Echoes (27 page)

Teri came alongside her and took Kenton’s place by wrapping her strong arm around Lauren’s middle. “Why don’t you and I go on in? We’ll leave the men to retrieve the junk out of the cars. You should drink some more water.”

“I’m fine. Really.”

Teri kept holding her up as they ascended the steps and entered the lobby. Quietly, when they were out of range of the others, Teri said, “I’m sorry I told you like that.”

“Told me what?”

“About Jessica being a multimillionaire. I know how you feel. I almost fainted, too, when I first found out. They don’t act like it at all, so after a while you forget. Do you want to sit down?”

“Sure.”

Teri led her to a plush, pillow-lined couch in the spacious lobby. The high-beamed ceiling opened to a second floor with a beautiful polished wood railing. On the wall in front of them was a gigantic, natural stone fireplace.

Jessica joined them and sat in a broad chair with a footstool,
both upholstered in a rich gold and burnt orange brocade. She suddenly seemed like a queen to Lauren. “Are you okay?” Jessica asked quietly.

“Yes. I’m so sorry to embarrass you the way I did.”

“Don’t say that. You can’t help it if you fainted.”

“No, I mean—”

“I’m the one who said it so loud,” Teri said. “Sorry, Jess.”

“Oh,” she said, the blush returning to her cheeks. “It’s okay. Really. Let’s order something for you to drink, Lauren.” She motioned to the hotel staff person who was walking by with a silver tray in his hand. “May we have two iced teas?” Jessica asked. “That’s for Kyle and myself. What would you and Gordon like, Teri?”

“Two ginger ales,” Teri ordered. “One with a lime twist.”

“I’d just like water,” Lauren said.

He was about to walk away when Jessica said, “I suppose we should order something for Kenton.”

“He likes 7-UP,” Lauren blurted out before she could stop herself.

Teri and Jessica turned and stared at her.

“I mean, I’d like 7-UP instead of water. That’s what I was trying to say.”

“Make that two 7-UPs,” Jessica said. “I think Kenton does like 7-UP.”

The server left them. Lauren felt her heart pounding so loudly she was sure the other two women could hear it. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

I can’t believe this is happening! I must look awful. My bathing suit is filled with sand, the pockets of these shorts are filled with shells, this shirt is filthy, I’m sunburned and sweaty, and my hair must look atrocious! I can’t believe this is how KC sees me for the first time
.

She opened her eyes, and there he stood, directly before
her, leaning down to eye level. It was like looking at him through the viewfinder of the camera all over again: the firm jaw; closed-lip smile; laugh lines gathered up at the corner of his eyes; broad forehead; and dark brown hair. Only this time he was scrutinizing her features.

“How are you doing?” he asked softly. Or was it cautiously? The way an innocent man would approach a woman who had bitten off his head over the phone at their last encounter. He removed his baseball cap, as if being respectful, and ran his hand through his straight hair. Lauren couldn’t take her eyes off his strong hands. Those fingers had typed beautiful words to her, words that linked their souls and melted their hearts together. And now, here they were, only a few feet away from each other, and she couldn’t make a single sound come from her constricted throat.

The server arrived with the beverages and handed a 7-UP to Kenton. “Is this for me?”

“Yes,” Jessica said. “Is 7-UP okay?”

“Perfect. Thanks, Jess.” He sat down in a chair directly across from the speechless Lauren.

“Actually, it was Lauren’s suggestion,” Jessica said.

Slowly, Kenton lifted the glass to his lips. Even more slowly, he allowed his gaze to rest on Lauren.

Teri reached over and punched Kenton in the arm. “So, how ya’ been? You better have a good excuse for not coming to our reception.”

“I do,” he said.

“Would you like to share it with the rest of the class?” Teri said in her teacher’s voice.

“No.”

“Your turn,” Teri said, turning to Jessica. “My interrogation skills are slipping.”

“I didn’t think you were going to come to Hawaii,” Jessica
said softly to her brother-in-law. “Kyle told me about the other offer on the newspaper. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. That would have been a perfect situation for you, and Kyle and I would have loved having you in Glenbrooke.”

