Page 11 of A Family Affair: The Ring
No mistaking the curiosity steeped in annoyance smothering Will Callahan’s words.“Right,” Harry piped in.“Howdidyou know who’s been visiting my restaurant?”If Lily had been tossing him tidbits of information on couples, he’d have a talk with her about privacy and personal spaceandthreaten to move her to the kitchen instead of hostess.They’d had this conversation before she started, and she promised not to share what she heardorsaw at the restaurant.But Pop was a crafty one, and if he wanted information, he knew how to get it.Harry slid a look at his friend, caught him staring back with equal suspicion.
“It’s not who you think it is, so stop giving me the evil eye.I happened to witness one of the restaurant events firsthand, took it all in as I munched on a slice of homemade bread dunked in olive oil and a banana pepper stuffed with hot sausage.”A shrug, followed by a half-smile.“People watching is better than a front-row seat at the theater.Entertaining and interesting, especially if you’re dining alone or waiting on a dinner partner.Mimi was running late, so...”
“So, you decided to snoop around and draw conclusions about my patrons?”That did not make Harry happy, and if word got out that people’s privacy wasn’t being kept private, goodbye to Harry’s Folly.Nobody would trust itorHarry.
“Snooping and drawing conclusions?”Pop let out a huff as though Harry had just accused him of peeking in windows and looking through people’s mailboxes.“I was passing time, savoring the homemade bread and dipping sauces and then I spotted Will and Delaney Hall, and something just didn’t sit right.She was doing all the talking, laughing, even let out a giggle or two.He just listened like he was in school, and she was delivering a lesson.There were a few nods, a half-smile, maybe a shrug, but not much else.I started to observe the body language and Will might as well have been sitting in the kitchen because he was a hundred miles away.Delaney would have pounced on his lap and fed him his salad if he’d let her.”He tapped his fingers on the table, stared at Harry and then slid a glance at Will.“So, why was that?”
The squared shoulders and closed-off look said Will Callahan did not like being the subject of conversations, especially one involving relationships.“Don’t know, Pop.Why don’t you tell us?”
“Guess it’s the same reason you bought the yellow roses instead of the red ones last Valentine’s Day.”
“He doesn’t love her!”Crap, had Harry just said those words out loud in front of Will?Harry wiped a hand over his face, cleared his throat.“Sorry, kid.I get excited when Pop puts me on the hunt.I didn’t mean to say that.”
Pop ignored Harry’s outburst, swung his gaze to Will.“And then you have to ask why doesn’t he love a girl like that?Good-looking, sweet as cherry cobbler, intelligent, kind, sings in the church choir.Whowouldn’tlove a girl like that?”He settled back in the booth, let out a long sigh.“Only reason I can think of is that she’s either the wrong one or...”
“Or?”Harry had to hear the rest of this story, because when Pop told it, he couldn’t stand not knowing the ending.
“Or he’s still carrying a torch for someone else.”
“He is?Like who?”
When Pop answered, Harry realized why his friend was the Godfather of Magdalena and why it would take a long time for Harry to earn that title.“Like the young woman you tried to fix him up with...the one who broke his heart and maybe still owns it.Melanie Russell.”
7
It took Melanie two days to work up the courage to visit Will.She’d driven by his house several times, took in the white Cape Cod with black shutters, black door, and neatly trimmed front yard.When they’d talked about their first home, he’s told herIt depends on where we are.If we’re still in the city, we may be looking at a condo.If it’s the suburbs, I’d like a little land so you can grow your flowers and vegetables.He’d smiled, brushed his lips against hers, added,Maybe we’ll put up a swing set.
This house sat on a postage-size lot and there were no flowers unless you counted the yellow mum on the front porch.Was there room for a swing set in the backyard?Did hehavea backyard?She’d poked around town and asked a few vague questions about him, but no one was offering anything, especially those who knew their backstory.Could she blame them?Melanie was no longer one of them and they would protect Will, no matter what.
She stopped at Barbara’s Boutique &Bakery, picked up six dark chocolate-covered strawberries and one custard-filled éclair.Will once said that aside from her, a dark chocolate-covered strawberry and a good custard éclair were his favorite sweets.Maybe it would serve as an apology, and an olive branch.She’d leave them in the car until she could gauge his reaction to seeing her again.There was so much she wanted to say to him, but if she didn’t start with the truth, the therapist said she’d live the rest of her life in misery and regret.
The truth had eluded her for too many years, though, in retrospect, it had always been there, she just hadn’t wanted to see it.Instead, she’d chosen to believe her mother to save their family and she’d ended up destroying her chance for happiness.
And Will?
What had she done to him?Had she destroyed his chance for happiness, too?
It was late afternoon; the air was crisp with hints of fall surrounding the town.She had no idea if he’d be home but had decided to take a chance.Melanie drew in a deep breath, parked on the street next to the Cape Cod and made her way up the driveway.Music drifted toward her as she climbed the front steps.Will had always loved rock and roll and once claimed he wanted to come back in another life as a drummer.Melanie fell back all those years ago to the first time they discussed rock bands over a burger and fries at Lina’s Café.
You can’t beat the Stones.
No argument there,he’d said.But sometimes it depends on my mood.They’re not an all-occasion type of band.
She’d laughed.No, definitely not.
But...no matter who I listen to, I compare everybody to them.
Yep.
Melanie had been so caught up in yesterdays, she didn’t realize the door had opened untilhespoke.“Melanie?What are you doing here?”
Will Callahan faced her with a not-happy expression on that unforgettable face.The blue eyes, the strong nose, the full lips had haunted her for years.And now he stood less than a foot away, but he looked nothing like she remembered.Gone were the faded jeans, T-shirts, stubbled jaw and shaggy dark hair.ThisWill Callahan was clean-shaven with an expensive haircut, a button-down dress shirt, and tailored slacks.Her gaze slid to the leather wingtips.There’d been a time when he’d only worn tennis shoes...
“What do you want?”
She struggled to find the words that would erase eight years of separation, failed.Her gaze shifted from his shoes to his face.“I was hoping we could talk.”
Those blue eyes that had once devoured her narrowed in suspicion.“Talk?The time for talking is long gone.”Pause and a firm “Like eight years gone.”
