by Kay Correll
There he was, sitting with two other men. Should she interrupt their meal? She could at least ask to meet with him later. The worst that he could say was no.
She strode across the room cloaked in her best all-business ambience. “Mr. Windsor.”
He looked at her and frowned. “You’re… you’re with Diane’s company, right?”
Well, she sure didn’t know how to answer that question. “I did present an idea to you earlier this month.”
“I met with her again, but I’m afraid the idea she presented just wasn’t original enough.”
She squared her shoulders and jumped off the cliff. “I’ve come up with an idea that I believe is unique and a great fit for your company. If you’d have some time while you’re here, I’d love to present it to you.”
He looked at her and frowned again. “Did Diane track me down here and send you to pitch again?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m here visiting my aunt. She owns the inn.”
“Your aunt is Lillian?”
She nodded.
“Was sorry to hear about her fall. Nasty thing. I’m glad she’s up and about some now.”
“You know her?”
“I do. I’ve been bringing my family here for vacation for the last six years or so. Decided it was also a great place for a sales meeting for my senior staff. My family is coming down at the end of the week and we’ll stay for a few days.” He stared at her a bit longer. “Yes, I’ll hear your idea. How would late afternoon work? We have meetings scheduled after lunch, but I could see you about four.”
“Four works for me.” Any time he could have thrown out there worked for her. “I’ll see you then. Meet you in the lobby?”
“See you then.”
Sara turned and walked away, doing her best not to skip with joy. Ha, she still had a chance to pitch her idea.
Take that, Terrence.
Take that, Diane.
She couldn’t wipe the triumphant smile from her face.
That evening Noah and Sara walked along the water’s edge, headed to Lighthouse Point to watch the sunset.
“And then I talked to Windsor and pitched my idea and he loved it. Absolutely thrilled with it.” She did a little dance and whirled around.
“No surprise. You always came up with the best ideas.” Noah took her hand, and they continued down the beach. “Now what happens?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I was honest and told him I wasn’t sure where I stood with the agency right now, but that I’d call in the morning and clear that up. He said he wanted the idea, anyway. But that would get messy if I’m getting let go, because I already turned the idea in to Diane.”
“You sure aren’t doing this the easy way, are you?” He grinned.
“Nope, not at all. I’m going to call Diane in the morning. I’m hoping the good news about Windsor will ease her anger a bit.”
“They’re quite the catch for a client. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
They continued their walk until they reached the lighthouse and sank onto the sand. She leaned against him. They sat and watched the sky burst into streaks of purple and orange.
“That’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“I never tire of this island’s sunsets.”
“I’ll miss them when I go back to Boston.”
“I’ll miss you when you go back to Boston.” He lifted her hand up and pressed his lips against it.
Warmth surged through her along with an ache of loneliness.
There it was.
She was leaving and heading back to her life. He had his life here.
He pressed a kiss against the side of her forehead and turned to look out at the sea.
She wanted to tell him she’d miss him, too.
Tell him… tell him…
… that she was falling for him all over again. Or maybe, just maybe, the feelings had never really gone away.
But she sat beside him in silence, unable to find the words.
Chapter 27
Sara paced back and forth in The Nest the next morning, working up the nerve to call Diane. Really, why was she letting the woman intimidate her? And she’d earned the vacation days she was using now. And she’d offered to work remotely instead of taking vacation if Diane needed her.
She squared her shoulders. She could do this. She stalked over and snatched the phone from the counter. It rang in her hand and she almost dropped it in surprise. She fumbled with it and slipped her finger across it to answer.
“Sara, it’s Diane.”
She swallowed. Then swallowed again. “Morning, Diane.” She tried to make her voice sound nonchalant.
“I was really disappointed when you missed your deadline.”
“I know, I’m sorry, but—”
Diane cut her off. “But I understood. You were with your aunt. Well, I didn’t really understand because I have no family. But I know she’s important to you.”
Sara walked over and plopped down on the chair, surprise crashing over her.
“And to be honest, your pitch impressed me. I was impressed that you… showed some backbone standing up and insisting your idea was good—it was, by the way. I did go and read your proposal after you insisted it was one of your better ideas. You were right. It was brilliant. I only wish I’d read it before I went with Terrence’s idea. His ideas are always efficient and doable, but not very creative.”
She pulled the cell away from her ear for a moment, staring at it, not sure she was hearing Diane correctly.
“And you asked for and took what you needed. Time off to be with your Aunt. You’ve become quite a strong woman in the years you’ve been with the agency. I think it’s about time you were made a partner.”
She shot up out of the chair, struggling to hold on to the phone, and pumped her fist. Yes. Yes!
“Is that something you’re interested in?”
She calmed herself. “Yes, it is.”
“We can discuss the details when you get back to Boston. Will another week give you enough time?”
“Yes, another week will work for me. I’ll be back in the office mid-next week.”
“Perfect.”
“Thanks, Diane.”
