Sugar and Spice, page 14
By the time Riley appeared, she was composed and confident. She opened her door and stepped aside as he entered her apartment. He bent to kiss her, and she let him, savoring the moment.
“We need to talk.” She spoke first, not giving him a chance to say anything.
“You’re telling me,” Riley said with a grin. “I still can’t get over you.” If he lived for another century, Riley doubted he would forget those few seconds when Jayne had come running toward Simpson. And she’d done it to protect him—Riley Chambers. Naturally, she’d been unaware that he wasn’t in any danger. All the way back from the jail, Riley was lost in the memory of those brief moments. He’d found himself an exceptional woman. And he wasn’t going to lose her. He’d already started looking at diamond rings. On the night of her reunion he was going to ask her to marry him.
“Riley, about the reunion.”
“What about it?”
“I’ve asked Mark to take me.”
“What?”
“I want you to know I appreciate the fact that you were willing to attend it with me, but—”
“Jayne, you’re not thinking straight,” Riley countered, still not believing what she’d said.
She forced out a light laugh. “Actually, I’ve been giving it some thought over the past few days. This wasn’t a sudden decision. When I went to the police this morning, I knew there was every likelihood that you wouldn’t be able to go to Seattle with me.”
Riley frowned. “So you asked Mark?”
“Yes.” Her right eye remained still. Riley had taught her several things, and one of those was how to lie. The smoothness with which she told him this one was shocking. What a sad commentary on their relationship, Jayne mused unhappily. She’d love Riley forever, and years from now, when the hurt went away, she’d be able to look back on their weeks together and be glad she’d known and loved him—however briefly.
Riley clenched his fists. “Something’s not right here. You’re lying.”
“I’m not the expert in that department. You are.” She stalked into the kitchen. “Here,” she said, handing him the telephone. “If you don’t believe me, call Mark.”
Riley stared at the phone in utter astonishment. “Jayne…don’t do this.” His gut instinct told him she was lying.
“How was I supposed to know you weren’t some crook? I couldn’t take that chance. So…I asked Mark.”
“Then unask him.”
“I won’t do that.”
“Why not?” Riley was becoming angrier with every breath.
“Because I’m not sure you’re the type of man I’d want to go with—the type of man I want to be with.” The pain of what she was doing was so powerful that Jayne reached out to hold on to the kitchen counter. “I’m sorry, Riley, I am. I’ve known for some time that things weren’t working out.”
“Not sorry enough.” Abruptly, he swiveled around. “I’d suggest you have fun, but I doubt you will with Mark Bauer.”
“I’m sure I’ll have a perfectly good time,” she lied, but the effort to hold back her tears made the words unintelligible.
* * *
—
“Jayne, darling, let me look at you.” Dorothy Gilbert held her daughter by the shoulders and shook her gray head. Jayne’s parents had met her at the train station. “You look fabulous.”
Jayne smiled absently. The train had arrived on time. She was afraid to fly, but she beamed proudly at the thought of the one shining moment in her life when she’d ignored her fear and attacked a gunman. Such ironies were common with her.
“The new hairstyle suits you.”
“Thank you, Mom.” But the happiness she felt at seeing her parents didn’t compensate for the emptiness inside her after that last confrontation with Riley. From her mother’s arms, Jayne moved forward to receive her father’s gruff embrace.
“Good to see you, sweetie,” Howard Gilbert said.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
Slowly they walked toward the terminal where Jayne was to collect her luggage.
“That Thomas girl arrived this morning from California. You might want to call her at her parents’ house,” Dorothy told Jayne, as she put an arm around her waist. “She’s already called to ask about you.”
“I…I’d like to talk to her.”
“She’s married and has two daughters.”
“How nice.” Jayne wasn’t married. Nor did she have children. She was the prim-and-proper woman Riley had accused her of being. It was what she’d been destined to be from the time she’d graduated from high school. She had been a fool to believe otherwise. Angry with her self-pitying thoughts, Jayne smiled brightly at her mother.
“Judy said the reception at the Westin starts at about eight.”
“They mailed me a program, Mom.” Jayne had decided she’d attend the reunion alone. Her dream had been to arrive with Riley at her side, but that was out of the question. So, as she’d done most of her life, Jayne would pretend. She’d walk into the reception with her head held high and imagine everyone turning toward her and sighing with envy.
She hadn’t seen Riley. Not once since that fateful afternoon. For all she knew, he could have moved out of the building. She was grateful he’d accepted her lies, making it unnecessary to fabricate others. She’d purposely hurt him to be kind. She wasn’t the right woman for him, and his life was too different from hers.
She’d read about the charges against Priestly and Simpson. The articles and news reports gave an abbreviated version of Riley’s part in all this, mentioning only that an FBI agent had worked with police departments statewide to destroy Priestly’s organization.
