“Houdini. No. You didn’t.”
“Don’t be too hard on him. He didn’t mean to. I think he was chasing something in his dreams and I scared him.”
“Oh, right. I should’ve warned you. When Houdini’s dreaming, you have to call out for him to wake up and not get too close. Mr. Mannie says he has PTPD.”
Trevor’s brows rose. “What’s that?”
“Post-traumatic pet disorder. Mr. Mannie says his old owners were mean to him and he still suffers in his dreams.”
“Well, then don’t be too upset with the little guy.” Despite his wrist lacerations, he scratched under Houdini’s chin.
The ferret blinked at them both and turned his head in that way that tried to look innocent. “Okay, but you need to stay inside until I make sure you can’t get out of the tunnels.”
“I can help you look tomorrow after you introduce me to the people in town,” Trevor offered.
Bri quietly back-stepped out of the garden with two thumbs-up behind Trevor’s back. Julie ignored her and tried to keep her focus on Trevor.
“That’s awfully nice of you, but I’m sure you’re really busy,” Julie said, picking up another tool and looking at it from different directions to see the condition of it.
“No busier than you, I see. Doing some spring cleaning?” Trevor asked.
“Something like that. I’m donating this old junk.” Julie said it and knew it was true, but why was it so hard to get rid of broken old stuff?
“Really?” Trevor lit up, his gaze scanning the area and stopping on something near her feet. “If you don’t mind, can I have some of those zip ties over there?”
She followed his gaze to Joe’s old box of extras. Bits and bobs of nothing important, but she couldn’t give any of it to Trevor. Giving it to a stranger was one thing, but giving it to a friend—a friend who each time he entered the room, her pulse quickened—was wrong. “No. I can’t give that to you.”
“Right. Sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep. I can pick some up tomorrow at the local hardware store. No worries. I’ll see you at eight in the morning.” Trevor rushed from the garden, leaving Julie to face her guilt. The only problem was that she felt more guilt about telling Trevor no than having him in her home. That only made her feel more guilty. She picked up the zip ties and felt the plastic strips between her fingers as if Joe had been holding it moments ago. “Oh, Joe. I don’t know how to do this. Bri’s right, you’d want me to move on. But how do I do that without hurting your memory?”
A hand rested on her shoulder, so Julie swiped her eyes, not wanting Bri to see her cry. Julie needed to be the strong one. She was the mother.
“Oh, Jewels. You could never harm Joe. He adored you from the time we were children.” Wind’s soft, sincere voice soothed Julie. “It’s been three years. You need to let him go.”
“But I can’t forget him. If I do, then he’s really gone.” The dull ache that had settled in her chest a year ago expanded and intensified.
Wind turned her around and cupped her cheeks. “He’s already gone from this life, but he’ll always be in here.” She put her palm to Julie’s chest. “And if I know Julie Boone, she has enough room in her heart for everyone. Hon, you don’t have to forget Joe to feel something for Trevor.”
“I don’t?” Julie trembled. To face caring for another meant she was really letting go of Joe. The man she’d been meant to grow old with. Her homecoming hero. The man she’d married and had a child with at such a young age. “He was gone before I even said goodbye. It was so sudden. Gone before he hit the floor.”
“I know, honey. I know.” Wind pulled Julie into her arms and held her up. The way she had when they were teenagers when Julie had found out she was pregnant. She was right then that Joe loved her and would want to marry her, but was she right now? Did Julie really have enough room in her heart for the man of her past and a man for her future?
Chapter Eleven
Trevor paused at the edge of the road leading to Julie’s shop and house. He’d been up half the night, remembering how she’d reacted to his asking for the zip ties. Apparently she’d wanted to put distance between them. That had to be it. The only explanation he could come up with after tossing and turning all night. The situation had been awkward because of her catching him at the outdoor shower. Yes, that’s why she’d been so weird when he’d returned Houdini to her yesterday. Had she thought he did it on purpose? Some sort of ploy to get her into his bed?
He shook his head, hoping that’s not what she’d thought. He took a deep breath and decided to keep a comfortable distance from her today. Make sure that she knew he wasn’t trying to make her feel uncomfortable. That’s what they were, friends, and he needed to remember that. After all, he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and she wasn’t ready for one. Today, he’d make sure he maintained boundaries and concentrated on all things business. If he was ever going to get the town locals to help spread the word, he was smart enough to know he needed an insider.
At the end of the drive, he straightened his collared shirt and held tight to his small box of cards he’d made last night to distribute to the town. Not that he understood how this would help, but apparently things were done differently in Summer Island.
He knocked on the front door and waited.
“Jewels, your date is here and looking hot as ever!” Wind’s voice came through
