The Courage To Love (Love On The North Shore) (16 page)

“That’s no excuse for abandoning your family,” he said with anger.

She squeezed his hand, her heart breaking for the teenage Sean. “I know it’s not the same, but when my anorexia was at its worse no one and nothing mattered to me. The only thing I cared about was avoiding food and losing weight. It controlled my every action. Alcoholism can be the same way. And if what he said about your mom is true, that might have been the very thing to send him over the edge.”

Without warning Sean stood and took a few steps away before whirling back around. “That whole story about Ma and Ray is bullshit.”

She didn’t agree. People liked to think only husbands strayed. In reality, wives did sometimes as well. While she liked Maureen, that didn’t mean Sean’s father was lying.

The vein in Sean’s temple twitched and he pressed his lips together, his hands planted on his hips.

“Everyone makes mistakes, Sean. Even our parents.” Heaven knew she’d learned that about her own parents a long time ago. “Even if you can’t forgive him now, you should think about everything he said. Maybe with time you could let him in your life again. Or at least Taylor. Whatever your father did wasn’t her fault, and she is your sister.”

“I know that,” Sean snapped then he blew out a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mia. I shouldn’t take this out on you.” He came closer and kissed her. “This whole thing sucks. How do you deal with someone dropping a sister in your lap?”

She shrugged as he continued. “If I get to know her, she’ll be a constant reminder of him. I don’t need that.”

“She’s also just a child who lost her mom and you’re her big brother.” Mia kept her voice gentle.

Sean looked up at the sky as if he’d find the answers in the clouds. “Fuck.”

“You don’t have to make any decisions now.” Mia stood and placed her arms around his waist. “Take your time and think about everything. They won’t be up here again for a while. Maybe talk to Charlie. See what she thinks.” When he looked down at her she met his eyes. “And I’m here if you want to talk.”

In response Sean frowned. “Thanks, but I’m not sure I want to bother you with this.”

She bit down on the inside of her cheek at his response. A true friend was there for you no matter what and although she hadn’t said it, she considered Sean a true friend and then some. His actions hinted that he felt the same way, even if he hadn’t said it either. Now wasn’t the time to pressure him about it. He already had enough fuel to keep his emotional fire going. “Well, if you change your mind, I’m here.”

Rather than answer, he kissed her. When he broke away he touched his forehead to hers. “We should get going. Are you ready?”

She glanced over at the Harley. Part of her didn’t want to climb back on. While part of her had enjoyed the ride, fear had coursed through her body for much of it. But Sean enjoyed it, so if their relationship progressed past her time here in Massachusetts, this wouldn’t be her last ride on the metal beast. “Good to go.” She pasted a smile on her face. Maybe she just needed time to get used it, like when she learned to ski.

Chapter 10

Mia poured herself a cup of coffee and started toward the balcony. With Sean in the shower, she figured she’d enjoy her coffee outside. Halfway to the balcony, she stopped when someone knocked on the door.

“Good, you’re up,” Avery said as she walked inside. “I grabbed you a latte from the cafe downstairs.” Avery exchanged the cup of black coffee in Mia’s hand with the latte. “Are you alone?” Avery looked around the suite as she took a sip from her own cup.

Before she answered, Mia took a long sip from her cup, the warm liquid sliding down her throat. “Mmm, that’s good,” she said. “Sean’s still in the shower. Are you hungry? There is a ton of fruit in the kitchen.”

Avery pulled a paper bag with the same logo as the cup from her shoulder bag. “Grabbed a muffin when I bought the lattes.”

“Let’s sit outside then.” Although still early, all indications pointed toward a picture perfect early summer day. Not a single cloud dotted the blue sky and a mild breeze was blowing off Boston Harbor.

“The media is going nuts. Everyone has been trying to identify Sean ever since he showed up on the set Friday afternoon,” Avery said as she pulled out a chair at the table.

