Season for Love (13 page)

“I really am.”

“When?”

“As soon as we can.”

“What do you think about a Christmas wedding?”

“Oh,” she said, “I like that. I could use some new memories of Christmas. That’s a tough time of year since the accident.”

“We don’t have to do it then if you’d rather not.”

“No, I think it would be perfect.”

“So it’s a date?” he asked.

She kissed him. “It’s a date.”

Chapter 9

More than an hour after she’d intended to leave the house, Sydney was on her way to the Southeast lighthouse. As she navigated the winding island roads, she was glad she’d decided to bring her golden retriever, Buddy, with her. He was always good for breaking the ice, as few people could resist his overwhelming friendliness. She hoped Jenny liked dogs.
 

“How could anyone not love you?” she asked Buddy.

He took advantage of the invitation to nuzzle her outstretched hand. His coat was silky soft from the bath she’d given him the day before. Buddy was the only dog she’d ever known who actually enjoyed a bath. Any excuse to play with water.
 

Speaking of playing with water, her face burned when she remembered the shower she’d taken with Luke. He’d pressed her against the wall and made love to her again. His appetite for her was boundless, which was thrilling and exciting and overwhelming. She kept thinking that surely they would settle into a more typical relationship when the first blush of passion dimmed, but there was no sign of anything dimming between them. If anything, it got hotter and more intense all the time.
 

Syd drove around a curve and slowed when she saw a woman walking in the road. She wore a backpack, and her shoulders were hunched, which was why Syd didn’t immediately spot the telltale spiky red hair. She pulled up next to Stephanie. “What’re you doing out here?”

Stephanie turned to her, and Syd was shocked to see that her friend’s face was puffy and her eyes were red from crying. She gave Buddy a nudge to move him to the backseat. “Get in,” she said to Stephanie. “I’ll give you a lift.”

“That’s okay. I don’t mind walking.”

“Come on, Steph. You’re clearly upset. Let me give you a ride.”

Stephanie yanked the door open and got in, shutting the door with a slam.
 

“What’s wrong?”

“What
isn’t
wrong?”

“Did you and Grant have a fight?”

Stephanie released a harsh laugh. “We had
another
fight. All we do is fight. I can’t take it anymore.”

“Is it because of the screenplay?”

“For one thing. Everything is a battle. I grew up in chaos. I can’t live like that anymore.”

A car pulled up behind them and beeped for them to move along.

Sydney glanced in the rearview mirror before she accelerated. “Where’re you headed?”

“To Charlie’s.”

“I’ll take you,” Syd said.

“You really don’t have to. I don’t mind walking.”

“It’s fine. I was heading out that way anyhow. Going to see Jenny.”

“Oh.” Stephanie stared out the window for a long time. “Here I am running away from my guy when she’d give anything for one more day with hers. Makes me feel kinda stupid.”

“You’re not stupid to take a breather if things aren’t going the way you want them to.”

“It’s starting to register with me,” Stephanie said slowly, “that there’s a good possibility this thing with Grant isn’t going to work out after all.” As she said the words, she swiped at the tears that spilled down her cheeks.

“I don’t think that’s true,” Sydney said. “I’ve seen you two together. He’s wild about you. That’s obvious to everyone.”

“Maybe so, but what good is it if we drive each other crazy—and not in a good way?”

“There’re bound to be bumps in any relationship. That’s to be expected.”

“Have you had bumps with Luke?”

“Sure we have. He was a terrible patient after he hurt his ankle—cranky as hell until I finally told him to knock it off or find a new nurse.”

“Was he better after that?”

“Much. I’m lucky that he usually gets it the first time.”

“You are lucky. Grant loves to beat the dead horse until it’s a bloody pulp. The problem is, we both dig in and neither of us is willing to give an inch.”

“Maybe writing the screenplay together wasn’t the best idea.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re right about that.”

“Talk to him. Work it out. You guys have a really great thing, Stephanie. Don’t let this come between you.”
 

“That’s the turn.”
 

Sydney drove onto the dirt road that led to Charlie’s place.

Charlie was in the yard, splitting wood. He looked up with surprise when Stephanie waved to him from the car.

“Thanks for the lift, Syd.”

Sydney leaned over to give Stephanie a hug. “Hang in there. I know you guys can work this out if you remember first and foremost that you love him.”

Stephanie bit her lip as if trying to hold back more tears. “Don’t say anything about it to anyone, okay?”

“My lips are sealed.”
 

Stephanie nodded and got out of the car.

Syd watched her walk over to her stepfather and exchange a few words before she went into the house. He followed her. Satisfied that Stephanie was in good hands, Sydney continued on her way, reaching the lighthouse a few minutes later.

When she let Buddy out of the car, he bounded off ahead of her, romping his way across the open meadow that led to the red-and-white lighthouse. Sydney glanced up at the whirling beacon that alerted boaters to the island’s craggy southern shoreline and was mesmerized until a whip of wind grabbed her hair and sent it flying. She secured it with the hair tie she wore like a bracelet.

“Well, here goes nothing,” she whispered into the wind as she followed Buddy’s barking around the base of the lighthouse to the other side, where she found him being loved on by a petite woman with shoulder-length blonde hair. “Hi, there,” Sydney called. “Sorry to bother you.”

“He’s no bother. What’s his name?”

“Buddy.”

Buddy let out a bark at the sound of his name, making both women laugh.

“He’s adorable.”

Syd held out her hand to the other woman. “I’m Sydney Donovan.”

“Jenny Wilks, the lighthouse keeper.” She had friendly brown eyes, and her face was pink from the autumn chill. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” Sydney took a long look up at the lighthouse and then back at Jenny. “What exactly is involved in keeping a lighthouse?”

