And Then Forever

by Shirley Jump

  “Wait. Nona.” Kincaid thought a minute. “That sounds familiar. Have I met her?”

  Darcy nodded. “She helped tutor Abby one summer.”

  “Oh, yeah, I remember Nona now. Really nice woman.”

  “She is. And she loves Emma so much, she might as well be her grandmother.” Darcy toyed with the edge of the blanket. “I try to get up with Emma every morning and run through a normal day with her, because I don’t think she should have to live by my schedule.”

  “You must not get a lot of sleep.”

  She waved that off. “Sleep is overrated. Besides, once I see Emma’s face in the morning, there’s nothing I want to do more than be with her.”

  Emma dashed by, with Mooch running double time to keep up. “The puppy loves me! She loves me!”

  Darcy laughed. “Of course she does, monkey.”

  Emma picked up a stick on the beach, threw it for Mooch, then giggled when the dog went after it. She held up her stuffed dog to show Elsa the real dog’s antics, talking to the pretend pooch as if it was best buds with Mooch already.

  Kincaid chuckled. “I can see why you get up so early to be with her. I might not know much about kids, or have much—okay, any—experience with them, but Emma is cute and sweet. You’ve done a great job with her, Darcy.”

  The words warmed Darcy. She loved her daughter fiercely, but nearly every day, she doubted whether she was the best possible parent. “Thank you, Kincaid. That means a lot.”

  Emma ran up to the blanket and handed her stuffed dog to Kincaid. “Mr. Foster, can you watch Elsa? I wanna go in the water with Mooch.”

  Kincaid looked surprised at the request, but he took Elsa, tucked the stuffed dog into a safe place on his side, and rested a hand on her furry head. “You betcha. Have fun with Mooch. You’re gonna wear that dog out.”

  Emma just giggled and dashed down to the water. She and the dog took turns running in and out of the incoming surf.

  Kincaid watched her, his arms draped over his knees. “I wish I could have been here.”

  Darcy wanted to believe in that fairy tale, too, but she remembered that summer and remembered the Kincaid who had wanted so badly to be free of his family’s bonds, but had been too afraid to walk away from everything. They’d talked a lot that summer about what he really wanted to do—ditch law school and become a writer instead—but in the end, he went back to college and followed the prescribed Foster trajectory.

  “Would you have been?” she said. “You were heading off to Harvard again in the fall. You had your life all mapped out. Ready to go.”

  “Is that why you broke up with me? Because you thought I was leaving?”

  “Kincaid, at the time, it didn’t seem like it was going to be anything permanent. I had no idea you wanted to marry me. I thought it was a summer thing, over once school started in the fall.” And that was the real reason why she hadn’t fought Edgar Foster when he gave her that contract. She had never been sure that Kincaid wanted a life with her, that they would have ended up together. She was terrified of raising her child alone, but more terrified of taking the risk of telling Kincaid, hoping he would stay with her—and then ending up both alone and without her daughter.

  “I wanted it to be,” he said quietly. “I guess some crazy part of me always thought we’d get married and I’d end up living here with you, maybe working at The Love Shack, since I didn’t have many other skills.”

  “You have a lot of great skills, Kincaid.” She smiled. “A lot. You are a great writer and I always thought you should have pursued that.”

  “I guess I was too afraid back then of doing such a risky job. But I did think I could work at the restaurant and be with you. In my head, it was going to be the perfect happy ending. Then I got your note and…” He shrugged.

  She could see the hurt in his eyes, hear it in his voice. She’d never thought that Kincaid might have loved her as much as she loved him, and at that time, had no idea he wanted to marry her. Maybe she would have made different choices then, if she had. Or maybe she would have done the exact same thing—broken it off before it fell apart on its own. “We were young and foolish. It might not have even worked out.”

  “You’re right. Or it could have been wonderful.” He watched Emma again for a while. “But the past is where it is, and all we can do is make the present better.”