Diane ended the call. She stood and stared at her phone. What just happened? Had Diane complimented her? And offered her the partnership? It was everything she’d been working for, everything she wanted.
She couldn’t wait to go tell Aunt Lil, and Robin, and Charlotte… and Noah. She frowned. Noah would be happy for her, she was sure of that.
But taking the partnership would mean lots of long hours and limited time to come back to Belle Island to visit. Though she swore she would make it a priority. No long stretches of time without coming back to visit Aunt Lil.
And would she be visiting Noah? And as what? A friend?
How did getting this promotion—that she’d been working toward for years—make her life so complicated now?
Oh snap, in the excitement she hadn’t even told Diane that Windsor had loved her idea. She’d have to email her.
After she went to tell her good news.
Noah walked Cooper on the beach, disappointed they didn’t run into Sara this morning. “Sorry, Coop. Looks like our friend isn’t out walking today.”
Cooper looked up at him with his wise eyes.
“I know, I know. I said friend. And she’s becoming something… more.”
Cooper cocked his head to one side and Noah could swear the dog understood every word.
“Okay, okay. I care about her. I care about her a lot.” He turned and looked out at the sea. “A whole lot.”
He ruffled the fur on the back of Cooper’s neck. The dog stared at him as if asking what he was going to do about it.
Noah laughed. “Okay, you win. I’m going to go over to talk to her this evening. Tell her how I feel. I’m going to tell her I’m falling in love with her. Again.”
Cooper barke
d.
Noah reached down and picked up a shell. “A wish would be good about now, huh, Coop?”
The dog barked again.
Noah looked out at the sea, then squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “I wish that Sara feels the same way about me.” He opened his eyes and threw the shell out into the water.
“Let’s see how well the lighthouse legend is going to work for us this time, Coop.”
He and Cooper headed back down the beach while his mind rushed through trying to find the right words to tell Sara how he felt about her.
Sara threw her arms out and whirled around when she entered the kitchen and found Robin, Charlotte, Aunt Lil, and Jay sipping on coffee.
“Guess what?” She whirled again.
“Haven’t seen you do that since you were a young girl. So what’s the news?” Aunt Lil looked up from where she was resting on a chair.
“I got the promotion. They offered me partner.”
Robin smiled. “Well, that’s good news.” But her voice didn’t sound that enthusiastic.
“That’s nice, dear. I know you really worked hard for it.” But Sara didn’t miss the hint of sadness in Aunt Lil’s eyes.
“Char?” She turned to her friend.
“That’s great. Really it is. It’s just… Robin and I were talking, and we’ve just decided to find a place to live here. Together. I’m going to let my apartment go in California. I mean, I can paint anywhere, right? I can still fly back if I do get a gallery showing there. I just… missed the island.” She shrugged. “I was kind of hoping that you would get fired and stay here with us. The three of us together again.”
“Really, you wanted me to get fired?”
Charlotte sighed. “No, I guess not. But selfishly I wanted you to stay here with us.”
“You two girls stay in the yellow cottage as long as you want. You wouldn’t let me pay you for all the work you’ve done, so it’s the least I can do. And don’t argue with me.” Aunt Lil eyed Robin. “Especially you. You won’t win this time.”
Robin laughed. “Okay, okay. But I’m sure I’ll find a job soon and we’ll look for an apartment or small house to rent.”
“You’re not working at Marvin’s Sporting Goods?”
“No, Marvin sold it and it’s closing. The buyer is combining it with another shop on the mainland.”
“Perfect.” Aunt Lil grabbed the edge of the counter and got to her feet. “How would you like to come work at the inn? I need someone to set up the software, help with the books, help with managing the staff. You’ve been wonderful with all you’ve done. I’ve been wanting to hire a manager. How about it?”
“I… yes.” Robin rushed over and hugged Lil. “I’d love to work for you. You know how much I love this inn.”
Sara glanced over at Jay and saw he had a big smile on his face. He turned away and nonchalantly stirred a pot on the stove when he caught her staring at him.
Sara looked around the room. Everyone’s life was falling into place. All the people she loved were right here. They would all be here on the island.
And she’d be across the country, miles away.
Everyone she cared about would be here…
Chapter 28
Noah looked up from his desk at the community center and smiled when he saw Sara standing there. Maybe his thoughts of needing to talk to her had pulled her here to see him.
He jumped up, walked around the desk, and pressed a quick kiss on her cheek. “This is a nice surprise. What brings you here?”
“I have news.”
“What kind of news?” He had news to tell her too. How he felt. But he’d let her go first. He took her hand, led her over to two chairs, and they sat across from each other, knees touching. He took both her hands in his.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with excitement. “I… I got the partnership.”
He automatically plastered a smile on his face, because he knew that was the right reaction, even though he didn’t feel it. Oh, he was happy for her. She’d worked long and hard for this promotion. But it meant she was leaving the island. Leaving him. He resolutely widened the smile and squeezed her hands. “Well, that is good news. Congratulations.”
