Michelle glanced at it. “Excellent. Carly knows you from the craft store.”
Deanna nodded. “She and Gabby took a couple of knitting classes from me.”
“Crafts,” Michelle grumbled. “Don’t get me started.” She stood. “Come on. Let’s take the tour. I want you to understand the madness before I make an offer. Do you like pets?”
“Um, sure.”
“We have a resident dog and cat. The dog is mine. The cat, Mr. Whiskers, belongs to our cook. Just so you’re clear, Mr. Whiskers thinks he runs the place. Some days I’m pretty sure he’s right.”
An hour later Deanna sat in her car. She pulled out her cell phone and pushed in a familiar number.
“Hey, you,” Colin said, answering right away. “How did it go?”
“I got the job.”
He gave a low laugh. “Congratulations. I’m not surprised, but I’m happy for you.”
“Me, too. I start in a week. I’m nervous.”
“You’ll do great.”
“Thanks. I hope so.”
This was new—them talking. Colin had called the night after they’d made love and they’d spoken until nearly midnight. Now they talked several times a day. Mostly about nothing, but the conversation wasn’t the point. She got that.
She looked forward to hearing his voice, to telling him about the girls and having him tease her. She felt young and foolish and happy. It was like falling in love all over again.
“I’ll be home tomorrow,” he said.
“I can’t wait.”
“Me, either.” He paused. “So, what are you wearing?”
“Colin! I’m in a car, in front of the inn. I’ll be working there.”
“Is this your way of saying you’re not naked?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m not naked.”
“Damn.” He lowered his voice. “But you will be tonight?”
She felt her cheeks heating. Over the past few days she’d discovered she liked talking during sex nearly as much as Colin liked listening.
“I will be,” she whispered.
“Me, too.”
* * *
“Here you go.” Dr. Harrington handed Andi an invitation. “We’re having a big welcome-home party for my son. He’s moving back to the island.”
Andi smiled. “I can’t wait to meet him. I’ve heard so much about him.”
“His mother and I are so proud.” He glanced around the office. “He has plans for this practice.”
“Good ones, I’m sure.” Andi couldn’t imagine going into business with her parents. She felt a twinge as she briefly wished things could have been different between them. But regardless of their feelings, she’d found a place to belong and that was worth a lot to her.
“You’re all set up with Nina?” Dr. Harrington asked.
“Yes. Thank you again for letting her come with me.”
The older man shuffled his feet. “Well, it’s for the best. She and Dylan dated back in high school and it didn’t end well. At the time we thought they were too young, but maybe we shouldn’t have interfered.” He paused, then shook his head. “Water under the bridge, right? People change and move on.”
Nina had also hinted at her romantic past with Dylan. Andi wondered if she would ever hear the whole story.
Dr. Harrington smiled at her. “You’re an asset to our community, Andi. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“I do. Thank you.”
The older man left her tiny office. Andi turned off her computer, then pulled her purse out of her desk’s bottom drawer.
She was done for the day, and Friday was the end of her temporary assignment in Dr. Harrington’s office. Two weeks from Monday she would open her own practice in her house.
She and Nina were meeting together Monday morning to get things set up, and they would start taking appointments. Several parents had already left messages on her new number, asking when they could start bringing in their children.
Andi walked toward the back door. Tomorrow they were having one last staff lunch together. Two teachers had been in touch, asking if she would speak to their classes about general health and what it took to become a doctor. She had her friends, her Pilates classes and she was going to take a beginning knitting class at the craft store where Deanna had worked. She had settled into life on the island.
She walked toward her car, only to come to a stop when she saw a man leaning against it. He was tall and good looking, in a blond movie star kind of way. He flashed her a blindingly white smile when he saw her.
“Andi, there you are. I’ve been waiting.”
She came to a stop, unable to believe he was here. After all this time. “Matt?”
“You sound surprised.”
“Because I am surprised. It’s been months.”
The last time she’d seen him, he’d been trying to explain why he’d left her at the altar. He’d been more concerned with explaining why it wasn’t really his fault than admitting to humiliating her. She’d been hurt and furious. Ending things had made the most sense, but a part of her had wondered if she would be stuck loving him forever.
Now, as she approached, she realized she hadn’t thought of him in weeks. He wasn’t important to her anymore. He was someone who had taught her a good lesson in a really crummy way. A total jerk, she thought with a smile. Didn’t nearly every woman have a jerk in her romantic history?
“How have you been?” she asked, then shook her head. “You know what? I actually would rather know why you’re here.”
“To see you.”
He reached for her hand. She pulled it away, then took a step out of touching range.
“Why are you here?” she asked again.
He moved toward her. “We need to talk, Andi. Can we go somewhere?”
