Summer turns to the window and allows her words to sink in. “I will try, Caroline. Your children are lucky to have you.”
“Yes, they are,” she says with a laugh. “Now, let's get you outside. There is a big beautiful tree, just in the shade and the fresh air will do you good.” They walk outside slowly, taking care not to move too fast. When Jonah sees her, he lights with joy, and it steals her breath. Victor drops his pole and rushes over to help her sit.
Summer watches as they fuss over her and stares at Caroline with a grin. “I am lucky to be fussed over by the Yates men. Go fish so I can brag over your exploits today.” Jonah giggles and runs off to play with Caroline's children.
“I will fetch you some tea, and lunch.” Caroline walks away, and Victor inspects Summer, staring at her closely.
“How are you feeling?” His concern for her is touching.
“I am sore but mostly groggy. I have a slight headache from the medicine, I think. Caroline insisted that I get up and come out, she was right. Being outside is lovely. Have you caught many fish?”
“No, I’m afraid not, but I did catch a stick,” he says with a laugh.
“Victor, I don’t know how I will ever repay you for the care you have taken with me, but I want you to know I will never forget it.”
“That sounds like goodbye, Summer. You won’t get away from me that easily.” He sits and leans in towards her so she will not mistake his words. “I want you to marry me.”
She leans back in shock and would have jumped up if he didn’t have a hold of her arm. “What? I can’t… Victor, you can’t be serious!”
“I am perfectly serious. I have been where you are, Summer. I lost my wife, fought in a war and watched as my brothers died all around me.” He cups her face, “I know the hell you are going through, but you don’t have to do it alone.”
“Victor…” she starts to say, but he interrupts her.
“Let me finish. After the war, I came home to a newborn son and a dead wife. I had to start over and build a life for us. Life is far too short to play games. I love you, Summer. You don't have to answer me right away. I know you need time to heal, but I want you to think about it.” He leans over kissing her before walking away and leaving her speechless.
Summer gets up slowly, lunch forgotten and returns to her room. “He loves me,” she whispers with a soft smile, as she watches him from the bedroom window. Once she would have jumped at the chance to love a man like Victor, but now… “I don't know…” Summer decides to draw a hot bath to ease the pain in her body if only her mind could be so easily soothed. Caroline returns and finds Summer gone, so she stops to pick up her kids and speak to Victor.
“Mr. Yates, I may be overstepping my bounds here, but I probably won't see you again after this week, so I will say my peace. Your woman has a broken heart. Don't let her stew about it too long, sometimes you have to kick someone in the pants to wake them up. There are stages of grief, and she's getting ready to go through the angry phase. You will have to be patient to handle that, but don't give up on her, behind the anger is always fear. She loves you both, she just won't let herself believe it yet.”
“Thank you, Caroline. I’ve been there, and I have no intention of letting her go.”
“We’re keeping her,” Jonah says from behind Caroline. She laughs and calls her kids over.
“Well, that is one very lucky woman to be kept by the likes of you.”
Victor and Jonah return to their suite to find Summer is resting. They quietly plan a picnic for the next day in the private garden behind the inn. Victor orders a picnic to be ready for lunchtime then bathes Jonah and gets him ready for bed.
Summer wakes to splashing and laughter in the other room. She slowly gets out of the warm bed and brushes out her hair, securing it with a ribbon at her neck. Gingerly walking to the wardrobe, she chooses a hunter green day dress to change into before joining Victor in their sitting room.
He is sitting at the desk working on his design for the theater and Summer stares at it in fascination. A sheen of sweat along her brow tells him how bad her pain is.
“That is beautiful, Victor.” With a grateful sigh, she sinks into a chair by the fireplace.
He walks from the room into hers and back. “You have gone all day with no drops for pain, Summer. Take something to take the edge off.” He asks holding out the bottle.
“Thank you,” she whispers and takes the drops while he warms a cup of soup for her. Summer sips her tea and waits for the warmth of the medicine to ease her pain. “I am feeling better, mostly. Every muscle in my body hurts, but I can stand up straight now, and my hip is turning from purple to green and yellow.”
“That’s… excellent,” he says with a grim smile.
“The doctor and I will speak tomorrow about
