That Thing You Do (Whispering Bay Romance Book 1) (Volume 1) (25 page)

 “But I wouldn’t let Zeke in, either,” she continued. “So I cried myself to sleep that night. And the whole next day I acted like nothing was wrong, even though she knew that was bullshit. All she wanted was to comfort me. And I…I wouldn’t let her. And then two days later, she was gone.”

“Allie, you didn’t cause your grandmother’s heart attack.” He stood and
tried to pull her in his arms but she placed a hand up, warning him to back off.

“Don’t you think I know that? But the last two days she had on this earth…all she wanted was….  After Mom died, she gave up her whole life to come take care of me and Zeke. If it wasn’t for her, who knows where we would have ended up? And the one little thing she wanted from me I couldn’t give her because I
was so
fucking
selfish. All I could think about was myself.”

His voice cracked. “We were kids, Allie. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen. You thought you’d have more time with her.”

“Yeah, well, life
sucks
. Tell me something I don’t know.”

“You blame me, don’t you?” he said quietly.

“No, Tom, I don’t blame you. I blame
me
. But, somehow you’re tied into it.
At least…into that version of me. So, yeah, you’ve been terrific these past few days, and yeah, the sex was fantastic. I admit it. It was best sex of my life, too. But you and I are never going to be together because you’re always going to be a reminder of the biggest regret of my life.”

He flinched. But she wasn’t trying to hurt him. She was only trying to be honest.

“So that’s it.
No second chances. No nothing? Is that what you want?” He sounded bitter, and a part of her wanted to tell him…what? That they could start over? Zeke was right. Tom wasn’t the guy for her.

“What I want is, for you to take me home.”

A
llie crept through the
kitchen door. She was surprised to find Mimi sitting at the table, drinking what looked like a cup of hot cocoa. Mimi put her hands up as if to surrender. “I tried to stop the girls, I really did. But you know the Babes. Toss in some margaritas and the instant they heard about the séance there was no stopping them.”

“Don’t worry about the séance. It’s not your
fault.” Allie glanced at the clock above the stove. It was a little after six. “Why are you up so early? Or haven’t you gone to bed yet?”

“I’ve been waiting up for you.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I want to hear all about it. Including where you’ve been all night.” She made a smirky face, then paused. “What’s wrong?”

“The right question would be, what isn’t wrong?”

Allie sank into the chair next to her sister-in-law. Mimi slid the cocoa across the table in silent offering. Allie picked up the mug and took a deep sip. Marshmallows with a hint of cinnamon. It would figure that Mimi made the best cocoa, too. Too bad chocolate couldn’t cure the mess that was her life.

Mimi fidgeted with the edge of a napkin. “So I take it the ghost didn’t show up?”

“The only thing that showed up was your Bunco group.”

“Ouch.” Mimi reached to get her cocoa back but Allie held onto the mug.

“I need this more than you do. As a matter of fact,” Allie said, glancing around the kitchen counter, “do you have some more of that stuff you laced my coffee with the other night?”

“That bad, huh?” Mimi took a bottle of whiskey from the pantry and sloshed
a little into the cocoa.

“Let’s just say the night was a disaster, all the way around.”

Mimi looked like she wanted a detailed explanation, but she must have sensed Allie’s weariness because she didn’t press her. “So what happens next?”

“The senior center comes down in a couple of hours.”

“Will you be there?”

“I almost feel like I should be. Who knows? Maybe something
will still happen.”
Ever the optimist, Allie.
Maybe it was the pessimists of the world who won at the end. At least they didn’t get their hopes up. “But I’m not fighting it any more. I can’t justify trying to keep the building intact when it seems pretty obvious that there’s no ghost. Or at least, not one that makes sense.”

She told Mimi all about the music she and Tom had been hearing in
their heads, starting with the Beatles
Ob-La- Di, Ob-La- Da
and finishing with last night’s
Light My Fire
. The only part she omitted was the crazy feeling that somehow Buela was tied into all this. She wanted to share it with Mimi but it all seemed so—

“Do you think I’m crazy? Oh, God. This is like the eighteenth time I’ve asked myself that same question, which means that yes, I probably
am.”

Mimi smiled patiently. “And Tom heard it, too? If he heard it, then no, you can’t be crazy, unless the two of you are doing some kind of special drugs together?”

“He only experienced it the one time, although he knew the song in my head last night.”

“Weird. And…you still don’t know who wrote the anonymous letter?”

