The Reunion (6 page)

“Hello, Ebony,” Ethan finally said in a gentle way. “How are you?”

Ebony’s heart raced, and her face, usually animated, froze.

“Mr. Harrington,” she returned with a formal nod, her voice cracking.

Ethan nodded politely and then picked up a toolbox. Though Ebony was keenly and painfully aware of his every movement, she pretended not to notice him. She did not even acknowledge his nod as he left the room, but when he was out of immediate view, it seemed as if a vise had been loosened from around her chest, allowing her to breathe again.

“We’d better get going,” Ebony said in a high-pitched voice. “We can’t stand around and chat all day.”

Doc looked at the road, noted that the plow had still not come through, and it was determined, much to Ebony’s chagrin, that they would have to wait awhile longer. As they stood in the kitchen, Ethan walked from the basement to the living room and started talking to Doc. Ebony, who was closest to them, strained, against her will, to hear what they were saying.

“Did you know,” Doc said quietly to the young man, who had his back to Ebony, “that in a little over three months, Ebony is leaving for Africa?”

At that moment, Ebony looked into a mirror attached to a cabinet and saw the reflection of Ethan’s face, though he did not see her. She could not get over how handsome he was. He had filled out and become heavier, but his looks, always impressive, had been amplified by time. Truly, he was the best-looking man she had ever seen.

“Jenny told me,” Ethan said softly, staring off distractedly with a look of consternation.

“This is a three-year program, and from what Jenny said, Ebony may stay for good.” Doc paused. “She’s a wonderful lady. I could tell that the moment I met her. Jenny doesn’t want her to go. No one does. We want her to stay in Shad Bay.”

Ethan suddenly noticed Ebony looking at his reflection in the mirror. She was immensely embarrassed, but she could not free herself from the magnetic pull of his eyes.

“Believe me,” he said to Doc, though he looked at Ebony, “if I have my way, you’ll have yours.”

Ebony abruptly turned away, gritting her teeth.

How dare he!
she thought, growling under her breath.
How dare Ethan Harrington waltz back into my life as if nothing happened, as if he could pick up where he left off all those years ago. The arrogance. The egotism. I’d love to give him a piece of my mind, but he doesn’t deserve the attention. He is meaningless, absolutely, undeniably meaningless. I will not expend one more ounce of energy on him.

The plow went through, and Ebony, her face flushed, hurried to the door. She wanted more than anything to get away from Ethan, but though she drove with the other women to the rental home, it wasn’t long before she met up with him again. He and Ron pulled the moving truck into the yard and in an hour emptied it. Though the women put away the smaller items as they were brought in, Ebony refused to look at Ethan. His mere presence was painful and agonizing to her. But, thankfully, after he and Ron hooked up the appliances and assembled the beds, Ethan left.

Thank God
, she thought.

She helped for the rest of the afternoon, and it was not until around five that Ebony, totally exhausted, got out of Rebecca’s car at the bottom of her driveway. Jenny pleaded with her to stay over until the furnace was fixed, but Ebony flatly refused. She wanted to spend the night in her own home, in her own bed. But as she shuffled through the deep snow, her body dragged along almost involuntarily. She felt like she was falling asleep on her feet. Plenty of work still remained, however. She had to start another fire, uncover frozen blocks of wood, swing her heavy ax, and hack knotted chunks into pieces small enough for her stove. Halfway up the windswept hill, the cold air blasting without remorse, she stopped and thought about Jenny’s offer.

No, she could not possibly stay in the Harrington house. Not now. She shook her head with pride and determination, then continued on her way, dragging herself through the drifts. Her heavy blue coat flapped in the wind, and the lower button popped off, disappearing in the snow. She stopped for a moment and searched, but soon gave up with a sigh and began trudging up the hill again. The house would be cold, but at least it was her house.

By the time Ebony reached her yard, she felt like she had just finished a marathon. Instead of having someone waiting for her with a congratulatory smile, however, no one stood at the finish line. She felt incredibly, intensely, painfully alone. Completely drained of energy and feeling faint with fatigue, she yawned and walked around the corner, but suddenly stopped in her tracks and gasped. Ethan was standing beside a mound of split wood, his back to her.