Kenton looked down at his glass and swished the ice cubes around. “Actually,” he said without looking up, “the buyer who was in first position for the paper pulled out. I closed the deal this morning and decided to put some of my accumulated vacation days to good use and celebrate my new career.” He looked up, glancing only briefly at Lauren, and letting his gaze rest on Jessica. “Looks like I’ll be invading your restful burg by the end of September.”

“That’s wonderful!” Jessica said, rising and going over to the chair where he sat and giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so excited for you.”

Lauren couldn’t help but notice how shy Kenton was. Or was it humility? He had obviously chosen to leave a prestigious journalism position and had bought a small town newspaper where he would be the editor-in-chief and probably the only staff writer. This is what he had been talking about. And now he was moving to Glenbrooke.

“Congratulations,” Teri said. “You made a good choice. And guess who else is moving to Glenbrooke?”

Kenton sipped his soda, his eyebrows answering Teri that he had no idea.

“Lauren.” Teri coyly looked at Lauren and then back at Kenton. “It looks as if she’ll start teaching at Glenbrooke High this fall.”

Kenton returned his gaze to Lauren, nodded his congratulations, then immediately looked away and wouldn’t look at her again.

Kyle and Gordon stepped into the lobby. Their wives handed them their drinks.

“How long have you been here?” Kyle asked, standing beside Kenton’s chair.

Kenton rose and checked his watch. He did it with such a smooth, man-of-the-world fluid motion that the simple gesture nearly took Lauren’s breath away. These were the common, everyday habits she had longed to know about him. She knew inside his head by heart. Now she could meet the flesh and blood part of KC.

“Only about forty minutes. By the way, bro, I bought the paper. I’m moving to Glenbrooke next month.”

Kyle’s expression showed how pleased he was. He spontaneously embraced his younger brother, and the two men briefly slapped each other on the back. Now that they stood side by side, Lauren could see the resemblance, mostly in the build and the way they carried themselves. Their jaws were identical, and they both had the same high forehead. She found it impossible to stop staring at Kenton. He still hadn’t looked back at her.

“Anyone else hungry?” Gordon asked.

“I am,” Teri said, followed by a round of agreement from the others.

“I made reservations here for us at 7:30.” Kyle said. “That gives us an hour. Think you can hold out that long, Gordon?”

“Not a problem.”

“We can always raid the little refrigerator in our room,” Teri said. “I’m ready for a shower.”

One of Gordon’s mischievous grins appeared on his face as he said, “I’m with the woman in the shower.”

“Gordo!” Teri said, swatting at him.

“I think we’ll be leaving now,” Kyle said, offering his hand to Jessica. “We’ll meet back here in an hour.”

Lauren ducked out and made a quick detour to the hotel gift shop. If she was going to have a formal dinner with KC, she
was going to look her best. Last night she had worn the only nice evening dress she had. It was time to put her Visa to good use for this emergency.

The sales clerk directed her to a rack of semi-formal wear at the back of the shop. Filing through quickly, Lauren selected every dress in her size and slipped into the dressing room. She had just put on the first one when she heard familiar voices outside the slatted changing room door.

“And you’re telling me you don’t know her name?” Kyle’s voice asked.

“I only know her as Wren,” Kenton answered.

“May I help you find something?” the clerk asked.

“Yes,” Kyle answered. “We need something for sunburn and a coat and tie for this guy.”

“Those are along the back wall. The lotions are over there.”

“Thanks. So, what are you going to do?” Lauren could hear them coming closer. She tried to peek through the slats.

“I wish I knew,” Kenton’s voice sounded rich and deep, exactly as she had imagined it. “Do you know what it’s like to have your heart ripped out, and the woman you love vanish?”

Lauren bit her lip and felt the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Yeah, I do,” Kyle’s voice sounded tight. Lauren thought of Lindsay and her inscription in
Pilgrim’s Progress
.

