When August Ends
***
That evening at Jack Foley’s Pub, I was busy obsessing over Noah when an old, familiar face turned up in my section.
He seemed happy to see me. “Heather?”
It was a guy I’d gone to high school with, one I hadn’t seen in a few years. He was one year ahead of me.
“Oh my God…Jared!” I hugged him.
Jared Mackenzie had always been smart, and everyone was super impressed when he’d gotten into Harvard.
“It’s so good to see you,” he said.
“You, too. You don’t usually come home for the summer, do you? I haven’t seen you since you graduated.”
He frowned. “My father is sick, so I’m not working the usual summer job I keep in Cambridge.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, lung cancer.”
My stomach dropped. “That’s tough. I’m really sorry.”
That reminded me things could always be worse. My mother was severely depressed, but at least she was physically healthy.
“It’s been a rough summer, but running into you tonight is a nice surprise.”
“Likewise.” I smiled. “So, what’s it like to be almost finished with school? One more year, right?”
“Yeah. It’s surreal how fast time flies. I hope to stay in Boston for grad school. So, it’ll be a while before I have to face the real world and find a job.”
“What’s your major again?”
“Neuroscience. I’d like to become a medical researcher.”
“Right. I remember it being something easy.” I winked and caught myself twirling my hair, which I often did when I was feeling flirtatious.
Jared laughed. “Listen, I’ve pretty much been sitting by my dad’s bedside every day, and at night I just need a breather. I haven’t wanted to hang out with the people from school or go drinking. But I would love to go somewhere and talk—have a good conversation and a good meal. Would you want to hang out sometime?”
I was surprised, but I couldn’t find one reason to say no. “That would be great.”
“Can I admit something?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“When I heard you and Eric broke up, I might have done a little fist pump.”
I covered my mouth. “Really?”
“I also might have had a pretty intense crush on you in high school, but you were always taken.”
My heart fluttered. “I would’ve never known that. You were always so busy playing lacrosse or with your nose buried in books. I never sensed anything.”
“You didn’t have me pegged as a nerd, did you?”
“No. Just the opposite. I think intelligence is amazingly sexy.”
Pipe down.
After I took his order, we exchanged numbers. Maybe a date with Jared would be exactly what I needed. He’d be going back to Cambridge, so there wouldn’t be any obligation to continue things beyond the summer. And Lord knows, I needed a distraction from Noah. It would do me good to redirect my focus toward someone else.
CHAPTER TEN
* * *
NOAH
Later that week, I was working outside Heather’s house when a man I didn’t recognize approached me. He was probably in his early fifties. My guard immediately went up.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“I’m here to see my daughter. Who are you?”
This is Heather’s father?
“I’m Noah Cavallari. I’ve been renting the boathouse.”
He held out his hand. “Rick Chadwick.”
I wiped the dirt off my palms and shook his hand. “Good to meet you.”
Rick was stocky and wearing an oversized, brown Members Only-type jacket. If I weren’t a big guy myself, I might have been intimidated by the way he was looking at me.
At that moment, Heather opened the door. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hi, darling.”
She looked between us. “I see you’ve met Noah.”
“Briefly, yes.”
Heather turned to me. “My father is in town for a couple of days.”
I remembered she’d said her dad did a yearly visit.
It would’ve been nice if she’d given me some warning.
“Would you want to join us for dinner tonight, Noah?”
What am I supposed to say? “I don’t want to intrude.”
Rick intervened. “No intrusion at all. I’d prefer to get to know the man spending so much time on the property.”
Great.
“See you at seven,” Heather said before disappearing inside the house with him.
Had I missed the part where I’d said yes?
As I continued to work outside, my phone vibrated.
Heather: I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about him coming. I didn’t know until this morning. He wasn’t supposed to visit until the fall. He sprung this on me. I think it’s because he heard we’re selling the house. He’s against it.
This was going to be a real fun fucking dinner. A hoot.
Noah: I’m not sure I should be joining you.
Heather: I would appreciate your company. I feel like I need a buffer tonight.
How could I refuse that?
Noah: Okay. Can I bring something?
Heather: Do you even have to ask what to bring? ?
Noah: I’ll pick up some garlic bread. Anything else you need?
Heather: New parents? LOL
Noah: They don’t sell those at Stop and Shop.
Heather: See you at 7.
I smiled.
Noah: K.
***
The fact that Heather’s father stayed at a hotel when they had this huge house with a couple of guest rooms really spoke volumes about the nature of his relationship with Heather and Alice.
When I arrived for dinner, it surprised me to see Alice out and about in the kitchen with Heather. It was as if she knew her daughter needed her. Somehow, she’d been able to get her shit together tonight.
Rick and I sat at the kitchen table as Heather and her mother chopped vegetables for the salad. He’d brought a six-pack of Corona and offered me one. I gladly partook. Anything to take the edge off this situation.
Heather and Alice refused my numerous offers to help, and I noticed Rick hadn’t even offered once. So far, the only good thing about this guy seemed to be the striking blue eyes he’d passed on to Heather.
His voice startled me. “Noah, what is it exactly that you do?”
“I’m a photographer.”
Heather looked over at us. “Noah is amazing. He’s traveled the world and covered a lot of big events. You should see his website.”
Rick didn’t seem like he was buying what Heather was selling. “If you have such a great life, why would you want to spend the summer on Lake Winnipesaukee?”
His question pissed me off. I didn’t like the way he’d said that, as if there was nothing of value here.
“Just looking for a change of pace.”
“Actually, Noah’s handiwork is the reason we’re able to put the house on the market. He’s been a big help,” Heather said.
Rick gave me the stink eye. “Is that so…”
I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t in favor of the sale.
Dinner was finally served. Heather had made a meatloaf that was really tasty. The way the ketchup cooked into the top of the meat reminded me of the way my mother used to make it.
She sat next to me, seeming really tense.
I leaned into her. “Good job on the meatloaf. It’s delicious.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
For the longest time, it was a quiet and awkward meal with clanking silverware the only sound. Her damn father hadn’t said a thing as he scarfed down the food. I kept sane by sneaking bits of my meal to Fathead, who was hanging out by my feet.
Alice also looked very stressed. I had to say, I was kind of proud of her. I knew it couldn’t have been easy. Heather had told me she still had a lot of hang-ups about the divorce.
We hadn’t even gotten halfway through dinner when Rick said, “So, we need to talk about this plan to sell the house.”
Heather set her fork down and wiped her mouth. “What is there to talk about?”
“You know how I feel about this. It’s not the right time. The market hasn’t hit its peak, and I think you’re going to be losing a shit ton of money if you don’t wait.”
“The realtor doesn’t seem to think it’s a bad time.”
“What does she know? She wants to make a quick buck. You can’t trust what she says.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s not the perfect time. We need to sell. I can’t handle the upkeep anymore. I need the money for school.”
“Why can’t you take out loans like everyone else?”
“Well, I plan to continue working to help pay my tuition, but I don’t want to have loans hanging over my head for the rest of my life. Plus, Mom has always said when the house sold, I could use some of the money for school.”
“When did you even decide on school?”
“I was going to mention it. I got into the University of Vermont’s nursing program. I plan to start in the spring semester.”
I knew Heather didn’t see her father often, but it was also becoming clear he was the last to know anything going on with her.
“When were you planning to tell me?”