Tiny Island Summer (17 page)

Maybe she had built it up too much? Darcy wanted to make it work with Eric. She would not give up on him. Maybe she needed more time?

“We should probably get back to the pier,” Darcy said with an uneasy smile plastered on her face.

He looked at her, smiled, and grabbed her hand. They walked back to the car, and Darcy willed herself to stop remembering the night before. Thinking about Ben wouldn’t help her now. But she couldn’t deny the overwhelming disappointment she had felt. Darcy had expected so much and had felt so much attraction; to have it all shattered in that one kiss was shocking. She’d expected to be pulled under by a wave of hormones, not to be slammed into a wall by reality.

Darcy and Eric boarded the ferry, and after parking the car, they went to the passenger deck above and sat together on a bench. Was it truly a bad kiss? Darcy wondered. Or maybe she’d been scared and hesitant? She still feels awkward around him. Maybe she wanted Ben because that was the easy answer—wanting a guy who didn’t want her back let her be free. Being with Eric was a bit dangerous. She felt vulnerable with him.

The silence between them never felt forced or awkward but they didn’t speak again until they were at her door. Eric walked her to the door and waited as she fumbled with the key. She took a deep breath and willed herself to relax and let him sweep her away. Darcy turned back to Eric and took the initiative and kissed him.

He stepped back, momentarily taken off guard by her boldness, but after a moment recovered. The kiss heated up but didn’t have the same sudden burst of passion that she’d felt the night before. Darcy sighed and Eric grinned.

“Bye,” she said, looking down to her feet, unable to meet his eyes.

Darcy bit her lip. Had he misinterpreted her sigh for a moan? She blushed.

Eric leaned in to her again and whispered, “I’ll call you.”

Darcy smiled and took a step back from him. “Sounds good.”

She waited until he got back in his car and pulled away, waving him off, before going inside. Darcy tried to prepare for the imminent bombardment of Char. But, blessedly, she was asleep on the sofa with John as a movie played on the TV. Darcy made it upstairs, took off her makeup and clothes, and fell into the neatly made up bed.

Ben hadn’t meant to send John over as a spy the night before. But after casually mentioning that Char had been standing at the door talking to “that guy” for a long time, John had been all too happy to run over. Ben had retreated to his room, eager to get a start on packing. The sooner he left, the sooner he could come back.

Surprisingly, knowing that John had attached himself to the couch next door freed Ben up to sleep well that night. He woke up early again the next morning and headed into town for coffee. As he approached the coffee shop, the screen door swung open and Darcy walked out and nearly into him.

“Oh,” She exclaimed, startled.

“Are you okay? I’m so sorry,” She rushed to add. Then, maybe upon realizing her audience, she stopped.

“No harm, no foul,” Ben told her, smiling.

Darcy looked down at her feet.

“Are we strangers now?” he teased, finding it hard to resist.

Darcy looked up at him, and her eyes held so much confusion and frustration and hurt, he nearly fell backward off the porch.

“Excuse me,” he added quickly, pushing past her to go inside and order his two coffees.

When he walked out, to his surprise Darcy was sitting on one of the rocking chairs on the porch.

“Can I join you?” he asked.

Darcy shrugged noncommittally.

“It’s good to see you,” he began.

“Okay.”

Ben gave her one of his heartbreaking smiles. “You’re not going to return the favor?”

She had no response.

“Look, Darcy, we need to talk,” he began again and smoothed a hand through his hair.

“Why?”

“Because I . . . Look I don’t hate you.”

“Wow, what a statement. Thanks Ben. I don’t hate you too.”

“That’s not what I meant to say. It’s coming out . . . I have a hard time figuring out what to say around you.”

“Why?” she asked simply again, having no desire to help him with the conversation.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, thanks for another great time,” Darcy told him sarcastically.

She stood and moved past him on the porch to get out to the street. Ben stopped her, putting a hand out to touch her wrist lightly. He didn’t grab her forcefully, but he saw the shiver ripple through her body all the same. He affected her too.

“I’m sorry for doing what I did. This is a tough time for me.”

Ben got up from his seat and stood within an inch of her. He leaned into her, finding any other distance between them to be absolutely too far.

