House on the Beach Read online

  Laura sipped her first spoonful and allowed the flavor to saturate her taste buds—delicious! Perfect texture. She savored another spoonful, then looked up at Maggie, who was obviously watching for Laura’s reaction. Food was serious business here! Laura chuckled silently. Bart’s daughter didn’t have to lose sleep over the chowder.

  “Better than in Boston, and I’m not kidding,” Laura said, dipping her spoon again. “It’s perfect in every way.”

  “And the Quinn sisters win over another loyal patron,” joked Matthew.

  “And proud of it,” said Maggie, rapping him on the head with her knuckles. “Behave yourself.”

  Matt saluted as the woman waved and took herself to another table, greeting and chatting up her customers.

  “She’s a whirlwind,” said Laura.

  “If that’s true, then her sister, Thea, is a tornado,” replied Matt.

  “They both take after their dad,” said Sam. “You should have seen Bart in his prime. No one could keep up with him. And believe me, I tried.” Sam Parker stared into the distance. “We were all full of piss and vinegar then.”

  “Grandpa!” Casey’s voice combined astonishment and horror. “Wh-wh-what you said! L-L-Laura’s here.” And he covered Laura’s hand with his small one and patted it as though to comfort her.

  GREAT. Matt groaned inwardly. Just what he needed. His vulnerable son was taken with the woman who wanted to be left alone. If circumstances hadn’t interfered when they’d all arrived at The Lobster Pot, Laura would have eaten by herself without thinking about it twice. She seemed to be an independent sort of woman.

  But she had made an impression on Casey. She’d picked up on his stutter without missing a beat and without making a big deal about it. Knowing about speech must be part of her business.

  Even now, she and Casey were having a conversation next to him. Matt tuned in.

  “S-s-sometimes, my—my—my words get stuck.”

  Matt’s heart filled with pride. His son had to deal with his disfluency every single day, and meeting new people often produced extra stress. But this time, Casey seemed eager. Matt glanced at Brian to see if he’d noticed, but he and his grandfather were conducting their own conversation. Matt listened to that one, too. Baseball. Tryouts for Little League were a week away, and Brian’s eyes glowed with anticipation. This year Casey would play, too.

  Matt refocused on Laura and Casey.

  “Sometimes the words sound bumpy.” Laura spoke in an unhurried manner, reiterating Casey’s statement, her attention never leaving the boy’s face.

  “Yeah!” replied Casey. “B-b-bumpy.”

  “Well,” Laura continued, “talking is a skill. It takes time to learn, like sewing…”

  Matt winced.

  “…or throwing a basketball. Skills take practice, and sometimes we make mistakes.”

  “R-r-right,” said Casey. “And ba-ba-baseball.” The word exploded out of his mouth.

  Time to join the conversation. “Casey and Brian are going to Little League tryouts next week. It’ll be Casey’s first time.”

  He watched a frown spread across Laura’s forehead. “What exactly does that mean? Tryouts? No one’s going to be left behind, are they?” Her eyes flashed, and she actually leaned toward Matt’s son as if to protect him.

  Whoa! She was a tigress. He wondered whether she knew how her indignation lit up her eyes. Too bad she had no interest in him. A light love affair would have suited him just fine. She was a pretty woman, her face as pleasing to the eye as her voice was to the ear. More important, she was also intelligent and kind. She laughed at the corny puns in The Lobster Pot. But she wasn’t looking for anything more than a safe harbor in Pilgrim Cove. She’d made that perfectly clear the first day in Sea View House, although…she had shivered—a full-body shiver—when he’d whispered in her ear earlier this evening.

  He sighed and erased any thoughts of pursuit. He wouldn’t cross her boundaries, not when she brought smiles to his son’s face and encouraged the little boy to speak to her. The value of confidence-building for the child could not be overestimated.

  “Nah,” piped up Brian, looking at Laura. “Nobody is left out. Everybody gets on a team. The coaches just try to spread the talent so there’s good competition all season.

  “Oh. That’s all right then. Very fair.”

  Typical girl attitude. But life, as Matt had learned, was not always fair.