“What are you doing here?” Ebony shrieked.

Ethan turned his handsome face to her. “Just lending a hand.”

“I don’t need your help, and I don’t want your help.”

“I’m going to start a fire, pile some wood in your house, and then I’ll leave.”

“Get off my property!”

“I will. I promise.”

“Your promises are worthless. Leave. Now!”

He leaned against the wall. She couldn’t help but think of Marlon Brando in
The Wild One
: handsome, cocky, charismatic.

“Did you hear me?” she challenged.

“Yes.”

“So?”

“So call the police,” he answered.

“You listen here, buddy.”

“No, you listen!” Ethan declared, stepping forward and standing face-to-face with her. “You’re cold and tired, and I’m not leaving this house until it’s warm. If you want to sit in a snow bank, that’s your prerogative.” He lowered his voice and started gathering wood. “I know you hate me, and I don’t blame you for it, but I’m not leaving until I know you’re safe.” His tone and expression were very firm, but a look of tenderness softened his features. “Jenny told me your furnace is down, so if you don’t get heat in your house, the pipes will freeze and burst. Then you’ll have a royal mess on your hands.”

“Ooh,” Ebony groaned angrily.

Ethan shrugged, and Ebony stood outside for a couple minutes, just to prove a point, then unlocked the door and walked into her house. Ethan followed her, taking the wood inside and laying it by her stove.

“Brrr,” he said, quickly gathering some newspaper and kindling.

Though Ebony would not admit it, she was shocked at how cold her house had gotten and was secretly pleased Ethan was there. He started a fire and then filled her wood box. Soon the fire blazed and crackled, and Ebony sat on a chair in front of it. Without asking, Ethan opened the basement door and was about to walk down the stairs when he stopped and looked back.

“Ebony?” he said.

She turned to him without responding.

“I think I found your problem.”

“What?” she asked irritably.

“Come here for a moment, please,” he said.

Feeling aggravated beyond all measure, she left the warming stove and walked to the basement steps where he stood. She could intensely feel his presence as she stood next to him. He pointed at a red box with a black switch, the word “Emergency” written on it. It was set in the off position.

“I think you must have brushed against this switch,” he said, flicking it to the on position.

Suddenly the furnace started, and Ebony looked at him in surprise.

“I bet you didn’t even know it was there.”

“Of course I did,” she lied. “I must have hit it by accident.”

“I see,” he said, nodding. “Well, it seems my work is done here. You have a fire going and enough wood to last you for days. The furnace is up and running. No need for me to trouble you further.”

She hated to admit it, but she wanted him to stay. “Right,” she said. “Leave.”

“Listen, since I helped you out, maybe you can help me.”

Ebony squinted. “How?”

“It was awfully cold cutting that wood, and I feel chilled. I hate to have to row back to the island feeling that way, so would you mind offering me a cup of hot tea before I leave?”

She stared at him with cold eyes.

“Please,” he said.

She turned away with a glare and plugged in the kettle.

He smiled and immediately went to the cupboard, opened it, and took a can down from the top shelf. “Would you like a cup?”

She nodded slightly.

“Still Earl Grey?” he asked, taking out two packets.

“Irish Breakfast for me. The can where I used to keep the sugar.”

He quickly picked out a yellow can, though it was not marked in any way, and took from it two packets of Irish Breakfast tea. As Ethan puttered around the kitchen, Ebony went into the porch and picked up Ethan’s big winter boots. For some unknown reason, she felt pleased as she laid them on newspaper near the stove.

“They’ll be warm,” she said, noticing him looking at her, “for when you leave.”

He took off his coat and draped it across a chair. “Thank you, Ebony.”

“I can’t force you to leave,” she said proudly, “but understand that I do not want you in my house.”

