I was ready to turn around and head back home.” Honey smiled. “It was probably a good thing my car broke down, or I might have. But I already do understand what you’re saying, and I am glad I’m staying. Everyone has been so . . . just so great. I wasn’t expecting that. Other than my parents and Bea, I’ve never had people be so welcoming, much less so understanding, or . . . or open to dealing with my—
“Oh crap.” She reached up and dabbed at the tears that had sprung to the corners of her eyes. “I never cry. Now I swear I do it all the time. I’m going to ruin my makeup.” She laughed and hiccupped. “I never wear makeup.”
Kit came bustling around the corner and handed her a few napkins with the Babycakes logo on the front. “Here, here. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. Good tears.” Honey laughed as she was forced to sniffle. “You have no idea what it’s meant for me. You all have accepted me so openly and willingly. Even the parts I was fully prepared to hide at all costs.”
Kit gave her an understanding smile, but her eyes sparkled. “Well, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been dying to ask you all about your secret talent. I didn’t have the chance to know your aunt, I’m sorry to say, but I’ve heard so many amazing things about her. And Barbara Hughes can’t stop talking about how you saved her husband’s life.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. It was—”
“It was amazing is what it was. She didn’t even realize you’d had a vision, and right there on her porch. Alva is beside herself that she didn’t get to break the news in her column, you know.”
Honey’s expression fell. “She asked to interview me, but . . . I didn’t even think about that when I was talking to Barbara. I mean, I wasn’t planning on telling her, I was just following up because Dylan had talked to Frank to make sure he didn’t go out on the boat when that storm came, and I wanted to make sure—what?” Honey broke off when she saw Kit was obviously trying to swallow a knowing smile.
“Oh, nothing . . . except . . . we’re all dying to know how you got Dylan Ross, man of few words and even fewer social appearances, to do that. I mean, he gives new meaning to tall, dark, and brooding.”
Honey sniffled and sputtered out a laugh at the same time. “You know, that’s exactly what I thought when I first met him, almost verbatim. And, you’re right, he’s not exactly the chatty type, not normally anyway. But when he does talk, it’s because he’s given it a lot of thought. And he means what he says. He does sincerely care about this island and the people on it. He helps out where he can, doing what he can do. I still don’t know the whole story about his family history—and I don’t need to. He’ll tell me if he wants me to know. But I know it was a rough one and that he’s had his share of being in a spotlight he never asked for. I completely understand how that feels.
“Still, it hasn’t stopped him from being loyal, or from caring,” Honey went on. “Do you know he spends personal time tracking down old tractor and lawnmower parts for the older men on the island who don’t get around well or don’t understand how to use computers to do vintage parts searches? Dell told me Dylan helped him find that old motorbike and track down parts for it. He even took Dell out and introduced him to the salvage guys he works with, taught him how to search old junkyards. Dylan might pretend that Lolly is some kind of obligation, but he ran into a burning building to rescue her, then paid what had to be a crazy vet bill to have her—” Honey broke off and a little heat climbed into her cheeks as Kit stopped trying to hide a wide grin.
“It’s okay. You like him. And what’s not to like? He might be tall, dark, and mysterious, but no one has anything bad to say about him. They just . . . no one here seems to know him very well. But it sounds like you’re getting to and that he’s a pretty good guy. Also sounds like the feeling is mutual. From what I