east side of Seattle and because ferries ran only intermittently this late at night, he had to drive around over the Narrows and through Tacoma.
I walked him to the front of the porch and we stood together there in the moonlight, delaying his departure because neither of us was ready for him to leave.
I knew he wanted to kiss me, and the truth was I hoped he would. We faced each other, and Greg slipped his fingers into my hair and gently angled my head as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. It was a sweet kiss, devoid of urgency. A kiss of discovery and awe as if he’d stumbled upon the richest of treasures and didn’t want to do or say anything to dispel what he’d found.
When the kissing ended, he leaned his forehead against mine. “I’ve been wanting to do that all evening.”
“I’ve been hoping you would,” I admitted, surprising myself with how soft and low my voice was.
“I don’t know if I should tell you this.”
“What?” I asked, sensing his hesitation.
“You’re the first woman I’ve kissed since Julie.”
He’d mentioned he’d hardly dated in the years since his wife had died. Me, too, but only since Mark had left me, well, other than that one disastrous outing with the future brother-in-law of a friend. The only real kiss I’d experienced since losing Paul had come from Mark, and that had been one of desperation and longing just before he flew off to Iraq.
“I’m glad it was me,” I whispered.
“I am, too.” He reluctantly released me and I watched him drive away. It came to me that in all our conversations never once had I mentioned Mark. I couldn’t, for fear I would dissolve into tears. Letting go of him was as difficult in some ways as it had been to release Paul.
As I headed into the house and my room, I thought I heard Emily. I paused, certain then that I also heard Nick’s voice, but I didn’t bother to investigate. It sounded as if he was in her bedroom, and if that was the case, I really didn’t want to interrupt.
—
Emily was subdued for the rest of the week. She hated dealing with the crutches, and by the weekend she had rested her ankle enough that she was able to manage to take a few steps on her own without causing herself pain. I didn’t see Nick, and the one time I asked about him she abruptly changed the subject, effectively communicating that she didn’t want to talk about him.
Greg and I took his brother’s boat over to Blake Island for the salmon feast and the experience was as wonderful as I hoped. More so because I shared it with him.
Sunday, after I served breakfast to my guests, Greg attended church services with me. Bob and Peggy Beldon attended the same church and I felt Bob’s gaze studying me throughout the service. I’m sure he was curious about Greg, who had his arm over my shoulders.
We met the Beldons outside the sanctuary following the service. Bob looked what I can only think to describe as disappointed. I chose to ignore his censure. If he knew something about Mark that I didn’t, he hadn’t told me.
“Hello, Bob,” I said, holding on to Greg’s hand, making sure Bob and Peggy knew the two of us were together. “I’d like you to meet my friend, Greg Endsley.” I looked at Greg and said, “Bob and Peggy are good friends of mine. They own a bed-and-breakfast in town and have been mentors to me at the inn.”
Greg stepped forward and the two men exchanged handshakes. He acknowledged Peggy with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet friends of Jo Marie’s.”
“I didn’t know you were seeing anyone,” Bob said, glaring at Greg.
“Bob,” Peggy said under her breath and elbowed her husband in the ribs.
“We’ve only been dating a couple weeks,” I explained.
Bob studied Greg intently, as if gauging his worth. “So how’d you two meet?”
“I’m a family friend,” Greg explained, rather than go into details of our meeting at my family’s Fourth of July barbecue.
“So you’ve known each other for quite some time, then?”
“Not really.”
“Bob,” Peggy said again, more pointedly this time. “There’s no need to give Greg the third degree.” She tugged on Bob’s arm. “I hate to end this inquisition, but Bob and I have an appointment.”