A Glimpse of the Dream (7 page)

“Lap dog.” Kane sounded as if he was pondering that expression. “If it’s Tea’s lap, I’m okay with that. She always wanted a dog anyway.”

My tummy flipped. He was my trusted companion too.

“What is it you really want, Camille?”

“You. And I want to be mistress of Raven’s Peak. I’ve wanted that since I was a little girl, and I’m used to getting what I want.”

Kane started laughing; he actually laughed at her. “You’re seriously fucked up. I live here. I’m not related to Mrs. Marks. I have no claim on this house. She was just kind enough to give me a place to stay. So even if I did lose my mind and marry you, I wouldn’t get the house. If anyone were to inherit, it would be Tea. And I know you are not her type.”

“Mrs. Marks adopted you. You would inherit.”

“She adopted me so I wouldn’t be put into foster care. Tea’s grandparents were Mrs. Marks’s best friends. She’s more family to Mrs. Marks than I am.”

I didn’t agree with Kane. He was like a grandson to Mrs. Marks.

“That old lady would give it to you if you wanted it.” The way she said that was like she knew something, hanging the carrot and hoping for Kane to bite. I would have; he didn’t.

“Let me make this clear to you. I love Tea, I want a life with Tea. Even if I didn’t have Tea, I wouldn’t want you. You will never have this house, so move on.”

“You’ll be sorry, Kane Doyle. You’ll be sorry you crossed me. I promise you that.”

“The door’s that way. Use it.”

Stepping into the shadows, I watched her leave the room and storm off. Her face flamed purple, not at all attractive. The sound of the front door slamming echoed throughout the house.

“You heard all of that?” My head whipped around to see Kane leading against the doorjamb.

“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop until I heard it was Camille, and then I was wishing I had a glass to put against the door.”

“Meant every word I said.”

“That you love me and want a life with me?”

“Yep.”

“Well, as it happens, I want that with you, so we’re good.” My eyes twinkled. “I always wanted a dog.”

Sincerity turned mischievous and, in the next second, he started down the hall.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Do you smell that?”

“What?”

“The delicious smell coming from the kitchen.”

“The pastries?”

“Yup. I’m going to eat them all.” And this was why I loved him so much; despite the fact that our relationship had evolved, we were still just us: the same people we’d been as kids. I smiled.

“Oh, no you’re not,” I called to him halfway to the kitchen.

But he did eat the majority.

Kane and I were at the ice cream parlor, sharing a sundae, when the bell over the door jingled, announcing Camille’s entrance. Her eyes scanned the room, landing on Kane and me. She looked smug. Why, I had no idea, since the last time she’d seen Kane, he told her no way in hell would they ever be together.

She settled at the counter, her legs swinging, smiling and laughing with the boy behind the counter, but every once and a while her eyes darted back to us.

“What’s up with Camille?” I asked Kane, which made him halt devouring his ice cream for a moment, his gaze turning toward the counter.

“Who knows, who cares.”

True, who did? We finished our ice cream, Kane leaving the money and tip on the table, before we started outside toward his car. Walking around to my side, he reached for the door, but stopped as if frozen. In the next second he said, “What the fuck!”

Following the direction of his scowl, I understood his anger. His tires had been slashed.

The door of the ice cream parlor opened and Camille stepped out and leaned up against the wall—her gaze in our direction, her expression satisfied.

“Fucking Camille.” Kane started toward her, but I grabbed his arm.

“We don’t know she did it.”

“We can’t
prove
she did it, but she fucking did it.”

I had no doubt he was right. “It’s what she wants—the reaction. Don’t give it to her.”

Kane seethed, his face turning red with anger, but he turned from her and moved back to his car. He reached for my hand. “You’re right.”

“Are you going to call the police?”

“Her dad’s a lawyer. What the hell is the point? Let’s see if the auto body shop has my tires in stock.”

“How will you pay for them?”

“I’ll figure it out. Looks like we’re walking home.”

“I like walking.”

He grinned. “I like you.” And then he kissed me. As we walked to the garage, Camille was nowhere to be seen.

The College Years

Teagan

Sitting on the beach by Raven’s Peak, I looked toward the horizon, excitement and sadness battling inside me. I had been accepted to Boston University. I was able to go, thanks to money from my parents that I’d gained access to when I’d turned eighteen, and so my excitement. The sadness came from the thought of leaving Kane. We had discussed him coming with me to Boston, and he still wanted to, but he was currently working on a boat at the boatyard that he wanted to see finished. He also wanted to wait until the fire department found his replacement. Our town didn’t see many fires, but the force was small, and he didn’t like leaving them high and dry.

