Why hadnt he told her he was leaving? Why hadnt he at least said goodbye? Had asking her to go with him ever crossed his mind, or did he deliberately leave her as well as Tuckers Point behind? And why hadnt he loved her enough to stay?
She wasnt going to give him the satisfaction of bringing it up, though. Especially in front of people she knew. It wasnt as though knowing the answers would change anything. All it would do was rip open old wounds and not change the bottom line. Brody knew where she was. If he wanted her, he would have come back for her.
Feeling steadier, Delaney carried the screen into the gym and walked it over to the corner where Brody and Sandy had gathered three cots together.
I hope you dont mind we took an extra, Sandy said. If Mike gets a chance to sleep, hell probably come here.
Its fine. If we do end up with a shortage of cots, I might have to steal it back if hes not here, but well cross that bridge if we come to it. She leaned the screen against the wall. Ill let you guys figure out how you want this after you get situated.
Thanks so much, Delaney, Sandy said.
Delaney managed not to look Brody in the face even once during the exchange. She could do this, she thought, as she brushed off her hands and started walking away. Ignoring him wouldnt be so hard.
Hey, Delaney? She turned and her insides quivered when his mouth lifted into that boyish grin shed always been a sucker for. Nice sweatshirt.
* * *
BRODY WAS DOING everything in his power not to watch Delaney as she moved around the gym, doing whatever needed to be done. Unfortunately, he wasnt a comic book hero and his powers were limited.
Shed barely changed at all in the five years hed been gone. Her dark blond hair, judging by the length of her ponytail, was a little longer. And shed put on a little weight, but it looked good on her.
Seeing her in his sweatshirt, though, was twisting him up in ways he hadnt thought possible. Hed looked for it the night hed left town because it was his favorite and he didnt want to leave it behind. Then hed remembered pulling it over Delaneys head and helping her shove her arms in the sleeves because shed been shivering in the ocean breeze.
Brody had been tormented for weeks after he left town, imagining her wearing the sweatshirt and missing him. Eventually he figured shed get over him and his prized Red Sox sweatshirt would go to Goodwill or be used to wax her car.
He wasnt sure what to make of the fact she was wearing it tonight. Was it just something she grabbed out of the back of her closet? Or did she still think of him when she wore it?
Stop staring at her, Sandy hissed. Youre making it more awkward.
Forcing his attention away from Delaney, he looked down at Noah, who was starting to squirm in his car seat and make squeaky noises that were cute at the moment, but bound to get louder in a hurry. Im just looking around.
If you were looking around, youd know half the people in here are watching you watch her, hoping for good gossip.
Nothing to gossip about.
Everybody knows Delaney and half of them know you broke her heart. Theres definitely gossip.
He rolled his eyes, mentally adding her comment to the why Tuckers Point sucks column. Old news.
By the time Sandy got Noah out of his seat, the baby was at about half volume and Brody reached for the folding privacy screen Delaney had leaned against the wall. As he looked it over, trying to figure out the best way to fold it out for maximum privacy, he glanced around the gym again. He didnt figure a screaming baby was going to go over too well.
A few guys threw dirty looks their way, and Brody felt his temper rising. Maybe hed made himself into a successful businessman and the calluses were gone, but there were some things a guy from the rough part of town didnt forget. Like how to throw a punch.
Brody. Sandys elbow jabbed his ribs. Brody! Dont even start.
Im not doing anything.
I know that look and Im telling you dont even think about it.
Brody shrugged, more to ease the tension from his shoulders than in response to her words. That guy in the green sweatshirt was a couple years behind me in school. A punk with a big mouth.
Now hes just a dad here with two young kids who are probably already on his last nerve and hes thinking about how a newborns going to make it so much worse.
Now that she mentioned it, Brody saw the two boys near the guy. Young and full of the frantic energy that came with being up past their bedtime, they were roughhousing and showed no signs of being tired. A newborn in their midst definitely wouldnt make the guys life any easier.
Can you do me a favor? Sandy asked after hed wrapped the screen around their cots. Im supposed to drink a lot of water when Im nursing. I drank one bottle already and I couldnt fit anymore in the bags. Can you get some from the kitchen?
