Tiny Island Summer (18 page)

She nodded and as her treatment finished, Ben got off the bed and tucked her in.

“I love you, Mom. I’ll be back soon. Maybe with this guy again.”

She smiled and nodded.

Ben hugged her, careful not to squeeze her frail body, and kissed her forehead. It never got easier to see her in bed like an invalid or to witness an attack. He knew it was the way life was supposed to go, parents left before children. But he could barely stand to watch it happen. Ben loved her so fiercely. Could he ever love anyone else like that again? John came to her bedside next, kissed her, and followed his brother out the door.

They got back in the car and had driven to Superior before either spoke.

“How bad is it, Ben?”

Ben furrowed his brow and looked out at the horizon. Keeping his eyes on the sky helped him focus and not let his emotions overwhelm him.

“Please,” John pleaded.

Ben sighed.

“The doctor gives her six months. She seems so healthy and normal most of the time that it’s easy to pretend this isn’t happening. But then, well . . . you saw what happened. When she’s bad, it’s rough, and it seems to be getting progressively worse. She’s having more bad spells.”

“This is the worst.”

“Yeah, it is,” Ben agreed.

“Did I miss my chance with Darcy?” he asked after a moment.

“I’m not sure, but I’m telling you this guy is into her,” John replied.

“Okay, I guess I’d better figure out what I want then.”

Darcy sat at the kitchen counter, staring into her cold mug of coffee. She should probably throw it out and get herself a fresh cup. She should probably get her laptop out and start looking for a job. She should probably stop thinking about Ben and how good it felt when he pulled her into his arms and kissed every thought out of her brain.

Darcy sighed. She should probably do a lot of things.

“He hasn’t called,” Darcy announced the minute she heard footsteps descending the staircase.

Char joined her at the counter. “He hasn’t?”

Darcy shook her head and hunched her shoulders.

“Come on. Let’s go for a walk. Sitting here and stewing about it for another day is not doing you any good,” Char said, elbowing her in the ribs.

“I’m not stewing,” Darcy told her petulantly, but jumped off the bar stool and followed her friend out the door all the same.

“So what was with all those longing glances toward the phone last night during the movie?”

Darcy blushed but didn’t say another word.

“Let’s explore a bit, okay?” Char asked.

Darcy nodded and followed along, content to let someone else be in charge. The pair walked toward Mondamin Trail, but instead of their usual turn to the main road and town, they continued on farther into the forest. They stuck to the roads and followed one that led past tennis courts and dead-ended at a section of private beach bordered to the north and south by vacation homes. Darcy raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Are you sure we should be here?” she whispered.

“Take only memories. Leave only footprints,” Char replied. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

Char took off her shoes and walked to the water’s edge. Darcy followed. The view from this part of the island overlooked another island. From that perspective, Darcy could almost imagine she’d discovered a private island all to herself. They had walked the length of the beach when Char’s phone rang.

“It’s John,” she told Darcy before setting off for a bit of privacy farther up the beach.

Darcy sank into the sand, cross-legged, content to close her eyes and enjoy the feel of the cool breeze on her face and the smell of freshwater she could not seem to escape. She felt a vibration and, startled, pulled out her phone. She’d gotten an e-mail from a former colleague at the auction house who had left the year before.

Darcy—I have the perfect job for you. It’s at a small gallery in London. Interested? I’ll send you the details if you are.

Darcy’s heart thundered in her ears. What an opportunity. She couldn’t pass it up and yet, even as she typed
yes
and sent on her cover letter and resume, she could feel a bit of dread. Charlotte returned and Darcy plastered a smile on her face.

“John is back and wanted to take us out to the lighthouse on Raspberry Island. You want to go?”

She caught Darcy’s eye and winced, misinterpreting what she saw.

“It’ll be good for you, get you away from your phone.”

“Sure, sounds great,” she replied.

Charlotte helped Darcy to her feet.

“Hey, he’ll call. Maybe he just realized that he had been calling you every day, and he’s trying to build up a little anticipation.”

“It’s working,” Darcy replied.

“Good, I like him,” Char told her as they slipped back into their shoes and began to walk home.

