by Bella Andre
Trent barely managed a nod, too stunned by his grandfather’s praise—and his thoughts on his marriage to Reese—to speak.
Chandler opened his desk drawer and set an envelope between them on the desk. “I’ve made some arrangements, and I expect you’ll be able to handle sharing the news with the others.”
Trent removed the documents and quickly scanned them. He was so stunned by what he was reading that he had to sink down to the chair behind him to reread them more carefully.
“Grandfather, legal ownership of the resort is not supposed to change hands until after you’re… after you are no longer with us. But this assigns the deed to me and my siblings and our father effective immediately.” Trent looked at his grandfather, and his stomach sank. “Is your health getting worse?”
“No. I’m planning to hang on for a few more years, at the very least. I can’t let you young people run around unattended.” Chandler’s eyes softened as he continued, saying, “You have all proven to me that you can handle the responsibilities of running the resort. It should be yours.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Trent admitted, feeling his throat thicken as it had the other day.
“Just promise me you won’t make the same mistakes I did with my Caroline.”
Trent hadn’t heard his grandfather mention his grandmother since the summer she’d passed away, and even then Chandler had moved out of the house they’d shared and into the resort so fast—even before his private wing was constructed—and spoken of her so rarely, that it was almost as if he’d filed her away like a business deal.
“I’m sure she knew you loved her,” Trent said, feeling uncomfortable and yet thankful at the same time for his grandfather’s opening up to him. He wasn’t completely sure why Chandler had chosen to suddenly show this side of himself, but Trent suspected it had to do with his clearer view of his own mortality.
Or maybe he had finally grown tired of being so unhappy all the time—a man truly on an island.
“Caro knew I loved her,” his grandfather said. “But that doesn’t excuse how I treated her. And I would also like you to know that I think Reese is doing a fine job on the mural. You should take her to that dance we’re hosting this weekend.” His eyes went slightly misty as he said, “Caroline always loved dressing in something pretty and being twirled around the dance floor.” A moment later, however, he cleared his throat and waved his hand in the air. “Now get out of here and run this resort.”
For the second time that week, Trent left his grandfather’s office without being chased by tension. He pulled out his phone and sent a group text to his siblings and parents, requesting a meeting at the Hideaway as soon as possible. He knew Reese was at Bay’s Edge, and as much as he wanted to share what had just happened with her before he told anyone else, he didn’t want to disturb her while she was teaching.
And he couldn’t wait to see her beautiful eyes light up when he asked her to the dance. Just the way his grandmother’s eyes must have lit up whenever Chandler took her somewhere special and showed her that she was important to him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
REESE WAS PLEASANTLY surprised by how far Tilly, Morris, and Norma had come with their paintings in only one week. When she’d first begun teaching them, Morris had had a difficult time getting perspective into his paintings. But although he was in his late eighties, he was smart as a whip and equally as determined. When she’d assured him that painting wasn’t about perfection, he’d told her that there was nothing he couldn’t master if he put his mind to it. And he’d been right.
“That looks beautiful, Morris,” she said as she came around behind him.
Tilly coughed, and Reese’s eyes lifted at the sound. “You still sound a little wheezy. Have you seen the doctor?”
She waved her hand. “I saw the doctor this morning. It’s a cold, and as my mother always said, it’ll last seven days or a week, whichever comes first.”
Reese smiled at that, but it didn’t alleviate her concern. She loved Tilly like a grandmother, and she hated to see her not feeling well. “Would you like some water, or is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, sweetie. I’m fine, and with any luck, I’ll get these leaves done today, too.” She went back to brushing green paint on the leaves on the tree they’d started painting the other day.
“Maybe if you brought that nice fellow Trent Rockwell in for another visit, it would cheer her up,” Norma said, making everyone chuckle.
“He was sure sweet on you, Reese,” Morris added. “He looked at you the same way I look at Norma.”
“Do you want to know how you looked at him, Reese?” Norma asked.
Reese was pretty sure she already knew, but she humored them by saying, “How?”
“Like he was a big, juicy steak.”
Reese couldn’t help but laugh, even as Tilly grinned mischievously and said, “You have to admit, Reese, he is awfully handsome.”
Carin and Martha walked in before Reese could reply, and Carin immediately said, “Did you bring that hunka hunka burnin’ love with you again today, Reese?”
“Oh my gosh, what have I done?” Reese was only half teasing. “Trent is not here today. We’re here to paint, but I’m glad you all liked him so much.”
“Liked him?” Martha sighed dreamily. “You are one lucky lady. He seems to be really taken with you.”
“Trent is wonderful. He’s attentive and caring, and—”
“Handsome. Don’t forget handsome,” Carin added.
“Did you see his hair? He’s never going to lose it,” Morris said as he rubbed his bald head.
“How long have you been seeing him?” Norma needed to know.
“They dated a long time ago,” Carin said as she sat down beside Norma. “But he’s never stopped loving her.”
Reese had to pick her jaw up off the floor. “He told you that?”