At least it was something to do. Brody had a feeling if this power outage stretched on, hed be begging for busy work. He wasnt a guy used to sitting around doing nothing. But he only got halfway across the gym before he ran into an old friend.
Hot damn. If it aint Brody Rollins. Donnie Cox didnt look much different than the last time Brody had seen him, downing shots after a good haul. Worn flannel shirt, faded jeans and unlaced work boots with duct tape over one toe. Heard you were back in town.
Brody shook his hand, noting the hard, ragged calluses across Donnies palm. It had taken almost two years for Brodys hands to smooth to the point they werent something peopleusually womencommented on. Its good to see you again, Cox.
Yeah, I brought the wife and mother-in-law over when the power went out, but Im going to go back out and do some welfare checks. Hate being cooped up.
Married, huh? Congratulations.
I married Becks. Big surprise. Donnie and Rebecca were not only high-school sweethearts, but had been together since junior high. Theyd never dated anybody but each other, as far as Brody knew. Ill be a dad in four months, too. Our first.
Brody said all the right congratulatory words, but mentally he was acknowledging that guys he went to school with being married and having kids made him feel a little as if he was missing out on something. Sure, hed been working hard and putting money in the bank, but hed be thirty soon. It wouldnt be long before he started looking for a wife and planning a family.
As the thought took hold in his mind, his gaze was drawn to Delaney. If he hadnt left town, theyd be married now. Probably have at least two kids. And hed work his ass off every day just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table while Delaney scrounged for coupons and did laundry that would always smell like a fishing boat.
He couldnt regret not letting them turn into his parents. But he regretted not having her. He regretted that a lot.
It was good to see you, man, Donnie said. I need to get back.
He shook Donnies hand, and then continued toward the kitchen. Delaney seemed to be the only volunteer there and he didnt know where they kept the water, so he headed toward her. When she saw him coming, her expression grew guarded and he hated that.
What can I do for you?
So formal and cold. Shed been his best friend once and her voice had always made him feel good, whether she was talking about her day or whispering sweet invitations in his ear. Sandys out of water and shes supposed to drink a lot when shes nursing Noah. She said youd have some.
What can I do for you?
So formal and cold. Shed been his best friend once and her voice had always made him feel good, whether she was talking about her day or whispering sweet invitations in his ear. Sandys out of water and shes supposed to drink a lot when shes nursing Noah. She said youd have some.
We lock the kitchen at night, but water we keep in the coolers under the main table so people can help themselves. Feel free to grab some.
When she started to turn away, he said her name to make her stop. He didnt know what to say to her, but he couldnt stand getting the cold shoulder. Not from her.
Was there something else?
Im sorry. It seemed like a good placethe only placeto start. Im sorry I didnt say goodbye.
She folded her arms across her chest and lifted her shoulders a little in a very familiar defensive reaction. When she was afraid a conversation might make her cry, Delaneys body language closed up, as if she were wrapping herself in a protective blanket. He wasnt surprised he remembered that. There wasnt much hed forgotten.
Thank you for the apology, Brody. I did get your note, though. That was thoughtful of you.
Ouch. So it was angry tears, not sad tears, she was afraid she might shed in front of him. Lets go somewhere and talk.
No, thanks.
Come on, Delaney. I want to talk to you. If you just give me a little consideration, Ill
Ill give you the same consideration you gave me. How about that?
I did what was best for you. For both of us.
Thats weak, Brody. Really weak.
Maybe it was, but it was all he had. Delaney, seriously, can we talk?
No, Brody, we cant. I have to dim the lights and start spreading the word its quiet time so maybe these kids will get some sleep.
After that, maybe we can slip out in the hall and talk?
Theres nothing to say. Now, if youll excuse me, I have work to do.
She left him standing there alone, feeling as if there were a whole lot of things he wanted to say to her, but the words were all stuck in his throat. No matter how straight she tried to play it, there was still pain in her eyes. Hed known her too long and too well to miss it.
The least he could do while he was stuck here was try to make that pain go away.
