Evening Stars

Chapter Six

THE DRIVE FROM Mischief Bay to Blackberry Island was direct. North on I-5 for about 1100 miles, then a left at the arrow pointing to the bridge. Easy enough.

Now, after spending the night just this side of Sacramento, Averil carefully pulled into a rest stop south of Medford, Oregon. At the rate she was going, she was going to get to the island before dinner, which seemed both good and bad. On the one hand, she was happy to be escaping her life. On the other, she knew she was running away, and that was hardly a situation to make anyone proud.

She parked her car and got out. The rest area was quiet. There were only a couple of big rigs parked on the other side. Hers was the only passenger vehicle. After using the restroom, she washed her hands and walked outside.

The morning was crisp and clear. The rain would start farther north. She could see her breath and was grateful for her jacket. Deciding to stretch her legs for a few minutes, she started to circle the building.

She really needed to use her time away to get her life in order, she thought. She was too old to be running away, and yet here she was. Escaping from unpleasant reality. She missed Kevin already, and at the same time, she was glad to be away from him. As if that made sense. She had no direction, no novel, no anything. She was lost, plain and simple. Which was probably why she balked at having a baby. If she wasn’t sure she could save herself, how could she be responsible for someone else?

Just past the men’s room, she saw something move by the trash can on her left. She paused and watched. She saw the movement again. Her stomach clenched when she realized a small dog was huddled by the can.

The animal looked to be maybe twenty or thirty pounds, with matted gray-and-brown fur and big eyes. She could see it was shaking and, as she approached, the dog cowered.

She glanced around, but there were no other cars. The animal looked terrified, torn between running and wanting to be rescued.

“I know the feeling,” she murmured in a low voice as she slowly approached. “It’s okay, little dog. I won’t hurt you.” She crouched down and held out the back of her hand. The animal flinched but didn’t move. She gently touched its shoulder.

The animal shuddered, then seemed to collapse on itself. Averil shifted closer and patted its side. She could feel bones everywhere.

“Oh, honey, you’re starving,” she said, realizing some jackass had simply abandoned the animal. There was no collar, and with the dog sticking close to the rest area, it should have been easy for an owner to find.

She continued to pet the animal, trying to gain its trust. After a few minutes, she stood. “Okay,” she said, patting her leg. “You want to come with me?”

The dog rose and stared at her. It continued to tremble.

“I think we’re close to Medford. I’ll take you to a vet and have you checked out. If you have a chip, we can find your owner. If not, at least you’ll be warm and fed.”

The dog stared at her.

“It’s all right,” she said. “I’m a good person. I’m confused and emotionally stunted, but I won’t hurt you.”

The dog seemed to accept that and walked along with her.

It turned out the animal was too weak to jump into the backseat, so Averil lifted her. She was shocked at how little the dog weighed. She poured water into her hand and the animal drank greedily. She had part of a scone from the Starbucks where she’d stopped earlier, and the dog gulped that down.

When Averil slid behind the wheel, she started the engine and turned up the heat. It only took her a couple of minutes to use her phone to find a vet in Medford. She called and got directions, then drove back onto the highway.

* * *

“She’s about three years old,” the vet—an old guy with a kind expression—told Averil. “I would guess she’s been on her own for a month. She has a few bruises and she’s malnourished. I doubt she’s had a decent meal in that time.”

The technician looked up from the computer. “There aren’t any reports of missing dogs in the area,” she said with a shrug. “Without a chip, there’s no way to find her owners.”

“She was dumped,” the vet said. “Unfortunately, it happens.” He left the room.

Averil stroked the dog huddled on the examination table. The animal had been examined and bathed. She’d also been given a small meal.

“There’s a no-kill shelter in town,” the technician said. “She’s pretty cute and it shouldn’t be long until she’s adopted. You did a good thing, bringing her here. She’ll be fine.”

Averil stared into the dog’s brown eyes. She was white with brown spots after all. Part King Charles Spaniel, the vet had said. Part who-knows-what. She’d endured the exam and the bath without protest and seemed resigned to whatever fate had to offer. Averil knew the most sensible solution was to leave her at the shelter.

She fingered the dog’s soft fur. “I’ll take her,” she said. “Can I do that?”

