Read Online Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Lindsey
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canned corn on the counter.
“Not a chance.”
She cut the top of the box with a knife. “Your pa was here.”
I shoved the cans further back on the shelf and grabbed another. “I know.”
“Are you okay?” She held a can out to me.
“Yes. He didn’t find me.”
“But Anna did.” Her grin was enormous.
I took the can and placed it on the shelf. “Yes, she did. Subject closed.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say it looks like you . . . um, bit your lower lip.” Francine chuckled and wandered back into the storeroom.
I ran my thumb over my lip where Anna had playfully nipped me—just barely. Her kisses had tasted of apples and sunshine and . . .
hope,
something I’d never tasted before.
At the phone console, Anna twirled a finger in her hair. “So, since I can’t have my party in the city, I figured you guys could come here,” she said to whomever was on the other end of the line. “The helicopter holds three plus the pilot, Suz.” She shot me a look. “It’ll be great. . . . Um, Nicky?” She turned her back to me and lowered her voice. “Yeah. Invite him too, I guess. Otherwise he’ll be pissy for a month.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “See you guys tomorrow, then. Bye.”
She turned and we stared at each other and I wondered if the scene in the lighthouse played through her mind as well.
She shifted uneasily and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “So, I guess I should leave you to your work?”
I had no idea what to say. I wanted to beg her to stay for fear the memory of what we had shared would disappear along with her. I placed the can I was holding on the counter.
“Well, I had fun.” She gave a half smile. “Tha vigh ws ht sounded pretty stupid, huh?”
Not as stupid as anything I would utter at that moment, so I remained silent.
She took a step toward me, and my heart raced. “Are you okay, Liam?”
I picked up the can and moved it to the shelf. “Beyond okay.”
“Oh, good. You got all quiet on me.”
I remained with my back to her, reticent to meet her eyes. I wanted to thank her. Tell her she’d forever changed my life, and even if we never spoke again, I was better for her attention, but the thought didn’t transfer to speech. “I’m not sure what words are appropriate . . . or adequate for that matter.”
“How about saying you’ll walk me home or something like that.” When I didn’t immediately respond, she took a step closer. “Come on, Liam. I know you want to.”
Of course I wanted to, but I was also scheduled to work in the store. I hated to ask Francine for favors, as she’d already been so kind to me.
“Francine doesn’t mind, Liam, if that’s what’s hanging you up. She’d like nothing better. We had a nice long talk this morning before I came to your place.”
My startled expression caused her to smile.
“Oh, don’t worry. It was all good. She’s a big fan of yours.” She winked, then shouted, “Hey, Francine! Is it cool if Liam walks with me up to the mansion?”
“Of course, lass,” Francine called from the storeroom. “I’ll just see you tomorrow then, Liam.”
“Pardon me for a moment.” I strode into the storeroom to find Francine entering stock on her clipboard. “Take the whole day off? Are you sure, Francine? I missed this morning already. I don’t want to let you down.”
She placed the clipboard on a box. “Liam. You have always struck me as a smart boy. Don’t get stupid on me now. That girl likes you. She came looking for you this morning.”
“Why?” I hadn’t intended to actually say it out loud.
“
Why
doesn’t matter. Don’t you see, lad?” She reached up and took my face in her palms. “There’s a beautiful girl out there who wants to be with you. Go with it.
Run
with it, for God’s sake. We’re only here on earth a very brief time and should grab every opportunity to be happy. Even if it’s fleeting.” Tears filled her eyes but didn’t spill. “Now
“Not a chance.”
She cut the top of the box with a knife. “Your pa was here.”
I shoved the cans further back on the shelf and grabbed another. “I know.”
“Are you okay?” She held a can out to me.
“Yes. He didn’t find me.”
“But Anna did.” Her grin was enormous.
I took the can and placed it on the shelf. “Yes, she did. Subject closed.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say it looks like you . . . um, bit your lower lip.” Francine chuckled and wandered back into the storeroom.
I ran my thumb over my lip where Anna had playfully nipped me—just barely. Her kisses had tasted of apples and sunshine and . . .
hope,
something I’d never tasted before.
At the phone console, Anna twirled a finger in her hair. “So, since I can’t have my party in the city, I figured you guys could come here,” she said to whomever was on the other end of the line. “The helicopter holds three plus the pilot, Suz.” She shot me a look. “It’ll be great. . . . Um, Nicky?” She turned her back to me and lowered her voice. “Yeah. Invite him too, I guess. Otherwise he’ll be pissy for a month.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “See you guys tomorrow, then. Bye.”
She turned and we stared at each other and I wondered if the scene in the lighthouse played through her mind as well.
She shifted uneasily and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “So, I guess I should leave you to your work?”
I had no idea what to say. I wanted to beg her to stay for fear the memory of what we had shared would disappear along with her. I placed the can I was holding on the counter.
“Well, I had fun.” She gave a half smile. “Tha vigh ws ht sounded pretty stupid, huh?”
Not as stupid as anything I would utter at that moment, so I remained silent.
She took a step toward me, and my heart raced. “Are you okay, Liam?”
I picked up the can and moved it to the shelf. “Beyond okay.”
“Oh, good. You got all quiet on me.”
I remained with my back to her, reticent to meet her eyes. I wanted to thank her. Tell her she’d forever changed my life, and even if we never spoke again, I was better for her attention, but the thought didn’t transfer to speech. “I’m not sure what words are appropriate . . . or adequate for that matter.”
“How about saying you’ll walk me home or something like that.” When I didn’t immediately respond, she took a step closer. “Come on, Liam. I know you want to.”
Of course I wanted to, but I was also scheduled to work in the store. I hated to ask Francine for favors, as she’d already been so kind to me.
“Francine doesn’t mind, Liam, if that’s what’s hanging you up. She’d like nothing better. We had a nice long talk this morning before I came to your place.”
My startled expression caused her to smile.
“Oh, don’t worry. It was all good. She’s a big fan of yours.” She winked, then shouted, “Hey, Francine! Is it cool if Liam walks with me up to the mansion?”
“Of course, lass,” Francine called from the storeroom. “I’ll just see you tomorrow then, Liam.”
“Pardon me for a moment.” I strode into the storeroom to find Francine entering stock on her clipboard. “Take the whole day off? Are you sure, Francine? I missed this morning already. I don’t want to let you down.”
She placed the clipboard on a box. “Liam. You have always struck me as a smart boy. Don’t get stupid on me now. That girl likes you. She came looking for you this morning.”
“Why?” I hadn’t intended to actually say it out loud.
“
Why
doesn’t matter. Don’t you see, lad?” She reached up and took my face in her palms. “There’s a beautiful girl out there who wants to be with you. Go with it.
Run
with it, for God’s sake. We’re only here on earth a very brief time and should grab every opportunity to be happy. Even if it’s fleeting.” Tears filled her eyes but didn’t spill. “Now
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