Begin Again (4 page)

He’d be behind her and when he finished with the shampoo, his sudsy hands would
slide around front to caress her. He’d knead her breasts in just the right way, slip his hand between her thighs and bring her to climax.

Sometimes she imagined Donnie doing these things, but lately, it was a faceless stranger.

Tonight was the latter. Blue eyes. Blond hair. Hmm.

A loud knock yanked her from her fantasies. “Paulie, you’ve been in there forever. Are you coming out soon?”

If her sister was a shrew in her still-intense grief, Paulina would have confronted her about it. But Nia’s sadness hit you like those pictures of hungry kids on television. It reached out and clutched at your heart. So Paulina was very, very patient with Nia.

“Be there in a minute.”

Wearing a green towel around her body and one twisted in her hair, Paulina exited the bathroom and found
her sister propped up by pillows on the bed. “You all right?”

“I don’t know.” Her face was lined with fatigue. Her shoulders slumped in pretty pink pajamas, which Paulina knew Pete had bought her for Christmas one year. “I feel worse today than usual.”

Paulina sat down on the mattress. “Was it because I was late and didn’t call?”

“Partly. We all worry.”

“Did something else happen?”

“Yes.” When she looked up, her expression was one of a criminal who’d just committed a crime. “Tommy and Ben’s Little League coach asked me out for coffee.”

“What did you say?”

“The truth. That I’m not ready to date.” Nia ran a hand through her long, thick blond hair. She
was
really pretty. Paulina remembered saying that aloud in front of Adam and his subtle compliment after.
Good night…to
both
you lovely ladies.

Studying Nia, she decided the time was right to press her. “It’s been three years, sweetie.

Pete wouldn’t want you to live the rest of your life alone.”

“I know. Rosie and I talked about it.” Pete’s mother had been like a second parent to them. Both girls adored her. “She encouraged me to see other men, to heal faster.”

“I feel the same way, Nia. You
do
need to move on.”

Nia swallowed hard and wrung her hands. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I do. But I can’t.”

Her gaze was pleading. “Tell me how to get better, Paulie. You’re making progress.”

“With baby steps. Go out with the hunky coach.”

“I’ll think about it.” She studied Paulina’s face. “You’re exhausted. You should go to sleep.”

They could always read each other. As much
as Nia knew Paulina needed rest, she in turn knew what Nia wanted. “Stay with me tonight.” They’d slept in the same bed as kids, and at horrible times like when Stash Ludzecky, their father, had died. Then they’d lost the guys, and for three weeks, they’d shared the same bed. Ana, their older sister, had moved into the house for three months and often joined them. Unfortunately, Ana’s sojourn
at the Ludzecky homestead had put a terrible strain on her marriage and eventually led to a divorce. Paulina would never forgive Jared Creswell for being so selfish at such a devastating time.

“I do need to rest. But I’ll sleep better if you’re here.”

“You sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. I’ll dry my hair, then be right back.”

When Paulina returned to the bathroom, she retrieved the
dryer; she’d take only the time to get most of the dampness out before sleep. When she glanced in the mirror, she could see the shower behind her. And thought once again how she wished she had company tonight other than her sister. Maybe
Matka
was right. Maybe she
was
lonely.

For some reason, Adam had had a hard time sleeping last night, so he was late getting to work. He
walked into his office at nine and found his father waiting for him. His favorite man in the world was dressed in golf clothes. Drew Armstrong had just retired, leaving Adam the business to run. “Hey, Dad.”

His father peered up from the architecture magazine he’d been reading. Adam knew exactly what he would look like at sixty-five: gray hair, same dynamic green eyes and not an ounce of fat
on him. Not only were he and his dad in sync mentally but physically, too. It couldn’t have pleased Adam more. “I didn’t believe Lana that you weren’t in yet and hadn’t called to say you had an appointment.” He cocked his head and asked, “Who is she?”

“I was home alone last night.” His frown came without his conscious permission. “I didn’t sleep well.”

“So I’ll ask again. Who is she?”

“There isn’t a woman. Though now that you mention it, I think I was dreaming about a blonde.” God in heaven, could it have been Paulina Ludzecky? Nah, she wasn’t his type.