She’d expected it to happen at some point. Not once since she’d begun dating had she been able to keep a relationship secret for long. While they’d never discussed it, she assumed Sean expected it, too. His own sister’s relationship had fascinated the media for quite a while, so he must have a general idea of how things worked. Hopefully he could handle the attention. While the men she usually dated were used to the media interference, Sean wasn’t. Before she realized it, she sighed.

“What was that for? You had to know it would happen.” Across from her Avery broke her muffin into smaller pieces. “I mean you were kissing him on the middle of the set.”

Mia snagged a chunk of her sister’s muffin and popped it into her mouth. “Just thinking, that’s all. So are you going to Gram’s today for lunch? Sean and I will probably leave here around eleven.”

Avery’s eyes grew wide. “You’re taking him to Gram’s?” she asked, her voice a few octaves higher than usual.

“Is there an echo in here?” Mia asked as she reached for her latte. “What’s wrong with that?”

For a moment Avery remained silent as if formulating an answer. “Nothing, but you’ve never taken anyone to meet Gram and Pop. Not even Anderson, and you two were together for over a year.” Avery leaned forward and held her gaze. “Sean must be important to you.”

She considered her sister’s words. She’d never dated anyone she wanted her family to meet until now.

“You’ve only known him about a month, but you’re taking him to Gram’s,” Avery continued before Mia said a word. “What’s so special about him?”

She considered all the time they’d spent together. Nothing they’d done together had been overly exciting or exotic, yet she’d enjoyed every minute With him she felt like Mia Troy, the woman, not the Hollywood celebrity. Not to mention that to him family was everything and not only because it provided him with money and homes around the world, like her mother.

She pushed the last thought from her mind. Her mom loved her in her own way. Unfortunately, she let Mia’s early fame and money influence many of her decisions.

“I don’t know how to explain it. When I’m with him it’s like Hollywood doesn’t exist. I think…” Mia looked toward the French doors that led back inside, then leaned forward. “I think I love him,” she said her, voice low. Before that moment she hadn’t entertained the idea. Now that she said it aloud, she realized it was the truth.

The shocked expression returned to her sister’s face. “Has he said—” Avery stopped when Sean appeared at the doorway, followed by Mark Walden, Mia’s co-star.

Dressed in khaki cargo pants and a plain white T-shirt, Sean held a cup of coffee in his large hands, and memories of his hands on her the night before sent warmth through her body.

“Good morning. You’ve got a visitor,” he said, his voice chilly as he took a seat next to her.

“Morning.” She leaned over and kissed him before even glancing in Mark’s direction. “Hi, Mark.”

“What, no kiss for me?” Mark asked moving closer, his intentions clear.

Mia turned her head just in time, and Mark’s kiss landed on her cheek. Next to her, the muscle in Sean’s forearm flexed as he gripped his coffee cup tighter, and she remembered Sean’s words when he’d seen them kiss on the set.

“I thought I’d see if you ladies were busy tonight.” Mark took the last seat at the table. “Rafe told me about a club called Diamond. I thought I’d check it out. What do you say? Care to join me?”

Over the last year or so, clubs had started to hold less and less interest for Mia. Even still, a month or two earlier she would’ve thought about going. Today she didn’t even consider the invitation. “I’ll pass, but go ahead, Avery, if you want,” she answered as she squeezed Sean’s arm. “Sean and I plan to hang around here when we get back from Gram’s.”

“I’m in,” Avery said. “What time works for you, Mark?”

Sean rested his arm across her shoulders, and she rested her head against his shoulder. She could sit there all day just like this. Everything about it felt natural, as if it were meant to be.

***

Sean didn’t know what he expected, but the modest colonial with the front porch swing took him by surprise as did Mia’s large family gathered inside. All of her aunts and uncles had come for lunch, as had many of her cousins and their children. Activity and lively conversation filled the house. When they first arrived, he’d felt out of place, but within moments her grandmother and Aunt Nicole drew him into conversation.

