In His Eyes (10 page)

“I had fun,” Caitlin said, pulling off her boots and dropping them by the door. She gave a large yawn.

“Tired,” Connor said, giving her a hug as he passed. He looked at his aunt. “The wires don’t look good.”

“I saw ice on the trees,” she said. “We probably should prepare, just in case.”

Ellene plopped on the sofa. “You two sound like doom and gloom.”

“Being realistic,” Connor said. With that thought in mind, he located a couple of flashlights and set out two candleholders.

Caitlin had curled up on the sofa and rested her cheek against the arm. Connor glanced her way and watched her deep breathing. “She’s out already.”

Her eyes popped open. “No, I’m not. I’m resting like you do, Daddy.”

Connor smiled, recalling a few times he’d drifted off on the sofa and given her that excuse.

“Let’s play Old Maid,” she said, bolting up from her resting spot.

“I don’t think so. It’s getting late.”

“Just one game?”

Her plaintive voice filtered through his attitude. “What do you say?” He looked at Ellene and his aunt.

Ellene shrugged. “I haven’t played Old Maid in years.”

“I’ll teach you,” Caitlin said.

Connor gave Ellene a wink.

Aunt Phyllis found the game, and they sat around the table, matching Little Bo-Peeps and Little Boy Blues.

Caitlin giggled when Connor became the Old Maid, and they agreed to play another game. By the time they’d finished four games, everyone had been the Old Maid except Ellene.

“I’m already an old maid,” Ellene said, although Caitlin missed the point, but Connor didn’t.

Aunt Phyllis narrowed her eyes. “It’s your choice, you know.” She followed her comment with a yawn and offered to put Caitlin to bed. She grabbed a flashlight to be safe and headed for the stairs. “Now, you call me when you’re ready for bed, Ellene.”

Ellene gave her a wink, then picked up the cards and put them away.

Connor moved to the fireplace and crouched. They hadn’t enjoyed a fire in a few days, and tonight seemed like a perfect time. He stacked kindling on the bottom, tucked in a fire starter and lit a match. The wax and sawdust starter blazed and soon the kindling began to crackle. He waited until the flames rose, then threw on a small log.

Rising, he stretched his back. “I think that fall did more damage than I thought. I’m stiff.”

“It was fun,” Ellene said, curling her feet beneath her as she gazed at the fire.

Connor’s stomach tightened, seeing the flickering glow reflect on her upturned face. A warm smile curved her mouth.

“It was,” he said, joining her on the sofa. He stayed closer to the far end, not wanting to cause her concern.

As he leaned against the cushion, the kitchen light flickered and went out. Connor gave a soft chuckle as the fire’s glow filled the room.

“I think you made this happen with your pessimism,” Ellene said.

“I call it wisdom.”

“You do?” She shook her head.

Connor rose and snapped off the lights and pulled cords on the appliances. “Safer to do this than have a power surge.”

He returned and sat closer, turning to face her. “It’ll be cold tonight. You’ll need extra blankets.”

“I’ll sleep down here by the fire. I’ll be fine.”

He didn’t open his mouth, afraid he’d say something that he’d be sorry for. “With the weather warming, I’d guess the ferry will open soon—if not tomorrow, then the next day.”

“Then I can go home.” Her voice sounded soft and uncertain.

“That’s good news for you.”

She rested her neck against the cushion. “Yes, but I’ll…” She lifted her head and shook it.

“You like not having to get up for work.”

“That’s nice, but—”

“What is it?”

“It’s Caitlin. She’s a beautiful child, Connor. I know how attached she is, and I feel responsible. She’s grown on me, too. I’ll miss her.”

He shifted closer, letting his arm rest on the sofa back. “Ellene, we don’t have to be strangers. We’ve spent nearly a week together—in forced proximity, but it hasn’t been too bad, has it?”

She lowered her head, her finger plucking at a loose thread in the sofa fabric. “It’s been fine.” She lifted her gaze. “Most of the time.”

Connor laughed and touched her hand. “It seemed good to be together again, even for business.”

Ellene didn’t respond.

“Speaking of business, if you’re still here tomorrow, I’d like your opinion on my business venture.”

She arched an eyebrow. “My opinion? Are you sure?”

“I am. I respect your intelligence and business sense. There’s a place in town I’ve been thinking about buying. A sports shop.”