“Well…not exactly,” Carin admitted. “He simply said the two of you had dated a long time ago, but then I asked my granddaughter, who went to school with his brother Quinn. And she told me how the two of you were famous for never being able to keep your hands off of each other.”
“Carin!” Tilly chided, even though she was clearly delighted with the information. “You gossip worse than a high school girl.”
“How else are we going to figure out what’s what?” Carin said. “If I were you,” she said to Reese, “I’d swoop that man back up and never let him go.”
Reese had a feeling that Carin’s granddaughter had shared much more, but Carin was kind enough not to mention the rest of the details about her relationship with Trent. She ushered Carin and Martha out of the classroom on the premise of getting the class back on track, and for the remainder of the hour, the group focused on painting.
After class, Norma and Morris went to the game room, but Tilly stayed behind while Reese packed up her supplies. “Is Trent the reason why you were so flustered the other day?”
“Yes,” Reese admitted.
“Then I’m guessing he must also be responsible for bringing out that special spark in your eyes today.”
“He is.” Reese knew she should have told her friend all about Trent a long time ago, but she’d been so intent on pretending the past didn’t matter anymore. “I was married to him ten years ago.”
She had expected Tilly’s brows to lift with surprise. But her friend simply nodded as if all the pieces were finally fitting together. “He’s the one who was everything to you, isn’t he?”
“Yes. I was nineteen years old when I fell head over heels in love with him—and now I can’t seem to stop falling again. Just as you said, love is like a boomerang. But it’s all happening so fast again, and I...”
Tilly reached over and squeezed Reese’s hand. “Love doesn’t always appear in its final form. I know you’re the teacher and I’m only just learning to paint, but it seems like love and painting aren’t all that different. Our hearts start out open, just waiting for love to find us
, like canvases waiting for that special image to bring them to life. And just like you show us how to tweak our colors and bring more life into our paintings by using different brushes and different strokes, or applying shading to temper some areas and bring out others, love is the same way. Two people bring together their personalities, wants, needs, hopes, fears—and hope to come out with something beautiful that inspires each of them, helps them grow—together and individually. Love takes tweaking.” She looked away, and Reese knew she was thinking about the man she’d lost. “Really, that tweaking never stops, because we grow, and change, and bring babies into the mix.” She turned a thoughtful gaze back to Reese. “But if it’s meant to be, and you’re both trying to please the other as much as yourselves, it’s all worth it in the end.”
Reese gave Tilly a long hug. Or maybe it was Tilly hugging her. Either way, Tilly’s words of wisdom and their warm embrace were just what she needed to help settle the nerves that were trying to pop back up inside of her.
* * *
TRENT SAT BETWEEN Sierra and Quinn at their usual table in the Hideaway, where they were holding the family meeting he’d requested. Derek and Ethan took the heads of the table, while his parents sat side by side, just the way they did at the dinner table, as well. It was yet another reinforcement of how they’d always put their relationship first.
“Trent,” his father said, “I’m glad you called us all together. I’ve been wanting to touch base and see if any of you are having trouble managing your own business alongside your responsibilities at the resort. Would you mind if we discussed that before we tended to your news?”
“No, Dad. That’s fine,” Trent agreed.
“It’s been a big pain in the rear for me,” Derek said, obviously still itching to get back to his real life in Boston. “I’ve got a client I need to visit sometime soon to go over some extensive patio designs. I can’t close the deal over Skype, so I’ll need a few days off.”
“That’s not a problem,” Trent said. “Just tell us what needs to be covered while you’re gone.”
“I know you can deal with my absence on this one,” Derek said, “but nine more months of this juggling is going to be a nightmare.”
Sierra sighed. “Derek, if you would just let yourself enjoy the island again, you’d figure it all out and you wouldn’t want to run back to Boston. Look at Quinn and Trent. They love it here now.”
“She’s right,” Quinn agreed. “I definitely love it here, and I have no interest in going back to Annapolis.”
Trent nodded in agreement.
“If you two are any indication,” Derek said, “it seems to me that staying on the island is a surefire way to be sucked into a heavy-duty relationship.”
“Obviously that’s not true,” Sierra said. “Look at me.”
“And me,” Ethan added. “Come out with me on the boat, Derek, and I’ll remind you how much fun island life really is.”
“Why don’t we all give Derek a break.” Abby smiled warmly at her third-eldest son. “We all know the island isn’t for everyone, and Derek has a successful business that he shouldn’t feel pressured to leave behind.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Speaking of businesses, I’ve taken steps to sell my practice.” Trent watched his family’s eyes widen. “I want to make a life here with Reese…if she’ll have me.” Even though Trent knew Reese still needed time to be absolutely sure, he reveled in the knowledge that every day was bringing them closer together.
“That would be wonderful,” Abby said with a huge smile.
“Trent, I think that’s very wise.” Griffin’s dark eyes were warm as he said, “I’m proud of you. That must have been a very difficult decision.”
“Actually, once I realized what I really wanted, all the things that had been standing in my way became crystal clear. Speaking of which…” He pulled out the legal documents from Chandler and handed them to Griffin. “Grandfather must have had his own revelation recently. He’s deeding the resort to us, effective as soon as the paperwork is processed.”
