hot doctor,” Sam said, nudging Cate with her elbow. “Some girl is very lucky.”
Sam made a joke.
She’s going to be okay.
Henry stepped out and smiled, his eyes only for her, his dimple at full force.
And I’m the lucky girl.
Cate tightened her arms around Henry. He was warm and solid. A rock to hold on to.
“I don’t want to take you away from your friends.” Henry glanced back as Sam and Tessa trudged to the far end of the walk, giving Cate and him some privacy.
“You didn’t.”
“Tomorrow’s Christmas,” he said, looking across the water.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Very funny.” He kissed her forehead. “And then a week until the New Year.”
“I’m very aware.” They’d tiptoed around the subject of her return to her job, neither wanting to discuss it. The thought of leaving him hurt.
“We’ve been avoiding the topic,” he said, lifting her chin until she looked him in the eyes. “For the past month we’ve gone on as if you’re leaving after next week, and I’ve kept my mouth shut about it because it’s your life and your job, but I’ve realized I need to tell you my opinion.”
Cate held her breath. She’d never seen his eyes so serious.
“I don’t want you to go,” he said firmly. “I’m going to be selfish and say that I want you to stay. The last few weeks have been the happiest of my life, and it’s hurting me that you’ll no longer be physically within reach. Ever since I stepped foot on this island, I’ve known my fate was here. And I think you might be a big part of that.”
He wants me to stay.
She’d thought of little else for weeks.
“Do you remember when we both didn’t feel right after flying to the mainland?” she asked. “That feeling stayed with me the entire time I was there, even at the hospital with Sam. But the minute we took off to come home, the feeling eased. And touching down was a relief.”
He nodded vehemently, agreeing. “I felt that too.”
She laughed. “For a while I thought I needed a pregnancy test.”
The sudden light in his eyes touched her heart.
“Since I was a kid, I’d heard stories,” she continued. “Some people are meant to be on Widow’s. They belong to the island. My view of the island is much different as an adult than it was when I was a teen,” she added thoughtfully. “I left as soon as I could and was thrilled to be off the island and out in the real world. But now it’s different.” She frowned. “When we went to get Sam, I felt I shouldn’t leave. Why do I feel different today than when I left for college?” She tilted her head, holding his gaze. “I think it’s because you’re on the island now.”
His hands tightened on her waist.
“I’m lucky to have been raised in paradise,” Cate said. “Maybe paradise is the wrong word. So many of our days are gray, but when I’m around you, there is color everywhere I look. Is it because you were brought to Widow’s for me?”
“You sound confused,” he said.
“I was, but I’m not anymore. I’m not going to question my gut. I’m not going back to the mainland or the FBI. I can’t do my job anyway; I panic simply standing in front of doors.”
“You didn’t panic in front of Travis.”
“That was different. People I loved were in danger. There was no time for my brain to ruin my concentration. I just acted.”
“You’re not going back to the FBI.” It wasn’t a question.
“No.”
He hugged her and planted a kiss on her mouth. “You won’t regret it.”
“I know.”
“But what will you do? You’ve got to have a purpose. You’ve been driven your whole life. You can help me at the clinic . . . maybe figure out how I can expand to serve some of the neighboring small islands that don’t have a doctor, but I don’t think that’ll be sufficient for you.”
“You’re right, it won’t.”
He waited.
“I want to buy the bookstore. I don’t think Rosa Underwood will be back.”
Henry sucked in a breath. “You do? Will that be enough? I mean, I swear sometimes she didn’t have a customer for days. That definitely won’t be a challenge.”
“I’m going to ask Edith if she’d consider selling the bakery to me.”
“You want both?”
“Yep. I haven’t been able to think about anything else—maybe I’ll combine them.” Cate grew excited as she voiced the thoughts that had been bouncing in her head for days. “Jane would love to be involved in the bakery—I can bake. I was taught by the best, my grandmother. I just don’t do it that much, and between her and me, I know we could do it, and Sam could work with us.”
“And you’d read books and pet that cat whenever you wanted.”
“Sounds pretty great to me.” She smiled, feeling it all the way to her toes. She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. Except maybe the man in front of her. This was meant to happen; she knew it.
“You have my full support for whatever you want if it means you’ll stay with me.” He leaned his head against hers. “The thought of you leaving has been killing me for weeks, but I didn’t think it was fair to say anything.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“But you were already making plans to stay anyway?”
“Maybe.”
“You were, you totally were.” He took her head in his hands and kissed her deeply.
“Go, Doc Henry!” shouted Tessa as Sam whooped her delight.
Cate smiled against his kiss.
Everything was perfect.