Jenny’s dimpled grin gave her the look of a college co-ed even though Syd knew she was well into her thirties. “Fortunately, not much. Other than recording the weather conditions and some other data for the Coast Guard each day, it’s more or less an honorary position. You want to see the inside?”

“I’d love to, if I’m not putting you out.”

“Not at all. Come on in.”

Sydney whistled for Buddy to come with them and followed Jenny into what she referred to as the mudroom. Since Jenny kicked off her shoes, Sydney did the same and followed the other woman up a wrought-iron spiral staircase to a large, circular room that housed a galley-style kitchen and comfortable-looking sitting area. It had been updated with modern appliances and furniture she would’ve chosen for the space. The kitchen window looked out over the ocean, while the sitting room offered a sweeping view of the island that stretched all the way to the Salt Pond.

“Wow,” Sydney said. “This is amazing! I’ve been driving past this lighthouse all my life and had no idea what was inside. It’s so cozy!”
 

“I love it,” Jenny said as she led Sydney up another flight of stairs to the bedroom and bathroom.

“Do you ever get lonely out here all by yourself?”

Jenny shrugged. “Sometimes, but I’ve been taking the opportunity to indulge in some hobbies I’d let slide.” She gestured to the easel that was set up next to the bathroom window.

“May I?” Syd asked.

“Sure.”

Sydney wandered to the easel for a closer look at the detailed painting Jenny was doing of the island. “This is really good!”

“Do you think so? I’ve been thinking it’s total crap.”

Sydney laughed. “I know that feeling. I’ve ventured into interior design in the last couple months. It’s been a hobby up to now, and I’m finding it’s a much different experience to create drawings of what a finished room might look like than it is to dabble with pillow placement.”

“That actually sounds like fun.”

“It is, once I get past the ‘it looks like crap’ phase of the process. This,” she said, referring to the painting, “is definitely not crap.”

“Well, that’s good to know. To thank you for your opinion, I can offer you coffee, tea, soda or water. What’s your pleasure?”

“Coffee sounds good. I never got my second cup this morning.” She’d been too busy having mad, crazy shower sex with her fiancé. The word sent a flutter of excitement rippling through her.

“Right this way,” Jenny said, leading Syd to the stairs.

Syd stole a glance at the photo of a smiling, handsome young man that sat on the table next to Jenny’s bed. Sydney assumed he was Toby, the fiancé Jenny had lost on September 11. With Buddy on her heels, she followed Jenny down the stairs to the kitchen. “Are you sure I’m not keeping you?”

“Positive. It’s nice to have the company.”

“There’s a whole town full of people who’d love to meet you, you know,” Syd offered tentatively.

Jenny filled the coffeepot with water and turned to Syd. “Did they send you to find out if I’m antisocial or something?”

“Nothing quite like that. We were hoping you’re doing okay out here all by yourself.”

Jenny leaned back against the counter. “Did you read my letter?”

“Yes.”

Jenny nodded. “So you know my story.”

“Yes, and I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks.”

Sydney swallowed hard and forced herself to say it, to give words to their common bond. “For what it’s worth, I’ve been there myself. My husband and children were killed by a drunk driver almost two years ago.”

“Oh my God,” Jenny said. “God. How do you ever get past that?”

“The same way you’ve gotten past your loss—one day at a time, one foot in front of the other.”

Jenny brought two steaming mugs of coffee along with cream and sugar to the sitting area. “How old were your kids?”

“Seven and five.”

Jenny shook her head with dismay. “I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you. It was a terrible time, and I miss them every day.”

“I know what you mean. Not a day goes by…” Shrugging, she didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to.

“There’re some really amazing people who live here year-round,” Syd said as she stirred cream and sugar into her coffee. “We have a lot of fun. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to introduce you to everyone.”

“As long as you’re not talking about matchmaking, I might be game for that.”

Sydney laughed. “Nothing like that. Most of the guys in our group are spoken for, anyway.”

“And you?” Jenny asked, zeroing in on the ring on Sydney’s left hand. “You’re spoken for, too?”

Sydney felt her face heat with embarrassment. “Officially, as of last night.” She held out the ring so Jenny could get a closer look.

“It’s beautiful. Very unique. Mine had an antique setting, too.”

The note of wistfulness in Jenny’s voice had Syd regretting that she’d been so quick to show off her ring.

“Now, don’t do that,” Jenny said in a chastising tone.

“Do what?” Sydney asked, startled.

“Feel bad about showing off your ring. Naturally, you’re very excited. I’m happy for you. After what you’ve been through, you certainly deserve it.”

“Thank you. That’s sweet of you to say.”

“So who’s the lucky guy?”

“Believe it or not, my high school boyfriend, Luke Harris. He was good enough to forgive me for leaving him for another man when I was in college. We reconnected earlier this summer, and now I can’t imagine life without him.”

“Does it feel weird to be in love again? I think about that sometimes… What it might be like. Would I feel disloyal to Toby? That kind of thing.”

“It feels wonderful to be in love again, but I know what you mean about feeling disloyal. I went through that when Luke and I were first together—especially the physical part. I thought a lot about Seth, my husband, and what he would want for me. I like to think he would’ve wanted me to be happy, you know?”

Jenny nodded. “Toby would want that, too. I suspect he’d be appalled to know I’m still stuck in first gear. Even since I’ve been here. . . I have no idea how to move forward. Toby would probably give me a swift kick in the ass,” she said with a laugh. “He wasn’t one for sitting around feeling sorry for himself.”