by Donna Fasano
“I… I don’t really know what to say. I, um, I never expected anyone to say those kinds of things to me.”
“I know you didn’t. And I’m sorry about that. You deserve to be loved. Deeply. Thoroughly.”
The sensual emphasis placed on the last word he spoke wasn’t lost on her.
“Daniel, it scares the hell out of me to say this.” She paused long enough to swallow. “But I love you too. So very much.”
It was silly, really, but she could almost feel him smile through the phone.
“T-to tell you the truth,” she told him, “after I opened up the file and saw what was inside, I didn’t expect to see you again.”
His exhalation was filled with raw emotion.
“I suspected as much. Honey, that’s why I left something behind. Something I need for you to take care of for me until I can get back to Ocean City. Back to you.”
Heather clasped the phone tighter, straightened her legs, and scooted over to the edge of her mattress. The papers and photos crinkled, unheeded, beneath her.
“I left my laptop in my room,” he said. “If you need to rent the room out before I can return, please put it somewhere safe, okay?”
His soft chuckle caused a cascade of chills to course across her skin. She was on her feet and moving toward his bedroom.
“You left your computer?”
The warm leather scent of him surrounded her when she stepped into his room. There it was on the desk in front of the window. His laptop.
She scooped it up in her free arm, pressed it to her chest, and sat down on his bed.
“But what about your book? Won’t your publisher—”
“I have to focus on Mia right now. My little girl needs me. I have the rest of my life to write books. And I hope I’ll do some of that writing while staring out at the Atlantic Ocean.”
Joy swelled inside Heather until she thought she’d burst.
“Sweetheart, I have to go.”
Sudden tension edged his voice.
“The plane is at the gate. I have to collect Mia. Deal with Jakob.”
Heather nodded her understanding even though he couldn’t see her, the phone call turned her into that much of an emotional wreck.
“It’s going to be okay,” she assured him. “Everything will be okay.”
“We’ll talk. Every day. I promise.”
The call ended and she set the phone on the bed. She wrapped both arms around the flat, rectangular-shaped plastic and metal case filled with electronic components, hugging it tightly as if it were some sort of beloved effigy. For the moment, that’s exactly what it was—a representation of the man she loved.
She leaned over, resting her head on his pillow and tucking her feet up on the bed. She couldn’t stop the beaming smile that spread across her lips.
He was coming back.
He loved her. And he was coming back. That’s all that mattered. Everything else would be worked out in time.
Epilogue
Spring always arrived a little later along the coast than in those places located further inland. Although there were early-bird tourists already staying at The Loon who were right now splashing in the water and enjoying the sunshine on this glorious May day, the ocean temperatures were still the kind of chilly that left a person gasping if they were hit, unawares, by a frothy wave. Heather wouldn’t venture into the sea to enjoy a swim for at least another month.
Pushing herself out of the porch rocker, she walked to the railing and glanced up the boardwalk. People strolled, others jogged, and a few rode past on bicycles, all of them with smiles on their faces as another tourist season began. Warmer weather and having people in the house after the last few cold, lonely months lifted Heather’s spirits.
The winter nights seemed to drag after Daniel had left. He’d taken Mia home to his condo in New York with the idea of bringing her to visit Heather in Ocean City after a couple of weeks. But Mia had been so traumatized by her ordeal, that Daniel had sought the help of a therapist who had recommended intensive counseling along with getting the child back on her normal routine and staying on it for the foreseeable future—or until Mia felt safe again. So Daniel had heeded the advice, and he and Mia kept to the familiar. Mia had gone back to the private school where she felt safe, where she knew her classmates and her teacher. She spent her evenings and weekends with her daddy doing those things they enjoyed, playing in the snow, taking walks in the park, going to dance class and piano lessons, watching their favorite shows on television, and dozens of other ordinary activities, all in the hopes that Mia would understand that she was secure and no longer vulnerable.
