Summer on Lovers' Island (Jewell Cove 3)

When she was gone silence fell once more while conversations erupted all around them.

“Josh?” Ian finally asked.

“He borrowed my mug one day. His other sister was in labor and he went to the hospital.”

“You’re not looking at me. Don’t tell me you’ve started an affair with the other doctor in town.”

“Frankly, what I do in my personal life is none of your business. Not anymore.”

He cursed. “What the hell, Lizzie? You call this getting your life back on track? You know, the case with that baby … I can understand that. Everyone misses something now and again. Everyone makes mistakes. But since then your life decisions have been so … ugh, I don’t even know what.” He threw his napkin on the table in disgust.

Lizzie didn’t need any more time to think. The carefully planned career she’d envisioned didn’t exist and she didn’t even feel that bad about it. Maybe she’d regret it later, but she straightened her spine and looked at him.

“You know, I don’t think I need more time. I’m sorry, Ian, but I won’t be returning. You can feel free to hire someone in my position if you’re short-staffed.”

His mouth dropped open. “Lizzie. Don’t be stupid.”

Was that really what he thought? She wondered how she could ever have found him attractive or thought they’d had so much in common. She’d changed. No, not changed. It felt like she was finally waking up to the person she wanted to be. She didn’t know if that person wanted to be in Jewell Cove or make a fresh start somewhere else; there was a lot of soul-searching to do. But cutting ties felt good.

“No, this is good. I can’t have a do-over, but I can make a fresh start. I really don’t think it would work, Ian. I can’t imagine taking orders from you anymore.”

The volume in the little restaurant had reached a fever pitch, and Lizzie looked over to find a very frazzled Linda trying to manage everything with only one other waitress. “Breakfast is on me, so enjoy it. And good luck, Ian.”

He reached out and stopped her with a hand. “Lizzie, you’re making a mistake.”

She pulled her hand away. “Just add it to my list, then,” she replied. She left him sitting there and went to the counter.

Linda looked up. “I’m sorry, Lizzie. We didn’t find out about the bus until the last minute. I know it’s taking a long time—”

“Don’t worry about it. You can cancel my order, and I’ll pay for my guest’s now.”

“You’re sure?”

“Oh,” Lizzie said, “I’m positive. Thanks, Linda. I’ll see you later.”

Lizzie shouldered her bag, clutched her travel mug, and left him behind.

* * *

Josh stuck the brush in the bucket and took it out again, dripping with water and soap, and scrubbed along the side of the Constant with hard strokes.

His lawn was mowed and the garbage at the curb for pickup and he’d been dying to find something to do. So washing his boat was it. With the storm tracking northward, there was a good chance Maine would suffer a direct hit by the weekend. And even if it didn’t, the hurricane would make for some dangerous surge. He’d want to keep his boat out of the water in any case.

Besides, the physical labor kept him from getting angry.

But when a car door slammed and he looked up to find Lizzie standing at the end of his driveway, he knew it would take a lot more than scrubbing at some fiberglass to get rid of his edginess.

She came down the short paved drive carrying a white bakery box in her hands. Peace offering? he wondered. Because he knew who’d been in town and knew they’d had breakfast together this morning.

And he hated that it bothered him so much.

“You took the boat out of the water,” she observed, smiling at him as she approached.

“Storm’s coming. Last thing I want is her smashed up against the dock. Lots of people taking theirs out in the next day or so.”

Lizzie’s smile flickered a bit at his sharp tone. “The latest forecast says we’re in for it.”

“Not the first time,” he said. He knew he was being curt but couldn’t seem to help it. She didn’t want him. He wasn’t good enough, was he? And barely any time after she walked away, her old fling was in town. She hadn’t wasted any time.