by Bella Andre
“After you and I talked about wiggle room the other night, I thought, you know, there’s no reason we can’t have wiggle room. The past doesn’t have to mark our future.”
They picked up the plates to carry outside as her mother explained, “Your father and I are shaking things up a bit. We danced the night away at the resort the other night, and your father even signed up for a cooking class.”
“Dad signed up for a cooking class?” Her parents had such a traditional marriage that she couldn’t imagine her father cooking.
Her mother lowered her voice again. “I know. Can you believe it? I really do love cooking and making dinners, but now we’ll do it together. I’m delighted about it. Oh, and we’re going to take sailing lessons, too. I guess it really is never too late to make things even better.”
“I’m so glad, Mom,” Reese said as Trent came inside.
“Let me help.” He took a plate from each of them. “This looks delicious.”
“Thank you, sugar.” Her mother took the remaining plate from Reese’s hand and said, “I’ll take these out to your father.”
“I’ll go get the coffee.” Reese heard Trent come back inside as she set cream and sugar on the tray. His arms snaked around her waist and his stubble tickled her neck. She turned toward him. “Frisky, aren’t we?”
“Always. And I’m just so happy to be part of your life again.” He pressed his lips to hers, and it took all of her restraint not to disappear into that kiss and revel in the happiness that rushed through her entire body.
And as they joined her parents out on the deck, Reese knew they had just taken another huge step closer to putting the past where it belonged...and building a beautiful future together.
Chapter Thirty-Two
MONDAY MORNING TRENT stopped by Shelley’s Café to see if Quinn needed any last-minute help before the grand opening later that afternoon. The bushes had been trimmed, the lawn was freshly manicured, and with the tables and bright umbrellas that complemented the colors in the sign, the old mill looked revitalized and ready for business.
Inside, the wood floors had been refinished and the shelves Trent had built on the right side of the rear wall were now filled with fresh flowers, coffee mugs with the Shelley’s Café emblems, and several bags of the delicious organic coffee that Shelley was already becoming known for around the island. Tables were set up throughout, and the counter on the left rear of the room sparkled in the sunny overhead lights. Trent touched the old millstone as he passed by on his way to the stairs, thinking about the night he and Reese had bumped into each other after so long and all of his dreams had started to come true again.
He stepped up the first riser and looked out the front windows. Without the bushes in the way, he had a clear view of Reese’s gallery and the shops on Old Mill Row. He gazed at the sign above her gallery door, thinking about how good their relationship was now and how far they’d come. Building their new strong foundation step by step, piece by piece.
The sound of Shelley giggling pulled him from his reverie, and he mounted the stairs.
“Quinn? Shelley?” he called up.
“Don’t come up here!” Quinn said. Then Shelley giggled again, kicking Trent’s brain into gear. He heard them shuffling around and quickly realized he’d interrupted a private moment.
“I’m leaving,” he said with a chuckle. “Carry on.”
As he made his way outside, he was struck by how envious he’d been of Quinn and Shelley’s connection a few weeks ago. Now he realized it wasn’t envy that he’d felt. It was longing for what—for whom—he’d lost.
When he reached the sidewalk, Reese’s car sped around the corner and came to a screeching halt in front of him. She jumped out, her eyes filled with despair as she flew into his arms.
“Tilly’s in the hospital.”
* * *
REESE SQUEEZED TRENT’S hand and clutched the flowers they’d bought for Tilly against her chest as they rode the elevator up to the third floor. Reese hated hospitals, from the sterile smell to the too-white walls and the looks of sadness that seemed to be etched into every face. She hadn’t been in the hospital since her grandmother passed away when she was younger.
It seemed to her that the world that existed inside hospital walls was completely separate from life outside. Outdoors, birds sang as they sailed through the sky, flowers bloomed, and the wind blew off the bay. The shore changed with every wave, leaving behind seaweed and snails and clams that dug underground. Life was everywhere, being nurtured by the elements, whereas within the hospital walls, it felt like life was slowly slipping away. At least on this floor.
