The Return of Antonides: Christmas at the Castello(15)

"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.