Seaside Romance

“You’re good to her, so she’s good to you.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Touched by the sweet, simple story, Lauren sighed. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. If everyone did that, the world would be a much better place.”

As they pulled onto Main Street, Ben added, “That’s why they call it the Golden Rule.”

“I guess.”

To Lauren, it sounded too good to be true, but she recognized that was her ingrained skepticism talking. She didn’t used to be that way, she lamented. What had happened to the girl who’d believed there was good in everyone? Sadly, she knew the answer, but she didn’t want to spoil such a beautiful, sunny morning with dark thoughts.

Outside Toyland, Ben pulled to a stop and got out to open her door. Climbing down, she stood inside the open door, much closer to him than she’d intended. Oddly enough, the anxiety she’d felt on the beach earlier was much less intense, and the smile she gave him was only slightly forced. Maybe she was finally getting a little of her old confidence back. She wasn’t rock solid yet, but being within Ben’s reach was a good first step.

Squinting against the rising sun, she said, “Thanks for the ride. Be sure to tell Mavis you delivered me in one piece.”

“Will do. Have a good day.”

“You, too.”

That got her another, even brighter grin than she’d yet seen from him. He seemed to have an endless collection of them, each one more endearing than the last. As he got back in and drove away, he waved through the back window, and like a sentimental damsel in an old movie, she caught herself waving back. All she was missing was the lacy handkerchief, she groused as she unlocked the door to Toyland.

But as she made her way upstairs, she allowed herself a little smile. For the first time in ages, she’d had a couple of uninterrupted hours to herself, and they were wonderful. What was so special about them? she wondered while she started the coffeemaker in the kitchen. On her way into the bathroom, she came to the conclusion that nothing extraordinary had happened except that she’d enjoyed doing absolutely nothing but breathe.

Maybe, she thought with a little grin at her reflection, that was the whole point.

Chapter Three

“I think this should do it, Mavis,” Ben announced, tapping the supply list he’d made. “That section of roof needs to be replaced, then we can fix the ceiling. I’ll get everything we need, and we’ll be back tomorrow to get started.”

She accepted his comment with her characteristic nod. “There’s rain coming this weekend, you know.”

“We won’t be totally done by then, but we’ll make sure it’s buttoned up against the weather, don’t you worry. Right, Dad?”

“Right.”

Ben had made several clumsy attempts to include his father in the discussion with their client, as much to keep him engaged as to be polite. Quiet but steady, Dad was obviously doing his best to stay focused, but Ben had a sneaking suspicion if he left him alone for five minutes, he’d be asleep on his feet.

“I really should get into Landry’s Books and finish installing that cabinet,” Ben commented, uneasy about leaving his father alone.

As if sensing his discomfort, Mavis patted his shoulder in an unexpectedly motherly gesture and nudged him toward the door. “You go on. Me and Craig’ll have some lunch and a nice long chat.”

The prospect of food perked Dad up considerably, and he gave her a fond smile. “I’d like that very much. Thank you.”

Pleased by the upturn his worrisome morning had taken, Ben teased, “You sure I can leave you two kids alone out here?”

“Oh, you,” Mavis clucked, the faint blush on her cheeks telling him he’d managed to flatter the crustiest woman in town. “Get outta here before I put you to work in my vegetable garden.”

Ben made a show of bolting for the exit, letting the outer door slam behind him. As he strolled out to his truck, he heard laughter inside and congratulated himself on successfully navigating what could have been an awkward situation. His father needed someone to talk to, a friend who’d listen to his problems without judging. Since Ben hadn’t gotten anywhere with him, he was grateful for any help Mavis could give.

On his way into town, he finally had a chance to mull over his odd discussion with Lauren that morning. Her baffling comments made it painfully obvious that she’d been through something awful recently, and his gut was almost certain that was why she’d unexpectedly landed in his hometown. What was she hiding? he wondered.

They’d just met, so it had nothing to do with him, which meant it was strictly none of his business. Even if by some stretch of the imagination he could do something about it, he wasn’t keen on adding Julia’s troubled friend to his already lengthy list of responsibilities. Still, he couldn’t help wishing there was something he could do to help her.

When Ben got to Landry’s Books, the owner Amelia Landry, met him at the door with a worried frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just had to finish up something out at the lighthouse before I came here.”

