Seaside Romance

Suddenly, Lauren wasn’t satisfied with observing. She wanted to be out in that crisp New England morning, drinking in the sights and sounds of this place that had offered her a safe haven from the demons haunting her former life. Pulling on jeans and the hand-knit fisherman’s sweater she’d bought her first day in town, she jammed on her sneakers and crept down the short hallway to avoid waking Julia. Fortunately, the usually talkative Shakespeare was in his little canvas tent, and she made it downstairs with just a quiet squeak on the old steps.

Outside, she paused on the sidewalk in front of Toyland and took in a deep breath. Chilly and clear as a bell, the air was scented with coffee and spices wafting up from the bakery. It wasn’t even seven yet, so she had plenty of time for a walking breakfast. Drawn in by the delicious smell, she headed over to find out what was on the menu at Holiday Harbor Sweets this morning.

Within a few minutes, she was holding a large cup of hazelnut coffee and a bear claw still warm from the oven, dripping with the yummiest icing she’d ever tasted. Deciding she’d already seen all there was of the small downtown, she set out in the other direction, toward the harbor, to check out what was going on down there.

Accustomed to the hectic pace of a large city, she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to wander around at a more leisurely clip. She didn’t want to get in the way of the crews prepping their boats, but she stood at the top of the large gangway, watching and listening. While the men hollered back and forth, rigging squeaked and clanged, all of it underscored by the calls of circling gulls overhead. It was as if they were staking out their territory, reminding the fishermen they’d be waiting for their share when the boats returned later in the day.

Here, the air was heavier, dosed with salt and the smell of diesel engines. A steady line of boats headed out to sea, in an orderly floating parade that suggested they did it this way every single day. A metallic clang caught her attention, and Lauren looked out to find the source of the noise. Buoys bobbed in the water, marking the path into the busy wharf. Beyond them, rising up out of the mist, was Last Chance Lighthouse, its slowly rotating beacon cutting a path through the fog.

It didn’t look too far away, Lauren decided, backtracking up the ramp to continue her stroll. After hearing Ben’s nutshell version of its history, she wouldn’t mind seeing it up close. The two-lane blacktop road leading out there needed some work, but it was in prime condition compared to the dirt lane that wound in toward the tower and the small house attached to it.

From here, the activity of the wharf was drowned out by the sound of waves crashing on the rocks that formed the rugged coastline. Drawn in by the awesome power of the ocean, Lauren carefully picked her way down a footpath of sorts that led to the narrow beach. Once she was back on solid ground, she stared out at the water, amazed by the sheer force driving the morning tide toward the shore.

While she finished her breakfast, the salty wind continually blew through her hair, and more than once she almost lost her balance when a strong gust hit her full on. Closing her eyes, she felt the natural currents of wind and water swirling around her and could almost imagine them blowing her past away.

“Not a good idea being down here this time of day.” At the sound of Ben’s voice, she opened her eyes to find him standing beside her. “Low tide’s better for exploring the shoreline.”

A little rattled by her instinctive response to the sea, Lauren did her best to laugh it off. “You’re right. It’s so beautiful, I guess I got carried away.”

His laugh was lost in a sudden gush of noise, but his wide grin came through loud and clear. “Didn’t really take you for a nature lover. You have any other surprises you’re hiding?”

Through harsh experience, she’d learned to be wary of handsome men with disarming grins. Somehow, this one was different. The instincts she’d kept under wraps for the past few months began rustling, assuring her Ben was someone to be trusted. If not with her heart, then at least with her friendship. Offering him a genuine smile, she teased, “A lady never tells.”

“Right.”

As the rising sun glinted off the incoming water, for the first time she noticed it swirling into depressions along the rocky cliffs. “Are those caves down there?”

“Yeah, but most of ’em flood at high tide, so it’s best to steer clear unless you’re with someone who knows which ones are safe.”

He added a knowing look, and she had to laugh. “So you’re a mind reader, too?”

“Something like that. I’m headed inside to chat with Mavis about her sitting-room ceiling. Wanna meet her?”

Lauren nearly declined, then changed her mind. It was still early, and she had plenty of time before Toyland opened at ten. What harm could it do? “The woman who makes the killer gingerbread? Absolutely.”