“I thought for sure I’d lost it after I missed that deadline and took all this vacation… but Diane complimented me.”
“Really? That’s a rarity.”
“I know.” Sara jumped up. “I can’t believe I finally, finally got offered partner.”
He kept the smile frozen on his face. “It’s well deserved.”
“I feel like I’ve been working almost my whole adult life just for this. And I finally achieved my goal.”
“I hope it makes you very happy, Sara, I do.” He stood and walked around behind his desk, needing a bit of distance, needing to think before he spoke the wrong words. Thankful he hadn’t blurted out his feelings to her, because she needed nothing standing in her way. He wouldn’t stand in her way. She could take the promotion, move back to Boston, and just remember their brief time together again with fond memories.
“That’s great news. Great.” He sat down at his desk. “I… I should get back to work.”
“Will I see you later?” Her eyes questioned him.
“Sure. Probably. I have a thing tonight that might keep me tied up.” The only thing he had on his schedule tonight was to go over and tell Sara how he felt about her. But his timing was lousy. No way he could tell her now. She’d gotten her dream job, and he wasn’t going to stand in her way or complicate her decision.
“Okay, I’ll go then. Just wanted to share the news.”
He didn’t miss the slight hurt that lingered around her eyes. But it was better this way. It was. She disappeared out of his office and he leaned back in his chair, sadness swirling around him. All his excitement from this morning, when he’d finally sorted out his feelings for her and admitted he cared about her dwindled away in the sadness.
His phone rang, and he almost ignored it, but he sighed and answered it.
“Noah, this is Victor from Sunshine Communities. Listen, we’ve talked it over and we’d like to offer you the position. We’ll beat your salary you have now by a third. And our benefits are top-notch. Do you think you’re interested in the position?”
“I’ll take it.” He said the words quickly, automatically, before he could think it through. That’s just what he needed. A change. A new job. He’d be closer to Zoe, and she seemed to want that.
“That’s excellent. We’ll send you the employment papers to sign.”
He clicked off his phone and looked around his office. Just like that, he’d made a leap. A change.
He was going to leave Belle Island.
He called Zoe and left a voice message telling her the good news…
Sara returned to The Nest early that evening to find Aunt Lil sitting out on the deck, sipping a glass of wine.
“Grab a glass, come join me.”
She grabbed a glass and came back to sit. Aunt Lil poured her a drink. “I’m going to miss having you here. Even if you do hover over me too much.” Lil smiled.
“I’m going to miss being here.”
“You don’t have to go, you know. You’re always welcome here.” A smile teased the corners of Aunt Lil’s lips. “If you don’t hover.”
“But I got the promotion.”
“You did.” Aunt Lil nodded.
“It’s what I’ve always wanted. I’ve worked toward it for years.”
“Yes. And are you sure that’s what will make you happy now?”
“I…” She let out a long breath. “I’m not sure. I’ve loved being back on the island. I love spending time with you and Robin and Charlotte.”
“And Noah?” Aunt Lil looked over the top of her glasses, pinning her with a stare.
“Yes, now there’s Noah.”
“And you care about him. He cares about you too, you know. I can see it plain as day on his face. The man is smitten with you whether he knows it or not.”
/>
“You think so?” He hadn’t said a word about his feelings and she had no clue how he felt. How deep his feelings might be. Or even if he had feelings for her anymore. Maybe this was just a brief encounter. Reliving the past. “He hasn’t said anything.”
“Men are like that sometimes. Slow to realize how they feel and even slower to say something.”
“I couldn’t just stay here because of Noah…”
“Why not? And would it be just because of him? Or have you enjoyed yourself here? Your life in Boston is busy, busy. You rarely take time off. You don’t take vacation. Is that any way to live?” Lil took a sip of her wine. “Sometimes you just need to take a bit of time, sit alone with your thoughts, and enjoy the moment.”
“I’ve done that here the last few weeks. And spent time with Char and Robin. I’ve enjoyed that, too. Talking with them. Laughing with them.” She looked down at the burgundy-colored liquid in her glass and swirled it around. “I’ve had… fun.”
Aunt Lil smiled. “So you just have to choose what kind of life you want. Only you can decide that.”
“I wouldn’t even have a job if I stayed here.”
“You could work here at the inn, or you could open your own agency. You could do anything you want. You’ve got great ideas and are very creative. I’m sure the businesses around here could use help with promotion. And there’s this thing called computers. I’ve heard a person can work from anywhere.” Lil grinned.
“I just don’t know…”
“Only you can figure that out.”
Sara put her glass down. “You know, I think I might go take a walk. Think for a bit.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Sara wound her way down the ramp and out onto the cooling sand. With a brief wave to Aunt Lil, she turned and headed toward the lighthouse.
Lil watched Sara walk down the beach. Oh, to be young and foolish again. Because her niece was being foolish. She had a chance at real happiness.
Lil was certain that real happiness for Sara wasn’t going to be found at a job in Boston with endless hours and nothing much else in her life.
