Chapter 35
MAE
‘So wait, let me get this straight. You spent the other night in a pop-up tent on top of a truck that was parked near the edge of a cliff, in a raging thunderstorm, with a man who looks like he should be on the cover of a Viking magazine, making sweet, sweet love under fairy lights, and you’re only just telling me about this now. ’
I laughed at the indignation in Holly’s voice. ‘I needed time to process it myself. I kept convincing myself it couldn’t possibly be real, because it was so fucking incredibly romantic and the kind of thing you normally only read about. Or watch in a Reese Witherspoon rom-com.’
‘I loved her in Sweet Home Alabama.’
‘Oh my God, me too. And Josh Lucas. His blue eyes? Mm.’
‘Agree. Anyway, back to you. How was it?’
‘How was what?’ The coffee machine finished dispatching coffee into my little mug, so I took it and wandered over to the cottage window, admiring the stillness of the early morning. A great blue heron was wading in the shallow water, ripples fanning out around it as it searched for food.
She sighed theatrically. ‘Don’t make me beg.’
‘It was…’ I sighed dreamily. ‘Amazing.’
‘I’m going to need more than that.’
‘It was better than I ever knew it could possibly be.’
‘You’re not going to go into specific details, are you?’
‘No, I’m not.’
She sighed again. ‘It’s very hard to live vicariously through someone when they’re deliberately vague.’
‘Sorry.’
‘It’s fine. My imagination can probably fill in the blanks.’
‘Doubt it. Think the most incredible sex you can think of, and then multiply that by ten.’
She was silent for a while. ‘I hate you.’
‘I know.’
‘I love you, but I hate you.’
‘I understand.’
‘I am happy for you though. You deserved a good shagging after Nick. That guy was selfish with a capital W.’
‘W?’
‘For wanker.’
‘Guess what I just realized?’
‘What?’
‘I don’t feel sad any more when you say his name. In fact, I don’t feel anything.’
‘That’s what happens when someone finally shags you the way you’re supposed to be shagged.’
‘Can you stop saying shagged?’
‘Fine. Screwed. Bonked. Fucked. Better?’
‘Marginally. Anyway, it’s not about the sex, even though that was—’
‘Incredible. Yes, I know. Stop rubbing it in.’
‘It’s more than that. Jonah is funny, and kind, and—’
‘Hot.’
‘Yes, so, so hot. But he’s also clever, and hardworking and supportive. And he listens, really listens, and he cares. I’ve never felt so cared for.’
‘That’s it. I’m marching upstairs to Holbank’s office and quitting right now. I hope you’ve got room in that cottage for me.’
I laughed. ‘Believe me, you don’t want to be in this cottage when Jonah gets back from sea tomorrow. We’ve got lost time to be making up for.’
‘You say that so flippantly. “Back from sea.” Like it isn’t the coolest thing in the world to have a boyfriend who’s a hot, muscular fisherman.’
‘Lobsterman.’
‘What’s the difference?’
‘A pretty big one, which you should learn if you really want to move here.’
‘I wish.’
‘Nothing stopping you. If I can do it, so can you.’
‘You know, I really thought you’d be back by now,’ she admits sheepishly.
‘I thought you’d move there, realize you’d completely romanticized this idea of small-town life in your head and the reality was actually much different, and come back.
Instead, you seem to have picked the one place in the country that actually lives up to all the cozy small-town hype. ’
‘And I’ve barely scratched the surface. I can’t wait for summer, when they have weekly farmers’ markets, and outdoor movies at the town green, and art festivals, and Fourth of July fireworks, and all the cool things I keep hearing about.
There’s even a winter formal this weekend, did I tell you?
At Jonah’s family’s hotel. He’s taking me. ’
She made a sound as if she had just sucked air in through her teeth. ‘His mother will love that, judging by everything you’ve told me.’
‘Undoubtedly. The last couple of days when I’ve been to check in on Gray, I haven’t seen her. I think she’s avoiding me.’
‘Who cares? Doesn’t sound like Jonah does.’
‘That’s the problem. He really does care; that’s why he’s so torn. He doesn’t want to let them down, but he doesn’t see how he can give them what they want, either.’
‘It’s a dilemma. I’m sure he’ll figure it out though. More importantly, what are you wearing to the formal?’
‘I haven’t really thought about it. I’m sure I’ll find something in my closet.’
‘No offense, because you know I love you, but nothing in your closet is going to impress Jonah’s mother.’
‘I don’t need to impress her.’
‘Oh, my dear, na?ve friend. Of course you do.’
‘Why? It doesn’t matter what she thinks; Jonah’s is the only opinion I care about. And believe me, after the other night, I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world when he looks at me.’
‘That’s sweet. I love that for you. But what kind of future can you have with him if his family isn’t on board? You said it yourself, they mean a lot to him. If you two get serious, you’re looking at a lifetime of family gatherings with them. Do you really want to make things awkward for Jonah?’
I sighed. ‘No, of course not. But I don’t see how a dress is going to make a difference.’
‘It’s not so much the dress, as the impression you give. Believe me, I’ve been to enough hospital fundraisers to know how important it is to these kinds of people to dress and act like you have money. Project the right kind of image to the world.’
‘Jonah isn’t like that.’
‘I’m sure he’s not. But from everything you’ve told me about his mother, she is.’
I finished my coffee and checked my watch. ‘Hate to love you and leave you, but I need to start getting ready for work.’
‘Fine.’ She yawned. ‘I need to go and write up my notes so I can get out of here when my shift ends before Sheryl tries to make me work a double again.’
I put my cup in the sink and ran water into it to soak while I was in the shower. ‘I don’t miss that at all.’
‘Yeah yeah. Love you.’
‘Love you too.’
We blew kisses and disconnected the call.
I knew immediately I got out of the shower that something had shifted.
The atmosphere felt charged, static, the way it does before a storm.
I hurried to the front windows and scanned the sky.
The horizon seemed to have darkened, but I told myself that was in my imagination.
I had been slightly on edge since Jonah had left, even though I had no reason to be.
I got ready, feeling uneasy, not knowing why, and left for work.
Just as I pulled into the parking lot, the song on the radio finished.
I was turning the key in the ignition to off when a few words from the radio announcer caught my attention, and I quickly turned it up.
‘…for Pine Harbor and surrounding areas. Cloud increasing today with the likelihood of snowfall in inland areas later this afternoon. Expect increasing southwest winds this evening, with snow becoming heavier overnight. Coastal areas will have decreased visibility and rough conditions, and we’re expecting an overnight temperature of twenty-three degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re heading out on the water today make sure you plan ahead.
Gale conditions are expected offshore later this evening.
Wherever you are today, make sure to rug up and stay safe.
Now here’s Bryan Adams with “Summer of ’69” to warm you up. ’
I turned the radio off and leaned back against the seat, feeling my uneasiness grow.