Eyes narrowing, she gave him the Mom look. “If you don’t want to tell me, fine, but I know something’s up with you. Cooper gets that same look on his face when he’s chewing on something.”

As a single mother, she’d more or less adopted her son’s friends as her own. Even though they were all adults now, she still watched over them. With his own mother completely out of the picture, Ben appreciated Amelia now more than ever.

But he’d never share his suspicions about Lauren with anyone, so he just grinned. “It’s really nothing, but thanks. Now, the sooner I get back to work on those cabinets, the sooner I’ll be out of your hair.”

While he opened his toolbox, Amelia made a good show of fussing over a display of Easter figurines and doodads set out for the holiday. The original formation looked fine to him, so he guessed that she was stalling, trying to frame whatever it was she had to say.

“I saw you in town with Julia’s friend yesterday,” she began. “She’s quite an eyeful.”

Setting a hinge in place, he chuckled. “Yup, she’s real pretty.” Actually, she was a stunner straight out of some old Hollywood movie, but admitting that would open him up for all kinds of probing questions, so he kept that detail to himself.

“What’s her name?”

Ben knew perfectly well the local gossip mill had churned out that bit of information long before Lauren even arrived in town. Because he liked Amelia, he played along. “Lauren Foster.”

“What a lovely name. Is she nice?”

That wasn’t the right term, but Ben was surprised to find he couldn’t come up with a one-word description of her. She was clearly bright and talented, but she had a darkness about her that struck him as completely out of place. That contradiction intrigued him more than it should, and to get back on track, he simply said, “Yeah, she’s nice.”

“I hear Julia adores her,” Amelia went on, using a feather duster on a collection of pint-size forest gnomes. “She’s been worried about her, though. It seems Lauren’s gotten herself tangled up with someone who’s not very good for her.”

“I’m pretty sure they broke up,” Ben blurted without thinking. Embarrassed to be gossiping, he focused on the hinge to conceal his sudden discomfort.

“Really? Well, that’s a whole new ball game then, isn’t it?”

Glancing up, Ben caught Amelia eyeing him, then laughed when she abruptly turned her attention to a nearby shelf that was already perfectly arranged. “And you think I should step up to the plate, is that it?”

“I’m just saying there’s more to this life than work and more work. When’s the last time you had a date?”

“Church social last month.”

“You sat with the pastor and his family then ended up washing dishes till midnight. That’s not the kind of socializing a young man needs, and you know it.” Setting the duster aside, she hunkered down beside him. “Ben, your mom and I were friends all through school, but what she’s done to all of you is just plain wrong. When things get tough, you don’t turn your back on the people who need you.”

Ben had never discussed the breakup of his family with anyone, and it still made him sick to think about it. After an honorable discharge from the military, his older brother, Eric, was roaming around New England, working odd jobs and still trying to find his place. Three years ago, his sister, Casey had moved to Detroit with her husband and young children. That left Ben alone to manage their father’s troubling downhill slide.

Amelia’s honest sympathy had nudged a crack into his characteristic self-control, and he heard himself say, “The divorce is final now. Dad’s taking it pretty hard.”

“Of course he is. Divorces are awful, even when you both agree it’s the best thing for everyone.”

Ben didn’t have a response for that, so he just nodded. Having gone through it herself when Cooper was young, he figured she knew what she was talking about.

Standing, she folded her arms and looked down at him. “What you need is to have some fun. This girl won’t be in town forever, so you should ask her out sooner rather than later.”

“What makes you think I even want to?” She tipped her head in a chiding gesture, and he laughed. “Okay, maybe I was tempted for about five seconds, but she’s one of those uptown girls who needs a room-sized closet to hold all her shoes. Not exactly my type.”

“I’m not saying marry her,” she argued, “I’m saying go to a movie or something. You only live once, and you should make sure you grab a little fun along the way.”

Maybe she was right, he thought. Lauren had snared his attention the moment he met her, and he was more than a little curious about what made her tick. She’d left her ex behind in New York, so there was no reason for Ben to keep his distance. Amelia’s suggestion was worth thinking about, anyway. Since Lauren was new in town, she didn’t know anyone but Julia, who was busy with her wedding. He could invite Lauren over for a good meal and some friendly conversation, no strings attached. Where was the harm in that?

