Sea Glass Island (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,39

checklist for the night coming?”

“Hair’s done. We’ve had out manis and pedis,” Gabi said. “Dinner at Boone’s Harbor was fantastic, though I wish he’d let us pay for the meal. I’m all shopped out. If I weren’t nursing, I’d suggest a drink, but ice cream sounds much better, anyway. I can’t tell you the last time I allowed myself to indulge in a sundae. The only treats I’ve had the past couple of months are the warm doughnuts Wade brings me with coffee in the morning. I refused to give up those.”

“What you didn’t want to give up was having Wade drop by for a morning kiss,” Samantha accused.

Gabi blushed. “Well, that was a perk.”

Unexpected tears filled Samantha’s eyes at the talk of such tender intimacy between her sister and the man she loved.

“Sammi?” Gabi said worriedly, using an old childhood nickname. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know,” Samantha said, swiping impatiently at the tears.

“You must have some idea,” Gabi said, pulling a package of baby wipes from her purse. “No tissues, but I have these.”

Samantha grinned through the tears. “You are such a mom.”

Gabi looked startled for an instant, then chuckled. “Yeah, I am. Now tell me what’s going on.”

Samantha didn’t even have to think about it. She wanted what Emily and Gabi had found—the love of her life, a family, a place to call home.

She’d always thought of New York as home. She loved the vibrancy, the lights, the nonstop bustle. When she’d been onstage, she’d felt invigorated. The sound of applause washing over her had been like music to her ears.

But then, more often than not, she’d gone home to an empty bed, or, if not empty, then one occupied by a man who’d been important, but not her destiny. Never her destiny the way Boone had been Emily’s or Wade had been Gabi’s. At least, she’d been wise enough to understand that there was a difference.

“I think I’m jealous,” she said, embarrassed by the admission.

“Of me?”

“You and Emily both. You have it all. You have careers you love, especially now that Emily’s working on those safe houses for victims of domestic violence and you have the artist’s studio here that you and Wade created together. You have men you adore and who love you just as deeply. And you...” She smiled. “You have Daniella Jane, this perfect little baby.”

“You can have all that, too, if it’s what you decide you want,” Gabi said fiercely. “Samantha, there’s nothing to stop you from making whatever changes you want to make professionally. As for the man of your dreams, you just have to open your heart. I think you’ve kept too many men at arm’s length because you weren’t ready or you knew they weren’t the right ones. Is it because of Ethan you’re thinking like this?”

“He’s part of it. He’s this solid, stable guy who knows exactly who he is. Those traits aren’t exactly commonplace among the actors I’ve met.”

“But you’ve dated men who weren’t actors. Some were pretty high-ranking businessmen, as I recall.”

“They were just as absorbed with ambition, though, as the actors. Maybe that’s one of the things I admire in Ethan. He gave up the fast track in surgery and is thoroughly at peace with the decision. That says a lot about who he is.” She allowed herself a smile. “Maybe I just want to be Ethan.”

“Content with a slower pace?” Gabi suggested. “You can do that. I’m here to testify it can be a very rewarding transformation. This has been a huge change for me.”

“It has been, hasn’t it?” Samantha said. “No regrets?”

“Not a one,” Gabi said. “It’s not always easy, though. I still find myself compulsively addicted to work from time to time, but then Dani cries or Wade pokes his head into my office and my priorities immediately shift. I get that much-needed sense of balance back.”

“Balance,” Samantha echoed. “That’s it! That’s what I want.”

Gabi leveled a look at her. “Do you want it here?”

Samantha knew what her sister was really asking, that she wanted to know if Samantha was ready to let go of one dream in exchange for another that was even less certain.

“I don’t know,” she replied quietly.

“Well, until you do, I’ll say what I said earlier, be careful with Ethan.”

“Not a problem,” Samantha said. “I don’t think he’s going to allow anything else.”

* * *

Ethan was feeling surprisingly edgy as he left the clinic. Normally after a busy day, he went home feeling a sense of