Reluctant Housemates Page 14

  He nodded, eyes crinkling as he smiled, and she felt herself blush harder. Time to help out in the kitchen. She power-walked herself to safety.

  Susan and Jennifer greeted her. “The chicken soup’s piping hot. Ask your mom when she wants to serve.”

  “Serve? With all the appetizers out there, no one will be hungry for the meal.”

  Holding the ladle, Susan put her hands on her hips. “Rachel, Rachel. Don’t you know by now that everyone always devours your mom’s soup? Doesn’t matter how many hors d’oeuvres there are.”

  “I guess I forgot.”

  “You’ve been away too long,” said Susan. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  Footsteps sounded at the kitchen door. Her dad and brother stood there. “Three-minute warning,” said Alex. “That’s the message from Mom.” He turned toward Susan. “Don’t get too used to having Rachel around, Susie. At the rate my sister’s going, she’ll be gone by the end of the year.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Susan, stepping toward her husband.

  “She’s going to mess up again, except now it’s not her classes, it’s her career. Just ask her. Or ask David.”

  Rachel could barely breathe past the lump in her throat. Criticism from Alex was one thing, but David? Her nephew had waved from across the room when she’d arrived, but hadn’t walked over to greet her. She’d thought nothing of it since he’d been engrossed in conversation. But was there another reason?

  Suddenly, a warm arm rested across her shoulder. It was Lou who answered his son. “She’s improving the school, Alex. And it’s a big job. What you’ve been hearing is the sound of growing pains.”

  Time stretched with the silence. Rachel would remember the moment forever. She exhaled and leaned against her dad, enjoying his support and approval more than she could ever have imagined. It was worth everything. Even if her brother was proved right in the end. Suddenly Cornelia Stebbins’s words popped into Rachel’s mind. She turned in her father’s arms. “Dad? Remember Cornelia Stebbins?”

  “That old battle-ax? She didn’t retire soon enough,” replied Lou. “Why?”

  And suddenly Mrs. Stebbins didn’t matter. Rachel started to giggle, but then her eyes filled. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Just so relieved.”

  Lou looked confused. “Rachel, why do you ask? What did she do to you? Or say to you?” Now he was getting upset.

  Good Lord. Alex and Susan were standing there. She’d forgotten all about them. But, what the hell? She might as well clean the wound once and for all.

  “Mrs. Stebbins told me that you’d have been better off if I’d never been born. She said that you were embarrassed to have me as a daughter. She felt sorry for you. ‘Alex is so bright and handsome, and you, Rachel, are such a disappointment. He’s given up on you.’” She remembered every word verbatim.

  “That witch!” said Lou, hugging her. “That liar! Not a syllable is true. Not one.” He took a tiny step back so he could stroke her cheek. “Rachel, Rachel. Do you know how hard your mom and I tried to have another child after we had your brother? Do you know how happy we were when you were born?” He blinked fast and shook his head. “It took us ten years! We were overjoyed. We felt blessed having you.”

  She believed him, of course she did. But the echoes of old memories were hard to erase in a few seconds. “But…but what she said seemed to make sense! After all, you never expected anything from me. As if you didn’t care, or as if you thought I wasn’t smart enough or as capable as Alex.”

  “No, no. Nothing like that,” said Lou. “I just didn’t want to push you…all the psychologists said that every child develops at her own pace. And I read all the books. You were unhappy enough with life, and I certainly didn’t want you to compete with your brother. The books said every child is different, so I didn’t push for high grades. Sometimes—maybe more often than we want to admit—grades aren’t everything.”

  Rachel heard the hubbub around her. A low cacophony of voices. Family. Friends. Celebration. Rosh Hashanah. A new year was starting. Another new beginning. She would have smiled, but something dropped onto the corner of her mouth. Something salty. She raised her fingers to her cheek. Her face was wet. So was her dad’s.

  She grabbed him, hugged him and felt his arms around her, squeezing with the strength of a boa constrictor. And it felt wonderful. After so many wasted years. All those years…

  “Soup’s ready.” Pearl’s voice came from the near distance.