  His thoughts were interrupted by a high-pitched squeal followed by a tiny spinning female plopping on his lap.

  “Hi, Uncle Matt!”

  “Hi, sweet Katie. How’s my best girl?”

  “Fine. I just came from ballet. I was practicing my pirouettes. How’d you like ’em?”

  “Is that what they were? I’m glad you landed on me. The floor would have been a little harder.”

  She wrinkled her nose, and Matt kissed it. “Where’s your mom? Where’s Papa Bart?”

  “Her mom’s right here.” Lila’s voice came from behind him and he turned around. At first glance, she looked as lovely as always, until Matt looked closer. Her face seemed thinner.

  “You working too hard?” he asked.

  “No Matt, I’m not.” Lila gave his arm a squeeze. “How are you?” She surveyed the group at the table. “How’s everyone? Hi again, Laura. Enjoying your meal?”

  “You’ve already met?” Matt asked.

  “Yes,” Laura replied. “In Bart’s office, when I spoke to him about renting Sea View House.”

  “In Pilgrim Cove, you run into people over and over again,” Lila said, “so you might as well get used to it.” She paused a moment. “By the way, how’s the house working out for you? Anything wonderful happen to you yet?”

  “Aha,” Matt said. “Sea View House’s reputation is on the line again!”

  “Actually, the answer’s yes,” Laura replied. “I’m sleeping like a baby. The soundest sleep I’ve had in years.”

  Matt studied her. “I guess you really do need a vacation. Even a working one.”

  “Sea View House is different for everyone.” Lila’s eyes rested on Katie. “Some people find a night’s sleep, and some find a night of love.”

  Matt knew immediately who she was thinking of. His brother, Jason. Katie’s father. Sea View House must’ve been their special place. He squeezed her hand. “Are you okay, hon?”

  “I’ll be just fine, Matt. As my mom keeps telling me, it’s time to move on.” She scooped Katie from Matt’s lap. “Come on, child of mine. We’ll go visit Grandma and get some chowder.”

  “Can’t I play with Casey?” the girl protested, squirming from her mother’s arms.

  “Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Dad’s playing catch with us tomorrow morning,” offered Brian. “He promised. We’re practicing for tryouts next week.”

  “Good. I’m trying out, so I need to practice, too!” Katie replied with a grin. “What time should I come to your house?” She looked up at Matt with exaggeratedly innocent blue eyes, and all he could do was laugh.

  He glanced at Lila. She nodded. “Nine o’clock,” he said. “Let’s hope it warms up outside, or it’ll be the shortest practice in history.”

  Katie reached up and kissed him again, then walked around the table high-fiving everyone. When she got to Sam, she planted a kiss on each cheek. “Hi, Grandpa. See you tomorrow.”

  Matt watched Laura’s focus move from Katie to Sam and back again, curiosity in her eyes, then understanding. But she didn’t ask questions. He’d fill her in at some point, if she wanted to know. It’s just that there wasn’t much to tell. No one knew where Katie’s father was. Not even Matt. And he’d gone searching for his brother through the years. Jason Parker did not want to be found.

  “Seems to me,” said Laura quietly, “that there’s another pair of parents of married children among the ROMEOs.”

  “Not quite,” said Matt, “on two counts. Bart’s the grandfather. Lila’s dad is Tom Sullivan—a teacher and coach at the hig
h school and not yet a ROMEO—so the relationship would be between Tom Sullivan and my dad.”

  He paused, watching her expressive face as she processed the information. “And two,” he continued, “Lila and Jason are not married.”

  LAURA CHECKED her rearview mirror a block from the restaurant. The Parker clan was following her home. She’d told Matt it wasn’t necessary. At least three times. “No problem,” he’d replied—three times. She’d come to the conclusion that “no problem” was his favorite slogan, and that he’d do whatever he wanted. And as for paying her own way—at least they’d allowed her to leave the tip. She’d started to protest their generosity, but the look on the elder Parker had stopped her. Sam was from another generation and a lovely man. She couldn’t argue with him. So she’d left the tip and shut her mouth.