She knew hospitals were also the place where new life was brought into the world and lives were saved on a daily basis. As they walked down the wide hallway, passing the nurses’ desk, where heads were bent over charts and phones were pressed to ears, all she could think was:
Please let Tilly be okay. Please let Tilly be okay.
When they reached Tilly’s room, Trent took Reese by the shoulders and gazed into her eyes.
“She’s not in the ICU, Reese. That’s a good sign.”
“But they said she has pneumonia.”
“I know, and that’s pretty common among elderly folks, as Kathleen told you when she called. I’m sure Tilly’s in good hands, but I’m worried about you. What can I do to help you get through this?”
Reese pressed her body against his, hugging him close and soaking in his comfort.
“You’ve already helped me. Just being here with me makes me feel better. I just wish her daughter had come to visit. Last I heard, she’s waiting until the end of the day to make a decision about coming out from Los Angeles.” She gazed up at Trent, so thankful that he was there with her, putting her first without a second’s hesitation.
“I’m sure her daughter will make the right decision. Take a deep breath, sweetheart, and I’ll be right here by your side.”
Reese walked into Tilly’s room with her heart in her throat. The blinds were partially drawn, and the room was silent, save for the sounds of the monitors and Tilly’s breathing. Tilly’s eyes were closed, her head turned to the side. A clear oxygen tube snaked beneath each nostril. Without her carefully applied makeup and her headband securely in place, against the sterile white sheets and among the tubes running from her veiny arms, she looked much less like the upbeat woman who had become like family to Reese and more like Reese’s frail grandmother before she passed away. The cold reality hit Reese in the center of her chest.
She set the flowers on the bedside table, and as she sat in the chair beside the bed, with Trent right there with her, Tilly opened her eyes.
She blinked several times, and her lips curved up in a smile as she said, “Reese.”
Taking Tilly’s warm hand in her own, Reese said, “Hi, Tilly. How are you feeling?”
“Oh, I’m okay. I have a really sweet doctor and a nurse who has been bringing me anything I need.” She lifted her hand to her hair and patted it. “I just wish I could have made it through my morning regimen. It’s a little embarrassing to be seen like this.”
“You look beautiful, Tilly,” Trent said with a smile. “Is there anything we can bring you from home that would make you more comfortable?”
“You are a doll, aren’t you?” Tilly shifted her eyes to Reese, then back to Trent. “No, thank you, dear. They said I would only be here for a day or two.”
“A day or two? Oh, that’s great news!” Relief washed through Reese. “Do you want us to pick up a book for you? Can I come see you tonight? Can I bring you soup for dinner?” She wanted to do something—anything—to help Tilly heal.
“Honey, you take better care of me than my own daughter,” Tilly said warmly. “Thank you, but the food here is just fine, and you have enough going on in your life. You don’t have to come visit me. I’ll be back home before you know it.”
Trent settled a hand on Reese’s shoulder. “That may be, but we’ll still come by and visit tonight. W
e can always make time for the people we love.”
Reese felt her throat thicken, at both the relief that Tilly would be okay and at Trent’s words. He was so markedly different from the man she’d left in New York.
They visited with Tilly until the nurse came to shoo them out so that Tilly could rest. When Reese gave Tilly a kiss on her cheek, Tilly held tightly to her hand and said, “Reese, honey, you have your whole life ahead of you, but when you get to the end of it, it doesn’t feel like it was long enough. Live every minute as if it’s your last, so when you’re my age, you have no regrets.”
Reese glanced up at Trent, whose dark eyes were full of love as he waited patiently beside her. He hadn’t rushed her through their visit, despite it being a workday, and she knew he would be totally supportive and loving when they walked out that door. She turned back to Tilly, leaned in close, and said, “A few weeks ago I might have needed that reminder, but not anymore.”
As she walked to the parking lot, tucked safely beneath Trent’s arm, knowing that later this evening he’d accompany her to check on Tilly again, the sadness that had swallowed her when she’d first seen Tilly in the hospital slipped away with the afternoon breeze.
Time wasn’t a given; it was a gift. Life wasn’t something that Reese or anyone else could accurately anticipate, and as they drove back toward town, she knew she wouldn’t have changed a second of her past even if she had the power to.