“On the island?” She uncurled her legs and slid her feet to the floor. “What about the electricity? They’ll probably be closed.”

“It’s in town, and I’m guessing they still have power there. I’ll check in the morning.”

“Why is the owner selling the business?”

“He wants off the island, I think.” He looked at the expression on her face and knew what she was thinking. “And you don’t blame him, I know.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know about a business on an island. You have limited customers.”

“The island has tourists in the summer. I’d just like you to take a look.”

“And you want me to be truthful?”

He saw the look on her face and didn’t answer. She’d already made up her mind.

E
llene stepped from Connor’s SUV, and a chill skittered down her back. She’d only drunk orange juice this morning, since the electricity hadn’t come back on. She would enjoy a hot cup of coffee, especially after learning the town still had power.

“It’s colder than predicted,” Connor said, closing the SUV’s door. He swung his hand toward the shop in front of them. “This is it.”

Ellene gazed at the sign. Island Sports Shop. She studied the street-front windows with their unimaginative design. She glanced at golf clubs, polo shirts, tennis rackets and badminton sets, all seemingly dumped into the window display.

Connor pushed open the door and motioned her inside. She stood a moment within the threshold, noting no customers browsing inside the store. She wandered down the first aisle, then the second,
viewing golf shoes, tennis shoes, archery sets and fishing gear.

She also noticed dust everywhere. The shop needed a good cleaning. Signs of neglect gave her an uneasy feeling. No pride in the business, no customers, no success.

Her mind spun with curiosity. On a small island, how much business would a sports shop have?

As they neared the counter, the clerk was watching them. “Can I help you?”

“We’re just looking,” Connor said. He paused in front of the register. “Mr. Long’s not in today?” He turned to Ellene. “He’s the owner.”

“Mr. Long lives off the island in the winter. He couldn’t get here without the ferry service.”

“Isn’t that unusual to live away from your business?” Ellene asked, thinking that hiring help in a sport shop in winter didn’t make good business sense.

“He has a full-time job on the mainland.”

“Aah,” Ellene said, weighing the information and noting Connor hadn’t reacted to the statement.

He grasped her arm and steered her away from the counter to peruse the rest of the shop. The contents seemed much the same—baseball bats and mitts, basketballs and hoops—nothing for the winter months.

“I’ve seen enough, I think,” she said, edging toward the doorway. “How about finding a restaurant so we can have a cup of coffee?”

“That sounds good,” he said as he pushed open the door and they stepped outside. “So, what do you think?”

“You want me to be honest.”

He nodded, his eyes searching hers.

“I think you’d be throwing your money away.”

He pulled himself to full height. “I figured you’d say that.”

“You asked and now you don’t trust my opinion?”

“It’s not that. I saw it on your face yesterday when I asked you to take a look.”

Her shoulders tightened. “You’re wrong, and if you’d have really asked questions and looked at the shop, then you’d understand why I say this.”

He pursed his lips and shoved his hands into his pockets. “You don’t have a lot of faith in me, do you?”

“It has nothing to do with faith in you. It’s about having no faith in a business that’s dead.”

He reached for her arm to help her over a slippery stretch of sidewalk, and her reflex caused her to pull away. From his expression, Ellene knew she’d hurt his feelings.

“I don’t want to argue about this, Connor. I just hate to see you throw away your money on a bad business decision.”

He was quiet a moment, hunched over, she assumed against the cold, then he turned his head toward her. “Why do you assume the business is dead?”

“Do you see any customers?” She scanned the
surrounding shops. “Look over there.” She pointed across the street. “Nick’s Hardware. You went there Monday for supplies, and there, Gale’s Hair Salon. Over there’s the Island Video. You see the cars?” She swung her hand toward the space in front of the sport shop. “Do you see any here except yours?”

He shook his head and unlocked the car door, then opened it for her, the hot coffee forgotten.

She slid inside, sorry that she’d been so blunt, but she couldn’t see Connor taking his inheritance and sinking it into a failing business, which is what she guessed the store would be.

Connor slid in, turned the key in the ignition and pulled away. He didn’t speak, and Ellene knew he was upset.

She opened her mouth to apologize, but the damage had already been done. Instead she looked out the passenger window, asking herself what she should have said. She could have lied, but she’d never forgive herself if he bought the store and lost his money.

