She was completely capable of love and here was proof. She loved her sister, Cody, her nieces and Silas.
Why was she so convinced that she couldn’t be successful at romantic love?
Nate was a wonderful man. While some part of her might think he deserved someone better, someone more like Rachel, he had chosen her. She would be stupid to walk away from a man like him.
They would face challenges. She traveled most of the time and didn’t know how to change that. Still, she could spend her off time in Cape Sanctuary with people she loved and there was always video calling, texts and phone calls.
“I have to go.”
Rachel’s features fell. “Really? I thought...” She seemed to catch herself. “I understand. Do what you have to do. Safe travels, honey.”
She shook her head. “No. I have to go back to Whitaker House and see if Nate has changed his mind or if he’s still willing to give me a chance.”
Her sister gave a short laugh of relief and hugged her hard. “Good luck,” she said. “But I don’t think you’re going to need it. Nate’s no fool.”
Jess could only hope her sister was right.
39
Nate
“What’s bothering you, darling?”
Nate turned away from the view of the endless sea out the window of his mother’s room toward the bed where Eleanor and Sophie were playing cards.
“Nothing,” he lied. “I just have a lot on my mind right now.”
“I understand.”
“I can tell you what’s bothering me, if anybody wants to know,” Sophie said. “I miss Jess.”
“She’s been gone for less than an hour,” Eleanor said with a small laugh. “But I know what you mean.”
“I wish she could have stayed longer. I want to show her the postcards I get from Japan when they come.”
“You can always call her, darling. I know she’ll be glad to hear from you.”
“I guess. It won’t be the same as having her here.”
He couldn’t do this, stay and listen to his mother and daughter talk about missing Jess. They couldn’t have any idea that he was standing here feeling like his heart had been ripped out of his chest.
How would he go on without her?
The world suddenly seemed as bleak and gray as a January afternoon.
“I think I’ll go take the dogs on a quick walk down to the cove,” he said, seizing on any excuse to escape.
“That’s a good idea,” Eleanor said. “If you want to go, Sophie, I’ll be all right by myself. You two don’t need to babysit me all day.”
Sophie shrugged. “I’m okay. I want to see if I can finally beat you.”
He whistled to the dogs, cuddled together on the floor next to the bed. They both jumped up and eagerly followed him to the door.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he said.
“Take your time. We’re fine,” Eleanor said.
He hooked the dogs’ leashes on, wishing he could throw on his wet suit and grab his board for a little wave therapy.
He didn’t want to take that much time away from Eleanor. Despite her claims that she was fine, she had only been out of the hospital less than twenty-four hours.
He would have to be content with a walk for now.
He headed outside and had only made it a few steps when a vehicle suddenly pulled into the driveway.
A baby blue pickup pulling a vintage Airstream.
He stared, frozen in place as he watched Jess expertly back into the very same spot where she had parked for the past two weeks, overlooking the path to the sea.
She climbed out and reached into the back of her pickup for chocks, which she put behind the wheels.
That was when he finally released the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding and took a step toward her, gripping the dogs’ leashes hard as wild, fierce hope began coursing through him.
His heart beat hard as he crossed the space between the house and her trailer, where she had started the process of removing the ball hitch and sway bars from her pickup.
She stopped working the electric jack long enough to give him a quick, unreadable look before she continued on with what she was doing.
“Jess. What’s going on? Did you leave something?”
She reached down to unpin the emergency brake and the chains from the trailer.
“In a manner of speaking.”
“What did you forget?” he asked.
She didn’t answer for several seconds as she continued the process of unhitching the trailer.
Finally it was free of the ball hitch and she rose to face him.
“My heart,” she finally muttered. “I know, it sounds corny. But it’s true.”
She looked so uncomfortable that he fell in love with her all over again.
“I’m not ready to leave. I...would like to stay and was wondering if you and Eleanor would mind if I, um, park my trailer here for a few more days.”
“You can park your trailer here whenever you want and for however long you can spare,” he said. “You’ll always have a spot right there.”
She met his gaze and only then did she smile. It was bright, radiant, full of promise.
“Thank you.”
“Can I pull your truck out of the way?”
“I’ve got it.”
She would always do things her own way, his Jess with the fierce streak of independence. That was fine with him. He wasn’t threatened by a woman who could take care of herself. How could he be? He had been raised by Eleanor.
She climbed in and pulled the truck forward. When she turned off the engine and went to climb out again, he stood in the way so she had no choice but to fall into his arms.
“I see what you did there,” she said.
He laughed, all the sad restlessness and uncertainty of the past hour floating away on the sea breeze.
She threw her arms around him and kissed him so hard, he fell against the pickup door.
“You know those feelings you were talking about?” she finally said when they both came up for air sometime later.
“You mean when I said I was falling in love with you? Those feelings?”
She nodded, looking uncomfortable. “I’m not very good at this but, um, there is a very good chance that I’m falling in love with you, too.”