“What are you doing here?” I asked, closing the door. “I thought you’d be in Brewster through tomorrow.”
Guy went straight to the kitchen table and set the bag on it. “Client changed his mind. Got him to settle this morning. I couldn’t do without you and came back soon as I could.” He came over to me. “Miss me?” he asked. He slipped his arms around my waist, pulled me to him, and kissed me again, this time without hurry. I allowed the kiss, then pulled away. Guy took off his coat and tossed it on the sofa. “Thought we could have the rest of the weekend together.”
I gave him a placid smile as I went to the table and checked the bag of groceries. “Seems like you’ve got quite a weekend planned.”
“Look further,” said Guy.
I did. There were paper-wrapped packages of steak and frozen lobsters. There were potatoes and asparagus and fruit, lemons, strawberries and blueberries, and a pineapple. Two bottles of wine were also in the bag.
“And guess what?” Guy went on. “I’m going to do all the cooking. You don’t have to lift a finger.” He came to the table and again slipped his arms around me.
I allowed him to hold me, but after a moment I said, “It’s not going to happen.”
Guy nuzzled his face close to my ear. “What? What’s not going to happen? This dinner? Oh, I think it is.”
“No . . . it’s not. . . . My brother’s here.”
Guy immediately released me. “What?”
“You heard me. Stacey came last night. Actually early this morning, like about three o’clock.”
Guy took a step backward. “Were you expecting him?”
“Don’t you think I would have told you if I were?”
“He came without letting you know? Why is he here?”
“A friend of ours is in trouble and Stacey wants me to go back with him on Sunday to help him.”
“What kind of trouble?”
I hesitated, reluctant to go into it. As much as I trusted Guy, I had never told him about Moe or his flight from Mississippi and why he had to run. “Look, I don’t have time to talk about it now. You have to go.”
Guy was silent, then shook his head. “I want to meet your brother, Cassie. He’s got to know sometime. They all do.”
I stared at him. “But not today.”
“Today is as good a day as any.”
“I don’t think so. I wasn’t planning on any of this, and I’m not ready for you to meet my brother—”
“Would you ever be ready?”
“Look, Guy—”
“Would you ever be ready for me to meet any of them?”
I put my hands up. “I told you I don’t want to talk about this right now, and I do not want a fight about it. You need to understand, I can’t deal with your being here and Stacey too. You need to go.”
“No, I think I’ll stay,” Guy said quietly, then went to a cabinet and pulled out a large pot.
I was angry, but I didn’t want to fight with him. I just wanted him out of here. He couldn’t meet Stacey, but when Guy got stubborn like this, it was hard to dissuade him. I left Guy in the kitchen and went to the bedroom. I sat on the bed, pulled my legs up against my chest, and slumped my head against them. I was shaking. I was not ready for this.
* * *
◆ ◆ ◆
I stayed in the room for more than an hour, expecting Guy to come in to say he was leaving; he didn’t. I smelled cooking. I glanced outside. The winter sky was almost dark. I got up and went into the living room. Guy was at the kitchen stove, stirring something in the skillet. The lobster pot was on the stove and steaming. A smaller pot was opposite it. Guy glanced over at me and smiled. “Still here, I see,” I said.
He nodded in affirmation. “Still here.”
I went to the stove and stood beside him. He had minced the garlic and onions and was stirring them in butter along with oregano. “Smells good,” I admitted.
“Already got the potatoes ready to go into the oven. The steak is seasoned, ready to broil. Pot here has all the spices and some butter ready for the lobster, and the asparagus is ready for a quick dip. Hollandaise sauce is waiting on the asparagus.”
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”
“Why not? Special dinner for a special lady.”
I walked away. “It won’t be special, not with my brother here. It’ll be a disaster.”
“No need for it to be,” Guy said, turning off the fire and removing the skillet and setting it on the counter. “I’m sure he’s a reasonable man.”
“You don’t know my brother, not when it comes to matters like this. You have no idea.”
Guy looked at me, then covered the skillet. He wiped his hands on a towel and came over to me. He put his hands on my shoulders. “Then you tell me,” he said.
“There’s not time. Stacey will be back soon.”
Guy took my hand. “Cassie, talk to me.”
“I told you before, Guy, I really want you to go. Please do that for me. I really want you out of here before Stacey gets back.”
“You feel that strongly about it?”
“Thought I made that clear.”
Guy looked away, then back again. “Cassie, what do you want for us?”
“Right now, Guy, there is no us.”
“I suppose not. Not until you face up to your family and your feelings.”
“Will you please go? Do this one thing for me.”
“This one thing.” Guy looked at me long, sighed, then went to the sofa and got his coat.
“And you might as well take some of this food with you.”
Guy glanced at the food-laden table. “No, Cassie. I brought it for you. It stays. Maybe your brother will enjoy it. Hope you will too.” He headed for the door, but before his hand was on the knob, there was a knock.
“Oh, Lord,” I moaned. I knew it was Stacey.
Guy opened the door.
Stacey stood in the hallway. He looked from Guy to me in silence. Guy extended his hand. “You must be Stacey, Cassie’s brother. I’m Guy Hallis. I work with your sister at the law office.”
Stacey looked again at Guy, then hesitantly shook his hand.
“I was just leaving,” said Guy. “Brought by some paperwork for Cassie from the office. Also brought in a little food for you and Cassie from the corner store after I heard you were here. I knew Cassie would probably be too busy to go grocery shopping, what with all the casework she has this weekend. Well, I’ve got to run.” Guy glanced back at me. “See you at the office Monday, Cassie.” Turning back to Stacey, he said, “Nice to meet you, Stacey. Hope we get a chance to talk next time you’re here.” Stacey did not respond as Guy slipped out the doorway and past him. Stacey remained in the hallway, staring after him.