Chapter 15
Present day
Three days after Lauren had texted Jonah, he was befuddled. There had been no more texts. He’d been busy with schoolwork this
week, but he’d seen her in passing. Other than a stiff greeting, complete with an obligatory smile, she treated him no differently
than before.
Jonah set his phone alarm and got into bed to wind down. The Patriots game played on TV and he tried to get into it.
A few minutes later his focus fell to the framed selfie Lauren had taken of them at Albee Beach. It had become their favorite
place for evening picnics and stargazing. She’d taken the picture one evening in early August, the day before he’d said “I
love you” for the first time. She hadn’t returned the sentiment right away—but then he hadn’t expected her to. Lauren didn’t
let people in easily, and she certainly wouldn’t be quick to divulge her feelings. He was eager to hear her say the words,
but she was worth the wait. And anyway, he could see her feelings in the way she gazed at him when they were alone, when her
guard was down. She was falling for him, even if she couldn’t voice the thought just yet.
His attention flickered back to the TV screen, the fond memories falling away like dust from a centuries-old tome. All of
that was gone now. He was starting from scratch and progress was slow, if not stagnant.
He recalled their first trip to the beach, that day she’d been so upset and he’d apologized. And that’s when it came to him—
That had happened shortly before Memorial Day weekend—she wouldn’t remember his apology or the change in his behavior afterward. The realization sent shivers down his arms. In her mind he’d never apologized for being such a jerk when she’d first arrived.
Excitement buzzed in his veins because this was something he could rectify. Something he could actually do . He pushed off the covers, eager to talk to her.
Then he stopped. What was he gonna do, run over there and knock on her door at ten o’clock at night? That would be weird.
It would have to wait until tomorrow.
But then he thought about how distant she was in person compared to how open she’d been with texting. That extra buffer between
them felt safer to her. And though he’d rather apologize in person, maybe she’d be more receptive over text.
She was the one who’d opened this avenue of communication, and he was happy to communicate with her any way she preferred,
be it texts, letters, or smoke signals.
***
“Go lie down,” Lauren told Graham.
The dog, head hanging low, retreated to his bedding in the corner of the room and lay down with a heavy sigh. Graham kept
trying to get into her bed, but it was a twin, and he sprawled out like a starfish. She must’ve let him share the bed before
the accident, but she needed her sleep.
She got comfy under the covers, grabbed her phone, and opened the latest Kristin Hannah novel on her reading app. But ten
minutes later she was staring blankly at the screen, thinking of Jonah and the grief she’d witnessed on the basketball court
the other day.
At the thought of his tears, her chest hollowed. She’d hurt him to the core with her inability to remember their relationship, with the way she’d treated him subsequently. She’d tried to do better the past few days, tried to smile and greet him as a friend might. But it was so hard to see him in a different way than the one in which she remembered him.
Giving up on the novel, she opened her texting app to the thread she’d started with him the other day. She reread their comments,
her lips tipping up at the final GIF he’d sent. He’d been very kind. Which, of course, was so unlike the Jonah she remembered.
Her thumb paused over the screen. She itched to scroll up so she could read all the texts, back to the very beginning. But
before she could satisfy her curiosity, her phone buzzed an incoming text. Jonah.
She jumped. Her heart raced as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. Dummy. He can’t see you mooning over his texts.
You awake? he asked.
Her fingers hovered over the virtual keyboard. Finally she replied, Yes .
Then she watched those three dots undulate, waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
Had he gotten distracted? Changed his mind? Fallen asleep? Restless, she scrolled up to their texts from a few days ago and
reread them. Just as she reached the end, his reply popped up.
I’m sorry for the way I treated you those first weeks after you arrived. ( Basically for everything you remember before the accident.) I was unkind and judgmental for reasons that had nothing to do with you
and I’m so sorry.
Wow. She reared back. Another text came in before she could reply.
I apologized to you in May, but I just realized you wouldn’t remember that.
He’d apologized? You’re right. Thank you for apologizing—again.
I was hard on you when you came here and I shouldn’t have been.
She was taken aback by his honesty. By his humility. She read through his apology again and responded. What reasons?
What?
You said the reasons had nothing to do with me...
While she waited for his response, she reread his apology. Finally his text appeared.
I had a girlfriend awhile back who broke my heart. Let’s just say that in some ways you reminded me of her at first. I went
on defense to protect myself because—spoiler alert—I was attracted to you.
Another text appeared. SO glad you didn’t ask this the first time I apologized.
She could hardly process everything he’d just said. She decided to stick to the easier part of the conversation. Did you ever tell me about this woman?
Of course. Pretty early on, actually .
Will you tell me about her again?
A minute passed before his reply appeared. She was an esthetician for Harborview for about a year. We met at the coffee shop and became exclusive after a month or so.
Things were getting serious, and then she got a job offer in Manhattan. She couldn’t leave town fast enough.
The guy was apparently no stranger to a broken heart. I’m sorry. That must’ve been painful.
It wasn’t fun.
There were no painful breakups in her past she could’ve disclosed to him. She hadn’t dated anyone seriously. Had never been
in love. She’d been busy making her education and career her number one priority. But how much had she revealed about her
childhood?
How much did I tell you about my past? As soon as she typed the words, she deleted them. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know—and she sure didn’t want to get into
it right now.
Another text appeared . I’m happy to answer any questions about the past. If you want.
She typed her response. Did I do a good job with the resort this summer? Not the kind of question he was probably hoping for, but she sent it anyway. She didn’t want to dig into the romantic relationship
she didn’t remember and could still hardly believe had ever happened.
You were amazing. The guests loved you. And you’ve seen all the ideas we’ve implemented, thanks to you.
I don’t recall you thinking they were such good ideas.
Shows what I know. I admit to being stubborn and having an intense dislike for change.
So you’re glad about the changes now? Even the pavilion?
Especially the pavilion. We shared quite a few sunset kisses under that roof.
Her breath hitched at his words. But another text popped up before she could respond.
Sorry. Probably shouldn’t have said that.
It’s okay. But she couldn’t help but envision the pair of them sitting at one of the picnic tables, sharing a kiss as the sun sank below
the horizon. Was he a good kisser? He had nice lips. His cupid’s bow dipping down from rounded peaks, his bottom lip fairly
lush. She’d noticed them right off, even though they’d usually been curled in a smirk.
Renting out the slips has been huge for us, he texted when she failed to respond . Easy money. Brilliant.
Pleasure bloomed inside at the compliment. Thank you.
The barn venue will be another great source of income once it’s finished.
She hadn’t gone to inspect it yet, but she probably should since the low season would offer more time to focus on it. She
wanted to have the work completed before she left at the end of the year. And the exterior would have to be finished before
winter set in.
Do you know what my plans were for the remodeling?
We discussed it at great length. You were so excited about it. You even did some sketches. You keep them on the shelf in your
closet.
I’ll take a look at them. Would you be able to go over there with me soon? She paused before sending it. It would mean spending time with him. But she’d apparently spent a lot of time thinking about
what the barn would require, and she needed to implement those ideas quickly if she planned to finish it before she left.
She sent the text, and he responded immediately.
Would tomorrow around one work?
It was after checkout and before the weekend check-ins. Sure. I’ll be at the lodge.
I’ll see you then.
Good night.
Night.
Lauren plugged in her phone, shut off the lamp, and settled in bed. If she had the tiniest of smiles on her face, it was only
because she was excited about her new venture with the barn.