Although Daniel’s publisher told him to take the time he needed to get his daughter mentally and emotionally healthy, Heather had ended up shipping his laptop to him so he could write. She deeply appreciated the fact that he’d left it behind as a token promise to return.
Heather had heard all about his slow progress on the book, all about his and Mia’s daily activities when she and Daniel had communicated either by phone calls, texts, or elaborate emails. Heather and Daniel had agreed that it was in Mia’s best interest that Heather remain in the shadows. At least, for a while. The poor child needed this time with her father so she could put her frightful experience behind her.
After many weeks of working with the therapist, Mia had been deemed by her doctor as being ready to venture outside her safe cocoon. So Daniel and his daughter were on their way to Ocean City and were due to arrive at any time.
Even though hundreds of miles had been between Heather and Daniel, she had never felt more loved. In a way, the distance had been a good thing, because their long phone conversations had allowed them to get to know one another thoroughly. For instance, she’d learned that his favorite meal was fish and chips, his favorite dessert was strawberry shortcake, while Mia liked pizza more than any other food in the world. Heather had discovered how much Daniel loved to shovel snow in winter, that Mia had decided her new favorite toy was the teddy her daddy had bought her for her birthday, and that Daniel had a lucky pair of orange socks he wore on days when he needed to write but the words wouldn’t come.
Heather had realized over the weeks that she had a love hate relationship with that time near the end of their conversations when they said their goodbyes. She would begin to pine for him even before the line was severed, but her heart would soar when he signed off by telling her he loved her. His unexpected texts, which arrived at odd times of the day and night, had quickly become her absolute favorites. Romantic, profound, funny, his short messages never failed to put a smile on her face. She’d printed out the ones that made her heart melt down her ribs like gooey caramel over a hot flame, the ones that made her laugh, the ones that made her think. The habit might seem sophomoric, but she wasn’t going to apologize to anyone for reading and then re-reading the words she found so alluring. She had even succeeded in memorizing some of them.
I want to hold you in my arms, breathe you in, set you on fire so you just might begin to know how I burn for you.
I’m lying here awake… can’t sleep… amazed to realize that my—OUR—reality is so much better, so much brighter, than anything I could ever create for characters in a story.
Sometimes I miss you so much I think I’m going crazy. But that’s because I’m so in love in with you. Do you feel crazy too?
No matter how far apart we are, you fill every nook and cranny of my mind.
I want to be the reason you look down at your phone and smile. Just don’t walk into a fire hydrant. That would hurt.
When I’m missing you most, I close my eyes and imagine I’m kissing you… I wonder if you can taste it.
“Hey!”
Heather opened her eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight, and she swiveled her head to see Sara skipping up the steps.
“Hey, yourself,” Heather greeted, rubbing away the goose-flesh that had risen on her arms while she’d been lost in thought.
Sara wore a loose-
fitting blouse to cover the small baby-bump that was just beginning to show. “I haven’t seen you for few days,” Sara said as soon as she was on the porch.
Ever since Cathy’s betrayal, Heather had become withdrawn. She tried not to let it affect her relationship with Sara; however, every time the two of them were together, there was an awkwardness that couldn’t be denied. The “missing link” that was Cathy was extremely glaring.
“I’ve been busy with guests,” Heather told her.
“Cathy says you haven’t called her about the bridal shower. You are going to come, right?” Then she rushed to ask, “Oh, Heather, when are you going to forgive her? I miss you two.”
Heather’s answer was a mere whisper. “I don’t know if I can.”
“She didn’t mean it. She swears it was an accident.”
“Cathy doesn’t do anything by accident.”
Heather heard a tad of frustration in Sara’s sigh.
“Look, I’m coming to your bridal shower,” she assured Sara. “I plan on dancing at your wedding. I’ll host your baby shower. I don’t want you to think I would miss a single important celebration in your life… because I won’t.”
