Free Tides of Hope by Irene Hannon Page A

to maintain the status quo so her daughter had the older woman’s undivided attention. He couldn’t blame her for that. But for Vicki’s sake he’d hoped—
    The front door jangled and to his relief Kate stepped over the threshold. But not the Kate he’d expected. Instead of her customary weekday attire of jeans and a slicker, she wore black slacks, a green turtleneck sweater and a black wool coat. And she seemed a little harried.
    Standing, Craig waved at her, and she headed in his direction. Another patron hailed her en route, however, and shestopped to exchange a few words. By the time she arrived at his table, she was breathless and apologetic.
    â€œSorry. I got delayed at school.” She slipped into the chair he held, shrugging out of her coat as she spoke.
    â€œSchool?” He retook his seat.
    â€œI sub at the high school. English, mostly.”
    â€œI thought you ran a charter business.”
    â€œI do. In season. In the off season, I’m a substitute teacher. In case you haven’t noticed, the cost of living on the island is high. It’s tough to make ends meet with just seasonal work.”
    The waiter appeared as Craig digested this new piece of information. Kate had two jobs. No wonder she often looked tired. And stressed.
    After Kate ordered a bowl of quahog chowder and he opted for a turkey sandwich, she gave him an expectant look.
    â€œSo tell me what it is we need to talk about that couldn’t be done over the phone. I have to be back in forty-five minutes.”
    Despite his tension, a grin tugged at his lips. “Nothing like the direct approach.”
    She lifted one shoulder. “I don’t believe in beating around the bush.”
    â€œYeah. I noticed.” When a soft blush bloomed on her cheeks, he tried to mitigate any implied criticism. “And for the record, I prefer candor.”
    She acknowledged his caveat with a quick dip of her head and waited him out.
    Stalling, Craig took a sip of water. There wasn’t any way to spin this that would put him in a favorable light, and his ego balked at admitting his failings as a father. But his pride was expendable, he reminded himself. Vicki’s welfare had to come first.
    As he set the water glass carefully back in the ring it had left on the polished wooden table, he folded his hands in front of him. “I assume Edith told you the basics. I’m a single parent, raising a four-year-old daughter.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIn our world today, my situation isn’t unique. But the reason for it is.” He clenched his fingers, watching as the knuckles whitened. “My wife and son were killed in a boating accident when I was stationed in Hawaii. It happened three years ago. Vicki was fourteen months old.”
    Shock rippled across her face. “Oh, Craig…I’m so sorry.”
    â€œThanks.” He cleared his throat and took another sip of water. “Since then, Vicki has been cared for by nannies in the condo I rented in Washington. In the gap between nannies, my mother filled in.”
    He hesitated. Braced himself. Plunged in. “In my grief, I shut myself off from my daughter. She has many of my wife’s features, and every time I looked at her she reminded me of everything I’d lost. So I delegated her care to other people. Now, we have almost no connection. But I want to change that. That’s one of the reasons I came to Nantucket. For a fresh start.”
    He leaned forward intently. “I know it will be an uphill battle, Kate. But I want to give it my best shot. I don’t intend to work the long hours I did in Washington, but I do need someone to watch her during the workday. I can go with the day care I have lined up if necessary, but I think she’d do much better with personal attention from someone like Edith. And the icing on the cake would be Maddie. Vicki’s never had a playmate, and I think it would do her a world of good