Sixteen
Lou McCain wasn’t that much of a cook—other than her trademark spaghetti—and she knew it. But Thanksgiving at her house had been a tradition since they’d moved to Thunder Point. They always invited Gina and her gang, too. On every other day of the year, Carrie—her closest friend—cooked and baked for the deli. Gina helped with that, plus served in the diner. Lou thought it was the mark of a good friend to feed them on this particular day.
But this year was special: she was springing Joe on them.
While Eve helped her stuff the turkey, Lou broke the news. “I’ve invited a gentleman your dad knows to dinner. Joe Metcalf. He’s a state trooper.”
“Why? Is he all alone for the holiday?”
“Well, as it happens, he is, but that’s not why I invited him.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been dating him a little.”
“Really?” Eve asked, stunned. “And you never said anything?”
“I wanted to make sure I liked him before bringing him home for dinner.”
“Highway Patrol? How old is this guy?”
“You had to ask.... He might be a little younger than me, but not all that much. It’s not like I’m some cougar...”
Eve giggled and covered her mouth.
“Oh, I’m sure you think this is funny. I’ve been a little nervous about this, so you might lend some support. After all, I’ve been squarely on your team when you want the car, when you’re out on dates. Without me, you’d be wearing a chastity belt.”
“True,” Eve said. “Okay, tell me more about this guy.”
“Well, he’s African-American. Mostly.”
“Mostly? Does that mean he’s black?”
“Latte,” she said. “He’s also Native American, lots of different European and Caribbean.” And then she smiled. “He’s very beautiful.”
When Joe arrived at one in the afternoon, Mac met him with a hearty handshake and invited him to grab a beer and come into the living room by the fire. But Joe said, “Give me a little while.” He took off his jacket, draped it on a kitchen chair and said, “Let me help Lou in the kitchen first. She’s not that much of a cook. Today I can guarantee pretty canapés, no lumps in the potatoes, very smooth gravy and sweet potato pie like you’ve never had. I’d do pies, but my understanding is your friend Carrie is bringing them.”
“You cook?” Mac asked. “And bake?”
“My mother made sure I knew all her recipes so I wouldn’t starve. I can make fried chicken so good you’ll cry.”
“Damn,” Mac said. “Lou, you have a nerve keeping Joe all to yourself for so long! The last time I had fried chicken, it came from the Colonel.”
“I was a colonel,” Joe reminded him.
It all worked. Ryan and Dee Dee hardly noticed that Joe was new to the gathering; Carrie was delighted to finally meet him; Gina was shocked and pleased. Even Cooper, whom Mac had invited, seemed comfortable around Joe, even though they’d just met.
There was only one pall on the celebration—Sarah didn’t make it. There were two more rescue flights, far more than was typical in a single day. She stayed for the debriefs, made sure everything was stable before she even attempted to leave. It was seven-thirty when she texted Landon that she was exhausted and just needed to go home. Holidays could be like that for first responders—accidents, crimes, severe illness, sometimes brought on by overindulgence. Lou was sorry Sarah couldn’t celebrate with Landon and Cooper, because she felt a surge of satisfaction when she saw her family all together around the table—and Joe there, too.
Cooper found Thanksgiving at the McCains to be as close to a family gathering as he’d been to in years. He hung out with the men in Mac’s living room while the women stayed mostly in the kitchen. The kids were downstairs in the basement-turned-rumpus-room until Ryan and Dee Dee came up because, “They’re kissing!”
Then it was on Joe and Cooper to keep Mac upstairs. “Take it easy, Mac,” Joe said. “Kissing is good. If they still have their clothes on.”
He wished Sarah had been there, even if she was in the kitchen with the women, but he understood about work. He liked that everyone trusted Sarah enough that no one was worried about her. Landon was used to this and had a lot of respect for his sister’s ability. Cooper had been a pilot himself and since the weather was good, he wasn’t concerned. It was a house full of first responders—people were used to call-outs.
After dinner, Ashley and her boyfriend, Downy, showed up for dessert; they had been with his family for part of the day. Then there was a round of charades. If someone had told Cooper a year ago he’d play charades with three generations of people and laugh his ass off, he’d have called them crazy. After charades, they broke out the Wii and had a bowling and rock star competition.
Cooper hung around the McCains until the text came to Landon, then he pulled the kid aside and, in a quiet voice, said, “I’m going to take off. I think I’ll beg a covered dish from Aunt Lou for your sister and wait for her at your house.”
“You don’t, like, have a key, do you?” Landon asked.
