The Pilot's Secret, page 11
She left his room and went to her own. She slipped her feet into hard-soled slippers and returned to the living room to wait for Meyer. He’d said he was on her side of town. But even then, it took some time to traverse the switchbacks on Bluff Road. She curled up on the couch, listening for the sound of his truck engine beyond the rhythmic ebb and flow of the surf. When she realized she was in danger of dozing off again, she pulled on a sweater and walked out to her carport.
A duffel bag sat in front of her SUV.
She’d missed Meyer altogether.
She could not be disappointed.
Could she?
She transferred Grange’s baseball gear to the back of her SUV and walked out to the end of her driveway.
The wind was damp, but the rain had finally passed and the sky was clear.
She looked to the left. The narrow road traveled into inky darkness. It was the same to the right. Up on the cliff, far above where the road ended, she could see a few pinpoints of light from the houses that existed up there.
More of the McMansions that Meyer had threatened. Fancy dwellings with spectacular views that were rarely occupied by the wealthy owners who built them.
She hugged her collar to her neck and went back inside. She sent the text before she could talk herself out of it.
I wanted to catch you.
The response didn’t come for so long that she’d convinced herself it wouldn’t come at all. And then when it did, she smiled despite herself.
We know you’d just throw me back if you did.
A picture of swimming fish accompanied the text.
She typed again.
Any progress on retrieving Meredith before Leda’s dance?
His fish were followed up with a thumbs-up.
JCS to the rescue. Soon as storm over Colorado lets up.
Was that why he would be busy the next day? Picking up Meredith and Walker? But Meredith had said he didn’t fly anymore. Was he accompanying the pilot, then?
Her blood seemed to suddenly pound in her ears.
You’re a good friend to them.
She stared at the words she’d typed, her thumb hovering over the Send key. But instead, she pressed the Delete key until the words were erased altogether. She began again.
Thanks for bringing the gear. Good night.
Then she plugged the phone in to charge and closed it in a drawer before going to bed.
* * *
“I can’t believe how beautiful she looks,” Meredith whispered. She clicked off another photo on her cell phone before reaching out to squeeze Sophie’s hand.
Sophie smiled.
Leda did look beautiful. But it wasn’t because of the fluttering blush chiffon that swirled around her lithe legs or the shimmering tank top that—surprisingly—had come from Corinne.
It was because of the laughter on her face as she twirled around the small living room with two of her girlfriends who were dressed to the nines as well. With all the boisterous femininity, Grange had hastily taken refuge upstairs.
“She looks like you,” Sophie said. “Of course she’s beautiful.”
“Sweet. But she’s really a female version of her dad,” Meredith said. “She and Grange both take after John.” Her sigh sounded wistful.
Since Meredith had gotten back to town just that morning, Sophie hadn’t had a good opportunity to find out how the weekend—that had turned into a week—had gone. And now, with the girls prancing and giggling around the living room while they waited for the rest of their group to pick them up before the dance, that discussion would still have to wait.
Meredith took another picture of the girls. “Can’t believe that was an old bridesmaid dress of yours.”
“Francesca was right about using only the skirt. Corinne had it fixed up in no time at all. We were only at her apartment for an hour. Took us longer driving back and forth to Lincoln City than it did for her to actually do the sewing.”
Meredith gave her a sidelong look. “How was she?”
Sophie lifted her shoulder. “She seemed fine. We didn’t talk about much actually, except her new job. Staff accountant with some new firm. Claims she’s been sober now for three months.”
“You don’t believe her?”
Sophie sighed. Corinne’s struggle for sobriety had been a roller coaster her entire adulthood. Her longest stretch had been a blessedly calm three years that had ended when their mother had walked out on their father.
In the time since, Corinne hadn’t made it past twelve months without falling off the wagon. One lost job after another. One eviction after another. The hardest thing Sophie’d ever had to do was refuse to help Corinne the last time she’d come begging for money to tide her over.
“I want to believe it’ll last this time,” she admitted. “But...” She lifted her shoulder again. “I know that Corinne is the only one who can help herself, but I still live in hope, I guess.”
“I remember when we were in high school,” Meredith said. “Your sister was the queen of the school. Most likely to succeed. The whole bit.” She smiled slightly. “She was a year ahead of me, but I was just as envious of her as everyone else was.”
Sophie couldn’t hide her surprise. “You’ve never said that before.”
“You and I didn’t even know each other back then.”
True. Sophie had only been an elementary student when her sister had graduated from high school. And she hadn’t met Meredith at all until Sophie’d started working for Doc. “I was guilty of my own heroine worship, too.”
“She’s your big sister,” Meredith said, as if that explained everything. “And look, three months of sobriety is better than two,” she said. “And there’s nothing wrong with hope.”
The teenagers’ excitement suddenly ratcheted up a notch because their compatriots had arrived.
“Danielle brought a limo,” Leda breathed, her nose pressed against the window that looked over the front of the house.
