Harmony Island Gazette

17. Juniper

My heart was pounding as Boone stood in front of me, shirtless and sweaty. I’d woken to find him gone. At first, I thought he’d left for good. But when I spotted his green, military-issued bag, relief filled my chest.

I’d had a hard time sleeping last night. My thoughts were full of what had happened the night before and how safe I’d felt in Boone’s presence. It made me realize that this was what I was missing in my life. This was what I was missing in my marriage. I needed a man who made me feel protected.

I awoke, ready to tell Boone that I wanted to file for divorce, but he wasn’t there. Now, he was standing in front of me with a dark, stormy gaze, his chest heaving in and out from his run. His hair was damp and fell across his forehead, and he looked like he’d just run into an old enemy.

“Are you okay?” When Boone didn’t answer, I tried a different question. “Where were you?” Movement by the front window drew my attention over. “Who was that? Do you know him?”

Boone dropped his gaze and shook his head. “Wrong house.”

I parted my lips to inquire more, but Boone tipped his head forward and crossed the living room before I could get the words out. The sound of the bathroom door closing filled the silence.

I kept my gaze on the door, wondering what had just happened. I felt so connected to him last night. And seeing him come in and keep his answers short before making a beeline for the bathroom was strange.

Maybe I had misinterpreted everything last night.

Or maybe he really knew the guy that had parked in my parent’s driveway. I glanced back to the living room window before I went to the front door and pulled it open. I watched as the SUV drove by and got a good view of the driver. He looked about ten years older than me. He had dark hair and glasses perched on his nose. He met my gaze before he drove off.

I watched him until he took a left and disappeared down the next street.

Who was this man, and why did he have such an effect on Boone? My stomach twisted. I didn’t like not knowing what was going on. Kevin always kept things from me. He always left me in the dark, and I hated that. I didn’t think Boone was like Kevin, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Boone had told the truth. Did he really not know this man?

I stepped back into the house and shut the door. I took the last few sips of my herbal tea—I’d done some research on coffee and pregnancy, and decided not to risk it—as I walked into the kitchen. After rinsing my mug and slipping it onto the top rack, I shut the dishwasher and started it.

I was ready for a shower.

I felt better when I stepped out onto my plush bathmat and wrapped a towel around my body. Steam had filled my bathroom, so I leaned forward and swiped my hand across the mirror. I stared at my reflection as reality hit me.

I was divorcing Kevin.

My life was fundamentally going to change. Was I ready for that? I narrowed my eyes as I studied myself.

It scared me. I would be a fool to say that it didn’t. But I knew one thing for sure, I was ready. I was stepping out into the unknown, surrounded by darkness and uncertainty. And even though I feared what my future would look like, I knew it didn’t involve Kevin.

I dried off and dressed. By the time I got back into the bathroom, the steam had dissipated. I worked on doing my hair and makeup. I gave my reflection a once-over before I turned off the light and made my way out of my room and down the hallway.

It smelled like cake batter and maple syrup when I rounded the corner and walked into the kitchen. Boone was standing next to the griddle with a spatula, flipping one of the pancakes in front of him.

“Smells amazing,” I said, my stomach growling so loud I figured he could hear it.

He turned and smiled at me. “Morning.”

I studied him for a moment. He looked calm. His eyes were back to their sky-blue color. His hair was damp, and he was dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans.

“Morning,” I said as I moved further into the kitchen. I had so many questions for him, but I wasn’t sure how to start asking any of them.

He turned his attention back to the griddle. “Did you sleep well?” He flipped another pancake.

I nodded. “I did.”

“No more nausea?” He glanced over his shoulder at me.

“Not really.”

Boone grabbed a nearby plate that had some sausage links on it. He added a few pancakes before handing the plate to me. “No eggs,” he said, his lips tipping up into a smile.

The sight of the egg yolk and whites from last night flashed in my mind, and I felt my stomach tighten from the memory. I swallowed the saliva that flooded my mouth as I took the fork he’d extended to me and hurried over to the table. Food seemed to appease my nausea more than anything.

After slathering my pancakes with butter and syrup, I dove in. When the food touched my tongue, I let out a soft moan. This was delicious.

“Good?” Boone asked.

