Better late than never? Here’s the next installment of The Davies.

CHAPTER 22

Faith arrived for her weekend stay and was immediately accepted into the fold by the Aunties. The first night of her stay Kate went all out with dinner and then Beth entertained them all with stories of her travels through Italy and Greece. When they were upstairs with Faith sleeping on a blow-up mattress in Kennedy’s room she whispered “Your great aunts are the greatest. I get why you’re here.”

“I love them. And Cape Ann is great too. Wait until I take you on a tour tomorrow. We’re going to do Rockport, Gloucester, and Manchester – the trifecta of beach towns. You’re going to want to move here when we’re done.”

“Nice try, but I’m living in the coolest city on the planet with my hot boyfriend, and killer job. Not happening.”

The next day they set out to tour and brought Ella along. It proved a wise decision. Ella an instinct for the best parking space, shop and restaurant. From getting coffee to browsing second-hand stores, the day was nearly perfect. They started off in Manchester and enjoyed the beach before stopping at the best second-hand store she had ever been to and then had lunch in Rockport.

While there, they buzzed through the gallery Ella worked for and met her boss, a well-dressed man in his forties with a slight English accent.

“How do you manage to work with that man?” Faith asked, as they were leaving. “No one should be that good looking and rich at the same time. It’s not fair.”

Ella scoffed. “He’s pretty, but he’s also a jerk. Not the worst sort of human, but spend an hour with him and you’ll see that attractive shell crack and the worm within.”

Faith made a face. “Gross.”

“Precisely. I grew up around guys like him. Smart, wealthy and deeply conceited.”

“Ah.  Kennedy said you grew up in Manhattan?”

“Yep. I got out as soon as I could. I know that sounds nuts, but that lifestyle is insane. The upkeep on your look, your job, your persona? It’s pressure twenty-four seven. The one thing my mother and I have in common, we couldn’t conform. Had to get out of there.”

“I’d say that was a Davies trademark.” Faith threw a smile Kennedy’s way.

Kennedy smiled back, but the truth was that she’d longed to conform for about as long as Ella had longed to rebel. Normal appealed to her, it always had.  When your life is transient and chaotic, a stable home in any environment sounded good. A house in the suburbs with boring parents, school, and soccer on the weekends…Sublime.

Ella piled them all into the Volvo and they headed to Gloucester. They hit all the stores along Main Street ending up at a vintage dress shop. Faith was elbow-deep in a rack before Kennedy was even through the door. “Having fun?” She asked and Faith popped her head out of the clothes long enough to give her a sly smile.

“Okay. I confess, I may be a bit tempted by your Cape Ann, but it still can’t top New York.”

“We’ll see.” Kennedy started perusing the jewelry counter thinking Kate would love some of the costume jewelry they had on display. It had that fifties and sixties flair she usually went for.

Ella came to stand beside her and whispered, “I like your friend and not just because she’s a tall copy of me.” It was true, Faith had her more honey-blond hair cut in almost the same long bob Ella did and they both had a trim, but curvy sort of figure. “But do I detect a move in your future? Is she trying to lure you away?”

“She’s only joking” Kennedy assured her. “To be honest, it’s funny since it happened when I wasn’t paying attention, but I feel like I’m home here. I haven’t felt that in a long time…or ever really.”

“Kennedy!” Faith called from across the room, pulling a dress off the rack and shaking it at her. “This is so you.”

“Ooh,” Ella skipped over to where Faith stood holding a knee-length, sleeveless black dress. “You could totally rock that.” She snapped her fingers. “It’s perfect for that Mrs. Hughes thing, the reception.”

“No, I have a dress, I can wear the pink one…”

            “Oh hell no.” Ella interrupted. “You need a real evening dress, something stunning, but still you.”

“Ella…” Kennedy began but she knew it was pointless to argue.

The dress was made from a kind of silky but stiff material that had a fitted waist and flared A-line skirt that hit just above her knee. The girls bullied her into trying it on. It slid right on as if it was made for her.

“Gorgeous.” Faith looked her over. “It’s alluring, but demure; not exactly easy to pull off. It’s amazing how you do that innately.”

“Yeah right.” Kennedy was a bit embarrassed by the compliment. “But you’ve convinced me. I’ll get it.” She bought the dress then asked the girls if they were ready for dinner. They headed down to a restaurant on the harbor and sat out on the deck listening to the boats rocking in their berths. The place was packed with a mix of locals and tourists. After dinner, they lingered over their drinks while Ella suggested options for the rest of the night. Kennedy thought bed sounded good.

