A Dream Too Far (Summer Lake Silver Book 2) Page 8

  Dan smiled. “I think differently. It’s just the way I am. You know I want to see you happy. I think Seymour’s a good guy. If you two are going to keep seeing each other, then it’s nice to know that he has a life he can invite you to be a part of. I was concerned that he’d been working all the time and you might be a distraction he kept on the sidelines for when he needs a break.”

  “Wow. You’ve given this some thought, haven’t you? More than I have.”

  “You’re my mom. I need to know that you’re okay.”

  She leaned in and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Danny.”

  They both turned when Marianne and Clay joined them. “Aww, isn’t that sweet. Have you got one of those for your Auntie Marianne?”

  Dan gave her a brief hug and then pointed to the patio where Missy was sitting with some friends. “It’s good to see you, but I’d better get Miss’s drink to her.” He nodded at Clay and then moved farther down the bar.

  Marianne grinned at Chris. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare him off. It’s just that Dan hugs are so rare, I had to get one while he was giving them out.”

  Chris laughed. “That’s okay. I don’t blame you one bit.” She turned to Clay. “Good to see you.”

  “You, too.” He bent down and kissed her cheek. “And where’s Seymour? He’s a good guy. I want to tell him what a catch he’s landed himself.”

  She laughed. “He’s not here tonight.”

  “Why? What could be more important than a night at the Boathouse with you?”

  “A night in with his grandson.”

  “Ah.” Clay smiled. “That’s a tough one to compete with.” He smiled at Marianne. “There’s not much that could take me away from a babysitting date with little Penny.”

  Marianne raised an eyebrow at Chris. “And you didn’t offer to help?”

  Chris laughed. “You think I’m such a party animal that I chose to come out instead? No. He didn’t ask, and it wasn’t my place to offer. We’ve only seen each other a few times. Grandbaby time is sacred as far as I’m concerned.”

  “I suppose. Does that mean this is just a passing thing for you?”

  “No.” Chris knew that her sister was wondering if she saw Seymour as just a fling. It was a fair question; she wasn’t one to get into anything serious with a guy. Whatever was going on between Seymour and her felt different, but she didn’t want to get into how different—or even why. “We don’t know what it is yet. And there’s no rush to figure it out.”

  Clay smiled at her. “You don’t want to talk about it? That’s fair enough. But I know Seymour, and I know you. I have high hopes.”

  She shrugged. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

  ~ ~ ~

  It was almost midnight when Chris pushed open the doors of the bar and stepped out into the cool evening air.

  Seymour smiled when he saw her. He was sitting on the low wall at the edge of the parking lot with Ivan and Adam.

  Hope and Chance had come back to collect Dylan half an hour ago and—at their urging—he’d decided to walk up here and see if he didn’t run into her. He’d been surprised to see Ivan sitting outside drinking a beer with Clay’s security guy. Adam had encouraged him to go inside and find Chris, but he’d preferred to wait out here. He didn’t want to intrude on her evening, and it felt good to sit and drink a beer with the guys. It wasn’t something he got to do very often.

  Adam punched his arm. “It’s been great talking with you, but there she is. I hope you’re not planning to let her walk home alone?”

  Seymour frowned. “She wouldn’t do that, would she?”

  Adam laughed. “Yes, she would. This town is as safe as you can get, but I’ve tried to talk sense into her. She doesn’t listen.”

  Seymour got to his feet. “I already know her better than to try and tell her what she should do. But I can at least walk with her.” He smiled at them. “Wish me luck?”

  “Good luck, boss,” said Ivan.

  Adam grinned at him. “You don’t need it.”

  He strode across the parking lot to catch up with her. He’d thought that she was making her way to the line of taxis that stood waiting, but as Adam had predicted, she walked on by them.

  “Chris,” he called just before she turned the corner onto the side street that they’d walked down on their first date.

  She turned and looked back. A huge smile lit up her face when she spotted him. “What are you doing here?”

  He reached her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Oh, I was out for a late-night stroll and just happened to run into you by chance.”

  She smiled through pursed lips. “Is that true?”

  “No. It’s a big fat lie. The truth is that I’ve been sitting on the wall waiting for you to come out for the last half hour.”

  She laughed. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. I hope you don’t mind?”

  “The only thing I mind is that you sat outside instead of coming in.”

  “I didn’t want to intrude on your evening.”

  “I wish you had.”

  “I’m here now. Do you want to go back inside?”

  “No. Things were wrapping up in there anyway. Do you want to walk me home?”

  “You know I do.” He slid his arm around her shoulders, and they started walking away from the square.

  “How did your evening with Dylan go?”

  He smiled. “We had a great time. We played with blocks. I read him a couple of stories. Dealt with a couple of diapers. It was fun.”

  “Isn’t it great? I love the time I get to spend with Isabel. It’s like having a little one all over again, except you get to give them back at the end of the day and get a good night’s sleep.”

  He laughed. “That’s true. I’m worn out after a couple of hours. I couldn’t survive if I had to do that every day and didn’t get to sleep through the night on top of it.”

  “That’s why we have them when we’re young.”

  “It is. And how was your evening?”

