Rose Harbor in Bloom (27 page)

“You don’t need to be. Just follow me.”

“What are you going to do?”

The music started up again before Oliver had the chance to answer. Annie groaned when she realized it was a slow love song. This was even worse than a fast number.

Oliver reached for her and gently brought her into his arms, wrapping one arm around her waist and gripping her hand. After a couple of moments he whispered in her ear, “Relax. I’m not going to bite you.”

While that was true, she wouldn’t put it past him to nibble on her earlobe. She made a sincere effort to release the tension that held her in its grip. Not only was this unfamiliar territory, but this was Oliver. Despite that, after a few moments she grew more comfortable.

“See, it’s not so bad, is it?” Oliver whispered again.

“Not so bad,” she echoed. He made it easy for her to follow, and he stayed with the basic dance steps.

“Ready?” he asked, as the tempo picked up.

“Ready for what?” She was almost afraid to ask.

Tightening his grip on her waist, he started to whirl around the room in sweeping circles, taking her with him.

Annie gasped, strengthening her grip around him. “What are you doing?” she asked in a panic.

“Dancing.”

“Well, don’t.”

He chuckled as though her comment amused him. “We’re doing great.”

The song continued, and Annie sighed with gratitude when he effortlessly returned to the slow, uncomplicated steps he’d used earlier. Again, it wasn’t hard to follow his lead. He made it far too easy to find comfort in his arms.

Because she was curious, she asked, “Where’d you learn that whirling move?”

“You won’t believe me if I told you.”

“You took dancing lessons?” Oliver didn’t seem the type.

“In a manner of speaking, you could say that.”

In a manner of speaking? Either he did or he didn’t. She looked up at him and found his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Are you going to tell me?”

“If you must know, your grandfather is the one who taught me that little trick.”

“You danced with my grandfather?”

“No.” Oliver laughed. “According to him, it was the technique he used to sweep your grandmother off her feet.”

“I imagine you’ve used that little dance-floor maneuver before on other unsuspecting partners,” she said, enjoying teasing him.

Oliver’s finger touched her cheek, turning her face toward him. “No.”

“No?”

“Only with you, Annie, only with you.”

This was information she didn’t want to hear. She looked away and did her best to ignore the soothing warmth she felt in his embrace. As much as she didn’t want to feel anything for the boy, now the man, she’d spent the last ten years despising, Annie did. The sexual current between them was strong, arcing with every move and impossible to ignore. At thirteen, she’d been crazy about him, and here she was, as an adult, and that same euphoric high hit her all over again.

The song ended, and Oliver reluctantly released her. Annie used the opportunity to step away from him. He was about to say something when a distant preteen relative raced up to him.

“Dance with me, okay?” Tammy Lee pleaded, and grabbed hold of his hand with both of her own. “Twirl me around the way you did Annie.”

Oliver chuckled and said, “Now, that’s an invitation I can’t refuse.”

“My turn next!” another cousin cried.

It was apparent that Oliver would be occupied for the next several minutes. Annie was grateful for the breather, and not because she was winded. Her head whirled with what was happening between her and Oliver, and she had yet to sort it out.

Her grandparents were seated at their table now, and seeing that they were alone, Annie joined them.

“Oh, Annie,” her grandmother said, patting the seat of the empty chair next to her. “Sit with us for a few minutes.”

Her grandfather scooted closer, and his gaze was warm and sincere when he spoke: “This has been a lovely party.”

“It’s been just perfect,” her grandmother concurred. “More than either Kent or I had imagined … above all our expectations.”

“I’m honored to do this for you,” Annie told them, and she was. A lot of hours and hard work had gone into this special anniversary party. She’d stressed over every detail. But it had been worth it a hundred times over just to see the way her grandparents’ eyes had lit up when they walked into the reception. They’d been shocked and amazed to see so many of their family and friends awaiting their arrival.

Julie looked toward Kent. “I don’t know why we were so worried.”

“We’re just a pair of old fools,” her grandfather muttered, leaning closer to Annie.

“Speak for yourself,” her grandmother teased.

