Tempest Torn Read online

  It was a short drive to Hope House. Once there, he parked and paced around the outside of the truck while he tried to work up his courage to go inside. Finally, he mounted the steps and found Keely sitting on the porch, rocking slowly back and forth in the farthest chair from the door. She was watching him with empty eyes. He felt it, the way her disappointment was burrowing into his soul.

  “I’m full, Joseph,” she said before he could even speak. “I wish you had called first. I could have saved you a trip.” She stared at him evenly.

  Running his fingers through his ginger red hair, he looked at her sadly. “I thought that maybe I could have Marti’s room. Surely, you haven’t had a chance to book that one.” Though he gave her his best helpless look, he could tell she wasn’t backing down.

  Shaking her head, she told him, “I’m saving it...in case Marti doesn’t want to stay in her house, since it’s right across the road from yours.” She frowned at him. Somehow her rocking seemed angrier now than it had before. “You are an idiot, Joe. I warned Marti against you. I threatened you about mistreating her. You’ve already done it, haven’t you? You already blew it with the best thing to ever happen to an ass like you.” With that, she stood suddenly and brushed past him. Flinging the door wide, she entered Hope House.

  He stood there helplessly and watched as the screen door slammed behind her, then the huge leaded glass front door. It was official. For him, all hope was lost.

  Alone in the cold, and feeling worse than he ever had before, Joey made his way back down to the steps and to his truck. Sitting in the driver’s seat once more, he slammed his skull back against the headrest. His options were limited. After paying for a flight to Vermont to be there for Marti, his bank account was, too. So the blame game began. It was their fault that he had to do this. It was because of them he had no other place to turn, nowhere else to go. As he searched through his contacts and hit the button to call ‘Bitch!,’ he started backing the truck up.

  “Yes?” She answered the phone with that velvety voice of hers. It was laced with seduction and reeked of the devil.

  More still, Joey was struck by the fact she wasn’t at all surprised to hear from him. The realization made him feel all the more pathetic. Suddenly, he was predictable. “It seems I have nowhere to go,” he mumbled into the cell phone.

  “I’ll text you my address. Come to me,” she murmured.

  “Okay. I’ll see you soon.” The call ended as soon as he spoke those words and sealed his fate. Seconds later, his phone chimed announcing a text message was received. Plugging the address into his iPhone’s GPS, he followed the directions that would lead him straight to Finn.

  ***

 

  Marti had gone directly to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea when she had marched across the road to her half finished house. She still did it the old fashioned way, filling her stainless steel teapot with water in her new kitchen. The place was everything she had imagined it could be and more. Joey had really made good on his promises. Then she shuddered. Maybe she should have made him promise to stay with her, to be with her, to love her the way she was beginning to love him.

  A lone tear slid down her cheek. Stupid woman. How could she have let him get so close so fast? Ah, but hadn’t he done everything he could to help her? His game had been the anti-woo. He acted as her friend, offering support, while consistently softening her up with his thoughtful gestures. She glanced down at her wrist and quickly fumbled with the clasp on the charm bracelet. Taking it off, she discovered the tears fell faster now. Walking briskly into her bedroom, she opened the top drawer of her chest, tossed the bracelet in and shoved it shut as hard as she could. Leaning against the wall, a sob escaped her lips. She might have cried more, but the familiar whistle of the teapot interrupted. This was what she needed. Tea and a new plan.

  Walking back out to the kitchen, she filled her favorite mug with water and let the tea bag steep. Normally, she wouldn’t have Afternoon Revival this late in the evening, but now, she needed it, just like she needed a new plan for her life. She hadn’t given any thought to the kind of career she would have in New Hope. Blaine was supposed to be here with her. Acting as his office manager was a built-in job. Somehow it had never occurred to her he would use her need for change as a way to initiate a divorce.

  Fresh tears began. It was fear creeping in. Once more she was facing life alone. Just then, the doorbell chimed. Slowly and somewhat reluctantly, she made her way to the front door. Marti had intentionally made sure the front of the house was dark so no light could be misinterpreted as an invitation by Joey. Soon, she was pleasantly surprised to see Keely was at the door.

  “Come on,” her friend whined. “It’s cold out here.”

  Throwing the door wide, she smiled in spite of how low she felt. “It’s not much warmer inside,” she joked. “What brings you here?”

  Knowing eyes greeted her. “Oh, just in the neighborhood. Thought you might need some...comfort.” Passing the box to Marti, she smiled. “Let’s go eat. And drink.” She pulled two bottles of wine from her purse. “I’m going to try to pace myself so I don’t end up on your couch.” Winking, she walked past and into the kitchen.

  Following behind, Marti walked to the island and set the box down. Numbly she began to unpack the contents without paying much attention. There was a huge casserole dish of macaroni and cheese that screamed made from scratch. There was a quart of homemade vanilla bean ice cream, a baking dish of brownies, a mason jar labeled ‘hot fudge sauce.’ The final dish held seasoned Italian green beans.