Ben held out one of those very capable hands for her, and Lauren’s heart beat as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. She recognized he was only being considerate, offering to steady her on the uneven ground, but being within arm’s reach of him went completely against the polite-but-distant policy she’d adopted for men in general. Reaching for a nice way to refuse the gentlemanly gesture, she wiped her hands on her jeans. “I’m all sticky, but thanks.”

Confusion flashed in his eyes but quickly evaporated as he shrugged and trudged up the hill beside her. When they reached the tower’s gravelly yard, the bright red front door opened. An older woman dressed in baggy slacks and a moth-eaten sweater stepped out holding a leash in her hand. The animal at the other end of it made Lauren stop dead in her tracks. “What in the world is that?”

“That’s Reggie,” Ben explained as they continued up the pathway. “He’s a pot-bellied pig.”

The woman lived alone in a lighthouse on the edge of the sea, made gingerbread and kept a pig for a pet. Lauren had seen some odd things since arriving in Holiday Harbor, but this one definitely took the cake.

“Mavis Freeman,” Ben began, “this is Lauren Foster. She’s gonna be helping Julia out at Toyland.”

Squinting at Lauren, Mavis studied her intently while Reggie snuffled around her sneakers. It was a strange way to greet someone, but Lauren did her best to look and sound friendly. “Good morning, Ms. Freeman. You have a beautiful home.”

That got her a furious glare. “It’s Mrs. Freeman. I don’t truck with all that modern feminist nonsense.”

“Mavis is the keeper’s widow,” Ben said almost reverently. Lauren would have found that description slightly insulting, but Mavis beamed at him as if he’d proclaimed her queen.

“That’s right. I don’t know where you’re from, missy, but there’s still folks around who do things the old-fashioned way.”

“Actually, I’m from Philadelphia,” Lauren replied as pleasantly as she could manage. Instinct warned her that her stint in New York was best left out of this conversation. “With all that history around us, we like doing things the old-fashioned way, too.”

Some of the disapproval left their hostess’s expression, and she gave a short nod. “All right, then.”

Uncertain if she’d passed muster with the brusque keeper or not, Lauren opted to shift her attention to Reggie. After circling her a few times, he politely sat in front of her. Looking up at Lauren with what could only be described as a smile, he wagged his bristly tail for all he was worth. Grateful for the distraction, she knelt down and scratched behind his floppy ears. “You’re a real cutie. How’d you end up here?”

Apparently, to get on Mavis’s good side, all you had to do was be kind to her unusual pet. Her lined face cracking into a smile, she explained, “We’re a pair, me and Reggie. A little tough on the eyes, but for the right kinda folks, we got good hearts. Don’t we, boy?”

He grunted his agreement, and Lauren couldn’t help laughing as she stood. “That’s awesome. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Mavis took the hand she offered, and Lauren felt as if she’d made a huge leap toward fitting into her temporary home. Glancing over at Ben, she registered the concern on his face and frowned. “Is something wrong?”

“Nope, but my dad’ll be here soon, so I’d best get to work inside.”

He turned to go, but Mavis called him back. “Where’s your manners gone to? The girl needs a ride back to town.”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Lauren assured her. “I walked out here, and it’s not any farther going back.”

Crossing her arms in obvious disapproval, the woman didn’t say anything but pinned Ben with a stern, unyielding look. Shaking his head, he grinned at Lauren. “Okay, then. Guess I’m driving you back to Toyland.”

“It’s really not—”

“Just be quiet and go along,” he murmured, motioning her toward his truck. “It’s not a big deal.”

Figuring he knew best, she said goodbye to Mavis and Reggie and climbed into the passenger seat. As they started back, she said, “What was that all about?”

“Nothing. It’s just easier to go along when she gets stubborn like that.”

A few seconds later, she caught on and started laughing. “Let me guess. When you were a kid, she scared you half to death.”

The sideways glance he slid her told her she’d hit that one dead-on. “Fine, she did. But to be fair, she scared everyone under the age of ten. Then when her husband died a few years ago—” he shrugged “—I think she got lonely, so she started being a little nicer. She and Dad are old friends, so we help out with the lighthouse and the residence when she needs something repaired. Or someone to have coffee with.”

