Once More From the Top (The Women of Willow Bay) (18 page)

TWENTY-FIVE

“You were right to bring Liam here,” Carrie told Eliot one evening as they shared a bottle of pinot noir on his deck above Lake Michigan. “I’m amazed that they’ve only known each other a few weeks. It’s like they’ve always been together. Their connection is almost... I don’t know... spiritual.” With a smile, she pressed her hands together in an attitude of submission, offering him a small bow. “I bow to your superior knowledge in all things. Jack didn’t just need a father figure. He needed Liam.”

“Their relationship has blossomed nicely, hasn’t it?” Eliot took a sip of wine.

Carrie wandered restlessly around the redwood deck, jingling her keys in the pocket of her hoodie. She simply couldn’t sit still. It was as if Liam’s energy was contagious. Even though she worked hard at the studio every day and got little sleep thanks to passion-filled nights with him, she still woke up each morning galvanized for action, full of anticipation. It was a new and heady feeling.

“Sometimes, I think they’re almost reading each other’s thoughts,” she said. “Jack’s not even sure he wants to board next year. He’s talking about doing another year as a day student so he can spend time with Liam.”

“When are you getting married?” Eliot asked. “And will you please sit down? Your pacing is exhausting me.”

“After the benefit. August thirteenth.” She perched on the end of his chaise. “Just a quiet ceremony on the beach with a reception on the boat. Julie and Aunt Margie are in hog heaven. They’re thick as thieves with Tony planning it. With senior pictures and the two weddings taking up so much time, I’ve gladly turned it over to them. Liam’s bringing his family in that week. Jack and I can’t wait to meet them. I arranged for a couple of condos down by the harbor for them.” Tilting her head, she smiled at him with affection. “I’m hoping there won’t be a mess of publicity around this. We want to keep it quiet. Will says he’ll save announcing it until after the wedding.”

“Liam drove up yesterday to talk to me about buying one of my side lots.” He gave her a long look. “He told me he’s retiring and that you’re going to live here.”

“We are. Isn’t it wonderful?” she said dreamily. “I hope you’ll give me away at the wedding, Eliot. It would mean so much to me.”

“I should refuse you.” Eliot’s blue eyes were icy.

“Why on earth—” Her jaw dropped and she shot to her feet.

“I wish you happiness in your seclusion, my dear. I only hope you can live with this decision.” He stood up stiffly, then walked to edge of the deck. “I’m sure there must be some measure of feminine satisfaction in knowing you’ve seduced one of the great musicians of our time into your private little corner of the world.”

She stood in stunned silence as her dear old friend continued in the same acid tone. “No doubt Jack will become a wonderful music teacher one day. Maybe Noah can put a piano in the snack bar at the marina for Liam if retirement proves to be a bit slow for him.”

“Eliot…” Carrie reeled at the unexpected attack. “What a sucky thing to say.”

He gave a snort of disgust. “No
suckier
than what you’re doing. Liam is no more ready to retire than you are, and Jack deserves an opportunity to fully develop his talent. Interlochen is a fine place for him now, but what happens when he graduates? Are you going to lock
him
away up here like you are Liam? How can you do this? I’m utterly ashamed of you.”

“Retiring from conducting is Liam’s decision.” She kept her voice quiet, but her heart pounded and her palms grew moist.

“Bullshit.”

She took a step back. Eliot resorting to profanity was almost as shocking as his angry accusations.

“He’s doing what he thinks
you
want. Maybe he’s ready to stop touring ten months a year, but he’s not ready to retire. For his sake and Jack’s, you should be encouraging him to be onstage. You should be packing to move to Chicago right now.”

“Dammit, Eliot, why don’t you get it? All I want is for my son to have a normal life.”

“He’s not a normal child. Why don’t you see that?” He put one veined, trembling hand on the deck rail. “He could be at Carnegie Hall
today
, for God’s sake. Liam can help him achieve great things. But not here.”