  “Oh, crap,” Keely muttered. “I forgot the corn bread muffins in the car. Be right back.” She whipped around on her heels and headed out the back door.

  In her absence, Marti walked absentmindedly to the cupboards and started hauling out dinner plates, dessert plates, and wine glasses. By the time Keely returned, she had created a beautiful table, complete with candles and linen napkins. Gesturing to it, she shrugged and sat in one of the chairs.

  “Wow,” Keely commented. “How did you do that?” Walking around the table, she shook her head and pulled out her phone. “I need to take some pictures of this. Hope you don’t mind. At some point in time, I might just decide to try to recreate it.”

  Making a surprised face, Marti responded, “I don’t mind. No big deal. After years of being a doctor’s wife, I could throw together a dinner party given a moment’s notice.”

  Soon they were eating, even if for Marti it was more like pushing food around on her plate than actually consuming any. “You have to eat,” Keely remarked. With a sigh, she set her napkin down on the table and poured more wine in both of their glasses. “He won’t be coming over tonight.” After the briefest of pauses she added, “In fact, I’m not sure when you’ll see him again.”

  Setting her fork down on the edge of her plate, Marti tried not to act bothered by this information. “What makes you think so?” She asked simply.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure that he’s gone to stay with Finn,” Keely admitted as she walked away from the table and headed to the stove. Fishing in a few lower cupboards, she stood when she had discovered what she sought...a double boiler. Then Keely set to work warming the hot fudge.

  Slowly, Marti pushed back her chair to join her friend at the stove, making sure to grab the dessert plates from the table as she walked to the island. Then before speaking, she headed back to grab their goblets, too. “How can you be sure?” There was a quiver in her voice as she spoke.

  Facing her, a look of concern apparent, Keely admitted, “I turned him away from Hope House. I watched him call someone that wasn’t you. Then he left.” She stirred the fudge in the double boiler. “My guess? He’s with Finn.”

  Nodding, Marti braced herself on the counter. Her heartbeat was suddenly irregular. This news had her off balance. Joey was with Finn. Just the night before, he had been with her. They had made love, an experience for which she had no comparison. Blaine, despite all his medical k
nowledge, had never managed to figure out how to excite her the way this man she barely knew did. Just when she had begun to grow accustomed to the new possibilities his presence in her life had imagined, it was all taken away.

  “If Laurel was here, this conversation would be all...’I told you so'. Instead, you have food and me. Lots of food.” Keely puttered around the kitchen as she chattered. “In fact, I’ve made an executive decision.”

  “Oh, and what’s that?” Marti queried as she steadied herself against the counter.

  “We’re having dessert first. Life is short. And the mac and cheese will reheat far better than the hot fudge. You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten this.” With that announcement, Keely brought a spoon of it to Marti’s lips.

  Surprised, she opened her mouth and accepted the offered treat. The minute the thick warm sauce hit her tongue, her eyes closed in ecstasy. “Oh my lord!” Marti exclaimed. “That might be the best thing I’ve had in my mouth...ever.” She laughed. “Of course, I say that every time you feed me something you’ve made. Then you just keep topping it. Your food is good for my soul.” She walked over and hugged her friend. “You are good for my soul too. I don’t deserve you.”

  “Aw, sugar, you do too! I’m just glad I can be here for you,” Keely said. “More than anything, I just wish I didn’t have to be the bearer of such bad news. That man is a jackass.” She shook her head sadly as she spoke.

  “Yes, and for a very brief time, he was my jackass,” Marti sighed. “Now what?”

  “Now...we eat. And what do you mean...now what? Like he has any impact on your future.” She frowned at Marti. “Girl, you have your whole life ahead of you. It certainly isn’t dependent whatsoever on him.”

  “I know that. I seriously mean I don’t know what to do with myself now.” She sat heavily on a stool beside the island. “I thought I was going to be a doctor’s wife when I first moved down here, help him build the practice, that kind of thing. Then that was ripped away.” Clasping her hands, Marti continued, “Now, the house is complete enough for me to live in it.” She sighed. “I feel like Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun. I bought this house for a life I don’t have.” Shrugging, tears welled in her eyes once more.

  Leaning back against the counter, Keely was silent for a moment. “What do you want to do?”

  “What do you mean?” Marti asked.

  “I mean...you can do anything, be anyone. You just need to decide.” She threw an arm around her friend. “So what do you like to do? What are you good at?”

  Tilting her head to the side, Marti considered the question. “Well, I’m really good at taking care of people. It was always the best part of how I spent my life.” She remembered all her volunteer work with families and children at the Ronald McDonald house and smiled. Just as quickly, the smile disappeared. “I’ve never earned money. Always, I was a volunteer. Damn, I’m hopeless.” A frown clouded her face.

  “Seriously? In New Hope? Never. You’ll find your silver lining, the rainbow after your storm. Just be patient,” Keely suggested.