  Her dad relaxed his grip, and Rachel glanced around. Alex looked shocked, and Susan gestured for him to help Pearl.

  “What else don’t I know about?” asked Lou.

  Rachel patted her dad’s hand. “It’s okay now. The truth is what’s important. But, Dad—here’s another important thing. I don’t want another Cornelia Stebbins on the staff ever again. I won’t have it.”

  He nodded. “I’m almost afraid to ask—how’s Edith Drummond?”

  Rachel grinned. “Her methods are a bit old-fashioned, and she has too much ego. But her heart’s in the right place. I can handle her.”

  “’Atta girl.”

  THE LONG TABLE STRETCHED from the dining room to the living room and was really a series of add-ons covered with white cloths. The twenty-one people sitting around it seemed to be having a good time. At any rate, Rachel observed, they talked nonstop. Amazing since most of them saw each other several times a week!

  Rachel sat on a chair nearest to the kitchen. Jack was diagonally across from her, with David on his left and pretty Lila Sullivan on his right. To the right of Lila was her eight-year-old daughter, who had attached herself to Jennifer and then insisted the teen sit next to her for the meal. Jennifer complied more than graciously, perhaps enjoying the admiration of the younger girl.

  The blessings over the wine and challah were over. Rachel had heard Jennifer describe the specially braided egg bread to Katie and had heard Katie’s reply. “I know all about challah. We eat it at home, and I eat it at your grandma’s house all the time, too!”

  The soup had been served, bowls refilled, emptied again and stacked in the dishwasher. Rachel relaxed in her chair, knowing everyone would slow down now and sit around the table for a while.

  Lila and Jack seemed to be chatting like old friends, although they hardly knew each other. Nobody could resist Jack’s charm. Lila glanced up.

  “Rachel, did you know that Jack’s never taught high school before? I’m surprised you hired him without experience.”

  “Don’t blame me,” she replied with a smile. “The board did the dirty work. But he’s taught before at the undergraduate level.”

  “Hey, ladies. I’m sitting right here,” said Jack. He turned back to Lila. “Rachel knows I took this job at the last minute when I learned that the funding for the Pilgrim Cove water project was cut in half. Contracts come and go depending on grants available. I don’t stick around too long in any one place.”

  “Sounds like a precarious way to live,” said Lila.

  “How so?” Jack replied. “You depend on commissions, don’t you? Nothing’s guaranteed.”

  “True, except…” Lila glanced at Rachel, her expression a mixture of pleading and pride.

  “What she’s trying to say without sounding like a braggart, is that Quinn Real Estate is known far and wide. If anyone can be certain of earning a living, it’s Lila and Bart.”

  But Rachel’s mind was whirling. While she was aware of the special circumstances of Jack’s assignment in Pilgrim Cove, she hadn’t thought about how long he might stay in town.

  “Your granddad’s a lucky guy,” said Jack.

  Lila’s pink blush only made her prettier. Rachel sighed. Whenever she blushed, she felt as if she was having one of her mom’s hot flashes. Oops. She’d been corrected already. Pearl insisted they were power surges.

  “I’m the one who’s lucky,” said Lila quietly, glancing down the table to where Bart sat talking with the Bigelows. “My granddad understands me. Always has. That’s
why we live together and work together.”

  “Since Katie was born, right?” asked Rachel.

  Lila winked. “Yup. How many people do you think could have stood up to my mother, a woman who thinks she knows what’s best for everybody? Granddad simply said, ‘Lila and the baby will live with me, Maggie. You and Thea have a business to run.’” At the table, Lila grinned at Rachel, then looked up at Jack. “Of course, he had a business to run, too, but that subject never arose!” Lila paused for a moment before asking, “So, how’s Sea View House?”

  Rachel and Jack spoke in unison. “Love it.” “It’s great.”

  “When you have a minute, explore upstairs,” said Lila. “There’s a widow’s walk on the roof. You two would really appreciate the view.”

  Rachel made a mental note to do that.

  “And you know what else about me and Mommy and Papa Bart?” came a high-pitched voice.

  Rachel, Lila and Jack looked at Katie, who seemed to be doing some heavy thinking.

