The Siren's Call (Last Chance Motel Book 3) (4 page)

When Jenny didn’t respond as she raked, River walked away.

He felt uneasy and restless. When had he become so old that a simple kayak excursion had resulted in a rescue boat being sent out to fetch him?

River had been surprised and embarrassed when Eva had come after him. He was angry, too. He knew his daughter had reacted out of concern and love, but River now felt like less a man and more like a child.

And he didn’t like it.

M
ary also helped at the Pink Flamingo on the weekends. Saturday mornings were always busy for Eva, so Mary did what she could to ease the workload at the motel. She was in the laundry room when she spied River Egan talking while her granddaughter raked the sand.

After River walked back to his bungalow, Mary went over to Jenny. “What did Mr. Egan want, Jenny?”

“He said he was sorry for causing trouble.”

“Is that all?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I think it was very nice of Mr. Egan to apologize, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

Mary sensed that Jenny didn’t want to talk anymore, so she went back to the laundry room, where she sorted sheets until she saw River emerge from his bungalow and take charge of a hammock stationed between two palm trees.

She checked the washing machines and then loaded the dryers before she headed over to where River was happily munching on a breakfast sandwich.

“Hello,” said Mary.

“Good morning,” replied River, trying to stand up from the rocking hammock.

“Don’t get up,” said Mary. “I just wanted to thank you for apologizing to Jenny. Most adults are not sensitive to children’s feelings.”

“I’m afraid I made a muck-up of things yesterday.”

“I think too much was made of it, don’t you?”

River gave Mary a big smile. “I was thinking the same. When did I start needing a baby-sitter?”

Mary laughed. “I know the feeling.”

“You have a nice smile, you know that?”

Mary scowled. “Do you always have to say such things?”

“Let’s turn that frown upside down. I’ll quit saying such things if you’ll agree to have dinner with me.”

“Staff is not allowed to fraternize with the guests. Eva is very strict about that.”

“Now, Mary, that doesn’t apply to you, and you know it. You’re not staff, you’re family. Look, I hear there’s a great seafood restaurant right across the street, down by the ocean.”

Mary shook her head.

“Come on. I’m single. I’m charming. I’ll wear something appropriate so I won’t embarrass you. I can converse on a number of subjects. I won’t spend the evening talking about myself like most men do. And I’ll pay.”

“You’ll pay? One of the last of the big-time spenders, huh?”

River’s face broke into a wide grin. “What have you got to lose? You might even have fun. C’mon, surprise yourself.”

Mary was tempted. Since Mike had married Eva, Mary spent most of her evenings alone, and she was tired of watching television and working in her garden to span the lonely hours. “All right. I’ll meet you at Aussie Jack’s at eight tonight.”

River clapped his hands. “That’s the ticket. Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“Mr. Egan, may I make a request?”

“Sure. Anything.”

“Will you please shave?”

River rubbed the stubble on his face. “A small sacrifice to make for a man’s ladylove.”

Mary snorted.

“Too much?”

“Yeah, a little too thick.”

“I’ll tone it down.”

“Um, I wish you would.”

“Consider it done.”

Mary glanced at the laundry room. “I have to get back to work. See you tonight.”

“Eight o’clock, then,” River confirmed.

“Sharp.”

“I’ll be there. Oh, and Mary, remember–it’s River.”

Watching Mary return to the laundry room, River felt better than he had in ages. He liked her, and he hadn’t “liked” a woman in a long time.

Now he just had to figure out a way to sneak away from his overprotective daughter.

“I
can’t believe you climbed out a window!!” laughed Mary. She and River were finishing their meal at Aussie Jack’s.

“I told my family I was tired and going to bed early, and then snuck out my bedroom window.”

“But why?” Mary asked.

“Because I’d get a lot of questions. Where am I going? Who am I going to meet? When will I be home? Blah, blah, blah. I mean, I diapered that woman, and now she’s treating me like a child.”

“Once a man, twice a child is how the saying goes.” Mary looked out the window for a moment. “When did we get so old?” she asked, turning back and looking intently at River.

River sighed. “That’s just the thing. I don’t feel old. Do you?”

“I still feel like I’m sixteen.”

