Twenty-one
“Home sweet home.” Will’s whole body was tense as he stood with Julianne just outside the double-wide trailer in the Seaside Vista Trailer Park, where he’d grown up. The aluminum exterior had been painted some sort of blue shade before the sun had had its way with it. His mother’s once-prized rosebushes wilted in the hot afternoon sun, years’ worth of neglect dragging down any buds hearty enough to attempt to bloom. The wooden sunporch Will had constructed with Gavin and Gavin’s dad was in dire need of a fresh coat of paint.
He cringed as he saw his childhood home through Julianne’s eyes. When he and his mother had lived there, the trailer park had been neat and well maintained. Now, the place just looked . . . tired. The term vista was stretching it twenty years ago. Today, it was laughable.
“Do you think any of your old neighbors still live here?”
Will wandered over to the hive of mailboxes, checking the names on the slots, but most had worn off. “I doubt it. It was a pretty transient place. Most of the kids who lived here ended up in trouble at some point. All the parents, if they even had one, worked, and there wasn’t much supervision for kids outside school. If it weren’t for the McAlisters, I would probably have ended up in juvie, too. Having a safe place to go when my mom worked gave me opportunities the kids who lived here never had.”
He stood, hands on his hips, and tried to conjure up any good memories of his old home. Sadly, Will couldn’t.
“I can’t believe my mother lived in this dump for nearly twenty years.” He hadn’t wanted her to live here alone when he’d been at Yale, but his mother was stubborn. It seemed stubborn women were his lot in life. “The first dollar I got, I bought her a house.” Unfortunately, that first dollar he’d earned could destroy a dozen NFL careers, including that of his former coach, if it came out how he’d earned it.
“I doubt it was a dump when you lived here. Annabeth may not have been able to give you much, but I’m sure what she could provide was at least clean and tidy.” She lifted Owen out of his stroller and began to point out the birds and the few visible flowers to him.
He wasn’t sure why he felt it so important to take Julianne on this trip down memory lane, but he wanted her to see why their son should never want for anything. Once they’d arrived at the trailer park, however, he’d felt extremely uncomfortable. He was revealing more to her than he’d planned .
“This place made you who you are, Will. Living here pushed you to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. You should never be ashamed of that. Especially not with me.” She stretched up and kissed the side of his mouth. It wasn’t nearly enough for him and he captured her mouth in a hot kiss, tangling his tongue with hers until Owen head-butted him on the jaw.
“Oww!” He rubbed the side of his face. “You’ve definitely got the head of a linebacker. Come here, Cheerio. Let’s take Mommy for a walk to the beach.”
Julianne hesitated. She’d been making progress with her driving, but the beach was a different prospect all together. Will hadn’t been able to coax her off the verandah since they’d arrived in Chances Inlet.
He reached for her hand. “It’ll be okay. Owen and I will be right there with you.”
She slid her small hand into his, trust emanating from her eyes. Since that first night on Sea Island, she’d trusted him. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve her faith, but her confidence humbled him.
Pushing the stroller in front, the three of them trod the dirt path through the woods he’d taken hundreds of times before. Except now he wasn’t a lonely young boy, but part of a family. A family he hadn’t known he’d have over a month ago. Yet the baby in his arms and the woman whose hand he held firmly were now his responsibility. Somehow, that thought didn’t seem quite as daunting as it once did.
• • •
Annabeth waited patiently as Patricia McAlister stirred sugar into her coffee. The two women sat together as they did every month at the local chamber of commerce meeting. Even after nearly a decade of owning her own business, Annabeth still had to pinch herself each time she attended one of these gatherings, amazed that she was included in Chances Inlet’s business community. She’d come a long way from the Seaside Vista Trailer Park, when she drove a school bus and cleaned homes to scratch out a measly living.
Patricia had always been a member of the town’s business elite. She and her husband operated McAlister Construction, Chances Inlet’s only engineering and construction firm, until Donald’s death. Now she’d realized her dream in renovating and operating the Tide Me Over Inn, while her son, Gavin, temporarily ran the construction company.
“So, tell me what’s been going on with the handsome Hank Osbourne? It’s been nearly two weeks since he left. Have you heard from him?”
Annabeth took a sip of her own coffee before answering. “He’s in California with Sophie, so he really doesn’t have a lot of free time to call.” Which wasn’t exactly true. Hank was in California, but rather than call her, he sent long e-mails to her every day, sometimes more than one. The e-mails weren’t flowery or prosaic love letters, but rather detailed descriptions of his day with Sophie, complete with funny anecdotes and exasperated comments about life with a teenager. She replied back, recounting her day in the shop or her time with Owen. As the days flew past, their electronic courtship had taken a more intimate turn and their correspondence now delved into their hopes and desires. Annabeth feared she was falling in love with Hank, and she didn’t know what to do about it.