This wasn’t the conversation she’d expected to have when she’d walked up here.
“I’m not stupid—”

“Oh, really?”

How can he be so insensitive? Doesn’t he understand anything at all?

She swallowed hard, determined not to succumb to tears. “I know what Jack is. He’s incredibly gifted, but I want him to stay grounded. I won’t have him turned into some... some sideshow freak. I don’t care who his father is. ‘The Maestro’s new-found son... and he’s a prodigy.’” She indicated little air quotes. “I can see the Internet buzz now.”

“Sideshow freak? I think you’re being melodramatic, don’t you?” His teacher voice only irritated her more. Clearly ignoring her grimace and eye roll, he charged ahead. “There isn’t a more grounded kid in the country than our Jack, but he loves music. Piano is his life, and he deserves the opportunity to share his extraordinary gift. When you have a child like Jack, you owe it to the world to share him. And not just Jack, but Liam, too. Neither of them can be your exclusive property.”

“My exclusive—” She gaped at him.

Who does he think he is, talking to me like this?
My father?

This hurt more than any sneering comment from Marty Justice ever did—so much more. She held up one hand in warning. “Okay, stop
now. This isn’t any of your business.”

“The hell it isn’t.” Eliot’s gentlemanly demeanor disappeared. “I’m up to my neck in this situation, starting with my foolish promise to help you hide from Liam for such a long time. Well, I brought him here, so I’m going to have my say.
”

He paused and his
expression softened as he limped across the deck to her. When he touched her cheek, the tremor was evident, and when he smiled fondly, she noticed more lines around his eyes and mouth.

Dear God, when had he become an old man? How did
I miss it? And what will I ever do without him?

Eliot sighed before he spoke in a loving tone.
“Honey, I’m so glad you fell in love again and I’m thrilled you’re so happy. It’s what I hoped for when I invited him here. But I also hoped you’d open up to some new experiences, and get out of the little box you’ve been in since your dad died.” Eliot dropped heavily onto the settee, and patted the cushion next to him. “Besides, you’ve never seen Liam in front of a live orchestra. I have. He’s brilliant. It’s who he is. He may adore you, my child, but his
life
is on a podium... conducting. If you take that away from him, you’ll regret it every day for the rest of your life. Because one day, he’ll start to resent you for it.”

“What about
my
life, Eliot?” Carrie met his frank gaze. “What about
my
career and
my
studio and everything I’ve built here for Jack and me? Doesn’t that matter too?”

“Of course it does.”
But you need to find a compromise that will work for both of you, and maybe, just maybe, consider that this phase of your life is ending and a new, more exciting one is beginning.”

“I don’t
know.” Carrie curled up beside him offering him a half-hearted smile. “I’m so happy and yet so scared of what all this will mean to Jack and me. I’m only trying to maintain some shred of normal for us.”

“
Breathe, Carrie. Talk to Liam. Stay open to change.” Eliot put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “And yes, child, I’d be honored to give you away.”

* * * *

Later as she trudged down the beach toward home, Eliot’s words of warning burned a hole in her heart. When she crossed the docks and passed the
Allegro,
soft lights and the sound of Jimmy Buffett’s music told her Tony was probably onboard, making something delicious for when Liam returned from rehearsal. The tears hit, blinding her as she hurried past the boat and jogged up the steps to her apartment. She almost ran over Julie who was turning away from the door.

“Hey, I just got back from the Marshall’s shoot. I wanted to show you pictures of some wedding dresses I found.” Julie grinned, waving a sheaf of shiny photos in the yellow light from the docks. “These are simple, elegant—perfect for a beach wedding and— Caro? What is it, sweetie?”

Wrapping her arms around Carrie, Julie held her as she wept, patting and comforting as she would have comforted a hurt child. Leading her to the bench overlooking the bay, she fished a tissue out of her pocket. “Hmmm, it’s mostly clean, I think.” She offered it with a wry smile. “Now what’s up? Where’s my happy little bride?”