“Spit it out. You know who she is. I can see it on your face.”

“Talking about the dream brought someone to mind. I met with the Pettrone and Ludzecky rep yesterday to discuss the music hall.”

“That poor family.
Two sons dying at once.” His dad actually shivered. “I can’t imagine how one lives on after that.”

“I hear you, Dad.”

“Why don’t you come golfing with me today?”

“I’d love to, but I can’t without making plans ahead of time. How about Saturday?”

His dad stood. “You’re on, son. She pretty?”

“Who?”

“The rep from Pettrone and Ludzecky?”

“Not really. At least not until you
get to know her. She’s got a girl-next-door face and a no-frills attitude.” He grinned.

“What?”

“She left her phone at my office. Joe and I ran it out, and she was alone at the company’s trailer. She answered the door with a bat.”

“Sounds feisty.”

“I’m sure she is. But she’s a little too wholesome and tomboyish for me.”

“Tell that to your dreams, kid.”

After his father
left, Adam made himself a cup of coffee from the Keurig, sat down at his desk and put Paulina Ludzecky out of his mind. After calling up his email, he was scanning it when an incoming text chimed on his cell phone. He clicked into the first message. It was from Elyssa
.

He thought about the tall, lithe, dark-haired woman he was dating. Now
she
was his type. She wanted to have dinner with him.
He responded affirmatively, then another text came in. He didn’t recognize the number, but he called it up anyway.

Just got word the groundbreaking for the music hall is scheduled for April fifteenth. Didn’t know if you were notified.

Coincidence or kismet that Paulina was contacting him when he’d just been talking about her. Thinking about her. He typed back:
You know the mayor’s planning
a ribbon cutting.

Oh, no. I hate those things.

You have to go. Do we need to meet beforehand?
He knew they didn’t.

No return message. Huh. He went back to his email. Five minutes later, another chime.

Maybe another bat-stealing contest?

Adam laughed aloud.
No thanks, you fight dirty.

Right away came:
I DO NOT!

She was shouting at him already.

He seriously thought
about asking her for that beer after the ceremony. Was she a good conversationalist? She and Joe had kept a running dialogue in the car, and she’d revealed a sense of humor and an ability to banter well
.

But something stopped him. He glanced around his expensively furnished office, glanced down at his $2000 suit. And thought of the peek he’d gotten into the construction company’s trailer,
the kind of neighborhood she lived in, and her dirty T-shirt and jeans. The two of them would have absolutely nothing in common
.

Somewhat begrudgingly, he typed back.
You were right. It could be considered a draw.

This wouldn’t go anywhere. He’d save her the heartache of finding that out herself.
Due in a meeting now. See you on the fifteenth.

He set his phone on the desk and turned
back to email. He called up his business account and lost himself in the wonders of building design. Only once or twice did he get a twinge of regret for halting anything with Paulina Ludzecky before it began.

“Son of a bitch!” Paulina plopped her hands on her hips. “Who the hell in his right mind would leave knotty-pine ceiling lumber in front of the house? She cupped her
hands and called out, “Hey, anybody know when this was dropped?”

A carpenter, Jason, came up to her. “That isn’t for the ceiling, is it?”

“Yep. Do you know when it was delivered?”

“About an hour ago. I thought it was more two-by-fours.”

“Damn it.” She nodded to Jase. “I know it’s not your fault.”

These kinds of things used to drive Donnie nuts. His irritation had rubbed off
on her, or maybe her cranky mood was because last week Adam hadn’t taken her up on her positive response that she’d like to meet up. But he was her last worry today. She stalked to the trailer, went inside and called up records for the house. In minutes, she had the lumber people on the line
.

“Carter Ceilings.”

“This is Paulina Pettrone. I ordered knotty-pine wood for a ceiling, and it
was dropped off outside. In the air. It’s sunny now, but it could have rained.”

“Hold on. I’ll connect you with Larry.”

A man came on. “Elkins. What’s up?”

Patiently she explained the problem again
.

“Yeah, I dropped it off myself. My regular guy was sick.”

“You dropped it off outside.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What if it had rained?”

