On Love's Gentle Shore

by Liz Johnson

  Except that was one more lie. Another falsehood she’d end up having to cover up. Another half-truth that would require her to watch not only what she said but what everyone else said.

  As far as she was concerned, Russell could spend the whole summer with his brother. Adam didn’t know her and didn’t know about her past. He wouldn’t inadvertently say something about Rick or Connie O’Ryan that would tip Russell off.

  Adam was safe. Marie and Seth maybe were too.

  The rest of the community, not so much.

  She couldn’t let Russell out of her sight. But not because she was lying to him.

  It wasn’t a lie. Not really. Not technically.

  Her stomach churned, and the ridiculously delicious muffin suddenly turned to stone. Pressing a palm against her middle, she glanced at Russell to make sure he was still enamored with his pastry.

  He hadn’t noticed a thing. Now or every other time she’d had this war within.

  No matter how many times she told herself it wasn’t a lie—she hadn’t spoken a single untruth about her family—a gnawing deep inside told her she was wrong. Lies of omission were still lies. Just because she’d deftly diverted any discussion from the topic of her family didn’t mean she’d been honest with Russell. And any relationship required honesty. That was elementary Sunday school stuff.

  But still. She wasn’t hurting anyone. And if she fessed up now? Well, there was a lot at stake. Abandonment by her fiancé. In front of the whole town. Reclaiming her position as everyone’s favorite topic of conversation.

  Her cheeks burned, and she grabbed her glass and chugged the chilled orange juice.

  Some things were worth a little white lie. And she was going to keep telling herself that until the boulder in her stomach disappeared.

  “Good morning. Can I get you anything else?”

  Natalie looked up into Caden’s blue eyes, which reflected the bright smile across her face. It was welcoming and warm, and a change from the other mornings they’d spent at the inn. She was so used to seeing Marie that Caden threw her off.

  “Where’s Marie today?”

  Caden glanced toward the kitchen as her eyebrows pulled down. She rubbed her hands together, her smile faltering. “She’s in the back, taking care of some paperwork. I’m sure.”

  The last was an add-on that made Caden sound anything but sure.

  Where was the inn’s hostess? They didn’t have an appointment to talk about wedding plans today, but inviting Marie along to visit the barn might keep her from reliving that regrettable interaction with Justin.

  “So what are you going to do with Adam taking off tomorrow?” Russell asked Caden, laying his napkin down beside his plate.

  His expression was entirely relaxed, the opposite of the knot forming around Natalie’s lungs. “Adam’s leaving?” She barely managed to keep the squeak out of her voice.

  Caden didn’t look too upset. “He’ll be in New England for a few weeks, working on an article and meeting with some of the editors he freelances for. And then I’ll finally have some time to work on lesson plans for the fall semester.” She let out a girlish giggle. “He’s rather distracting.”

  Russell laughed too, as though he knew a thing or two about his little brother. But Natalie couldn’t force herself past his leaving. “Article?”

  “He’s a travel writer, and he’s reviewing a new inn in Connecticut.”

  Of course. Natalie knew he was a writer, but she hadn’t considered that it might take him away. Who was going to distract Russell if Adam was gone? She’d been counting on the brothers making up for eight years of lost time this summer. Tuna fishing with Captain Mark. Biking the Confederation Trail. Relaxing on the porch over a game of checkers.

  Her plan for keeping Russell busy while she put the finishing touches on the wedding was merely a daydream if Adam wasn’t around.

  She needed a new plan. A better plan.

  Fast.

  Natalie smoothed her fingers across the lace overlay covering the blue tablecloth, while trying to force her face into an expression that didn’t look completely terrified.

  “So what are you up to today?” Caden asked.

  “We’re going to take a look at the barn where we’re having our wedding reception.”

  “So you’ll see Justin—”

  “Kane.” Natalie cut Caden off, her hands flipping in her lap as her gaze darted back and forth between Caden and Russell. “At Kane Dairy. I’m sure he’ll be far too busy to meet with us.”