Of course, if he shared his train of thought with Amelia, he’d never hear the end of it. Instead, he fended off her repeated attempts at a fix-up until he finished with her cabinets. The day had gotten away from him, so by the time Ben filled his supply list and checked in with Thomas and Sons other ongoing jobs, it was eight o’clock when he got home.

Too tired for anything beyond a glass of water, he kicked off his boots and fell into bed. Out of habit, he checked his voice mail and saw he had a message from an old buddy of his who now lived in Boston. Wondering what might be up, he played the recording.

“Hey, man, it’s Davy. Just took on a restoration job in Concord and could really use a top-notch guy like you. The project starts June 1, so you can crash with me till you find a place down here. Call me and I’ll give you the deets. Later.”

Intrigued, Ben started to call, but paused with his thumb hovering over the return button. He and Davy both loved old houses, and had spent summers helping to refurbish many of the eighteenth-and nineteenth-century homes in and around Holiday Harbor. While he accepted the general contracting work he was doing now, nothing made Ben happier than to restore an old building to its former glory. That was why he’d taken on the challenging job at Toyland. It had required a ton of research and painstaking work, but every time he walked in there, he felt proud to be part of bringing the neglected old storefront back to life.

But right now, Thomas and Sons needed him more than Davy did. Eric might be home next week, or he might never come back. Ben had no way of knowing, but he couldn’t bring himself to abandon his father. Even if it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Sighing, he saved the message and plugged his phone in to charge. All he had to do was close his eyes and he was sound asleep.

It didn’t last. When his phone lit up and started ringing, he groaned in protest, then rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head. Whoever it was could get a life and leave him a message. If he didn’t get some sleep, he wouldn’t make it through tomorrow, much less the rest of the week. The phone went silent, but not for long. When it started up again, he realized it must be important and flopped onto his back to check the caller ID.

Eric. His big brother was a night owl, but he knew good and well Ben wasn’t. Something was wrong, and he thumbed the answer function. “Yeah?”

“Tell me Dad’s with you.”

The blood in Ben’s veins froze in place, and he cautioned himself not to overreact. Taking a deep breath, he said, “He’s not. Why?”

“We were supposed to meet here in Rockland for dinner, but he never showed. I called his cell, but it went right to voice mail. Same with the house phone.”

“He and Mavis had lunch today,” Ben suggested. “Maybe he’s still out at the lighthouse.”

“That’s the first place I called.”

Rubbing his gritty eyes with one hand, he asked, “Did you try the bars in Oakbridge?”

“Yeah, but nobody remembers seeing him. I’m getting worried.”

That was an understatement, Ben knew. Having served ten years as an Army Ranger, not much rattled his big brother. If Eric admitted to being concerned about something, the average person would be downright hysterical. “It’s not like him to disappear like this. Where could he be?”

“You don’t think—”

He stopped abruptly, and a feeling of dread crept up Ben’s spine. “Think what?”

“That he did something, y’know, desperate?”

Ben’s heart thudded to a stop. It wasn’t unheard of for people to go up to Schooner Point and fling themselves from the high rocky cliff into the ocean. He should have gone by the lighthouse that afternoon as he’d planned, to check on Dad as much as the job. But he’d gotten so preoccupied with Lauren and the baffling effect she had on him, it had completely slipped his mind. After their heart-to-heart that morning, Dad might have interpreted Ben’s inadvertent absence the wrong way. Ben had to find him and make sure he was safe.

“Thanks for letting me know,” Ben said while he retied his boots. “I’ll call you when I find him.”

“You mean if,” Eric retorted gloomily.

“I mean when,” he insisted, refusing to even consider any other possibility. His family might be in pieces, but everyone was safe and sound. Ben was determined to do everything in his power to keep it that way.

“I hope you’re right. I’ll be up late, so call anytime.”

On that slightly more optimistic note, he hung up. Sighing, Ben tilted his head back and sent up a heartfelt prayer. “I know You’ve got a lot to do, but I could really use Your help down here.”

Figuring that sentiment pretty much covered it, he grabbed a spare jacket and jumped into his truck. The fuel gauge hovered just above E, and he bit back an exasperated scream while he backtracked to the garage for the gas can he used on job sites. It was half-empty, but he drained it into his tank while he mentally added “stop at gas station” to his list for tomorrow morning.