She didn’t trust him. Given his previous actions, hardly a surprise. But more intriguing was the fact that being around him didn’t stir up any memories, at least, not any good ones. She would rather be home right now, planning her dinner. Or hanging out with one of her friends.
“Just a drink. There has to be a bar on the island.”
“I’m sure there are several, but no. Either tell me why you’re here or I’m leaving.”
“Wow. This is a new side of you. Remember, I always told you to stand up for yourself. It looks like you’ve taken my advice.”
She rolled her eyes, then reached for her car keys. He quickly stepped between her and the vehicle.
“Fine,” he said. “I’m here because I want to tell you that I’m sorry about what I did. Leaving you like that. It was stupid and thoughtless.”
An apology? Who would have guessed?
“Okay. I’m glad you figured out you were the bad guy. Anything else?”
He studied her. “I made a mistake, Andi. That’s what I’m here to tell you. Running off like that, I overreacted. Getting married to Lindsey was idiotic.” He shrugged. “We’re getting a divorce. We’ve filed the paperwork already. It didn’t take me very long to realize I picked the wrong girl. You’re the one I love. That’s why I wanted to see you. To tell you that I’m finally ready for us to be together like you always wanted.” He gave her his charming lopsided smile. “Marry me, Andi. I still love you.”
Six months ago she would have sold her soul to hear those words. Four months ago, she might have been tempted to say yes. But now...
“No, thanks.”
She hit the button
to unlock her car.
He blinked at her. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m saying no. I have no interest in being with you. I think what you did was awful, but I can’t complain about the outcome. I don’t love you, Matt. I don’t want to get back into a relationship with you.”
“But we had ten years together. We were great.” He hesitated. “I know I was a little insistent that you change, but I’m over that. I want you just the way you are.” His gaze drifted to her scrubs. He opened his mouth and then closed it. “Please, Andi.”
“No. It’s too late, Matt. The woman you liked is gone. I have changed and not in a way you’d like. When you first broke up with me, I was devastated. Now all I can think is that I should have broken up with you years ago.”
“You can’t mean that.”
She reached for the car door. “And yet I do mean it.” She thought about all the time she’d wasted with him, how she’d stood in her dress, in front of everyone she loved, and he hadn’t bothered to show.
“Is there someone else?” he asked.
“No.” There was Wade, but he’d made it clear he wasn’t willing to be involved with her. Which was a shame, because she thought they had potential. But she wasn’t going to be the only one showing up again.
Matt reached for her. “Andi, you can’t do this. I need you.”
She opened her car door. “You should have thought of that before you walked out on me. You had ten years, Matt. Plenty of time. Now it’s too late.”
His eyes widened and she would swear he was about to cry. “But I still love you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Andi, no.”
“Goodbye, Matt.”
She slid into her seat and started the engine. For a second she thought he might throw himself in front of the vehicle. Fortunately, he didn’t and she was able to drive away.
As she turned into the street, she realized that not only wasn’t she feeling guilty, but there was a new lightness inside. Freedom, she thought. She would rather be alone than be with Matt. She was done with him. Her only regret was figuring that out about eight and a half years too late.
* * *
Deanna waited until all five of her daughters were seated around the dining room table. As this was where all serious conversations took place, they looked apprehensive as they squirmed in their places.
“Don’t worry,” she began with a smile. “No one’s in trouble. There are going to be a few changes around here, and I wanted to talk to you about them.”
The girls looked at each other, then back at her. Worry tightened the expressions of her oldest daughters, while the twins looked more confused than apprehensive.
“I’m going to be starting a new job in a few days. I’ll be a bookkeeper at the Blackberry Island Inn.” She and Colin had talked about telling them that their dad would be home more. He’d said to go ahead and share the news, but she wanted to let him be the one to tell them. They would be delighted, and he deserved to be a part of the moment.
“I’ll work at the inn three mornings a week and I’ll work from home the rest of the time. So I’m going to need your cooperation during my working hours. Once you’re back in school, I’ll try to get all my work done when you’re gone. But we’ll need a system that keeps interruptions to a minimum.”
Madison’s mouth trembled. “Is Dad... Are you...”
Are you getting a divorce?
Madison couldn’t speak the words, but Deanna heard them all the same. She smiled at her daughter. “Your dad is very excited about my new job. We’re all going out to dinner this weekend to celebrate.”
They would also be celebrating him staying home instead of traveling, but she wasn’t going to say that just yet.
She softened her voice. “We’re a family, Madison. That isn’t changing.”
If the concern had come from any of her other girls, she would have punctuated the statement with a hug or a touch. But things were still difficult with her oldest.
Madison looked at her, then turned away. “Okay,” she whispered.
