Once and Again (26 page)

Carolyn shrugged. “Try Jonah. I’m sure he’ll be happy to host you.”

“You’ve gone mad!”

She gave him a hard stare and he seemed to deflate under her gaze. “I have to be honest with you, Dad. After all these years, I feel like I’ve finally come to my senses.” And with that, she turned on her heel and left him staring after her.

Carolyn didn’t even bother with a wrap. She just grabbed her keys and walked right out the front door of the house, and down the street to the old Mayhew mansion. The lights inside were on. She knocked on the door.

Jake answered bare-chested, one hand on the door frame, his hair messy, his eyes wary.

He’d never looked better.

“I love you,” she blurted out.

He blinked. “That’s—that’s what you came over to tell me?”

She nodded. “Yes. That and my dad is leaving.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to figure out. Not the kicking-my-dad-out part, the
I love you
part. I think I said it fifteen years ago, and I meant it then—I did—but it didn’t mean what it means now. Because back then, I loved the idea of you, not
you
you, if that makes any sense. But I saw something in you—that strength, that passion—I knew what you were. What you would become. And you did, Jake. You did. You’re generous and kind and loving and—” Now that the fog was lifted, she saw everything. “You referred Bex Teller to me, didn’t you?”

A short nod confirmed the truth.
God,
that was just like him—to help in secret. She shook her head. She couldn’t get distracted.

“That was amazing of you, Jake. But I don’t love you because of that or because of anything else I just said. Really, I love you because of the way you make me feel. The way you’ve
always
made me feel, no matter what I’m going through. It doesn’t matter who I am or how people see me because with you, I’m whole. I feel like I can do anything, including figure out my future, if only you’ll do it with me. My having money or not doesn’t change anything between us. I wish to God I’d realized that sooner. I’m not scared anymore, Jake. And I’m not leaving. I don’t want to leave. I want to stay. And I’m never going to stop loving you. Never.”

She gasped for breath, not quite believing the words had come out the way they had. Jake was quiet, clenching his jaw in that way he did. “Jake? Please. Say something.”

He didn’t speak. Just stood there silently.
God,
had she blown it? Had she ruined everything with her confession? It was too soon—too soon to tell him—wasn’t it? She should have waited. Given him some time.

Then he stepped forward and simply enveloped her, one hand around her back, the other holding her head to his chest. Relief washed over her, sweeping away all the anxiety and fear. She pressed her face against his chest, skin to skin, trying to imprint this moment on her brain—the moment she’d dreamed about but never dared to hope would happen. She started to cry—she couldn’t help it—but he just held her tighter and kissed the top of her head. Finally, he pulled back and cupped her face in his hands. He swiped a big thumb gently across her cheek, wiping a few tears away.

“I love you, Carolyn. I’ve loved you from the first moment I saw you.” Then he kissed her and kissed her and kissed her, making her dizzy, with love, with need, with desire, for this singular man.

“We wasted so much time, Jake,” she told him. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t want to waste any more time, period. Not for anything.” He got down on his knees right in his front hallway and took her hand. “Be mine, Carolyn. For real.”

Her heart caught in her chest. “Are you—”

“Yes, Caro. Marry me.”

Jake looked up at her with such trust and such love, it nearly blew her away. Her bad boy with the heart of gold.

The heart he’d given her.

At eighteen, she hadn’t known what to do with it, but now she absolutely did. Her life had come full circle, and now she knew exactly what she had in front of her, and there was no way in heaven she was letting him go again. It wasn’t too soon. It wasn’t too late. It was just right.

She sank down on her knees, too. “Yes,” she said simply. “I’m yours, Jake. I’ve always been yours.”

“Caro,” he said, and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. Then he kissed her mouth and there was no past anymore. There was only future. Here, together.

Forever.

For their second girls’ night out—third if you counted the hike—Jane, Grace, and Carolyn met at Grace’s place in the deep woods of Eastbridge. Evelyn was closing Mountain Laurel Cakes on June fifteenth, and no one wanted to meet there, since the expiration date stamped on the place kind of put a damper on things.

