Tiny Island Summer (23 page)

Darcy found the nearest Internet café. She changed her tickets for a flight leaving that night. She would have a horrendous layover and wouldn’t get back to Duluth until tomorrow night, but she didn’t care. Once Darcy made up her mind to do something, she couldn’t be swayed. She sent Char an e-mail. She kept it direct.

You were right. Coming home. Pick me up at seven?

Darcy hopped on the tube back to her hotel and kept on thinking. She realized that her favorite part of London wasn’t a place, but it was the emotions it had evoked in her. As a twenty-year-old, she had felt independent and sophisticated. She had soaked in everything as a young college student, desperate to dive into the next stage of her life. Moving to London after college in the Midwest, she’d imagined herself very smart and posh and oh so mature. But she realized she no longer felt the need to live an urbane life. She’d always known, deep down, that it wasn’t for her; but it had been a fun fantasy to live as a young woman.

Once back at the hotel, Darcy called the gallery and canceled her interview. She packed up her things and left the hotel for the airport within the hour. She had to get back. She couldn’t spare another moment. Darcy stopped by a Boots on her way out and bought a spiral notebook and pen. All during her cab ride and her wait at the airport, she jotted down every idea she had for her business. By the time she boarded the flight, she had her rough business plan and her mind relaxed enough to let her rest on the first leg of her journey.

“Hello? Mom?” Ben called as he pushed the door wide and walked inside. He’d rung the doorbell repeatedly and no one had answered.

The nurse rushed up to him and shushed him.

“Where is she?” he whispered.

“She’s resting. She’s had a tough morning.”

Ben nodded. “Should I leave?” he whispered.

“Ben?” his mother yelled from the front parlor before bursting into a fit of coughing.

“Come on,” the nurse told him grudgingly.

Ben followed her into the sick room and watched from the doorway as she gave his mother some medicine and water.

“You can come over,” the nurse called.

Ben walked over and kissed his mother’s cheek. He felt too big to sit on her bed. He shifted his weight awkwardly from side to side before the nurse pulled over a chair.

“Thanks,” he muttered and gratefully sank into the seat.

“Hi Mom. How about I talk for a bit and you just rest your voice, okay?”

She furrowed her brow; she hated not being able to participate in a conversation, but grudgingly nodded her acceptance all the same.

“John is leaving soon to go back home. I probably should go to, but I don’t think I’m ready yet. I know you don’t want me around here. But I like being close by, it’s reassuring to me that I can get here quickly if I need to.”

Ben let out a sigh. “And Darcy left this morning.”

She looked puzzled.

“I guess I didn’t tell you that I got her fired from her job.”

“Why would you do that honey?” she whispered.

“It wasn’t intentional,” Ben said. He stood to pace and comb a hand through his hair in his lifelong practice of self-assurance. “I don’t know, Mom. I think I took out all of my frustration and anger about this whole situation on her,” Ben replied after a moment’s pause.

“It wasn’t fair, I know. And I had no idea it would get her fired. But it did. There aren’t that many jobs for her, probably nothing for her here. She has an interview in London, so she left a couple of days ago.”

Ben stopped his pacing and turned to look at his mom, but she didn’t have anything to add.

“I don’t want her to go,” he whispered.

“What about the other guy?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I kind of forgot that he’s around.”

“Did she?”

Ben had no response.

“You’ve always done that. You’ve always stood in your own way. Even as a toddler. So you got her fired from her job and now she’s gone.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe what?”

“It’s only an interview; she might not take the job.”

“Did you give her a reason to stay?” she asked.

Ben bit his lip and considered. Had he? He hadn’t said anything. He’d made her no promises, at least not verbally. Had he lost his chance again?

“No,” he muttered.

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” Ben shook his head and resumed his pacing.

“Come on Ben. Out of all my kids, you are the one who always has a plan. You always find a solution. What is it?”

“I don’t . . . There is what I want to do and what I can do.”

“Two different things?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you want?”

“To go after her. I can get a job anywhere. That’s the luxury of having a trust fund to fall back on.”

“But you can’t do that?”

“No. I’m not going to leave you.”

“I wish you would,” she whispered slightly breathless.

Ben froze. Had she said that? He walked over to sit down next to her. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it three times in their unspoken gesture that meant
I love you
.

“What? You don’t mean that, Mom,” he whispered.

“I do honey. I am so grateful for you and for everything you do for this family and me. But what’s the point? I’m dying here. My life is ending, and I can’t help but feel like you’re hiding behind me. It’s why I want to sell everything. I don’t want you boys to live in the past. I want all of you to be free to move forward.”

“You think I should go after her?”

She nodded her agreement.

Ben blew out a sigh. “I guess I have some packing to do.”

She smiled. “And when you see her, ask Darcy if she can sell my things. I didn’t so much care for the auction house. But I liked her. I want her opinion. Can she sell my things or is there another auction house she would like to work for? Maybe she can use this estate as leverage for a job. I remember she told me she was working as a representative. Couldn’t she do that here for some other New York company?”

“I’ll ask. Thanks, Mom,” Ben said, moving to stand. “I love you.”