Her father collected her suitcase, and then the three of them walked to the car, which was parked across from the King Street Station.
“I have a lovely new dress,” Jayne said.
“I’m so pleased you’re attending this reunion, Jayne. I’d been worried you might not want to go.” She stared intently at Jayne.
“I wouldn’t miss it, Mom.”
“Those girls never appreciated you,” her father commented, placing Jayne’s suitcase in the trunk of the car.
“Nonsense, Dad. I had some good friends.”
“She did, Howard.”
They chatted companionably on the drive toward Jayne’s childhood home on Queen Anne Hill.
Once she got home, Jayne phoned her high school friend Judy Thomas, and they chatted for nearly an hour.
“It’s so good to talk to you again,” Judy said. “I can hardly wait to see you.”
“Me, too.”
“I think I’d better get off the phone. Dad’s giving me disapproving looks just like he did ten years ago.”
“I guess we’ll always be teenagers to our parents.”
“Unfortunately.” Judy giggled.
Jayne smiled when her mother stuck her head around the corner. “Don’t you think you should start to get ready?”
Jayne contained a smile. Judy was right. They would always be teenagers to their parents. “Okay, Mom, I’ll be off in a minute.”
“See what I mean?” Judy said.
“Oh yes. Listen, I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you then.”
Jayne spent most of the next hour preparing for the reunion. Her mother raved about how the dress looked on Jayne. Gazing at her mirrored reflection, Jayne’s astonishment was renewed. The dress was the most beautiful one she’d ever owned.
Adding the final touches to her makeup, Jayne heard her mother and father whispering in the background.
“We’d like to get some pictures of you and your young man,” her father said when Jayne stepped out of her bedroom.
“Pardon me, Dad?”
“Pictures,” he repeated, taking his camera from the case. “Go stand by the fireplace.”
“All right.” She went into the living room and stopped cold. Before her stood Riley. Tall, polished, impeccable, and so incredibly good-looking in his tuxedo that she felt as though all the oxygen had escaped her lungs.
“Riley…what are you doing here?”
“Taking you to the reunion.”
“But how did you know—”
“I believe your father wants to take a few pictures.” Gently he took her lifeless hand in his and tucked it into his elbow.
Smiling, Dorothy and Howard Gilbert moved into the living room.
“Oh—Mom and Dad, this is Riley Chambers.”
Riley came forward and shook hands with her parents. “Glad to see you again, Howard. And good to meet you, Dorothy.”
Gruffly, her father motioned for the couple to stand in front of the fireplace while he took a series of photos.
“I believe these young people need a few minutes alone.”
“Daddy—”
“You need to talk to your fiancé,” Howard said, taking his wife by the arm and leading her into the kitchen.
Jayne didn’t move and barely breathed, and she couldn’t seem to speak.
“Having her father announce it isn’t the most romantic way to tell the woman you love that you want to marry her,” Riley said once her parents had left.
“Oh Riley, please don’t.”
“Don’t what? Love you? That would be impossible.”
“No,” she whispered miserably, hanging her head. “Don’t ask me.”
“But I am. Maybe it was presumptuous of me, but I bought a ring.” He pulled out a jeweler’s box from his inside pocket. “I don’t know why you lied about inviting Mark. I don’t even care. I love you, and we’re going to have a marvelous life together.”
“Riley.” She swallowed a sob. “No, I won’t marry you.”
He put the jeweler’s box on the mantel behind him and stared at her, his look incredulous. “Why?”
“Because I’m me. I’ll never be anything other than a children’s librarian. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be. You live life in the fast lane, while I crawl along at a snail’s pace—if you’ll forgive the clichés.”
“But, Jayne, I’m sick of that life…”
“For how long? A year? Maybe two?”
“Jayne, I’ve already accepted a job—a desk job—with the Portland police. My undercover days are over.”
“Riley, are you sure that’s what you want?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” His eyes held a determination that few would challenge. “I’ve waited half my life for you, Jayne Gilbert, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
The blunt words took Jayne aback. Her lips tightened as she shook her head.
“Do you love me so little?” he asked in a voice that was so soft she could hardly hear it.
“You know I love you!” she cried.
“Then why are you fighting me?”
“I’m…afraid, Riley.”
He took a step toward her, extending his hand. “Then put your hand in mine. No man could ever love you more than I do. I’m ready for everything you have to give me. I’ve been ready for a lot of years.”
Jayne couldn’t fight him anymore. Tentatively, she raised her hand and placed it in his.
“I believe we have a reunion to attend.”
“It isn’t necessary. You know that, don’t you? All I’ve ever needed is you.” She blinked back tears. “Now, don’t make me cry. It took me ages to get this makeup right.”
“You’re beautiful.”