  “I’m afraid to hear,” said Lila.

  “What?” asked Jack.

  “Mommy went on a date!” The little girl’s head nodded up and down like a vertical pendulum. “With Sara’s daddy. She’s in my class at school. And Sara slept over with me and Papa Bart.”

  “And me,” inserted Lila quickly and clearly. “After all, who made pancakes early in the morning?”

  “But you didn’t play games with us like Papa Bart did and let us stay up way, way late! It was fun.”

  Rachel watched the child peep at her mother from under her lashes. Something else was coming. Poor Lila!

  “Maybe you and Sara’s daddy can have another date,” said Katie. “Sara says Dr. Fielding must like you a lot ’cause he asked her if she liked you, too. And he never asked before.”

  Lila’s blushes now looked painful. “This subject is closed, young lady. Understand?”

  “But you never learn anything if…”

  “Put a lid on it, Kathleen.”

  Jack started to laugh, a deep chuckle. Rachel joined in, then reached for Lila’s hand and squeezed. “She’s a terrific kid, Lila. And you’re a terrific mom. But you and I both know, there are absolutely no secrets around this town.” She paused and met the other woman’s gaze. “I wish you the best.”

  “If I only knew what that was….” whispered Lila, her voice anxious.

  Rachel stared at the younger woman. Lila and Jason Parker had been so much in love. Would someone else always be second best for Lila? Rachel’s heart went out to her. But it was time to lighten the mood. “Right now,” she said, “the best thing to do is clear this table for dessert. No one can resist my mom’s homemade apple pie.”

  A groan traveled around the table as everyone patted their too-full stomachs. Rachel noticed, however, that dishes began to be stacked in a hurry.

  Her dad approached Jack and tapped him on the shoulder. “Would you like to attend services with us tomorrow morning? I should have asked you earlier.”

  Jack at services? Jack? The man worshiped the sea! Poseidon. Neptune. He placated the gods with naked ladies on his boat. And besides that, he was a scientist. A man of rational thought—superstitions not withstanding. He was also a carefree wanderer. Not traditional or spiritual. Probably hadn’t been to a synagogue in years. What was her father thinking?

  Jack stood up and shook her father’s hand. “I’d be happy to. Thanks for asking. I was planning to find my own way there, but it’s nicer to go with friends.” He turned toward Rachel and tsked. “You’d best close your mouth now. I’m not a heathen. Just ask my mother. She’ll vouch for me.”

  “A very objective opinion, I’m sure,” Rachel teased.

  “You’d be surprised.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  PARTICIPATING FULLY in the New Year services, Jack proved not to have been a heathen, but at work he certainly was a rebel. Rachel paced her office several days later, more agitated than she’d been since starting her job. It would take every bit of her willpower not to tear into Jack the moment he showed up. How could he have taken his class to the beach! No permission slips filed. No communication to her or Dr. Bennett. No hint to anyone of his intentions. He’d simply gathered his students and disappeared.

  Footsteps sounded outside her office. She stood in front of her desk and took a deep breath, then another. Keep your cool.

  “Hi, Rachel. What’s up?”

  His casual manner, casual words, casual attitude—all struck an exposed nerve inside her.

  She grasped the edge of her desk behind her. “I’ll tell you what’s up,” she replied, her eyes glued to his face. “Safety. Liability. Ever hear of those two little words?”

  She watched a frown slowly form on his face as her meaning sank in.

  “You mean the little field trip?”

  She threw her hands in the air. “Give the man a gold star!” His frown intensified, and she was glad.

  “Sarcasm doesn’t become you,” he said. “Not your style.”

  “My behavior is not in question here,” she said. “Yours is.” She motioned to a chair. “Have a seat.”

  “We didn’t go swimming, Rachel,” Jack replied. He waited until she walked behind her desk before sitting down. “There was no danger to anyone. I’ve taken lots of groups to examine the beach habitat during my career.”

  “Those students were over eighteen years old. Our students are minors and need parental permission to leave these premises. How could you have just walked out like a papa duck with his little ducklings in tow? Where was your head?” She practically threw herself against her chair in frustration.