There was a pause before Kenton said, “I guess you do.” Now Kenton sounded choked up. “Wren was the other half of me, Kyle. She held the other half of my heart in her hand, and I don’t know where she is. I called all the hospitals in Portland asking if there had been any car accidents involving twenty-five-year-old women in rental cars. Is that crazy, or what? There weren’t any, but I was determined to find her. I’m going to find her, too.”

“What if she doesn’t want to be found?” Kyle asked. “You like skinny or fat?”

“I don’t care if she’s skinny or fat or one-eyed! It’s her soul I fell in love with.”

“I was asking about ties,” Kyle said. “There are four black ones here. Do you like skinny or fat ties?”

“That one,” Kenton said.

“Here. Try on this jacket. If it doesn’t work, I have one you can borrow.” There was a pause with some rustling sounds, and then Kyle said, “That’s not going to work.”

“Are there any others?”

“Doesn’t look like it. You can borrow my black one.”

“I guess I’m destined to live my whole life off of your hand-me-downs.”

“That’s what you get for being born last,” Kyle teased. “You know, I have to say something. I hear what you’re telling me about this woman, Wren. I’m sure she’s a nice person, and there’s some logical explanation for why she didn’t show up. She could have ended up in Fairbanks, even! That’s what happened to Lauren on her way to Gordon and Teri’s wedding. And speaking of Lauren, I wish you two hadn’t gotten off on the wrong foot. I think she’s terrific.”

“You search and rescue guys always go for the swooners.”

Lauren’s heart sank. Kenton’s opinion of her, the real her, was obviously not very high.

“I think you would like her, if you gave her a chance,” Kyle said. “Jessica told me she’s coming off of an unresolved relationship and—”

“Will you kindly listen to what I’m saying?” Kenton said. “You’re not paying attention. I’m deeply in love with Wren. I couldn’t think of even looking at another woman.” They moved past her dressing room, and Lauren held her breath, watching his shadow pass by.

“Is that all, sir?” the clerk asked.

“Yes. And this bottle of sunburn soother. Oh, and can you
add a couple of these Dove chocolate bars? My wife has a thing for Dove bars. Our baby will probably be born with wings.”

“Either that or it’ll come out with acne,” Kenton said dryly.

Their voices trailed off as they left the shop. Lauren had been leaning against the slatted door so hard as she strained to hear them that it suddenly popped open, and she nearly spilled out onto the floor.

“Do you need some help back there?”

Lauren caught herself and closed the door. “No, I’m fine, thank you—I think,” she muttered under her breath. She quickly tried on the next dress and nearly laughed aloud. It resembled the silver dress Mindy had worn to Leon’s birthday party at Jake’s.

“Definitely not!” Lauren told herself. Her hands were shaking as she tried on the next three. She settled happily on a simple black one that made her feel elegant, even with the sand in her hair.

Back in her room she kicked into high gear, showering and dressing. She paid extra attention to every detail. Attaching her small diamond stud earrings, she discovered more sand in her ears that the shower hadn’t found. Just then there came a quick knock on the door.

Oh, no! They’re ready and I’m not!

She scurried to the door in her bare feet and opened it to a hotel staff person who held out to her a perfect white gardenia tucked in a clear florist box.

“Compliments of Mr. Buchanan,” he said.

“Thank you,” Lauren said, receiving the single, exceptional flower and searching for a card. As the man turned to leave, she asked, “Excuse me. Do you happen to know which Mr. Buchanan?”

The man smiled and shook his head. “No ma’am.”

O
f course it’s from Kyle, Lauren reasoned as she returned to the bathroom and pinned the gardenia to her new dress.
Why would it be from Kenton? He thinks I’m a swooner. Kyle probably bought one for each of the women
.

The contrast of the white gardenia on her black dress was stunning. She felt stunning. Her face looked tanned with a splash of sunburn pink across her cheeks. Her eyes were clear and bluer than usual because of her tan. Her hair had cooperated nicely: bangs, thin and billowy across her forehead; the usual fly-away strand tucked neatly behind her ear. And best of all, she felt great inside.
You did this, didn’t you, Father? You brought him here, and you’re going to work everything out. I know you are
.