The Beach House (8 page)

“Intuition.”

“Ahh. That is your forte.”

“Well, also there was the recent family photo she brought along.” Char smiled at his laughter. “Which only proved what I had already intuited! I’m sure by Andie not taking care of herself she has pushed him away. She used to be so pretty and certain of herself. I just do not understand what happens to some women after they marry.”

“Maybe Paul’s the culprit. You know what cads we men are. Not there for you in the way you expect us to be.”

“Now, Todd, sugar, don’t you go beating yourself up all over again. She left you because she was foolish.” Char referred to his ex-wife, who had divorced him nine months ago, declaring that after fifteen years she no longer loved him. “What woman wouldn’t give her eyeteeth to be the wife of a successful software designer who bakes a mean chocolate chip cookie and attends PTA meetings? Whose kids adore him? Who is kind and considerate, not to mention good-looking? As a matter of fact, some would even say the best-looking guy on the block.”

“Now you’re getting carried away.”

“It’s true!” She emphasized her words, teasing him out of the gloom that settled about him at times. He had probably talked with his ex that day. “We voted last week, Laura, Maci, Sondra, and I. You won, hands down.”

“I’m sure you did not, but thank you for the encouragement.”

“My pleasure, Todd. Well, I should get back inside. My roommates will be worried.”

“Good talking with you, Char.”

“Back at you. Toodle-oo.”

“See you.”

Char folded up the phone and crossed her arms. Conversing with Todd never failed to make her feel somehow more womanly. Even if she and the other neighbors hadn’t actually voted, everyone agreed he was the best-looking guy on the block, probably within several square blocks. But more than that, he was just downright fun. Outspoken and impertinent, yet outlandishly good-hearted. He connected with her in ways she wasn’t sure her husband ever had. When Todd announced that his wife wanted a divorce, Char wailed on the spot. Her tears were misinterpreted as empathetic when in reality she was sickened at the thought of him moving. What would she do without him right next door?

In the end he got the house and remained her neighbor. Most of the time he had his two children as well. When he was in town, he worked from home, a situation that made him more available to their daily needs than did his ex’s career schedule.

And so life went on. The fact that Todd Brooks was—technically speaking—free and clear did not really change things. After all, Char—technically speaking—was not free and clear. Their friendship remained more platonic than flirty and, aside from midnight calls, in the open.

But there were moments when she wanted to gobble him right up in a most unladylike manner.

“Evening, Char.”

She jerked to attention and saw the neighbor approaching. “Julian! Hi there!”

“I startled you. I’m sorry.” He stopped in front of her. “I thought you were looking right at me.”

“I probably was.” She laughed. “But my mind was a million miles away.”

“Cell phones have that effect.” He glanced at the phone in her hand. “I hope everything is all right?”

“What?”

“It’s so late. When I noticed you talking, I thought something might be wrong.”

“Oh. No. Everything is fine. Just fine.” Fine with Todd. Fine with Savannah, whom she’d phoned first. “My daughter forgot to call me after her volleyball game.” Forgot or deliberately chose not to? “And I forgot to call earlier this evening. I tell you, I feel like I’m in three different worlds, and it’s wreaking havoc on my cognitive skills. I’m there in Chicago with my family. I’m here in a time zone two hours behind myself. Then there’s all the reminiscing with my old friends, which puts me right back in high school! Whew! I’m not sure if I should comb my watch or wind my hair.”

He chuckled. “Did her team win the volleyball game?”

“Yes. And guess who scored the winning point with a perfect spike?”

“Your daughter.”

“Of course. Ha! Aren’t I the nauseatingly proud mama!”

“As you should be.”

“Do you have children?”

“They’re grown and live in the East.”

“Just you and your wife live here then?”

“I’m single.”

“So is Jo! The tall, slender, lighter brown-haired one. She’s a doctor in Del Mar.”

“Ahh. And you are the shorter, married one from Chicago.”

“Yes. Cam is a dentist. We’ve been married seventeen years.”

“That’s a long time nowadays, isn’t it? And to think you still have middle-of-the-night, long-distant tête-à-têtes. I am encouraged. Romance lives.”

“Tête-à-têtes!” As if by spontaneous combustion, she felt her hair roots burst aflame. “In the first place, I was not talking to Cam. He’s never awake at this hour. He didn’t even leave a message on my voice mail. He doesn’t talk on the phone unless there’s an emergency with a patient.” Why the overwhelming urge to explain details to this man? “I was talking with my neighbor, and it was by no means a tête-à-tête! Goodness, we’re just friends. He’s just gone through a horrible divorce. Our sons are friends. They were all at the game. Sorry to disappoint you, but as far as my experience goes, romance after seventeen years is pie in the sky.”

“I’m sure there’s hope. Cam isn’t dead, is he?”

“Close enough. Professionally he goes by his initials, C.P. They stand for Camden Pierce Wilcox the Third or Couch Potato. Take your pick.” Oh, her tongue was in waggle mode!

“Have courage, Char. Even couch potatoes breathe. Do you know what I see when I look at you? An attractive, delightful blonde with an irresistible zest for life. Somewhere in old Cam’s heart lingers a yearning to have a tête-à-tête with you.”

No response came to her tongue, she was in that much of a tizzy.

He tilted his head in a gentlemanly nod. “Just a little neighborly encouragement. Goodnight. Sleep well.” With that he sauntered away.

