California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances (83 page)

“You’re never going to lose me.” She hugged him closer.

“That’s good. Because I love you, Sarah Ladina.”

“I love you, Hunter Evans.”

Their kiss was so intense he didn’t hear the crunch of gravel as Rick’s car left the driveway.

• • •

Hunter held Sarah next to him the entire night, her body warmth driving out the dark dreams that threatened to haunt him. They kissed and touched, but went no further.

That would have to wait until after Sarah’s baby was born. Then they could begin again, building their love without a third person in bed with them.

He knew he had to get back to the therapist, but there was something else he wanted to do first.

“I want you to meet my mother,” he said as he handed her morning coffee in bed. “Let’s take the letters up to her today.”

Sarah frowned.

“What’s up?”

“I’d love to go with you, but is that the right thing to do? She’s sick. Meeting me would be too much for her, especially since I’m pregnant with another man’s baby.”

Hunter kissed Sarah. “Meeting you is exactly what she needs.”

An hour later, they were headed up the coast to the city. Sarah kept up a continual chatter about the places they passed and the antics of surfers, parasailers, and seagulls. At Half Moon Bay they took the twisty road over the Coastal Mountains to Highway 280.

Hunter was grateful the traffic was light. Although he kept to legal limits, speeding through the lush land up the peninsula gave him the adrenaline rush he needed to accomplish his plan. Instead of going over the Golden Gate Bridge, Hunter took the last exit and headed toward the Embarcadero.

“Where are you going?” Sarah asked. “I thought your parents lived in Sausalito.”

He grinned. “I thought we’d take the ferry. It’s a beautiful day and one of my favorite things to do.”

Sarah squealed. “I love ferries! What a great idea!”

A ferry ride fit his plan perfectly.

It was a spectacular San Francisco day, the kind they always showed in movies. Sun had beaten the fog off early in the day, leaving puffy white clouds as counterpoint to the sails adorning the bay.

Hunter parked the Jeep and picked up a canvas bag from the back seat before helping Sarah out of the vehicle. They strolled onto the boat, Hunter guiding her to a spot on the lower deck with the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Engines rumbled and they braced themselves as the vessel navigated toward the distant town of Sausalito. Hunter shifted the canvas bag on his shoulder so it gapped open.

“Why don’t you put that down?” Sarah asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Okay.” Doubt threaded her voice.

He smiled at her in an attempt to reassure her. “Turn around. Isn’t it beautiful?”

The bridge glistened copper in the noonday sun while sailboats flitted like butterflies around an enormous oil tanker bound for Martinez. Seagulls, terns, and pelicans swooped over the massive cables that secured the spans.

Her shoulders loosened.

He calculated the distance from the shores. Soon the passengers would be focused to the east, on Alcatraz. Then it would be time.

A few moments slipped by and he turned her around. “I’ve always wanted to do this.” He lowered his lips and swept her into a deep kiss, pulling all her attention to what he was doing with his mouth. He tasted and savored the sweetness he found there and maneuvered her closer to the rail.

With his left hand he reached into the bag, found the rag-wrapped gun and pulled it out. He brought his arm around her back and dropped the gun over board.

She broke off the kiss and he gave a quick look around.

No one had noticed. He bent his head to resume what he’d been doing.

Correction. No one had noticed except Sarah.

“What did you do?” she asked.

He twisted his lips. “Got rid of the gun.”

“That can’t be legal,” she chastised him.

“Probably not.” He shrugged. “But neither was carrying an unlicensed weapon. It’s safer this way.”

She studied him for a moment and then smiled. “I guess you’re right. Now where were we?”

He lowered his mouth toward hers and whispered, “About here.”

The ferry landed near the tree-lined parking lot. Once they disembarked, Hunter led Sarah past the small shops to a cafe for lunch. They sat outside and watched the dance of ships and boats in the bay, the sounds of clanking guy wires and bells an accompaniment to their conversation.

“I’m still not sure about this,” Sarah said, her chicken-stuffed croissant in her hand. “I could wait down here and window-shop while you see your mother.”

“I’m not sure about giving my mother the letters, either,” he said. “But I do need to let her make her own choices. Gertrude was right about that.”