“Long stinkin’ list,” he growled as he finally pulled out. “I need an assistant or something.”

While it did nothing to solve the problem, complaining to himself vented some of his frustration, so he kept going with it as he made a circuit of all the places in town his father might go. It didn’t take long to discover the other Thomas and Sons truck was nowhere to be found. That left him with Schooner Point, which had always been one of Dad’s favorite spots. It was where he’d proposed to Ben’s mother so many years ago, and that he’d head up there now made a twisted kind of sense to Ben.

The sky was clear as a bell, but the sliver of a moon suspended in the darkness didn’t provide much in the way of help. As he approached the isolated ridge north of town, he squinted into the distance, searching for something that would tell him someone was up here.

There. A faint dot of light, out near the edge of the cliff. Ignoring the rough-cut road that wound along the tree line, he headed straight for that pinpoint of light, following it like a beacon on the water. When he finally located it, he was relieved to find it was connected to his father’s truck.

Glancing up into the star-filled sky, he smiled. “Thank you.”

Was it his imagination, or did a star up there shine a little brighter for just a second? Figuring it was his exhausted brain playing tricks on him, Ben shook off the ridiculous idea and climbed out of his seat. Heading toward the ridge, he put his hands in the front pockets of his jeans to give the appearance of a guy out for a casual nighttime stroll.

When he reached the truck, he saw his dad inside, staring out at miles of starlit ocean. He’d often mentioned bringing Ben’s mother here when they were dating, and how they’d stay for hours, admiring the view and talking about their dreams for the future. Tonight, he looked like he was lost in memories of what used to be.

To avoid startling him, Ben tapped lightly on the driver’s window. After another tap, his father blinked and looked out at him in surprise. When he rolled down the window, the strains of “Fly Me to the Moon” floated from the cab, and Ben swallowed hard. It was his mother’s favorite song.

Keeping things light, he forced a grin. “Hey, there.”

Apparently, he was a terrible actor, because he got a frown for his trouble. “Is something wrong?”

“Eric’s been waiting in Rockland half the night for you.” Leaning his arms on the window frame, he added, “You were supposed to have dinner with him.”

Dad leaned his head back against the seat with a groan. “I forgot.”

“Mind if I join you?”

He motioned Ben inside, and once he was settled, Ben called his brother. “I found him up at the point. He’s fine.”

“Good. Give him a good shake for me, wouldya?”

Ben didn’t think that would help much, so he suggested, “Why don’t you come up this weekend? You can do it yourself.”

Despite his gruff demeanor, Ben knew Eric would never lay a hand on anyone in anger. After a moment, his brother chuckled. “I’m already over it. Tell him good-night for me.”

Ben hung up then took a breath before facing his dad. “We were worried sick about you. What were you thinking, disappearing like that?”

“I was home, getting cleaned up after work, and when I got out of the shower, I stood there for a minute.” Meeting Ben’s gaze, his face contorted with pain. “Do you know how quiet an empty house is?”

Lately, Ben hadn’t been home enough to experience it for himself, but it didn’t take much to imagine how it felt to be alone all the time. “Maybe you should leave the radio or TV on, so there’s some noise.”

“Noise isn’t the same as someone being there,” Dad explained sadly. “I lived with my parents till I started fixing up that place for your mother and me to live in when we were married. I’ve never been alone this long in my life. I’m not good at it.”

The optimist in Ben wanted to point out he had two sons and plenty of friends to ease that loneliness, but something stopped him. Nearly sixty, his father wasn’t talking about simply having company. He needed a companion to spend his off-hours with. Someone to take out to dinner and a movie, someone who argued with him about what color to paint the living room. Since Ben hadn’t managed to find that special person for himself, he didn’t think he was in a position to give anyone advice on their personal life.

Still, he was a problem solver by nature, and he couldn’t just let his father struggle if there was a way to make him feel better while his heart recovered from the tumble it had taken. “Okay, I get that, but you can’t just vanish like you did tonight. If one of us calls, you have to answer your phone.”

“I will from now on. I’m sorry.”

His apology rang with honest remorse, and Ben decided it was time to shove him back into the life he’d once enjoyed so much. “And we’re going to church on Sunday.”

