Part 13 (1/2)
He grinned. ”Maybe in awhile. Leaning back in his chair, he said, ”My two oldest daughters were living off-island--that's what we say when anyone from here lives anywhere else in the entire world--but they've come home for the summer.”
”I guess it's the season to make money, with the summer tourists.”
”Right. And Emma, that's my middle daughter, well, she's had a tough time recently. She lost her job in Boston, and the man she was engaged to broke off with her to be with another woman.”
Marina groaned. ”She has my sympathy.” But she didn't want to talk about Gerry and that whole sad mess right now, not on this soft, sensual evening, with this handsome and pleasant man sitting so near. ”And what about your oldest?”
”Abbie. I'm not sure just why she came home. She's been gone for almost two years. I wasn't sure she'd ever come back for any length of time.”
”Would you like some decaf?” Marina asked.
”That sounds good.”
She was glad to have something to do as she moved around the kitchen. She could sense how their conversation had deepened. Quite a few of the men she knew somehow kept their work and family life separate, but she could tell that whatever Jim was about, his daughters were an integral part.
She set the cup in front of him. ”Tell me about Abbie.”
He stirred a bit of sugar into his decaf, slowly, thinking. ”She was fifteen when my wife died. She was always a responsible girl, and she really took charge. She pretty much raised Emma and Lily.”
”What was she like before your wife died?” Marina asked.
”I think that's the first time anyone's asked me that. You know, I have to think about it.” He smiled at a memory. ”She was always bossy, even as a child. When she was about twelve, she told us she was going to be an anthropologist. She wanted to travel all over the world and study strange cultures.” A shadow crossed over his face. ”Abbie didn't get the chance to go to college. Her mother died, and she stayed to help with her sisters. I don't know what I would have done without her.” He squinted down into his cup as if seeing the past there. ”Perhaps I gave her too much responsibility.”
Marina prompted, ”And your middle girl? Emma?”
”Emma's our smart one. Not that all my girls aren't smart. But Emma made straight A's in school. Won a scholars.h.i.+p to college. Graduated magna c.u.m laude. Worked for an investment broker until just recently. She's always been the organized one, kept her bedroom neat, had a bunch of dolls, changed their clothes every day.” He shook his head. ”I'm a little worried about her. She's having a tough time, losing her job and her fiance, although I never cared for Duncan. I think in the long run it will be a good thing that he's broken off with her.”
”And Lily? She's a lovely girl.”
”Thank you. She is. I suppose I spoiled Lily. I suppose we all did. She was only seven when her mother died. So we all treated Lily like a fragile china doll. She's kind of used to getting her own way. But to give her credit, she's done a great job over the past year, keeping the house tidy and making us some decent meals.” He looked at Marina. ”You don't have any children?”
”No.” It was always hard to say this. ”I couldn't have any.”
Jim reached over and touched her cheek. ”You would have had beautiful children.”
He kept his hand on her cheek, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world, to turn her head so that her mouth touched his hand. She heard his breath change and her own pulse sped up. When he dropped his hand, she was disappointed, but he pushed back his chair and rose and moved next to her.
”Come here,” he said softly, putting his hand on her shoulder.
She stood up. They looked at each other and then Jim wrapped his arms around her and brought her close to him. She nestled her head on his shoulder and leaned into him. He kissed the side of her neck and ran his hands down her back. She turned her head, longing for his mouth on hers. But he continued to kiss her neck, her cheek, her collarbone. She put her hands on his shoulders, loving the strong, meaty, male heft of his muscles. She inched as close to him as she could, and felt his erection straining between them.
”Let's go up to the loft,” she whispered.
He held her away from him. ”You're sure?”
”I'm sure.” She kept her hand on him as she bent down to blow out the candles on the table. ”I've got candles upstairs--”
A knock sounded at the door.
The door flew open and Lily burst into the cottage. She wore a tight black dress and high black heels and a black velvet headband in her long red hair.
”Hi, guys!”
Marina dropped Jim's hand.
”For G.o.d's sake, Lily,” Jim said huskily, ”you don't just barge into someone's home.”
Lily rolled her eyes. ”Sor-ry! I just got home from a fund-raiser and saw your note that you were down here, Dad, and I couldn't wait to tell you, I met Joe Kennedy tonight!”
”Would you like some cake?” Marina asked. She hoped the young woman couldn't tell how she was trembling with frustration.
”No, thanks,” Lily said impatiently. ”I--oh!” Lily stepped back, as if she'd just received a thousand-volt shock. ”You're wearing Mom's bedspread!”
”What?” Confused, Marina looked from Lily to Jim and back.
”That's Mom's bedspread. I know it is. I'd know that material anywhere. Don't you recognize it, Dad?”
”Honey,” Jim said. ”She's wearing a skirt.”
”No, Dad! Look! It's a bedspread. Mom always had it on the chaise in her bedroom. Marina's just tied it on like a skirt.” Lily reached out and grabbed the knot at Marina's waist. ”You shouldn't be wearing this!”
Marina stepped back. ”I found it at the recycling bin at the dump. Sheila Lester told me we could take anything we wanted.”
Lily's lips thinned in frustration. She glared at her father. ”What are you doing here anyway, Dad?”
”Like I said in the note. I'm having dinner. And I was having a nice time.”
Lily pouted. ”I want to tell you about Joe Kennedy.” She shot her father a sullen glance. ”I guess I'll just wait till you come home.”
”Or you can tell us both now,” Jim suggested. ”I'm sure Marina would like to hear.”
Lily shook her head. ”I'm tired. I'm going home to bed.” She glared at her father. ”Are you coming?”
”In awhile,” he said mildly.
Lily spun around and stormed out the door into the night.
”Well, there goes a good advertis.e.m.e.nt for birth control,” Jim joked weakly.
Marina managed to fake a smile.
Jim put his hands on Marina's shoulders. ”I'm sorry about that. Can we try all this again, another time?”
”Sure,” Marina said. She allowed him to pull her against him, but now they were both stiff and ill at ease.
He kissed her forehead. ”Well, thanks for the meal. It was exceptional. And the company was, too.”