Aggie nodded her head and sighed. “So romantic. I never thought he had it in him.”
“He was always romantic as a teenager.” From the wildflowers he picked her down to the poems he wrote and read to her under the light of the moon had proven that.
Aggie held up her hand, index finger pointing. “Not lately he hasn’t. He’s been very different since he came back and brought the medical practice. Almost clinical in everything he’s done. Like buying the house and renovating it as if he had an agenda he had to stick to. A strange kind of game plan only he could see.” Aggie paused and looked out over the darkening skyline. “I was a little bit worried to tell you the truth about how focused he actually was. Dad suggested he might like to move in there and have his own space but no. He keeps coming up with excuses. The painters aren’t finished, or the plumbing isn’t right. He hasn’t brought any furniture which is a lie. He has plenty in storage. It went on and on.” She shrugged. “It was like he was waiting for the right person to move in with.”
April’s cheeks heated up. “Oh, please. You’re being dramatic. He’s just focused.”
“Nope, disagree. Whenever he brought a date home it was like he was checking her out and seeing if she made the grade. You know, like five points if we liked her, five points if she fitted into island life, ten points if she could stand being a doctor’s wife. I could almost see him ticking off the boxes in his mind. Nobody lasted for long and now we know why.”
An uncomfortable lump formed in April’s throat.
“You still like him, don’t you?” Aggie sat forward, her eyes bright with interest. “Come on, you can tell me. Since when have we had secrets?”
“Of course I still like him. Too much if I’m being honest. And why wouldn’t I? Even though I married Rob, it didn’t stop me thinking of Drew and that should have told me something, but stubborn as I was, I didn’t listen to my inner voice. Look at how well that turned out.”
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
There was nothing she could do but stick to the plan. Raise her children and make a life for them on the island. “Nothing. I’m not the same person, Aggie. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, things I don’t think Drew would think kindly of if he knew. Besides, I have the children. It’s better if we leave things as they are.”
“Why don’t you give him the chance to tell you himself? My brother isn’t cruel, you know that. And he’s told you he wants you, April. Drew wants you and the children. Who wouldn’t love my godchildren? He’d be a great father to them.”
“Moving way too fast for me.” She wasn’t prepared to tell Aggie the real reason behind her reluctance, not yet.
“At least think about it and keep it in mind. Nobody says you have to agree now. Give yourself time to consider what he said and you may come around to the idea. You’re too young to be on your own, and you two always looked good together.”
“You can speak. Look at yourself. You spend almost every night baking bread instead of having a life. Not what I thought you’d do.”
Aggie punched a pillow and threw it into the opposite corner of her chair. “I enjoy my life, thank you very much. Best thing I did, coming home and buying the bakery.” She stood up and straightened her white shirt. “Speaking of which, I’d better head off and start work or there won’t be any bread in the morning.”
April got up and walked her to the door. “I worry about you too, you know. Both of us have no romance in our lives. Not the way to live up to our potential.”
“Ah yes, but you’ve had the offer and I have my business to focus on.”
“Are you telling me that no one has ever offered you the same thing?”
Aggie pursed her lips, swallowed, and looked out over the darkened harbor where the lights twinkled over the moorings. “Right, off to work. Be good and give Drew’s words some thought. I know he still loves you.” She leaned over, kissed April on the cheek and hurried down the road to where her car was parked outside the family home.
The lights were still on in the big house and if April leaned over her porch, she could see movement in the living room. Someone paced up and down by the big picture window casting a shadow over the pavement.
* * *
Had he made a fool of himself offering April his heart so easily? Somehow it felt like it and it did nothing but make him feel like a love sick fool.
“Drew honey, sit down. You’re giving me a headache pacing back and forth like that.” Gigi put her reading glasses on and picked up the magazine she’d been flicking through earlier. “If you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
He stood staring out at the tail lights of his sister’s car as she headed off to work. “Nothing to talk about.”
“Great. So everything must be going along fine then. Glad you’re happy. I must say, you do hide it rather well with that scowl on your face. Almost had me convinced otherwise.”
He gave her a withering look. “You are not amusing.”
“Really?” She took off her glasses and waved them in front of her. “I thought I was being deadly serious.”
“I tried, Gigi. You said she needed a friend and I tried.”
“The way she ran out of the house earlier, Drew, I think you may have tried a little too hard.”
He ran his hand over his face, sighed. “I didn’t mean to come on so strong. I was going to ease her into dating again, but I got carried away. I scared her off.”
“I doubt
