Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(43)

She’d been here a month. Long enough to bond with the kids. Long enough to know better.

He smacked the steering wheel again. His mind’s eye saw her and Max box-stepping carefully around the elementary stage. Saw Benny clinging to her side as she read to him. Saw the stack of photo albums in Meridith’s closet. How could she not see that this would destroy them?

If she were going to be their guardian, she had to put them first. It would mean putting her old life behind, her old home, even her fiancé, if necessary.

But maybe he was the problem. Maybe he didn’t want the kids. Maybe he didn’t want a life on Nantucket. If Lover Boy didn’t want the responsibility, the money from the sale of the house would be a nice salve, wouldn’t it? It would go a long way toward smoothing his ruffled feathers.

Was that why Meridith was doing it? He turned away from town, needing time to think, not wanting to return to the house in case she was back. He could drive all day, spin this a dozen ways in mind, but in the end, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Meridith was planning to take the kids from Summer Place, and he couldn’t let that happen.





Twenty-four

“Thanks for staying with us,” Meridith told the Evans family. “I hope you enjoyed your spring break.”

“We did, very much.” Mrs. Evans handed over her key and took the receipt. On their way out, their kids fussed over who had to carry the heavy suitcase, and finally Mr. Evans scolded them and took it himself.

When the door closed, Meridith was torn between relief and dread. It was good to have the house back, but that meant the barrier between her and Jake was gone.

It had been almost two weeks since he’d come to stay, but he’d been distant recently. More than distant. He seemed hostile, moody. At first she’d wondered if something had happened. But she knew little of his personal life and wasn’t about to ask. Then she’d noticed he was fine with the kids and friendly with the guests. The Evanses had commented on what a nice man he was.

Finally Meridith had asked him if she’d done something to upset him, but he denied it. Still, his attitude reeked, and she was tiring of the silent treatment.

As if her thoughts beckoned him, Jake’s steps sounded on the basement steps. She tensed, wishing he were finished so she wouldn’t have to deal with the extra stress.

She checked the schedule again, as if she didn’t know she had three college students booked starting Monday. She had the weekend to ready the rooms and clean the house.

The children burst through the door. She hadn’t heard the school bus. Piper tried to squeeze in with them, but Max held her off, petting her while the other two entered. Meridith was greeting them when Jake entered.

Ben slung his book bag off with his newly uncasted arm.

“Careful of your arm.”

“Hey, little man.” Jake stopped by the check-in desk. “Got your cast off just in time for spring break.”

“My arm feels so light, and Meridith said we’re gonna celebrate.”

“That so?”

Jake didn’t look at all upset now, smiling at Ben.

“Where we going?” Max asked.

“It’s up to Ben,” Meridith said. “It’s his big day.”

“Atlantic Café!”

She remembered passing the place in town. “All right. Does anyone have homework?”

“Not even my teacher is that cruel,” Noelle said.

“Okay then, let me grab my purse and we’re ready to go.”

“Can Jake come?” Max asked.

Meridith’s hand paused on her purse. She pressed her lips together. Maybe if she pretended she hadn’t heard.

“Yeah, he drove me to the hospital,” Ben said.

So much for not hearing. Meridith pasted on a polite smile. “I’m sure Jake’s busy.”

“Actually, I missed lunch.” His lips tilted in a cocky grin, and his eyes challenged hers. “I’d love to go.”

The kids whooped and were out the front door. Jake followed, and Meridith locked up behind them. They all stuffed into the van, a loud, excited bunch in the back. In the front, nothing but silence.

She hated having someone upset with her, and though Jake denied it, the signs were there. The way he spoke only when necessary, the way he avoided eye contact. Just like now. Being with him was always awkward, but now a new tension hovered.

Fortunately, the ride was short, and when they reached the restaurant, it was loud and busy enough that the children wouldn’t cause a distraction. The hostess led them to the tall booths at the back.

Meridith and Jake scooted in first, opposite one another, then Max and Noelle, and Ben on a chair at the end.

Meridith studied the menu, finally settling on the spinach salad as the server approached.

“Hey, Jake, how you doing?” She flashed a dimpled smile.

“Hey, Dawn.”

“How you doing, kiddos?”

Meridith asked a question about the salad, though Dawn seemed more interested in making eyes at Jake.

“That sounds good. I’ll have the spinach salad.”

“Wow, taking a walk on the wild side.” Noelle rolled her eyes. “I’ll have the Brownie Supreme.”

Jake ordered buffalo wings, and Max and Ben each ordered a Brownie Supreme.