has her pacemaker surgery and spend a little more time with Nate and Sophie. Then you can go on to your next job and see where things take you from there.”
She was so very tempted, even as fear still had a tight grip on her.
No. She couldn’t let the darkness of her childhood determine the decisions she made as an adult. Rachel had moved on and built a beautiful life here in Cape Sanctuary. She and Cody were happy together, even if their life wasn’t always perfect.
Why couldn’t Jess have that with Nate?
She wanted it suddenly, with a ferocity that shocked her.
“Besides,” Rachel said, “I have an ulterior motive to want you to give Nate a chance, especially if it means I could spend more time with you.”
“That would be a bonus,” Jess said with a smile.
“Hi, Jess.”
She and Rachel both jerked their attention to the table where Silas was still happily squishing bread dough. “Did he just say my name?”
Rachel’s eyes sparkled. “It sounded like it. Si, who’s that?”
“Jess.” He pointed a glob of dough at her and Jess’s throat tightened with emotion.
“That’s right! Good job, buddy.”
“Jess,” he said again. “Jess. Jess. Jess.”
Each time her nephew said her name, Jess’s heart seemed to expand.
She was completely capable of love and here was proof. She loved her sister, Cody, her nieces and Silas.
Why was she so convinced that she couldn’t be successful at romantic love?
Nate was a wonderful man. While some part of her might think he deserved someone better, someone more like Rachel, he had chosen her. She would be stupid to walk away from a man like him.
They would face challenges. She traveled most of the time and didn’t know how to change that. Still, she could spend her off time in Cape Sanctuary with people she loved and there was always video calling, texts and phone calls.
“I have to go.”
Rachel’s features fell. “Really? I thought...” She seemed to catch herself. “I understand. Do what you have to do. Safe travels, honey.”
She shook her head. “No. I have to go back to Whitaker House and see if Nate has changed his mind or if he’s still willing to give me a chance.”
Her sister gave a short laugh of relief and hugged her hard. “Good luck,” she said. “But I don’t think you’re going to need it. Nate’s no fool.”
Jess could only hope her sister was right.
39
Nate
“What’s bothering you, darling?”
Nate turned away from the view of the endless sea out the window of his mother’s room toward the bed where Eleanor and Sophie were playing cards.
“Nothing,” he lied. “I just have a lot on my mind right now.”
“I understand.”
“I can tell you what’s bothering me, if anybody wants to know,” Sophie said. “I miss Jess.”
“She’s been gone for less than an hour,” Eleanor said with a small laugh. “But I know what you mean.”
“I wish she could have stayed longer. I want to show her the postcards I get from Japan when they come.”
“You can always call her, darling. I know she’ll be glad to hear from you.”
“I guess. It won’t be the same as having her here.”
He couldn’t do this, stay and listen to his mother and daughter talk about missing Jess. They couldn’t have any idea that he was standing here feeling like his heart had been ripped out of his chest.
How would he go on without her?
The world suddenly seemed as bleak and gray as a January afternoon.
“I think I’ll go take the dogs on a quick walk down to the cove,” he said, seizing on any excuse to escape.
“That’s a good idea,” Eleanor said. “If you want to go, Sophie, I’ll be all right by myself. You two don’t need to babysit me all day.”
Sophie shrugged. “I’m okay. I want to see if I can finally beat you.”
He whistled to the dogs, cuddled together on the floor next to the bed. They both jumped up and eagerly followed him to the door.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he said.
“Take your time. We’re fine,” Eleanor said.
He hooked the dogs’ leashes on, wishing he could throw on his wet suit and grab his board for a little wave therapy.
He didn’t want to take that much time away from Eleanor. Despite her claims that she was fine, she had only been out of the hospital less than twenty-four hours.
He would have to be content with a walk for now.
He headed outside and had only made it a few steps when a vehicle suddenly pulled into the driveway.
A baby blue pickup