Jane brought cake anyway, and Carolyn wine, while Grace provided good cheese and an incredible atmosphere. Her old farmhouse was really lovely, refurbished in an elegant, arty style with rustic chandeliers, soft couches dotted with velour throws in various jewel hues, and of course, Grace’s own artwork hanging on the walls. When they arrived, Grace threw open two huge doors that led out to a great field behind the farmhouse. It had rained earlier in the day and the early June evening was warm and damp. Fireflies ignored the wetness, dancing in the dimming light.

Along with the weather, something had changed in the atmosphere. Carolyn couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she could sense the difference. Perhaps it was the way Grace—leg almost fully mended—was sitting, leaning back on a couch, her eyes bright and shining. Or maybe it was the tranquility on Jane’s face. More than likely, it had something to do with herself. She was at peace—at work, at home, and with a blue-eyed man who was her future.

“I’m so glad you’re here tonight,” Grace said. “I’ve wanted you two to see my place for the longest time. You like?”

“Love,” Jane said, walking around the perimeter of the room. “Especially your art. You’re seriously talented, Grace.”

Grace flushed with pleasure. “Thank you,” she said, as Jane came to sit down next to her on the couch.

“Maybe you’ll do a show around here sometime?” Carolyn asked hopefully.

“The Yale Art Museum is going to do one later this year, I think.”

“We’ll take a road trip to see it,” Jane promised. “Oh, did I tell you I finished packing?”

“That’s great!”

“Yes, and General Thurlow is done with his cleanup. That man worked fast. Anyway, they’re ready for us, and we’re ready to go.”

“When’s your move date?”

“The twenty-first, right after Andy’s school year ends.”

“Smart to wait.”

“We wanted to finish out strong with no distractions,” Jane said. “My mom’s still driving me a little crazy, but I’ll tell you, I’m glad she’s here. Already, Andy’s reading has improved. She’s able to work with him in a way that I really can’t. We still have to work on math, but hopefully, by the beginning of the next school year, he’ll be mostly caught up.”

“I’m so glad,” Carolyn said. “And I have to say, I’m glad you’re getting along better with your mom.”

Grace gave her a sympathetic look. “Still no word from your dad, huh?”

Carolyn shook her head. Since that awful night when she and her dad had it out, there had been radio silence. He’d prepared his own petition to be reinstated as a trustee, but Bex told her not to worry about it.

“Maybe he’ll come around,” Jane offered.

“If not, it’s all right,” Carolyn said. “It took me a long while to figure out, but I finally realized you make your family where you can. Briarwood’s my home.”

In the wake of everything that had happened, she’d decided to return to her position as director of events. Richard had been beyond happy to have her back, as had all her other friends and clients at the club. Once she’d made her peace with the fact that there were those at Briarwood who’d always view her a certain way and those who wouldn’t, the decision was fairly straightforward. Four million dollars was a ton of money, but she didn’t want to stay idle. She might as well do something she loved and get paid for it, though having the financial security was wonderful.

And then there was Jake. She wasn’t sure it was possible, but they were closer than ever. In the last few days, he had been confiding in her even more with respect to running Briarwood. Now that the golf course refurbishment was underway and renovations were about to begin on the buildings, there was a lot to think about for the future of the club—a future she cared about, because it was her future, too.

“Speaking of Briarwood,” she told Jane, “Susumo told me he hired you for the new position.”

“Accepting was a no-brainer,” Jane said. “I’m glad to have a new job, but I’m really not happy to see Mountain Laurel Cakes close. Evelyn swears it’s temporary until she can get a new space, but it’ll be tough. That place has been like my home for the last three years. I owe her everything.”

“So work at Briarwood until the bakery gets up and running again and then go back,” Grace said. “No one will hold you to staying if you don’t really want to be there.”

“True,” said Carolyn. “But once you join us, it’ll be hard to leave.”

“I know how tightly knit everyone is,” Jane said. “And I’m looking forward to making some new work friends. But I’ll still miss Evelyn.” She gave a rueful smile. “I’m done wallowing. Now I want to hear about Hot Hiker.”