“No. She’s on her way, right? I’ll sit out front.”
Landon looked a little troubled. “Okay.”
Lou was more than happy to fix up some leftovers for Sarah, something she could put in the microwave, plus some pie. She even forced a bottle of wine on him, in case there wasn’t any at Sarah’s house. And then Landon walked Cooper to his truck.
“Listen, maybe we should talk about this,” Landon said.
“This?”
“I want Sarah to go out, to have fun. In fact, I need her to. When all she’s got is me, it just...I don’t know...just gets very heavy. But her ex—he hurt her. It was a terrible thing to watch.”
“What did he do to her, Landon?” Cooper asked. “Anything I should know about that, anything above and beyond the usual rigors of divorce?”
“I could tell you, but I don’t know how she’d take it. Ask her yourself, Coop. Let her tell you. And then, go out, have fun, whatever. But if you hurt her, if you do anything that makes her cry every day for six months, I swear to God...”
“Landon, I don’t want Sarah to be hurt. I like her. It might be easier to avoid that if I knew what I’m not supposed to do.”
“Well, for starters, don’t cheat on her. That’s all I’m saying.”
Cooper shrugged. “That’s easy. I’m kind of simple—one woman is about all I can handle. More than one at a time? Bigger than I am, that’s for sure.”
“Okay,” Landon said. “Good to know. Because Sarah hasn’t had many boyfriends. Derek, he was a surprise. I’m sure she went out with guys because I had babysitters sometimes, but Derek was the first one she got serious about and I was thirteen. So what I’m saying here is, Sarah doesn’t have a lot of experience with guys. If you screw her up...”
He felt a smile come to his lips. Sarah wasn’t inexperienced. Or maybe she was a natural. But one thing was clear—she hadn’t paraded an army of beaux past her little brother, yet another thing for which he admired her.
Cooper put a hand on his shoulder. “I promise,” he said. “But, Landon, I’m leaving after Christmas. January, maybe February at the latest. I told Sarah, and you knew from the start, I’m going to have to find work. This place? I like it—it’s a good place. But I’m just passing through.”
“I know. I get that. That’s not the same thing as using someone. Hurting someone. I said all I have to say.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket.
“Wait a minute,” Cooper said. “Maybe you should tell me what the ex did to you.”
“If you’d asked me that a few months ago, I would have had a load of crap to lay on you. First, he practically killed my sister, she was so sad. And I haven’t heard a word from him since he left us over a year ago. We had to move because Sarah couldn’t make the mortgage by herself. And she moved me to Nowhereville. But now? I don’t want to hear from him and I like Nowhereville. And there’s Eve...”
Cooper chuckled. “I might be just a cockeyed optimist, but things seem to work out the way they’re supposed to.”
Landon gave him a key off his key ring. “Let yourself in. Warm up her dinner. She comes off a bunch of rescues just shot to hell.”
“When are you going to be home?” Cooper asked. “So I can pass that on to your sister.”
“When Deputy Yummy Pants throws me out,” he said.
A loud bark of laughter escaped Cooper.
“That’s what the women call him behind his back. Believe me, from where I’m sitting, he’s not all that sexy. I’ll leave when he says I’m leaving. Let Ham out, will you? And leave my key on the kitchen table, okay?”
“Sure, kid. Behave yourself.” And he left for Sarah’s house.
She wasn’t home yet. This was only the second time Cooper had been to Sarah’s house and his first time inside. It was very small, he knew from their conversations—two whole bedrooms. But she had a fenced backyard, absolutely necessary for Ham. And there was a small fireplace in the living room. Probably the best part about the house was the front porch. It was covered and stretched the length of the front of the house. If she owned the property or if she were staying here permanently, she could enclose it or screen it. From that front porch, there was a view of the bay and, in the distance, a small light across the beach. The light he’d left on over the door of his fifth wheel. She could also see the town, the main street, the marina.
He took off his boots inside the front door. He let Ham out the back door and, using the wood and pinecone starters, he built a fire. Then he put the covered dish holding the turkey dinner beside the microwave on the counter and the wine in the refrigerator.
When she walked in the back door, she looked stunned. “What are you doing here?”
He stood from the sofa. “I brought you some leftovers and made you a fire. Landon gave me a key—I left it on the table. Listen, I don’t have to stay. You must be worn-out. Long day?”
She shrugged out of her coat and tossed it over the back of a kitchen chair. “Fourteen hours, the last two just mopping up the paperwork. Three rescues in one day—unprecedented. I was going to stop off for a bottle of wine, but since it’s Thanksgiving evening, not much is open.”