Suddenly, Ella stopped extolling the virtues of listing to live music at the Rhumb Line and stared over Kennedy’s shoulder as a sly sort of smile crossed her face. Kennedy didn’t even bother turning around to see who was approaching them. She could almost feel him walk up behind her. Will had said that Owen lived somewhere down here and a moment later he stepped into view.

He was dressed to kill or at least to close a deal in a gray suit and ice-blue silk tie, this he had loosened so she wondered if whatever business it was, was already done.

“Hello ladies,” he said to Kennedy and Ella and then nodded to Faith.

Kennedy turned to Faith a bit embarrassed by the blush she could feel on her cheeks. “Faith Armstrong, this is my…our friend Owen Caldwell.”

If he was unhappy with her switch to ‘our’ he didn’t show it. He shook Faith’s hand over the table and asked if he could join them. He picked the chair next to Kennedy and pulled it even closer before sitting down as if to clarify for Faith just whose friend he was.

Kennedy could feel the gravitational force he had kick in. Instantly, her guard went up. She was taking in every word he said, every slight movement next to her. But her senses escaped the tight hold she was trying to keep on them and began to take him in. She noticed everything; the faint scent of his cologne, the rich sound of his voice, the way he smiled when Faith cracked a joke.

It was too much. For not the first time in her life, she wished her feelings came with a dial she could turn down. Afraid of what she might say, she didn’t join in conversation.  Slowly, she noticed that Faith was skillfully sizing him up. Her questions were careful, and she seemed to listen intently to his answers. Kennedy almost wanted him to go away now so she could ask her friend what she thought of him. He stayed put though as the waiter brought their desserts and even sat there while they ate, entertaining them with the story of how Kennedy almost broke his nose. Faith laughed out loud; she had a beautiful laugh, just like the rest of her, and it was clear Owen was enjoying her company.

Ella and Faith weren’t only alike in looks. They both carried their beauty with unconscious grace. Kennedy wondered if that natural confidence was something you were born with. Did she just miss out on the personality lottery? They seemed much more in Owen’s sphere than she did. Kennedy wanted to be sophisticated like that, the way it seemed effortless, but she wasn’t made of that stuff. Ella came to it naturally and Faith could put it on like a coat, but it eluded Kennedy entirely. It reminded her of being back in the city. She’d put on her uniform of urban chic like it was armor, but it never sank in and she felt a bit like she was feeling now, the inept, awkward, stepsister.

Owen chose that moment to turn to her and maybe he caught the self-doubt in the expression on her face or he gave in to an impulse, but he reached over and took her hand, giving it a slight squeeze while he laughed about something Faith had said. It was a small gesture, but it was the emotional equivalent of drinking hot chocolate. Her lips lifted in a smile.

“Holy crap.” Ella was looking over Kennedy’s shoulder again. “I knew I shouldn’t have posted to Insta when we got here. I bet she was stalking my page.”

Kennedy stole a look and saw Renee coming through the doors from the interior of the restaurant. She turned back quickly hoping that the woman was here to meet someone or hadn’t seen them. She really didn’t want the kind of drama run-ins with Renee seemed to produce. Owen must have been thinking the same thing as he said to her softly “I’ll take care of it.” and got up to meet Renee before she could reach the table.

“I’m not about to turn around.” Kennedy said only loud enough for Faith and Ella to hear. “So somebody please tell me what’s going on.”

            Ella nodded. “I got you. He walked up to her and kind of steered her toward the door. She said something evil probably since he kind of stood back and then he stepped in front of her.” Ella related. “She just shook him off though and is headed this way…” Ella finished quickly.

Renee slid into sight. “Kennedy. I’ve been hoping we’d run into each other.”

            “She doesn’t need anything from you Renee.” Ella interrupted.

Renee held up her hand, clearly trying to get it out before Owen walked back to the table. “Whatever game he’s playing with you, don’t make my mistake and think it’s real. Honestly, I’m trying to put you on your guard. You seem nice and sweet and that man” She hesitated for a second before adding with emphasis “Is. Not.” And with that she turned on her heel, stepped up and over the little barrier between the deck, and the dock to storm off.

 “Wow.” Ella watched her go. “She’s a bitter, hateful human, but I have to give it to her. That was one hell of an exit.”

            “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her.” Owen returned to the table.

“Oh please,” Faith waved a hand dismissively. “We all got a laugh and maybe now that she’s said her piece she’ll be done.”

            “From your mouth to God’s ear.” Owen signed.