“Yes, tell!” said Carolyn.

“First tell me about Jake,” Grace countered. “You have some big news.”

Carolyn looked down at the shiny engagement ring on her finger.

Three giant diamonds set in platinum. It was classic but modern, and so unlike everything else she owned, all of which had been in the family for generations.
A little Miami glitz to liven up Briarwood,
Jake said when he slipped it on her finger. Sure, it was glitzy, but it was perfect because Jake had given it to her.

“It’s beautiful,” Jane breathed.

“So yes, things are actually pretty great with Jake,” Carolyn said. “We’re both busy. I’m surprised there are so many events still happening at Briarwood, even with renovations. And Jake has to go back and forth from here to Miami, but I think he’s considering picking up some more properties close by so he can spend more time in Eastbridge.”

“More time here is good,” Jane said.

“Very. It’s also nice for him to be able to oversee the renovations. In fact, on Monday they’re doing the demolition of the boathouse.” She took a sip of her mimosa. “We don’t have a wedding date, but we’re working on it. You two are absolutely on the guest list. Please say you’ll come.”

“Sure,” Jane said.

Grace nodded. “Count me in.”

“I can’t believe it took us fifteen years to get back together, but it just goes to show you can’t count someone out. Never. There’s always a chance to make good.” There had to be. Otherwise, she’d never have a relationship with her own father again, and that was tough to stomach. Because despite everything they’d been through, she loved him deeply and every day she prayed that he’d let go of his greed and bitterness so they could move on.

Although Grace pretended she couldn’t care less about her folks, Jake had finally visited his dad, and Jane was getting on with her mom better than ever. To be honest, Carolyn was envious. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever see her dad outside of a courtroom again. She took another drink to clear her head of the negative thoughts and smiled at Grace. “I told about Jake. Now your reprieve is over. Come on. Inquiring minds want to know.”

To her great surprise, sophisticated Grace actually blushed. “He’s, ah, good.”

“So you’ve seen him since?” Carolyn asked.

Grace nodded.

“More than once?”

Grace nodded again, a devilish gleam in her eye.

“So coy!” Jane said. “He must be special.”

“He is.”

“Oh, my God, you’re driving me crazy,” Carolyn said. “Does Mystery Guy have a name?”

Grace smiled a little, her gap teeth peeking out between her lips. “Yes. But I’m not telling. I want to see where it goes before I start giving you guys dirty details.”

“You’ve given us
nothing,
” Jane moaned.

“Like you’re one to talk.”

Jane laughed. “You’re kidding, right? I don’t have time to date anyone. I live with my kid and my mom. I’m just trying to keep my head above water. I just lost my apartment and my job, got a new place and a new job, and I’m moving in a week. I think I’m just a little bit busy, don’t you?”

“Don’t rule it out,” Grace said. “You never know when love might strike.”

“Like on a backwoods trail in Devil’s Den?” Jane said.

“Lubricated with mimosas?” Carolyn teased.

“I’ll drink to that,” Grace said, raising her glass. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!” Jane and Carolyn echoed.

They laughed and talked and drank mimosas and ate cake and cheese until the wee hours of the morning, when Jane and Carolyn were finally sober enough to drive home. And all the while, Carolyn was thinking how lucky she was to have friends like these—women from such different backgrounds who didn’t care where she came from, only what kind of woman she was. She knew, now. And she liked the person she’d become.

Carolyn woke in the morning in Jake’s rumpled bed, wrapped in his strong arms. She yawned, shifted, and when she realized she couldn’t easily get free, resigned herself to being nestled in his warmth, and traced the string of pearls on his bicep. She’d never get over the fact that he’d marked himself for her. But that was in the past. They were both different people now. Stronger people, and being apart for so long gave more poignancy to this quiet, intimate moment.

Jake stirred and tightened his grip, so she turned her head to face him and brushed her lips over his.

He didn’t say anything. Just smiled and replied to her good morning with a toe-curling kiss, filling her heart with love and contentment.

