Chapter 1
He was late.
Twenty-four minutes, to be precise.
Hayley knew this was a bad idea. How could she have allowed her friend Liddy to fix her up on a date? With Liddys own cousin from Bucksport! He didnt even live in Bar Harbor. And how could she have agreed to meet him on Valentines Day? Who goes on a blind date on Valentines Day? Thats reserved for moony newlyweds who coo and giggle and feed each other mushy, rich desserts with their fingers. Or for tired, old married couples who feel forced to show the world the magic is still there by dining out at a romantic restaurant, even though they would rather be eating in front of the TV while watching The X Factor and not having to talk to each other.
She had tried to cancel, but Liddy wouldnt hear of it because she was convinced that what Hayley needed most right now was to get right back out there and date after her on-again, off-again boyfriend Lex Bansfield recently blew town for Vermont after losing his job.
Hayley checked her watch again.
This was torture.
Even though it was mid-February, there was no snow on the ground. The temperature was a brisk thirty-seven degrees. No ice on the roads. What possible excuse could he have for being this late? The trip from Bucksport to Bar Harbor was only a little over an hour if he took Route 3.
Hayley gulped down the last of her Merlot and tried to signal Michelle, the bartender/waitress at her brothers bar, Drinks Like A Fish, for her check.
She was not going to wait longer than thirty minutes for a blind date to show up. And that was final.
Michelles back was turned and then she scurried through the swinging doors into the kitchen and didnt see Hayley waving at her.
Hayley actually felt relieved. Now she could firmly tell Liddy that she had given the whole dating thing a try and it just didnt work out. She certainly wasnt too keen on starting a serious relationship.
Especially so soon after Lex.
Lex was a wonderful man, a real stand-up guy, but he was not without his issues, and Hayley just didnt have the energy right now to devote to a man. Her kids had been extremely demanding lately with their various teen dramas and she wanted to focus more on them and her food-and-cocktails column at the Island Times newspaper.
Besides, dating was such a brutal endeavor. And she was never especially good at it. On her first date with Lex, she wound up arrested. But that was another story.
Michelle breezed out of the kitchen, and Hayley finally caught her attention. Hayley quickly made a scribbling motion with her finger, indicating she would like to pay for her wine and get the hell out of there, but then she felt a cold chill on her back as the front door swung open and a blast of winter air swept through the bar. She nearly jumped out of her chair as the door banged shut.
Hayley closed her eyes.
Please let it not be him.
Please let it not be him.
Hayley?
Hayley took a deep breath and swung her head around, hoping for the best.
Yes. Walter?
Walter nodded. He was taller than Hayley had expected. Much taller. In fact, there was a slight pain in her neck as she craned her head up to meet his face. The first thing she noticed was he had a beautiful head of dirty-blond hair. Wavy and thick and a bit shaggy. But then her eyes settled on his face. Nice features, but something was definitely off. Maybe it was the low lighting in the bar, but it looked almost as if his cheeksno, the whole left side of his face was drooping or slightly deformed. This certainly didnt come across in the photos on his Facebook page, which Hayley had researched before agreeing to meet him.
He shed his winter coat and draped it on the back of the chair and sat down across from Hayley. I was hoping you wouldnt notice.
Hayley tried acting nonchalant. Notice what?
My face. I had a small cosmetic procedure today, and the doctor warned me this might happen for a day or two until my face settles. My mother begged me to reschedule because with my nasty luck, she knew something like this might scare you off.
Cosmetic procedure?
Mother?
Is it some kind of medical issue?
Oh no. Nothing that dramatic. Just a little face-lift. Were not getting any younger, and you know what they say, If you want to sell the used car, you need to keep it looking shiny and new.
Hayley had never heard anyone say that.
Face-lift?
So, is it noticeable? he asked, a mask of genuine concern on his face.
Or at least half of it.
Hayley leaned forward slightly. You can hardly tell.
That was a huge lie. He looked a bit like the Batman villain Two-Face: one side of the face normal, the other horribly disfigured.
Michelle stopped by the table. What can I get you?
Michelles eyes nearly popped out of her head at the sight of Walters misshapen face, but she instantly recovered and smiled, pretending not to be startled.
Just some coffee. I have to drive back home to Bucksport. And do you have any desserts here? I have a raging sweet tooth.
Yes, we do, Michelle said, pointing to a plastic bar menu in a metal holder on the table. I recommend the German chocolate cake.
Michelle winked at Hayley knowingly. Randy had recently decided to serve sandwiches and appetizers and a few desserts at his bar, and the new food menu had been a huge hit with his customers. Hayley helped out by baking a few of her signature desserts for him.
Walter ordered the German chocolate cake, and Michelle scooted back into the kitchen, leaving Hayley with Droopy Face.
So, Hayley, youre much prettier than your photo. Tell me a little bit about yourself, Walter said, trying to be seductive.
Hayley couldnt take her eyes off his sagging cheek; it was making her uncomfortable. She just wanted to bolt out of there, but she couldnt be rudeand Liddy would never forgive her.
So she just rattled off a litany of bullet points about her life. Born and raised in Bar Harbor. Divorced. Two kids. Food-and-cocktails columnist for the paper. Then she quickly turned the conversation over to him.
Walter relished talking about himself: How he had been a high-school basketball star. How his dashing good looks drew women like flies, but he had very high standards, which explained why he had yet to marry. How he was engaged once, but his mother didnt approve; so the relationship was doomed from the start.
There is that mother again.
Mentioned twice in five minutes!
That was never a good sign.
His cell phone rang, interrupting his incredibly boring life story.
He fished it out of the back pocket of his khaki pants and glanced at it.
Its my mother. I should take this.
Three times in five minutes.
Half his face lit up as he answered the call.
The other half sagged a bit more.
Mother, you minx. You know Im on a date, he said, winking at Hayley.
Hayley forced a smile.
Yes, shes quite pretty. No, she says you cant notice it. I checked myself in the rearview mirror in the car before I came in and I thought it did look a bit slouchy, so maybe shes just being polite. Oh. Okay.
