A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection (16 page)

She opened it up. It was from Carter.

Miss you already.

Me, too,
she responded. She slid the phone back in her pocket and smiled.

Chapter Six

When she touched down in North Dakota, snow was falling again. At home, after unloading her luggage from the car, grateful the roads hadn’t been bad, she took a picture with her phone and sent it to Carter.

Home Sweet Home. I already miss the sun.

Jo greeted her at the door as Mara sent the message. “Writing to Anna again already?”

“Not exactly.” Mara hadn’t mentioned her holiday romance, but knew she would have to soon if she and Carter kept in touch. Her phone chimed again, and she pulled it out to check. There was a picture of grass and trees in the moonlight.

Not so cold here, but still awfully quiet.

Mara smiled and put the phone away.

“Okay,” Jo said. “Who did you meet on your trip? Anna didn’t put that smile on your face.”

Mara tried to make light of it. “His name’s Carter, and we’ll see if it goes anywhere. He lives in Texas.”

“Oh, man, that sucks.” Jo took the extra suitcase from Mara and headed inside. “But it’s terrific that you connected with someone. You’ll have to tell me all about him.”

“Maybe tomorrow.” She wanted to keep the memories to herself for just a little longer. “Tell me about Dad.”

* * *

Three weeks passed while Mara and Carter continued to send regular text messages and talk on the phone each day. As she carried a load of groceries into the kitchen, she smiled at a funny comment he made about an overheard conversation on campus.

“Carter again?” her father asked.

“What makes you say that?” She pocketed the phone and began unloading groceries.

“That grin. You always get it when you’ve been talking to him.” He set down the newspaper he’d been reading and stood. “What are you doing, Mara?”

“I’m unloading the groceries,” she said, though she knew what he really meant.

“No.” He took her hand and looked her in the eye. “I know you gave up a job opportunity after I had my stroke. I’m doing better, honey. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped putting your own dreams on hold for me?”

She looked up at him. “But I like living with you.”

He smiled. “And I love having you here, but I’m doing much better, and you don’t belong with an old fogey like me. You should be somewhere where you can reach for your dreams. Somewhere with opportunities. With a man who can put that kind of smile on your face.” He tapped a finger against her chin.

She swallowed hard when he referred to Carter. Her father was right, but Carter still loved his wife. “It’s complicated.”

“It always is.” He touched her shoulder. “But you deserve more than what you have here. Just think about it.”

“I will.” She grabbed his hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “But first I need to get these groceries taken care of. Since you’re so strong and healthy, could you bring in the rest of them?”

He sighed dramatically. “I knew I was going to regret saying that even before the words were out.”

She changed the subject to the impending spring thaw and the places she wanted to visit as soon as the ground was visible, but in the back of her head, she started thinking about master’s of accounting courses. Maybe at a school in Texas.

* * *

I miss you.

The text came through while Carter was eating a quiet dinner alone—as usual. The message was accompanied by a picture of a duck waddling in the snow. He wondered if Mara had taken the photo or if it had come off the internet.

He picked up the phone and wrote her back.

I’m enjoying a delicious TV dinner in front of the television tonight. Could use your company. 

The television was off, but he left out that detail. His eyes drifted to the set and then upward, inexorably to the picture on top—a wedding picture Rosa had framed after their honeymoon. Guilt flooded him again. What was he doing? How could he keep up this long-distance flirtation? The closer he got to Mara, the more he felt like he was cheating on Rosa.

His phone rang, and he looked at Mara’s name on the display. He answered the call with his happiest voice. “Hey, Mara. How are you doing?”

“Great. We got all the way up to
fifty-four degrees
today. Spring is just around the corner.”

He chuckled. “You have a wacked-out idea of spring. Have I ever mentioned that?”

“Maybe. Once or twice. So what are you watching?”

“Nothing, really. I was thinking about settling down with a book. It’s been years since I read
Salem’s Lot
.”

