Pieces of the Heart (35 page)

“Did you ask her?”

“No. I don’t think she wanted me to hear.”

He nodded and held her closer, staring at Shelby’s trunk across the room. He was about to go over and open it when Jewel spoke again.

“I think you should start dating. And before you ask, yes, it will be weird, but I’ll get over it. I don’t think Mama would expect you to live alone.”

“I’ve got you.”

“You know what I mean. Like a girlfriend or wife.”

He brought her closer and kissed her forehead. “I’m not going to have this conversation right now, all right?”

She nodded. “Fine. But you can be thinking about it, okay? Even if we’re not going to have a conversation about it.”

He stood and rumpled her hair like he used to do when she was small. “I’m going to go get changed. Maybe we can go for a walk after dinner.”

“Sure. Sounds fun.”

He walked past the trunk toward the door.

“Dad?”

Turning around, he faced her. “Yes?”

“I love you.”

He smiled, his heart flip-flopping in his chest. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard that. “I love you, too.”

He walked out of the room feeling better than he had in a long, long time.

T
HE SMELL OF FLOOR WAX AND OLD SWEAT ASSAULTED CAROLINE as she walked into the school gym, bringing back memories of Jude, and old friends, and of how young and full of dreams she had once been.

Her mother, wearing a brown tweed suit and heels, crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a Harvest Moon festival. I hardly know what to do.” A small herd of children dressed as different-colored M&M’s shuffled past, following a harried-looking mom.

Caroline indicated the gym with a sweep of her arm. “Mom, there’s tons of booths inside and even more outside. Why don’t you go over to the cakewalk and see if you can win a cake for us. I don’t think there’s any sugar-free ones, but I say live a little. And don’t forget you had Jewel sign you up to work at the athletic association booth from seven until eight.”

Her mother nodded. “Yes, I remember. I wonder how your place mats are selling. If they do as well here as they’re doing at Rainy Days, I’d say you’ve made the right decision to get back to your sewing. I’ve always hated that you gave it up.”

“Mom—now’s really not the time or place. . . .”

“I know, I know. All right, then. I’m heading over to Jewel’s booth. Want to come?”

Caroline shook her head. “No, I’d like to wander around a bit first. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mom, I promise I won’t get lost. And if I do, I’ll find an adult to take me to you.”

Her mother frowned, then, when she realized Caroline was joking, actually laughed. “All right. I deserved that. I’ll see you later, then.”

Caroline waved good-bye, then stood in the middle of the room looking around her, not really knowing what she was hoping to find. She smiled at a small brother and sister dressed as Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. The little boy was snapping the girl’s pig snout so that it slapped her in the face, and the sister was retaliating by pulling on Winnie the Pooh’s tail.

Somebody grabbed Caroline’s hand, and she turned around in surprise to see Drew holding an enormous stuffed bear.

“Cute date,” she said, smiling.

“She certainly is. I won her for Jewel at the pie-tossing contest. I hit Coach Dempsey three times in a row and I was quite proud of myself. But now Jewel’s worried that she’ll never make the swimming team. I was a bit worried myself, so I made sure he saw me put a big wad of bills in the donation jar.”

Caroline frowned up at him. “She doesn’t need any bribes to make the team. She’s a damned good swimmer.”

He studied her for a moment. “Do you think I don’t know that? I took her to the Y last weekend and I was amazed. Her skills were always there—but you’ve helped her build up her confidence. Thank you.”

She turned away, embarrassed. When had it become so easy to talk to him? Clearing her throat, she said, “You’re welcome. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with her. She’s so much like Shelby, it’s amazing.”

“Don’t I know it.” His gaze swung around the room until it rested on Jewel in the athletic association booth, who was waving at them. He waved back. “Are you staying for the bonfire tonight?”

Caroline shrugged. “I hadn’t really thought about it. I don’t think so. I came with my mom, and I don’t think that’s her kind of thing.”

“How about I bring you home, then? That way your mom can leave early if she wants.”

“Yeah, I guess. . . .”

“Great. It’s all settled then. We’ll find Margaret and tell her. First, why don’t we go do the water-balloon toss? I’d like to take my chances just so I can see you in a wet T-shirt again.”

He was grinning, and she couldn’t resist grinning back. She looked around the crowded gym at all the people dressed in costumes, talking and laughing. It sucked her in, as she supposed Drew had expected it to. She met his eyes. “I have to warn you: I have a great throwing arm, and I have every intention of staying dry.”