“I don’t—”

“Then on Monday you’re gonna make an appointment with either a therapist or Pastor McHenry. I don’t care which, but it’s long past time you got some help dealing with all this. And don’t try to welsh on it,” he added sternly, “’cause I’ll be checking up on you.”

A hint of his father’s old spirit flared in his eyes. “You can’t do that. I’m an adult.”

“When you start acting like one, I’ll quit treating you like a four-year-old.”

Dad opened his mouth to retort, then slowly closed it and shook his head. “I guess I deserved that one. This must be tough on you, and I apologize for making things so difficult. A father’s supposed to take care of his son, not the other way around.”

Filled with regret, that statement summed up the aggravation Ben had been feeling for weeks now. Hearing it laid out in its simplest terms, he forgave his father on the spot. Resting a hand on his arm, Ben said, “Family supports family, no matter how old we get. I’m willing to go on helping as long as you’re trying to help yourself.”

That got him a wan smile. “Pray to God but row for shore?”

Ben’s granddad had fished the Atlantic until the day he died, and that was one of his favorite sayings. Hearing it now made Ben even more confident that his father could navigate his way through these rough waters and find a safe harbor on the other side. “Absolutely. You’re as good a sailor as you ever were. You’ve just lost your bearings. Once we get you a new compass, you’ll be fine.”

He chewed on that for a minute then nodded. “I like that idea. It sure beats rowing around in circles.” After a minute, he added, “When were you gonna tell me about Dave Klein’s offer?”

He stiffened reflexively, angry at his friend for making a bad situation worse. “You know about that?”

“Course I do. He called to ask if it was okay with me. I told him I thought it sounded perfect for you. So why didn’t you mention it?”

Ben shrugged, hoping to give the impression the opening wasn’t that big a deal. “I’m mulling it over.”

“Why? Restoring old places is what you’re best at, and you love it. What’s to mull?”

He didn’t have a reasonable answer to that, so he stalled. Finally, inspiration struck. “I have to finish our current jobs before I consider doing anything else.”

“We’ve got things lined up through the fall, and Davy needs you in June. Stay here through Memorial Day, then you’ll be in Boston for the nice weather. The timing couldn’t be better.”

Actually, Ben amended silently, the timing couldn’t be worse. Because his father’s approval made it possible for him to accept the job, it would make it that much harder for him to say no. He was dying to spread his wings and experience life outside his tiny hometown, but in his heart he knew staying in Holiday Harbor was the right thing for his family. “Like I said, I’m thinking about it.”

“This is a great opportunity for you, son. Don’t turn it down because of me.”

“I won’t.” Not entirely, anyway. “If you want some company tonight, you’re welcome to come home with me. Just remember I snore,” he added with a chuckle to lighten the mood.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine at my place.”

Ben hesitated. He wanted to give his dad the benefit of the doubt, but he wasn’t sure it was the smart thing to do. The man had gotten rattled by a quiet house and had basically run away. Could he be trusted to stay by himself?

“I’ll be fine,” he repeated more forcefully. “Go home and get some sleep. You look like you got run over by an 18-wheeler.”

“Thanks a lot.” Still, the insult came with a slight grin, which was an improvement over what he’d found when he first climbed into the truck. Opening the door, he paused to look his father directly in the eyes, searching for potential trouble. He didn’t find any but still said, “Call me if you get lonely again.”

“Won’t need to,” he replied confidently. “I’m gonna set the TV timer so it’ll stay on until I fall asleep.”

Pleased that his suggestion had been taken well, Ben said, “Okay, then. Night.”

“Night, son. Thanks for coming after me.”

He almost answered, “Anytime,” then thought better of it. Instead, he patted Dad’s shoulder and left the cab. Inside his own truck, he waited until he heard the other engine start up. He was tempted to follow the old truck back into town, then realized that might suggest he didn’t trust his father to get himself home.

Swallowing his misgivings, Ben headed back to his place for the second time that night. Something told him tomorrow was going to be another long, challenging day. He’d better get some sleep.

* * *

Before Lauren could blink, it was Saturday morning. Early Saturday morning. Her first week as the assistant manager of Toyland had been a blur of springtime activities Julia had cooked up to draw children and their parents into the store for some fun—and shopping. Being the last day before Easter, today promised to be a doozy, and Lauren would have welcomed the chance to sleep right up until they unlocked the front door.