  “It was good, thanks. Marianne and Clay were out. He sends his best. Asked if you’d like to catch up for a drink while you’re in town.”

  “I would. If you like the idea?”

  “Yes. It’d be fun. It’d be nice for me to see you with one of your friends, too. You’re getting to see me in my home environment and with my people. I don’t get to see you in everyday life.”

  “I wondered about that. Should I have invited you to join me and Dylan this evening?”

  “No. That’s your time. It’s special. I wouldn’t have wanted to intrude on it.”

  He smiled. “Is that the same as me not wanting to intrude on your night out?”

  She smiled. “Probably. Would I have come? Yes. Would I have enjoyed it? Absolutely. Did I think it might be too much since we don’t know what we’re doing here? Definitely.”

  “So, it was exactly the same, then. That’s how I felt about coming into the Boathouse when I got there.”

  She smiled up at him. “None of it’s a big deal, though, is it? We’re here now.”

  “We are. And we have the rest of the week before I have to leave.”

  She nodded.

  “And the following weekend you’re going to come to Malibu to see me, aren’t you?”

  Her eyes widened. “The following weekend?”

  “I’d like you to.”

  She smiled. “Then I’ll come.”

  Chapter Nine

  Chris poured herself a cup of coffee and took it out onto the back patio. She liked to sit out here in the mornings. The back yard was peaceful. She wasn’t much of a gardener, but the trees and flowering shrubs took care of themselves, so she had a leafy sanctuary and even a peek of the lake if she put her chair in the right spot.

  Jack and Dan had wanted to buy her a house, but she’d put her foot down about that. They’d both done very well for themselves; she knew they could afford it, but that wasn’t the point. They should spend their money on their own fami
lies, put it toward college for their kids—like she wished she’d been able to do for them. She didn’t need a fancy place, and this house suited her just fine.

  She leaned her elbows on the table and stared out at the lake. The sky was blue, the sun was warm on her shoulders. Life was good. Seymour was leaving tomorrow, but all good things came to an end. She knew that. They’d had a great time together. She was hopeful that tomorrow’s goodbye wouldn’t be a final goodbye, but even if it were, she’d enjoyed what they’d shared.

  She took a sip of her coffee. They hadn’t shared a bed yet. The right moment had never presented itself. They’d had fun joking about it; there was no tension. And, after all, they’d only had a week and half together. That was no time at all, in the grand scheme of things.

  Tonight, they were going out for drinks with Marianne and Clay. A shiver ran down her spine as she wondered what they might do at the end of the evening. She hoped that things might naturally fall into place, but at the same time, she didn’t want to force them into place just because this was his last night here.

  She heard her phone ringing and made a face when she realized that she’d left it on the kitchen counter. She considered just letting it ring, but that wasn’t in her nature. She hurried inside, hoping it might be Seymour. It was a number she didn’t recognize.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Chris. This is Hope.”

  “Oh! Hello, Hope. Is everything okay?” Her mind raced. She hoped that Seymour was all right. Why would Hope call her otherwise?

  “Yes. Everything’s fine. I hope you don’t mind me calling you.”

  “Not at all. What can I do for you?”

  “I wondered if you’d like to meet me for coffee today—if you have time?”

  “Of course. I have an appointment at the center this morning, but I should be done by eleven. You could meet me there. It’s right by the bakery, in the same building.”

  “I know. That’d be great, if it works for you.”

  “It does. I have to confess that you’ve got me worried. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

  “Yes. Everything’s great. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s just … well, I know you and Dad are enjoying each other’s company. I’ve heard so much about you—from him and from everyone else. I thought that we’d run into each other while we’re here, but we’re leaving tomorrow, and … I just wanted to get to know you a little before we go. That probably sounds crazy.”

  Chris laughed. “If it does, then it’s my kind of crazy. I’ve been hoping that we’d get to meet and talk properly, but since it hasn’t worked out of its own accord, I’m glad you reached out to set it up.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you. I’ll look forward to it. I’ll see you just after eleven.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you then.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Hope hung up, and Chance narrowed his eyes at her. “What are you doing, honey?”

  She shrugged. “I want to meet her.”

  “You think that’s wise?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Because you should leave them to it.”

  “I’m not going to butt my nose in. I’m not trying to get involved in their relationship. I just want to get to know her. You all talk about how lovely she is and how much fun she is. I want to see that for myself. I just want to know who she is. I’ve never seen Dad like this. I’m happy for him, and I think it’s great. I just …” She blew out a sigh. “Do you think I’m doing the wrong thing?”

  “I understand.”

  She went to him and slid her arms around his waist. “I’m glad you understand, but that doesn’t answer my question. Do you think I’m doing the wrong thing?”

  He looked down into her eyes. “I wouldn’t do it.”

  “But you’re not going to tell me that I shouldn’t?”

  He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “You know damned well, I’m not. You’ve got to do what you think is right. And I’ll support you in it. I just want you to know what you’re doing. I’d kinda like to know what you’re doing myself. What do you want to get out of meeting her now? Why can’t you wait?”