“Sure.” The other woman smiled. “She seems like a sweetie. Do you know what you’re going to name her?”

“Penny.” Averil touched the dog’s head. “Hey, Penny. Want to come live with me?”

Brown eyes regarded her solemnly.

“You’ll need some food,” the tech said. “We have a brand that’s good for sensitive stomachs. That will help her ease into having regular meals. Feed her about half a cup, four times a day for the first few days. Then you can go to a cup twice a day. Maybe mix in a little canned food. If you want to change brands, do it over time or she could get sick.”

The woman wrote down a few instructions. “Once you get where you’re going, she’ll need to be vaccinated. She’s already been spayed. I think there’s an old collar and leash in the lost and found box. Let me go grab them.”

She left the room. Averil continued to pet Penny. “It’s okay. You’re going to live with me now. I’m pretty sure I can handle a dog.”

Penny stared at her, her expression still fearful, but at least she’d stopped shaking. Soft brown eyes seemed to ask if that was the best Averil could offer.

“You’re right,” she said quietly. “I need to make a commitment. I will take care of you. I promise.”

The tech returned with a leash and cloth collar, along with a couple of old towels. Averil thanked her, paid the bill and walked to her car. Penny had accepted the collar and leash without complaint and now walked beside her. When they reached the car, Averil opened the back door.

Penny looked from her to the seat.

“Come on, Penny. Can you jump?”

Penny did as requested.

Averil laughed. “Good girl,” she said. “You’re smart, you know that? All right. Let’s make you a bed.”

She folded the towels into squares and placed them on the seat. Then she unfastened the leash. She patted the soft fabric.

“Come on, Penny. This is for you.”

Penny placed one paw on the towel.

“Good girl. Yes, you get comfy for the rest of the drive, okay?”

Penny turned twice on the towels, then laid down with a sigh. Averil stroked her a couple more times before closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side. By the time she pulled onto the freeway, the dog was asleep.

* * *

The afternoon had started to wane by the time Averil made her way over the bridge leading to Blackberry Island. Penny had slept for most of the drive north. They’d stopped at a couple of rest stops so they could both use the bathroom, and Averil had given the dog light meals. It turned out that Penny was also a big fan of burgers, so they’d shared lunch at a McDonald’s just south of Portland.

Now they were nearly done with their drive.

Averil was both relieved and oddly tense as she took in the familiar sights on the island where she’d grown up. As a kid she’d ridden her bike over nearly every foot of road here and had explored vineyards and coasts. She’d swum in the ocean, eaten at most of the restaurants and stands and knew at least one kid from all the local families.

Blackberry Island had always been home. It was the place that made the most sense to her. It was where she always knew who she was.

She supposed that was part of the problem. In Mischief Bay she had many roles. She was a reporter, a writer, a wife. In Mischief Bay, she was a grown-up. Here she was Nina’s little sister. Bonnie’s youngest. There weren’t expectations.

In her head she knew that running back home wasn’t exactly a testament to her maturity, but she could live with that. The truth was, somewhere along the way, she’d gotten lost, and now she didn’t know what she wanted.

About a mile from the house, she pulled off the main road and parked by the beach. She collected Penny’s leash and walked around to the passenger-side back door. Penny sat up, waiting for her. Her long tail thumped steadily.

“So you like me now, do you?” Averil asked with a grin. “It was the burger, wasn’t it?”

She clipped on the leash, then stepped back. Penny jumped to the ground and started to sniff.

“There’s a doggie area over there,” Averil said as she pointed to the square of gravel just off the beach.

Penny used the facilities, then the two of them went for a walk along the rocky sand. The air was warm, the sun bright in the sky. Due west was the Strait of Juan de Fuca. That body of water separated Washington’s northwest peninsula from Vancouver Island. Somewhere in the middle of the strait was the line between the United States and Canada. About sixty miles due west was open ocean.

Averil remembered her friends staring out at the strait and talking about getting on a boat and sailing away. To see what was out there. She’d been less interested in leaving and found little appeal in the thought of days or weeks at sea. Nor had she wanted to go to UCLA. That had been Nina’s dream for her. But she’d made it sound so wonderful that Averil had agreed.

Now she was home—whatever that meant.