“You mean he hasn’t called you?” Patricia stared at her in disbelief.
“Oh, he’s called me.” In fact, they’d spent nearly an hour on the phone just last night. “It’s just that this is his time with Sophie. She’s his first priority right now.”
Patricia blew out a puff of air. “He was supposed to be spending time with Sophie when they were here, and he made time for you. Don’t make excuses for him. Too bad. I really thought he was more interested than it sounds.”
“He is,” Annabeth whispered. “He wants me to come to Baltimore when he gets back.”
Patricia leaned closer, a sly grin on her face. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Stop holding out on me, Annabeth.”
“I’m not sure I should go. Or even continue this. It wouldn’t be fair to him.”
“What are you talking about? He’s a fabulous guy.” Patricia ticked off on her fingers. “Single, decent job, devoted father, and really good-looking with all his teeth and hair.”
Annabeth laughed. “You sound like Julianne.”
“How’s the sex?”
“Patricia!” Annabeth quickly glanced around the room, but no one was paying attention to their conversation. “We . . . there wasn’t . . . Sophie was here with him, for goodness’ sakes!”
Her friend rolled her eyes. Annabeth felt awkward even having this conversation. Patricia was almost ten years her senior, with five children and a marriage that had spanned nearly thirty years. The widowed innkeeper was also rumored to be involved with Chances Inlet’s newly elected sheriff, a man five years her junior. Clearly, Patricia had no trouble maintaining a relationship with a man, while Annabeth was floundering around in uncharted territory.
Patricia squeezed Annabeth’s hand. “I see what the problem is. Sweetie, you’re a beautiful woman. Don’t be intimidated by those perky little twenty-somethings parading themselves on the beach. If Hank wanted that, well, he could have it. But he wants you!”
Annabeth buried her face in her hands, unsure whether to laugh or cry at Patricia’s attempt to buoy her confidence. The fact was, it wasn’t Annabeth’s body image that bothered her; she knew she was still attractive. Good eating habits and regular exercise kept her in great shape. And Hank’s interest had been apparent every time she was in his arms.
It was what would happen after sex that scared her. After he realized she was nothing more than a high school–educated girl from the trailer park. She couldn’t compete with the women in his social sphere. Not intellectually, anyway. It was that fear that kept her tethered to Chances Inlet.
“Annabeth.” Patricia pried her hand away from her face. “Look at me. I’ve always admired your resolve and your resiliency. You raised a fabulous son with very little help and even less money. And now you’re a successful businesswoman. All my life, I’ve had the protection of a man to help me. First my father and then Donald. Being alone scared me to death. But you survived it, and since Donald’s death, I’ve looked to you for inspiration.”
Annabeth was too flattered by her friend’s admission to speak.
“Now, though, you’ve got a chance at a happiness you can’t even fathom. It’s really nice to have someone to share things with, Annabeth. Don’t shortchange yourself on this opportunity. Take a risk on Hank. If it doesn’t work out, you have a safe place to land, right back here in Chances Inlet. This will always be your home.”
The mayor called the meeting to order, and Annabeth didn’t have a chance to respond to Patricia. She wasn’t even sure she could respond. It would be a big risk to take her relationship with Hank to the next level. One that could not only affect her son’s career, but her attachment to Sophie if things didn’t work out. Unfortunately, the thought of not having Hank in her life frightened her just as much.
• • •
Julianne sat on the bench swing located along the perimeter of the small boardwalk in downtown Chances Inlet. Most of the tourists swam at the public beaches located farther out on the island, but a few families with young children strolled along the shoreline eating ice cream and dodging the waves. Will waded up to his ankles, Owen on his shoulder. Julianne gripped the chain on the swing, her knuckles white. She knew her fear was irrational, but that didn’t make it any easier. The sea had swept away the mother she loved. It could just as easily do the same with the other two people she loved most in the world: Owen and Will.
Until this morning’s trip to the trailer park, she hadn’t admitted to herself that she loved Will. She’d desperately tried not to involve her heart in their relationship. But he’d finally started to let her in, sharing a piece of his past with her. Will was a fiercely private man, one who didn’t want others to know any of his weaknesses. The shame he felt about his upbringing was totally unfounded in her opinion, but he believed it. Her heart had ached for the boy he once was, convinced the world was against him. It also swelled with pride at how he’d used his brain and his brawn to build a better life for himself and Annabeth.
For now, she’d bide her time, loving him in her heart even if she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She’d already confessed to him how much she needed him. He held all the cards and he could crush her if he wanted to.