This meant that I was going to be heading off without him. In the nine years that I had lived at Raven’s Peak, Kane had never been far away. He was more than my boyfriend; he was my best friend. With him, I felt stronger and more confident.

I couldn’t lie, I was looking forward to returning to Boston and attending the school where my parents had met, ready to take that next step in my life. I just wished I could take that step with Kane at my side. And there was another thought that had started to fester. What if we were only as close as we were because of convenience? We had both been orphaned: scared and lonely. What if during our separation he realized that it wasn’t so much me but the proximity of me that he liked? I decided never to mention it to him, but that negative thought lingered in the back of my mind.

I knew Kane was near before he even sat down.

“Thought I’d find you out here,” he said. “Nice sweatshirt.”

I was wearing my mom’s Boston U sweatshirt.

“You all packed?” he asked.

“Yep.”

Sensing my turmoil, he lifted my chin to meet his gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“You are going to come, right?”

“Yes.”

“I mean it, Kane, you’re not going to change your mind, are you?”

“Where’s this coming from? I love you, Tea. I want to be with you, but I’ve got to finish what I started here before I can do that. Six months, that’s all I need, and then I’ll be crashing in your dorm and eating all of your takeout.”

“Clown.” But there was a part of me that didn’t understand why he hadn’t already finished up with the boat and arranged for his replacement at the fire department. It wasn’t as if my move had been sprung on him; he’d known it was coming for a while, years, in fact. This negative thought also lingered, and I was worried that he was having second thoughts, especially considering how adamant he had been just a few years before about jobs and schools being plenty but there being only one me.

“Seriously, before you know it, I’ll be there, waiting for you every night after class.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I might even cook you dinner if you play your cards right.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

“We’ll talk every night.”

“Okay.”

“Six months, Tea, and then you won’t be able to get rid of me.”

Resting my head on his shoulder, my gaze drifted back to the horizon. “Never. I would never want to get rid of you.”

“Good, since I would never have allowed it.” And then he changed the subject. “You’re excited.”

He wasn’t asking. “I’m nervous, but I am excited and not just for the education but for the whole experience. I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life, so getting out and being on my own, despite how much I hate that you aren’t coming with me now, I want that. I want to know I can make it on my own. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah.”

“My parents often talked about college and how much it helped form the people they became. They took me once to one of their reunions; I was only five, but I remember the day so vividly. I feel like I’ll be able to connect with them again, walking the same campus they did, eating in the same dining halls, being in the place that meant so much to both of them.”

“They’d be proud of you,” he said softly.

“Thank you for saying that. I think they would be too. Do you regret your decision to not go away to college?”

“No. I got two more years with you.”

Happiness burned through me in response, and then he added, “But maybe watching you, I’ll be inspired to give college a try.”

“It’d be nice to go through the experience together,” I said softly.

“We’ll still be together, Tea, regardless.”

I liked that answer.

His arm slipped around my waist, and for a good long time we just sat there, content in our silence.

Kane climbed from my bed the following morning and grabbed his boxer briefs. He slept in my room every night now, ever since that day a year ago when we’d made love. He waited until everyone was asleep before he snuck in and crawled into bed with me. I loved having him next to me, his body pressed against mine. Feeling him slide into me, moving against me, kissing and touching me. I couldn’t get enough of him, would never have my fill.

“Hurry up. Mr. Clancy will be up any minute to get my bags,” I tried to say, but I was laughing too hard watching Kane hopping on one foot trying to pull up his shorts. “You really should just walk around naked, it’s a good look for you.”

“You’re ridiculous. Only you get to see this.”

“I so don’t have a problem with that.”

“What time is your flight?”

“Two.”

“All right, I’ll be back in about an hour and I’ll take you.”

He wrapped my face in his hands and kissed me long and hard. “One hour.”

“I’ll be ready.”

My bags were on the driveway an hour later, and I was sitting on the front step. Shopping for college had been an experience. Mrs. Marks had been on a mission, and it had felt nice bonding with her over even something as small as bedspreads for my dorm room. She was proud of me, I could see it in her expression. She wouldn’t let me pay for anything either, even though I had the money from my parents. I had the sense that there was more to the moment than just me going off to school, as if something in her own past fueled her exuberance now.

“You have your phone and computer?” Mrs. Marks asked.

“Yes.”