“Got you covered, Commander,” he said. “Aunt Lou wouldn’t let me leave without one. I’ll open it for you.”
“You’re a good man to have around,” she said, going to the sofa. She pulled off her boots. He must have found the corkscrew right away; she heard only one drawer slide open. When he started opening kitchen cupboards, she said, “Over the toaster oven, next to the refrigerator.” A minute later he brought her a glass of wine.
“Maybe I should get going.”
“Only if you want to,” she said. “I’m up to a little quiet company. I’m sorry I missed the dinner.”
“We played charades,” he said, then surprised himself with a laugh. He sat beside her. “Landon had a father-son talk with me. This time I was the son. He’s pretty worried, Sarah. Afraid that getting mixed up with me is going to leave you brokenhearted and broken-down.”
“Ah, poor Landon. You can’t blame him. It was so hard on him, seeing me fall apart the way I did over the divorce. This doesn’t have anything to do with you, Cooper. In fact, it’s very nice to have a friend like you. And I’ve gotten closer to Gina and let me tell you, it’s been a while since I had a girlfriend. I needed that, too.”
With a finger, he ran her short hair around her ear. He smiled. “Will you think I’m a complete pig if I tell you that sleeping with you really winds my watch?”
She grinned. “We’ve never slept.”
“Because you drive me out of my mind. I’ve needed a friend like you, too.”
She chuckled. “Needed to get laid, huh?”
“That, too. Listen, I made a slight change in plans. While the bait shop is being worked on, while Rawley is around to keep an eye on the reconstruction, I’m going to head to Albuquerque to visit my family.”
“Now?” she asked.
“In a week.”
“I thought you planned to go for Christmas?” she asked, sipping her wine.
“I was considering it. But I decided I wanted to be around here. Do you have plans?”
“I only work Christmas Eve until four, unless it turns into another day like today. And I have Landon, when he’s not with Eve.” She curled up against Cooper’s side. “This is his first girlfriend, unless you count Cindy Freeman when he was seven.”
“He’s a goner,” Cooper said, putting his arms around her. “Have you talked to him about, you know...”
“Talked to him and armed him. But God, I hope he doesn’t have sex.” She lifted her head. “Is there any way we can keep them from having sex?”
Cooper just shook his head. “Has he talked about you having sex with a nomad who lives in a tin can?”
She shook her head. “He must be leaving that up to me.”
“Good. You turned out to have very good judgment about that.”
“You mean the way I jumped your bones on the second date?”
“My favorite part. Want me to warm your dinner?”
“No. Can you put it in the refrigerator when you’re up getting me another glass of wine?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, reluctantly pulling away from her. And then he was back, handing her the wine and pulling her against him. In lieu of hot, crazy sex, just holding her was very satisfying. He told her what he’d heard at the McCains’ about Christmas, about the decorating of the town, about parties, about a legendary open house at Gina and Carrie’s house, catered by the only caterer in town. “And we’re included, if interested.”
“Lovely,” she said, sipping. She tilted her head to look up at him. “But I don’t want you to worry—if your plans change and you have to be with family, it’s not going to be a problem.”
Ah, she was holding him at arm’s length. Even though he didn’t have the details, it was enough to know she’d had a real bad experience. It was hard for her to trust. A year ago, five years ago, even ten years ago—this was him. He was always afraid to get too close. “Barring some family emergency, I’ll be here,” he said. “Tell me about the rescues.”
So while she cuddled up to him and sipped her wine, she told him about one possible coronary, a boat taking on water forty miles offshore, a hiker who’d spent Thanksgiving day in the woods at about five thousand feet, lost and with hypothermia. And then her glass was nearly empty. “Will you put this on the coffee table, please?”
He laughed at her. “Is it good having your very own valet?”
“It is good,” she said, resting her head against his chest. “And you double as a pillow very nicely, too.”
He pulled a throw off the end of the sofa and covered her and some of himself, as well. “Wanna make out?” he asked her.
“Hmm. Can’t. Landon could be coming in anytime now. Plus I don’t know how to make out with you without taking my clothes off and making crazy, insane, insatiable love to you.”
He laughed and it ended in a low growl and a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t seek help for that, all right?”
“All right,” she said. “If I walk Ham tomorrow, maybe you can get a nooner.”
“I’ll take it,” he whispered. And then he let his eyes close while he held her before he thought about it much longer—that she was the best thing he’d ever come across. And she was afraid to let him in.