Annie soaked in their praise. “I have to say I had no idea the two of you were such wonderful dancers.”

“Oh, it’s really Kent who’s fast on his feet,” her grandmother was quick to tell her. “Back in the day, all the girls wanted to dance with him.”

Without meaning to, Annie’s gaze found Oliver on the dance floor with her young cousin, who gazed up at him adoringly.

“I see you notice that Kent isn’t the only one who’s got some fancy footwork,” her grandmother commented, her eyes following Annie’s.

That reminded Annie of what Oliver had told her. “Oliver said you’re the one who taught him how to sweep a woman off her feet,” Annie said to her grandfather.

Kent chuckled. “He told you that, did he?”

“He claimed it was that dance move that won you Grandma’s heart.”

“Kent,” her grandmother protested.

“Well, it was.”

Julie leaned forward. “I am not that fickle, Annie. Don’t you believe your grandfather for one moment. While it is true that Kent could dance circles around any other boy I ever dated, my falling in love with him had nothing to do with his moves on the dance floor.”

“You’re denying it?” Annie’s grandfather asked, his question full of challenge.

“Well, okay, to be fair, I was impressed by what a great dancer he is, but it was his eyes that really won me over.”

Kent frowned. “My eyes?”

“I found them absolutely adorable. Still do,” her grandmother confessed with a soft sigh.

Instead of being pleased, Annie’s grandfather frowned and scratched the side of his head. “Well, that certainly comes as a surprise.”

“For heaven’s sake, Kent, after fifty years you should have been able to figure that out.”

“Guess you’re right,” he murmured, although he continued to frown.

“That’s a compliment, Grandpa,” Annie said, surprised by his reaction.

“I know. It’s just that I told Oliver …” He snapped his mouth closed as if he’d said more than he’d intended to.

“What did you tell Oliver?” her grandmother asked.

Annie was curious herself. “Yes, what did you tell Oliver?”

Kent shook his head as if it was of no concern. “We chatted about women in general. Oliver asked me a few questions, and I answered him as best I could.”

“Kent!”

“He wanted my advice when it came to Annie here.”

“Kent!” Her grandmother’s eyes widened. “You told me whatever
happened or didn’t happen between Annie and Oliver was none of our affair and I should stay out of it.”

Annie’s gaze shot between her grandfather and her grandmother. “What are you two talking about?”

They ignored her. “Oliver said he wanted a marriage that would last fifty years, the same as the two of us, and asked my advice.”

“It sounds to me like you wandered down the same path you insisted I not take,” her grandmother said, and appeared none too pleased.

“He wanted specifics.”

“Specifics?” Annie asked, wanting details herself.

“Yes. Like how did I convince Julie to fall in love with me? I thought it was my dancing, but apparently I got it wrong.”

“You old fool, it was a lot more than that. You were thoughtful and loving.”

“And my sister, God rest her soul, fed you information.”

“True,” her grandmother admitted, somewhat reluctantly.

“So what does it hurt if I answer Oliver’s questions about Annie?”

“Well, seeing that it’s Annie …”

The two of them spoke as if they’d completely forgotten that Annie was sitting only a couple of feet away.

“Hey, you two. Remember me?”

“Of course,” her grandmother said, without looking at her. She stretched out her arm and patted Annie’s knee. “Just be patient while your grandfather and I settle this. Kent Shivers, it seems to me you’ve been something of a hypocrite.”

Her grandfather did look slightly guilty. “We both want the same thing—we just have different methods.”

While her grandparents became involved in their discussion, Annie didn’t notice that the music had stopped. When next she looked up, Oliver was standing at her side.

“I believe this dance is mine,” he said, and held out his hand to her.

Without even realizing what she was doing, Annie rose to her feet, her gaze holding his.

Oliver’s arms went around her, and she pressed the side of her face against his chest. It felt good to be in his arms. Right.

“It is true, isn’t it?” she said, more to herself than to question him.

Oliver kissed the top of her head. Even without knowing what she asked about, he answered, “Every word.”