Faith and Ella broke out in laughter. Kennedy was certainly glad they all found it funny rather than embarrassing, but she had seen Renee’s face clear enough to know that it wasn’t only bitterness speaking. In the brief look she had into Renee’s face, she didn’t see a haughty, angry woman, she saw someone in real pain. She’d thought of Renee as being heartless and stuck up. That’s not what she saw. The woman warning her knew what it was to feel like you weren’t good enough. Kennedy couldn’t help the surge of empathy that filled her. No one deserves to be thrown away.

Owen sat back down with them while Ella and Faith changed the subject to places they both knew back in New York. Kennedy avoided eye contact with them all. She was embarrassed, confused, and dealing with too many conflicting emotions to dare interact at all. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Owen watching her. He looked like he wanted to pull her aside and explain or apologize so she excused herself and sure enough, he followed. He stopped her once they were back inside the restaurant in the entry hall near the restroom.

            “I’m sorry.” His voice was low and kind. “She did see Ella’s post. She knows I live right around the corner and did the math. She claimed she was only there to see me and let me know she was leaving since the season is over, but…” Owen had hold of Kennedy’s elbow and was scanning her face like he wanted to read her mind. He didn’t continue speaking. Either he didn’t have the words for his next thought or the nerve to say it. The look in his eyes was pleading.

She didn’t understand why, but it made her angry.  “Why do you do it?”

He looked taken aback.

“Why would you sleep with someone you don’t even like and then throw her away like she’s nothing?”

He let go of her arm and stood back.

“Here’s Ella defending you at every turn, saying to ignore your rep because you’re a nice guy under it all. But you aren’t are you?”  

He shook his head, dropping his gaze to the floor, like he was unable to look her in the face.

She leaned in. “I wish you were.”

His head snapped up, but she turned away and fled into the ladies room before he had a second to respond.

She locked herself in a stall and sat down. The sick feeling of disappointment in her belly was a reality she could not ignore. She’d started to care for him, more than a little. That delicate web of hope and desire had begun to weave itself and she was attached to him now. Stupid. Owen Caldwell, on paper the very worst man for her, the man that raised her blood pressure in so many ways, that was who she’d let in. Stupid! Of course, with how she treated him, ignoring her attraction to Owen might not be a problem she’d end up having.  

When Kennedy got back to the table he was gone and she was both relieved and disappointed. Faith and Ella had just settled the bill, so they dragged her out of the restaurant and a bit down the road to the Rhumb line where Faith immediately talked her into doing shots and Kennedy spent the next three hours thinking of nothing but the next song playing.

Late that night when they were finally home and mostly sober, Faith snuck in the question she had probably been thinking for hours.

            “What’s the deal with Owen Caldwell?”

Kennedy sighed quietly. “He’s…not for me. I can’t figure him out. And truthfully, he makes my head spin.”

            “Well you know what I used to say about the spins.”

“Keep a foot on the floor?”

            “You got it.”

“With Owen, that might be good advice in general.”

            “Okay, now the big question. Why does he make your head spin?”

“He’s… Oh, well you saw today. He’s beautiful, smart, driven, charming, and it’s hard not to like him when he has that all turned on and pointed at you, but he’s also a guy who throws girls away.”

            “You think he’ll throw you away?”

“Probably so the idea of putting my heart in his hands and having him crush it – impossible.”

            “Then don’t do it. If it doesn’t feel right…”

“That’s the thing, when he’s being the real Owen, it does feel right.”

            “The real Owen?”

She sat up and looked over to where Faith lay on the blow-up mattress. “He does this thing. He can blank out, get stony-faced and emotionless. I think he does it to protect himself from feeling something painful, but the few times he’s done it around me – it’s chilling. That guy doesn’t feel right. I don’t know enough about him to trust that he wouldn’t turn that ice on me, that he wouldn’t get hard-hearted.”

Faith stared up at the ceiling. “I wish I had some sage words of wisdom. It’s hard navigating all this stuff.” Silence fell and then Faith added “I liked him. He was sweet with you, like you were something precious to him.”

Kennedy felt her belly flutter, hearing that.

“But you’ve got to trust your own instincts in this. I can’t choose what’s right for you, Ella can’t either. Trust yourself. You’re wiser than you give yourself credit for. And if you do decide to take a chance on him, remember that whatever it is that makes him go all stony like that may be something ugly and you may have to walk away.”

Kennedy laid back down. The room fell silent again. “I’ve got plenty ugly of my own.” Kennedy whispered to the ceiling.

Image credit: Onur Bahcivancilar via Unsplash