“Ben, I understand, I do,” she whispered.

“I know you do,” he agreed wholeheartedly.

She looked up and looked deeply into his eyes. “I never would hunt someone down to sell their memories.”

“I know. I overreacted.”

Darcy almost swayed into him. But she caught herself and stepped back, putting space between them. He dropped her wrist, reluctant to lose the contact but wanting to respect her.

“I’m sorry,” he said more forcefully.

“I appreciate that. And I’m sorry about your mother.”

Ben nodded and Darcy retreated back down the road. He watched her go, not in any rush to see her again before he left. Ben drank his entire coffee, went back inside to purchase a doughnut, and turned back to home.

“You ready?” he asked John as he walked in the door.

“I guess so,” John reluctantly agreed.

“Let’s go,” Ben told his brother before he could find a reason to stay.

Darcy had never thought about working for herself until she’d said the words aloud to Eric the night before. She sat at the kitchen table with the remains of her morning coffee, her laptop, and a notebook, trying to devise a feasible plan. Of course, another encounter with Ben threatened her sanity. Now he was sorry and he seemed genuine. Darcy didn’t know what to make of it.

Char walked in as Darcy’s distracted mind turned the first page of the notebook into swirly scribbles.

“What’s that about?” she asked, grabbing a piece of fruit before planting herself opposite Darcy.

“Nothing you’ll like.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s me trying to figure out if I can work for myself.”

“Working for yourself? Doing what?”

“Mostly appraisals I think. But I’ve always wanted to have my own shop too. Maybe I could become a dealer too and have an online gallery.”

Char looked thoughtful and nodded.

“Is it a bad idea?”

“No, no. I think it’s a good one. But working for yourself? Are you ready for that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve contacted some of my old friends from school to see if anyone has any leads. I haven’t heard anything yet, but if I do, it’s not likely to be in Chicago.”

“Or here,” Char added.

“Yeah, definitely not here.”

“Would you stay here if you could?”

“I don’t know,” Darcy answered truthfully.

“I guess I’d better leave you to your deliberations, but don’t take all day. The guys are gone today and tonight.”

“What does that mean?” Darcy asked warily.

“It means without John around you need to entertain me.”

“I’m giving up alcohol, I mean it.”

“Fine, fine. Just a night in.”

Standing on the front porch of their childhood home, Ben took in a deep breath. After his first visit, he’d relaxed. He’d grown accustomed to the changes, the bedroom on the main floor, the nurse’s presence, and their mom’s diminished figure. But Ben could feel John’s anxiety without turning to look. His older brother cleared his throat and shuffled his feet.

“You ready?” Ben asked.

“No,” John answered honestly.

Ben nodded and rang the doorbell. It didn’t matter if he was ready or not, they were already there. Within a few minutes, their mom had opened the door.

“John,” she said with some surprise.

“Hi Mom,” he replied looking down at his feet sheepishly.

She stood in place, frozen with shock. John, unsure how to approach her, worried she’d break, didn’t move either. Ben rolled his eyes and pushed his brother forward, nearly forcing them to embrace.

“Mom, do you have any food?” Ben asked flippantly, moving farther into the house past them. He wanted to show John that acting normal was perfectly acceptable.

“Ben, for goodness sake, don’t you ever feed yourself?” she gently scolded him as she quickly moved down the hall to the kitchen ahead of them.

She pulled out chocolate croissants and her French press for a fresh batch of coffee.

“John, do you want anything?”

“This is fine, Mom, thanks.”

She smiled and gathering everything, led the way into the dining room.

“So, how’s the summer going?” she asked them both.

“Great,” Ben said between mouthfuls. “It’s been a lot of fun, actually, spending the summer with this guy. Well, at least, when I get to see him.”

John hit him.

“Hey,” Ben yelped playfully.

Her eyes grew wide with interest.

“You’re seeing someone too?” she asked.

“Yes, I guess I am,” John told her slowly.

“Is it serious?” she continued. Ben stopped eating, eager to hear the answer.

“I think so.”

“That’s wonderful. Tell me about her.”