Meredith eyed Sophie and rolled her eyes. “Seems a bit much for a junior high dance,” she told Leda, “but you still have to be home by eleven. Limo or not.” She handed her daughter a fancy little purse that matched the little woven-pearl belt circling her waist. “You get my cell phone for tonight only.” She picked up the cordless telephone from the table next to the couch and waved it at her daughter. “That’s only so you call the house here if anything goes wrong. The ride home is late. Your friends start doing anything you shouldn’t be doing, or you want to get out of a situation you’re not comfortable with? Tell them it’s not worth it when your mom will ruin your life for the next year, and call me.”
“I know the rules,” Leda said hurriedly and kissed her mom. Then she twined her arms around Sophie’s neck and squeezed tightly. “Thank you for the dress,” she said fervently.
Sophie squeezed Leda in return. “Have fun.”
“Just not too much fun,” Meredith added and pulled open the door just as the other trio of girls landed on the doorstep.
More giggling and gushing ensued, and Meredith took several more pictures of the entire group before they climbed into the back of the long black limo. Even after the car doors closed on them, the sounds of their hilarity were still audible.
“You’d think it was their senior prom,” Meredith said, exhaling. “Why do they have to grow up so fast?”
Sophie lifted her shoulders.
“Remember your first formal dance?”
Sophie made a face. “Unfortunately. Your daughter? She has the right idea. Just go out and have fun with your girlfriends. No worries about feckless guys.”
“Don’t kid yourself. Leda’s going with her friends, but Grange clued me in that Danielle’s brother is the real appeal where this sudden friendship of theirs is concerned. From the sounds of it, he’s seventeen going on twenty.” Meredith waved one last time at the girls who’d popped their heads through the moonroof of the limo and were waving their hands like they’d become members of the British monarchy. “Sit down and put on your seat belts,” she yelled out the door.
A peal of laughter was her only response.
She immediately punched out a phone number on the cordless phone she was still holding.
A moment later, Sophie could see at least one head retreat into the limo.
Satisfied, Meredith ended the call without speaking and closed the front door. She threw herself down onto the couch with obvious relief. “She’s not much younger than me when I met John. From then on, he was the only thing I could think about. And we know where that led.”
“You didn’t have a mother like Leda has,” Sophie reminded. Meredith’s mother had washed her hands of her parental duties the second Meredith had turned eighteen. “Does the brother have any interest in Leda?”
“Not that I’ve been able to tell. His name’s Scott. Works at one of the surf shops down by Friars. Sounds like he’s pretty busy. Hopefully too busy to become a problem.”
“Leda has a good head on her shoulders.”
“Which can go right out the window when hormones are involved.” She huffed out a breath. “John used to tell me I worried about things too much.”
Sophie silently noted yet another mention of John.
Grange was still taking refuge upstairs in his bedroom, and she refilled her coffee mug before taking the chair opposite the couch. “Not to change the subject, but to change the subject...long time to be cooped up with Walker.”
The corners of Meredith’s lips turned down. “That’s for sure.”
“Sorry things didn’t live up to your expectations.”
“That’s what I said to him,” Meredith admitted. She tossed the phone onto the cushion beside her. “The man’s just...too perfect.”
“I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
“Neither did I.” Meredith’s gaze went to the ceiling as if she were listening for Grange. But the only noise coming from upstairs was the faintly muffled sound of a television. “But Walker is proof otherwise. And yes—” Meredith’s cheeks turned dusky “—the new undies were worth the expense.”
“But...?” Because clearly there was a but.
Meredith closed her eyes. “I just felt like I was cheating on John,” she admitted softly. “And the better the...the sex...the worse it got.” She opened her eyes again. “And I know how...ridiculous that must sound, considering everything.”
Considering Meredith and John’s marriage had gone through more than one rocky stretch thanks to the man’s penchant for infidelity, Sophie knew.
“I’m sorry. I was hoping that you were having an absolutely magnificent time.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Meredith’s fingers toyed with the phone beside her. “If I hadn’t gone, you wouldn’t have had to deal with dresses and Meyer and—”
“I didn’t mind any of it. I love your kids. You know that.”
Meredith raised her eyebrows. “And Meyer?”
Sophie willed herself not to flush. “I don’t know why everyone suddenly seems to think I have an issue with Meyer.”
Silence followed her statement, and then Meredith shook her head. “There’s no suddenly about it, Soph. But I am curious who else is pointing it out.”
“Leda said something.”
“Ah.” Meredith nodded. “She’s observant, that one. More than I ever was at her age, that’s for sure.” She made a face. “Or any age, when it comes to that.”
“Meyer’s a good friend to you,” Sophie said. “I know that.”
“And?”
“Well. Maybe the reason why things weren’t marvelous with Walker is because you should have been with Meyer.” The words, so long stoppered, came out in a blunt rush.
Meredith looked startled. She shook her head again and looked away. “No. No, no, no.”
She sounded too vehement. Sophie studied her friend’s downturned head. “Not even tempted?”
Meredith’s laugh sounded forced. “You sound like Walker. He thinks men and women can never be just friends.”