“I’m not making much sense, am I?” she asked Penny.

The dog glanced at her and gave a tentative tail wag.

“Come on, Penny. Let’s go face the music.”

They walked back to the car. Penny settled on her bed, and Averil started down the familiar road.

When she saw the house, her eyes began to burn. Nothing had changed, she thought with relief. Not the street or the neighborhood. Everything was as she remembered.

Emotions tore through her. She fought against them, not sure if she was happy, sad or desperately confused. By the time she’d parked the car, she was crying.

Nina opened the front door and walked out. Averil stumbled to her feet and rushed toward her.

“Hey, it’s okay,” her big sister told her. “You don’t have to cry.”

But it was too late. Averil hung on tight, sobs tearing through her. She cried without knowing why, but now that she was home, that was okay, too.

* * *

Nina stood in the center of the bedroom. Averil had been home all of thirty minutes. She’d carried her suitcase into her old room, changed into PJs and climbed into bed. From the looks of things, she didn’t plan on getting out any time soon. Nina had brought her water and a sandwich. Averil had consumed both, then stretched out with her eyes closed.

“Thanks Nina,” she said, her voice sleepy. “You’ve been great. I feel a lot better.”

Nina sat on the edge of the bed, still not sure why her sister was home and what would happen now that she was. Nina stroked Averil’s hair and felt a rush of affection. They were sisters. They loved each other. Despite how they fought like cats and dogs, that wouldn’t change. And speaking of which...

“Tell me about the dog,” she murmured.

Averil opened her eyes and smiled. “Her name is Penny and she’s sweet.” She explained about finding her. “I’ve fed her and she went to the bathroom before we got here. I’ll set my phone to wake me up so I can take her out in a couple of hours.”

“What about bowls and a bed?”

Averil yawned. “She’s been on her own for at least a month. She isn’t expecting much. I’ve got food and I’ll get the rest tomorrow. I love you, Neenie.”

Nina smiled. She hadn’t been called that in years. “I love you, too, kid.”

With that, she rose and walked out of the room.

Once in the hall, she hesitated. Should she shut the door? Penny followed her, watching with her big, brown eyes.

“You’re unexpected,” Nina told the dog.

Penny’s tail wagged, and she followed Nina into the kitchen.

Averil had left her luggage in a pile in the living room. One suitcase was open, with half the contents spilling out over the floor. In the kitchen was a bag of food and some instructions.

“You’ll need to eat soon,” Nina said as she read over the notes. “Small meals several times a day. Canned would be good.” She looked through the luggage Averil hadn’t dragged to her room. There were a couple of ratty towels and a jacket, but no dog food beyond the small bag that was about a third gone. No bed, either.

“My sister isn’t much of a planner,” Nina told the dog. Penny thumped her tail.

Nina grabbed her purse and headed for her car. While there wasn’t a pet store on the island and she didn’t have time to make the drive across the bridge, there was a large general store with a decent pet section.

She bought canned food, a bed and another bag of the dog food. While she was heading toward the checkout line, she grabbed a couple of chew toys and a ball.

A sizeable credit card purchase later, she was on her way home. The usual evening traffic jam caused her to watch the clock in the car nervously. Her date with Kyle was in an hour. She’d already showered, and her makeup wouldn’t take long, but she would need some time to obsess about what to wear. She needed to look good without being overly dressy. It was cool enough that she would need long sleeves, or a jacket, or both.

Ten minutes later, she parked and grabbed her purchases. Penny met her at the door.

“Hey, you,” Nina said, giving the dog a pat. “You now have possessions.”

She put the bed in the living room and the dog dishes in the kitchen. After filling a bowl with water, she measured out a little canned food and the permitted amount of dry. Penny waited patiently until she was served, then gobbled down her dinner. She followed Nina into the back bedroom and watched as she went through her various clothing options.

“I was thinking blue,” she said, holding up a cobalt-blue dress. “I know it’s plain, but I have these great shoes that go with it.”

Penny stared at the dress. Nina did, as well. The neckline was slightly scooped but didn’t flash any cleavage at all. Still, the tailored lines were flattering and it was long-sleeved, which meant she could avoid the whole ugly coat issue.

