The Newcomer (Thunder Point) (28 page)

“What if this job hadn’t come open?” she asked. “What if Spencer and Austin weren’t here? And what if it doesn’t work out for them?”

“I guess I’d be on a plane regularly. Single parents do that all the time. It’s not the best situation, but it works.”

She leaned against him. The sound of lapping water at the shoreline and the laughter of teenagers on the beach was soothing. “You sound really unfucked-up for an ex-helicopter pilot who runs a beach bar.”

He laughed at her. “And for the first time in a long time, I feel that way, too.” And he kissed her brow.

Nineteen

A
shley walked home after her shift and found her mother sitting on the front porch in the dark alone. “Why are you still up?” she asked.

Gina smiled and sighed. “Mac just left and I stayed out here. Did you have a good shift?”

“I did, but I’m tired now—I’ll sleep in a little tomorrow. Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m okay. I was just thinking how lucky I am. Having Mac in my life—he’s such a good, strong man.”

“You’re acting kind of sad for someone who is planning to get married,” Ashley said, sitting down beside her mother on the porch.

“It’ll pass. Give me ten minutes. But I will say this—I look forward to not saying goodbye to him at the end of every day. And you know what worries me? I know this is going to sound very strange, coming from your mother—but I’ve never been a wife. What if I stink at it?”

Ashley giggled. “I bet you’ll get the hang of it.”

“I hope so. I want so much to be a good wife to him, and a good stepmom. I have no doubt he’ll be an awesome stepfather.”

“He practically has been, Mom. He’s been my stand-in dad for four years.”

“I guess he has, hasn’t he?”

“Well, it sure wasn’t Stu at the diner, or Downy’s dad, Ford. If I had any situation that I’d mention to a dad, or talk to a dad about, it was Mac. In fact, ever since all that drama with Downy, Mac seems to keep a real close watch on me.” She laughed. “He really is a busybody, isn’t he?”

“He is. In the best possible way. It used to frustrate me so much that he just thought of me as a good friend, but now I realize that all those years of friendship before romance has been a good thing. He’s a patient man—he knows me as well as you do. He’s easygoing and generous, not prickly like some men. I think Lou softened him up, taught him how to live with a woman.”

“I don’t know why you two are waiting to get married. You know that Gram and I could put together a wedding in a week. Two at the most.”

“But we haven’t really figured out all the sleeping arrangements.... We have to give it at least till the end of summer.”

“By the end of summer everyone will know their places, but you don’t have to wait that long. Eve and I have talked it out. For the past four years I’ve either stayed over at her house or she’s stayed here at least once a week, but it’s usually even more often. When she’s had enough of Lou and the younger kids, she might be here most of the weekend. And when I’ve had enough of—” She stopped suddenly and even in the dark, Gina could see a flush darken her cheeks.

“You can say it. My feelings won’t be hurt.”

She took a breath. “Our house is quiet. People go to bed early. Eve’s house is lively. Lots of kids get together there because the deputy likes to have eyes and ears on them, but our house is a good spot to bring boyfriends after a game or dance because Gram is out like a light with her ear buds in her ears. When Eve gets enough of lively, she’s here, where we can just walk to the beach, or to the diner, or to McDonalds and Pizza Hut. When I’m looking for a little more action, I’m there. I might move in there—probably into Eve’s room—but Gram will let us come here to spend the night anytime we want to. It’ll probably be a lot like it is right now, except you’ll be paired up with Mac, just like you should be. And I bet Aunt Lou moves out—I bet she moves in with Joe. She’s making those kind of comments, thinking no one is listening. But Eve and I will be the same. We study together, we wear each other’s clothes, we carpool and double date. The only thing we don’t share are boyfriends.”

“Huh,” Gina said. She reached out and touched Ashley’s hair. “I’m not sure how I feel about my house being the best make-out house. But I caught on to your agenda a long time ago.”

“Well, that’s not my agenda anymore, but this house is a really good one for marathon
Criminal Minds
shows. Eve’s gets a little wild with Ryan and Dee Dee competing on the drums and piano and video games.”

“I like those movie and TV nights,” Gina said.

“If Mac lets you out, you can join us sometime.” Then she grinned at her mother.