“Oh, Stephen King. I love his books. Read that one a few years ago and didn’t sleep for a week. I started telling Anna about it, but she made me stop, said if I kept going, she’d never be able to walk alone on campus again.”

He laughed. “That is one drawback. What’s new in your neck of the woods?”

A long moment of silence followed, and he was about to check to make sure the call hadn’t been dropped, when she answered. “I was thinking about going back to school for a master’s degree.”

“Really? That’s terrific. Are you looking to head to Denver again?” How much farther away would she be if she moved there? Or would it come out to nearly the same distance?

“I was thinking maybe a little farther south.” Her voice sounded hesitant, nervous. “I understand that University of North Texas has a great master’s of accounting program.”

His eyes flicked over to the picture of Rosa; he felt a little overwhelmed. Mara was talking about picking up and moving across the country to live closer to him. “I... wow, that is a long way from home.”

“Not so far, compared to other universities. I could go to California or Hawaii...” She sucked in a breath. “Look, my feelings for you—I’ve never felt this way for anyone else. I’d like to give things a chance, see what could happen if we lived closer.”

He didn’t say anything at first, his gaze riveted on the photo as both hope and fear shot through him. “You would move all the way down here just for me? What if things don’t work out?” He wanted to date her for real, to have dinners and movies and long chats like they’d enjoyed on vacation, but there would also be pressure in knowing she’d moved halfway across the country to be with him. He didn’t want her to regret it.

“The school really does have an excellent accounting program.” There was distance in her voice now. “Don’t feel obligated just because I move closer. I already put in my application. It’s too late for fall semester, but we don’t have to date if you’re not interested...” Her voice broke, piling on the guilt.

“No, I mean, of course I want to see you again, and often. So much. It’s just...” He stood and walked away from his half-eaten meal, no longer hungry.

“This is about Rosa, isn’t it?”

More guilt. She must think he was leading her on—which he wasn’t. At least, he didn’t think so. He liked her a lot. Maybe more than liked her. He couldn’t answer, clueless as to the right words to use.

At the silence, she said, “I see. Well, I guess that answers that question. I ought to go. I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up before he could even say goodbye.

Carter tossed the phone onto the couch, harder than he should have. Things between him and Mara were only supposed to have been temporary—a chance to ease back into dating, not have a real relationship right away—but he felt a stronger pull to her as the weeks passed. What was he doing going out with someone long distance, anyway? He didn’t actually think that a woman as wonderful as Mara would be willing to be friends forever, did he?

He turned to the wedding picture. “What do I do now, honey? How do I put you away and give someone else a real chance?”

Rosa didn’t respond—not that he’d expected her to. He rubbed his forehead. Had he blown things with the only woman he’d connected with in over two years, one he thought he might love, because he was afraid to try again?

Chapter Seven

The school year was winding down, and Carter was already getting requests from different parts of campus as staff asked for updated equipment for the following semester. The rush seemed to start earlier every spring.

A virus had rampaged through the south computer lab, so he’d spent the better part of the weekend getting it cleared up so students could work on their term papers. His eyes were gritty, his temper frayed, and he hadn’t heard from Mara in nearly a week. When he called, she found excuses not to talk long—when she answered at all. He’d hurt her, though he hadn’t intended to. And he missed her more every day.

His phone rang, and he answered it eagerly, hoping it would be her this time, but instead it was Paolo.

“How are you tonight?” Paolo asked.

“Staying busy, problems with the school computers. How about you?” Carter didn’t want to talk about his own life right now, or his love life. He had told Paolo about the time he spent with Mara, and that they were still in contact, but he didn’t want to discuss it now.

“Can’t complain.” Paolo went on to talk about the great experience he’d had the previous day while selling his miracle supplements. At the end he slipped in a question. “And how are things with Mara?” As if it had been part of the discussion and not an unrelated subject at all.

Carter stood from the computer where he was working—he needed a break before he got to the point where he couldn’t see straight anymore. “Fine, I guess. We haven’t been in touch much this week. You know how these vacation flirtations go.” His voice was flat.

