proposed. And of course, I said yes.”
Yep. Definitely better than a Hallmark movie. “What an amazing story.”
“It is. But I could have been happy sooner if I’d only opened my heart when he’d first declared his interest. I used my children as an excuse not to take a leap toward loving again. Instead of months, I could have already had years of marriage to the man I love.” Joanne batted away the single tear trailing down her cheek. “I try not to live with regret, but I struggle with it regarding this. Because my greatest sorrow isn’t in the things I lost that I had no control over.”
The shop owner peered into Eva’s eyes, as if she could see that little seed of something inside. As if urging it on. “No, my biggest sorrow is more about the things I lost to fear.”
26
When Simon said he had a surprise for her after dinner, she hadn’t pictured this.
He’d made her keep her eyes closed as he tugged her gently from the rental house down to the pebbly beach along the lake. The younger kids had all giggled, clearly in on the secret, when Angela and Simon left them behind in the kitchen. Even Kylee had smiled at Angela, albeit sedately.
She hadn’t known what to expect, but a two-person kayak, life vests, and double-bladed paddles were definitely not it. “Oh cool.” Was Simon fooled by her fake enthusiasm?
She’d seen plenty of tour groups and single kayaks rolling by on the lake since she’d been here and not once had the urge to go. It’s not as if she had anything against water sports—not ones that kept you on the surface, anyway. She was just more of a lay-on-the-beach-and-read kind of girl.
“I hear from reputable sources that you’ve never been kayaking.” Simon kept hold of her hand even though she no longer needed his guidance down the beach. “I used to go all the time but haven’t pulled it out this year. Someone’s been keeping me busy.” He winked.
“It’s not my fault you find my company irresistible.”
Listen to her, flirting. But around Simon, she couldn’t help it. Getting to know him and his children over the last month had been . . . well, wonderful really. He’d encouraged her in regard to parenting and the upcoming ultra-marathon, and she’d told him her story: the good, the fears, the accusations, the unforgiveness, the broken dreams. All of it. They’d also laughed together and enjoyed each other’s company—always toeing the line between friendship and something more. She sensed he was simply waiting for her to give a sign she was ready.
And in some moments she’d been almost tempted. But she was finally finding the real Angela again and couldn’t allow a new relationship to jeopardize that.
“It’s not just your company.” Simon squeezed her fingers and turned his face downward toward hers. “It’s you.”
Whew. Yes. Temptation. She dropped his hand and gave him a light shove. “So you just felt like showing me this lovely hunk of wood?”
If Simon noticed her very obvious change of subject—and how could he not?—he didn’t show it. “I thought maybe we could take this ‘hunk of wood’ for a sunset jaunt. I’d like to show you around New Zealand in a way you haven’t seen it before. Might be a fun adventure.”
Kayaking was fairly tame as far as adventure went. In the early days of Wes’s adventuring after Roy died, he’d invited Angela along several times. Eva went with Brent, after all. But Angela had no desire to bungee jump, scuba dive, or hang glide—and she couldn’t understand why he did either. He’d always mocked Brent’s foolhardy stunts before. What had changed? Why had his father’s death made him so reckless?
Maybe if she’d said yes back then, she would understand now.
“Okay.” The word wobbled out.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” This time she infused extra strength into her voice. A confidence that came from knowing she’d regret saying no one more time.
And maybe hoping things could be different.
“Great.” Simon picked up the smaller of the two life jackets and handed it to her, then put on the other. He hauled the kayak into the water along the dock.
After slipping on her life vest, she walked the dock, and with Simon’s coaching, climbed into the front hole of the kayak, which had a closed deck. He handed her a paddle, then expertly climbed into the back, the boat rocking a bit with his addition. The water looked fairly calm tonight and a breeze blew down from