“She’s in law school. She has one year left to go. I don’t know. What do you want to know?”

“Boys,” she sighed and rolled her eyes. “It’s always been like pulling teeth with you and your brothers to get information about anything. Even in preschool, none of you would talk. Tell me everything. How did you meet? Where is she going to school?”

“She’s actually my next-door neighbor this summer. She goes to school in Chicago, and I met her when she moved in. She’s sweet and fun and funny. We just have a lot of fun together. No matter what we’re doing, it’s great.”

“But she’s not
the
next-door neighbor, is she?” she asked, looking at Ben.

“No, Mom,” Ben answered swiftly, trying to stop the conversation from shifting to include him.

“Hey, wait a minute. Back up. What did you mean when you said ‘too?’ Who else is dating?” John asked, confused.

“Ben can’t stop talking about a girl from the island. I guess she’s your neighbor. She’s lovely. I actually had her over to the house.”

“He can’t stop talking about her, hmm?” John said turning to assess his brother.

“That’s not true.”

“I think it is,” she spoke up. “Apparently she’s seeing someone now.”

John’s eyes grew wide.

“She is?” he asked in shock.

“Have you met her before?” she asked.

“I have. She’s Charlotte’s best friend. They are renting the house next door together,” John replied.

“What do you think of her?” she asked.

“She’s nice, very friendly. I like her.”

“But do you like her for Ben?” she pushed.

“I don’t think we need to talk about this,” Ben roared.

“I do like her for Ben,” John answered. “But I think he’s missed his chance.”

She shook her head dismissively. “I don’t think so. I can’t imagine what this other boy would have over your brother.”

John shrugged. “I’ve met him. He likes her. A lot.”

She frowned.

“Can we
please
stop discussing me?” Ben bellowed.

“Now hold on, dear,” she continued. “I think maybe listening to your brother’s perspective on this might be helpful.”

John looked triumphant, and Ben glared at him in response. He felt his nostrils flare as John’s smile grew. The more Ben gave into John’s teasing, the more John teased. It had been like that since childhood, and yet he couldn’t seem to stop his response.

“John, you think he’s missed his chance. Why?”

“Because, as far as I can tell, he’s never actually tried to even take her on a date. Charlotte and I had tried unsuccessfully to set them up almost two months ago.”

“Unsuccessfully?”

“Yep, he brought a girl on the date. But Darcy handled it quite well, I think.”

“Ben, dear, honestly.”

Ben rolled his eyes.

“And now this other guy, Eric, is interested in her, and it seems like he’s pulling out all the stops.”

“What do you mean?” Ben asked, curious in spite of himself.

John shrugged casually. “Apparently he took her dancing after their dinner date the other night.”

“Oh dancing,” she sighed.

“Mom, he doesn’t mean like what you’re thinking,” Ben rushed to add.

“No, actually I do. They waltzed under the stars, according to Charlotte.”

“Hmm,” she considered. “It does sound like you have an uphill battle here honey,” she agreed.

“Mom, how did you think to contact her to come to the house anyway?” John asked.

Ben’s ears burned, and he raised his head to glare at his brother. But John avoided his gaze. It was the one question he’d never thought to ask, but he found himself clenching the armrest waiting for her response.

“Ben mentioned her, and I thought I’d call her. She had won your brother’s endorsement so why not? I needed some advice about the house.”

John nodded, but Ben frowned. He’d done it? If it was possible, he felt even worse about the entire scenario. The morning had proved far more enlightening than he could have imagined. Mom began to cough and within seconds her face had turned purple and she hunched over in her chair. Ben jumped out of his chair to rub her back and help hold her.

“John, go get the nurse,” Ben called to his brother as John sat immobilized.

Before John could move, the nurse came rushing in. Between the two of them, they managed to walk her back to her bed with John following mute behind them. The nurse hooked up her nebulizer, and Ben sat on the bed next to her, rubbing her back in the lazy circles she’d traced on him as a child. After fifteen minutes, the attack subsided, and she managed to open her eyes again.

“Okay now, Mom?” Ben asked.

She looked at him, the nebulizer still covering half her face, and nodded.

“Don’t try to talk okay? You need some rest.”