“I hate that you had such a hard spring, baby. But you’re better than ever. And you were amazing before.”

“Thanks, Mama,” she said, smiling. “I feel better than ever. I don’t like how I had to learn a few things. But I like what I had to learn. And as a bonus, I got Eric.” She grinned. “I like him.”

“Whew. I’m so glad that worked out.”

“It worked out. At least so far. So about you and Mac... We could fix up a quick wedding. Lou can still take all summer to decide what she wants to do. You two can live in the same house for a couple of months if it takes her that long to decide. Maybe she’ll want to hang around for Ryan and Dee Dee while school’s out. Think about it, Mom—we’ve been like one family the past few years. We do everything together.”

“He keeps suggesting we just elope. And it’s tempting, but I think people expect a ceremony, a reception, a party.”

“Would you? Elope? Just run off and get married?”

She shrugged. “I haven’t given it serious thought. I admit, having four kids between us, a nice dinner out and a night or two away sure sounds nice. But we can wait till August so we don’t take anyone by surprise....”

“You could also tell Gram and Lou and the kids that you’ll be away next weekend, getting married. Everyone wants you to get married. No one except Dee Dee has a big need to be in a wedding,” Ashley said.

“What about you? The maid of honor?” she asked.

“Don’t take this the wrong way...you know I love Mac and the whole family but I’m a lot more interested in this idea of Frank’s—going out on the bay at night when there’s a full moon.”

“Seriously?” Gina asked.

“Frank has seen dolphins out there. I’d give anything to see a dolphin up close. Do you know if you shine lights down into the water at night you can see massive marine life?”

“Frank?” she asked, lifting a brow.

“Another gift—I never really knew him before even though I’ve known him my whole life. We’re good friends now. And that’s where it’s going to stay. Good friends. And it’s very nice.”

“Well, I’ll be darned. Frank. Huh. And you wouldn’t be hurt and deprived if I didn’t have a wedding and party you could be a part of?”

“Mom, the whole town has expected you and Mac to get married for years. The two of you are so lame, thinking no one could see the way you look at each other. Put your lives together and move on so we don’t have to all watch you sneaking kisses. No one cares. Well, except Dee Dee. But we can have a pretend wedding for her and she’d be just as happy—she’s ten. We could let her be the bride!” And then she grinned. “Did you know Frank plans to go to college on the east coast? One of the big ones—MIT or Harvard or Boston University. He knows everything out there to see and do! He says if I ever go visit him he’ll take me everywhere. To New York City, the D.C. Mall to see all the museums and monuments, to all the planetariums and observatories. I am
so
going to do that! And Eve and I have been talking about Europe. You know, after we finish college. There’s a big world out there. It’s not all Oregon State University and Thunder Point and some baseball player, you know.”

Gina sighed and gave her daughter a loving stroke along her arm. “I know, baby. It’s so good to see you have dreams. Big dreams. And you will do it, too. All of it.”

* * *

Gina called Mac’s cell phone. “Did I wake you?” she asked softly.

“No. Saying good-night again?”

“I have Ashley’s permission to elope,” she said. “Are you still tempted to do that?”

“I’m more than tempted. Want to leave in an hour?”

She laughed at him. “I think one needs a marriage license to elope....”

“We’ll go to Coquille and get one tomorrow. This weekend?”

“Shouldn’t you ask your family if they’re on board with that idea?” she asked.

“Oh, hell no, I’m not asking. I’ll tell them, though. I’ll find us a little chapel, we’ll do it Friday night and have the weekend away.”

“I’ll move into your place, if Lou has no objections. Tell her I’m prepared to take orders. For as long as she’s there, forever if she chooses that option, I understand it’s her domain.”

“Ach, she talks tough. I’m sure she’ll be glad to have a little help around the house. What made you decide?”

“It was Ash. I told her that it’s hard to say goodbye to you at the end of every day and she said, ‘What are you waiting for? Just do it!’”

“I love that girl,” he said. “I just want you to have what you want, Gina. Big or small, I don’t care. I’d even go common law. I just want you to be the last thing I feel against me at night and the first thing I feel in the morning. I love you.”