Although Sara smiled with gratitude, Heather knew her assurances didn’t go as far as her friend would have liked. But there wasn’t much Heather could do about that. Every time she thought about what Cathy had done, Heather’s wounded feelings felt raw all over again. And if she thought about it too long, her anger would flare. So she tried hard to focus on other things.
“So today’s the big day, huh?” Sara asked.
“Yes.” The spring breeze caught a strand of Heather’s hair and blew it across her face. “I’m so excited I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“Are you ready for them?”
Heather nodded. “I think so. Daniel said Mia can still be a little clingy at times, so I set up a roll-away in his room so she’ll have her own bed but can still feel safe. I bought ingredients to make home-made pizzas for dinner tonight. It’s her favorite, and I thought she might get a kick out of patting out the dough and adding the toppings herself.”
“She’s going to love that.”
“I hope so,” Heather murmured.
Sara snaked her arm around Heather’s and gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze. “Come on, now. You and Mia are going to get along just fine.”
The women stood, staring out at the beach for a few moments, then Sara said, “I haven’t asked for a while… How are you feeling? All healed up?”
When Heather had first opened the folder of breast reconstruction research Daniel had left for her, she’d been dead-set against having any work done. But for several weeks she thought about little else. And the longer she looked at the images—of the women in the before and after photographs and at her own reflection in the mirror—she’d finally decided at the end of March to drive up to Baltimore for 3-D tattoos. Sara had agreed to go with her and the two of them had made a weekend of it.
“I’m good,” she told Sara. “I was sore for a while. Red, inflamed. And the scabs were uncomfortable too. Dear Lord, I don’t mind saying I’m glad the itching phase is over. I thought I would go nuts.”
Sara winced at the thought, then she hesitantly asked, “Are you happy with the results?”
Heather looked into her friend’s face, her slow smile growing until it beamed. “They’re amazing. So beautiful, Sara. It’s nothing short of a miracle. I’m just astounded every time I look at myself in the mirror.”
“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful.”
“I never thought I’d hear myself say this…” She bit her bottom lip for a second before finishing, “But I can’t wait for Daniel to see me naked.”
Sara’s head tilted, her shoulders rounded, and her eyes glistened with a mixture of elation and tenderness.
Emotion swarmed inside Heather and she looked away toward the boardwalk, fighting off tears.
And that’s when she saw Daniel. Black curls hung over his ears and grazed his shirt collar, proof that he was in need of a haircut. The familiar angles of his jaw and cheekbones sent a thrill through her. She’d been so hungry for the sight of him.
He must have parked in the lot off the alley because he was opening the gate at the side of the property. Clearly, he wanted Mia’s first glimpse of The Lonely Loon to be from the front.
The dark-haired little girl raced across the boards, straight to the sea wall, and Daniel lifted her up to stand on the wide expanse of cement. Heather watched father and daughter exchange conversation, heads bent together as Mia pointed first out toward the surf, then at the gulls flying high above in the clear, azure sky.
“They’re here,” Sara said. “I should go.”
“No, please. Stay with me. It’s fine. In fact, it would probably be best—”
“Heather.” Sara clamped her hand over Heather’s and held on. “Mia is going to love you. I mean it. Stop worrying.”
Heather smiled her thanks. “Let’s go meet them?”
Sara nodded, and the two of them started down the porch stairs.
Only a few yards away, Daniel turned to look at the B&B, saw them immediately, and lifted his hand in greeting. He spoke to Mia and helped her off the wall. The instant the child noticed Heather and Sara, she seemed to shrink a few inches in stature, automatically reaching for her daddy’s hand.
“Hi,” Daniel said when he and Mia reached them.
“I’m so glad to see you.” It took every ounce of Heather’s self-control not to reach out and hug him. “How was the drive? Was there much traffic?”
“It wasn’t bad.”