CHAPTER THREE
BRODY WASNT SURE what time it was when he opened his eyes. The gym was quiet, except for the creak of cots as people tried to find comfortable positions in their sleep and an unfortunate amount of snoring. Glancing up at the row of small windows at the top of the walls, he could see it was still dark. And if he listened closely, he could hear icy precipitation still being slapped against the glass by the wind.
Now that he was awake, he had to take a leak, so he rolled out of the cot as quietly as he could and stepped out from behind the privacy screen in his socks. The polished floor was slippery, but he was afraid if he tried to get his shoes out from under his cot, hed jostle Noahs car seat. Since it felt as if it had only been about ten minutes since the last time the boy cried, nobody wanted that.
Movement near the set of exterior doors serving as the shelter entrance caught his eye. A woman, who thankfully wasnt Delaney, was talking in quiet tones to a man. Across the gym, in the dim lights they had to leave on 24/7 for safety reasons, he saw it was Sandys husband, so he made his way over.
When the volunteer turned to point in the direction of their cots, Brody lifted his hand and waved as he approached. Hey, Mike.
They shook hands. Glad you made it into town, Brody. Sorry you cant get back out, though.
He was, too. Spending some quality time with the loudest baby in the history of man.
Mike grinned. Kids got a set of pipes.
They letting you crash for a while?
Yeah, theres nothing we can do with this ice and, barring anybody trying to get here, everybodys off the roads. Well sleep for a few hours, then start checking on people. Thanks for getting Sandy and Noah here, by the way.
It was no problem.
I could have driven them here, but I wouldnt be able to stay because its all hands on deck. I appreciate you being here to help with the baby.
Nowhere else Id rather be, he lied. We got three cots, and were behind that screen over there.
Once Mike had gone to join his family, Brody made his way to the mens room. The lights were brighter in there and, when he stepped back into the gym, he had to stop for a moment to let his vision adjust.
He found himself looking around the huge room, looking for Delaney, but all the sleeping, blanket-covered lumps looked the same. He guessed she was probably over near the entrance, so shed wake up if somebody went in or out, but he wasnt sure.
Stupid to be looking for her, anyway, he told himself as he made his way back to his cot. She wanted nothing to do with him, and he couldnt blame her. But as he tucked his arms under his head and stared at the gym ceiling, he couldnt stop the slideshow of the loving, laughing Delaney hed left behind from playing through his mind.
Light was streaming through the windows the next time he opened his eyes, and he realized it was Mike grabbing his outerwear and boots that had awoken him. Heading back out already? Was there breakfast?
Little girls missing. Mother went into her room this morning and she wasnt in her bed.
Oh, shit. Brody swung his feet to the floor and scrubbed his hands over his face. Shes not hiding anywhere in the house?
They searched it so thoroughly I wouldnt be surprised if they have to rehang the Sheetrock. Shes not there.
Brody stood and picked up his bag, careful not to jostle Noahs car seat or Sandys cot. I can be ready to go in ten minutes, if you can wait.
Dressed like that, Ill spend more time taking care of you than looking for April.
The little girls name was April. Brodys gaze fell on his sleeping nephew and his breath caught in his throat. Somebodys child was out there in this storm and her name was April. Im not stupid. Ive got winter gear, including boots, in the trunk of my rental.
Can use the extra eyes and ears, then.
By the time Brody washed up and changed his clothes in the mens roomwhich wasnt ideal, but was all he hadthe activity level in the gym had ratcheted up a notch. There were more men pulling on cold-weather gear and a group of women scrambling to brew coffee and put out doughnuts.
Delaney was one of them, and she scowled when she saw him. Youre not going out there, are you?
Im going to go out with Mike. I can be an extra set of eyes.
Youre not dressed to be out in this kind of weather.
He took the disposable cup of coffee she handed him and noticed shed put one sugar and a splash of milk in it, just the way he liked it. Ive got a good coat and some boots in the rental. Ill be fine.
Brody, nobody expects you to go.
So you all think Ill just sit here drinking coffee while a little girls lost out there in this storm? Thanks a lot.
She held his gaze for a long moment, her jaw set in a grim line. Then she shook her head. Fine. Be careful and dont do anything stupid.