I was barely able to distract myself until Grace arrived. I’d spoken briefly with the librarian, although I hadn’t given her any of the details of why I’d called. She must have heard the anxiety in my voice, because right away she promised to visit as soon as the Saturday movie finished. It would be over in less than an hour.

I felt mildly guilty for bothering her in the middle of the afternoon event, but she’d assured me it wasn’t a problem. Rover, my constant and faithful companion, sat with me as I waited.

When I heard a car door close, I walked around to the front of the porch and was grateful to see it was Grace. Her pace quickened when she saw me. Although she was several years older than me, probably close to my mother’s age, I considered her a friend. If not
for Grace, I wouldn’t have Rover. She wore a denim jumper over a long-sleeved red turtleneck shirt.

As she approached, she held out both hands to me. “Jo Marie, is everything all right? You sounded so upset.”

I could lie and tell her everything was hunky-dory, but it wasn’t, and I was unable to pretend otherwise.

“Do you have time to talk for a few minutes?” I asked, instead of answering her question.

“Of course.”

We sat down right where we were on the porch steps. She continued to hold my hands, and Rover, my wonderful Rover, sensed my distress and pressed his chin against my thigh.

“Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions first?” I asked.

“You can ask me anything,” Grace assured me, and then laughed softly. “Well, anything within reason.”

“Your first husband died?”

Sadness bled into her eyes, and a faraway look stole over her. “His name was Dan, and we were married nearly thirty years.”

“I heard …” I sincerely hoped I wasn’t bringing up a time so painful that it was difficult to speak of it.

“What did you hear?” Grace pressed.

“Mark told me Dan was missing for several months before you knew he was dead.”

The sad look in her eyes deepened. “He was missing for over a year.”

“A year … and did you hold out hope that he was alive during that time?” I couldn’t help asking, wanting so desperately to believe in my own situation.

“Oh, yes, I was convinced of it. Dan had left like this before, a couple of times, actually. He’d disappear for a day or two without a word. The first time I panicked, not knowing what to think. Because I was worried out of my mind, I called the sheriff and reported him missing. When he returned, Dan was furious with me.”

Grace’s circumstances were completely different than my own, but the feelings she experienced, not knowing one way or the other, were achingly familiar. This was the nightmare I had been living with ever since I’d gotten the phone call from Lieutenant Colonel Milford.

“The next time he disappeared, it was for much longer. In a short period of time, he returned to the house twice. Both times it was while I was at work.”

“How’d you know? Were things missing from the house?”

“Not that I noticed, at least not right away.”

I could see this was difficult for her, bringing up memories Grace would rather forget, and I was sorry to cause her to relive all this again. “If you’d rather not talk about …”

“No, it’s fine.”

I thanked her with a small smile.

“It’s funny,” she said. “Not humorous funny, but a weird sort of funny. The minute I walked into the house, I sensed Dan had been there. I even called out his name, thinking he was back. I stood in the middle of the room and waited for him to reply. He’d vanish for a few days, then return and act as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t been gone for two nights or longer and I should just ignore the fact that he’d disappeared.”

“So when he was gone for an extended period of time, longer than a couple of days, did you have any idea where he’d gone or what had happened to him?”

She smiled, but I could see it wasn’t one of amusement. “I assumed he’d left me for another woman.”

“What made you think that?”

“A couple of things. First off, I found his wedding band. He’d left that behind, as if casting me aside, dismissing our wedding vows. A month or so after he disappeared the last time, I found a charge on our credit card from a jeweler I didn’t know. I was so angry. I contacted the jewelry store, but all they could tell me was
what he’d purchased: a ring. I assumed the jewelry was for another woman. What hurt was the fact that he’d left me to pay for it.”

“Was it for someone else?”

Grace clenched her hands together. “Not until later did I learn he’d bought himself another wedding band. Apparently, he thought he’d lost the one I’d found, and he wanted to have his wedding ring on when he killed himself. In retrospect, I realized this was his twisted way of honoring me, our daughters, and our marriage.”

Seeing how painful this was for my friend, I squeezed her hands. “You don’t need to tell me any more.”