The Marriage Contract Read online

Wiping the laughing tears from his eyes with his palms, he said, “You’re a woman after my own heart, Ruthie.”

  “Yes, as long as that heart meets up nicely with my daughter’s.”

  He sank into the kitchen chair opposite hers. A sobering thought clutched him. “There’s only one problem.”

  “Which is?”

  “She doesn't want me. She loves Roger.”

  Ruthie cocked her head to one side and rolled her eyes. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

  After the way she’d kissed him on the beach, the way she gazed up at him with those big brown eyes of hers, he would have sworn she wanted him. And yet, there was something wedged between them.

  “I don’t know,” he muttered.

  She clanked her mug on the table. “Well, I do. And the fact that Roger is no longer in the picture just goes to prove that I am right.”

  “Roger's gone?” This was getting interesting.

  “He packed his bags and left before breakfast this morning.”

  Although it wasn’t her kitchen, Ruthie cleared the table of the mugs and Danish and brought them to the counter. She turned on the sink’s faucet and added a dopple of dish soap.

  “You don’t have to do that,” he said, knowing she was going to clean his dishes anyway, because that was just Ruthie’s way. Unlike Cara, he didn’t find it annoying, just amusing.

  She shooshed him with her hands. “I’ll only be a minute. You sit and think about what you’re going to do to bring my daughter around.”

  He sank deeper into the chair. “I have no idea. That’s why I called you.”

  She smiled her pleasure. “Remember, all is fair in love. Roger has opened a window, now make it into a door. Give Cara some space. But only for another day or two. Have you ever been to Nantucket?”

  “No.”

  “It’s simply breathtaking.” She leaned against the counter as soap suds rose in the sink behind her. “They have those beautiful quaint Inns along the beaches. Very romantic.”

  She turned off the water and submerged her hands in the basin.

  “Make sure you get a room with a sunset view. The morning sun makes it so hard to sleep in after a long romantic evening.”

  He couldn't believe what he was hearing. After refusing to let her thirty-five year old grown daughter share a room with a man she'd had an ongoing relationship with, Ruthie was practically giving him her blessing to sleep with Cara.

  He loved the idea.

  * * *

  Three days had passed since Cara's birthday party. Two days had passed since Roger had left for Boston. But it seemed like another lifetime since Cara had last seen Devin. She’d thought of taking a walk by the cottage to see what he was up to, but always managed to talk herself out of it. She had a lot to think about. She wanted a family. Her own family was leaving. But what weighed most heavy on her mind was Devin and how they would salvage their relationship after the searing kiss they’d shared.

  Instead of thinking, she found herself engrossed in helping her parents pack for the move to Florida. The house had been sold and she was fighting her own conflicting emotions on a minute by minute basis, trying to imagine some stranger hanging pictures on the walls and living in her home. Every memory she had was stored between these walls. Each item she wrapped in bubble wrap had a story to it that she told herself again, as if she had to in order to keep the memory alive.

  And Devin was there, too. So much of the memories she’d drawn on in her adult life revolved around that last summer when Devin was a staple here.

  She tore a piece of tape out of the dispenser and applied it to the cardboard box she’d finished filling just as Elsie walked into the kitchen. Even with her frosted salt and pepper hair, she looked a lot younger than Cara felt. She was dressed in a skin tight coral wetsuit. Even with her silver-blue hair, she looked a lot younger than Cara felt.

  With a jubilant smile, Elsie said, “I’m off to go parasailing with Albert.”

  “Parasailing? I know you really like him, Grandma, but isn’t parasailing a little dangerous for...you know.”

  Elsie penciled eyebrows stretched high on her forehead. “Someone my age, dear?”

  That’s exactly what Cara had been thinking, but not wanting to hurt her grandmother, she stopped short of saying it.

  Elsie simply chuckled. “Never you worry, Cara. Albert has wonderful aim.”

  Cara snorted. “I can’t believe you’re having an affair with a man who’s Daddy’s age.”

  “Someone around here ought to be having sex. It might as well be me. Why don't you join us?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Parasailing.”

