Beach Rental(90)
“You like one sugar and one cream, right?”
“Good memory. It’s been how long?”
“Only a couple of months.” She put water on to boil and got the cup and saucer ready. “That question you asked? I put it aside long ago. In fact, I was too quick to flare up. I think I was looking for a way to escape something I wasn’t ready for.”
“The pregnancy?”
“No,” she shook her head, “a new relationship. When you were helping me after Ben died, we were getting too close, too fast. When I found out about the baby….”
He gave her that sidelong look again, then focused on her face as if determined to avoid seeing the bulge, which, Juli acknowledged, grew more impressive every day.
She poured herself a glass of fruit juice. She set it on the table and then went back to finish fixing Luke’s coffee. “Here you go.”
She was glad to see him sitting there. She’d missed him.
“You’re doing okay here?”
“I’m wonderful.”
He looked surprised.
“I mean it. I miss Ben, but he left me so much. I don’t mean money and a house. He left me ideas. Dreams. The ability to hope for better and have a reasonable chance to achieve them.”
His expression softened. “Ben was a special guy. He had a good heart. Are you having any problems? Like being here alone? Or with Frank Bowman?”
Had he heard something? From Maia, maybe? “I’m okay. Really.”
“Have you considered talking to the police?”
“About Frankie? He’s annoying, but he hasn’t done anything. I feel vulnerable now because of the pregnancy; otherwise, I don’t think I’d be worried.”
Luke said, “I’ve been thinking. I’m not sure of your feelings, of how you feel about me, but in the interest of your safety and well-being, I want to say this. I’ve given it a lot of—”
She interrupted, “Luke, stop.” She wanted to reach out and touch his face, his hair. She wanted to encourage him. But as Ben had been between them before, now Ben’s child was there, not only visibly, but emotionally.
“Come stay at my house. There’s plenty of room and you’ll be safe there.”
Her disappointment surprised her. She hadn’t wanted him to propose marriage, but she hadn’t considered he might simply invite her to move in with him. A roomie? So much for romance. But she didn’t want that, right? And Luke had never expressed an interest in romance. Important to remember.
“I’m fine here.” Never mind disappointment. In fact, she was relieved he hadn’t made a more personal proposal, and she was glad she hadn’t said more, hadn’t made herself look foolish.
He started to speak again and she raised her hand. “Please. I don’t want to argue about it. Thank you for your concern. It’s kind of you, but I’m good.”
“Is it because this was Ben’s house? You feel closer to him here?”
A lot of words passed through her head, but she kept her lips together until she found the right ones. “I’m staying here because this is my home.”
He pulled his wallet from his jacket pocket and withdrew a business card. He placed the card on the table. “All of my contact numbers are here. I know you already have them, but I want you to keep them handy. Please call me if you have any trouble. Or about anything.”
She shook her head after he left. What was that about? Maybe, like her, he’d felt badly about how their last meeting had ended. Perhaps he wanted closure.
Juli climbed the stairs and stood in the middle of the nursery. The yellow was cheerful, but the room was almost empty. Maybe it was time to choose the new furniture. Maia would be thrilled.
****
The phone rang two weeks later and Luke asked, “Would you go with me to the Chocolate Festival?”
She knew about the Carolina Chocolate Festival. It was an annual event on the Crystal Coast, held conveniently a week or two before Valentine’s Day, for local fundraising.
“Go with you?”
“On a date, Juli. I’m asking you out. Will you go with me tomorrow?”
Juli rubbed her belly. She was more than six months along. Should she go? The baby kicked as if it had six legs—bump, bump, bump around her belly. Enthusiastic was the only way she could interpret the movement.
“What time will you pick me up?”
There was a tiny pause and when Luke spoke, his voice was lighter, more energetic.
“The Civic Center in Morehead City opens at nine a.m., but there’s no need to be out so early. We could go about noon, then have an early supper after.”
****
She couldn’t blame anyone for looking at the two of them—Luke, tall, handsome, with a light in his eyes and a lilt in his voice, a protective arm sometimes around her, sometimes entwined in her own arm—no one could blame anyone for thinking they were together and in love. Everyone, and every chocolatier at every booth, looked at them, then looked at her belly, and smiled as if they knew their secret and were happy for them.