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“I’m sorry.” He exhaled. “It won’t happen again.”
She forced her feet to take her to the window. She watched him take the steps two at a time. Couldn’t get away fast enough. He never looked back. Just shook his head like he was yelling at himself.
The kiss had been a mistake. Because it had ripped the bandage off her bleeding heart. She was alone. Only now she yearned for what she couldn’t have.
The story of her life. Yearning for a family. Now Sage.
It would stop. Right now.
She checked on her mother—sleeping. That gave her an hour or two. Then she wrote Mamá a note and went to check in with Abby.
* * *
“HI, ABBY,” CAROLINA SAID, walking into the restaurant.
“Hey.” Abby looked up from the reservation computer. “Are you settled in the carriage house?”
“Yes.” She pulled in a deep breath. “Thank you. I don’t know where we would have ended up.”
Abby shrugged off her thanks.
“Are you staying open tonight?” Carolina asked.
“I was checking the reservations. And the forecast.”
Carolina waited.
“I think it’s safer if I close.” Abby looked out the window. Sure enough, the rain pelted down again. “I’m going to close in an hour or two.”
No income tonight. “What can I do to help?”
“Help?”
“You’re letting my mother and me stay in the carriage house.” Carolina started to touch Abby’s arm, but stopped. She was just an employee. And only for another week. “I can’t…sit around while you prep for the storm.”
“I’d appreciate anything you can do.” Abby’s face relaxed. “Could you help with the patio furniture? Nigel’s storing it.”
Carolina flipped up her hood and headed to the patio. She fought the wind to pull the umbrellas out of the iron tables.
Nigel came by with a rolling cart. “I understand you’re helping. Can you stack the chairs six high on this?”
“Will do.” He pushed another cart through the rain and past the restaurant. When Nigel came back, she helped him load the tables.
Since he was limping, she said, “I can help get this wherever it’s going.”
“Much appreciated.”
She pushed while he guided the cart over the wet, uneven flagstones.
“Any trouble getting your house secured?” he asked.
“Not too bad.” She frowned. “How did you know?”
“Sage called, asking questions.”
“Ah.” Fitzgerald House was a very connected community.
They moved around the day care to a garage door in the carriage house.
“Everything’s going in here.” The door rolled up with a squeal. There were stacks of what looked like wedding supplies.
“What is all this?”
“Bess’s event decorations.”
They unloaded the tables, chairs and umbrellas, and headed back out.
“What’s next?” she asked.
“The courtyard.”
They worked side by side, but Nigel’s movements grew slower. “Why don’t we grab something to drink?” she suggested after unloading another cart.
“Need a rest?” he asked.
She nodded, knowing she could have kept going. “I want to check on my mother. I’ll meet you in the restaurant.”
She opened the apartment door, surprised to find Mamá in front of the television. “Mamá?”
“The storm’s coming. What if Poppy doesn’t make it into the harbor?”
Poppy? “He’ll be fine. He’s an excellent sailor.” Carolina chewed her lip. She couldn’t leave her alone. Mamá was too confused. “Let’s head to the restaurant and get you something to eat.”
Hopefully, Abby would still be serving food. And maybe her mother could stay in the restaurant while Carolina kept working.
She helped Mamá into her raincoat and down the slick steps. Gray clouds boiled in the sky. The gusting wind blew the rain sideways. Palm fronds skidded along the ground. She wrapped an arm around Mamá’s shoulders, protecting her as they staggered along the slick stone paths.
Inside, the restaurant was calm and cool. Nigel held up a cup of coffee and pulled out a chair for Mamá. “You must be Carolina’s mother.”
“Nigel, this is Rosa.” Nigel was Kaden’s grandfather, but she didn’t know his last name. And it didn’t matter. He settled Mamá into a chair and poured her a cup of coffee.
“Cream or sugar?” he asked.
“Both, since I’m dying.”
Carolina inhaled.
Nigel gave Carolina a wink. He patted Mamá’s hand and moved the cream and sugar closer. “Then you deserve both cream and sugar. How ’bout a piece of pie?”