“There you go again. You know I can’t resist a challenge.” He stuck out his hand. “After you. Loser has to carry the backpack on our hike tomorrow.”

“Better get ready then, because it’s not going to be me.”

He laughed and followed her to the booth, where a plump vampire took their tickets and placed the large bear behind the counter.

“You two know how this works?” The vampire wore his fangs over braces, which made it difficult to understand him.

Caroline nodded. “Absolutely. We toss the water balloon to each other while we take a step back after every toss. And in the end he bursts the balloon and gets soaked.”

The vampire laughed. “Yep. Something like that.” He handed the balloon to Caroline and showed them both to the lines marked with masking tape. “You can start now.”

Caroline smiled at Drew, trying to remember the last time she’d had this much fun. Or any fun. She thought of her own quilt again, thinking that there would be only two squares on the entire thing: one for work and one for sleep.

With a gentle underhand toss, she lobbed the balloon at Drew. He caught it carefully and then, with an evil grin, tossed it back to her. Each toss became more and more challenging, but both of them managed to catch the balloon without breaking it until they stood fifteen feet apart.

Drew had the balloon, and he smiled as he gingerly tossed it from one hand to the other. “So. What will you give me if I drop this here?”

“A pat on the back?” She looked innocently at him.

“I was thinking of something a little more intimate.”

She blushed but didn’t lose her composure. “A pat on the head, then.”

He shook his head, then did a good imitation of a major-league pitcher doing his windup before a pitch, then released the balloon. It flew high overhead, and to Caroline it seemed to be moving in slow motion. She watched it sailing over her, and she had the sudden memory of Jude pelting her with water balloons when she’d made the swim team for the first time. It was the clearest memory she had of him: laughing and full of joy and as happy for her as she herself had been.
Yes, Jude. I see.
She placed her hands on top of her head and allowed the balloon to hit her hands, wet and stinging at the same time, the water cascading down her face like a blessing of holy water.

When she finally opened her eyes she spotted Drew in front of her, his face closed and concerned. “Are you all right? I threw it high enough so you could step out of the way.”

She smiled and took his hand. “I know. I guess I wanted to get wet.”

He looked down at her soaked T-shirt, and his mouth quirked. “Well, I got that part right.” He pulled off his own sweater and held it out to her. “This is becoming a habit with us, isn’t it? Here—put this on, unless you really do want to flash everybody here. I see a bunch of teenage boys over by the basket raffle and their eyes are about to fall out of their heads.”

She quickly slid the sweater over her wet hair, enjoying the warmth and Drew’s scent that clung to the soft cotton. Awkwardly she smiled up at him. “Sorry about getting your sweater wet.”

“Trust me, Caroline, it’s not a problem.”

Caroline looked away and saw somebody waving from the athletic booth. “I think that’s my mom—let’s go see what she wants.”

Drew took her hand and pulled her through the crowd. She was surprised to see her mother on her knees next to a seated Jewel and holding a wet paper towel to Jewel’s forehead.

Drew squatted next to Caroline’s mother. “Are you all right, hon?”

Jewel shrugged. “It just kinda hit me suddenly. And it’s different this time, too. It’s like more pressure than pain.” Her eyes clenched and her hand went to her forehead.

“I’ll take you home right now.” He took the paper towel from Caroline’s mother and gently pressed it against Jewel’s cheek.

Caroline’s mother stood. “Actually, they don’t really need me here. I’d be happy to take her to her grandmother. Rainy’s tea is the only thing that seems to help.” Margaret still wore her tweed suit, but it now sported a rhinestone pumpkin pin.

Drew slowly shook his head. “I don’t think so. She really seems to be in a lot of pain. I’d feel better if I were with her.”

Jewel pulled her father’s hand away from her face. “Dad, I’ll be fine. Grandma Rainy always makes it better. Mrs. Collier has to drive by Rainy Days on her way home, so she might as well drop me off.”

He still looked undecided. Jewel must have guessed this, because she said, “Really, Dad. Stay. I don’t think your hovering over me is going to make me feel any better.”

His eyes widened. “No, I don’t suppose so.”

“And Grandma Rainy gave you her cell phone so she can reach you if she needs you.”

“True . . .”

She pressed her fingers against her forehead again. “Then it’s all settled. Mrs. Collier will bring me to Grandma’s and I’ll just see you later.”