How one man could have given her so much pain—and now give her so much pleasure—she’d never understand. But not understanding was all right. She’d made her own destiny, but sometimes it was okay to just go with the flow.

“Did you have fun last night?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, her head a little fuzzy—the aftermath of mimosas and sugary cake. “Too much.”

“Good,” he said with satisfaction. “You need friends like that.”

“Are Marc and Press like that for you?”

“Not quite,” he said wryly. “But we’re getting there.” He propped himself up on his elbow and skimmed his hand down her arm. “You’re so beautiful. Especially with this on your finger.” He held up her hand to admire his own handiwork.

“I love you, Jake,” she told him.

A smile curled on his lips. “Why don’t you show me how much?”

She spent a long while doing just that.

Later, after they were both sated, Jake leaned back on his pillow, one arm under his neck, the other arm wrapped around Carolyn. She snuggled in next to him, a hand on his chest.

He looked down at the ring again. “I want to marry you as soon as I can get Kristy and the boys up here. Joe’ll be easy to wrangle.”

“Maybe your dad, too?”

Jake pressed his lips together. “Don’t know if I’m there yet. Or even if he’ll be well enough to come.”

“It’s for you, not him.”

He nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” she said, smiling.

Jake cleared his throat, signifying he wanted to change the subject. “I’ll go by your house again this afternoon,” he said. “Make sure everything’s cool.”

“I appreciate that,” she said and kissed him on the cheek. She hadn’t been able to set foot inside after the fight with her father.

His eyes warmed. “I like your appreciation.” Then he wrapped his arms around her like he never wanted to let go. “Soon, yeah?”

“Yes, soon.”

“How quickly can your sisters get here?”

“Dani? On the next plane. Blair, I’m not so sure.”

“We could always get married at City Hall and have a party later.”

That sounded perfect. “Yes,” she said, nodding.

“Good. I know a great place to have the party. And it happens to come with the best event planner around.”

“Oh, Jake,” she sighed, just as he claimed her mouth with his.

Later that morning, Jake stood at the Briarwood docks wearing a hard hat. Marcus and Press were there, too, supervising the beginning of the demolition of the docks and boathouse. For once, Marcus wasn’t wearing a suit but sensible jeans and boots. Smart man. Press was dressed in khakis and a polo shirt, but at least he, like Marcus, was also wearing a hard hat.

This was it. The start of something huge. Briarwood hadn’t been a regatta powerhouse in many decades, and the new, state-of-the-art structures would surely draw more people to the club. At least, that’s what he was banking on. Time would tell, but he believed that the plan to build out this part of the club was sound.

The plans for the new structures looked good, and honestly, he wouldn’t be sorry to see the old ones go. Although he wasn’t being entirely fair. They were steeped in memories, but not all of them were bad. Why, there was the broken board on the side of the building where he and another caddy filling in for the boat staff had jammed a Sunfish while pulling it up a little too hard from the beach. At the edge of the dock was where he’d kissed Caro one beautiful starlit night. And, of course, under the dock was where he and Caro had been interrupted by the Eastbridge Police Department.

“We ready to go?” Jake asked.

“Yes,” Marcus confirmed. “Let me give the go-ahead.”

“Do it,” Press said.

Marc gave a nod to the foreman, who signaled for his crew to begin. There was nothing like this—the anticipation just before a job was about to start. The demo crew made sure everyone was clear—the people standing on the beach, the boaters in the water—and then flicked a switch. There was a huge boom, then boards and dust went flying in all directions as the boathouse went down.

Smiling with satisfaction, Jake, Press, and Marc all shook hands. The next stage in their venture had begun.

Something made Jake turn, and there, behind the safety fence, stood Carolyn. Excusing himself from his friends, he made his way over to her.

She looked up at him, flushed and pleased. “I had a break, so I came to watch.”

Jake pulled off his work glove and fingered her necklace. “You’re wearing your pearls again,” he said.

“They feel right.” She held up her hand, and the ring he’d gotten for her sparkled in the sunlight. “And so does this.”

He bent his head to kiss her, and a surge of pride swept through him. His woman wearing his ring. There was nothing sweeter in the whole world than that.