Chapter 4
As Jenna crossed the causeway separating the mainland from Chincoteague Island, the familiar sight of sea and salt marshes
spread out like a welcome mat. The last of the day’s sun sparkled on the sound.
Home.
Peace stirred inside and a warm healing response spread through her limbs, relaxing muscles that held three months of tension.
It wasn’t easy being spurned by half of one’s city. She was relieved to escape Alexandria for the weekend.
She breathed in the present and exhaled the past. Sure, she still had her mom’s situation ahead of her. But she was home.
This was a place where she was known and loved. A place where family and tradition flowed like lifeblood through the community.
She’d come to help her mother, but Jenna needed this island. She hadn’t realized how much until now.
She’d left the island with big dreams. She wanted an education and a career. She wanted to experience new things—things that
couldn’t be found on the small island where she’d grown up.
The scholarship to Georgetown had been her ticket to the future.
Leaving the island—everything and everyone she knew—hadn’t been easy.
It also felt as if she was leaving her dad behind.
And that might’ve been the hardest thing of all.
But she persevered with the knowledge that he would’ve been so proud of her for having the courage to step out on her own.
She eventually made it through four years of college. After that her goal was to build her résumé and eventually open her
own business—once she discovered her passion.
She should’ve known after her internship that the medical world wasn’t her thing. But she’d lost the job suddenly and felt
anxious about being without work. The job at Fleming had been kind of a rebound position.
But then she became involved with Jason, and she’d let the relationship distract her from her goals. Why else would she have
stayed so long in a field that didn’t excite her?
Summer traffic had arrived early on the island, so she took a few shortcuts to reach her mom’s house. Everything along Ridge
Road was the same as when she’d visited in January, except summer had driven away winter’s cold breath.
The sweetgum and sassafras trees were cheerful green, and beach roses and goldenrod brightened the landscape. The smell of
freshly mown grass traveled through her air vents, reminding her of sweaty summers playing football and tag in Tyson’s spacious
backyard.
She spotted the Mitchells’ seashell stand by the side of the road and the Davises’ split-rail fence that she and the Parker
boys used to jump when they accessed the Wallaces’ swimming pool.
And there was her childhood home on the left, its short drive shaded by towering loblolly pines. The butter-yellow Cape Cod
sported blue shutters, a welcoming porch, and a matching detached garage, which was too full of boxed-up memories to house
an actual car.
Seashell bits popped under her tires as she pulled into the drive. Moments later she exited her Camry and drew in a deep breath of sea and salt before she opened the rear door to grab her bag.
The familiar slap of the screen door preceded her mother’s voice. “Jenna! What a nice surprise.”
Jenna hip-checked the car door and watched her petite fifty-three-year-old mom rush toward her. Her fresh Caribbean tan set
off pale blue eyes, and her dishwater-blonde hair gleamed in the waning sunlight. Everyone said Mom was a dead ringer for
Cameron Diaz, and they weren’t wrong.
Alas, Jenna, with her chestnut hair and brown eyes, had taken after her father in appearance. “Didn’t you get my message?
I left a voicemail and texted you.” Jenna’s five-foot-seven-inch frame seemed to swallow her mom as they hugged.
“My phone’s been charging all afternoon, and I’ve been so busy I haven’t thought twice about it. But I’m so happy to see you.
What brings you home?”
“Just thought I’d get away for the weekend. You know.”
Mom pulled back and palmed Jenna’s cheek, her eyes softening. “Oh, honey. Of course. You’ve had such a rough time of it, haven’t
you? You need your home and your mama. I’ll take good care of you this weekend. Some home cooking and TLC is just what the
doctor ordered.”
“You just got home yourself. You must be tired from all that traveling.”
“I’m always ready to take care of my baby girl. And your timing couldn’t be better. There’s someone I want you to—”
“Dee, honey, I can’t seem to figure out your washer.
” At the sight of them, the older man came to a dead stop on the porch.
His headful of gray hair was tousled, but somehow neither that nor his weathered skin detracted from his appearance.
A pair of khaki shorts hung almost to his knees and a navy tee showed off a lean torso. Jenna put him around sixty.
“Gordon, come meet my daughter. She’s staying for the weekend.”
He offered Jenna a friendly smile as he took the porch steps, his blue eyes twinkling. “Well, how wonderful. I’m pleased to
meet you, Jenna. I’ve heard so much about you.”
That made one of them. She offered a smile as they shook hands. “Hi there.”
“I have so much to tell you,” Mom said. “But let’s get out of the heat. I can only offer water since we haven’t made it to
the grocery store yet.”
We?
Jenna’s mind whirled as Mom ushered her into the house. Sure didn’t sound as if the man was only here for a night.
“Let me take your bag.” Before Jenna could protest, Gordon took the bag and headed straight up the stairs like a man already
familiar with the layout. And quite at home.
Mom got Jenna a water bottle from the pantry, then she and Jenna sat at the kitchen table. “You must be wondering what in
the world’s going on. Gordon and I met day one of the cruise as the girls and I were checking in. They asked for my passport,
and I couldn’t find the silly thing! I checked my purse, my pockets. I was getting pretty frantic, wondering if I’d lost it
along the way or in that big warehouse they herded us through. Then this fine-looking gentleman appeared with my passport
in hand. Turns out he found it on the ground and recognized my picture. He brought it right over and saved the day!”
Jenna manufactured a smile. “Well, isn’t that something.”
“It was meant to be. He hung out with us the rest of the cruise—can you believe he came by himself? Shore excursions, beach bumming, mealtimes . . . we had the best fun! Pam and Ellen just adore him.”
“Wow, Mom. You didn’t say anything in your messages.”
“It was too much to write with the little bit of internet we had. Besides, I figured I’d just tell you when we got home.”
We.
Jenna wanted to say more. A lot more. She had plenty of questions. But the sound of footsteps on the stairs held her tongue.