  Cara sighed. “I think I'll pass.”

  Elsie's penciled eyebrows stretched high on her forehead. “Suit yourself. But for heaven's sake don't go moping around the house all day again. You're much too young. Besides, you can't blame it on a hangover forever.”

  “I'm not moping,” Cara shot back defensively.

  “Call it what you like, but you only have a few more days’ vacation. You said you wanted to go to Nantucket. Why don't you ask Devin if he wants to go with you?”

  With the mention of Devin's name, tears filled Cara's eyes.

  Elsie dragged a vinyl covered kitchen chair next to Cara and sank into it, taking Cara's hand. Her tone was soft and gentle as she spoke. “Mia Cara, what’s troubling you so?”

  Cara puffed her cheeks. She suddenly felt like a little girl with a skinned knee. “For the first time in my life I have no idea what I’m doing.”

  Elsie chuckled long and loud. “It seems to me the answers have been dropped in your lap. All you have to do is pick them up.”

  “That's easy for you to say.” She puffed her cheeks. “He asked me to marry him.”

  Elsie smiled warmly and squeezed Cara’s hand. “That’s wonderful news, dear.”

  “I haven’t said yes yet.”

  “Why on earth not? You love him, don't you?”

  Cara sighed. She knew the answer was no. Although she cared about Roger, she wasn't in love with him. She was in love with Devin.

  Elsie gave her a gentle hug. “If you want to know what I’d do-”

  Cara perked up. “Yes, I do.”

  “Marry him.”

  Despite her foul mood, she felt a smile tug at her lips. “That sounds strange coming from you.”

  Elsie laughed, but her eyes held a bittersweet twinkle. “You were too young to remember your grandfather. We loved each other passionately. There’s nothing you don’t do to be with a man you love.”

  “Yeah, I know. Look at Ma. She gave up everything, her career, her dreams, everything to take care of us.”

  Elsie frowned. “Wherever did you get an idea like that?”

  “I grew up here. I was privy to it firsthand.”

  “If that’s what you saw then you mistook your mother giving up her life for choosing what she wanted the most in the world. Her family.”

  “But I always thought--”

  “No, you assumed. This family was and is your mother’s dream. She chose her lot in life. Just like you’ve chosen yours. Just like I’ve chosen mine. You assumed wrong.”

  Cara closed her eyes. She hadn't assumed everything. She hadn't assumed that Devin would have given her a kiss so passionate the other night on the beach that her body still reeled with its intensity. If she had known the outcome of that evening, the effect his very touch would have had on her, she would never have willing gone with him.

  Elsie placed her hand, more worn from age and wisdom, over Cara's. “I know how tiresome things can be with your mother. Remember, I raised her. But she only acts the way she does because she wants so very much for you to be happy. Besides all you young folk have it backwards. When you’re young, you do it right and get married. When you’re my age, you can live in sin.”

  Cara couldn't help but laugh.

  “Marry him,” Elsie said softly, a twinkle of emotion sparkling her eyes. “Devin
is a good man.”

  Cara couldn't keep her jaw from dropping in shock. “I wasn’t talking about Devin.”

  “I thought you just told me Devin asked you to marry him.”

  “Roger is the one who proposed.”

  Elsie tilted an eyebrow and scowled. “Fine Roger?”

  Cara crisped. “Yes.”

  Pushing her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose, Elsie shook her head. “And everyone is afraid I'm the one with Alzheimer’s.”

  “Come on Grandma. I'm serious.”

  Elsie shrugged and winked. “I didn't get to be my age without being caught in a love triangle...or three.”

  “So what do you suggest?”

  “You're a smart woman,” she said, picking up an empty box from the table and tossing it to the floor. “I say it is high time you get out of this house and take some time for yourself. You've been talking about going to Nantucket since you came home. Why not go with Devin? Go as friends, if nothing else. If that's all you are to each other, than what's the harm?”

  As Elsie waltzed out of the kitchen, sunglasses propped on her nose, Cara had the vague feeling she'd been nothing more than a coward.