  “I think that’s a good plan.” She wanted to believe that he would be here tomorrow and the day after that and all the days going forward, but she had seen Kincaid cave to his father’s plan before, and couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t do it again.

  She knew she needed to tell him about the contract and the money, and all that Edgar had done to ensure his son’s planned future. But then Emma came up and joined them for an early lunch, and the subject got changed to dogs and dolls and beaches, and Darcy sat back on the blanket, watching her daughter form a bond with the father she never thought Emma would have.

  Kincaid got back to the rental cottage late that afternoon, a little sunburned, a lot tired, and even surer about what he wanted from his future than he could ever remember feeling. Abby was sitting on the front porch, reading a novel, with her feet tucked under her.

  “Hey, sis. How’s the human making going?”

  “Getting bigger every second, I swear.” She swung her legs out and got to her feet with a little groan. “How was your day?”

  “Awesome.”

  “So, tell me more. Like everything.”

  “First, I’m starving. Let’s go down to The Love Shack tonight. I’m sure you’re tired of being cooped up here.”

  Abby grinned. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain waitress who works there, would it?”

  “It just might.” He plopped a kiss on his sister’s forehead, then ran inside and up to shower and change. When he was done, he headed back to the kitchen, where he found Abby wearing a sundress, with her hair up. She looked radiant, happy. That was nice to see. Very nice. “Ready?”

  “Definitely.” But at the door she hesitated. Worry clouded her eyes. “Do you think anyone is going to see me and tell Gordon?”

  Kincaid chuckled. “I don’t think anyone who is friends with either Gordon or my father is going to be at The Love Shack. Besides, Darcy knows about you, and I think she’d warn us if anyone from the northern part of the island was there.”

  “True.” Abby drew in a breath and the worry dissipated. “Okay, let’s go.”

  The heat of the day had abated, and a soft breeze came in off the water. They walked along the quiet road toward The Love Shack, Kincaid slowing his pace to match Abby’s steps.

  “So are you going to make me wait until you get your belly full, or are you going to tell me a little about how today went? I’ve been dying to ask,” she said.

  He threw up his hands. “Okay, okay, I’ll put you out of your misery now.” He chuckled, feeling light, happy, excited about the future. “Today went better than I expected. You were right about the stuffed animal. It was a hit.”

  Abby grinned. “Of course I was right. I’m always right.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you that today. But only today.”

  She shook her head, laughing. “How’d it go with Darcy?”

  They passed a small bungalow with an elderly couple sitting on the porch. Kincaid raised a hand in greeting, and the couple waved back, as if they were lifelong friends. Yet another reason why Kincaid loved Fortune’s Island. “I told Darcy I wanted to marry her that summer.”

  “You did?” Abby said. “How did I not know this?”

  “I never told anyone. She broke up with me and I felt like a fool…and I just wanted to move on. My plan was to marry her, drop out of law school, and live on the island.”

  “And finally become a writer? I’m glad you started again since you got here. You’re a great writer, Kincaid. You won all those awards in high school. I always thought it was a shame you put those skills to use on boring legal briefs.”

  “I don
’t know. I have a good career going. Writing isn’t exactly a guaranteed income.”

  “A good career going, working for Father?” Abby snorted. “Is that what you want to do the rest of your life?”

  “No. No, I don’t.” He sighed.

  “Then take a chance,” Abby said. “Leave it all behind. For good. Not just for a few weeks.” She pointed to a street off to their right. “There are two little houses for sale down that road. One pretty little white one that will be perfect me and my daughter. And another one, a little bigger, with a yard, that would be great for you, Darcy, the dog and your daughter.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He put up a hand, warding off Abby’s train of thought. Things had gone well today, yes, but not to the point where he was thinking about forever. “Who said anything about me buying a house and settling down with Darcy and the dog?”

  “You did. Seven years ago. You’ve just been procrastinating all this time.” She gave him a light slug in the arm.

  “It’s not procrastination. It’s reality. And it’s been seven years. I hardly know her now.”