  And now she was driving along very dark streets, the only light coming from lampposts along the way. No moon to help out. Everything did look a little different at night, but she had no problem finding her way back to Beach Street. The only problem she encountered was misjudging the driveway in the darkness. She clipped the edge, but the car righted itself quickly.

  By the time she’d unlocked her door and climbed out, Matt was striding toward her.

  “Next time, make sure your porch light and the pole lamp are on before you leave the house at night.” He pointed to the black pole with the glass chimney on top located on the front lawn near the sidewalk. “It makes a difference, since you’re on a corner and have no immediate neighbors at this time of year. Most of the other houses are occupied only in the summer.”

  “I understand. But I do have a couple of neighbors on the next block across the street.”

  “Too far for illumination,” Matt responded. “Let me walk you in and show you where the switch is. I’m surprised Ralph Bigelow hasn’t dropped by to point out the circuit breakers and such.”

  “Oh. He may have,” said Laura. “But if he came around any afternoon this week, I wouldn’t have heard him. I was sound asleep.”

  He stared at her. “You really are suffering from burnout, aren’t you?”

  “Mmm. Something like that.” She opened the front door, reached along the wall for the switch, then turned on the light. She stepped inside and waited for Matt to follow her. When she tilted her head back to look at him, his features were half in shadow, half in light. The planes of his face stood out in sharp relief, providing an overall impression of mystery.

  She wished there was brighter lighting in the foyer. She didn’t like mystery.

  “Laura.”

  She turned quickly at his serious tone. “Yes?”

  “Are you ill?” he asked gently. “Is that why you’re sleeping so much? Is that why you came back to Pilgrim Cove?”

  “No!” She responded before taking a deep breath. He was hitting close to a nerve. “I’m not sick at all. Except for heartache and grief. My mom was ill for a long time. She just passed away. I took care of her for the most part—and, well, we had happy times here in Pilgrim Cove. So, I wanted…I thought…”

  Good Lord! What had she really hoped to accomplish by returning? Could Pilgrim Cove provide her with happiness? Or even the hope of happiness? She felt her eyes fill as the truth hit with the delicacy of a sledgehammer. She’d wanted to be a carefree child again, and she’d run to Pilgrim Cove, to the memory of ten perfect summers. She must have been out of her mind to think she could recapture the past. No one could reverse the clock. A lucky childhood only happened once.

  She breathed deeply, blinked back her tears and looked around her. Matt stepped closer and reached for her hands. “I’m very sorry about your mom, Laura. I know you want your privacy, but if there’s anything you need, please call.” He stared over her shoulder, shaking his head. “Somehow, life doesn’t turn out the way it’s supposed to, does it?”

  “You’re so right about that,” she whispered.

  His fingers pressed hers and she felt strangely comforted. Connected. For a brief moment.

  And then Matt shifted gears. “The outside pole lamp is lit by the hall switch. Make sure it’s on every time you go out at night. Leave a couple of lights burning inside, too. You could kill yourself in the dark.”

  “I hear you.”

  “Good. Lecture’s over.” But he continued to stare at her, without making a move to leave.

  “Thanks for your concern,” she said. “Hadn’t you better go now? Your family’s waiting.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon to check out the apartment above yours. No one’s renting it now, but summer’s not so far off and I might as well inspect the pipes before the busy season gets here.”

  Laura nodded. “Upstairs is called The Crow’s Nest, right?”

  “Right,” he said with a smile. “But the pipes between the apartments are aligned, and I might have to get inside your place.”

  “No problem.” Her smile came naturally as she adopted his favorite phrase.

  His eyes twinkled. “Then, good night.”

  But he paused, studying her again before opening the front door. He closed it behind him, and then shouted at her to lock up.

  Bossy, wasn’t he? She never forgot to lock up, and she turned the tumblers now. “I’m all set,” she called.

  “Good.”

  She pushed the curtain of the sidelight and watched him walk toward his van. He had an energetic stride even at the end of the day, and carried with him an air of confidence. He seemed comfortable with himself. Comfortable with his kids, with his business, with giving her orders about lights and locks.

