"You took kids to Utah?"
"No. We started trying to find places that we could teach them canoeing and kayaking around here." They'd scavenged up used canoes and kayaks as cheaply as they could. "We took a few hand-picked souls to the marina on Saturdays." She shook her head, remembering. "It was a disaster."
Lukas's brows lifted. "Sounds like a good idea."
"Yes, well, they were afraid of the water. Not one of them could swim. And they didn't want to learn. Too far out of their comfort zone. We were pretty naive."
"You grew up around water. So did I."
"Yes. And we never gave a thought to how far they'd have to go to make that leap. We needed to start on the ground, let them dip a toe in a pool. So we started there. It was a slow process, but eventually we had some kids who could swim. And when they could, others wanted to. And then we started again with the kayaks and canoes. By this time we figured that they benefitted if they were involved with everything, if they were invested in patching canoes and making kayaks water worthy." She smiled. "Matt showed them how to do that. And they got good at it. They like canoeing. They like kayaking. And now they have confidence to try other new things. The boat-well, the boat was just sitting there. He'd given up on you coming back." She slanted a brief glance at him when she said the words. She didn't mean them judgmentally anymore, though she had for years. She had come to accept that Lukas didn't have much follow-through. And, personally, given what had happened on prom night, she was glad he'd stayed gone.
"I couldn't, could I?" Lukas said now. His gaze bored into hers.
Holly met it this time, but she waited for him to explain.
"I'd betrayed Matt. I'd hurt you. I-" he began, but then just closed his mouth and shook his head. "I didn't have much to stay for."
Holly wasn't sure about that, but the way he said it didn't brook any argument. And this was Lukas, she reminded herself. He wasn't known for staying power.
"Well, anyway," she went on, "Matt thought there were some kids who could work together, who could learn some planning and teamwork that way, if they worked on the boat. And he'd work with them. And then he would teach them to sail." She could still remember the light of enthusiasm in his eyes when he'd talked about it.
Lukas still seemed to be listening intently. He didn't interrupt, he didn't jump up to pace around or crack his knuckles or say, That's a dumb idea.
All things that the Lukas she remembered would have done.
This Lukas just sat still and waited for her to continue. Holly swallowed and went on. "He had just talked to Father Morrison about it...the week before he died. But he said he had to make sure it was okay with you."
"Of course it would have been okay with me!"
"You know Matt," Holly said. "He did things by the book. You owned half the boat, ergo, he needed to ask you."
But writing to Lukas was something Holly had never felt up to. So she'd dropped the ball.
Now she said, "If it was so obvious that 'of course it would have been okay with you' why are we even having this discussion?"
Lukas shrugged. "I wanted to see you again. I told you that. And yes, you can have the boat. It sounds like a great plan." He settled back against the sofa now and took a long swallow of coffee. "But I'd like to see it first."
Holly stared at him. "See what? The boat?"
He nodded. "It's been a long time."
"Of course." She didn't ask why. Maybe he was feeling a little sentimental about what might have been. "It's at your brother Elias's boatyard. Just ask him."
"With you," Lukas said.
She almost spilled her coffee. "With me? You don't need me there."
"I want you there."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "It feels right."
"And if it feels right, do it?" Holly said acerbically. "Experience has proved that isn't always the best choice."
Was that a hint of color in his face? Green eyes met hers. "Come with me, Holly."
She couldn't tell if it was a command or a request or an invitation. She hesitated.
"Or are you chicken?" And there it was-the calculated, devastating Lukas Antonides grin, the one that had baited her a thousand times. How could she have thought he'd changed?
"You're such a bully!"
There was unholy glee in his eyes. "I'm not forcing you."
"No?" She glowered at him.
Lukas looked absolutely delighted. "Ah, there's the Holly I remember."
The Holly he remembered wanted to kick him. But maybe it was good to keep being reminded that he hadn't changed. He was Lukas, teasing, taunting, playing some game.
Fine. She'd go along with it. She'd get his signature on the line to deed the boat. And life would be back to normal. "Right. Okay. We'll go see the boat." She stood up and carried her mug into the kitchen.
"Now?" Lukas looked momentarily disconcerted.
"No time like the present." If she didn't go now, she'd have to agree to see him again. Lukas had been enough of a disruption for one day. She didn't need another one. She glanced at her watch. It was just past three. And as long as she got back in time for her date with Paul this evening, no problem. She turned and narrowed her gaze at him. "And after you see it, you'll sign the deed of gift?"
"I said I would, didn't I?" He looked offended.
"And of course you always do everything you say you'll do. Like spend a summer repairing a boat?" Holly raised a brow.
Lukas had the grace to grimace. "I'll sign it."
While she put on a pair of sandals, he called his brother to ask about getting into the boatyard, then hung up and said, "We have to run by his place for a key."
Elias lived in Park Slope, not that far from where Holly lived. She said, "I'll wait in the truck," when they drove up in front of his brownstone twenty minutes later.
"Not a chance. I said I wanted the key and Elias said, 'Great. You can stay for dinner.'"
"I can't-"
"Don't worry. We're not staying for dinner." Lukas hopped out of the truck, then came around to open her door. "But this is family. I can't just grab the key and run. It doesn't work like that. I have to go in, smile, ruffle the kids' hair, say how much they've grown." He sounded bored at the thought, but he stood there expecting her to get out of the truck.
Holly hadn't seen Elias in years and she had never met his wife or kids. "How many kids does he have?"
"Four. It's a madhouse." Lukas rolled his eyes. "Prepare yourself."
But there were no little kids at the door, only Elias, who did a double-take when he saw Holly, then grinned broadly. "Hey, Hol'! Long time no see." Ignoring his brother, Elias pulled her into his arms and gave her a warm hug, which she returned. Then he held her out at arm's length and studied her.
"You're coping," he decided, and she remembered that she had in fact seen him at Matt's funeral, but not since.
"I'm coping," Holly agreed.
Elias nodded his approval. "So what're you doing with him?" He jerked his head at Lukas who, apparently used to brotherly disparagement, brushed past them both and went into the living room.
"We came for the key. She's fine. We're in a hurry, Elias."
Elias ignored him. "Everyone's in the kitchen." He looped an arm over Holly's shoulder. "Come on back."
Lukas sighed audibly. "What'd I tell you?" he said over his shoulder as he headed toward the back of the house. "Tallie is not feeding us," he added firmly.
"Whatever you say." Elias just smiled and drew Holly through a comfortable, cluttered living room, past two dogs, a Lego fortress and a bunch of dump trucks, haulers and steam rollers.
Holly gazed around almost hungrily. It was the living room of her dreams-one filled with the joy and photos and chaos of a growing family, like she'd hoped to have with Matt. But before she could do more than swallow the lump in her throat, a trio of boys came swarming down the hall.
"Hey, Uncle Luke! I got a new dump truck. Wanna dig with me?"
"Uncle Luke. We're makin' a robot!"
"Uncle Lukas, wanna see him walk?"
"Unca 'Ukas! 'Ick me up!" This last voice came when they'd reached the kitchen and a little dark-haired girl toddled into the mix and wrapped her arms around Lukas's knees.
Holly imagined he'd be looking for the nearest exit. But his impatience vanished. He scooped up the littlest boy, flipped him up onto his shoulders, then hoisted the little girl up in his arms and gave her a smacking kiss.