Her soft snore put him to sleep. He had no idea what time it was when he heard the back door and Ham’s excitement. His feet were propped on the coffee table, and she was curled in a small ball against him with one leg thrown over his. He had both arms around her. He opened one eye to see Landon standing in front of them, his hands on his hips, a smile on his face.
“Oh, you kids,” Landon said with a smile. “I’m going to bed.”
Cooper gave a small nod and just pulled Sarah closer. His contentment was too rich for him to get up and leave.
* * *
The diner had been closed on Thanksgiving Day. It opened bright and early the next morning, though the crowd was sparse. Quite a few people took a long weekend and many left town to be with family in other towns or states. Gina had the diner’s laptop open on the counter, paying a few bills for Stu, when Scott Grant came in. This time, no small children—he was alone.
“Good morning,” she said, closing her laptop.
He sat up at the counter right in front of her in Mac’s seat. “Do you live here, Gina?” he asked with a smile.
“You’d think so, right? I work a lot when I’m not in school. When I have classes, Stu adjusts my schedule as much as possible. I work the day shift, from early morning to midafternoon. I have three busy periods in here—early-early morning, early-late morning and lunch. I only work nights if someone’s sick or needs time off. I hate nights. I’m a morning person.”
He smiled. “I must be, too. I’ve never seen anyone but you behind the counter.”
“It’s a small diner. Usually only one person at a time is needed, except on Friday and Saturday nights. Then Stu’s wife, Belinda, and one of our teenagers work together, and it’s like open warfare. I stay as far away as possible. How was your Thanksgiving?”
“Surprisingly bearable. My mother and mother-in-law are in town. Which is why I’m here.”
“Oh, really?” she asked, lifting a brow.
“Gabriella is in Vancouver with her family for a few days, and the grandmothers are here with me. The house is small and getting a little close. If you get my drift.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why don’t you live closer to your family?” she asked, while automatically pouring him a cup of coffee.
“I could lie and say it was all about work, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. I did medical school and residency in California—Serena and I were happy there. Our mothers are widows, overbearing, controlling and in competition with each other. I’ve been fantasizing a way back to California ever since. When the Vancouver hospital where I’d been working since before I lost Serena started downsizing, I started looking. I really need a fresh start. And space from the grandmothers. It’s hard to get on with your life with your mother and mother-in-law breathing down your neck.”
“I see,” she said. “So, that’s your only family?”
“Oh, no,” he said with a laugh. “I have a sister, two years older, who said, ‘Thanks a whole hell of a lot,’ when I told her we were moving. I guess I left her with our mother, who needs a lot of attention. Unfortunately for me, my mother is pretty focused on her poor widowed son and motherless grandchildren. But when she’s not focused on me, she’s very busy trying to get my sister married.” He sipped his coffee. “They’re leaving Monday. Can I stay with you until then?”
She laughed at him.
“So, I don’t know your schedule, but is there a good time to, you know, go out? Because I’ve been on one date since my wife died. That was in Vancouver and she saw two little kids—Jenny wasn’t potty trained yet—and she ran for her life.”
Gina was stunned. Her mouth fell open. “Me?” she asked.
“Something wrong with you? You in a relationship or something?”
“Um...no. Did you know I am the single, never-married mother of a sixteen-year-old and I live with my mother?”
“I didn’t know that, as a matter of fact. Level with me, Gina—is she like my mother? Demanding, oversensitive and generally controlling? Because really...been there, done that.”
“No,” she said with a laugh. “My mother is awesome. She’s Carrie of Carrie’s Deli and Catering. She’s an angel come to earth, with an edge. She’s real good people, but she doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. So...that means what? I have to get you home early?”
“Oh, my gosh, do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve been on a date?”
“Well, don’t panic—I met my wife in high school. I know, ridiculous, right? So I’ve had one date, and I think I wasn’t very good at it. And before you start to worry, I’m not looking for a mother for my poor motherless children or anything like that. I’d just like to go out with someone instead of with a bunch of hospital staff or two little kids or alone. I think I’m about due for some fun. And I want to learn more about your town and the people around here. I bet you can tell me a lot.”
“Oh, yes, that I can do. I’m not working Sunday morning.”
“Great. I have grandmothers to keep busy with babysitting and going crazy wondering who I might be going out with! It’s childish, but it serves them right. Pick you up at six?”
“Fantastic. Now, you want some eggs or something?”
“Sounds good. Eggs, over easy—”
“No, don’t go there,” she said. “Omelet or scrambled or over hard. Stu is a sweet man, but not a gentle hand in the kitchen.”