Of all the…! Cam had a yearning? Julian thought her irresistible? Was that supposed to be a compliment? More likely he meant it was her fault Cam didn’t reveal his heart. If only she tried hard enough, she could coax that yearning right out of him.

Yeah, right.

Julian didn’t know the first thing about Cam. Any yearning her husband might have possessed died some time ago. He had earned his moniker all by himself: Couch Potato. Oval-shaped and lifeless.

Forget Julian. She’d better warn Jo to stay clear of the meddling fool.

Andie sat in the living room with Molly, watching the embers glow, reluctant to end the evening. She was feeling like that bold mouse again, the one who’d seen the cat make its exit. Not only had the corner been rounded, several steps had been taken away from the wall. It was time to explore, not sleep.

Besides that, Char was outside, alone in the dark. Molly had revealed bumpy times with Scott. And Jo slept in one of the bedrooms, hopefully the result of exhaustion and not alcohol.

“Andie,” Molly said, breaking the quiet. “I hate to ask you to work on your vacation, but I would love a reflexology treatment from you. Do you think we could fit one in?”

“Oh, Molly, of course! I meant to offer that to all of you. It just slipped my mind.”

“I still miss Grandmère Babette working on my feet. It balanced me somehow. If old lady hormones are like adolescent ones, maybe you can get me off this teeter-totter. At least for the week.” She smiled. “I can’t find a reflexologist in Port Dunmore.”

“It’s not exactly a well-known practice.”

The door opened and Char breezed inside, her cheeks flushed.

“Thank goodness.” Andie exhaled in relief. “I was worried.”

Char shook a finger. “Now, now, Andrea, honey. We are grown women. Promise you will not worry about me every time I step outside this door.”

“I guess it’s just a mother’s habit.” Not to mention other things, like it being after midnight in a strange city with every manner of weirdo scarcely three steps the other side of their patio. Who knew? Maybe those people were
on
their patio right now.

Char smiled. “We are such hovering hens, aren’t we? I finally got hold of my daughter. Now I can sleep. I woke her up, but since no one bothered to return my messages or call me after the game, I don’t think that matters a whole lot, do you? There are consequences to ignoring Mom.”

Andie said, “My boys would never hear the phone in their sleep or bother to pick it up if they did.”

“It’s a girl thing. Savannah sleeps with her cell. Actually, it’s the best time to talk with her, she’s so mellow. She even forgot to call me a flaming fossil!”

Molly chuckled. “I’m taking notes for when my girls become teenagers.”

“You’ll have three at the same time!” Char laughed. “Good luck! Well, I’m off to bed. See you in the morning.”

They bid her goodnight.

Andie felt an old worry wriggle into the area reserved for Char. The concern wasn’t specific, like when Char went outdoors. It was more a vague unease. Her friend’s bouncy, carefree attitude had landed her in trouble on several occasions when they were young. How was it she hadn’t matured out of that? How did her husband cope with the disordered wake she left? Come to think of it, she hadn’t talked much about him. Hardly a mention. Then there was Molly’s news, or half news, rather.

“Molly, what you said earlier about you and Scott?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Are you two all right?”

Her lips lifted in a quick smile. “We’re redefining ‘us.’ It’s quite an adjustment for me to be working outside the home. Even though that’s only a few days a week subbing, it has been a major change for everyone not to have me in control of family details. It was a rude awakening for Scott. But, yeah, we’re all right.” She paused. “Whenever you want to talk about Paul, I’m here for you.”

Andie’s throat tightened, and she blinked rapidly to clear her vision. “Oh, Molly. I was so afraid you’d just tell me to get out from under the pile.”

She winced. “I really used to say that, didn’t I?”

“All the time.” She giggled at Molly’s expression. “It’s okay. We were young.”

“I am sorry.”

“But it truly helped sometimes. I mean, it was what we needed to hear.”

“I still apologize for my youthful insensitivity. Let me say as gently as possible that our only hope is in Christ.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I just can’t figure out what that means in practical terms.”

“Pray. And I’ll pray for you. Do you want to tell me where to start?”

She shrugged. “I worry—no, it’s more than that. I’m afraid. I’m afraid of life. Kind of a huge topic, isn’t it? It’s like this: Not a moment goes by that I’m not fearful of something.”

Molly’s eyes grew wide.

“Go ahead.” Andie fluttered her hand, making light of her words. “Tell me to get out from under the pile.”

“Andie, I’m not thinking that at all. It’s just difficult for me to fathom not having a moment free from worry. What’s disturbing you right now? Right now this very moment?”

“That’s an easy one. I’m afraid Char’s devil-may-care attitude will get her into trouble like it always used to. I’m afraid Jo will start drinking. That maybe she never really truly stopped. I’m afraid I will use up every ounce of your patience. And mostly I’m afraid that while I’m away Paul will neglect the boys and spend more time with…” She swallowed twice. “His girlfriend.” There, she’d said it out loud, in a matter-of-fact tone.
His girlfriend
. Her heart thudded…but she still breathed.

“Oh, honey. I am so sorry. How awful for you.”

Andie accepted her sympathy with a nod, and they looked at one another in silence.

Molly said, “All those things you listed that frighten you, they’re things you cannot possibly control. Those are the things we learn to let go of, to let God handle. I wonder, what are you afraid of for yourself?”

“For myself?” She thought about it. She was still breathing… “That I’d die on the spot if I admitted that about Paul. If I said ‘girlfriend’ out loud.”

“And you didn’t die on the spot.”

“No, I didn’t.” She let out a breath of satisfaction. “One down, a zillion to go.”