The Summer's End

“I got a job offer.”

His gaze sharpened.

“As a stills photographer for a film. In LA.”

Blake went very still but his face reflected shock and confusion and, she hated to see, worry.

“But you just said . . .”

“That I love you. I do.”

“Then why are you running away again?”

“I’m not running away. Not this time. I’m going toward something.” Carson reached up to stroke away a fallen curl from his forehead. “You.”

His brow was troubled. “I don’t understand.”

“Blake . . .” She paused, then looked into his eyes. “I’m not going to take the job. I’ll be honest. When I woke up this morning, I thought I would be telling you that I was. You know I’ve been floundering. The miscarriage was only part of it. I’ve been adrift all summer. When I got the job, I was thrilled. Relieved. It’s been a long time since I had any work in my field. I thought I had to take this job. I need it, God knows. Not only because of the money. But to rebuild my reputation. My career. My self-esteem.”

“But you’re not taking it?”

“No. I don’t want to be alone. I’m not afraid anymore.”

“What about that thing about needing to swim alone? The shark?”

“When I released Delphine, it was like once again she chased the shark away.” It was one of those things Carson understood instinctively but found hard to put to words. “Today, out in the Cove,” she tried to explain, “when Delphine looked at me, I didn’t see forgiveness. For her, the past was already forgotten. Delphine lives in the moment. All I saw in her eyes was love. Acceptance. And joy. She was so happy to be back home. She showed me what release meant. Watching her, I felt a release from my past. My fears.”

Blake was listening, not interrupting her.

Carson smiled. “I don’t want to push you away anymore. I want to stay here. With you. Where I belong.”

Blake exhaled a long plume of air. He looked at her hand and played with her fingers, deep in thought. After a bit, he turned his head and looked at her. “I am glad that you got the job offer. A film. That’s big.”

“Yes.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you. I’ll find something else.” She smirked. “Someday.”

Blake lifted his arm to lay it over her shoulder and draw her closer to his chest. “You should take the film offer.”

“What? But I thought you’d be happy I’m staying.”

“Of course I am. I want you to stay. But you’ve earned that job offer. And I think you’re right. You should take it for all the reasons you listed. But . . .” he looked at her. “How long this time?”

Carson sat straight, staring back at him in earnest. “Not long. Maybe four months.”

“You will come back? In four months.”

She took a breath, not quite believing where this conversation was heading. “Yes. I promise. I’ll rent a place by the month. Nothing permanent. Then I’ll hop on a plane and come right back home. To you. If you’ll wait.” She paused. “Are you sure you’ll wait?”

“I’ll wait.” A smile was in his voice even as he sighed deeply.

Carson closed her eyes. “Thank you.”

“If . . .”

Her eyes flashed open and she looked at him under a raised brow. “If what?”

“If you’ll marry me when you return.”

“Marry you!” she exclaimed. She hadn’t seen this coming. “Are you kidding?”

“Nope. I figure this is my best chance for you to say yes.”

Carson stared back at him, momentarily stunned. The past summer flashed in her mind. Months of connection, of healing, and of release. Throughout the turbulent days Blake had weathered the storms, never wavering, steadfast in his love for her. This was love one could build a future on.

Her lips curved and she shrugged. “You might be right. I’d better say yes.”

Blake’s eyes widened as he broke into smile. “You said yes?”

“I said yes.”

Blake swooped to kiss her again, sealing the promise.

She snuggled deeper in his arms, listened to his heartbeat as they held each other tight, neither wanting to let go.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Well, that’s it!” Mamaw exclaimed, clasping her hands together. “Sea Breeze is now officially yours.”

Harper’s chest constricted as she looked at her signature on the deed. There, on the bottom of the real estate deed, was her name written in her tight vertical script: Harper Muir-James. She’d done it. Or rather, Granny James had done it. With some careful manipulating and planning, she’d managed for Harper to buy Sea Breeze. It felt unreal. As if she were floating in some dream and someone would soon wake her up.

But it was real, she thought with amazement as she looked around in a daze at the smiling faces sitting around the long, polished dining-room table at Sea Breeze. So many people were impacted by this one decision. Taylor, of course. Carson and Blake. Dora and Devlin.

Most of all, her grandmothers. Mamaw and Granny James. She stood between them and looked from one to the other. How lucky she was to have these two remarkable women as role models in her life.

This was a shared joy. Everyone was smiling. Harper brought a trembling hand to her mouth. With one signature she’d succeeded in bringing joy to all the people she loved most in the world.

Taylor came to her side, put his hands on her shoulders, and bent to kiss her mouth. His lips were warm and firm. Possessive. “Congratulations, honey. I know this was important to you.”

She looked in his eyes with a wry smile. “I know you’d be just as happy living on the Miss Jenny.”

“Oh, I reckon I could get used to Sea Breeze. After we’re married.”

The resounding sound of a champagne cork’s popping drew everyone’s attention.

“This is cause for celebration!” Devlin called out as he filled the glasses on the tray. The bubbles rose in the flutes and overflowed the rims.

“Good man,” Granny James exclaimed.

“Careful, Dev,” Dora cried, rushing to assist.

“There’s plenty more where that came from,” Devlin said, chuckling.

“What are you so happy about?” Carson teased him. “You lost your commission.”