The shoes—black and cobalt-blue suede—were three-inch heels and had cost more than the dress. Even at Nordstrom Rack, where they’d been marked down 70 percent.

She put the dress back in her closet. “There’s also basic black.”

She pulled out a sleeveless classic LBD. The hemline was a tad shorter than she thought her thighs could handle, but if she put on black tights, they would look firmer.

Penny stretched out on the carpet and yawned.

“Too predictable?” Nina asked. “I’m not really a dress person. But I doubt Kyle wants to see me in cartoon scrubs.”

She looked at her two best options. “What if I wear the suede pumps with the LBD?”

She dug out the tights and shimmied into them. They had a control top which would cut into her ability to eat dinner, but made the dress look great. She shrugged on a robe and went into the bathroom to touch up her makeup. When she came out, Penny was standing in the hallway, staring intently.

“What?” Nina asked. “He can’t be here yet.”

Penny started for the kitchen, then looked back at Nina, as if inviting her along. Nina trailed after her. At the back door, Penny scratched the small rug.

Understanding dawned. Nina opened the back door and let the dog out. The backyard was fenced. Even so, she waited until Penny had done her business and hurried back in. Together, they retreated to the rear of the house.

“You’re impressive,” Nina told the animal as she brushed out her straight hair. “Maybe you can teach Averil responsibility.”

When her hair was smooth, she slipped on the dress and pulled up the zipper. She added gold hoop earrings, lip gloss and a ten-year-old cropped leather jacket. Fortunately, it was plain enough that it didn’t look too out of date.

She’d barely had time to smooth her skirt when the doorbell rang.

Nina was surprised to feel her stomach lurch. The slightly tingly feeling of anticipation was sadly unfamiliar, she thought as she crossed the worn carpet and opened the front door.

Kyle, all six feet of blond godlikeness of him, swore under his breath.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You’re not supposed to look that good. I thought I’d prepared myself. I wasn’t close.”

This guy was too much, she thought to herself. She reached for the small clutch she’d left by the door. At this point, she didn’t even care if he was lying. He was exactly what she and her battered ego needed. For one night she was going to forget about all the responsibilities in her life. She was going to go on a date with a hot, younger guy and toy with the idea of letting him sleep with her. If there were consequences—and there always were—she would face them in the morning. She’d been doing the right thing for a very long time, and she deserved a reward. Kyle was just the man to make sure she got one.

Chapter Seven

NINA CHECKED TO make sure the door was locked, then started down the two stairs to the walkway. As she moved, Kyle stepped next to her and put his hand on the small of her back. The light pressure was unfamiliar, reminding her that it had been months and months since her last date. Nerves kicked up in her belly, as she realized this night might not be as easy as she’d first thought. Inappropriate guy or not, little Kyle had grown up into a handsome man.

She spotted his car and laughed out loud at the low-slung two-seater convertible.

“Seriously?” she asked with a chuckle. “That’s what you drive?”

“A land jet,” he told her. “Chicks love it.”

“I doubt you need the car to get the girls.”

He stepped in front of her to open the passenger door. “Every little bit helps. Especially with you. I need to keep my edge.”

“Very smooth,” she told him. “You’ve had a lot of practice.”

She’d thought he might protest, but instead he grinned. “All the better for you,” he said easily. “You get to take advantage of all I’ve learned.”

“A man who loves women. And whom women love back.”

He shrugged. “It’s a flaw, but one I can live with.” He moved a little closer. “Tonight is all about you, though.”

She could see the blue of his eyes and his thick, blond lashes. He’s shaved, she thought, studying his tanned skin. He smelled good, too. As if he’d showered. She liked thinking he’d taken his time getting ready. That he’d made an effort for her. In truth, he’d probably done the same thing a thousand times, but that was okay. Tonight she would rather be one of the many than all alone.

She lowered herself into the seat, aware it was going to take every muscle she had to climb out gracefully. A problem for later, she told herself.

He settled next to her. Their seats were close enough together that his shoulder brushed hers. There was something intimate about the way the dashboard seemed to wrap around them. He rested his hand on the gearshift as he turned toward her.

“About dinner,” he began, his voice low and teasing.

