Chapter 30 #2
“Jacob—” she whispered shakily, an apology as well as an explanation, and Noah smiled faintly and pressed his forehead against hers.
“Thank you,” he whispered back.
They picnicked on the lawn outside, Noah spreading a blanket over the long grass and bringing out all sorts of treats he’d bought in Eastport—mini-quiches and lobster rolls, fudgy brownies and fresh strawberries and crusty bread that he spread with warm, golden butter.
As they ate, he leaned back on one elbow, so Grace teased he looked like a Roman emperor, and his foot kept nudging hers in a way that did not feel careless.
Every time it did, her heart gave a little skip.
The sun was starting to sink in the sky by the time they made their way back along the dirt track, Jacob, now sleepy, trailing behind until Noah offered a shoulder ride and her son gave an emphatic nod.
As Noah hoisted him up easily, joking how he could see the whole world, Jacob let out a little giggle, and Grace felt as if her world had become suddenly, shimmeringly, perfect.
She didn’t think her heart could feel so full, her soul so light, her body so free. Right then, she felt as if she had everything she’d ever wanted.
As they came onto the main road back to the lodge, Jacob pointed toward the ocean, and Grace followed the line of his finger.
“Ned’s trawler,” she said by way of agreement. “Or his ferry.” She frowned a little as she saw the way the boat was heading steadily for the harbor. “Is someone coming to the island?”
“Maybe Isaiah,” Noah suggested, his hands resting loosely on Jacob’s legs to steady him. “He heads to the mainland once or twice a week.”
“Maybe,” Grace agreed. She watched as the boat made a beeline for the dock. Why did she feel a little frisson of unease, even of fear? Maybe she was just being paranoid, because this happiness felt so fragile, so new, and she was scared anything, anything at all, might shatter it.
Noah reached for her hand, linking his fingers through hers. “You look worried,” he remarked as he scanned her face.
“No.” Grace shook her head, smiling. She was choosing not to be worried. “Just wondering who it is. But I’m happy.” She squeezed his hand. “Very happy.”
They spent the rest of the walk back to the lodge daydreaming about their potential project—how they would renovate the cottages, what kind of services and therapies they might offer.
“Grayhaven could have offices and consulting rooms as well as leisure areas—an art or yoga studio,” Grace offered. “And it already has a gym.”
“True, true.”
“Am I rushing ahead?” she asked a little anxiously. “Taking over your house?”
Noah squeezed her hand. “I would love,” he said sincerely, “for that mausoleum of a place to have life again. To be put to good use.”
“Really, you’re sure—”
“I’m sure. Convincing my mother might be another matter, but as I’ll inherit the house eventually…” He shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Do you think she might resist?” Grace asked, and Noah sighed.
“Honestly, I have no idea. As I told you, I haven’t spoken with my mother in eighteen months. I’m really not sure what she thinks about anything anymore, including me.” His cheerful expression faltered briefly, and Grace’s heart ached for him.
“Maybe,” she suggested softly, “this can be a way to heal. For both of you.”
“Maybe,” Noah agreed, but he didn’t sound convinced.
Grace knew she shouldn’t get ahead of herself. Her mind was racing with thoughts and plans, but it was still all very new. She needed to give Noah time to catch up, although to be fair, he’d come on board very quickly.
As they came around a curve in the road, Noah hoisted Jacob from his shoulders. “Sorry, buddy, but the deltoids need a break,” he said, tousling the boy’s hair. Jacob skipped ahead, only to skid to a sudden halt, his body going completely tense and still.
Grace glanced at him in concern, and then looking ahead, she saw what made Jacob come to such a surprised stop. A person—a man—was standing in front of the lodge. And as she walked closer, she realized who it was. Brad.
For a second, her mind felt frozen along with her body, and she simply stood there, unable to make sense of it.
Brad, here. Why? She’d told him she was going to Maine, she said she’d got a job at a nature reserve—he’d made a snide remark—but she hadn’t given any details.
He shouldn’t have been able to find her.
And why would he find her, when he’d more or less told her he never wanted to see her again, along with making her life a total misery?
He caught sight of them, and a smile broke out across his face. Grace knew that smile. Wide, blindingly white, and 100 percent fake.
She started to shake.
But the sight of Brad wasn’t as shocking as the words that came out of his mouth.
“Noah Lawrence, my man! How’s it going?” And Brad strolled toward Noah, his fist outstretched, which Noah bumped, murmuring back, “Hey, Brad. Good to see you.”
Grace stared at them in complete incomprehension. Wait… they were friends? Brad was grinning at Noah while Noah smiled faintly back. Good to see you? Grace felt as if her mind had stuttered to a complete and utter halt.
“I knew you had a place in Maine, but this?” Brad shook his head, whistling as he glanced up at Grayhaven looming above them. “Whoa.”
“Yeah, family summer seat and all,” Noah replied with an uncertain laugh. He looked flummoxed, like he couldn’t understand why Brad was here. It was obvious, Grace thought numbly, that Noah and her ex-husband were buds.
But before Grace could think any further about that, the air was split by the most unearthly, awful shrieking she’d ever heard, one long note after another, howls of pure pain and fear.
They were coming from Jacob.