Connor snapped on the radio, turning the volume so loud they couldn’t talk if they wanted to. He kept his eyes focused on the road, but when they passed the ferry landing, he slowed, then picked up speed.

Ellene noticed the sign still said Closed and figured he would be glad to get rid of her. Although she tried to pretend it didn’t matter, the idea that he wanted to see her leave stung. She leaned her head
against the cold glass, thinking about how things could have gone.

She was reminded of her telephone call to her mother: “We’d love to see Connor,” she’d said.

Ellene had tried to temper the conversation, but her mother returned to the topic.

“Your birthday’s in a couple of weeks. We’re having your dinner party here. Why not invite Connor?”

“Let’s not get carried away, Mom. We’re together on a business deal, nothing more.”

“Then there’s no harm in inviting him.”

Ellene had struggled to get off the telephone and assure her mother she’d be home soon.

Soon. She hoped tomorrow, but despite her declaration to her mother that it was business only between her and Connor, the thought of leaving the island—leaving Caitlin and him—gave her a lonely feeling.

She lifted her forehead from the cold windowpane. “Connor, maybe I jumped to conclusions. I’m sorry.”

He looked her way with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

He turned off the radio. “I realize you grew up with a father who has a successful business. I don’t know if he ever had to struggle, but since I’ve known you, your family has been well-off. I’d like to do that for my daughter.”

“Connor, I’m not comparing you to—”

“I know it will take time to get the business going.
I hope to have enough money to live on, and I’ll give this more thought, but if I live on the island, I think it would be nice to work here, too.”

“It would, and I’m not comparing you to my father.”

“Good, because I’m not him.”

She knew that, and in some ways, she was glad. She loved her father, but he had attributes that got on her nerves, too.

One of Aunt Phyllis’s Bible verses came to mind. “Be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ellene could still hear his aunt’s lecture about how relationships are made up of people with differing opinions, and arguments keep a person on his toes and teach patience.

Ellene had to admit she’d been on her toes a lot while being stranded on the island, but without wanting to, she’d found pleasure in it.

“Lights came on while you were gone,” Aunt Phyllis said when they arrived back, and the
Bramble
is heading toward the channel, I hear.”

“Then I’ll be leaving soon,” Ellene said.

“No,” Caitlin said. “You can’t go home. We’ll miss you.”

“Remember what I said? I’ll miss you, too.”

“You’ll see each other again,” Aunt Phyllis said. “Ellene and your daddy both have to go to work, and you have to go back to school.”

“I don’t want to go to school.”

Connor knelt beside Caitlin and tilted her chin. “So you like this house after all.”

She turned her head away. “I like it when Ellene is here. She plays with me.”

“Your Daddy plays with you, too,” Ellene said.

She looked at the floor. “But it’s more fun when it’s all of us.”

Connor’s heart ached for his daughter. He drew her into his arms and hugged her so tightly he feared he might hurt her. He eased back and looked into her sad eyes. “We’ll see Ellene again. She’s going to help us fix this cottage into a real house.”

She studied Connor’s face, then turned to look into Ellene’s eyes. “Will I see you again?”

“I’m positive.”

“Promise?”

Connor knew a promise had to be real. He turned to Ellene, asking with his eyes and knowing she understood from her expression.

“Promise,” she said.

Caitlin wriggled from his arms and gave Ellene a hug.

His mind wavered. Ellene could make him so angry as she did today when she denigrated his ability to make the sports shop a success. She’d hurt his pride. Yet often she filled him with pleasure—her quick mind, the laughter, the tender moments, the years they’d shared.

He watched Caitlin’s face. She’d latched onto Ellene
as if she were her favorite playmate, and now the ferry service would soon be back in use. Even though Ellene had promised, things would never be the same.

He cared about Ellene more than he could say. Why play with the truth? He’d fallen in love with her again, as irritating as she could be, and it wasn’t for Caitlin’s sake, either, but for his own. The love he’d felt for Ellene so long ago had only slipped into a compartment in his mind and had been set free since she’d reappeared. He’d lost control of his heart.

Aunt Phyllis broke the silence. “I’m going to run next door for a few things.” She slipped on her coat and headed for the door.

“Can I play outside, Daddy? Just for a little while?”