I turned to see him watching me, but my mouth was full, so all I could do was nod.

He smiled. “Good.”

He finished off the batter and dropped the bowl in the sink. He put together a second plate of pancakes before he joined me at the table with his plate and a mug of coffee. We ate in silence until my curiosity got the better of me.

“You were up early,” I said as I cut off another chunk of pancake with the edge of my fork.

He glanced up at me and nodded. “I needed a run.”

“I figured.” This man was determined to remain cryptic to me. “The trails here in Harmony are amazing. Did you run along the shoreline?”

Boone paused before he glanced over at me. “Something like that.”

This conversation was going nowhere. Not with Boone giving me three-word sentences. I wanted to push, but he was making it clear that he wasn’t really interested in telling me where he’d been. So, I decided to shift topics. Boone already knew about the baby; he might as well be the first to find out about my marriage to Kevin.

“I think I’m ready.” The sentence came out as a whisper. My chest squeezed with fear from just speaking the words, but I needed to be stronger than the fear. I needed someone to know what I wanted before I chickened out.

“You’re ready?” he asked, turning his attention to me.

I nodded. “I’m ready. I’m ready to divorce Kevin.” I was staring at the wood tabletop in front of me before I slowly raised my gaze to meet his. “My marriage is over.”

Boone was quiet for a moment as he studied me. Then he nodded. “Okay.”

I dropped my gaze back to the table and pushed around some crumbs with the tips of my fingers. “Do you think…you can help me?” I peeked up at him to see he was watching me.

He must have sensed my gaze, because a moment later, he raised his to meet mine. I felt like he was searching my gaze, and then relief filled my chest when he started to nod.

“Of course. I’d be happy to help.”

I reached forward and laid my hand on his. I felt him freeze as he stared down at our hands before he glanced up at me.

“Thanks,” I whispered, my throat tightening from emotion.

Boone had really gone above and beyond with his promise to Dad. He’d been present for this fundamental shift in the trajectory of my life. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when he decided that he was finished with Harmony, and I wasn’t sure I wanted him to go.

He was the most constant thing in my changing life, and even though I’d only known him for a short time, he felt so foundational that I knew when he left, I was going to feel it.

And I wasn’t ready for it.

We kept our conversation light for the rest of breakfast. Then we worked together to clean the kitchen and we drove to the store. He made me laugh as he recounted his time in the military as we readied the store. He took to the back as I prepped the register.

When the time came, I unlocked the sliding door and returned to the checkout lane. By midday, the store was bustling with people. I had a steady stream of customers but never really got backed up enough to have to call Boone to help.

It was eleven thirty when I saw a man about my age approach the register. He looked like a man on a mission as he caught my gaze and smiled.

“Hi,” he said as he stood a few feet away from me, grasping his hands as he leaned forward.

I handed Mrs. Parkes her receipt. She thanked me and headed toward the sliding doors. I had no more customers, so I turned my attention to him. “Hello, how can I help you?” I asked, confused as to why he’d started his grocery shopping experience with talking to me.

“I’m looking for Boone Lewis, and I was told he works here.”

I frowned.

The man seemed to pick up on my reaction. “Does he work here?”

“Um…who are you?”

He shook his head like he’d just realized he made a mistake. “So sorry, I’m Asher Wolfe. I’m a new realtor on the island.” He extended his hand.

I studied it before I took it. “Juniper Godwin.” I pulled my hand back. “What does a realtor want with Boone?”

“So, he works here?”

Crap. Well, I’d already given up the game. But I wasn’t just going to send this man back to Boone without sussing out who he was first. If he wasn’t good for Boone, I was going to send him on his way.

“He works here, but I don’t let anyone harass my employees.” I stood straighter as I studied him.

Asher widened his eyes and held up his hands. “I’m not harassing him at all. I just wanted to run something by him.”

I frowned.

“It’s completely innocent, I promise.” A silence fell between us. Asher must have realized that I wasn’t going to give up his location, so he moved to pull his phone from his pocket. “I have a reference if you want. Ella Calipso. Do you know her? She’s a journalist here on Harmony.”

Ella.“You know Ella?”

He nodded. “You know Ella?”

“I’ve met her.”