“Okay, omelet. Is bacon okay?”
“It’s his specialty. Crispy. And wheat toast and some home fries?”
“Excellent. Then I’m going over to the shop to work a little bit. Want to write down your address for me? Is your house hard to find?”
“It’s two blocks from here, Scott.” She slapped his order ticket on the cook’s counter. “You can see it from the front of the store. I’ll write down the address.”
When he was finishing up his breakfast, he asked, “So, what kind of classes?”
“Social work. I think, after I do an internship, I’d like to be a counselor. That’s way down the road for me, though. Right now Ashley is my priority—getting her through college and on her own.”
“Really? And could the citizens of Thunder Point use a counselor?”
“Every last person here,” she said, grinning.
* * *
Mac went to the diner at around ten in the morning and caught Gina reading. “Hey, slow morning?”
She closed the book. “Day after Thanksgiving is always a little quiet. People have tons of leftovers to plow through.”
He sat at the counter and she poured him coffee. “I had a nice time yesterday, Gina.”
“It was a good day, wasn’t it? I think everyone enjoyed it.”
“And you’re not mad at me anymore,” he said.
She took a steadying breath. “I apologize. You were in the line of fire. I’m not angry with you, Mac. I was angry with myself and took it out on you.”
“And would you mind sharing? What are you angry with yourself about?”
“It’s kind of hard to explain, but here goes. When I saw Sarah and Cooper holding hands and gazing at each other, I became so envious. I haven’t been on a date in years! I haven’t had anyone hold my hand or gaze into my eyes like I’m special in so long...maybe ever! I’m only thirty-two. I have nearly raised a daughter, almost have a degree, and I don’t have a life. And I am bloody sick of not having a life. That’s all it was—just a woman mourning her abandoned womanhood.”
Mac thought, My timing is perfect! Outside of police work, his timing was seldom on, but for once... “Then I’m in the right place at the right time. Let’s go out Saturday night. No kids, no aunt, no mother. Just you and me.”
“Oh,” she said uncomfortably. “Listen, it’s not like I don’t appreciate the gesture, but I’m not looking for another friendly little buddy hookup. I’ll hang out with you anytime, Mac. Your friendship is very important to me. But I actually want a real date with the potential for a little hand-holding. Maybe even a kiss good-night.”
“Well, I—”
“I have a date with Scott Grant for Saturday night. We’re going out to dinner. Without kids.”
“Scott Grant?” he asked, though he knew exactly who that was.
“Dr. Grant?” she returned.
“I know,” he said, irritably. “You like him?”
“Of course I like him or I wouldn’t go out with him,” she said. “He’s very nice. I don’t have any expectations, but he wants to take me out and—”
“You might’ve warned me,” Mac said.
Her brows knit. “Of what?”
“That you needed to have a date. After all, we’ve been—”
“Buddies,” she said. “Pals. No offense, Mac, but I don’t need another pal. I wouldn’t trade you for anything, but I really think I’m now mature enough for a boyfriend. It doesn’t have to be happily ever after, I just want a shot at it. I’m not saying that will be Scott Grant, but what the hell. I’m going on a date!”
“I’ve taken you out!” he boomed.
“Not exactly,” she corrected. “We’ve gone out together, but you made yourself very clear—you can’t have a relationship. You have children to raise. And I am ready for a relationship.”
“Aw, fuck,” he said, which he almost never said in front of a woman.
“Yeah, and that,” she said.
“Gina!” he barked, appalled.
“Well, forgive me for living!”
“I just swore because I was late in asking you out, behind Medical Man. Not because it was a game plan! Look, I’ll take you out, hold your hand, look at you like you’re special—”
“Whoa, thanks so much. But I have plans,” she said, lifting her chin. “And I think three years was enough time to give you to get ready. I’m going to move on. But gee, really, thanks so much for the offer.”
“Come on, Gina,” he said with a bit of a whine. “You know what I mean.”
“Breakfast, Mac? Or just coffee today?” she asked.
“You’re still mad at me. Jesus, I had no idea this was happening in your head. You should have told me!”
She leaned on the counter and looked into his eyes. “Mac, my dear friend, here is something you should probably know about women without being told. We don’t want to have to tell a man we need to be wanted. We’d really like that to come naturally. We’d like a man to pursue us because he wants us, not because he’s out of options.”
“Okay.”
“So—omelet or scrambled?”
“Are we done talking about this?”
“All done.”