  * * *

  Devin killed the ignition and sat numb in the front seat of his car, staring at the most wonderful sight he’d seen in days. Cara was waiting for him on his front porch. His groin tightened immediately with the memories of how he’d held her in his arms the other night. How her soft body felt so right next to his and how much he’d wanted to take that soul shattering kiss they'd shared to the next level.

  Bruno slapped his tail against the leather seat, peering up at him. Reaching over to the passenger’s side, Devin released the harness that kept the dog safely secure and grabbed the leash. “Come on, boy.”

  The dog quickly obeyed, hobbling on three legs while favoring the bandaged one.

  Cara waved. He could tell she was nervous by the way she kept dipping her gaze and fiddling with her fingers. Damn, he hated that. There was no reason for either one of them to feel anything uncomfortable with each other.

  He padded up the brick path, his legs suddenly feeling like Jell-O.

  “Roger working?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

  Her sweet lips twitched. “Yeah, but in Boston this time.”

  Cara bent down and opened her arms to greet the dog. Bruno rose to the occasion by pushing back his ears and wagging his tail against her as she lovingly caressed his coat.

  Standing up and wiping her hands on her shorts, she said, “You haven’t been around.”

  “I didn’t know you’d come by. Why didn’t you leave a note or call?”

  “I figured you might be busy.”

  He smirked, knowing she was referring to Penny. “I’ve been working on some paperwork for the Palmer case.”

  She grinned. “Same old Devin. I knew you couldn’t stay away from Law.”

  Bruno barked, calling Cara’s attention. She leaned over and stroked him behind the ears.

  “I found his owners.”

  She snapped her head up. “You did?”

  “Yeah, I got a call from Dr. Schroeder. Seems his owners were on vacation here over Fourth of July weekend. He got spooked by the fireworks and ran off. They weren’t able to find him before they left, but they’ve been calling around, trying to find him ever since. His name is Duke.”

  “Duke.” Cara lifted the dog’s muzzle to get a good look at his mug. “You look like a Duke.”

  Duke wagged his tail harder as if liking the sound of his own name after all this time. Cara stroked behind the dog’s ears. “So when are they picking him up?”

  “This afternoon sometime. They’re driving down from Vermont.”

  Cara leaned into him, wrapping one arm around his waist and giving a gentle squeeze. “You’re going to miss him, huh?”

  What he’d missed was Cara and now that she was in his arms, he didn’t want to let her go. He’d missed everything. The way her sweet scent clung to him whenever she was near. The way his body involuntarily responded when they touched. The way she felt so perfect in his arms right now.

  He waved her off with a shrug. “Nah. It’s just a dog.”

  She eyed him and gave him a gentle jab in the ribs. “Stuff it, Dev. You’re going to miss this little guy.”

  The only thing he’d truly miss was Cara, as soon as she left for Boston. It was now or never for them.

  She was fiddling with her fingers again as if she were having a hard time saying something. “Are you chained to your paperwork or are you free to take some time off?”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  She drew in a nervous breath. “Since Duke and Roger has left us orphaned, how about going to Nantucket?”

  #

  Chapter Eleven

  Right from the moment the ferry slipped into Steamboat Wharf, Cara knew that things would be all right between her and Devin. The flurry of activity from the tourist at the pier fed the anticipation she'd had in coming to Nantucket. Being with Devin just made it all the more special.

  With the ocean breeze swirling all around them, Cara felt the emotional tension that had plagued her for weeks ebb away. She only wished the sudden rush of excitement she felt every time she captured one of Devin’s smoky-eyed gazes would fade. She was sure her reaction to his touch--an innocent brush of his hand across her back, pushing a stray lock of hair out of her face--would give her away.

  But for now, she’d be thankful that she and Devin were getting back on track. Her rattled nerves had calmed as they swam at Madaket Beach. Located on the western-most portion of the island, Madaket was famous for its beautiful sunsets.

  They talked of her family and her shop in Boston. But mostly, they just enjoyed the laughter and the easy feeling of being together. It was a perfect end to an otherwise stressful vacation.

