Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [11]
Ashley hesitated, not one to share family business, but talking about Caroline was preferable to talking about herself or her irrational fears. "It seems that Caroline is dating Mike Stanaway."
Sean raised an eyebrow. "He's at least ten years older than her. Maybe fifteen. Not to mention ... Well, let's just say he has some problems."
"That's why I need to talk to her. Not that she'll listen, but I have to try."
"I could go with you," Sean offered.
"No," she said abruptly. "You know how defensive Caroline can be when she feels she's being ambushed. I'll see you around."
Ashley walked away, wondering if he'd call her back, but he didn't. As she headed toward Caroline's salon, her thoughts weren't on her sister but on the man she'd left behind. She wondered why it never got any easier to walk away from him. Lord knew she'd had enough practice. For a brief second, she was tempted to look back, to see if he was still standing there, still watching her, still wanting her -- the way she still wanted him.
*
"Phone for you, Caroline," the receptionist at Noel's Hair Salon said. "Line one."
"Just a second." Caroline squeezed the last bit of color out of the plastic bottle and looked at her client in the mirror. "We'll let this sit for a while. Can I get you a magazine?"
"I brought a book," Peggy Marsh replied. "And take your time. This is the first bit of peace and quiet I've had all week. The kids have been driving me crazy. Take my advice, Caroline, do not rush into the marriage and children thing. Enjoy this time of your life."
"I'll keep that in mind." Caroline certainly wasn't pushing for marriage or kids. She was twenty-four years old and had plenty of time to do both. Someday when she was ready. Right now she had her job as stylist at Noel's Salon and a small apartment in a building just a few blocks away. She was happy. Most of the time. Sort of.
It was probably the wind that was making her restless. She was like her father in that regard. A good stiff breeze always got her itchy to go somewhere. But she couldn't go anywhere. She had another haircut in ten minutes.
She walked over to the reception desk and picked up the phone. "Hello."
"It's me, Kate."
"What's up?" Caroline couldn't help tensing at the sound of her older sister's voice. She had things she needed to talk to Kate about, but now wasn't the time or the place. Not that she knew when that time or place would be.
"It's Dad," Kate said with a weary note in her voice.
"Where is he?"
"Sleeping on my couch. I was lucky to get him this far. He really tied one on today. Will called me to come and pick him up."
"It's hard for him with all the boats coming to town. It makes him want to be out there with the other racers. He misses the life he used to have."
"And that's an excuse for drinking himself into oblivion? How can you defend him?"
"Someone has to," Caroline snapped. Kate had always been hard on their father. She didn't understand him. She never had.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
"Look, Caroline, that's not really why I'm calling. Although it's a lot easier to defend Dad when you aren't the one constantly called to come and pick him up from some bar. I'm sorry if I'm a little out of patience, but I'm just sick of it."
"Hey, they can call me anytime. But everyone knows you're in charge."
"I never said that."
"Oh, please, Kate. You've always been in charge."
"Fine. Whatever. We have another problem."
"What? I have a haircut to do." Caroline looked up as the front door to the salon opened and a man walked in. He must be her seven-o'clock appointment.
"A reporter came into the store today," Kate said. "His name is Tyler Jamison. He wants to do a story on us -- a where-are-they-now piece."
Caroline didn't know what to say. The reporters had stopped coming around years ago, and they'd all begun to breathe easier. Lulled into a false sense of security, she realized now. "What