He laughed. “Then you know if I’m friends with her, then I can’t be bad, right?”

I didn’t know that, but if he knew Ella, then there was a certain level of trust I could give him. And maybe this was all innocent, and I was making a big deal out of nothing. I sighed before I narrowed my eyes and then nodded my head toward the back of the store. “Last I saw, he was stocking the ice cream freezers.”

Asher flicked his gaze in the direction I’d indicated before he nodded. “Wonderful.” He didn’t acknowledge me again as he passed by in front of me and headed toward the freezers.

I sat at the register, stewing over what had just happened. What did a realtor want with Boone? I chewed on my thumbnail as my mind swirled with questions.

Had I done the wrong thing, sending that man to look for Boone?

Unable to stand at the register any longer, I picked up the phone and pressed four to ring the bakery. Kate answered after two rings.

“Hey, Juniper.”

“Kate, can you do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

As soon as Kate got to the register, I told her I’d be right back and headed to find Boone and Asher. I found them tucked in the back corner, with Asher talking and Boone listening. Thankfully, neither man noticed me as I approached.

“…I understand, but this is a solid offer on your mother’s house that is struggling.”

Boone was staring at the cooler in front of him. I could tell that he was listening, but from this body language, he wasn’t happy with what was being said. Guilt washed over me. I should have sent Asher packing, especially if this was about Boone’s mom.

“I don’t mean to push you, but Collin is looking for an answer soon.” Just as Asher finished speaking, his gaze flicked over to me.

That seemed to get Boone’s attention, because a moment later, he looked as well. Now that I was found out, I quickened my pace. “You found Boone,” I said as I stepped up to the two men.

Asher’s smile was back, and Boone’s expression was stone. Was he mad at me? “I did.” Asher clapped Boone on the shoulder. Boone’s entire body tensed, but Asher didn’t seem to notice. “I appreciate you listening to me,” he said as he stepped around Boone. “And I’ll get out of your hair to let you think.”

He flashed me a smile as he passed by and headed to the front of store. I was left standing next to Boone. I peeked up at him, worried that I’d created a wedge between us. He was determined to protect me. Shouldn’t I have done the same?

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea what he wanted when he asked for you.” I stepped closer to Boone. “I thought it was innocent. I didn’t think it was about your mom…” My voice trailed off as Boone turned his body away from me and back to the cooler that he must have been stocking.

“It’s fine. I’m not upset,” he said as he pulled open the door and a blast of cold air surrounded us.

“I know, but I should have vetted?—”

“I found a lawyer,” Boone interrupted.

I stopped and stared at him. “You did?”

He nodded before removing a torn paper from his back pocket. “His name is David Phillips. His firm is in Powta, and he can see you Friday.” I held out my hand, and he pressed the paper into my palm. “I told him noon would work.” His gaze drifted to mine as he held my hand with his. “I’ll cover for you while you go.”

My gaze lingered on our hands before it slowly made its way to meet his. My heart was pounding as electricity zapped throughout my body. I never wanted him to let me go. I felt safe and secure when he was around, and I wasn’t ready to lose that.

“Thanks,” I whispered as I studied his gaze. Did he know what he was doing to me? That I wasn’t going to ever be satisfied with another man again? Boone had shown me what it was like to be cherished. And I feared I would never be able to find that with anyone else.

He held my gaze. “Of course,” he said. His gaze intensified like he wanted me to know something, but I was too scared to allow myself to guess what that was.

I wanted to stand next to Boone forever, but I knew I needed to get back to relieve Kate. So, I forced my feet to move, and I eventually got back to the registers. Kate asked me if I was okay, and all I could do was nod. She looked confused but hurried back to the bakery without asking more questions.

I leaned against the stool, my mind swirling with thoughts of Boone. Those thoughts made me more convinced that divorcing Kevin was the right move. I hoped we could move through the courts quickly. And when I was finally free…

I hoped that Boone would still be here.

My phone buzzed, drawing my attention over to the screen. Kevin had texted me.

I picked up my phone to see that he’d sent an invitation for lunch tomorrow with a location and time. My resolve to end our marriage grew stronger, so I pressed on the message bar and typed back.

Me:I’ll be there.