  She smiled. “I don’t want to get anything out of it. I want to put something into it. The reason I can’t wait is that we’re leaving tomorrow. Dad says he wants to see her again. Wants to invite her to Malibu. But I know what he’s like. You know what he’s like. As soon as he gets back to work, he shuts the rest of the world out. I want to prepare Chris for that. I think he wants to stay in touch with her, but I’m afraid that he’ll forget about her, just like he forgets about me. He doesn’t mean to.” She looked out of the window before looking back at Chance. “But just because he doesn’t mean it, doesn’t make it hurt any less when you’re the one waiting for him to call.”

  Chance tightened his arms around her. He understood how much pain her dad had caused her while she was growing up. “Is this about Chris or about you?”

  She tensed. “It’s about trying to help Chris not feel as rejected as I did.”

  “And you think that’s a good idea?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I want to help them along if I can.”

  “It’s up to you, honey. But I’d think long and hard about what you want to say. Chris is a grown woman. She can deal with however your dad acts in her own way.”

  Hope nodded. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything.” She gave him a weak smile. “I can still meet her for coffee and get to know her.”

  “You sure can.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Chris sat by the window in the bakery watching the street. It was ridiculous, but she felt a little nervous about meeting Hope. It wasn’t because of who she was—Chris had admired her as both a model and a designer long before she’d ever met Chance or come to the lake. She was concerned that, as Seymour’s daughter, she might want to manage who got close to her father.

  She smiled when she saw Hope walk in and look around. She struck Chris as a sweet hometown kind of girl—not the rich, famous heiress that she was.

  “Hey.” Hope came hurrying toward her and wrapped her in a hug. “This is weird, isn’t it? I’ve been second guessing myself ever since I called you.”

  Chris laughed. “It is weird, but I’m glad you reached out. This way, we can get the weirdness out of the way and put it behind us.”

  “See? We think alike already. I hated the idea of us leaving here and me not knowing who you were or how you felt—or if you knew what to expect.” She held Chris’s gaze for a moment. “And if I’m honest, I hate leaving without knowing what Dad can expect.”

  Chris raised an eyebrow.

  “Are you going to forget him once he leaves?”

  Chris laughed. “No. I’m not. In fact, he’s invited me to come visit him next weekend.”

  “Next weekend?” Hope looked shocked.

  “That’s how I reacted, too, when he first asked.”

  “But now you’re okay with it?”

  “Yes. I’m looking forward to it. What do you think of that?”

  Hope smiled. “I think it’s amazing. See, I wanted to warn you …” She frowned. “At least, I wondered if I should warn you that when he goes back to work, he tends to shut down. He closes everyone and everything out. But if he’s already invited you to come visit …” Hope grinned. “I guess it’s all good. I know I shouldn’t interfere. But he’s happy with you, and I want you guys to have a chance. I just want to do what I can to help you understand him—as much as I understand him.”

  Chris reached across the table and squeezed her arm. “Thanks, sweetheart—and you are a sweetheart. I wasn’t sure why you wanted to see me, but you want the best for him, don’t you?”

  “I do. And I know that he can be hard to understand—hard to love. But he’s worth it.”

  Chris had to swallow the lump in her throat. She squeezed Hope’s arm a little harder. “He told me he didn’t always get it right with you. But he
tried. He did the best he could.”

  Hope’s eyes widened. “He talked about it?”

  “Only a little bit.” Chris was concerned that Hope might not like her knowing about her history with her dad, but she needn’t have worried.

  Hope grinned. “If he’s comfortable enough with you that he’ll talk about that kind of thing already, then I’ll shut up and butt out.”

  Chris laughed. “Don’t do that.”

  Hope winked at her. “I couldn’t, not completely. All I can say is that he’s come a lot further than I realized. I still think of him as he was back then. But I should know better. He’s come a long way this last couple of years.”

  “He still hurts.”

  “It’s okay.” Hope smiled. “You don’t need to reassure me. I don’t need him to cling to the past. I’m hoping with all my heart that he can step into the future. I’m not here to warn you off. I only wanted to try to help you understand him so that he doesn’t scare you off.”

  Chris had to swallow again. “I hope he knows how lucky he is to have you as his daughter?”

  Hope’s eyes filled with tears. “I think he has some idea these days. For the longest time, he didn’t know what to do with me. He didn’t know how to love me, so he mostly avoided me. I guess I was worried that he might do that to you, too.”

  Chris’s heart raced. Love was a strong word.

  Hope smiled. “I’m not saying that you’re there yet, or even that you’ll get there. I just worry that you won’t ever get there if you don’t have some understanding of how he works—how far he’s come.”

  “I’m not sure that we’re even heading in that direction. I don’t know if he’d want to, or even if I would. But I can tell you that he’s a lucky man to have you for a daughter.”

  “Thank you. And for what it’s worth, I’d be happy for you both if that’s the direction you choose.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Seymour looked himself over in the mirror in the bathroom. He straightened his collar and smiled at himself. He felt more like himself in a dress shirt. He hoped Chris would like the look. He felt a little underdressed with no tie, but this was still a more formal look than he’d been used to here at the lake. Tonight was special. It was his last night here. He wasn’t thinking of it as his last date with Chris, though. This wasn’t the end. Just the end of their first chapter.