“You’re good to her, so she’s good to you.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Touched by the sweet, simple story, Lauren sighed. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. If everyone did that, the world would be a much better place.”

As they pulled onto Main Street, Ben added, “That’s why they call it the Golden Rule.”

“I guess.”

To Lauren, it sounded too good to be true, but she recognized that was her ingrained skepticism talking. She didn’t used to be that way, she lamented. What had happened to the girl who’d believed there was good in everyone? Sadly, she knew the answer, but she didn’t want to spoil such a beautiful, sunny morning with dark thoughts.

Outside Toyland, Ben pulled to a stop and got out to open her door. Climbing down, she stood inside the open door, much closer to him than she’d intended. Oddly enough, the anxiety she’d felt on the beach earlier was much less intense, and the smile she gave him was only slightly forced. Maybe she was finally getting a little of her old confidence back. She wasn’t rock solid yet, but being within Ben’s reach was a good first step.

Squinting against the rising sun, she said, “Thanks for the ride. Be sure to tell Mavis you delivered me in one piece.”

“Will do. Have a good day.”

“You, too.”

That got her another, even brighter grin than she’d yet seen from him. He seemed to have an endless collection of them, each one more endearing than the last. As he got back in and drove away, he waved through the back window, and like a sentimental damsel in an old movie, she caught herself waving back. All she was missing was the lacy handkerchief, she groused as she unlocked the door to Toyland.

But as she made her way upstairs, she allowed herself a little smile. For the first time in ages, she’d had a couple of uninterrupted hours to herself, and they were wonderful. What was so special about them? she wondered while she started the coffeemaker in the kitchen. On her way into the bathroom, she came to the conclusion that nothing extraordinary had happened except that she’d enjoyed doing absolutely nothing but breathe.

Maybe, she thought with a little grin at her reflection, that was the whole point.

Chapter Three

“I think this should do it, Mavis,” Ben announced, tapping the supply list he’d made. “That section of roof needs to be replaced, then we can fix the ceiling. I’ll get everything we need, and we’ll be back tomorrow to get started.”

She accepted his comment with her characteristic nod. “There’s rain coming this weekend, you know.”

“We won’t be totally done by then, but we’ll make sure it’s buttoned up against the weather, don’t you worry. Right, Dad?”

“Right.”

Ben had made several clumsy attempts to include his father in the discussion with their client, as much to keep him engaged as to be polite. Quiet but steady, Dad was obviously doing his best to stay focused, but Ben had a sneaking suspicion if he left him alone for five minutes, he’d be asleep on his feet.

“I really should get into Landry’s Books and finish installing that cabinet,” Ben commented, uneasy about leaving his father alone.

As if sensing his discomfort, Mavis patted his shoulder in an unexpectedly motherly gesture and nudged him toward the door. “You go on. Me and Craig’ll have some lunch and a nice long chat.”

The prospect of food perked Dad up considerably, and he gave her a fond smile. “I’d like that very much. Thank you.”

Pleased by the upturn his worrisome morning had taken, Ben teased, “You sure I can leave you two kids alone out here?”

“Oh, you,” Mavis clucked, the faint blush on her cheeks telling him he’d managed to flatter the crustiest woman in town. “Get outta here before I put you to work in my vegetable garden.”

Ben made a show of bolting for the exit, letting the outer door slam behind him. As he strolled out to his truck, he heard laughter inside and congratulated himself on successfully navigating what could have been an awkward situation. His father needed someone to talk to, a friend who’d listen to his problems without judging. Since Ben hadn’t gotten anywhere with him, he was grateful for any help Mavis could give.

On his way into town, he finally had a chance to mull over his odd discussion with Lauren that morning. Her baffling comments made it painfully obvious that she’d been through something awful recently, and his gut was almost certain that was why she’d unexpectedly landed in his hometown. What was she hiding? he wondered.

They’d just met, so it had nothing to do with him, which meant it was strictly none of his business. Even if by some stretch of the imagination he could do something about it, he wasn’t keen on adding Julia’s troubled friend to his already lengthy list of responsibilities. Still, he couldn’t help wishing there was something he could do to help her.