“Tell me again why we’re doing this now instead of last night,” she grumbled while she and Julia got dressed at the crack of dawn.

Handing her a steaming cup of Kona blend, her friend responded with something between a yawn and a laugh. “I heard they tried that once years ago, and raccoons stole every last egg. It was a disaster.”

Odd as it was, at least that was a good reason for being up so early, Lauren thought while they made their way to the town square. Several people were already there, doing the yawning-laughing thing while an older woman with pink cheeks and a cheerful smile handed out cartons of colored eggs from a child’s red wagon.

“Please keep them in the square,” she directed a group dressed in heavy sweaters like Lauren’s. “Don’t put two eggs in the same spot, and if you run out, come find me. There are plenty more. God bless you all for coming out this morning.”

Taking Lauren’s arm, Julia led her over to get in line. When they reached the front, the woman’s face lit up, and she folded Julia into a warm hug. “They’re just beautiful!” she approved, motioning to the impressive inventory of eggs. “Letting the children make the eggs they’re hunting for was a wonderful idea.”

“I’m so glad you’re pleased. Lauren Foster, I’d like you to meet Ann McHenry, our pastor’s wife and choir director of the Safe Harbor Church. And soon to be my mother-in-law.”

While they shook hands, Ann beamed at Lauren as if they’d known each other forever instead of ten seconds. “It’s wonderful to meet you. I have to tell you, my granddaughter Hannah thinks you hung the moon.”

This woman projected unabashed warmth, and Lauren’s habitual reserve melted in the face of it. “She’s pretty great herself. All the kids we had in this week were fantastic, but she’s something else.”

“That she is,” Ann said with a trace of a proud Irish lilt. Winking at Julia, she added, “It’s a McHenry trait, you know.”

Laughing, Julia hugged her around the shoulders and reached in for two buckets of eggs. Handing one to Lauren, she introduced her to the others as they made their way around the large park, tucking eggs here and there as they went.

By the time they reached the white gazebo, Lauren’s head was spinning with new faces and the names that went with them. “I can’t believe this many people would get up so early to do this. It’s so sweet.”

“It’s a tradition here, making the most of every holiday.” Resting a hand on one of the slender columns, she surveyed the grassy square with a smile. “Their devotion to their history is one of the things I like most about this place.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Lauren noticed a familiar dark green pickup pulling in next to the church steps. Ben hopped out and headed in their direction, and Lauren couldn’t help admiring his long, confident stride as he moved over the grass. A man on a mission, she realized with a little grin. One of the busiest men she’d ever met, he always seemed to be going somewhere but still made time to help out with things like this. It said a lot about the kind of guy he was.

“Morning, ladies.” He greeted them with one of his warm smiles. “Nice day for hunting eggs.”

“Ben!” Ann called out, and he turned as she hurried up behind them. “Just the man I’ve been waiting for. Have you got my Easter lilies?”

“And amaryllis and tulips and some other stuff I can’t pronounce,” he confirmed with a chuckle. “Perry down at the nursery insisted on throwing in some extra plants. Said the display was a little sparse last year, and he wanted to make sure it was top-notch this time.”

She huffed derisively. “Sparse? I hardly think so.”

“Hey, don’t blame me.” Ben lifted his hands in self-defense. “I’m just the messenger. Besides, wait’ll you get a look at what he sent you. That might make you feel better.”

“We’ll just see about that,” she snapped, obviously smarting over the thinly veiled insult of her previous decorating. The woman’s quick temper surprised Lauren. Wasn’t the wife of a pastor supposed to be quietly supportive of her husband and his church, not wrangling with local businessmen? Apparently, Ann McHenry did things her own way, Lauren mused. She liked that.

“Ann,” Julia offered in a soothing tone, “I’ll take over the eggs so the rest of you can get to work inside.”

It took Lauren about half a second to understand she was being included in “the rest of you.” Because she couldn’t think of a single reason to protest, she decided it was best to go along. She and Ben fell into step behind Ann, who walked a lot faster than her appearance would suggest.

“Irish,” he murmured, nodding forward with a fond smile.

“And proud of it,” Ann retorted loudly, making it clear she’d heard him just fine.