A Road Trip to Remember - Judith S. Keim Page 0,88
way to the front entry, leaving Ben standing in the middle of the room staring at her as she exited. She closed the door behind her, trying to stem her tears.
Outside, as she made her way into her building, she met Logan coming out of it.
“Hey! What’s wrong?” he asked, looking at her with concern. “What happened?”
She raised a hand to keep him away from her. “Can’t talk about it.” She hurried past him and to the elevator.
Left outdoors without a key to come into the vestibule, Logan watched her through the glass door.
Doing her best to ignore him, she waited for the elevator and stepped inside when it finally arrived.
Her cell phone rang with his unique chime, but she let the call go. He was the last person she wanted to talk to tonight. He’d ruined everything for her.
###
Blythe arose the next morning with a headache. Blaming it on the beer and wine she’d had, she knew she was lying to herself. The headache came from the heartache that had kept her tossing and turning all night.
As she placed laundry into her washing machine, she told herself she had to get past this crush on Logan. She couldn’t afford to fail in taking over for her grandmother because she’d fallen for him. She’d have to ignore her feelings. Not only was her grandmother counting on her doing that, but her father was also. Besides, she was lucky to have the chance to run the family business. Some of her classmates hadn’t even found a job yet.
Her cell rang.
“Hi, it’s Curtis. I’m back in town for a quick visit and wonder if I can hang out for a bit and then take you to lunch.”
“That would be great,” she said.
“You sound a little down. Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Just life. It’ll be nice to see you.” She gave him directions to her condo and clicked off the call, feeling better.
###
When she opened the door to Curtis, Blythe had forgotten how handsome, how easy-going he was. The day that had started so badly might be pleasant after all.
“Come on in.”
“Thanks. I’m in town to see Dad about the foundation but wanted to have some time away from him and Aggie. It’s a little depressing. They’re lovebirds.”
“Ah. And you haven’t found anyone yet.”
He shook his head. “It’s hard to find someone who gets me and what I do for a living. Some see my life as all glamour. Others see it as unsteady, unreliable.” He shrugged. “The best thing for me is just to keep doing my thing. And right now, this is a bad time. I’m between books and working with an agent who now wants me to move in a different direction with my next book to accommodate the editor.”
“Well, sit down and relax. I promise not to keep asking you about your books. It’s a nice day out. I thought we could drive up to the North Shore for the afternoon, maybe have lunch or dinner at a seafood place in Ipswich.
Curtis’s face lit up. “Are we talking clams?”
Blythe laughed. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”
A knock at the door interrupted them.
Blythe went to the door and opened it.
“Do you have a minute?” Liz asked.
“Sure. What’s up?” Blythe said, noting the look of distress on Liz’s face.
Liz stepped into the room. “Oh! I didn’t know you had company. I can leave.”
“No, don’t. Liz Calloway, this is Curtis Bailey.”
Liz’s eyes widened. “Oh, you’re Blythe’s new brother.” She held out her hand, and Curtis shook it.
He turned to Blythe. “Brother or step-brother or whatever. Right?”
She smiled and nodded. She saw how Liz’s face had lit and the grin that had spread across Curtis’s face when they’d greeted one another. Maybe, she could help them out.
“We’re thinking of driving up to Ipswich. Want to join us?”
Liz glanced at her. “Are you sure I wouldn’t be horning in?”
“Don’t be silly,” Blythe said.
“In that case, Logan and I have split up, and I need to have a little fun,” Liz said, beaming at her.
“What happened?” Blythe asked.
“The truth.” Shaking her head, Liz sighed. “We both agreed it wasn’t happening between us. I think Logan tried, but his heart wasn’t in the relationship. You know?”
Blythe knew exactly how that went. It had happened to her because of him.
###
The day trip turned out to be fun—her gift to Curtis and Liz, who talked and laughed together as they discussed their families and various places Liz wanted to see and Curtis had already visited. Liz talked