“Well, it isn’t Roger Van Cleave. He finally admitted
it to me last night. Honestly? If I didn’t have a copy of that email I’d think the whole thing was a figment of my imagination.” She downed the rest of the cocoa. “The good news is I get paid today. So I can pay my fine and get my license reinstated.”

“So you’re leaving town?” Mimi asked as if that wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

“I’ll stick around for the football game. Watch my niece
cheer. Then head out tomorrow morning.”
After I make sure Claire tells you and Zeke about her extra-curricular activities…

“I’m sorry, Allie. I was really hoping something big would happen for you.”

“Thanks. But I’ll think of something else to send in to the magazine. Either they’ll hire me or they won’t. Not much I can do about that.” She glanced down at the empty mug. “I think…Tom
thinks he’s in love with me,” she blurted.

“What the hell, woman! Why didn’t you say so earlier? Does this have something to do with the fact that you announced to everyone at the séance that you and Tom had sex?” Mimi leaned forward in her chair, her blue eyes glittering with excitement. “I wasn’t going to say anything because you seemed so down, but…was it completely and totally
awesome
? You don’t have to tell me the details, but then, I might have to kill you if you don’t.”

Despite herself, Allie managed a laugh. “It was all right.”

“You’re kidding? Just all right? ‘Cause he looks like he’d be—”

“It was fine,” Allie said, hoping that would be enough to satisfy Mimi’s curiosity. If she told Mimi exactly how all right it was, she’d never hear the end of it. “I
thought it would make things easier between us. You know, cut out some of the sexual tension? But I think it just made everything worse.”

“Because now he thinks he’s in love with you? Just exactly how is that making everything worse?”

“He didn’t actually say the words, but, basically, yeah. I think he’s got love confused with some nice sex. And of course, I don’t feel the same way.
Not at all.”

Mimi raised an incredulous brow.

“Promise you won’t tell Zeke. He’ll blow a kidney. He already hates Tom enough as it is. If he finds out we had sex and that half the town knows he’ll have to go on dialysis.”

Mimi made a face. “I can’t promise Zeke won’t find out, but he won’t find out from me.”

It occurred to Allie that she was putting Mimi in a bad position
with her husband and she didn’t want to be responsible for adding any more tension between them. “I changed my mind, please do tell Zeke. Just wait till I leave town.”
Pause
. “By the way, when did Lauren Donalan join your Bunco group?”

“She was subbing last night.”

“Talk about awkward,” Allie muttered.

“Oh, I don’t know, she seemed kind of pleased, really, to find out you and
Tom had been together.”

“Just what kind of relationship do those two have?”

“Not the typical divorced couple, that’s for sure,” Mimi said. “It’s kind of refreshing, actually. I really think she wants Tom to be happy.”

“Sorry to disappoint her, but he’s not about to be happy with me, that’s for sure.”

Mimi looked as if she’d just opened up a box of Oreos only to find the
luscious cream filling missing from each cookie. “So, you don’t think he was sincere when he told you he had feelings for you?”

“We were together for a few months twelve years ago and a few days now. How can anyone be in love after that?”

“Oh, sweetie, I fell in love with Zeke in ten minutes. I didn’t want to. I knew his reputation, but when your brother decides to lay on the charm…”
Mimi shrugged.

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just is, is all.”

Mimi stood and placed the dirty mug in the kitchen sink. “You can tell yourself whatever you want, Allie, but the truth is, if we got to pick who we fell in love with, the world might be a tidier place. But a lot more boring, too.”

*~*~*

A
llie took a quick
shower, then caught a ride with Zeke on
his way to work. He pulled into the senior center parking lot. “You sure you want to be here?” he asked.

She didn’t expect the ghost to suddenly materialize, but after all that had happened this past week, it seemed fitting that she be here for the big tear-down. “Yep, I’m positive.” She opened the door to the police cruiser and hopped out.

Zeke stuck his head out the window. “How
are you getting home?”

“I can walk. It’s a beautiful day and I could use the exercise.”
Pause
. “I checked my bank account online and I have enough money to pay the suspension. Do you think you can give me a ride to the courthouse later?”

“Not a problem.” There was relief in his dark eyes and Allie realized, not for the first time this visit, how much stress Zeke must have in his life.
To him, she must be one more person to take care of. One more person he had to keep tabs on. She hated that she was a source of worry for him. Especially now that she knew he had more important things to worry about. They made plans to meet back at the house at noon.

