Free The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe Page A

still could see the breathtaking, ear-to-ear grin on Nate’s face, his usually taciturn expression filled with joy.
    “What about Nate? Your condo is small. Won’t it be tight?”
    Cal’s face clouded and he rubbed his chin with consternation. “Right. Nate . . . That’s a tough one.”
    She gave a tiny shiver at the obvious implication that, for Cal once again, Nate was an afterthought. Dora watched him walk to the window, look out a moment, then return to her side.
    “You’re right,” he said in a normal voice. “It is small. There really isn’t room. But here’s the thing,” he added quickly. “We aren’t talking about a long time. Just long enough for you to recuperate. And in the meantime, we can look for a bigger place. Can’t Nate stay at Sea Breeze?”
    Dora felt outrage bubble in her chest; how could Cal be so willing to leave Nate behind at Sea Breeze?
    “No!”
    “It makes sense. You said he liked it there. He’s settled. Comfortable. Moving him twice will be disruptive for him. You know he doesn’t like change. And,” he added with import, “it will give us time to talk. Just us. We need that.”
    “But . . .”
    “Just for a little while.”
    “How long?”
    He shrugged. “A few weeks. Maybe a month.”
    Her mind felt stunned by disbelief that he would think she’d be willing to leave Nate behind for even a few weeks, much less a month. Yet, his offer of reconciliation, so close on the heels of the lawyer’s office debacle, muddled her thinking. Her mother’s words came back to her: If Cal is willing to reconsider, Dora should do whatever she can to save her marriage.
    “You’re right, Cal. We don’t want to just throw away our marriage. But I’m tired now. My head feels fuzzy and I need to sleep.”
    “Right. Of course. I’d better go.”
    Dora managed a meager smile.
    “I’ll be back in the morning.”
    “Will you go to see Nate tomorrow? I don’t want him to worry.”
    His face was all remorse. “I wish I could. But I’ve got a full day of appointments. I’m sure he’s in good hands at Sea Breeze.”
    Dora tugged the thin blanket higher around her neck as she felt a sudden chill. She looked at her nails. They were short and unpainted. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a manicure. On her left finger she was still wearing the slim channel-set diamond wedding band. Cal had not once, in all his arguments, declared that he loved her. He’d not told her that he’d missed her, or missed their son.
    Dora took a breath that exhaled all the angst, anger, and worry that she’d harbored in her chest for too long. A change of address was not going to change Cal. He didn’t want her back because he loved her. That was what she wanted to hear. What Cal wanted was for her to monitor the house renovations. He wanted to soften her up to get the better deal with the divorce.
    She deserved better. Nate deserved better. It was not enough.
    “You don’t have to come by the hospital, then, since you’re such a busy man,” Dora said flatly. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for the offer that I move into your condo. But it’s too soon. I need time alone to think—about our marriage, about me . . . about so many things before I’m ready to talk.”
    Cal cleared his throat to speak but she pushed on, not giving him the chance to interrupt.
    “As soon as I’m released, I’m going back to Sullivan’s Island. You’re right. Nate is happy there. And you know what? I’m happy there, too. I think we all deserve some happiness. We can talk again in a few weeks. Maybe a month.” She ventured a small smile on reiterating his words. “As for watching over the house improvements . . .” She shrugged. “Good luck with that.”

Chapter Five

    M amaw loved holidays. Christmas was her favorite, of course. Then Valentine’s Day, with its hearts and chocolate, and Easter, with the brightly colored eggs and pastel flowers. And now it was time to celebrate the Fourth