“It was blue skies.”

She gritted her teeth.
“Mr. Elkins, check your invoice.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Grumbling. Mumbles of
hell
and
damn
. He yelled to a person named Mary. Finally,

Paulina heard rustling paper, and he said, “I got it. What am I looking for?” Male irritation dripped from his voice.

“Check the box for directions.”

“Okay, okay, I see.”

When he didn’t say more, she asked, “It says wood is to be dropped off
in the upstairs master bedroom and the downstairs kitchen and family room.”

“Yeah, I got it now. I didn’t see that.”

“Sorry about your error. You’d better get over here quick. We clock off at five.”

“You shitting me, lady? It’s a half-hour drive from my place to yours.”

“I know.”

“Can’t your men do it this time?”

“No.”

Before she clicked off, she heard more grumbling
and “…ball buster.”

She sighed. Her normal instincts were to do it herself, at least her and her crew. But Donnie had been adamant about these things.

Don’t let them get away with anything. We’re the buyer. They’re the seller. They’ll take advantage of your sweet nature, honeybunch.

He liked to call her pet names on the job, just to see her get mad. As always, the memory made her sad.
She thought about the Elkins to avoid her memories of Donnie. Maybe there was a compromise. Maybe when he got here, she’d help him carry the lumber in. Donnie wouldn’t have let her do that, but Donnie was gone, as she knew so well. Too well. Sadly well.

Joe drove the town car up to the big brown awning that served as the entrance to the Tavern on the Green. “Here you go, boss.” Under his breath, he murmured, “Better you than me.”

“What was that, Joey?”

A chuckle escaped his driver, who tonight wore a suit in deference to the event. “You know you’re dreading this.”

“I don’t particularly like fundraisers,
no. But I promised Elyssa I’d be here.”

Elyssa ran a successful business planning fundraisers for the cultural arts. She employed a large staff and worked hard herself.

“If I were you, I’d rather be wrestlin’ bats from that little Paulina Ludzecky.”

“Be careful what you wish for.” Adam chuckled with the memory of Paulina, bat raised, eyes narrowed, scoping out how she would beat him.
“She’s a wild woman.”

Joe rolled his eyes. “Not takin’ that one on.”

Playfully, he socked Joe in the arm. “Go get something to eat, but leave your phone on.”

“In case you want a quick escape?”

“Just be available, wise guy.”

Adam approached the building, walked under the long red canopy and entered the restaurant. The place was closed to the public tonight to accommodate a fundraiser
for the Youth Arts Center in Brooklyn. Local artists had donated paintings and photographs to be auctioned off to get the money needed for this very worthy cause. As usual, the event was by invitation only.

He handed his card to the host at the door.

Adam liked this restaurant, particularly the room where the dinner/auction was being held. Walls of windows spanned the circular space and
glittery chandeliers dangled from the high ceiling. The tables were covered with blue-and-white linens. He caught sight of Elyssa near those windows. Once again, he noted that she was his type. Five eight, slender, and sleek in a black dress. She was talking to a woman in front of a group of photographs for sale. When she saw him, she motioned him over. She stepped away from her guest and kissed
his cheek after he reached her. “You’re late, darling.”

“Sorry.”

“Come, I want you to meet the wife of one of our donors. He couldn’t make it, but she was available.”

When he got closer to the woman Elyssa had been talking to, his jaw dropped. She was tall, solidly built, with skeins of blond hair. It knocked him off-kilter for a minute because her high cheekbones and hazel eyes were
an awful lot like…

Low and husky, Elyssa said, “Adam Armstrong, this is Caterina Ludzecky.”

“I thought so.”

“Excuse me?” Caterina’s thick eyebrows rose. They, too, were the exact color of her sister’s. “Do we know each other?”

“No. But I’m working with your sister, Paulina.”

The woman’s whole face brightened. Full lips parted, and a familiar sparkle came into her eyes. “You
know Paulie? Isn’t she a doll?”

“I liked her.” A grim thought invaded his consciousness. “I’m sorry for what happened to your brothers-in-law.”

The sun went out of Caterina’s eyes. “I still can’t believe it sometimes. We knew them all our lives.”