  “Don’t be silly. He’ll make time for an old friend like you.”

  Brilliant. She’d stepped right into that.

  Russell’s eyebrows shot up. He wasn’t exactly the jealous type, but there was a hitch in his breathing that spoke to more than basic curiosity. “Old friend?”

  Caden shot Natalie an appropriately chagrined smile. “Have fun today.” Scooping up their empty plates, she ducked back into the kitchen.

  “Oh, you know how it is in small towns. Everyone knows everyone.”

  “Well, let’s go then.” Pushing his chair back, he stood and hurried to pull out her chair too.

  She rose a little slower, a little more thoughtfully. “Maybe we should wait until Marie can join us.”

  “Do you need her help with something today?”

  Biting the tip of her tongue, she shrugged. “Not exactly.” Not unless she counted silencing the voices of too recent memories.

  “Then let’s go. I’ll pull the car around.”

  Natalie grabbed at his elbow, wrapping both of her hands around his arm. He stopped but gave her a strange look. She’d been made. He knew she was up to something. Or at least he knew something was up. She plastered on the most innocent smile she could find. “Or we could walk. It’s a beautiful day.”

  Walking her fingers down the muscles in his forearm until she reached his hand, she held his gaze until the lines between his eyebrows dissipated, and with them any hint of suspicion.

  They strolled through the inn, past the parlor off the foyer, and onto the porch. A row of Adirondack chairs filled the corner space and were taken by a young mother and her two boisterous boys, who bounced from one seat to another while their mom buried her nose in a paperback. Whatever she was reading was fascinating enough to keep her from noticing the tugs on her arms, and Natalie had a sudden wish to be deep in the pages of whatever book her fellow guest had discovered.

  Russell squeezed her hand as they walked down the steps. Maybe it was his way of saying that if she stumbled he’d catch her.

  Which would be nice. If she needed it.

  But she didn’t. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t let herself.

  The air was sharp with the scent of salt and the exhaust from the boats scouring the mussel farms in the harbor on the far side of the street. While a light dusting of clouds had settled over the water, the sun made her arms tingle with life.

  “So, I suppose you’ve walked along this boardwalk more than a few times.”

  She nodded slowly, not sure what he was getting at. “Sure. It’s a popular place for joggers.” Not that she’d ever been one of those.

  Russell tipped his head toward the boards worn smooth by many steps and endless feet. Sunshine had bleached most of the original color away, and the trail was almost as white as the gazebo that stood sentry across from the inn. Lush green grass, rich pine trees, and water shone so bright, everything else faded.

  Except the touch of his hand in hers.

  It was warm and strong, just like the man.

  “I was just thinking you must have met up with a boyfriend by that bench.” His eyes twinkled with teasing. “Or at the gazebo. Or by the beach. All those dark spots must have been perfect for living out teenage angst.”

  “Huh. You think?”

  His chuckle came from somewhere shallow in his chest, an echo of others she’d heard before, but he didn’t press the issue.

  Letting out a little sigh, she stepped toward him, pressing her arm against hi
s, more than sensing the tension in his muscles. Maybe he needed her to paint a better picture than the one he’d conjured. “There weren’t too many nights along the boardwalk.” She winked at him, her smile subtle but true.

  Dark brown eyes flashed in her direction. “But it’s so beautiful here.”

  “It is.” She couldn’t argue that point. There was no need to pretend otherwise. “But do you really wish I’d gone looking for dark corners with high school sweethearts?”

  With a laugh and a shake of his head, he said, “Of course not.”

  “I haven’t been here since I was seventeen.”

  His brow knotted. “Why not?”

  Oh, now she’d done it. She’d all but opened the door to talk about why she’d really left. The whys she’d rather forget.

  A man from a Tennessee town no one had ever heard of with big dreams to change the music world could understand the need to leave a small town. While her need didn’t stem from exactly the same motivation as his, she couldn’t deny that it connected them.