“You like everyone Char,” Darcy rolled her eyes.

“Not necessarily. I’m polite and nice to everyone, but I don’t like everyone.”

“Okay, sorry. But you did like Ben too.”

“And I still do. I had thought that—but it’s okay. I’m woman enough to admit I was wrong.”

They walked on in silence for a few minutes before Char added, “But make sure you like him too Darcy. I think he’s interested and you seem…”

“What?”

“Distracted.”

“I do?”

Char nodded.

They made their way back to the town homes to see John standing in front of their door. He waved to them as they walked closer, and Charlotte set off at a near run from thirty yards away. John caught her as she practically launched herself into his arms.

“Okay, okay, guys, please. I don’t need to see this,” Darcy teased as she opened her front door.

“Can you meet me at the dock in twenty minutes?” John asked.

“Better make it thirty,” Darcy replied.

With one final embrace and longer than necessary kiss from Char, he set off down the road and Darcy dragged her friend inside. They each raced to shower, change, and pack up their supplies for a day on the boat. After twenty-five minutes, Darcy rushed Char out the door and they crossed through the golf course. To Darcy’s surprise, only John waited for them at the boat.

“No Ben? I thought you didn’t like to take the boat out by yourself,” she asked surprised.

“Are you disappointed?” John teased.

“Ha. No not at all. Just curious.”

“Well,” he told her as he helped Char into the boat. “I’ve been practicing. Come on, it’s too beautiful a day to waste docked in the marina.”

Darcy smiled and let him help her into the boat. She relaxed a bit, glad not to have to worry about Ben today. But her stomach dropped a bit all the same. Darcy made her way to the front of the boat, leaving Char and John to the cockpit. She closed her eyes and turned her face to the sun, grateful for its warmth as they pulled out of the marina and picked up speed on the open water. The sunshine was the balm Darcy needed.

They reached the island and were the only boat in the little bay, giving the illusion of complete privacy. Char dropped the anchor, then she and Darcy made their way to the back. John had set up chairs and pulled out the cooler.

“Actually I think I’d like to explore a bit first. Where’s the lighthouse?” Darcy asked.

“It’s on the other side. It’s busier over there. Charter boats take out large groups of tourists and use the main dock. I prefer to anchor here,” John said.

Darcy nodded her agreement. The boat was close enough to shore to see through the water to the rippled sandy bottom. A few large stones littered the beach before the sand was overtaken by forest. The lake was calm with barely a breeze to ruffle the water’s surface, the sky was a bright, cloudless blue, and from their position it felt like they were the only three people around for miles. It was an overwhelmingly peaceful spot.

“If you’re done with lunch, we can hike over to the lighthouse,” John added as he finished his second sandwich.

“Sure. We’d probably better go. I might curl up and take a nap on the bow if we don’t leave soon,” Darcy said with a sigh.

Char helped John lower the dinghy. She had developed quite the nautical skill set over the past month. Darcy followed Char into the dinghy, and then John hopped in and used the motor to get them ashore. They hopped out and pulled the dinghy well up onto the sand.

They walked along the sandy beach, careful to avoid the icy fingers of water that lapped onto the shore. A sign at the edge of the forest marked the trail to the lighthouse. They trekked in single file along a path that nature had begun to overtake, curving around hills, climbing over rocks, and tripping on substantial tree roots. The lighthouse at the end of the hike was a welcome sight.

It stood whitewashed and pristine, set in its own manicured yard juxtaposed against the wilderness surrounding it. The dock John had mentioned stood directly below the main house. One glance at nearly one hundred steps and Darcy was grateful for the hike through the woods. They were greeted at the door of the lighthouse by a kind park ranger, who agreed to give a quick tour before the next boat arrived in twenty minutes. They walked through sun-drenched, tidy rooms and slowly climbed up to the tower on top of the house. It was hard to imagine on such a beautiful day in the company of friends and with the arrival of a boatload of tourists imminent the loneliness of being the Raspberry Island lighthouse keeper. The stories told by the ranger took on a romantic air, only possible with the passage of time and the ignorance of the realities of life nearly two hundred years ago.