“Me, too. I’m in good health. I’m strong. I can’t do the things I used to do when I was twenty, but then I sure know a heck of a lot of things now I wish I’d known at twenty.”

Mary teased, “Like what?”

“Like realizing when I have a good woman sitting in front of me.”

“Phsaw, there you go again. I told you not to lay it on thick,” warned Mary, looking for their waitress. She wanted more coffee.

She caught Lillian’s eye. In addition to working for Eva, Lillian still worked weekend shifts at Aussie Jack’s.

Lillian hurried over with a coffee pot and filled Mary’s cup.

River put his hand over his cup while scrutinizing Lillian. “Hey, don’t you work for the Pink Flamingo?”

“Yes. I have the privilege of working both places.”

River hitched a thumb toward Mary. “Well then, you know me. Tell this gal I’m not Blackbeard, will ya?”

Lillian grinned. “I think she knows that, Mr. Egan. Sorry, gotta go,” she said when Aussie Jack motioned to her.

“So much for a personal testimonial,” quipped River.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“I don’t want to talk about myself. I’m boring, just plain vanilla, through and through,” mocked River.

“I find that hard to believe. Go on,” insisted Mary.

“Okay. Remember that you asked. I’m a widower.”

“You mentioned that you are single.”

“My wife died three years ago of cancer.”

“I’m sorry. My husband died early, too.”

“Then you know how it is.”

Mary nodded. “Yes, I know how it is.”

“I thought it was bad when my parents died, but when my wife passed away, it was like I couldn’t breathe.”

Mary took a sip of coffee before responding. “When your spouse dies, your entire way of life dies with them.”

“Yeah, that’s it. Talk about havin’ the rug pulled out from underneath you. I felt I kind of died with my wife. I have money and the house is paid for. My health is good, knock on wood . . . but there’s no joy. No one to share things with, even the little things. Nothing to look forward to. Just routine, routine, routine.”

“Keeping busy,” added Mary, studying her hands. She stared at the wedding ring still on the left hand. “That’s what everyone tells you. Keep busy, and don’t think about how much you’ve lost.”

River nodded. “But people like us have got many good years left. I don’t know about you, but I want to have fun. I want there to be some purpose, but I’m struggling.”

“What about your grandson?”

“That brat? Can’t stand the kid. My daughter has ruined him.”

Mary burst out laughing and covered her mouth with a napkin. “Really?”

River reared back in his chair and let out a belly laugh that filled the entire restaurant. “The kid’s a jerk.”

“I think you’re exaggerating just a bit,” Mary said. She was shocked by River’s attitude toward his grandson, but couldn’t help but think that his remarks were funny, too. She thought River had a delightful sense of humor.

River shook his head while placing his hand over his heart. “I swear I’ve tried everything with him, but my daughter just comes behind me and undoes all my good work, so I gave up. I wouldn’t be surprised if my grandson ends up breaking rocks in Sing Sing someday. She thinks the sun rises and sets on that boy. No good can come from that kind of attitude. He’s not like your Jenny. Now, she’s a good kid.”

Mary concurred, “Jenny is a good kid. She’s been going through a rough patch lately, but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“How do you mean?” River asked.

“The fact that she went kayaking by herself.”

“I heard that Jenny got into trouble over that.”

“Yes and no.”

“Was it me that got her in Dutch with her parents?”

“I guess I can tell you this, since it’s common knowledge. Jenny has been terrified of seawater ever since her mother died in a hurricane several years back. Jenny and her mother were in a car together, trying to get off the island, when a freak wave overturned their car and Beth drowned.

“Only Jenny could be saved in time. Since then, Jenny has been terribly afraid of the ocean and storms. She won’t even set foot on a boat.”

“Poor little thing. I naturally assumed Eva was her mother.”

“Stepmother. She and my son recently married. Jenny’s mother, Beth, was Mike’s first wife.”

“I see,” replied River, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. “But she went kayaking on her own, and she didn’t seem afraid when I ran into her beaching the kayak.”

“Yes. That’s what’s so puzzling. Mike had a long talk with her, and Jenny told him she wasn’t afraid of the water in the bay–only the water on the other side of the island. It was from water on the eastern side of the Key that the wave arose and capsized their car, and Jenny must remember that.”

