His dad showed up in the doorway first, shooting him a wary glance. Gonna be a hot one, they say, Ian claimed as he ambled into the kitchen. Pretty rare to have eighty degrees in May.
Uh-huh. When Pete heard the grumpiness in his tone, he deliberately repeated, Uh-huh, with more boisterous enthusiasm.
His father squinted at him in surprise, then poured a mug and settled across the counter. When Pete offered no further conversation, Ian ventured, You get some sleep last night? Seems like I heard you pacing around for three nights in a row, figured you werent feeling well.
Couldnt be better, Pete said heartily. Howre doing this morning, Dad?
That shocked Ian into complete silence. Pete never asked about Ians state of health-not because he didnt love his father-but because Ian generally answered in minute detail about every ache and pain. Ian liked being coddled, where Pete didnt believe it was good for him. This morning, though, his father didnt answer his health question, only watched Pete serve him eggs and toast and juice.
Youre waiting on me, Ian said, in the same disbelieving tone hed use to announce Elvis hunkering down at their kitchen table.
Just thought we should all start the day with a good breakfast.
Youre waiting on me, Ian said, in the same disbelieving tone hed use to announce Elvis hunkering down at their kitchen table.
Just thought we should all start the day with a good breakfast.
Im not complaining, Ian said hastily, and taking advantage of his son being pleasant, tried a new line of conversation. I couldnt help but notice the special deliveries you got yesterday. Looked like some thick envelopes. New work?
Yeah. And normally, the arrival of new work would have revved his personal jets. He did all kinds of translating projects, but the scientific translating work he did for Langley was his favorite, always fascinating and different, always something new to spin his mind around. Right now, though, there was only one thing he wanted the skill to translate-and that wasnt scientific developments, but Camille. No amount of replaying what she said seemed to help him analyze what she really meant-or what she really wanted.
The boys clattered downstairs. Eggs got shoveled onto plates. Ian punched on CNBC. Sun poured in the east windows.
When Pete looked out, though, he didnt see the sunlit grass or the dewy glisten in his apple orchards. He saw her. His minds view whispered back three nights. He saw Cams face by moonlight, the magic in her eyes, her silky white naked skin. The way shed come alive for him. Apart for him. Gone wild for him, with him.
For damn sure, he hadnt been hurt that shed ended the night with honesty. Her confession that she was still in love with her dead husband came as absolutely no surprise. Shed never given him a reason to expect anything else. A man would have to be an idiot to not realize the tragedy was still haunting her. Camille was nothing like Debbie. When Cam loved, she loved. Obviously, shed never be having such a hard time getting over Roberts death if she hadnt loved him so damn much.
A glass of juice spilled. Ian babbled on about an eye doctor appointment. The boys only had a couple weeks of school left, and they had plans. Im not going to bug you about a horse again, Dad. Im just saying
Its okay, he said.
You mean, its okay that I can get a horse this summer?
He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the counter, looking out. Hed never made love with her because he expected any kind of return. The chemistry was explosive, so yeah, there was plenty of selfishness on his part. He wasnt trying to claim that hed made love for her sake. But that really wasnt the whole picture. He hated seeing her shut herself off from life. He also didnt want her getting her feet wet with some guy whod hurt her-something he knew hed never do. He wanted to be the one who helped her heal. What was wrong with that?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Making love hadnt hurt her. Hadnt hurt him. Her admitting she was still hung up on Robert was an honest, honorable thing to tell him.
He was happy she had.
Very happy.
A yellow school bus suddenly braked at the end of the driveway. The back door slammed once, then twice, as the boys pelted outside.
I think Simon broke the remote control. Didnt want to tell you, but from the looks of the situation, I believe it found its way into the bathtub.
Sure, Pete said.
Ian brought the breakfast dishes to the sink. That was the closest he ever came to doing dishes directly. I cant believe you agreed to buy that boy a horse. Ask me, its proof youve completely lost your mind. But if youre up for a horse, I might as well buy Simon and Sean a truck of their own. That okay with you?
Sure.
Maybe Ill take them on a trip to Alaska next week, too.
Okay.
Are you going to be in the office this morning or out in the orchards or what? Where are you going to be?
Pete shook himself awake, stirred from the window. Ill be working in the back office for at least an hour. But then Im going to pick up a few truckloads of mulch and round up a crew.
Ah. For Camilles lavender. His dad almost choked on a guffaw, the sound so unexpected that Pete pivoted around and looked at him in surprise.
Whats so funny?