She laughed and reached up to kiss him. “Thank you, but I have trouble believing that.”
“After tonight, you won’t. I’ll be the envy of every man there.”
“Then it’s true,” Jayne said with a trembling smile. “Love is blind.”
Riley turned to retrieve the jeweler’s box and offered it to her. Smiling tremulously, she let him slide the engagement ring onto her finger.
“What would you say to a fall wedding?”
Before Jayne could respond, Howard and Dorothy reappeared, and Dorothy protested, “Oh no, that’s nowhere near enough time!”
“It’s fine, Dorothy,” Howard said. “The only thing that matters to me is whether our daughter’s marrying the right man. And I’m convinced she couldn’t find anyone better than Riley.” He winked at his wife. “I know you, of all people, can pull off a wedding in four months.”
Dorothy gave a resigned sigh. “Have fun, you two,” she murmured.
“We will, Mom.”
On the way down the sidewalk to Riley’s parked car, Jayne gave him an odd look. “When did you talk to my father?”
“A couple of days ago, when I asked his permission for his daughter’s hand.”
“Riley, you didn’t!”
He raised his eyebrows. “I did. I told you before that I was going to do everything right with you. We’re going to be married as soon as possible—in a church, before God and witnesses. We’re going to be very happy, Jayne.”
A brilliant smile curved her lips. “I think we will, too,” she said.
* * *
—
A half-hour later, Riley pulled into the curved driveway of the downtown Westin, where the reunion was being held. He eased to a stop, and an attendant opened Jayne’s door and helped her out.
They walked through the hotel lobby and took the elevator to the Grand Ballroom.
“Ready?” Riley asked as they approached.
Her breath felt tight in her lungs. “I think so.”
One step into the room and Jayne felt every eye on her. The room went silent as she turned and smiled into the warmth and love that radiated from Riley’s gaze.
Whispers rose. And the girls of St. Mary’s sighed.
To the girls of Saint Joseph Academy—Class of 1966
About the Author
Debbie Macomber, the author of A Walk Along the Beach, Window on the Bay, Cottage by the Sea, Any Dream Will Do, If Not for You, and the Rose Harbor Inn series, is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Thirteen of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on her Cedar Cove books. She is also the author of the cookbook Debbie Macomber’s Table. There are more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber’s gorgeous novel
A Walk Along the Beach
Two sisters facing challenging odds must rely on each other more than ever.
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Chapter One
Willa
“He’s cute.” My sister Harper stage-whispered when I joined her at the table in Bean There, my small coffee shop in Oceanside along the Washington coast. I knew exactly who she was talking about and refused to look. I really shouldn’t pay him any mind. I shouldn’t look. Shouldn’t look.
I looked.
“Who?” I asked, doing my best to hide my interest. I’d noticed the tall, lean man with sandy-colored hair who stood at the counter far more than necessary. My sister was right. He was cute. Not the drop-dead gorgeous of a cover model, though. His appeal was subtle, understated. His hair fell haphazardly across his forehead and his blue eyes were warm. Some days they were a deeper shade than others, depending on what he wore. He had a small cleft in his chin with a single dimple on the right side of his cheek. I knew his first name was Sean for the simple reason I’d written his name across the cup. He’d corrected me the first time he ordered when I spelled it S-h-a-w-n and explained it was spelled with an e.
“Don’t be coy, Willa. You know exactly who I mean. That man is gorgeous. Admit it.”
Shrugging, I acted unconcerned. “If you say so.”
“Does he stop by often?” Harper leaned forward, as if to get a better look.
My sister was an outrageous flirt. She always had been, although her relationships never seemed to last more than a few weeks. She was the outgoing one in the family while I was the introvert, the shy, retiring one. Harper taught yoga classes at the Oceanside Fitness Center two blocks over from my coffee shop. She was their most popular instructor, and with good reason. Everything was fun with Harper, even exercise, and that was saying something.
“What’s his name?” she pressed, unwilling to drop the subject.
Normally I would suggest she introduce herself, and she would make sure she did. For my own selfish reasons, I didn’t. I knew that within minutes the two would likely be involved in a friendly conversation. That was Harper. She was blond, beautiful, physically fit, and the kind of friend everyone hopes to find. It rarely took more than the fluttering of her stunning blue eyes for a man to be captivated and under her spell.
“Sean,” I answered, and immediately felt guilty. It wasn’t like I had a claim on him or that he’d be interested in me. We’d shared only a few brief exchanges. His smile was warm and engaging. I hesitated for more reason than my own interest. I knew if Harper went for him the relationship wouldn’t last. None ever did with her, and I didn’t want to see him hurt. He seemed to be the sensitive type. Oh heavens, what did I know? I was being ridiculous.
“Sean,” Harper slowly repeated his name. “Like Sean Connery?”
