Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [59]
“Are you all right?” Garrett dropped the mail, concerned.
Catherine ran her hand through her hair, embarrassed, then bent to pick up the glass shards. “I just got a little woozy there for a second. I’ll be okay.”
Garrett moved toward her and began to help clean up. “Are you feeling sick again?”
“No, but maybe I spent too much time outside this morning.”
He was quiet for a moment as he picked up the glass.
“Are you sure I should go back to work? This last week’s been pretty tough on you.”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, I know you’ve got a lot to do there.”
Though she was right, when he finally started back to work, he got the feeling that maybe he shouldn’t have listened to her.
He swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the stillness in the kitchen. “I’m going to check the coals to see how they’re doing,” he said, needing something, anything, to do. “Hopefully, they’re getting close.”
“Can I set the table while you’re checking?”
“Sure. Most of the things you’ll need are right over here.”
After showing her where to find what she needed, he headed outside, forcing himself to relax and clearing his mind of the ghostly memories. Once he reached the grill, he checked the coals, putting his mind to the task at hand. Almost white, they had another few minutes, he figured. Again he went to the sea chest, and this time he removed a small, handheld bellows. He set it on the railing next to the grill and took a deep breath. The ocean air was fresh, almost intoxicating, and for the first time, he suddenly realized that despite his vision of Catherine just moments ago, he was still pleased that Theresa was here. In fact, he felt happy, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
It wasn’t only in the way they got along, but it was little things Theresa did. The way she smiled, the way she looked at him, even the way she’d taken his hand earlier this afternoon—it was already beginning to feel as if he knew her longer than he actually did. He wondered whether it was because she was similar to Catherine in so many ways or whether his father had been right about him needing to spend some time with another person.
While he was outside, Theresa set the table. She put a wineglass beside each plate and sorted through the drawer for some silverware. Beside the utensils were two candles with small holders for each. After wondering whether it would be too much, she decided to put them on the table as well. She would leave it to him whether or not to light them. Garrett came in just as she was finishing up.
“We’ve got a couple of minutes. Would you like to sit outside while we wait?”
Theresa picked up her beer and followed him out. As it had the night before, the breeze was blowing, but it wasn’t nearly as strong. She sat in one of the chairs, Garrett right beside her, his legs crossed at the ankles. His light shirt brought out his deeply tanned skin, and Theresa watched him as he stared out over the water. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling more alive than she had in a long time.
“I bet you don’t have a view like this from where you live in Boston,” he said into the sudden silence.
“You’re right,” she said, “I don’t. I live in an apartment. My parents think I’m crazy for living downtown. They think I should live in the suburbs.”
“Why don’t you?”
“I used to, before the divorce. But now, it’s just a lot easier. I can get to work in just a few minutes, Kevin’s school is right down the block, and I never have to take the highway unless I’m going out of town. Besides, I wanted something different after my marriage ended. I just couldn’t handle the looks my neighbors gave me after they found out that David had left.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged, and her voice softened. “I never told any of them why David and I separated. I just didn’t think it was any of their business.”
“It wasn’t.”
She paused for a moment, remembering. “I know that, but in their minds, David was a wonderful husband. He