I just think its pretty amazing. I could tell you the sun turned blue, and youd never hear the conversation, but if I mention anything related to Camille, youre all ears.
I dont know what youre talking about.
Just because Ive gotten old doesnt mean Ive lost all memory of what a young buck feels like. Tuesday was the first time you were gone all night since the divorce. I was pretty sure you werent playing dominoes.
Pete opened his mouth to deny his dads assumption-off the cuff, he didnt have a clear-cut lie on mind, only the intention to come through with a good one. Only his dad-the one whod been trying to make the family believe he needed help to walk across a room-skedaddled from sight. In fact, he trundled in the other room so fast that Pete had no chance to think up any kind of good lie. For his dad.
Or for himself.
Camille saw the cars parked outside the Herb Haven, but she still trounced inside. For three days, shed let herself stew and fester instead of confronting her sister. Naturally, she wouldnt say anything directly in front of customers, but it was time to corner Violet and have it out.
She spotted Violet right away and motioned to let her know she was there, then just wandered up and down aisles, staying out of the way. Her sister was waiting on a guy. Camille could hear the man talking-he was apparently looking for a present for his wife. A girl present. Something that cost around fifty bucks and smelled good and that his wife would like-those factors seemed to sum up his entire descriptive criteria.
Dont you worry about a thing, Jacob. Ill fix you up. Violet was wearing another one of her big, sappy hats-heaven knew why. She was also wearing lace-up shoes with heels, a vintage lace blouse, and earrings that hung to her shoulders.
Camille wouldnt have worn the outfit in a coffin, but for a brief moment she felt like something a cat dragged in from the rain. It wasnt that long ago that shed loved her sassy business suits and spent a shameless fortune on shoes and jewelry. Shed always tended toward tailored pieces, sterling collars and single bangles, none of the froufrou and beads that Vi loved, but shed never been unkempt or uncaring about her appearance, the way she was now. She caught a glimpse of her wind-burned cheeks and wildly tossed hair in a mirror and unconsciously touched her face, thinking of Pete-before swiftly turning away.
Violet seemed to know this Jacob. Camille thought she might know him herself-his voice and name sounded familiar, as if they might have gone to school together. Distracted, she watched her sister in action. Violet kept fussing over the guy until his face turned beet red, bemusing Camille. Vi was so completely different around certain people. She was smart. Maybe she was a little eccentric in a couple of minor ways, but shed always had a big IQ. Around certain males, though, Vi seemed to talk in blond and behave in ways that deliberately scared men from having a normal conversation.
By the time Jacob left, Camille was so puzzled by her sisters behavior that she almost forgot she was foot-tapping upset with her. Unfortunately, the shop was busy. After Jacob left, a plump grandma bought chamomile tea and evening primrose oil. Then a pair of women walked in. Finally, the store was quiet for a few minutes.
Hey, Vi started to say.
You traitor. You sicced Pete on me. How could you?
Hey, Vi started to say.
You traitor. You sicced Pete on me. How could you?
Huh?
Three nights ago. When I said I was staying home. You threatened me that if I didnt get off the farm, you were going to do something. But I thought you meant that you were going to do something ugly-like call Mom.
Why would I call Mom and worry her?
Well, thats why I thought you wouldnt! But then I thought youd call Daisy.
Violet slid behind the counter, where shed obviously been creating dried herb and flower arrangements until the flood of customers. The counter was mounded with heaps of leaves and fronds and smelly stuff. Actually, I did call Daisy.
Camilles jaw dropped. You tattletaled on me to Daisy?
Uh-huh. Reach behind you on that top shelf for the spools of ribbons, okay? I need the gold and red and, hmm, maybe the pale orchid. And yes, I tattletaled to Daisy. We must have talked about twenty minutes, brainstorming ways to push you into going out in public again.
I would have gone into town when I was ready!
Maybe, Violet conceded. But the point is, this way worked. You went to town. I knew Pete could get you to do it. And I also thought it was probably a good idea for him besides-hand me the emerald ribbon, too, okay? And here. Cut it in foot-long strips
Im not here to cut your damned ribbon. Camille grabbed the scissors. Whatd you mean about it being good for Pete?
You know. Stems and leaves and sticks flew every which way. Pete hasnt been the same since the divorce. You know how he was in high school-Mr. Bad Boy. Always full of the devil, full of fun. He was never mean-not that kind of devil-but he loved to play, loved to party, had a little wild streak. He could charm a teacher out of giving a test. Skip school and not get in trouble-