Mary smiled at River. “When she came back from kayaking, how did she seem?”

River thought back. “Very self-possessed. Confident. Like she’d been a water baby all her life.”

“So she didn’t appear to be upset or frightened?”

“Nope. She seemed a little preoccupied, but that was all. Didn’t think anything about it. Most kids that age have the attention span of a gnat.”

“Yet you asked her to give your daughter a message.”

“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.” River leaned back and raised both arms. “Mea culpa. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“It’s over now and best forgotten. Speaking of over, it’s getting late. I expect you should sneak back into your room before your daughter discovers our absence and calls out the National Guard. Thank you very much. It’s been a lovely evening.” Mary gathered her pursed and rose from the table.

River stood up as well and threw down a wad of bills on the table to cover the tab. “Now, wait a minute. Don’t brush me off like that.”

Mary walked off quickly, but River hurried after her. Catching up with her in the parking lot, River impulsively grabbed her arm and swung Mary around. “Hey! I thought we were having a good time.”

Mary glared angrily at River’s hand on her arm and then into his face.

River swallowed and then loosened his grip.

Mary replied, “We were having a good time. Too much of a good time. It’s time to call it quits.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Let me put it to you plainly. You’re on vacation. You’re bored and trying to stir up a little excitement. Yes, I had a nice time. That’s why this ends tonight. In a week or so you’ll be gone, but I will still be here, and frankly, I don’t want to be thinking about you after you’ve gone back home–home to your life. I don’t want to be used, Mr. Egan.”

River pushed his hands into his pants pockets and grinned. “So you like me that much, eh?”

“Good night, Mr. Egan.”

“Now hold on a doggone minute. You’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not using anybody. I met you. I like you. I think you like me. Why can’t two adult people spend some time together if they so desire?”

Tears burned Mary’s eyes. “Don’t you get it? You’ll leave, and I will have lost someone special in my life again. I don’t think my heart can take it.”

She turned and ran to her car, leaving River standing in the parking lot.

As he stood there watching Mary drive away, River was undaunted. In fact, he had an extra bounce in his step as he whistled on his way back to the Pink Flamingo Motel, aka the Last Chance Motel. He knew how to romance a skittish filly. Tomorrow he would find out where Mary lived and send her flowers–lots of red roses.

Mary might not want to take a chance on love, but River did, and he was going to make Mary see things his way. He wasn’t sure how this was going to play out, but if Jenny could conquer her fears of the ocean and go kayaking, Mary could face her fears and love again.

After all, life was for the living, not the dead.

R
iver was enjoying his nap in the hammock when he felt a tug on his arm. “What is it?” he murmured as he slowly opened his eyes to see Jenny peering closely into his face.

“I was wondering if you want to go kayaking again?” asked Jenny. “Kayaking with me, I mean.”

“I suppose. Um, why would you want me to go kayaking with you?”

“Because I want to go, but I need an adult to go with me. My dad made me promise.”

“What about your stepmother?”

“She’s busy. Eva’s always got lots of stuff to do.”

River though hard for a moment. It would impress Mary if he helped Jenny overcome her fear of the water. On the other hand, if he took Jenny out and something went amiss, he would get the blame, and Mary would despise him for his involvement. What to do? What to do?

“Mr. Egan?”

“Hush, child. I’m trying to think here.” After a few pensive moments while Jenny shuffled sand around with her feet, waiting for River to make a decision, he said, “Here. Help me out of this hammock.”

Jenny pulled with all her might, and finally Mr. Egan landed on his feet.

“You go tell your stepmother that you and I are going kayaking and make sure you tell her where we will be going.”

“Aww, do I have to?”

“You wouldn’t want her to worry, would you? It’s the polite thing to do.”

“Wait here for me,” begged Jenny before she ran to find Eva.

A few minutes later, Jenny and Eva emerged from the office. Jenny ran over to the kayaks while Eva headed for River.

“Mr. Egan,” smiled Eva. “Are you sure you want to go out again? You certainly aren’t obligated to be Jenny’s keeper. I’m sure my husband will be home early enough today to take her out for a little bit.”