Paolo apparently picked up on it, because he made a tsking sound. “Why are you playing games with your heart, Carter? Have you told her how you feel?”

“How can I when I’m not sure?” He strode past rows of computers, desperately wishing he could get away from the conversation.

“I thought you were crazy about her,” Paolo said.

“I was. I am.” He sighed. “It’s not that simple.”

“Yes, it is.” Paolo paused. “You loved my Rosa, and you always will, but it’s past time to let her go. Move on. Making a new life with someone else doesn’t mean you never loved Rosa She would want you to be happy. I think Mara might be just the woman for you.”

“You’ve never even met her.”

“No, but the woman’s soul shines brightly when she sings. I saw your face and awe. I’ve heard the smile in your voice when you speak of her. If you love her, go for it. Love is not so plentiful that you can choose to ignore it.”

Carter’s heart confirmed what Paolo was saying. He had fallen in love with Mara, hard. Taking that leap, though, was terrifying. He missed her, and the part of himself that loved her warred with the part that was afraid to take the risk.

He turned and headed back down the row of computers. She was special to him, more important than she’d realized, but how was she supposed to know that if he didn’t tell her? With a sense of peace, he realized it was time he put away the things of the past and focused on what could be instead of what was. “Thank you, Paolo. I always appreciate your advice.”

“I’m glad one of my children does.”

* * *

A storm was coming on as Carter pulled through the cemetery gates. It wouldn’t hit for another hour at least, so he wouldn’t be lingering, which was fine with him. He took the familiar route around the east side, past mausoleums and cracking tombstones, to the familiar area of the cemetery with newer graves.

Flowers dotted the cemetery grounds, along with teddy bears, balloons and even a plastic violin joining them, decorating the graves. He pulled off to the side and parked under a tree, then picked up the mixed flowers he’d bought a few minutes before.

He hadn’t visited Rosa’s grave since his vacation, though not a day went by that he didn’t think about her. The wind ruffled his hair, and he could smell rain on the air. It reminded him of the day she died. The rain had lashed against the windshield as he’d driven to the hospital. The phone call from the police had sent adrenalin rushing through his veins and worry filling his head. 

Today’s storm wasn’t supposed to be as big, but the dark clouds overhead still made him nervous. Carter set his bundle of flowers in front of the grave marker, creating a slash of multi-colored brightness Rosa would have loved. He sat on the grass beside the grave to talk, as he often did.

“Hey, honey. I know it’s been a while, but I’ve been trying to move on. I hate it, though. I miss you so much. Work is going well, I guess. I stay busy running around fixing computers for all of the professors. The other day a kid hacked into the system just to see if he could then left me a message where I would be sure to find it. He was pretty ingenious, but thankfully didn’t mess up anything.”

He shifted the conversation to his brother. “Carson is getting married in three weeks. He’s so happy; he’s like a totally different person when he’s with Trista. They remind me of us when we got married, all bright eyes and hope for the future. She’s already talking about kids.” He choked up when he thought of his unborn son—they’d only learned the baby’s gender the week before the accident. “How can I feel so lost when everything looks like it ought to be fine?”

He moved and crossed his legs. “I met someone last month. She has me all twisted up in knots.” He told her about meeting Mara outside the condo when she arrived, of hearing her sing. He talked about all of the time they had spent together that weekend and how their friendship had grown since. “I know your father is right, that you would be fine with me moving on. Mara’s important to me, so I’m going to take a chance and see what happens—if I haven’t screwed everything up already. She makes me happier than I’ve been since you died.”

Tears threatened, and he let them fall. “I love you, Rosa. Part of me always will. I hope you know that.”

* * *

Mara got her acceptance to UNT quickly, even though she’d have to wait until January to start the program. She gave notice at work that she’d be moving to Texas during the summer to get established. Then she started sorting through all of her belongings. She had savings if she couldn’t find a job right away, but hopefully she’d find something when she moved.