Chapter 25
25
Saint stood at his office window with his hands shoved into his pants pockets and his mind filled with thoughts of Zara. Lately, his thoughts were always on her. More so since his parents were back from Memphis.
Their return meant she shouldn’t be the only thing that occupied his time and attention. He was back to checking in on his folks, seeing them most mornings and visiting in the evenings as well. That meant he didn’t start his day waking up with Zara in his arms as often as he’d like. And more times than not, it was close to bedtime by the time he arrived at the cottage.
His mother had prepared dinner a few times, and her expectations were that he would join them. He noticed she never asked about Zara, but then she’d stopped bringing up Mia, too, and he was glad about that. In fact, he’d noticed she hadn’t mentioned Mia since their return from Memphis. He’d hoped at some point Mia had had a heart-to-heart talk with her parents, similar to the one he’d had with his, and that both sets of parents now accepted that there was no longer a Saint and Mia nor would there ever be one again. However, he was constantly thinking about a Saint and Zara.
She would be leaving the cove in less than ten days, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He wasn’t fooling himself with that train of thought. He did know how he felt since he’d fallen in love with her.
He’d known the exact moment when he’d accepted that as fact. It had been one night last week when he’d shown up at the cottage and she was wearing his T-shirt. The same one he’d given her that first night they’d spent together. She’d worn it before a couple of times, but for some reason seeing her in it when she’d stepped out onto the porch to meet him had done something to him.
For the past month, he’d constantly told himself that although there was this special, unshakable, passionate bond between them, it would eventually get old or wear down. It never did. If anything, it got stronger each time they were together, made love or breathed the same air.
He could talk to her about anything and usually did. They’d gotten into the routine of him telling her how his day had gone, and she would tell him about hers. Being seen with her seemed right and normal. People had gotten used to it. More than once, some of the older people in town, even Selma Bivens of all people, had pulled him aside to say that he and Zara made a nice couple.
He knew that Zara had finished packing up everything for the Historical Society, and had started painting a new picture, although she hadn’t told him much about it or shown it to him. However, she had shown him a few clothing design ideas she’d come up with while here. He liked the fact that she would seek his business advice about things and often used it. However, the one thing he wished she’d done—namely, to seriously consider purchasing that building—she hadn’t. Too late now since he’d noticed the For Sale sign was no longer in the window.
One day she would realize it was a missed opportunity, although a part of him had an idea why she hadn’t been interested. Zara didn’t want anything of value that would tie her to Catalina Cove. Vaughn and his family were enough.
And then there was the cottage on Pelican Bay.
Zara loved that place, and he loved it, too. For him it was synonymous with her. He would never forget the first time she’d invited him there, that night after they’d gone dancing in New Orleans. The same night they’d seen each other, two and a half years after their anonymous encounter, and discovered the deep sexual chemistry they’d shared was still alive and kicking. Neither had a problem with picking up where they’d left off, since they both knew there would never be anything serious between them.
What he now felt for her was as serious as it could get. Although he’d tried telling himself time and time again what he’d felt for Zara was only physical, lust with a capital L , he soon realized what he felt was more emotional than physical.
He was convinced she was different from any woman he’d been involved with, which hadn’t been many. Although he tried not to compare, when he was with Zara he realized how many concessions he’d made during his relationship with Mia. Concessions she felt entitled to but never reciprocated. She’d never asked what he’d wanted. It was always what she wanted.
Saint could now accept that Mia’s turning down his marriage proposals had been a blessing. He hadn’t seen it then, but he sure as hell saw it now. Mentally, he was doing a lot better without her. However, he couldn’t say the same thing when it came to Zara. He wasn’t sure how he would handle things when she left and they ended their affair.
He turned when he heard the knock on his office door. “Come in.”
Vaughn walked in smiling, but evidently, there was a look on Saint’s face that made his smile vanish and him ask, “Saint? Are you okay?”
Saint wished he could answer truthfully and admit that no, he wasn’t okay. The woman he loved more than life itself, who happened to be Vaughn’s sister, would be walking out of his life in a little more than a week and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Not a damn thing.