  “What, did you forget everything that made you fall for her before?” Abby stopped walking and turned to face him. “Right. And I bet, since you’ve been back, you’ve kissed her. Maybe…more?”

  “This is not a conversation I am having with my almost nine-month pregnant sister.”

  Abby laughed and stuck out her belly. “How do you think I got this way?” Then she sobered, and put a hand on Kincaid’s arm. “Seriously, this kind of happiness doesn’t come along every day. If you and Darcy can make it work, then go for it.”

  “One step at a time, Abby.” He still had a yellow caution flag in his head, especially now that there was a child involved. That was the worst time to make a rash decision. “Let’s just get dinner for now.”

  “Okay, but if I see you mooning over her, I’ll know I was right.” She raised her chin, already confident in what would happen when they reached The Love Shack.

  Two minutes later, Kincaid had to admit his sister was right. They walked in the door, he saw Darcy sashaying across the room in those cutoff shorts with those scuffed cowboy boots, and felt his jaw drop. Every time he saw her, it was like that. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, it was the presence that she had, one that seemed to fill whatever room she was in. She dropped off a pitcher of beer at a table, then laughed at something the customer said, one of those deep, true laughs that made Kincaid wish he knew what the joke had been.

  Then she turned to go back to the kitchen, and saw him. Her step faltered, and a smile burst across her face, so natural and quick, it launched a rocket of joy in his gut.

  Abby elbowed him. “See? You’re both mooning over each other. You better put an offer in on that house, Kincaid.”

  Darcy started to approach. Kincaid leaned down and whispered in his sister’s ear. “Have I ever told you that you are a pain in the butt?”

  “Maybe. But I don’t listen to that kind of negativity.” She grinned that same I-told-you-so smile she’d had earlier.

  Darcy crossed to Abby first, drawing her into a hug. “Oh my God, Abby! I haven’t seen you in forever!” Then she drew back and looked down at Abby’s belly. “When’s the little one due?”

  “A couple more weeks. Though it feels like it should be tomorrow.”

  Darcy laughed. “Those last few weeks seem endless. But be glad for the time to nap and read, because you won’t get it again for a long time.” She fished two menus out of the bin by the hostess station, and led them across the room. “Here, let’s get you seated. Do you want anything to drink?”

  “Water for me, please.” Abby slid into the booth, and Kincaid took the opposite seat.

  Darcy turned to Kincaid, and her smile widened. “Let me guess. Tequila?”

  He chuckled. “Uh…how about just a beer?”

  Her smile widened, and for a second, he felt like it was just for him. “You’ve got it. I’ll be right back.”

  “Well, well,” Abby said. “Want to explain the tequila?”

  “No. I really don’t.” But he grinned when he said it.

  “Hmm…seems more than one Foster will be house-hunting here. Even if you keep disagreeing with me, you stubborn fool.” Abby buried her face in the menu before Kincaid could disagree.

  While his sister was thinking about her dinner, Kincaid thought about what Abby had said. About the possibility of buying that little house and living here for good. Giving up the New York apartment, the New York life, the law firm. Pursuing his writing, living the life he had long dreamed of. His father would explode, of course, but Kincaid found the longer he stayed on Fortune’s Island, the less he cared about that. He’d given years to his father’s plan, thinking that it would bring them closer, finally give him that relationship he had always craved. Instead, it had done nothing but build resentment in Kincaid and stick him in a job he hated, in a city he didn’t love.

  He glanced over at Darcy as she crossed the room with their drinks. She had a smile and a friendly word for every customer, which he had always liked about her. Darcy was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of woman, the kind who had no hidden agenda or secret plan for his life, like Kincaid’s father always had. She was open and honest and real. It was so refreshing, compared to the life he had led.

  “Here you go.” Darcy laid their drinks in front of them. “What can I get you to eat?”

  “A burger, with everything that goes on it, and extra fries,” Abby said. She glanced at her brother. “Hey, I only get to eat like this for a few more weeks. That means I’m ordering pie later, too.”