They had reached the deck outside the lighthouse when a titter of laughter rent the air in two. Ben and a girl rounded a turn and nearly ran into them. Darcy froze on the observation deck with Char and John in front of her. Ben stopped laughing the minute he saw them.

“Funny running into you here,” John said, delighted to see his brother.

Ben had the good sense to look slightly embarrassed to be out with another girl. No one spoke for a long moment as everyone save the ever-cheerful John assessed one another. The girl seemed more put together than the waitress. Was she a threat to Darcy? Why did she even go there? Suddenly a phone rang and reverberated through the air.

In shock, Darcy looked down to see it was hers. She recognized Eric’s number and smiled. He had impeccable timing.

“It’s Eric. I’ve got to take this,” she said to Charlotte and, of course, loudly enough for Ben to overhear.

Darcy smiled at Ben and his companion, and she thought she saw his hand clench and unclench before she answered and began to descend the steps.

“Hi, Eric? Sorry,” she said, slightly breathless, “I’m walking down the steps of the lighthouse.”

“Hi, well I guess that answers my question of what you’re up to. I’m actually at your house. I’d wanted to surprise you.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Darcy replied genuinely bummed to miss him.

“That’s okay. But I was calling to see if you wanted to meet up?”

“I would love to. When?”

“I’ve got to lock myself in my cottage for the next couple of days, to finish up a draft for a deadline. Are you free on Friday?”

“Yes, absolutely. What did you have in mind?”

“I thought we could get dinner in Ashland. Have you been there yet?”

“To be honest, no. I’ve only driven through.”

“I think you’ll like it. How about I pick you up at seven again? Is that okay?”

“Sounds great. See you then.”

Darcy hung up her phone and found a bench in the shade to wait for John and Charlotte. They found her after several minutes, walking hand in hand. Maybe, if nothing else, something good had come out of the summer, Darcy mused as she watched them.

“Everything okay?” Charlotte asked.

“Great,” Darcy beamed.

“Did he call then?” Char asked.

“Are we talking about this in front of present company?”

“Why not? She tells me everything anyway,” John said.

Darcy’s phone loudly beeped, saving her from a response. She looked down to see a new e-mail. Her eyes grew wide as she read it. She looked up at Char, back down to the phone, and then back to Char.

“What is it?” Char asked.

“I got an e-mail this morning about a job. I sent in my resume already, and they’re interested in me. They want to interview me straight away.”

“That’s great,” Char exclaimed.

“Wow, congratulations,” John agreed.

“Yeah, wow,” Darcy agreed, letting the news sink in without telling either of them the full truth. If Char knew the job was overseas, some of her excitement might wane.

“When?” Char asked.

“Next Friday, so I have a little over a week, I guess,” Darcy answered.

Char looked at her closer, but didn’t say anything. She’d been friends with Darcy long enough to know when crucial facts were being withheld.

“Shall we head back to the boat now?” Darcy asked, trying to distract Charlotte.

“Yes, lets,” John replied, taking the lead quite handily.

“What aren’t you saying?” Charlotte whispered.

“Wait. Didn’t John just tell me that you tell him everything I tell you? Shouldn’t we announce this to him too?” Darcy whispered.

“No, no. It’s okay. Just tell me. What is it?”

“The job is in London.”

“Wow,” Char replied and her face fell and she stopped walking.

“I know. But it’s a pretty hard opportunity to pass on.”

“Yeah, I guess it would be, huh?”

“What does that mean?”

“Just it seems like you’re making a life for yourself here.”

“Char, you don’t think I could stay here, do you?”

“I don’t know. I guess I kind of did. I guess I kind of have been romanticizing all of us staying here forever.”

“That is definitely not happening. I am very happy for you and John, but I would need some space. If I stayed, I think I’d need my own house,” Darcy teased.

“So what are you going to do?” Char asked more seriously.

“I’m at least going to interview. Who could pass up a free trip to London?”

“Yeah, good point.”

“I don’t know. I guess I need to think about this more.”

Charlotte nodded.

“Are you two coming?” John yelled back to them.