Her cell phone buzzed in the diaper bag. Julianne pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Stephen. She’d managed to avoid his phone calls for the past two weeks, instead trading voice mail and text messages. Total avoidance of him seemed silly and petty, though. After all, he was only concerned about Owen’s welfare. What harm could there be in letting him know his nephew was fine?
“Hello,” she answered.
Stephen hesitated; he was probably stunned she’d finally answered. “You’re alive!”
“Don’t sound so disappointed,” she teased.
He sighed. “Julianne, do we always have to do this?”
She bristled at his tone, feeling chastised. Even worse, her half brother was right. He took his job as older sibling very seriously; there was no reason for her to be churlish. “Sorry. You’ve got my undivided attention now. What’s up?”
“Just checking how everything is going there. You’ve been thrust into an awkward situation and I worry that you’re okay.”
“Part of this situation is my fault, Stephen, but I’m taking responsibility for it, trying to correct the wrong decisions I might have made.”
“Yes, you are, Julianne, and I’m really proud of the way you handled yourself and this whole crazy situation. You’re a wonderful mother.”
Unexpected tears stung her eyes. That was twice her brother had complimented her. She wasn’t sure how to take it.
“How is Owen doing? Has he completely recovered?”
Julianne proudly regaled him with the latest update from Owen’s checkup earlier in the week. “Of course, he’s in the hundredth percentile for height and weight. He’s going to be big like his daddy.”
“I know Faith and the kids would love to see you both. Are you coming up with Will next week?”
She looked across the sand at Will. He hadn’t mentioned anything about next week. Of course, they both strategically avoided any discussion of the future.
“Next week?” she asked.
“Blaze mini-camp is next week. Unless, of course, Will is skipping it to avoid all the questions about the bounty issue.”
Back to that again. Why was her brother so interested in her husband’s supposed involvement in a bounty scheme? Will was headed toward her, a cranky Owen in his hands.
“Umm, I think Carly was actually going to come down here,” she fibbed. “But if plans change, I’ll let you know, Stephen. I need to feed Owen now. I’ll definitely call if we come to town. Bye.” She hung up the phone just as Will reached the stroller. For some reason she couldn’t explain, she was uncomfortable talking about Will and football with her brother.
Julianne pulled the bottle of water out of the diaper bag and mixed the dry formula in before shaking it up. Will gently sat down on the swing, maneuvering Owen into the crook of his arm.
“Who was that?” he asked, taking the bottle from her and silencing Owen with it.
She wasn’t sure why the question put her on the defensive, but it did. It almost felt like her brother and Will were tussling over something and she was caught in the middle. In the end, she decided that given their evolving relationship, she had no reason to hide things from Will.
“It was my brother. Checking up on me again.”
If Will had any reaction, she didn’t catch it because he was watching Owen drink his bottle.
“He mentioned that you would be going to Baltimore next week. For mini-camp?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t meant to sound so disappointed.
They were quiet for a moment; Owen gulped his lunch, punctuating the lull in their conversation.
“You and Owen could come with me.”
Julianne’s stomach soared at his words. She didn’t have a problem being left in Chances Inlet. Annabeth would be there. But the thought of spending several days, and nights, away from Will made her chest ache.
“Where would we stay?”
“I have a loft apartment in Fed Hill. It’ll be cozy.” He looked up then, his green eyes stormy. “But I think we’ll be able to make it work.”
She couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “I could see Carly!”
“And your brother.” He looked at her intently.
Julianne waved a hand. “If there’s time. But I’d rather see Carly.”
“The team hosts a big family picnic the night before the mini-camp ends. I’m sure Carly will be there.”
Her heart was racing. If he was going to introduce her to his teammates, there was a chance he wanted their marriage to last more than just three months. Joy bubbled up inside her. She took a now-sleepy Owen from his arms and gently laid him in the stroller. Together they started back through town, headed home.
“There wouldn’t by chance be any shopping near your apartment?”
Will laughed. “I’ve never really noticed. But”—he sobered—“the place is adjacent to the harbor. Will you be all right with that?”
Julianne thought she’d be all right with any place as long as he was there. “Didn’t I just spend forty minutes sitting a hundred yards in front of the Atlantic Ocean?”
He wrapped an arm over her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Yes, Princess, you did. I’m very proud of your progress.”
It was the second time in less than an hour that one of the men in her life had told her he was proud of her. Julianne felt ten feet tall.
She brought her arm around his waist, sliding her fingers into the back pocket of his shorts. “Of course, all it would take is one nasty storm for me to backslide,” she warned.
“Well, Princess, let’s pray there aren’t any bad storms this summer.”