“I don’t know that I think that but—”
“—I’ll tell you what I told him. Kissing Meyer is like kissing my brother. If I had a brother.”
She managed not to wince, as much for Walker as for herself. “You’ve kissed?”
“Ages and ages ago,” Meredith dismissed almost curtly. “Before John and I were engaged.”
“I didn’t mean to bring up a touchy—”
“—you didn’t,” Meredith interrupted. She exhaled loudly. “Sorry. I’m just feeling sensitive because of Walker.”
“Sure,” Sophie said faintly. Even though she wasn’t sure at all.
Meredith looked at her coffee mug and abruptly stood. “I want wine. What about you?”
Sophie nodded, but Meredith was already going into the kitchen.
She rubbed her forehead, wishing that she’d never opened what was obviously a can of worms. She hadn’t figured out how to seal it up again when Meredith returned.
“I’d just graduated from high school.” Meredith extended a glass of wine. “When I kissed him.”
“You—” Sophie broke off and took the glass. By some miracle, she managed not to gulp down half of it.
“Yeah. Me.” Meredith sat again and seemed to relax a little. “Meyer never would have made a move like that. He and John were too tight.”
“Did he kiss you back?” She couldn’t stop the question.
Meredith took a sip of wine. “I’d just graduated from high school. My mom had already taken off, and I was mad at John for some stupid reason that I can’t even remember anymore.”
Sophie couldn’t help but notice that Meredith hadn’t answered her. “What happened then?”
Meredith lifted her shoulder. “I got over being mad. Like I always did. And a few weeks later, everything was back to normal, except that John and I were engaged and Meyer was going out with your sister. Not that that lasted.”
“Why didn’t it?”
Something shifted in Meredith’s gaze again before she focused on the golden wine she was swirling in her glass. “The only thing Meyer cared about was flying. The Air Force was his ticket to that. He never made any secret of it.”
Sophie’s fingers tightened around her glass. “And that’s why they broke up? Meyer and Corinne?”
“I think the term ‘broke up’ implies more of a relationship than they had.”
“Sure,” Sophie said darkly. “They were just sleeping together.”
“They were?”
Sophie frowned at Meredith. “Corinne got pregnant,” she said.
Meredith’s fingertips fluttered to her throat. She looked startled. “I had no idea.”
“Yes, well, my mother made sure nobody knew.” Sophie grimaced. “Hustled her off for an abortion, and that was that.”
Meredith set her glass on the coffee table. “Corinne would have been twenty or so. She surely had a choice about it.”
“Wouldn’t say that if you’d ever met my mother.” The one abiding thing that Sophie’s mother had cared about was appearances, and neither one of her daughters had been up to snuff. “All I know is that nobody under our roof ever talked about it again.”
“Did Meyer know?”
“Of course he knew. When Corinne told him, he said it didn’t fit in with his plans.”
“It just doesn’t sound like him.”
“Doesn’t sound like the guy who only cared about being a pilot?” And who may, or may not, have kissed his best friend’s girl?
Meredith sat forward on the couch. Her expression even more troubled. “And that’s what’s been behind your antipathy toward Meyer all these years?”
“He broke her heart.”
Meredith didn’t answer.
“What?”
Meredith sighed. “I always thought that Corinne was more in the business of breaking other people’s hearts.”
“Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen to her. I was there.”
Meredith reached out and squeezed Sophie’s hand. “Of course you were.” She sat back again. “It just seems unfathomable that Meyer...” She spread her hands. “He hated the way his father showed so little concern about him. I’ve always figured that’s why he’s never gotten serious about anyone. He cared about the Air Force first, last and always. He didn’t have the time or space to devote to anything else.”
“He left the military when John died.”
“He and John were best friends. Meyer knew we’d lost everything. He was doing what he thought was right, and I was such an emotional wreck that it didn’t even occur to me at the time how much he was giving up for us.”
And there they were. Full circle. Back to Saint Meyer. Who hadn’t cared enough about Corinne but obviously did when it came to the family John had left behind. And Sophie was no more convinced that Meredith didn’t have deeper feelings for Meyer than ever.
“Why haven’t you ever mentioned Corinne’s pregnancy before?”
Sophie spread her own hands. “Because you’re my best friend.”
They both exhaled. Then smiled, albeit more shakily than Sophie had expected. Which was exactly why she’d tried never to get into the issue of Meyer with Meredith. She didn’t want it to ruin their friendship.
“So.” She determinedly struck Meyer out of her thoughts. “Walker.” Who might be “too perfect” but apparently had his own issues regarding the closeness between Meredith and Meyer. “How’d you leave things with him?”
“He said he’d call. But after everything that happened, I know he won’t. I can’t blame him. I mean,” she huffed and shook her head, “I still keep John’s old Camaro in the garage even though it hasn’t run in years. All because I can’t bring myself to let it go. Walker’s right to move on. He deserves more.”
“Do you want him to call?”
“I want... I want things to be easy,” Meredith admitted. “It’s really all I’ve ever wanted. Which didn’t exactly lead to perfection with John, either.”