She had this one life, and from now on she was going to make it everything she’d ever hoped for.
Chapter Thirty-Three
THEY COULDN’T HAVE asked for a more perfect evening for the grand opening of Shelley’s Café. It was an unusually warm evening for September, which brought even more residents out to enjoy the event. Luckily, the café had a large yard to accommodate so many people. By the right side of the café there was a clown making balloon animals and entertaining the children. More balloons hung from the iron railings beside the brook on the opposite side of the café, where Eleanor, who ran the tourist information booth, was talking to a handful of shop owners and residents. Eleanor could keep them engaged for hours with her friendly demeanor and knowledge of the town’s history.
Shelley had set large leafy plants on the corners of the patio, which was also bustling with visitors. Music played from speakers that Derek had installed in the exterior walls, and there were tables strewn around the yard with finger foods and punch and several different types of Shelley’s flavored organic coffees.
Shelley had been grinning ear to ear ever since her best friend and cousin, Taryn, had arrived. Taryn was a clothing designer, and she’d hit it off with everyone. She was currently chatting with Brandi, the owner of Savory Delights. Trent was enjoying watching his brother Ethan check Taryn out almost as much as he was enjoying watching Reese laughing with his mother, Sierra, Jocelyn, and his cousin Annabelle.
A heavy arm landed across his shoulder, and he knew without looking that it belonged to his father. His woodsy aftershave and familiar strength gave him away.
“They couldn’t have asked for a better turnout.” His father smiled at Trent, then held up his coffee cup. “Shelley sure brews a good cup.”
“You’re not kidding. Mine is something with hazelnut, and it’s definitely addicting.”
“The café renovations are gorgeous. Sometimes I forget how much each of you is capable of.” Griffin lifted his chin toward Quinn, who was walking toward Shelley. “Did you ever think you’d see him settle down?”
“Actually, no, I didn’t. And I never thought I’d see him take time off work, either.” The fact that the same could once have been said about Trent didn’t escape him. He’d learned so much about communication and honesty from these past weeks with Reese, and now he knew he needed to be just as up-front with his father. “Can you spare a minute, Dad? There’s something I’d like to talk with you about.”
“Of course.”
“When Chandler brought us all back to the island, while Derek and Quinn fought the move tooth and nail, I had actually been contemplating moving back for a very long time. But the thing was, I always felt that I needed to live up to the Rockwell name. And I knew you didn’t want me to be under Chandler’s thumb if I came back.”
“Trent, you more than live up to the Rockwell name in every respect. Being a Rockwell means being loyal to your family, giving to others, and being true to yourself and your heart.” Griffin looked across the yard at Abby. “Your mother and I have been discussing the recent changes we’ve seen in you and Quinn, and I think I owe you both, and probably the rest of the kids, too, an apology. As the eldest, you probably felt more pressure than the others, but I believe my efforts to get you all to follow your own paths and move out from under Chandler’s control might have backfired. I ended up just applying a different type of pressure, and for that I’m truly sorry.”
“Dad, your mentorship helped me in more ways than I can count. You gave me the drive to succeed and the confidence to know that I could. I should have been man enough to look past my own fears and take charge of my life. And I’ve finally done just that. I’ve started the process of selling my practice so I can have more time to focus on Reese and, hopefully someday, a family of our own.”
He pulled his father into a hug, and over his shoulder, he could see Reese and Sierra laughing together. Reese looked so happy, and so beautiful, and when he caught her eye, he blew her a kiss.
“You know what, Dad? You and Mom taught me the most important thing of all. How to love. It just took me a while to figure out how to combine my competitive instinct with loving Reese the way she deserves.”
Just then Didi pushed Chandler’s wheelchair over the crest of the hill. Chandler was clinging to the arms of the chair as it rolled over the bumpy grass. He was dressed in a sweater and slacks, looking far less stoic in the more casual attire. Happier, too, than he had in a very long time.
* * *
THE DIN OF the crowd quieted as Shelley and Quinn stood on the front steps of the café. Shelley looked beautiful in a peach-colored cotton skirt and an off-white sweater, which highlighted her gorgeous, thick dark hair. Quinn gazed at her with pride and love in his eyes.
