Foolish Games(70)

“You mean he hasn’t called you?” Patricia stared at her in disbelief.

“Oh, he’s called me.” In fact, they’d spent nearly an hour on the phone just last night. “It’s just that this is his time with Sophie. She’s his first priority right now.”

Patricia blew out a puff of air. “He was supposed to be spending time with Sophie when they were here, and he made time for you. Don’t make excuses for him. Too bad. I really thought he was more interested than it sounds.”

“He is,” Annabeth whispered. “He wants me to come to Baltimore when he gets back.”

Patricia leaned closer, a sly grin on her face. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Stop holding out on me, Annabeth.”

“I’m not sure I should go. Or even continue this. It wouldn’t be fair to him.”

“What are you talking about? He’s a fabulous guy.” Patricia ticked off on her fingers. “Single, decent job, devoted father, and really good-looking with all his teeth and hair.”

Annabeth laughed. “You sound like Julianne.”

“How’s the sex?”

“Patricia!” Annabeth quickly glanced around the room, but no one was paying attention to their conversation. “We . . . there wasn’t . . . Sophie was here with him, for goodness’ sakes!”

Her friend rolled her eyes. Annabeth felt awkward even having this conversation. Patricia was almost ten years her senior, with five children and a marriage that had spanned nearly thirty years. The widowed innkeeper was also rumored to be involved with Chances Inlet’s newly elected sheriff, a man five years her junior. Clearly, Patricia had no trouble maintaining a relationship with a man, while Annabeth was floundering around in uncharted territory.

Patricia squeezed Annabeth’s hand. “I see what the problem is. Sweetie, you’re a beautiful woman. Don’t be intimidated by those perky little twenty-somethings parading themselves on the beach. If Hank wanted that, well, he could have it. But he wants you!”

Annabeth buried her face in her hands, unsure whether to laugh or cry at Patricia’s attempt to buoy her confidence. The fact was, it wasn’t Annabeth’s body image that bothered her; she knew she was still attractive. Good eating habits and regular exercise kept her in great shape. And Hank’s interest had been apparent every time she was in his arms.

It was what would happen after sex that scared her. After he realized she was nothing more than a high school–educated girl from the trailer park. She couldn’t compete with the women in his social sphere. Not intellectually, anyway. It was that fear that kept her tethered to Chances Inlet.

“Annabeth.” Patricia pried her hand away from her face. “Look at me. I’ve always admired your resolve and your resiliency. You raised a fabulous son with very little help and even less money. And now you’re a successful businesswoman. All my life, I’ve had the protection of a man to help me. First my father and then Donald. Being alone scared me to death. But you survived it, and since Donald’s death, I’ve looked to you for inspiration.”

Annabeth was too flattered by her friend’s admission to speak.

“Now, though, you’ve got a chance at a happiness you can’t even fathom. It’s really nice to have someone to share things with, Annabeth. Don’t shortchange yourself on this opportunity. Take a risk on Hank. If it doesn’t work out, you have a safe place to land, right back here in Chances Inlet. This will always be your home.”

The mayor called the meeting to order, and Annabeth didn’t have a chance to respond to Patricia. She wasn’t even sure she could respond. It would be a big risk to take her relationship with Hank to the next level. One that could not only affect her son’s career, but her attachment to Sophie if things didn’t work out. Unfortunately, the thought of not having Hank in her life frightened her just as much.

• • •

Julianne sat on the bench swing located along the perimeter of the small boardwalk in downtown Chances Inlet. Most of the tourists swam at the public beaches located farther out on the island, but a few families with young children strolled along the shoreline eating ice cream and dodging the waves. Will waded up to his ankles, Owen on his shoulder. Julianne gripped the chain on the swing, her knuckles white. She knew her fear was irrational, but that didn’t make it any easier. The sea had swept away the mother she loved. It could just as easily do the same with the other two people she loved most in the world: Owen and Will.

Until this morning’s trip to the trailer park, she hadn’t admitted to herself that she loved Will. She’d desperately tried not to involve her heart in their relationship. But he’d finally started to let her in, sharing a piece of his past with her. Will was a fiercely private man, one who didn’t want others to know any of his weaknesses. The shame he felt about his upbringing was totally unfounded in her opinion, but he believed it. Her heart had ached for the boy he once was, convinced the world was against him. It also swelled with pride at how he’d used his brain and his brawn to build a better life for himself and Annabeth.