ride, and then taking in her travel garments. She wished she’d had time to change into something clean and new and pretty.
Nevertheless, she offered him a smile. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Cushman.”
As though remembering his manners, he smiled in return. “Call me James. I’m pleased to meet you too, Victoria. You’ll have to excuse me. I’d lost hope that Tom would ever consider getting married. So to have him show up here with a bride… Well, it goes without saying that I’m more than a little shocked.”
Victoria tucked away that new nugget about Tom to quiz him on later. For now, she had the urge to convince Tom’s dad that she was worthy of his son, that Tom’s wait had been worth it. “I guess Tom just hadn’t met the right woman until he met me. I came along and swept him off his feet.” She curled her fingers more intimately around his arm and attempted her most flirtatious look. “Didn’t I, darling?”
From the glint in his eyes, she thought he might contradict her, but his words came out smoothly. “Yes. Completely.”
“I’m happy for you both,” James said with a grin. “So very happy.” With that, he reached for Victoria and drew her into a hug. She hugged him back, relishing his easy acceptance. His beard was scratchy against her temple and had the spicy hint of tobacco. He was about the same height as Tom but decidedly not as muscular. When he turned to hug Tom again, Tom accepted the congratulations, although not quite as enthusiastically as she had.
“Your mother will be thrilled,” James said, patting Tom on the shoulder. “You’ll make her the happiest lady in Massachusetts.”
At the thought of deceiving Mrs. Cushman, guilt swooped in and poked Victoria like a seagull pricking its prey. If the marriage would make Tom’s mom that happy, then she would be devastated when she learned of the annulment. From the flicker of a shadow on Tom’s face, Victoria guessed he was feeling the same guilt.
James didn’t neglect to greet Jimmy or invite him to stay for dinner, which the old man agreed to do just as soon as he secured his sails. He refused Tom’s offer of help and shooed them away. As they made their way up the beach to the keeper’s house, Victoria caught sight of a piping plover resting in the dune. The sandy-colored shorebird blended in so well, that Victoria might have missed it except for the black ring around its neck and black band across its forehead.
Tom steadied her with a slight touch to her elbow as they followed James. The man more than made up for Tom’s lack of conversation with a steady stream of news about Greg and Ruth and all that had led up to Tom’s brother-in-law having to finally give up the assistant keeper’s position.
When they reached the house, Victoria admired the hydrangea bushes that had been planted across the front. The white flowerheads were in full bloom and clustered into big puffy balls. After crossing a simple porch, they entered through the door into a wide hallway. She followed Tom and James into a front room with a window that overlooked the ocean. Ruffled white curtains were pulled back with ties on either side, and the walls were painted white, giving the place a clean, airy feel. Several beautiful paintings hung around the room, paintings of lighthouses and the sea.
Near the window at a round pedestal table sat a thin, petite woman. Her legs and lap were covered with a crocheted blanket, in spite of the warmth of the day. Her brown hair was graying, but her face was delicate and pretty. A well-worn Bible lay open on the table in front of her. At the sight of Tom, she gave a cry of delight and held out her arms. “Tom! You’re home!”
He cut directly across the sparsely furnished room to her, bent, and wrapped his arms around her. “Hi, Mom.”
Mrs. Cushman held onto him as though she never planned to let go. Victoria smiled at the tender reunion. Out of the corner of her vision, she caught James wiping at his eyes, clearly moved by his wife’s happiness.
Finally, Mrs. Cushman released Tom, but not before kissing him on the cheek. “You look taller.”
Tom grinned. “You say that every time you see me.”
James walked to his wife’s side, and, much to Victoria’s surprise, he stooped down and kissed her. Not a quick peck. Not a chaste brush of lips.