“But — ”

“Let it be.” He rubbed her arm. “I don’t think my mother has much time left. I know it would please her to meet the woman I love before she goes.”

Sarah blushed, adding to the healthy color the salt air had already brought to her skin. “You’re going to tell her that?”

“Of course I am. I’m telling the whole world that.” He raised a finger to summon a waitress.

“Yes, sir?”

“I needed to tell you that I’m in love with this woman right here.”

“Hunter!” Sarah’s eyes widened in horror.

“That’s nice, sir. Is there anything else?” the waitress asked.

“I don’t think I need anything else, do you?”

That finally brought a smile from the harried woman. “No, sir. I guess you don’t.” She looked over at Sarah. “Lucky girl.” Then she bustled off.

“You’re outrageous!” Sarah said.

Hunter grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

After they finished their lunch Hunter hailed a cab to take them to his parents’ house. When Sarah protested that she could walk he shook his head. “It’s all uphill and I’m not taking the risk. Remember, the doctor said ‘no strenuous exercise’ and climbing the Sausalito hills certainly qualifies as strenuous. The stairs from the street will be bad enough.”

When they reached the glass-fronted house that overlooked the bay, Sarah drew a sharp breath. “Wow. And you wanted to leave this to go back to Costanoa?”

“Definitely.” He took her hand and led her up the stairs to the front door and opened it. “Mom,” he called. “It’s Hunter.”

His mother’s thin voice called from the living room. “In here.”

“Mom, I’ve brought someone with me. This is Sarah.” He kissed his mother on the cheek.

“How do you do, Mrs. Evans,” Sarah said and extended her hand.

“Good heavens, don’t call me that. I’m Loretta.” Loretta took Sarah’s hand with two of hers while she studied her. A frown crossed her face when she inspected Sarah’s slightly rounded stomach. “You’re pregnant,” she said flatly and let her hands go.

“Yes.”

Loretta flicked a glance at her son. “Yours?”

Hunter shook his head. “In every way that matters, Mom. Why don’t I make some tea?”

“I’ll help you.” Sarah’s voice was eager.

“
I’d
like you to sit over there and tell me the story,” Loretta said, gesturing to a nearby chair. “Hunter is practiced at making tea and can manage on his own.”

Hunter glimpsed fear in Sarah’s face and he smiled reassuringly at her before he left the room.

As he went through the familiar ritual of tea-making, he wondered about the best way to tell his mother about the letters. He also hoped she wasn’t grilling Sarah too much, although he knew Sarah could handle it. He grinned. If she had the bravery to face a loaded gun, she could handle his mother.

When the tea was ready, he returned to the living room, set the pot on the tea table, and poured his mother a cup. He looked askance at Sarah, but she shook her head. Still full from lunch, he settled into the other nearby armchair.

“Sarah has generously told me her story,” Loretta said. “That young man doesn’t deserve her, or the baby, that’s for sure. How do you feel about dating someone pregnant with another man’s child?”

Her directness startled him. All her life his mother had been someone who had avoided conflict, often fading into the background.

Then he realized he’d never thought about Sarah’s pregnancy in quite those terms. Now that they had a chance to be together, how did he feel about watching someone he loved give birth to another man’s child? He glanced at Sarah, his heart swelling when he remembered her courage in the face of his insanity the night before and her total affirmation of him exactly the way he was — wounded in body and soul, but still willing to do his best.

He smiled at her. “I’m fine with it.”

Sarah smiled back. “It takes a special kind of man to accept another man’s child. And Hunter’s a special kind of man.”

Loretta joined their happiness. “That he is.” She put down her teacup. “I’m proud of you, son. I’ve never said it often enough, but I wanted to make sure you knew before I kick the bucket.”

“Mom, you’ve got — ”

“Hush. There’s something about knowing you’re going that makes you braver. There’s nothing anyone can do to you anymore worse than what cancer’ll do. It’s my last chance to speak my mind — something I should have been doing all my life. Don’t interfere.”

His heart was breaking, but Hunter slapped a grin on his face and said, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Now what do you have in that bag you keep hoping I won’t notice.”

Hunter glanced at Sarah.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Your mother deserves to know.”