For a second she thought he was going to suggest they pass on the food. And for that same second, she considered saying yes. She’d never been one to have sex with a stranger, but while she didn’t know much about Kyle, she knew some things. Like his parents’ names and that he had a baby sister. So they weren’t exactly unknown to each other.

“I thought we’d go to Marianna’s.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

“Is that okay? I made reservations, but I can cancel them.”

“Marianna’s would be lovely.”

She wanted to add, if he was sure he could afford it. Because while Marianna’s was known for exquisite food, the prices weren’t exactly bargain. She’d only been there a couple of times, most recently with Bonnie and Bertie to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Bertie moving in and Bonnie coming out.

But instead of checking on Kyle’s financial viability, she decided that if he’d had it together enough to make a reservation, he’d probably checked on the menu. Besides, it wasn’t as if she was going to order the most expensive item on the menu. She knew how to be a thoughtful date.

He started the car, then turned back to her and smiled. “This is nice. Having you so close.”

He leaned toward her and lightly kissed her. Just a quick brush of mouth on mouth, but it was enough to leave her flustered.

When he straightened, she turned to face front, then nervously smoothed her skirt.

“You’re good,” she told him as he shifted into gear and backed out of the driveway. “You sure you’re only twenty-six?”

“It’s not the years, Nina. It’s the miles.”

“There have been a lot of miles?”

He chuckled as he drove down the street. “Enough, but they weren’t you.”

She laughed. “Who were they, then?”

He looked startled for a second, as if he hadn’t expected the direct question. “I’d rather talk about you.”

“My brilliance and beauty? Will there be poetry later?”

“You’re mocking me.”

“A little. Come on. You haven’t thought of me once in the past ten years.”

He glanced at her, his expression serious. “You’re wrong.”

“You were just a kid.”

“Some things never change.”

“It’s a great line.”

“Maybe, but it’s also the truth.” He flashed her a smile. “You’re going to have to trust me on that.”

“I don’t trust so easily.”

She spoke without thinking, then wished she could have called back the words. Not exactly first-date conversation, she told herself.

He took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth. After kissing her knuckles, he placed her fingers back on her lap. “Not to worry. We’ll go as slow as you need us to.”

Something she was a lot less sure about than he was, she thought. She got that this was a game to him, but there were also flashes of sincerity. So, which Kyle was real? Or was he like everyone else on the planet—not any one thing, but a combination of traits that were both good and bad?

He drove around the island and across the bridge. Once they were on the mainland, he headed south. A few miles later was the turnoff to the restaurant.

He drove up to the valet. Nina made sure both feet were on the ground before throwing herself up and out of the low car. Kyle circled around and guided her into the building.

The sun was still relatively high in the sky, and from the foyer, they had a view through the restaurant, out onto the water. The setting was perfect, she thought, once again aware of Kyle’s hand at the small of her back. Soft music, white tablecloths on tables, quiet conversation.

The hostess, a petite twentysomething, walked toward them.

“Hello,” she said, her gaze on Kyle. “Welcome to Marianna’s.”

Kyle winked at her. “We have a reservation,” he said and gave his name. He leaned toward Nina and pressed his lips to her ear. “I asked for a table by the water.”

She shivered at the erotic sensation of both his mouth touching her and the warmth of his breath. The hostess shot her a death stare, but Nina was too busy thinking Kyle was out of her league to much care.

With the age difference, she should be the one taking charge, sexually. But obviously that wasn’t going to happen. She could only hope he was making an effort to seduce her, because if this was all unintentional, she was in trouble.

The hostess led them to a table by the window. She flashed Kyle a smile, then lightly touched his arm, but he didn’t bother with another wink, and she left with a sigh.

Kyle moved the menus to the side of the table and leaned toward Nina.

“Thanks for coming out with me,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “You know, I’ve been planning this night since I was twelve.”

A line that made her want to roll her eyes. “You’re not serious.”

He smiled. “I loved the shirt you wore all the time, the one with little white starfish on it. When you bent over to pick up my sister, I could see down the front of it. You painted your toenails red. The color was called Cherries in the Snow. Your favorite song that summer was Cher’s ‘Believe.’”

Nina stared at him. “I remember you following me around like a puppy, so I’ll accept you used to know all that, but how could you remember it now?”