  “I guess I didn’t have a reason to come back.”

  He accepted that with a nod, and they continued their stroll, but even at a crawl it was possible to make it from one side of North Rustico to the other in a second. When she looked up, the blue-and-white sign of Kane Dairy hung from its post just off the road. The farmhouse was as clean as ever, every window scrubbed and the white exterior walls gleaming in the sun. The new barn had an attachment—a small shop—that she hadn’t noticed when Marie had driven her by it a couple days before.

  “Artisan cheese and fresh bread,” Russell said, reading the shingle over the door. He had tugged her off the road and halfway to the store before she even realized what he was doing. “Come on. Let’s pick something up.”

  “But we don’t have a kitchen.”

  “Caden does, and she’ll share with us. Besides, this type of cheese probably doesn’t even need to be refrigerated. Just think of it. Creamy cheese on warm bread.”

  Maybe she could have planted her feet to keep from being dragged inside, but it was far too late for such measures.

  She’d just have to go inside. With any luck she wouldn’t know the person working there. Maybe it wouldn’t be Justin. He certainly had plenty of other responsibilities with the dairy.

  Russell swung open the door, a blast of cool air and rich cheddar swirling around her.

  Maybe it wouldn’t be …

  “Mama Cheese Sandwich.”

  Natalie clamped a hand over her mouth, wishing she could put the words right back where they came from. Not because of the delighted woman who nearly hurdled the counter to reach her, but because the questions in Russell’s eyes were going to demand an answer.

  Before Russell could ask them, Mama Kane reached for her, pulling her into a hug with all the strength of her fifty-plus years, the embrace so tight it stole her breath and any desire to be elsewhere. Her black hair held a touch of gray, and the long braid over her shoulder tickled Natalie’s cheek, but she smelled of fresh bread and sunflowers, a life spent equally in the kitchen and the outdoors. Her arms were still strong but gentle, and her embrace stirred more memories—and the emotions that trailed them—than Natalie could identify.

  “Oh, sweetie!” Mama Kane pulled back just enough to press her hands on either side of Natalie’s face and look directly into her eyes. “We’ve missed you around here.”

  “I’ve—” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat, pushing down every sweet memory this woman had tried to slip into her life. A thousand miles away, it had been easy to only remember the hard stuff. But in Mama Kane’s arms, she couldn’t deny the kindness she’d known on this farm. “Me too.”

  Russell gave a polite cough, and both women turned in his direction.

  “Oh, you must be our Natalie’s fiancé.”

  He extended his hand. “Russell Jacobs, ma’am. It’s a pleasure.”

  Her gaze swept over him, assessing his crisp polo shirt and nearly creased jeans, before shaking his hand. “I’m Kathleen Kane, but everyone around here just calls me Mama Kane.”

  With a questioning stare and raised eyebrow, he said, “Or Mama Cheese Sandwich. Apparently.” There was a touch of humor in his tone, but it was barely perceptible beneath the weight of the unspoken query.

  Laughter as rich as fresh cream filled the box of a room and crinkled the corners of Mama Kane’s eyes. “Oh, that was entirely Natalie.”

  His gaze shifted, heavy and unbending. Natalie dug her toe into the cement floor, hanging her head and fighting the blush she already knew was creeping across her cheeks. At least this was a question she could answer. No one had teased her about her verbal flub after all the other kids started calling Mama Kane the same.

  “Mama Kane used to make the best cheese sandwiches.”

  “Used to?” She planted her hands on her hips, a clear indication that the award for best cheese sandwich still resided at Kane Dairy.

  Natalie laughed. “I’m sure you still do.”

  Mama Kane nodded firmly.

  “She would bring them out to the town kids sometimes when we were playing.” A stab of heat speared Natalie’s cheeks, and she ducked her head at reliving the memory. “Whenever she showed up, all the kids would yell out her name. But one day … well, I guess my brain was so focused on the sandwiches that it substituted that for her name.”

  “And you called her Mama Cheese Sandwich.”