 

  The late night with Keely resulted in a late morning. Very purposefully, Marti stayed in the back of the house and kept the front plantation shutters closed. The last thing she wanted was to suddenly see Joey return with Finn in tow. That was what she was certain would happen. After all, it was her job and his house.

  Sitting at the island, she took a notebook from the drawer and grabbed a pen from her purse. It was time to figure this out, her future. Only, time was for people with unlimited bank accounts or jobs. Maybe she could get a job. Maybe Keely or Laurel needed help. It could be a start. Almost immediately, however, she was shaking her head. It was time to do her thing, not try to piggyback on someone else’s dream. Now she just had to figure out what her dream was.

  A knock sounded on the front door and had her tentatively heading to answer it. For a sleepy little town, she sure did get a lot of company. To her surprise, as she pulled the front door open, she discovered Deborah standing there, holding a potted plant. “Oh, thank you,” Marti said in surprise as she accepted the offered gift.

  “You are more than welcome, honey,” Deborah said in her distinctly southern drawl as she glanced about the home. “Honestly, the housewarming gift was just my polite way of getting my foot in the door. I had to see the place!”

  Laughing, Marti offered, “How about I show you around?”

  Slowly they walked through the finished lower level of the home. From there, it was up to the unfinished second story. “We have to redo every bit of the electrical and plumbing,” Marti explained as she shared the bare bones of the home.

  “Now, it looks like there are three more bedrooms and two more baths up here, right?” Deborah queried.

  “Good eye,” Marti replied with a chuckle. “I’m surprised you could figure that out.”

  “How long before they are ready?” The realtor asked in a way that suggested she had something in mind.

  “I’m not ready to sell, if that’s what you are thinking,” Marti began quietly. “This house was my dream. I’m not ready to give it up just yet.” She sighed and tried not to look as defeated as she felt.

  Shaking her head vehemently, Deborah explained. “No, I wouldn’t even suggest that. Instead, I have another proposal. Remember, you can say ‘no,’ but I’d love it if you hear me out.” She smiled as they walked back to the kitchen and then out to the backyard. “And what are you going to do with that big detached garage?”

  Looking at her, Marti could see the wheels were spinning. “What are you thinking?” She asked. “Obviously, you have an idea in mind…”

  “Well, I wondered if you might consider offering rooms for boarders.” She spoke the words remarkably fast and had Marti’s head spinning. “See, we have Hope House, but that’s a bed and breakfast. It’s far too expensive for people to live there for any length of time. There are no apartment complexes in town. It’s simply not that kind of place, but now and then, I have people who need temporary housing. We don’t even have a rental market. That’s why I thought of you.”

  Finally, Marti had a chance to speak. “Me? You thought of me?” She blinked a few times as she struggled to wrap her mind around the suggestion.

  “I thought you might be interested in renting out rooms. For example, I have a lawyer from Vermont coming in three weeks. He needs a place to live while he picks a permanent home. He’s setting up a practice here. Can you believe it? Our first lawyer!” Deborah smiled brightly. “He wouldn’t be around much. And you could make some extra money and have some company, too!”

  Thinking for a moment, Marti spoke. “Well, the idea has merit. Only, how would I price this out, what would I charge. And do I throw in meals? I just don’t know…” Her voice trailed off as numerous questions bounced around in her head.

  Leaning in conspiratorially, Deborah said quietly, “You could easily charge $150 per week with utilities included for the one bedroom/one bath, then $250/week for the two bedrooms that share the other bath. That would be a steal.” She looked Marti in the eye while she spoke. “And I’d charge more for meals included.”

  “Apparently, we have much to discuss,” Marti said. Before she could say anything else, she was being dragged back into the kitchen to iron out the details.

  ***

 

  It was ten in the morning before Joey allowed his eyes to open. For hours, he had been squeezing them shut against the daylight. His head had been buried under a pillow as he tried to ignore the sounds of Finn getting ready for work and finally departing. There was no getting past the choice he had made the previous evening and now he was filled with regret. He should have been with Marti. He should have snuggled into her bed with her, held her all night, basked in the warmth between them. Instead, he had turned to the dark side.

  Last night was like every night with Finn. It was as familiar as riding a bicycle, as long as the bicycle was rusty, with broken gears, no seat, and a chai
n that continually fell off. She had all his favorites stocked in the freezer...Jager, Goldschlager, and Rumplemintz. The minute he walked through the door, she was all over him. She had misread him, as usual.

  “Oh, huggybear,” she began, “don’t worry. I forgive you.” She slithered around him, slowly stripping off his coat, his shirt, and his shoes. When she pulled off his socks and started massaging his feet while working her way upwards in between his legs, he knew he was in trouble.

  “I’m really not in the mood,” he had said, trying to dissuade her, but Finn was never easily discouraged. He had turned away when she tried to kiss him. His actions only had her holding his face in her hands until she captured his lips. He had tried to distract her when she went for his fly. None of his efforts had been successful. Of course, it had always been that way with her.