“You’re the strangest man,” she pointed out to him. “It takes you years to kiss me and then you’re a runaway train. There will be adjustments, you know.”

“I know. Extreme contentment. I’m a tough guy, Gina. I’m up to the job.”

* * *

Cooper was a genius. It wasn’t lost on him that something serious had been bothering Sarah for at least a couple of months. She tried to pass it off as just work stuff, but it was obviously much more serious than that. And the past few days the quiet had grown deep and a little scary. He was a very straightforward guy, so of course, he confronted it, told her he’d noticed a change in her behavior lately and wondered what it was about.

“I realize I’ve been moody,” she said. “It’ll pass. I’m sorry.”

“Spencer was told they hadn’t even hoped for a candidate of his caliber for that job at the high school. It’s all done but the shouting now. Is it about Austin living here?”

“No, no, of course not. That’s wonderful for you. And I enjoy Austin—I think he’s adorable and exhausting, just as a ten-year-old boy should be. It’s just work stuff. I’ll tell you all about it when I get a handle on it.”

“Your ex isn’t giving you a hard time, is he?”

“No, he’s ben completely silent. In fact, rumor has it he’s found women up there in Alaska, which means he’ll be very busy and will be leaving me alone. Listen, don’t take it personally, okay? Now and then work gets a little stressful at the command level. You know. I’m cranky. I just need a couple of days off.”

“And you’ll get ’em,” he said. “You have the weekend off, right?”

“Right. I’m looking forward to spending it on the beach!”

“Well, maybe except for one night. I have had an interesting request from Mac. Apparently Gina and Mac aren’t waiting any longer—they’re going to get married Friday night in Coos Bay at a little chapel on the water. They’d like us to meet them there, be the witnesses, join them for a nice wedding dinner and then disappear as quickly as possible. It’ll be small, just the four of us. There will be someone at the chapel to take a few pictures and they’re going to hide away for the weekend. We can come back here. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, I’ll take you on a sleepover. I can get us a reservation somewhere that has a vibrating bed and mirrors on the ceiling.”

She laughed. He could always make her laugh.

“Let me think about that—Mac’ll be out of town, I’ll be out of town, Landon and Eve will be in town....”

“I bet Mac’s got a shotgun Lou knows how to use....”

Again she laughed. “For right now, let’s plan on coming back to Thunder Point on Friday night, but I’ll think about the mirrored-ceiling option.”

“That’s my girl. I’ll call you again tonight.”

Cooper knew it wasn’t the Mac and Gina marriage that bothered Sarah, since she’d just barely found out. He hoped she wasn’t worried about the fact that Spencer and Austin would be making Thunder Point their home. But he’d told not only Sarah, but also Spencer, that if his circumstances changed he could be flexible, he would travel to see his son. So it couldn’t be those things. He’d asked her about Landon—he was under control. No more scary romance issues with him, at least for the time being. Cooper felt as if he was beginning to make things up—none of it made real sense. Of course, there was the dreaded possibility that Sarah had taken this thing with him as far as she could and was ready to end it all, but even that idea seemed pretty far-fetched.

It would be hard to stay strong through something like that because he loved Sarah. He loved her like he’d never loved before. He wanted her forever and he knew he wasn’t just fantasizing—it was real for him. If she dumped him it would put a serious kink in some plans he had to surprise her. Not to mention the idea that she might leave him would kill him.

But things remained the same all week. Sarah was aloof. Preoccupied with some itchy problem, yet not seeming to be terribly unhappy with him.

On Friday he picked her up to go to Coos Bay to meet Mac and Gina. “We’re stopping at a florist,” she said. “I ordered flowers.”

“How did you know to do that?” he asked.

“I asked,” she answered with a laugh. “I asked Gina what she’d like me to wear, and if she’d planned for flowers or a wedding cake or anything like that. She said she was keeping it very simple, that her mother wanted to have a party sometime this summer and if she didn’t get to make the cake, she’d be crushed, so flowers it is.” She gave a sigh. “She said as boring and unromantic as it sounded, they had so much to do with their hard-earned money—educations for one thing—and they didn’t want to splurge on a big wedding. She said getting out of town for a weekend was definitely going to be romantic and
not
boring!”