  “Every single student is back safe and sound,” said Jack. “And they had a terrific time. Learned a few things, too.”

  “I’m not questioning the benefits! But you were lucky. We were lucky. God, when I think what could have happened.” Her hands fisted on the armrests, and she shivered.

  “Would you lighten up?” asked Jack. “Nothing happened. Next time, I’ll get permission slips.” He stood and leaned over her desk, his face close to hers. “We get along a lot better at Sea View House. Or on my boat. Or at your family’s house. Everywhere but at work.”

  She paused at his words. He’d made a point. The only common ground they had at school was that they both cared about the students. But their approaches were as different as sand and water.

  “How did your classes do on their first unit test?” she asked. The same departmental exam was administered to all students studying the same discipline. Jack’s students took uniform biology and earth-science tests. She had to trust Jack with the marine biology class because it was unique.

  He met her gaze calmly. “Not well.”

  She winced. “How can I help?”

  Another frown settled on his face, and he stepped away from her desk. “I don’t want your help,” he said. “You want me to teach a test-prep class. You want the kids to perform like parrots, regurgitating information for the sake of a test. I want to open their minds, to help them appreciate their role in the universe.”

  Glad she was already seated, Rachel felt her stomach tighten at his attack. In a perfect world, he’d be right. “Those are wonderful goals, Jack. But in real life, the kids and the school are measured by statewide exams.”

  “They’ll do better by midterm,” he replied. “They need more time to learn to process information differently.” He leaned over her again, his expression now gentle. “Trust me.”

  She shook her head slowly, however, and sighed. “Famous last words as we both drown.” She raised her chin and leaned back in her chair. “I’m sorry, Jack, but you are going to have to trust me. It’s my job to steer this ship into port, and I have to insist on some structure and planning. You need to cover the material in the books!”

  His eyes ignited. His gentleness disappeared. “Why don’t you check the attendance stats? Who has the most students show up? Me! Why don’t you ask the kids how they feel? You think you’re steering the sh
ip? Baby, you’re missing the entire boat!” He left the room without another word and seemed to take all the oxygen with him.

  Tears burned Rachel’s eyes, and she blinked quickly, then wiped the corners where drops had escaped. Emotions would not interfere with her logic! She’d handled Bob Franklin. She’d handled her old English teacher. And she’d assisted the new teachers in adjusting to the school during their first weeks. But Jack’s derision cut her to the bone. She hadn’t counted on having to “handle” him, too.

  Suddenly, a kaleidoscope of childhood images blended with her present life, and tears threatened once more. Why did she always seem to lack support from the people she loved the most?

  Hold on! Love? What was she thinking? She didn’t love Jack! In fact, he drove her crazy. She inhaled and exhaled until her breathing returned to normal. Sure, there was a spark between them, and their kisses were…well, more than good. Definitely “above average.” Maybe “excellent.” But thankfully, she and Jack had snuffed out the spark before it could develop into a blaze. She almost laughed with relief.

  NEVER HAD A WOMAN BROUGHT him to such a flashpoint before. Never! He held a Ph.D. in marine biology, was a guest lecturer at Harvard, MIT and Boston University whenever asked, had worked on behalf of both the United States and Canadian governments’ environmental efforts—and all Rachel could do was belittle his work!

  He crashed into someone entering the administrative suite. “Excuse me,” he muttered, turning aside.

  “Well, who ticked off the popular science teacher?”

  Jack spun around and glanced at Bob Franklin, whose expression held genuine curiosity. “Women!” Jack replied.

  Franklin laughed, but his eyes narrowed. He jerked his head toward Rachel’s office. “That particular woman?”

  Something in the director’s tone made Jack pause rather than seek commiseration. He didn’t respond.

  “Don’t worry about it,” said Franklin, slapping him on the shoulder like a pal. “You’re not the only one. It hasn’t taken our Ms. Goodman long to get herself into hot water. Mark my words, sooner or later that water’s going to bubble at a full boil.” He turned and walked toward his office. “Can’t come soon enough for me,” he said.