“Have you always lived in North Salem?” Mia’s grandmother asked as she handed him a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade.

“Isn’t that where the President’s son met his wife?” Mia’s aunt asked from the counter where she prepared a salad.

Everyone in town knew his sister had married the President’s son, Jake Sherbrooke. Since he rarely went far from town, he wasn’t accustomed to telling people who is brother in-law was. “He married my sister, Charlie.”

“Your family owns the bed and breakfast,” Mia’s aunt said, recognition on her face. “I saw the episode when they featured it on the Travel Channel. It looked beautiful. So is that how you and Mia met?” The woman crossed to the stove as she spoke. “I was surprised when I heard she was bringing someone today. Mia has never brought anyone to a family gathering,” Mia’s aunt said, not pausing for him to get a word in.

Sean looked over at Mia. Almost as soon as she walked in the door, she’d been pulled aside by two women who must’ve been her cousins, judging by their age and physical resemblance. Now she sat with them while holding a baby in her arms. As if sensing his gaze, she looked up from the baby she held and smiled. Instantly, the corners of his mouth turned upward.

“I’ve never met any of her boyfriends. Have you, mom?”

Although the woman addressed the question to Mia’s grandmother, it grabbed his attention. Mia hadn’t introduced him as her boyfriend, but he understood how her family might make the assumption. While he wasn’t sure the term fit him, a part of him liked the sound of it.

“No, Sean’s the first,” the older woman answered as she headed outside with a platter of sandwiches.

He opened his mouth prepared to correct them, but stopped. Soon enough he and Mia would part ways, so what did it matter if her family thought they were a couple? After today he’d never see them again anyway. “Do you need any help?” he asked as he tried to ignore the sharp pain that went through his heart at the thought of Mia leaving.

“We’re all set. Besides you’re a guest,” Mia’s aunt answered before carrying a salad outside.

Food covered both tables outside when he and Mia joined everyone in the backyard, and he’d seen several platters of cookies and brownies on the kitchen table. Drawn by the sweet smell of barbecue sauce, he made his way to the end of a table and the chicken.

“Make sure you try the pasta salad,” Mia said as she added mixed greens to her own plate. “I don’t know what Gram puts in it, but it’s delicious.”

Not a huge fan of pasta salad, he added some to his plate anyway. “Your grandmother would give Ma a run for her money when it comes to cooking. I thought Ma went overboard, but this is crazy.”

“Gram didn’t make everything. My Aunt Nicole helped. She loves cooking. Aunt Patty probably helped, too,” she said as they moved toward some empty seats. “Both Gram and Aunt Nicole told me how much they like you by the way. I’m sorry I deserted you back there. I haven’t seen Andrea and Sydney since Andrea’s wedding.”

“Cousins?”

“Yep. I warned you that I had a huge family.”

“Must be fun at the holidays.” It required little effort to picture the house crowded with happy relatives while they celebrated Thanksgiving or Christmas. His own holiday celebrations had always been small even before the divorce. Once his sister joined the Navy they’d often only included him and Ma. Since his sister’s retirement from the Navy, she’d begun to join them again, but even then there were only four seated around the dining room table. Growing up, his buddy Tony had always had a packed house for the holidays and although he’d never say it aloud, he’d envied Tony for that.

“More like insane. I’m hoping to get here for Thanksgiving this year. I’ve missed the last few.”

The ball left his hand and sailed through the air before her cousin James caught it and took off. When James crossed into the imaginary end zone, scoring a touchdown, Sean gave her cousin Cooper a high-five. For the first time since his conversation with his father, Sean appeared relaxed and carefree. Or at least as carefree as he ever looked. All too often, Sean carried himself as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

Farther down the yard, Sean and her cousins lined up again for the next play in their backyard football game. He stood between her cousins James and Cooper. Before the play started James said something and Sean burst out laughing. At the rare sound Mia smiled.

“How long have you two been together?” Sydney asked as she stopped next to her.