Sniffling, Carrie wiped her eyes. “Jules, am I wrong to want us to stay here after we’re married?”

“I’m not the one to ask. If I had my say, you’d never leave here. I want you near me.” Julie hugged her again. “What does Liam say?”

“He says he wants to retire from conducting and stay here with me.”

“He does?” Julie frowned. “You mean retire and stop conducting altogether? Forever?”

Her heart dropped. Apparently, Liam in retirement was something no one else could fathom. Was she so wrong in wanting to stay here where it was safe? Where her life and business were? Where everything was familiar?

Julie sat next to her on the bench, deep in thought, her eyes on the blue-gray water of the bay. Finally, she turned to Carrie. “What are you scared of? What’s got you so spooked?”

“I don’t know.” Carrie caught her lower lip with her teeth, then sighed. “Dammit. What if I’m not really what he wants?”

“Oh, honey—” Julie began, but Carrie held up her hand.

“What if we go out there and I travel with him and follow him and wait backstage for him like some damn groupie? Then one night, someone else... someone younger or prettier or more glamorous or more talented suddenly shows an interest in him?” Swallowing hard, she shrugged. “Then what do I do? How do I survive that?”

“You’re such an idiot.” Julie let out disgusted snort. “Do you think that same thought doesn’t occur to me every time Charlie goes to some heart seminar or medical conference? What if some young sexy doc or med student suddenly starts working on old Charlie’s ego?” Julie’s laugh was full of disdain. “So what if some hottie cello player goes after Liam?”

“Yeah. What then?” She blew her nose, blinking at her friend.

“Marriages don’t come with warranties. That’s why you gotta have faith. You can’t keep him tucked away up here. That’s no guarantee he’ll never stray.” Julie took her by the shoulders and shook her gently. “Caro, you’ve got to decide right here and now that it’s okay for the great
Maestro
Liam Reilly to love
you
.”

Tears shimmered in Carrie’s eyes as she bit her lower lip. “How did you know?” she whispered.

“I know you like I know my own kids,” Julie replied, stroking Carrie’s cheek. “You’ve been walking around here all summer, looking like a kid who got caught with her hand in a cookie jar. Somehow you’re convinced you don’t deserve a guy like Liam. You think he should he be with some young, rich, hot babe with boobs out to there and legs up to here.” She gestured expressively.

Carrie nodded, her heart aching.
Deep inside, the idea of traveling with Liam was very appealing, mostly because it meant being with him, but also because she’d see places she’d only dreamed of seeing. And what a glorious experience for Jack to be immersed in the world of a classical conductor. The adventurous woman who played piano in the bar wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment, so why was the photographer so frightened?

With a chuckle, Julie continued, “Listen, he’s a great guy, but he ain’t perfect. I’ve yet to meet the man who is. The good news is he has that ego under control. He’s realistic about his celebrity. I think he knows it could be gone tomorrow. He’s a good man, but let me tell you,
he’s
the lucky one. And he knows he’s lucky... to have
you
.”

“
I want to believe that, and–and when we’re together... you know... in bed? I almost do.” Rosy color heated Carrie’s cheeks. “But I’m
so
not like the other women he’s known, not even close.”

“Exactly.” Julie grinned. “You’re not. You’re warm and caring and funny and smart and so beautiful, inside and out—
no, don’t look at me like that. You know it’s true.” She jabbed a finger at her. “You’re what he’s been waiting for... for
years
. He needs
you
and he needs Jack. But he also needs the music. You give him home, and you can do that whether it’s here or at the Plaza in New York or the Ritz in Paris or his house in Chicago. Stop thinking you have to stay here in Willow Bay to keep life perfect. Life will never be perfect. But it can be so damn good. Just let him love you and love him back. That’s all you need to do.”

Carrie sat still for a long moment. “I love you, Jules,” she said, hugging her close.