Reese had closed the gallery during the grand opening and finally spotted Jocelyn across the lawn flirting with some cute guy standing by the coffee table. Trent joined Reese and wrapped an arm around her waist as they waited for Shelley to address the friends who had gathered to wish her well.
“Just got the call,” he said with a big smile. “My partner’s agreed to buy me out. Now I’ll have even more time for us.”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach. He was living up to all of his promises, and every single thing he did was for them. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Totally sure. About everything, Reese, especially us.” He pressed his lips to hers just as Shelley began speaking.
“Thank you all for coming out to celebrate the opening of my café. I fell in love with Rockwell Island the moment I set foot on it, and you’ve all made me feel so welcome that I’ve come to love it even more than I ever thought possible. Griffin, Abby, Trent, Derek, Sierra, and Ethan…You have all welcomed me into your family, your homes, and your hearts, and you’ve given so freely of your time and energy to help me renovate the mill and make all of my dreams come true. I can’t thank you enough. And, Taryn, you’re my best friend and I love you like a sister. Without your endless encouragement, I may never have come on my solo honeymoon and discovered not only this amazing island and community, but the love of my life, too. Rest assured, Taryn, I will get you to move here someday!”
Everyone laughed at that and gave Shelley a round of applause. She made her way through the crowd, accepting hugs and kind words, and when she finally joined Reese, Taryn, and the Rockwells, Reese could tell that she was overwhelmed with emotion. Which was exactly the way Reese felt at the moment. She was standing with the man of her dreams, among lifelong and new friends.
“I can’
t believe it’s open,” Shelley said. “Three months ago I was living and working in Maryland, and now…”
“Now you’re engaged to the best guy around,” Quinn said as he pulled her against him. “And you have a terrific new café and a cute cottage overlooking the bay.”
“You pretty much live in paradise,” Taryn agreed.
“But I’ll debate the best guy around part,” Reese teased as she snuggled closer to Trent. “I think that title belongs to my man.”
“What am I?” Ethan said on a laugh. “Chopped liver?”
“If that’s what chopped liver looks like,” Taryn said in a very flirtatious tone, “serve it up.”
“You have a boyfriend,” Shelley reminded her.
“Yes, and he’s a really great guy.” Taryn waved a hand in the air. “I was just making an observation.”
“Things on the island always seem to happen fast.” Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Look at Trent and Reese. They didn’t talk for ten years, and now suddenly they’re an item again. My head is still spinning. I just hope that this time it lasts.”
Trent froze next to Reese. And when she looked up at him, his eyes were serious, as if he was ready to give Derek a piece of his mind.
Derek clearly must have seen the same thing in his brother’s eyes, because he said, “I’m sorry, guys. I didn’t mean anything by that. I’m so glad you two are together. I meant it as a joke. Honestly, I didn’t mean to upset either of you.”
“You didn’t upset me,” Reese said. What was she doing, trying to hold herself back from Trent at all? She’d been giving her body wholly to the man she loved but still trying to protect her heart, when it so clearly didn’t need protecting. Not from this man. Not from the one person who had proven that he’d move heaven and earth to be with her after all these years. “In fact, I’m glad you said that, because I want Trent—and everyone he loves—to know exactly how I feel about him.”
She took Trent’s hand in hers, and then she dropped to one knee. All the love she’d held in for ten years came tumbling out. “Trent, there’s no denying our love. We are a whirlwind, and I’m not ashamed of it. Our love is more real than anything I’ve ever known—inescapable and unbreakable.” She was only vaguely aware of the awws coming from the crowd that had gathered around them. “When I’m with you, I’m the happiest girl in the world, and for the first time since I returned to the island, I know I’m exactly where I am supposed to be—where I want to be. Right here by your side—forever. Marry me, Trent. I promise to make you the happiest man in the world. I’ll love you, cherish you, and most of all, communicate with you until you’re sick of hearing my voice. Be mine, Trent. Father my children and love me forever, because I have never stopped loving you.”