The scene in the parking lot was similar to what it had been the past few mornings. Lots of men. Lots of machines. She spotted
Tom speaking to Hard Hat,
aka
Keith. Tom made his way over to her. His shoulders seemed tight with tension but he still looked handsome enough to take her breath away. He looked surprised to see her and Allie realized what he must be thinking.

“Before you say anything I’m not here to ask you to stop the demolition. No tricks. No last minute appeals. I concede defeat.”

“Then why are
you here?”

“I guess I couldn’t help myself.”

He glanced around the parking lot and turned back to her as if he was going to say something but then changed his mind.

“I’m leaving town tomorrow,” she said, feeling the start of a babbling attack. Maybe there was a self-help group out there.
Babblers Anonymous
. If not, then she could be the founder. She stifled an inappropriate giggle.
Laughter and tears. It must be kind of like the love-hate thing. Two emotions on opposite ends of the spectrum that weren’t really opposite after all.

Why did the idea of demolishing the senior center suddenly make her feel so sad? A week ago, she wouldn’t have blinked if she’d heard about the building coming down. But today…

“Have you decided what to do about your story? For the magazine?”
Tom asked.

“I’ll think of something.” Then she put on her best smile because she certainly didn’t want Tom Donalan feeling sorry for her. “I always do.”

“I hope everything works out for you, Allie. You deserve nothing but the best.”

“Thanks,” she managed to say. “Best of luck with the building and Henry and, well, with everything.”

He nodded, but he didn’t make a move to
leave.

Oh God. They were having another
moment.
Only this one felt final.

She almost reached out to hug him. But of course, she didn’t. You hugged friends or puppy dogs. You didn’t hug Tom Donalan. Not unless she wanted a whole lot more than a hug.

Before she did or said something she’d regret, she took off across the parking lot. Good thing she had on her running shoes. She
could feel tears welling up behind her eyeballs. But not because she was saying goodbye to Tom. It was the building. The ghost story. The agony of defeat. That’s what it was.

She was so busy trying to get away that she ran smack into Roger Van Cleave, nearly knocking them both down in the process. “Oh! So sorry,” she mumbled.

“Whoa!” Roger led her to a grassy area on the side of the
parking lot. “You okay?”

“Perfectly fine. For a journalist without a story, that is.” She pointed to the camera slung around his neck. “That looks fancy.”

“This old thing?” He grinned. “I thought I’d come out and record the demolition. For prosperity.”

“Good idea.” Allie forced a smile. “So, how’s your sister?”

“Phoebe’s madder than a wet cat. But she’ll get over it.” He
glanced back at the building. A crane with a large wrecking ball sat poised on the edge of the senior center, ready to take aim. “You know,” Roger continued, “this place was originally built as a residential home by Earl Handy. He and Margaret raised their kids here, then after she passed on he donated the building to the city. Pretty prime real estate, huh?”

 She shaded her eyes to avoid
the bright morning sunlight and looked at the building for what was probably the last time. She’d known about the building’s original owner, of course. Everyone knew old Earl Handy, grandson (or was it great-grandson?) of Cyrus Handy, one of Whispering Bay’s original founders. Heck, half the town was practically related to him, Mimi and Lauren included. A horn blared, nearly making her jump.

“Everyone, clear the premises!” Hard Hat yelled into a bullhorn, followed by the sound of heavy machinery going into action. Allie and Roger stepped behind to a marked off area, where a few other spectators looked on as well. Roger began snapping pictures with his camera.

Allie had never seen a building demolished. The roar of the cranes combined with the sound of smashing bricks to
produce what appeared to be a well-orchestrated production. Allie glanced over at Tom.
This is what he does.
He tears things down, and then he builds things back up.
She shuddered.

“It’s sad,” Roger said, seeing her reaction. “Watching something with so many memories come down. It’s like each and every brick has its own story.”

She nodded. Endings always made her feel melancholy, too.
“Do you think Concerned Citizen sent me that anonymous letter with the hopes of delaying or even postponing the demolition? Maybe there was some ulterior motive for not wanting the building to come down. I mean, obviously, there’s no ghost here.”  

It was depressing to think that her entire trip had been for nothing. Except, if she hadn’t been here she’d never have known Mimi and Zeke were
having marital difficulties. And she and Tom wouldn’t have had their “closure.” She glanced his way once again. How could he think that after all these years they could somehow have a future together? It was ridiculous.