Deanna returned her attention to the other girls. “I’m going to be coming up with a chore list for everyone. We’ll talk about what you’re comfortable doing and what your dad and I expect you to do. I’d also like to start teaching you girls to cook. There’s no reason why you can’t help me with the jam I’ll be making over the next few weeks. I was also thinking you could each learn how to make something.”
The twins looked at each other, then at her. “Cookies?” they asked as one.
She laughed. “Yes, cookies are a good start. Maybe peanut butter.”
They clapped their hands together.
She smiled at Audrey and Lucy. “I thought the three of us could figure out a few dinners that would be fun to make together. Maybe using the Crock-Pot.”
“Or spaghetti,” Lucy said.
“That could work. I’d want to be the one in charge of the pot of boiling water, but you could learn to make the sauce.”
Audrey grinned. “Chicken parmesan.”
“Ambitious, but sure. It’ll be fun.” Deanna turned to Madison. “I’m guessing that hanging out with me in the kitchen isn’t your idea of fun. That’s fine. As long as the chore list is relatively even, I don’t mind if you choose something else.”
Madison stared at her. Emotions chased across her face. The battle was clear. She wanted to have fun like her sisters, but how much fun could be had with her mother?
Sadness gripped Deanna. They’d been so close, she thought, aching with the loss. Madison had been her sunny little girl, so filled with love. Now she was a stranger who hated her. Her therapist had counseled patience. Deanna knew she was right, but waiting was so difficult.
The twins scrambled from their seats and raced around the table. They threw themselves at Deanna and hung on tight.
“Can we make cookies now?” Sydney asked.
Savannah nodded. “I want to start learning how!”
Deanna hugged them. “I think cookies sound like an excellent idea. Everyone who wants to can make cookies.”
Audrey and Lucy ran into the kitchen, yelling that they were going to wash their hands right away so they could help, too. Madison rose slowly, then started for the stairs.
Deanna led her twins into the kitchen. She wanted to look back, to see her oldest hesitating, but seriously, what were the odds? When she’d been Madison’s age, there was absolutely nothing her mother could have done to heal the breach between them. She wondered if that line had been crossed here, too. And if so, how she would bear the loss and go on.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BOSTON SMELLED THE paint the second she walked in the front door of her house. It permeated the air and made her want to sneeze. For a second, she couldn’t figure out what it meant. She only painted in her studio, so why had someone been painting in her...
She froze, literally unable to move. She’d told Wade about packing up the baby stuff. How Deanna and Colin had helped. She’d mentioned the mural, the beautiful train and how she knew she had to paint it over but didn’t know if she had the strength. He’d offered to help. She’d refused.
“No!” she cried, then ran to the stairs.
She climbed them two at a time, arriving on the second floor out of breath. She hurried down the hall, but knew the truth before she crossed the threshold. Knew what had happened. Knew what had been taken from her.
The room was empty. There
were no curtains, no rug on the hardwood floor. The light switch cover was neutral plastic. The pleasing yellow walls had been painted a creamy white color. And the mural was gone.
She stood in the center of the room and felt the absence of all she had once loved. It was as if Liam had never lived here at all.
Her chest felt as if it were going to split open. She pressed her hand to the wound, expecting to drown in blood, but there was nothing but her T-shirt and the warmth of her skin.
That was wrong, she thought, wanting to bleed. Everything was wrong. Liam, sweet Liam. She couldn’t...
She sucked in air, but couldn’t breathe. Cried out to him, but there was no answer. Without being fully aware of her actions, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and pressed a button.
“Zeke,” she gasped. “Zeke. He’s gone.”
Her body shook. The phone fell to the floor and she collapsed next to it, curling into herself, hanging on to keep from splitting apart.
When the tears came, they were harsh and ugly and made her choke. She cried for what had been lost, for the innocent child who had been everything to her. For the aftermath and the loss of Zeke, as well. For the first time she felt the pain of being alone. Of having no one.
She covered her face with her hands and continued to cry. Time passed, but she had no sense of it, no sense of anything but the growing crater that had been the very heart of her. Then something warm touched her arm.
She opened her eyes and found Zeke on the floor. He lay in front of her, drawing her against him, his body comforting, protecting. He drew her into his arms and hung on as if he would never let go. She put her head on his shoulder and let her tears wash over them both.
* * *
Deanna looked at the clothes she’d laid out on the bed. For the most part, what she’d worn to the craft store would work for her new job at the inn. She’d erred on the side of conservative when it came to her choices, which was good. She and Colin had a ski vacation to save for. She didn’t want to waste precious dollars on something silly like her work wardrobe. Especially not when he’d emailed her listings for a couple of vacation houses that were available.
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