When Ben got to Landry’s Books, the owner Amelia Landry, met him at the door with a worried frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just had to finish up something out at the lighthouse before I came here.”

Eyes narrowing, she gave him the Mom look. “If you don’t want to tell me, fine, but I know something’s up with you. Cooper gets that same look on his face when he’s chewing on something.”

As a single mother, she’d more or less adopted her son’s friends as her own. Even though they were all adults now, she still watched over them. With his own mother completely out of the picture, Ben appreciated Amelia now more than ever.

But he’d never share his suspicions about Lauren with anyone, so he just grinned. “It’s really nothing, but thanks. Now, the sooner I get back to work on those cabinets, the sooner I’ll be out of your hair.”

While he opened his toolbox, Amelia made a good show of fussing over a display of Easter figurines and doodads set out for the holiday. The original formation looked fine to him, so he guessed that she was stalling, trying to frame whatever it was she had to say.

“I saw you in town with Julia’s friend yesterday,” she began. “She’s quite an eyeful.”

Setting a hinge in place, he chuckled. “Yup, she’s real pretty.” Actually, she was a stunner straight out of some old Hollywood movie, but admitting that would open him up for all kinds of probing questions, so he kept that detail to himself.

“What’s her name?”

Ben knew perfectly well the local gossip mill had churned out that bit of information long before Lauren even arrived in town. Because he liked Amelia, he played along. “Lauren Foster.”

“What a lovely name. Is she nice?”

That wasn’t the right term, but Ben was surprised to find he couldn’t come up with a one-word description of her. She was clearly bright and talented, but she had a darkness about her that struck him as completely out of place. That contradiction intrigued him more than it should, and to get back on track, he simply said, “Yeah, she’s nice.”

“I hear Julia adores her,” Amelia went on, using a feather duster on a collection of pint-size forest gnomes. “She’s been worried about her, though. It seems Lauren’s gotten herself tangled up with someone who’s not very good for her.”

“I’m pretty sure they broke up,” Ben blurted without thinking. Embarrassed to be gossiping, he focused on the hinge to conceal his sudden discomfort.

“Really? Well, that’s a whole new ball game then, isn’t it?”

Glancing up, Ben caught Amelia eyeing him, then laughed when she abruptly turned her attention to a nearby shelf that was already perfectly arranged. “And you think I should step up to the plate, is that it?”

“I’m just saying there’s more to this life than work and more work. When’s the last time you had a date?”

“Church social last month.”

“You sat with the pastor and his family then ended up washing dishes till midnight. That’s not the kind of socializing a young man needs, and you know it.” Setting the duster aside, she hunkered down beside him. “Ben, your mom and I were friends all through school, but what she’s done to all of you is just plain wrong. When things get tough, you don’t turn your back on the people who need you.”

Ben had never discussed the breakup of his family with anyone, and it still made him sick to think about it. After an honorable discharge from the military, his older brother, Eric, was roaming around New England, working odd jobs and still trying to find his place. Three years ago, his sister, Casey had moved to Detroit with her husband and young children. That left Ben alone to manage their father’s troubling downhill slide.

Amelia’s honest sympathy had nudged a crack into his characteristic self-control, and he heard himself say, “The divorce is final now. Dad’s taking it pretty hard.”

“Of course he is. Divorces are awful, even when you both agree it’s the best thing for everyone.”

Ben didn’t have a response for that, so he just nodded. Having gone through it herself when Cooper was young, he figured she knew what she was talking about.

Standing, she folded her arms and looked down at him. “What you need is to have some fun. This girl won’t be in town forever, so you should ask her out sooner rather than later.”

“What makes you think I even want to?” She tipped her head in a chiding gesture, and he laughed. “Okay, maybe I was tempted for about five seconds, but she’s one of those uptown girls who needs a room-sized closet to hold all her shoes. Not exactly my type.”

“I’m not saying marry her,” she argued, “I’m saying go to a movie or something. You only live once, and you should make sure you grab a little fun along the way.”

