“I wasn’t ready for it either.”
“All I’ve thought about is you. This whole time what made me know I had to change…” He swept a hand through his hair. “I got reckless, Amanda. You are all that kept me from self-destructing. In my heart I knew I couldn’t give up. It was always you and Hailey and Jesse.”
“I’m glad you’re safe, but that doesn’t have anything to do with me. I mean, I’m selfishly happy you’re not in the Marines anymore and are going to do something else now.”
“Amanda, it has everything to do with you.”
She stared at him. Obviously, none of what he said was making sense.
“I never thought about you as anything but my best friend’s wife and my best friend as long as Jack was alive. I loved him like a brother, but, Amanda, you stole my heart the first night I met you. When you leaned in while we were dancing and told me your name, I thought to myself, This woman is special.”
“You’re sweet, but—”
“No, no buts. Jack knew, but we had one priority back then: Marine Corps to the core.”
Her mind reeled, replaying moments from the past. From before she’d married Jack.
“When I came home and you and Jack were a couple, I was torn apart, but he was my best friend. I looked high and low for a woman just like you. Like Jack’s Amanda. There isn’t another Amanda that I could ever find. Everyone I dated I compared to you. But you’re the best, Amanda.”
She laughed, and that hurt his feelings.
How could she think this was funny? But then he recognized the nervousness in her laugh. For Pete’s sake, this is coming out of the blue. Slow down.
He laughed at himself. “I’m sorry. Okay, that was a lot to throw on you, and it sounds crazy and might even be. I’m not here expecting a declaration of love or anything, but I do want to be in your life. I want to be there for you and the kids.” He stopped and took a breath. “Sorry. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Not us. I mean me. I know you need time, but please let me be there for you.”
He sat there baring his soul. “Please give me a chance. We can take it as slow as you need to. Let’s see what happens.”
Her eyes lowered and she bowed her head.
Afraid she was going to say something he didn’t want to hear, he filled the silence. “Amanda, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there are no coincidences. We ended up in the same town. That has to mean something.”
She raised her chin, hope in her eyes, a smile on her lips.
He sighed. “I probably should let you get to bed too.” The last thing he wanted was to rush her or mess it up.
“I am bushed. It was a lot of fun, though.” She stood, chuckling. “Thanks so much, and thanks for not letting me allow that old gossip to get the best of me. You’re right, she always did like to stir the pot.”
“Let’s trust the right things will happen. Enjoy every day and then do it again.”
“That sounds really good.”
He extinguished the fire and rolled up the extension cord to be sure no one would trip on it. “Do you mind if I leave up the tent? I thought it might be nice for y’all to enjoy over the summer.”
“Yeah, I can put a couple of chairs in there. We can stargaze. You always liked that.”
“That would be really nice.” He walked over to the gate.
He could hear her phone ping, just as it should when the gate opened. He turned and she gave him a delighted thumbs-up.
“Sweet dreams,” he said.
Her arresting smile tempted him. She’d be in his tonight. He looked up into the sky.
I love this woman. Please let her be mine…forever.
23
Amanda pulled in front of Maeve’s house. She leaned over to the back seat. “You two, stay put. I’ll just be a minute,” she said to Hailey and Jesse, then got out of the car.
She had been pleasantly surprised by the phone call from Maeve this morning. It was nice to be able to do something for her. She’d been such a sweetheart to Amanda since they’d moved here.
Dressed in a flowing pink sundress, Maeve looked like Mother Earth coming down the stairs.
“You look so pretty,” Amanda said.
“Well, it’s a very special occasion. I can’t wait to meet the two newest residents of Whelk’s Island.”
“It’s so exciting.” Amanda helped Maeve into the car.
The trip to Kimmy and Nate’s house was shorter than she’d anticipated. Apparently, Becky had been expecting them, because she was already on the front porch, waving when they pulled into the driveway.
Maeve jumped out of the car and went up the stairs. She and Becky hugged and celebrated.
Amanda gathered Hailey and Jesse. “Be on your best behavior. Promise?”
“Yes ma’am.” They were eager to see the twins too. The idea of two people who looked exactly the same seemed like magic to them.
“Come on in,” Becky called from the porch. “I have some treats for you two kids.” She nudged Amanda when she reached the top step. “I’m going to practice my grandmother spoiling on your two. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I’m sure they’ll love that.” Amanda watched Hailey and Jesse light up, but her heart sank as she thought about how little time they’d ever spent with her parents. Their own grandmother and grandfather.
Once Amanda was inside, she hung back while Maeve walked over to the chair next to Kimmy and the twins. “Kimmy, you and Amanda will become close friends. You both have that spirit of teaching. Kind souls.”
“Amanda, it is so nice to meet you.” Kimmy, an athletic strawberry-blonde who only favored her mother by way of their jade-green eyes, stage-whispered, “Maeve