  With the sinking bronze sun behind them, they pedaled back from Madaket along the dusty bike path at full speed. A certain sadness that their day together was coming to an end consumed her, but Cara pushed strong to make it back to the wharf in time to return the bicycles and make the last ferry to Woods Hole.

  Devin had suggested to her they get a room and stay a few days, but she insisted they go home. While it was easy and carefree to be out in the sun with Devin, she didn’t trust herself to be alone with him in the quiet evening, where the romance of an exotic island would surely betray her strength. Exerting force on the pedals, Cara tried to convince herself her vigorous push was because she had to keep up with Devin, not keep unbidden memories of their kiss on the beach from creeping into her thoughts. But he lagged behind.

  “Come on. We’re going to miss the ferry.” Darting a glance back, she noticed Devin was more than a bike length behind her. “Get the lead out, Dev-” Where was he?

  She squeezed the brake on her handle bars until the bike came to a screeching halt. Straddling the bike with her sneakers planted firmly on the ground, she twisted back in horror.

  Devin’s mountain bike lay wrenched in the middle of the dusty path. All she saw of Devin was his legs lying flat on the gravel, his upper body buried in a patch of high grass. She bolted to him, running alongside the bike. All the while her heart was buried in her throat.

  As Cara reached him, she threw her bike aside and dropped to the ground beside him, digging her knees into the gravel.

  “What happened?” she gasped.

  Blood, God, look at the blood dripping down his forehead! Fear gripped her like a vice squeezing her chest. He wasn’t moving. With a shaky hand, she touched the angry spot just above his eye and lightly brushed away a dusting of gravel embedded on his skin. He groaned and her heart lifted a notch.

  “Talk to me, Devin,” she begged, just short of hysteria.

  His eyes drifted open and blinked from the sun. It was hazy, but Devin finally made out Cara’s form hovering above him.

  “Are you okay?” Her voice was far away but the sweet scent that was uniquely her drifted to him, makin
g his senses come alive. He knew even before she touched his face with her soft fingers, that she was right beside him.

  “Yeah...I just got the wind knocked out of me,” he mumbled, trying to lift his head. With the motion, he felt the ground tilt and he slumped back. “This isn’t going to work.”

  “Give yourself a minute.” Through squinted eyes, he saw Cara twist around frantically, as if she were searching for something, someone. “I have to get you to a hospital.”

  An hour later they were sitting in an emergency room that looked like all the others he’d ever seen. Bright lights hummed and the sterile stench of antiseptic hung in the humid air.

  Holding his bloodied shirt to the sight of his wound, Devin was vaguely aware of the admissions nurse talking to him. He and Cara sat in the seats at the front desk, answering questions the woman then typed into the computer file. With his head throbbing, much like he’d had the day of his lethal hangover, he was happy when Cara took charge of the small talk.

  “It’s gonna rain tonight. I can feel it in my bones,” the woman said.

  Cara forced a smile. “You know the unpredictability of New England weather.”

  The nurse chuckled. “If you wait a minute, it’ll change. Reason for visit?”

  “Exploding head,” Devin muttered, dropping the soiled shirt he’d been using to stop the bleeding.

  The nurse snapped her head up and studied him. “Hmm. I’d say so.” She typed a little and asked, “Dizziness?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Disorientation?”

  “No.”

  She leaned over the desk and asked Cara, “Is this your first time to the island?”

  Picking up his head, Devin felt a pain stab behind his eye and shielded it from the white desk lamp causing him harm. Burying his head in his hands, he muttered, “Can we just get this over with, please?”

  “Cuts on the head like yours look a lot worse than they really are because they’re bleeders. Next of kin?”

  He was about to speak, but was cut off when Cara responded.

  “Cara Cavarlho,” she told the woman.

  A warm sensation spread through him that settled in his chest, gripping him with tender emotion. After all their time apart, Cara thought of herself as his kin, his family. He knew he felt this connection to Cara that was so unbelievably strong, he didn't need blood or legal papers to define it. But knowing that Cara felt that way too made it just that much stronger. It was the most wonderful thing he’d ever heard her say.