“I love you too, honey.” She closed her eyes, laid her head back on the pillow, and before his very eyes she fell asleep.

Ben drove home, his mind wandering the entire time. Could he do it? Could he uproot his life and move overseas? He had already sold his home, and he could probably convince his boss to let him work remotely. But would he resent Darcy for it? Would changing his life to chase after her be worth it? In his heart, Ben knew what his mind hadn’t let him consider. Letting Darcy go would be the biggest mistake of his life, but following after her would be the best decision.

He parked the car in front of the town house and rushed inside, desperate to figure out his next step. Did he buy a ticket and fly to London to surprise her? Should he wait for her to come back? Did he need to call his company? He would probably have to go into the Minneapolis office to go over all the particulars with his bosses.

Ben walked in the front door without watching his step and tripped over a stack of cardboard boxes.

“John!” he bellowed. When his brother appeared, he got up off the floor and asked him. “What’s going on? What’s with all the boxes?”

“We have to get back before classes start.”

“I thought you still had a couple weeks.”

“I do, but Char doesn’t. She’s trying to get everything to transfer, and we have to make sure they have everything before her classes start.”

Ben’s eyes grew wide.

A delighted smirk spread over John’s features. “Yep, she’s moving in with me.”

“Wow, that’s great. I’m so happy for you both.”

“Darcy e-mailed Char this morning, you know. She’s coming home.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Darcy is coming home. I guess it didn’t work out in London. Although I don’t even think she was there for a day,” John paused to consider, his hand holding his chin. “I don’t know what happened. But it would help us out if you would pick her up tomorrow night. Char and I are hoping to be on the road already.”

“Sure, sure,” Ben couldn’t stop the stupid smile from overtaking his face.

John raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t comment. He must have had too much work to chase after his brother for further explanations.

“Have a safe trip and call me when you get in,” Ben admonished his brother through the open car window.

“We will,” Char answered for the pair. “And vice versa. Let me know when she makes it back.”

Ben straightened and stepped back onto the porch, waving farewell to the car as it pulled back down Mondamin Trail toward town and the ferry. He never would have thought so much could happen in a few months, especially when he had dreaded this summer. But John drove off to a new and exciting time in his life, and with any luck, he’d be able to offer Darcy enough to get her to stay.

Ben spent the day restlessly. He vacuumed the entire house, walked into town for breakfast and lunch and a snack, and made it onto the boat to scrub it down. He worked hard to keep his mind occupied and make the day go faster, and yet every time he looked at the clock, only a few minutes had passed since he’d last glanced at it. By some grace, six o’clock finally came, and he left for Duluth.

Ben passed the baggage claim, creeping out the few workers at the Duluth airport. After pacing for twenty minutes and making an awkward amount of eye contact with one baggage handler, Ben returned to his car. He rolled down the windows and promptly fell asleep. He came too with a start, looked at his watch to see that Darcy’s flight had arrived, and raced back inside.

He stood at the bottom of the escalator, belatedly realizing that bringing flowers would have been sweet, or writing a name placard would have been cute. He’d make it up to her. He had plenty of time to be sweet and cute, if only she’d give it to him. He saw her the moment she stepped onto the escalator from the level above.

She looked around curiously, no doubt trying to place Char.

Ben saw the surprise and recognition cross her features, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. She beamed at him in return, and his heart nearly leaped into his throat. He swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the vulnerability that had suddenly settled under his Adam’s apple. Darcy never made a move to walk down the escalator or run once she reached the bottom. She walked normally, if purposefully, toward him.

Once she stood directly in front of him, Ben grabbed her and pulled her in the last few inches. He’d learned that about her; she liked that he initiated. He had no problem with that. Ben bent his head to hers and gave her the most spectacular starting over first kiss of her life. All he could focus on was the gentle but insistent pressure of his lips on hers, his tongue seductively caressing hers, and the heat from their embrace. If he kissed her long enough, she might melt into a useless pile of jelly. It had become a goal, even though he’d never spent much time or energy focusing on kissing alone.

“You’re probably going to ruin me for any other man,” she said lazily after he pulled away.

“Good,” Ben grunted.

Darcy stared deeply into his eyes. “Can we start over from the beginning?” she asked, wistfully.

Ben groaned. “No. No starting over. I’m not living through that again,” he pulled her into his arms and looked deep into her eyes.

“Let’s take it from here,” he half whispered into her ear, making all the tiny hairs on her body stand at attention as a delicious shiver coursed through her. He laced his fingers through hers and pulled her alongside him. She let him lead her out of the airport, toward home.

TRUE NORTH BOOK 1

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AMAZON.COM

When Emily balked at running away with her childhood sweetheart, Ed, eight years ago, she had no idea he’d disappear from her life. In the years since, she’s managed to open her own business and find love again. Life is good, until Ed shows up on her doorstep.

Ed vowed he’d never go back for her. But no matter how many miles he put between them, he couldn’t shake her hold on his heart. He’d pictured himself stepping back into her life, but hadn’t counted on her despair over his business or that she’d be pregnant.

Now Ed is fighting both for and against her to win her heart once and for all. But can they find their way back to each other through years of hurt and with an unexpected baby on the way?