He nodded and stoked the stove. Ebony rolled her eyes as Ethan looked at her, his face even more handsome than she remembered. She poured two mugs of water, put in the teabags, then handed him one without making eye contact. She sat down on the couch, curling her legs underneath herself. Against her will, she watched every movement he made. He was so strong and masculine, so out of the ordinary in a house where she had not been alone with a man since he left. And there was something about his boots next to the stove that made her feel safe. Soon he had the fire raging, its comforting heat radiating throughout the house. She could also feel the warmth coming from the radiators, and this inspired a sense of relief. Finishing her tea, she set the mug on the coffee table and closed her eyes for just a second.

When she opened them, she was shocked to see it was one in the morning. The room was bathed in light from the fire, its licking flames dancing behind the glass panel. Her house was filled with a reassuring, protective warmth, and though she had not covered herself, a blanket was draped over her. Ethan sat in a rocking chair next to her, staring at something in his hands. She felt almost glad he was there, but it did not last.

“Please leave my home,” Ebony said sharply, anger unmistakable in her voice as she rose to a sitting position.

Ethan passed Ebony the stained glass picture Jenny had given her. It was in one piece.

“I thought it broke,” she said, accepting it from him with a look of confusion.

“It did, but a little glue, a little patience, and presto. Everything’s fine again.”

Ebony ran her fingertips over the glass. Though now in one piece, a slender portion of the ocean was missing. The difference was obvious, as the woman onshore and the man in his fishing boat were now markedly closer.

“I couldn’t repair it perfectly,” Ethan apologized, “but I’ve made an effort. It’s up to you whether or not to accept that.”

Ebony kept her eyes lowered, unwilling to look at him.

“It seems this woman and this man have been separated for a long time,” he continued, leaning closer and studying the artwork, “but he’s obviously anxious to be with her again.” He waited until she raised her eyes. “I suppose that if two people loved each other, it wouldn’t matter how long they were separated.”

“If they truly loved one another,” Ebony said.

“Yes, love is the key.”

“Trust is even more important than love.”

“It seems to me that this man wants nothing more than to be loved, and trusted, by this woman. What do you think?”

“Love comes naturally, but trust has to be earned,” she said, rising off the couch. Ebony turned to him with a cold glare. “Love can come instantly, but it can take years to develop trust, and once trust is broken, no matter what, it can never be regained.”

Ethan gently touched her arm.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” she shot back, jerking away from him with a sharp movement, her eyes wild with anger.

He quickly pulled back. “Ebony,” he began optimistically, “this piece of stained glass was broken, but things can be fixed.”

“Sometimes the break is too great to repair,” she reiterated. Tears formed in her eyes. “But in time, Mr. Harrington, I may accept you as an acquaintance.”

“And what if time is running out?”

“No one can predict the future.”

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“You, sir, have no say in the matter.”

He stared deeply into her eyes. “Please don’t leave Shad Bay.”

Still holding the piece of stained glass, she almost, in a moment of irrational anger, let it fall and break again. But she laid it face down on the shelf next to her movie,
Pride and Prejudice
.

“Give me another chance,” Ethan coaxed, lightly touching her hand with his fingertips. “Please.”

She jerked away as if jolted by an electric shock. “How dare you.” She gritted her teeth for several seconds. “How dare you touch me! Who gave you the right to force your way back into my life? And how can you possibly delude yourself into thinking that I want anything you have to offer? You deserted me, Ethan. You made a goddamned fool of me in front of all my friends, in front of the whole community. Do you have even the slightest idea of what you put me through? The humiliation? The shame? The agony of five long years? Five years, Ethan. Not one lousy word in five fucking years.”

“You have to come back to me.”

“I don’t have to do anything.” She paused. “Get out!” she ordered, her blood boiling. “Get out of my house, and get out of my life!”

Ethan sighed, put on his boots and coat, then walked to the door. He clasped the handle, hesitated, and turned around.

“We are meant to be together, Ebony. It can be no other way.”

“We can never be together again,” Ebony resolved. “Some obstacles are too big.”

“Any obstacle can be overcome.”

She shook her head with determination. He looked at her a last time and then left, but his words echoed in her mind, and she could still visualize his big boots next to her warm stove. In days long past, she had dreamt of those boots being there every day, of him holding her in bed every night and warming her with his big, manly body. But that was five years ago. A lifetime. Everything was different now.