So instead, he said, “Yes, I’m okay.”
“Are you sure you’re okay, Zara?”
Zara glanced across the booth at Sierra. Her sister-in-law had called and invited her to lunch at the Green Fig. Although she tried being herself, undoubtedly Sierra had picked up on something. She could say that yes, she was fine, but that wouldn’t be true. She wasn’t fine and just the thought that she would be leaving Catalina Cove next week had her rethinking things.
She was certain Sierra had heard that she and Saint had been spending a lot of time together while she and Vaughn had been away. However, Sierra hadn’t asked her anything about it.
“No, I’m not okay,” she said, honestly.
“What’s wrong?”
It took Zara about twenty minutes to cover everything. Since Sierra had seen the dance and kiss, she thought the idea of a faked affair had been a good one. And she wasn’t surprised of the outcome. She’d detected Zara was falling for Saint a while ago. She also thought Saint was falling for Zara as well. Zara didn’t agree with Sierra on the latter.
“Will you tell Saint how you feel?”
Zara was surprised Sierra would even think that she would. “No, of course not.”
“So, you plan to give him up?”
Zara drew in a deep breath. “I don’t have him in the first place. Falling in love wasn’t part of the agreement.” She looked away, not wanting Sierra to see the tears glistening in her eyes.
Sierra reached out and touched her hand. “Things change, Zara. People change and so do the paths they establish for themselves. It most certainly did for me.” She paused a moment and said, “When I returned to Catalina Cove, I’d pretty much determined in my mind and heart what my pathway would be and what it would not be. After being betrayed the way I had, no man was in my future. Then in walked your brother. I fought Vaughn on every turn. Even after I’d realized he had captured my heart, I fought him. In the end love won. Maybe it will for you, too.”
Sierra let go of her hand, leaned back in her seat and gave Zara a conspiratorial smile. “You know what I’d do if I were you?”
Zara lifted a brow. “No, what?”
“Do the same thing Vaughn did to me. Change how a person thinks about love being a part of their future. You and Saint have established a close relationship, and I can see it’s not just based on sex. I’ve watched the two of you together since Vaughn and I returned. Especially that night the four of us went to dinner. He was so attentive to you. So caring. I don’t believe it was an act. He was sincere.”
Zara refused to get her hopes up about anything. “Saint was just being Saint. You’ve even said everyone knows what a nice person he is.”
“I think it was more. I believe it and Vaughn believes it as well.”
“Vaughn?” Zara asked, surprised.
“Yes. He saw that very public display between you and Saint at the engagement party. Granted, he knows you can handle your business and won’t interfere, but he’s still your brother and would be concerned about your reputation. And before you ask, the answer is no. Vaughn hasn’t said anything about it to me. But I know my husband. He’s probably glad everyone assumes there’s more going on between you and Saint, and Vaughn might assume that as well.”
“Well, there’s not more going on. Like I said, it’s all an act.” Zara could tell that Sierra wasn’t all that convinced but figured it would be obvious when she left to return to Boston.
“Dinner was wonderful, Margie. I hope you let me invite you to dinner the next time,” Levi said as they strolled along the boardwalk.
“You don’t have to do that, Levi. Besides, you invited me over for cake and coffee that night I poured all my troubles out to you. I needed someone to talk to and I’m glad you listened.”
“I appreciated your company.”
Levi meant what he said and was glad he’d been there for her that night. “Have you talked to your daughter again? How is she doing?”
“Bellamy is tough, and I think she will survive this. Of course, it’s somewhat embarrassing for her because now she’s discovering who her real friends were. It seems a few of them knew about Sam’s affair but didn’t tell her about it. She feels betrayed. But then...”
He looked at Margie and prompted her. “But then what?”
“I’m not sure Bellamy would have believed them had they told her. She trusted Sam implicitly. I think that’s what’s hurting her so much. Finding out that trust was not warranted, and he was undeserving.”
They stopped walking when a nice boat passed by and Levi waved at the occupants.