“I meant what I said,” he told her. “You were the one I wanted, Nina. I loved you.” He shrugged. “As much as a twelve-year-old kid can. You don’t forget that kind of stuff.”

“This is crazy. I barely remember you. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”

His smile widened. “Probably for the best, what with me barely having reached puberty then. It’s okay that we were in different places because now we’re both adults.”

“Maybe, but you’re talking dream girl and that makes me nervous. No one can live up to that.” Especially not someone with a brownie problem. Nina considered herself pretty and funny and nice, but she wasn’t fantasy material.

“Then we should get to know each other,” he said. “Take it from there. You’re here with me, Nina. This night is already a win for me.”

She stared into his blue eyes and held back the need to sigh. “Damn, you’re good.”

He chuckled.

The server appeared, and he ordered a bottle of wine. When they were alone again, she leaned back in her chair.

“All right. Enough with our mutual past. Tell me about yourself. When did you know you wanted to be a pilot? Was it because of that movie? What was it? Top Gun?”

He made a face, and she realized it was probably before his time. “I was more an Independence Day kind of guy. But what really got me interested in flying was when we left the island. Our new house was close to a private airport. The guy who ran it lived next door, and I hung out with him a lot, got interested in planes. My grandmother thought I should have the chance to learn so she paid for lessons. By the time I graduated from high school, I had my instrument rating and I was hooked.”

“Why the Navy and not the Air Force?” she asked.

“You’ve heard of the Blue Angels? They’re the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron. They were formed in 1946 and perform all across the U.S. and around the world. I want to do what they do.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. “You wanted this before you joined the Navy?”

“Uh-huh. I studied hard in college, got on track to be a pilot.”

She thought about what she knew about the military, which was very little. “Are there tough math classes?”

“I was motivated. I’m a big believer in being focused. Having a goal and going after it.” He smiled. “Let me be clear. You’re a goal.”

“Nice to know where you stand,” she told him. “How long does this goal last?”

“I’m going to be in Everett a few months.”

She waited, but there was nothing that followed. The message was pretty clear. He remembered her from his past, and he’d looked her up to see if she was still what he visualized. She had a feeling she wasn’t, but Kyle didn’t seem to notice, and, hey, why not go with that?

He obviously wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship. He wanted to sleep with her, and he was willing to put in the effort required to seduce her. He might be playing a game, but he’d made the rules clear up front. She respected that.

“Do you have a serious girlfriend?” she asked.

“No. I wouldn’t be with you if I did.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really? You’re completely faithful to every woman?”

He leaned back in his chair. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “If you’re going to get technical,” he began, then shrugged.

There was always bad to balance out the good, she thought. As long as she accepted her relationship with Kyle in the spirit he meant it, she would be fine. Because right now a short-term sexy fling sounded like exactly what she needed.

The server returned with the bottle of wine. It was from a local vineyard. When he’d poured, Kyle raised his glass.

“To old friends.”

“Old friends,” she repeated. “So, tell me about life in the Navy. Have you ever landed a plane on an aircraft carrier?”

“Sure.”

“Seriously? How is that possible?”

He grinned. “Lots of practice. When the carrier’s at sea, every landing is different. It’s not like an airport because the runway itself is moving, as is the plane. There’s almost no time between landing and stopping. It’s a rush.”

To her it sounded more like torture, but she’d never been overly adventurous. “You’re deployed for months at a time, right?”

“I’ve seen the world.” The smile returned. “I like it.”

“A girl in every port?”

The smile returned. He shrugged, but even without words, the message was clear.

“But I don’t get involved at work. When I’m on the ship, I’m a pilot.”

She reached for her glass. “But when you’re home, you play?”

“Something like that.” He studied her. “What about you, Nina? You said you’re a nurse. Do you work for a hospital?”

“No, in a doctor’s office. Andi, my boss, is a pediatrician. She’s great. I like working with kids.”

“You stayed on the island.”

“That was never the plan,” she admitted. “I wanted to get away, but somehow it never happened. Money was tight, so I went to community college. Then I had two years at UW.”

“You didn’t want to stay in Seattle?”

“I thought about it, but there was a job waiting for me at home, and I had a younger sister in college.”

He frowned. “You were raised by your mom, right?”