  Natalie nodded. “And then all the other kids started doing the same.”

  He scratched at his chin, and she could almost see the gears in his mind working out his response. Finally he said, “I like it. And I’d really like to try one of those sandwiches.”

  “Adam loves them too.”

  “Adam? My brother? How did you know?”

  “News travels round here.” Mama Kane shrugged. “Let me make you a sandwich.”

  She took the long way around the wooden counter this time, her pace much more leisurely as she opened the display, which housed a dozen types of fancy cheese and a handful of traditional flavors.

  “I wish you’d come by a little earlier. Justin was here.”

  All the moisture in Natalie’s mouth suddenly disappeared, and her tongue turned to sandpaper.

  Thankfully Mama Kane didn’t need a second party to keep a conversation going.

  “I’m sure he’d like to see you.”

  Not likely.

  Natalie tried for a smile but settled for a strained grimace. “Oh, I saw him the day before yesterday. When we toured the barn.” She hoped her words implied that one meet-up with him was enough to satisfy her summer.

  Even if she wasn’t entirely sure that was true. She had at least a few other verbal grenades to lob in his direction. Ones she’d been saving for years, crafting and polishing for the moment when she could tell him why he had no right to be angry.

  She was just peeking into that sack of ammunition to give them another good shine when Mama Kane whipped up. Hunched shoulders flew back and straight. With narrow blue eyes, she looked far beneath the skin.

  “You saw Justin this week? I mean, you spoke to him?”

  Natalie risked a glance at her fiancé to make sure he hadn’t latched on to the strange intensity of Mama Kane’s line of questioning and found him mesmerized by the cheese rounds. She nodded.

  “Interesting.” Mama Kane dragged out the word, enunciating every syllable. “He didn’t tell me.”

  Natalie couldn’t begin to imagine what that meant. Had he simply forgotten to mention the fireball that had erupted between them? Or was he trying to put it as far out of his mind as possible?

  It didn’t matter to her. He didn’t matter to her.

  Sure. That was a sound argument.

  Except it was entirely a lie. And she’d been lying a lot lately. No need to start lying to herself.

  “Well, I’m sure he’d love to see you tonight. To meet Russell.”

  Her stomach took a nosedive as she shook he
r head. “I’m sure he has better things to do.”

  Mama Kane laid out four slices of bread on a piece of parchment paper, her gaze always on her hands. “He’s playing at the community center tonight. With Jordan and Penny and Alex.”

  Russell perked up. “There’s a show?”

  With a chuckle and a flip of her hand, she dismissed the very idea. “Show is an awfully fancy word. It’s a kitchen party.”

  He cocked his head to the side, clearly unfamiliar with the term.

  “It’s local musicians getting together to play music. They used to gather around the kitchen table in the old days, but now … well, now there are enough people who want to hear jigs and folk songs and the like that they play at the community center a couple times a month. It’s fiddles and guitars and lots of stomping feet and clapping hands. It’s not a full ceilidh like some of the shows with step dancers, but it’s fun.” She wrapped the sandwiches and offered them up. “You should both come. Starts at seven.”

  Russell was already nodding as he accepted the lunch. “That sounds great.”

  He looked at Natalie to confirm, but she shoved her sandwich in her mouth and gave him only an awkward smile in response.

  She should have said something.

  6

  Justin would have rather seen a moose stroll into the community center than the pair that walked in. They weren’t holding hands or touching in any way, but he knew immediately that the man escorting Natalie into the hall was Russell Jacobs. And not just because he looked like a taller, lankier version of his brother Adam.

  More because Justin’s heart picked up its speed and a rope in his stomach pulled taut. Something deep and primal inside him identified the other man as competition.

  Not that he was competing for Natalie’s attention. He’d rather stay as far away from her as he could in a small town on a tiny island. At best he could put three kilometers between them. So that’s what he aimed to do. And if she insisted on showing up on his property at the old barn? Well, he’d find an errand that needed to be run. In Charlottetown.