“Your checkbook and credit card?”

“Yes.”

“Remember to call as soon as you get there.”

“I will.”

“Enjoy yourself. I know you’ll work hard, you always do, but enjoy yourself too.” Her tone turned serious. “I know about you and Kane. I think we all knew where you were both heading. But while you are separated for the next few months, have fun. Live the college experience, because it only happens once.”

“We wondered if you knew. We weren’t sure how to broach the subject.”

“The same for me. I suspected early on that you two were going to develop an attachment. Had you been younger when your relationship changed, I would have said something, but you were on the cusp of eighteen. You’ve known each other since you were nine and eleven—I think you both knew what you wanted and what you were doing. But with that being said, this time apart will be good for both of you. You’ve only ever known each other, and forever is a long time. Take this opportunity to make sure of your feelings.”

Dread moved through me at her words. Was she encouraging me to date? Did she not appreciate just how much Kane meant to me? Or did she know something about Kane that I didn’t? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to hear her answer.

Mrs. T chimed in, thankfully changing the subject. “I’ve packed a few slices of cake in your bag.” I loved her cakes almost as much as Kane did.

“Thank you for your contribution to the freshman fifteen.”

“I do what I can,” she said with a smile.

Kane’s car pulled up the drive. He hopped out all smiles. “You ready?”

Just looking at him, I knew I had no doubts about my feelings. I didn’t need to play the field, I had the one I wanted. And I hoped, truly hoped, he did too. “Yep.”

Mr. Clancy helped Kane load the car while I said my good-byes. Mrs. T hugged me hard and slipped me two hundred bucks. “Emergency fund.”

The memory of my first day at Raven’s Peak flashed in my mind, and how my eyes had burned with fear. And now they were burning because I was leaving the place that really had become my home.

“It’s only four years, and then you’ll be back. Besides, there are holidays. We’ll see you in November.”

“I know. I don’t know why I’m being so sentimental.”

“It’s a big step. You’re entitled. Be safe, Teagan.”

Mrs. Marks was next, kissing me on each cheek and taking a moment to just stare. “I remember the scared little girl who appeared that first night . . . and now look at you, a confident young woman heading off to college. I’m really proud of you.”

I was about to cry, so I quickly hugged her and kissed her cheek. Mr. Clancy was holding the car door for me, and I pecked him on the cheek, which earned me a smile, before I climbed in.

Kane turned the car around and, as we started down the drive, I looked back at the three of them all waving me off. I waved until I couldn’t see them anymore, and when I turned forward, my cheeks felt damp.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I guess I’m just realizing that they really are our family. We’re lucky, Kane. Our lives could have turned out so very differently.”

“I know. We’re an odd group, but we work.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Classes start on Monday?”

“Yeah, new student orientation is this weekend.”

“You and your roommate are going to do that together, right?”

“Yeah. She seems nice, at least on the phone. I would rather have you as my roommate.”

“Next year, apartment off campus, you and me.”

“Promise?”

“I’ll do one better.” He pulled the car over and shut down the engine before climbing out without saying another word. He came around to my side as I stepped out of the car.

“What are you doing?”

He dropped to one knee and my heart moved up into my throat.

“I love you, Tea. I want my life with you. I want to wake up next to you every morning and go to sleep next to you every night. Marry me.”

My yes came out as a sob, a happy sob—he felt the impending distance too. With his proposal, my lingering worries faded.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a little black box. Inside was a diamond ring, the small brilliant-cut solitaire framed in white gold. “It’s not as big as I would have liked, but I’ll upgrade it when I’m making more money.”

“No! It’s perfect.”

He grinned and slipped it onto my finger. “You’re stuck with me now.”

Dropping to my knees, I threw my arms around him and held on tight. “Exactly where I want to be.”

Kane got me to the airport just in time. We said our farewells at the security checkpoint. “Call as soon as you get to your room.”

“I will.”

“Have fun, Tea. This is a big deal, and you’ve worked hard for it.”

“And you put in double time so you cut the six months to three.”

“Deal.” He wrapped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones, while we looked our fill. Our good-bye kiss was just a brushing of our lips, and still my entire body sighed. Reaching for my bag, he handed it to me. “See you in November.” He lifted my hand and kissed the ring.

“Love you.” My feet felt like lead as I walked away from him, staring back over my shoulder at the sight of him standing there, hands in his pockets, and a small smile on his face. The image burned into my memory. My fiancé. Thanksgiving was in three months; that wasn’t so long a wait.