Hunter pulled the envelopes from the bag and handed them to his mother.

After one glance, she hugged them to her chest. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Where did you find them?”

“Tucked away in an upstairs closet. They were in a cardboard box.”

“I think I remember putting them there. Your father must have deliberately left them.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t burn them.”

His mother smiled. “So am I.” She glanced at the ribboned papers. “Did you read them?”

Sarah nodded. “I’m sorry. We didn’t know who they belonged to at first, and then … well, I wanted to know how it ended.”

“It ended because I was too chicken to fight Hunter’s father.” She shook her finger at both of them. “Don’t you ever be too scared to stand up for what’s right for you. Understand?”

Hunter smiled. “Yes, Mom.”

Loretta leaned back in the chair, put the letters in her lap and caressed them.

Hunter stood. “I think it’s time we left so you can read them again if you want. Do you have a safe spot to keep them?”

She nodded. “Bottom of my knitting bag. Your father never touches it.” She reached her hand up to him and he bent down to kiss her cheek. “Thank you, Hunter. And thank you for bringing me your girl. She’s a good one.”

“I know, Mom. I know.”

Sarah said her good-byes while Hunter called a cab. They walked to the street in silence and remained quiet until the vehicle reached the wharf.

They held hands as they walked out onto the boat. This time Hunter led her to the upper deck.

“Nothing to drop off this time?” she teased him.

He smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. “Have I told you I‘m the luckiest man alive?”

“Not in so many words.”

“I’m telling you now.” He put his mouth on hers and savored the taste of her, allowing his hands to explore the curve of her back, wishing it could be more. He deepened his kiss, his tongue teasing her in a slow waltz of intimacy.

She pulled back after a few moments. “I love you, Hunter.”

“And I’m grateful for that. I know there’s a lot more I need to do to recover and I’m going back to counseling tomorrow. I’m still not on my feet financially, but I know I can contribute enough until I get my business up and running. Then watch out, Sarah Ladina, because I’m going to treat you like the princess you are.”

She laughed. “I could get used to that!”

The lights on the Golden Gate Bridge flicked on as he lowered his lips to kiss her again.

June

Sarah and Hunter sat in the last row of the chairs as Annie and John took their vows. The June weather had cooperated and Gertrude’s garden design had come to life. Sarah glanced around, checking to see if Mandy needed anything for the wedding feast.

Her friend was leaning against a tree behind the set up, her lips twisted up in a bittersweet smile.

“Will you relax?” Hunter whispered. “Everything will be all right.”

“Something’s wrong with Mandy.”

Hunter glanced at Mandy. “How can you tell from here?”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Girl genes.”

Her mother turned around and glared at her.

Hunter squeezed her hand and she could tell he was trying to hide a laugh.

Elizabeth stood and went to the front. As her mother read the familiar words about love from Corinthians, Sarah’s heart beat stronger with the passion she felt for Hunter. He’d been true to his word and gone back for more counseling. Joe had helped him sell his first cabinet and the piece had gotten far more than Hunter had thought it would.

Cal Poly had come through with the surfing adapted prosthetic and Hunter was scheduled at the next AmpSurf adaptive surfing clinic in August.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,” The minister said.

John swept Annie close to him and kissed her while everyone cheered. He clapped his cowboy hat on his head, took his wife by her hand, and began the slow process down the aisle, accepting the congratulations of friends and family. Annie’s son David, who had escorted his mother down the aisle, picked up the hand of a cute girl with cocoa skin and corkscrew hair.

Hmmm. That’s interesting.

Before the throng could reach them, Sarah pulled at Hunter’s hand. “Time to get started. We can say our best wishes later.”

She made her way to the buffet table and cornered Mandy. “What’s up with you?” Sarah asked her friend.

Mandy shrugged. “Paul told me while we were setting up that he’d fallen in love with someone up at the university.”

Sarah put her hand on Mandy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

Mandy flashed her a grin. “I’ll be sad for a while, but life goes on, doesn’t it?” She made a gesture that included Annie, John, Elizabeth, Marcos, Hunter and Sarah. “Look at all the examples I have in front of me. I’ll be okay.”