Griffin looked stunned as he read the document. “I can’t believe it.” He lifted his eyes to Trent. “How did this come about?”
Derek held his hand out for the papers, and after reading them, he passed them around the table to their other siblings. “It’s got to be a game of some kind.”
“No game,” Trent assured him. “And he actually thanked me for my hard work, too.”
Their eyes widened again with disbelief.
“Chandler thanked you?” Ethan asked. “You sure you weren’t in the wrong office?”
Trent laughed at that. “I couldn’t believe it either. He also gave me a bit of advice about Reese, and then he said that Grandma Caroline’s love for him didn’t dismiss his rotten behavior toward her.”
“He’d never say something like that,” Derek grumbled. “I’m not buying it.”
Griffin’s brows knitted together, as well. “Is there any way you misunderstood any of this, Trent?”
After Trent shook his head, Quinn said, “Remember what I overheard him saying to Didi in his office when we first came back to the island? How he’s proud of us and respects our determination. I think the heart attacks might have rocked his brain—in a good way.”
“Well, I don’t care what caused it,” Sierra said. “I think it’s wonderful. I have always hated how cold he was. Maybe we’ll see another side of him in our lifetimes after all.”
“You know what I think?” Abby’s eyes trailed lovingly over each of her children. “I think he brought you all back to the island because he needed us all here. He may seem cold in many ways, but he is also a loyal man who was married to the same woman his entire life. I believe he does know what love is. He just has a hard time showing it.”
“And he definitely has a hard time allowing himself to feel loved by others,” Griffin added. “When his first love turned down his proposal, I think he shut part of himself off in order to protect himself. But if we continue to treat him like we’d like to be treated, then hopefully he’ll come around more and more.”
“I’m still not buying a word of it,” Derek said.
Sierra shot Derek a narrow-eyed glare. “You don’t have to buy it. Just try to be nice. Heck, maybe you should ask Didi to the dance. We all know you want to, and if she actually says yes, maybe that will make you sweeter, too.”
“Speaking of sweet,” Ethan said before Derek could jump down Sierra’s throat for egging him on, “the mural is incredible. I see Reese out there most mornings when I’m heading down to the marina. She always looks so intent on painting that I’m afraid to interrupt her, but she’s doing a fantastic job.”
“I’ll pass that along,” Trent said, damn proud of the woman he loved. “She’s really thankful that she was chosen for the project.”
Abby and Sierra exchanged a smile before his sister said, “She was really the only person we could have chosen for the job.”
Reese is the only person I could have chosen for me, too.
Trent looked at his watch and told his family, “If we’re done here, I’ve got to get going.”
“I’ve got to head back to work, too,” Derek muttered as he pushed away from the table.
“I’m not heading back to the office,” Trent told his brother. “I’m going to go see Reese.”
Something that looked like envy passed over Derek’s face before he quickly covered it up with a smirk. “Two down, two to go.”
“You really think you’re going to dodge love’s arrow, don’t you?” Trent said.
“If I ever found a woman who could keep up with me and my adventures, I might change my mind,” Derek said. “But I’m pretty sure she’s not out there, so I’m happy going solo. In fact, what the hell. I’m going to fit in some rock climbing before I chain myself to my desk for the rest of the night.”
How, Trent wondered as his brother headed for the rocks, could Derek not get that falling in love with a great woman made everyth
ing so much better?
Then again, Trent knew all too well just how easy it was to keep the blinders on where true love was concerned. And he also knew it was something he would never make the mistake of doing again.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
REESE’S WHOLE FACE lit up when Trent walked into her gallery. She seemed more beautiful every time he saw her, and yet again he wondered how he could have ever wanted to climb a corporate ladder instead of coming home to her. He’d been young, driven, and blind. So damn blind.
“Hi,” Reese said as she stepped around the counter and lifted her mouth to his. Their kiss went from zero to sixty in the span of a heartbeat and would have definitely turned into even more if Jocelyn hadn’t walked by and cleared her throat.
Trent and Reese were both laughing as they drew back. “I thought we were alone,” Trent said.
“You were. I was in the ladies’ room.” Jocelyn was laughing, too, as she said, “Go ahead; get out of here to kiss or whatever you want to do. Just don’t tell me about it. Well...not too many details, anyway.”
Reese and Trent headed out of the gallery, and as they began to walk down Old Mill Row, Trent couldn’t wait to fill Reese in on the shocking developments with his grandfather. “Chandler just deeded over the resort to me and my siblings.”
She stopped dead in the middle of the sidewalk. “No way.”
“He said we’ve proved ourselves to him and that we deserve to own it. But there’s more.”
“More? My world is already spinning. I’m not sure I can handle more,” she said with a laugh.
“He also started talking about his regrets over how he treated Grandma Caroline. And then he warned me not to make the same mistakes with you.”
“Oh, Trent...” She squeezed his hand. “That’s so sweet of Chandler.”