They stared at one another, and Heather smoldered inside as she realized he, too, wanted to reach out to her. She searched his gaze for only a second or two, just long enough for them to silently communicate the necessity for restraint and patience. There would be a time for them to greet each other in a proper fashion, a time they would be free to express the love—the need—smoldering inside them.
“Hi, Sara,” Daniel said.
Sara didn’t hesitate; she leaned and greeted Daniel with a hug. “You’re looking good. I’m so glad you’re back to visit us.” When she stepped away from him, she looked down at Mia. “And who’s this?” she asked brightly.
“Sara, this is my daughter, Mia.” He looked down. “Mia, this is Sara. She runs the sweet shop right there. And this is Heather. She owns The Lonely Loon. The B&B I told you about, where we’ll be staying this weekend.”
“Such a pretty little girl,” Sara cooed.
“Hi, Mia.” Heather bent at the knees so she could look the little girl in the eyes.
Mia glanced shyly up at Daniel, then back at Heather. “You’re the lady who made the video. You and daddy sang Happy Birthday to me.”
Heather nodded. “That’s me.”
“Remember I told you,” Daniel said to Mia, “that Heather baked your birthday cake?” Daniel chuckled. “Heather, Mia has watched that video at least a hundred times.”
“It was a pretty cake,” Mia told Heather.
Heather couldn’t resist reaching out and touching one of the child’s long, dark curls. “How would you like to make one this weekend?”
“With the sprinkles?” Mia breathed.
“I always keep sprinkles in the cupboard in my kitchen.”
Mia’s lips split into a smile, and Heather wondered if the sun had suddenly become brighter.
“Hey, Mia, I was wondering,” Sara said, “if you might help me out in the shop? If it’s okay with your dad, that is. You see, I made brownies today and I need to taste test them. You know, make sure they’re sweet and chocolaty before I put them in the display case for customers.”
“Brownies?” Mia’s voice bubbled with a mixture of both awe and trepidation.
Heather stood, giving Sara center stage. She knew her friend was trying to buy her and Daniel a few minutes for a proper hello, and she was truly grateful.
“Yes.” Sara bent forward and cupped her
knees with her palms. “I have brownies with walnuts, and brownies with chocolate chips, and brownies with thick, glossy fudge frosting.”
Mia’s eyes grew rounder with each option mentioned. She looked up at her father, her fingers curling tighter around his, a question in her gaze.
“You can go if you like,” Daniel told her gently. “Remember, Dr. Barrett said it’s okay. As long as you and I feel safe about what you want to do. And I do. Feel safe, I mean. I know Sara. But if you’d rather stay with me, that’s fine. We’ll go get our suitcases from the car and take them inside.”
Long seconds ticked by, and Heather could see Mia contemplating her choices.
Finally, Daniel said, “Whatever you want to do is okay.”
Mia looked a Sara. “I guess I could help you.”
Sara beamed as she took Mia’s hand. “I’ll bring you right back as soon as we finish our taste test.”
Heather watched them go into Sara’s shop, and Daniel whispered in her ear, “Is there someplace we can go? If I don’t get to kiss you right now, I’m going to lose my mind.”
When the two of them turned to head up the steps to the B&B, they both caught sight of Cathy standing at the window of the cafe. She lifted a hand in greeting, and Daniel returned her wave. He didn’t seem to notice that Heather didn’t respond, he was that eager to get her alone. He took her hand and tugged her forward. Cathy held Heather’s gaze for a moment longer before turning away.
Inside the cool, darkened foyer, Heather and Daniel wrapped their arms around each other.
“Oh, Heather, I’ve missed you so bad,” he whispered.
And their mouths met, and clung. He kissed her until her heart was racing and her thoughts were spinning. And her body burned.
He groaned in frustration. “There’s so much I want to do.” He kissed her. “I wish we had longer than the weekend.” He kissed her again. “But school will be out in a few short weeks, and we can come back for the summer. Mia and I have already talked about it. She’d love to spend the summer at the beach.”