  Matt was an attractive, generous, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, uncomplicated guy who was great with children. He was either a lucky catch for some woman or simply too good to be true. Laura shrugged her shoulders. She wouldn’t be around long enough to figure it out.

  MATT GOT BEHIND the wheel of his vehicle, his mind spinning. Laura was going through an understandably hard time. Losing a parent was tough, and grieving was normal. Matt, himself, had gone through it when his mom had died. Not to mention Valerie, his wife. So Laura wasn’t as complicated or mysterious as she’d seemed the first time they’d met.

  “You could have spent longer saying your goodnights,” said Sam. “I wouldn’t have minded. Casey’s fast asleep and Brian’s yawning.”

  “And why would I have wanted to do that?” baited Matt as he pulled away from the curb. He knew full well what his matchmaking father was getting at. Any time a new woman appeared in town, usually during the summer, his dad always took notice…on Matt’s behalf. Sam had lucked out this year. A new woman had shown up in early spring.

  “Laura’s a nice girl, son. Very lovely. I knew her parents. They were good people. Family people.”

  “I’m not looking, Pop. And you know it,” Matt said quietly but firmly. Then he lowered his voice even further and nodded at the sleeping Casey. “Look how Valerie’s death affected him. He feels deserted. I can’t risk that happening again. So, no way am I getting involved.”

  Sam Parker sighed heavily. “Most young women don’t get sick, Matt. You know that.”

  Matt patted his dad on the arm, ready to tease him. “I could be interested in Laura for a—shall we say—short-term arrangement on the side while she’s here—”

  “No, you won’t,” Sam interrupted in a flash, as Matt had known he would. “She’s not that type of girl. And this is a small town. Leave her alone!”

  Matt hooted quietly as he turned onto Bay Road, on the other side of the peninsula, about a mile and a half from Sea View House. “That’s just what I had in mind to begin with, Pop. Leaving her alone.”

  “Joke around all you want, but I’ll tell you what’s not a joke,” said Sam.

  Matt glanced at his dad. “What’s that?”

  “That woman knows how to talk to Casey. Never saw anybody relate to him like she did.”

  “Grandpa’s right,” piped up a sleepy Brian from the back seat. “Laura was nice to Casey. She let hi
m take his time. So it was okay that she ate with us.”

  Did his family think he hadn’t noticed?

  “So you liked Laura?” Sam asked his grandson, his voice encouraging.

  “Yeah. Uh…as Casey’s…uh…friend,” replied Brian. “Like Dad always says, we don’t need any ladies in our house. Right, Dad? We’re fine the way we are.”

  BUT WERE THEY? Matt repositioned his pillow six different ways trying to get comfortable later that night. The outside temperature had dropped to almost freezing since they’d gone to the restaurant, cold enough to awaken Casey when Matt carried him inside. But now everyone was asleep under warm comforters except him. He was kicking his covers off! Because of Laura.

  He sighed. The woman had been on his mind since he’d first seen her a week ago. Of course, that day at Sea View House wasn’t actually the first time he’d met her. He could still remember kissing her soft lips all those years ago.

  Their paths hadn’t crossed much until that particular summer, her last one in Pilgrim Cove. At sixteen, Laura had seemed to blossom. She’d hung around with the other kids at Neptune’s Park. All the teenagers held daytime jobs, so evenings reconnected them.

  Laura had worked as a counselor at a day camp, Matt recalled. So maybe that’s why she’d been so good with Casey tonight. She obviously liked children. As for Matt, he’d worked with his dad. It was as natural as breathing that he and Sam work together. And they’d continued to do so while Matt attended the regional community college. By then, Laura’s family had stopped coming to Pilgrim Cove, and Matt had picked up with Valerie, a local girl.

  He and Valerie had been casual school friends. Then they’d grown up and fallen in love. They’d had almost ten years together before she’d gotten sick.

  Ovarian cancer. By the time she saw a doctor, the disease had spread. The best Boston hospitals couldn’t save her, so Matt brought her home and took care of her. They’d clung to each other and cried at first, then Matt had moved beyond tears. Often he’d simply watch her breathe, not quite believing he was going to lose her. Later—much later—his tears flowed again.