Lois Richer - Apple Blossom Bride

“I’ve lost count.”

“You don’t want to go back to your old job?” Michael studied her.

“Maybe. Sometime.” Ashley kept her face expressionless as she scrambled for excuses. The intensity of his stare was unnerving. “I need a break first. I’d been working nonstop for ages. It feels good to relax, putter around a bit. And Piper’s a peach for letting me come here. There’s nowhere like the Bay for reorienting yourself.”

“Mmm.” Michael tilted his head to one side, shrugged. “I guess.”

She watched him closely, framing her next words with care.

“You probably thought the same thing yourself. I mean, isn’t that why you’ve come back, after all these years? To start over with your daughter?”

“I guess you could say that.”

If she hadn’t been watching Ashley might have missed his wince. As it was, she couldn’t help but wonder what had caused it and why he was staring at her as if she held some secret he needed.

“Anyway, I’ll probably leave in a couple of weeks.”

“But you have to be here for our wedding, Ash,” Piper protested. “You and Row are my bridesmaids and I’m not getting married without either of you. I’ve got your dresses all picked out.” She threaded her fingers through Jason’s, her engagement ring flashing its fire. “Christmas isn’t all that far off, you know.”

Michael choked on his coffee. One look at his face and Ashley burst into laughter.

“What is so funny?” Piper asked.

“Apparently you’re not the only one who’s looking forward to Christmas,” Ashley told her.

“Or thinking about fancy dresses,” Michael added.

“Oh.” A furrow appeared across Piper’s forehead. She glanced from him to Ashley, then shrugged. “I’ll assume it’s a private joke.”

“It is,” Ashley assured her.

Michael winked at her, then rose.

“I’d better get going,” he told her, holding out one hand to Ashley. “Walk me to my car?”

She could hardly refuse. Ashley placed her hand in his and rose. “I thought you said you had Friday evenings free?”

“I do. I gave my students a test last week and promised I’d have their marks ready on Monday. People think teaching is nine to three but they have no idea about the overtime.”

“I guess not.”

“Thanks for hosting me, Piper. And Jason, anytime you want another dinner guest, give me a call.”

“Will do.” Jason and Piper stood together, arms wrapped around each other’s waists. “You know you’re welcome. Bring Tatiana next time.”

“We’ll see.” He walked toward the door. Ashley followed. “Good night,” he said as he stepped outside. “Thanks again.”

They waved. Ashley walked with him to his car without saying anything. Dusk had fallen. Across the road, some sixty feet away, a doe and her fawn were enjoying an evening lunch on a patch of grass. She touched his arm, pointed.

Michael watched for a while. Then he faced her.

“It was a great meal,” he said. “I enjoyed talking to you. Are you sure you won’t have dinner with me sometime, so I can repay your generosity?”

She shook her head, smiled. “I don’t think so. But thank you.”

“Why?”

The bald question took her by surprise.

“Because.”

“That’s not an answer.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, kicked at a stone on the ground before meeting her gaze.

“I’m not trying to trap you into anything, Ashley. I’m not looking for anything more than a friend I can talk to.” He shrugged. “Tati’s great but sometimes it’s nice to talk to another adult, discuss something other than her friend Wanda at day care.”

She smiled at the frustration that gilded his voice.

“I’m sure there are lots of adults you can talk to.”

“But not you?”

She shrugged. “I won’t be here that long. I’m going to spend some time helping Piper while I search for another job.” She struggled to explain. “I’m sure your mother told you I broke off my engagement recently. I guess what I’m saying is that I need time to put my world back together again.”

He nodded, his dark eyes melting with empathy.

“Believe me, I understand that.” He thrust out his hand. “If you get a moment and want to talk, phone me.”

“And you’ll make time in that busy schedule of yours?” she murmured as her fingers slid into his.

He held her hand, stared down at it cradled in his bigger rougher one, then looked at her. Ashley stared into his eyes, unsure if the zip of current she felt was only her imagination.

“I’ll make time for you,” he answered quietly. He lifted her hand, brushed his lips against her knuckles. “Good night, beautiful. I hope we cross paths again soon.”

Then he was gone and Ashley was left with the imprint of his lips on her skin. But it wasn’t only that he’d touched her physically. Something in her spirit recognized that he was seeking solace, just as she was.

She didn’t understand how or why she knew that, but Michael Masters’s effect on her was no different than the first time she’d visited the Louvre. Her knees were weak, her palms damp and she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

Sort of like a panic attack. Only better.

All the more reason to stay away from him.

“Will you get me another mommy?”

Michael jerked out of his thoughts, found Tati staring at Carissa’s picture in the silver frame he’d placed on a shelf in her room. He regrouped quickly, picked up his daughter and hugged her.

“I don’t know if I can do that, sweetheart.”

“’Cause my mommy was special.” Tati nodded like a wise owl. “I know. She danced the best Swan Lake.”

She never failed to amaze him. “How do you know about Swan Lake?”

“Wanda.” Tati’s busy fingers brushed through his hair. “She said her mom didn’t believe my mommy was a ballerina so she looked on the Internet. Wanda’s mom said my mommy had rave reviews. Are rave reviews good, Daddy?”

“I’m very sure they are,” he murmured, kissing her cheek. But they didn’t compare to holding your child in your arms. “Did you get all your toys put away?”

“Uh-huh. Can we go to the Dairy Shack now?”

“We can.” He swirled her around until the giggles he loved to hear burst out of her, then he set her down. “How about getting your jacket?”

“Daddy.” Her eyes brimmed with scorn. “It’s boiling outside.”

“It is now,” he agreed, brushing her nose with his fingertip. “But it might not be so warm on the water later.”

Tati squealed with delight. “We’re going on a boat?”

He nodded. “The houseboat. Like we had for Granny’s birthday, remember? We’ve been invited to go for a ride with Piper and Jason.”

Her face glowed with excitement, but she said nothing more, simply headed for her room and her sweater. Moments later they were on the road and Michael was fielding her incessant questions, punctuated by expressions of delight. Tati would finally have something interesting to talk about at show and tell.

“Can I catch a fish?”

“I don’t know, honey. We’ll have to see.”

“I hope it’s a giant fish. A whale.”

“We don’t have whales in Serenity Bay, honey.”

“It could happen,” she insisted stubbornly then turned to stare out the window. “Wanda says lots of strange things happen.”

Wanda would know. Michael drove through the shedding trees, crunching over dry red and gold leaves toward the ice cream shop. His mind grappled with the same old problem. Assuming he could get some pieces finished by next summer, how and where could he arrange a showing? And was that God’s will or his own?