  “I did the same thing,” Darcy said. “I gained so much weight, but oh, was it fun eating all those things you normally don’t eat. Having seconds and dessert every day…it’s worth the time in the gym later.”

  If she’d gained much weight during her pregnancy, it didn’t show now, Kincaid thought. Though he really loved the idea of Darcy eating dessert, or having seconds, or getting up in the middle of the night to fix a snack, wearing just a T-shirt…

  “Good, because I want a plate of wings, too.” Abby handed over the menu.

  “No wonder I like you so much,” Darcy said. She jotted down Abby’s order, then turned to Kincaid. “And what would you like?”

  His appetite for food had been replaced by one for Darcy. “To see you, after your shift.”

  Darcy blushed. Kincaid would have never thought there was a way to make Darcy blush, but there it was. “Umm…okay. I get off around one in the morning.”

  “I remember.”

  She swallowed, and her smile widened. “Okay. I’ll see you.” She started to turn away, then pivoted back. “I forgot your order.”

  “Bring me whatever my sister is having. I might need the calories for later.”

  Darcy blushed again. “Uh, okay. You got it.”

  He watched her walk away, thinking that there was no one in the world who looked better in cutoff shorts than Darcy. And no one in the world he was looking forward to seeing more than her.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said to his sister. Kincaid crossed the room to the wall of dollar bills. It took him a while, searching through the sea of pale green and dark writing, but then he spied it, tucked on the far side, underneath one with a drawing of Porky Pig and above another with simply a trio of hearts. D Will Love K 4-Eva

  He reached out and traced over Darcy’s handwriting. Seven years ago, she’d made a public promise that she would love him forever. He hoped like hell that was true, because the letters he had etched on that table in the corner were just as indelible and just as real.

  Which meant Kincaid was already in deep. And maybe, Kincaid decided, as he saw Darcy smile at him from across the room, that wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

  *~*~*

  Darcy could barely concentrate her entire shift. It was a Saturday night, so The Love Shack was hopping and full of customers. But Darcy’s gaze kept straying to Kincaid. Every once in
a while, he’d catch her eye and they’d share a smile and it would send a zing through her.

  Then on the other side of the room, a whole other kind of drama was playing out. Zach and his band were on the stage, while Jillian acted like Zach didn’t even exist. A few times, Zach tried to call Jillian over to talk to him, but she ignored him every time.

  It wasn’t until Darcy and Jillian ended up in the kitchen at the same time, fixing salads, that they finally got a chance to talk. “How are you doing, girlfriend?” Darcy asked.

  “I’m hanging in there. Zach is trying, but not hard enough.” She shrugged. “I guess I figured if I meant enough to him, he’d go all out, but he’s…not.” Her eyes welled, and Darcy drew her into a tight hug.

  “Then he’s an idiot. Or maybe just a slow learner. You’re doing the right thing, though. Better now than when you’ve been married for a few years.”

  “Indeed,” Grace said from her station in front of the grill. “I had to whip Whit into shape more than once before I finally agreed to marry him. Men are not always the smartest puppies in the litter. He ‘bout had to lose me before he figured out I was the one worth keeping.”

  Jillian grinned. “And look how long you guys have been married. Not to mention the two fabulous kids you have.”

  “Definitely two fabulous kids.” Grace paused in flipping burgers. “My goodness, we’ve been married going on thirty-three years now. God gave me a good man, a good father to you and Carter, and I’ve done my best to show my gratitude.”

  Darcy had always looked at Grace and Whit as the model of what she wanted for her own future. They had their tiffs from time to time, but at the end of the day, they went home hand in hand, and with smiles on their faces. Maybe that was what had made The Love Shack so successful, and spurred the legend about the wall. There’d been more than one marriage inside this restaurant over the years, with the happy couples posing by the paneled space where they’d proclaimed their love in black ink scrawled across George Washington’s face. Did Darcy dare to hope for the same for herself?

  “You two are amazing.” Darcy sprinkled croutons on the three salads she was assembling, then reached for some shredded cheese. “Everyone should be so lucky.”