Maybe she was right, he thought. Lauren had snared his attention the moment he met her, and he was more than a little curious about what made her tick. She’d left her ex behind in New York, so there was no reason for Ben to keep his distance. Amelia’s suggestion was worth thinking about, anyway. Since Lauren was new in town, she didn’t know anyone but Julia, who was busy with her wedding. He could invite Lauren over for a good meal and some friendly conversation, no strings attached. Where was the harm in that?

Of course, if he shared his train of thought with Amelia, he’d never hear the end of it. Instead, he fended off her repeated attempts at a fix-up until he finished with her cabinets. The day had gotten away from him, so by the time Ben filled his supply list and checked in with Thomas and Sons other ongoing jobs, it was eight o’clock when he got home.

Too tired for anything beyond a glass of water, he kicked off his boots and fell into bed. Out of habit, he checked his voice mail and saw he had a message from an old buddy of his who now lived in Boston. Wondering what might be up, he played the recording.

“Hey, man, it’s Davy. Just took on a restoration job in Concord and could really use a top-notch guy like you. The project starts June 1, so you can crash with me till you find a place down here. Call me and I’ll give you the deets. Later.”

Intrigued, Ben started to call, but paused with his thumb hovering over the return button. He and Davy both loved old houses, and had spent summers helping to refurbish many of the eighteenth-and nineteenth-century homes in and around Holiday Harbor. While he accepted the general contracting work he was doing now, nothing made Ben happier than to restore an old building to its former glory. That was why he’d taken on the challenging job at Toyland. It had required a ton of research and painstaking work, but every time he walked in there, he felt proud to be part of bringing the neglected old storefront back to life.

But right now, Thomas and Sons needed him more than Davy did. Eric might be home next week, or he might never come back. Ben had no way of knowing, but he couldn’t bring himself to abandon his father. Even if it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Sighing, he saved the message and plugged his phone in to charge. All he had to do was close his eyes and he was sound asleep.

It didn’t last. When his phone lit up and started ringing, he groaned in protest, then rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head. Whoever it was could get a life and leave him a message. If he didn’t get some sleep, he wouldn’t make it through tomorrow, much less the rest of the week. The phone went silent, but not for long. When it started up again, he realized it must be important and flopped onto his back to check the caller ID.

Eric. His big brother was a night owl, but he knew good and well Ben wasn’t. Something was wrong, and he thumbed the answer function. “Yeah?”

“Tell me Dad’s with you.”

The blood in Ben’s veins froze in place, and he cautioned himself not to overreact. Taking a deep breath, he said, “He’s not. Why?”

“We were supposed to meet here in Rockland for dinner, but he never showed. I called his cell, but it went right to voice mail. Same with the house phone.”

“He and Mavis had lunch today,” Ben suggested. “Maybe he’s still out at the lighthouse.”

“That’s the first place I called.”

Rubbing his gritty eyes with one hand, he asked, “Did you try the bars in Oakbridge?”

“Yeah, but nobody remembers seeing him. I’m getting worried.”

That was an understatement, Ben knew. Having served ten years as an Army Ranger, not much rattled his big brother. If Eric admitted to being concerned about something, the average person would be downright hysterical. “It’s not like him to disappear like this. Where could he be?”

“You don’t think—”

He stopped abruptly, and a feeling of dread crept up Ben’s spine. “Think what?”

“That he did something, y’know, desperate?”

Ben’s heart thudded to a stop. It wasn’t unheard of for people to go up to Schooner Point and fling themselves from the high rocky cliff into the ocean. He should have gone by the lighthouse that afternoon as he’d planned, to check on Dad as much as the job. But he’d gotten so preoccupied with Lauren and the baffling effect she had on him, it had completely slipped his mind. After their heart-to-heart that morning, Dad might have interpreted Ben’s inadvertent absence the wrong way. Ben had to find him and make sure he was safe.

“Thanks for letting me know,” Ben said while he retied his boots. “I’ll call you when I find him.”

“You mean if,” Eric retorted gloomily.

“I mean when,” he insisted, refusing to even consider any other possibility. His family might be in pieces, but everyone was safe and sound. Ben was determined to do everything in his power to keep it that way.