“Friends of yours?” Margie asked.
He smiled down at her. “Yes, that’s Ray Sullivan and his family. It’s a nice evening to be out on the water.”
“Ray Sullivan? I recall hearing that name somewhere.”
“You probably have. Ray owns the water-taxi service in Catalina Cove,” Levi said.
“That sounds nice for the cove.”
“It is. He’s had to purchase two more boats,” he said. “Would you want to take one with me over to New Orleans? I got two tickets.”
She paused, considering, and then said, “I would love to do that. It sounds like fun. Let me know when so I can make sure Dad will be okay.” She chuckled. “He’d probably be glad to see me gone for a while. He thinks I hover over him too much. I honestly don’t want to do that.”
Levi had a feeling that she did, but he didn’t see it as a bad thing. He thought someone wanting to take good care of a loved one as a good thing. “I’ll let you know the specifics when I get home and look at the ticket. Do you want me to call Mr. Chelsey’s landline at the house or would you feel comfortable giving me your cell number?”
“I have no problem giving you my cell number, Levi.” She pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket. “What’s your number so I can call you?”
He rattled off his number and when his phone rang in his pocket, she smiled and said, “There. Now we have each other’s number. You can call me anytime.”
He appreciated the invitation but knew that nothing had changed, and their relationship was still limited to friendship. “Thanks, Margie.”
“Good evening, Mr. Levi.”
Levi turned to the couple standing in front of them. He smiled when he recognized them. “Brody and Freda. How are you two?”
“We’re fine. Thanks for asking,” Freda said.
“I see we all had the same idea about taking a stroll along the boardwalk tonight,” Brody added.
“Yes, it’s a nice evening,” Levi said. He then introduced Margie. “This is my friend Margie Lawson. She’s Mr. Chelsey’s daughter. Margie this is Brody Dorsett and Freda McEnroe. Freda’s bakery supplies desserts to the Green Fig.”
Margie extended her hand and smiled. “I went to school with a Harold Dorsett, and I also recall a Fredrick McEnroe.”
“Our fathers,” Freda said, grinning.
Margie then turned sad eyes to Brody. “I was sorry to hear about Harold. He was a fine man. Dad used to tell me what a great job he was doing as fire marshal.”
“And it’s a job Brody is now doing,” Levi said, proudly. “I don’t think Catalina Cove would know what to do without a Dorsett as a fire marshal.”
“I can believe that,” Margie said, grinning. “And how is your mom, Brody? I went to school with Kate as well.”
“Thanks for your condolences, and Mom is doing fine. She’s finally retiring in September after working for Lacroix Industries for over thirty years.”
“That’s wonderful.” Margie glanced over at Freda. “If I recall, your father used to own a bakery. Right on this boardwalk. Sold the best beignets.”
Freda’s smile widened. “You have a good memory. Dad ran the bakery until his death nearly ten years ago. I had finished college and was living in Ohio. Mom closed the bakery and moved out there with me.”
“How is she?” Margie asked.
“Mom’s doing great, and once she got used to the Ohio weather she managed quite nicely and loves it there. I moved back to the cove and opened my own bakery. I’m hoping that one day she’ll move back here, but I won’t hold my breath for that to happen. She has her friends in Cleveland and says her life is there now.”
“I understand,” Margie said. “Moving back to the cove was certainly a big decision for me. But now I’m glad I did. There’s no place like home, especially when home is Catalina Cove.”
“I think a lot of us found that out and are glad to be back,” Brody said. “Well, I hope the two of you enjoy your walk. We’re taking the water-taxi service to New Orleans to see a play.”
“I hope the same for you two,” Levi said, and watched as the couple walked away, thinking they looked good together. From what he’d overheard Freda tell Sierra, she and Brody were nothing more than friends. Just like him and Margie. “I’m glad you feel returning to Catalina Cove was a good move for you, Margie.”
“I do, Levi, and if that invitation to dinner is still out there, I’ll take it.”
With a huge smile, he said, “It’s still out there, and I look forward to you joining me.”