“I’ll meet you there,” Samantha said. “If Gabi and Wade haven’t turned up to take over with the baby, I’ll call to postpone.”
“They’ll be here,” Sam predicted. “I’m surprised Gabi hasn’t called a dozen times already to check on her.”
“She has,” Samantha told him, laughing. “Grandmother fielded the first half dozen, Ethan took a couple and I spoke to her at least twice before I told her I wasn’t answering the phone again.”
Sophia laughed. “I remember that stage. We all survive it. I’ll have to tell her that.”
“Please do,” Samantha said, turning for the stairs. “Good night,” she called back softly, but when she glanced their way, she noted they were gazing at each other in a way that suggested no one else mattered.
What, she wondered, was in this ocean air? The most unexpected love stories seemed to be unfolding all around.
21
As anticipated, Gabi and Wade arrived at Cora Jane’s just as Samantha was getting the baby fed.
“Some honeymoon,” Samantha commented when they walked into the kitchen.
“We’ll take a proper honeymoon later,” Gabi said, already reaching for the baby.
“When Daniella is in college, I imagine,” Wade commented, though his own gaze was on the baby, too.
“You do realize if this protective phase doesn’t wear off, your child is going to stage a teenage rebellion the likes of which this family’s never seen,” Samantha told them.
“This little angel?” Gabi said skeptically. “No way.”
“Just remember how you felt when Mom hovered,” Samantha said. “I fielded bitter complaints from you and Emily daily.”
Gabi stared at her and shuddered. “True, but I realize now that she was just making up for Dad being absent,” she said, the defense more automatic than heartfelt.
“It doesn’t change the fact that the hovering made you a little nuts,” Samantha said. “I’m just saying that even babies probably need their space.”
“Wait till you have one, then tell me that,” Gabi countered.
Samantha laughed. “Okay, you’ve got me there. I’ll probably be worse than you’ve even dreamed of being.”
“What’s on your agenda for today?” Gabi asked. “Do you have plans with Ethan?”
“No, but I am supposed to meet Dad and Sophia over at that property he owns to see if I could convert it into a theater. Dad was going to arrange for Tommy to meet us there.”
Wade’s eyes lit up at the mention of a renovation. Though he was making more money these days with his wood carvings that were shown in their new gallery, he still loved doing restorations and custom cabinetry. “What time?” he asked.
“Ten o’clock.”
“I’ll come, too,” he offered. “Won’t hurt to have another pair of expert eyes.”
“Great idea,” Gabi enthused. “I was going to take Dani to day care, then stop by the office for a couple of hours. We could all meet later for lunch at Castle’s. I can’t wait to hear what you think about that property. I’m so anxious to know that you’re moving forward and staying right here, Samantha. It’s going to be so great.”
“It will be,” Samantha agreed, finally allowing herself to get totally caught up in all the positives about making this move. “And meeting for lunch sounds like a plan. Wade, are you taking your own car, or do you want to ride over with me?”
“I’d better take my own car,” he said. “We’ll probably be heading in different directions at some point. I might even try to persuade my bride to play hooky from work after lunch.”
“There you go!” Samantha said approvingly. “The honeymoon phase lives on, after all. I’m so relieved.”
She caught the look between her sister and Wade and concluded she was intruding into that phase at this very moment. “I’m off to get dressed,” she said, but no one appeared to be listening. It was getting to be a pattern around here.
* * *
Ethan was relieved to find that he had a jam-packed schedule at the clinic Thursday morning. The afternoon would be taken up with a Project Pride field trip to Corolla to see the wild horses on the beach. With luck, there wouldn’t be a spare second in there for his mind to wander to thoughts of Samantha and that dream wedding she’d described.
As she’d talked, he’d found himself wanting to give her that. He wanted to be the man at her side when the sun slid over the horizon in a brilliant orange glow. He wanted to be the one starting a future with her.
And that had scared him to death. How on earth had he come so far so fast? Was this some kind of crazy Castle spell? Had he forgotten he didn’t believe in love? Had his memories of the pain it could cause faded, after all? He needed to figure all of that out, and he needed time and space to do it.
Not too much time, though. In his heart, he knew he couldn’t leave Samantha in suspense for long. Her own doubts would creep in, and what they’d found could be tainted, maybe even destroyed, if she thought he’d never make the necessary leap into the future she so clearly envisioned.
So, today, he’d have his space. Maybe tomorrow, too. And then he’d know, though how he expected to find certainty amid his own doubts was beyond him.
“You okay?” Pam asked, regarding him worriedly from the doorway to his office.
“Great,” he said, standing up. “Who’s next?”
Pam hesitated, then said, “Before you see your next patient, you probably need to see this. It may come up.” She handed him the local weekly. “Front page.”
He stared at the image of Samantha in his arms at Boone’s bachelor party, that awful cake behind her, then read the caption describing her as a stripper. He muttered a colorful expletive.
“I’ve already had a couple of people call to ask about that,” Pam said. “I thought you should know there could be repercussions. You know how some people are, always eager to spread a little dirt.”
Ethan didn’t want to believe his nurse could possibly be right, but he knew better. And
