noticed the rain had stopped.

“Good people, don’t you think?” Gwen tested.

Rand rested his hand on her back. “They certainly are. I was a little nervous. It’s rumored Justin will be president of the college next year.”

“He’ll make a good one,” Gwen said.
I’ll bet he only agreed to the date because Justin wanted it.

“Have you known them long?” Rand asked her.

“I only met Gianessa when she moved here last year. Justin I’ve known all my life, although we’re years apart in age. Tompkins Falls is, in some ways, a small town. People who’ve lived here for generations tend to know each other, regardless of age.”

“I have a lot to learn.”

Gwen turned with a warm smile. “I have no doubt you’ll succeed here, and I hope you’ll like it.”

“Thank you, Gwen. That means a lot. May I call you?”

“I’d like that.”

Rand’s answering smile seemed genuine. “If you had to pick—play, symphony, or jazz quartet—which would you choose?”

“I haven’t seen a play in way too long. That would be my top pick, although all of the above sound good.”

“I’ll work on that.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and sauntered to his rain-washed white car.

Nice back view, but it doesn’t compare to Peter
. Gwen caught herself mid-thought. She allowed a pang of regret before challenging herself.
Move on, Gwen
.

“Absolutely, we can make your Facebook page.” Haley pushed up the sleeves of her RPI sweatshirt and flexed her fingers. “Want to start now?”

Gwen grimaced. “This will require food. And patience.”

“You get the food. I’ll get my laptop.”

Gwen had cookies out of the freezer and a pot of tea brewing by the time Haley got back.

“You’re writing it all out in longhand first?” Haley teased.

Gwen lifted her eyes from an apparently arduous task. Her brow was furrowed, and her fingers gripped the pencil. “No, this is a list of what I want to be able to do on the Internet. Just in case you want to coach me after we finish my page.”

Haley bounced onto a stool at the island. “What would you like on your page?”

“Just the basics about my therapy practice.”

“So, we’ll make a professional page,” Haley said. “First, though, we have to set up a personal page for you.”

“I don’t want a personal page.”

“We can make it private, no worries.”

“But I don’t have anything to say online. Can’t we just skip the personal one?”

“Nope. It’s like you need a bachelor’s before you can get a Ph.D. You need a personal page before you can create a special page, like a product page or an artist page or whatever.”

“Okay.” Gwen reached for her mug of tea. “Do we have to use my name?”

“We’ll use your nickname and make it private. Watch me.”

Haley tapped the keys, dragged and tapped her finger on the trackpad, and keyed some more.

Haley announced, “
Voila
!”

Gwen’s mouth dropped. “We’re done? Where did you get that picture of me? That’s not half bad.”

“I have lots of pictures of you that I downloaded from my camera. I picked this one because it’s cheerful.”

“That’s the day we went apple picking.”

“Yes.” She gave her aunt a sideways glance and saw her eyebrows raised with curiosity. “Of course, no one’s going to see your picture on a private page, so it doesn’t really matter.” At Gwen’s pout, Haley asked, “Still want it kept private?”

Gwen nodded without comment.