He glanced at Ellene as if to ask for approval for some reason, but she didn’t notice. “For a few minutes, but be careful,” he said finally.

Caitlin found her coat and boots, then opened the door and bounded outside into the cold air.

Connor stood in silence with Ellene beside him. He had too much to say and so little time. He’d tried to work slowly, letting her know he cherished their friendship. He wanted to tell her he cherished her, but he sensed she was still guarded, and he knew he should move slowly.

“You know,” he said, easing his back against the kitchen counter, “this ferry closing has had some effects for me.”

She eyed him questioningly.

He grinned. “Aunt Phyllis and her scripture lessons. They’ve been thrust upon me with a vengeance.”

She seemed to weigh what he’d said and then realized he’d been joking. “She has a unique personality.”

“She’s taught me a lot about faith while we’ve been cooped up here together. She’s a walking Bible. When you’re not around, she barrages me with verses on trust and forgiveness.”

Ellene finally laughed. “Join the club.” She tapped her chest. “She’s done the same to me.” She looked uneasy a moment and looked away, but when she redirected her focus, she grinned into his eyes. “She’s determined you and I should be friends.”

“I know.” He drew in a lengthy breath, a question clinging to his lips. “What do you think?”

She pursed her lips. “We have a truce.”

“Right, but how about more than that? How about a real friendship?”

“It’s possible, I suppose.” Her gaze wandered as if in thought. “With time and TLC.”

Tender loving care. “I can do that.”

She smiled. “Let’s see how it goes.”

“I can handle that,” he said, thrilled to have taken a step forward with her.

“Good.” she chuckled and headed toward the back door. She gazed out the window. “Caitlin looks lonely. I think I’ll go outside.”

“She’ll like that.” A sweet sensation squeezed
Connor’s chest. Ellene could be so thoughtful, so loving when she let down her guard, and their candid talk gave him hope for even better things.

Ellene headed across the room, picked up her jacket, then strode to the door. She gave a wave and stepped outside.

Connor stood in the window a moment, his heart in this throat. Ellene would be a wonderful mother to Caitlin—a wonderful mother to her own children. Despite her reservations, she’d succumbed to Caitlin’s charm. He realized she didn’t know much about kids, but then, neither did he. He’d done the best he could—sometimes frustrated, but always blessed.

He watched Caitlin running across the slippery snow to meet Ellene. He could tell from Caitlin’s motions she wanted to make another snowman, but the snow was too wet.

Connor’s gaze drifted to the slippery street. The sun had sent down its warming beams onto the earth, and the ice had finally begun to melt. He heard the steady plop of icicles dropping from nearby trees and the eaves of the house.

He turned his attention back to Caitlin as she ran in a wide circle with Ellene pretending she was trying to catch her. He walked away from the window and slipped on his jacket. Why was he inside when the two women he loved were outdoors?

When Connor pulled open the door, Pepper darted
between his legs and bounded outside. “Pepper. Get back here,” he called as Ellene clapped her hands to draw the dog toward her.

But Caitlin saw Pepper and a smile lit her face. She grabbed a broken tree limb from the ground and tossed the stick. Pepper grabbed it and headed away from them toward the street.

Connor’s gaze followed the dog, and his heart stood still when he saw a car veering down the street, its wheels sliding on the icy road. He spotted Caitlin running toward the terrier. He jerked on the doorknob, flung the door wider and saw Ellene dashing toward Caitlin who seemed unaware that a car was charging toward her and Pepper.

“Caitlin,” Ellene screamed.

Caitlin glanced over her shoulder and laughed, as if she thought Ellene’s call was part of the game.

“Caitlin. Stop!” Connor was running hard with Ellene racing ahead of him.

Pepper darted to the edge of the street, obviously trying to brake, but the ice kept the dog’s momentum moving forward.

Connor’s heart thundered as Caitlin, who must have spotted the car, lurched forward to grab the dog, but Ellene had reached her and pushed her aside. Caitlin slipped to the ground, but Pepper didn’t have a chance to escape. The car skidded sideways and clipped the dog.

Caitlin’s scream pierced the air as she scrambled
up from the frozen snow, skittering toward the dog lying at the road’s edge.

The sedan spun sideways, jumped the curb and finally came to a stop. The door flew open and a frightened young man sped to their side and knelt beside the dog. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t stop.”