Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“These are pretty. Like jewels.”

“Have you had any ideas for your new collection?”

“A few. Nothing final.”

The next step was to get back to her studio in New York and start work.

But that would mean leaving Puffin Island.

And Alec.

And she didn’t want to do that until the very last minute.

She wanted to make the most of every moment.

She sat down at the table, staring at Alec’s cottage in the drawing.

Leaving it would be a wrench, but nowhere near as much of a wrench as leaving him.

The conversation the night before had been difficult because up until now she’d never had to hide her feelings from him. Their honesty was one of the things she’d loved most about their relationship.

What if he guessed? What if she couldn’t hide the way she felt?

She’d made him a promise. She’d told him this wouldn’t happen.

And she knew he wasn’t going to change his mind.

He’d reminded her of that last night.

His words had been a warning.

She desperately wanted to talk to her friend but Lizzy was between them so she searched for something else to talk about instead.

“I met Meg Ferguson for the first time. Do you know her?”

“A little. She’s a friend of Agnes’s. She was part of the island woman’s group that Kathleen used to belong to. I remember Brit telling us that they used to go on theatre trips to the mainland.” Emily rescued the paintbrush Lizzy was waving around. “How did you meet her?”

“Alec checks on her when he’s home. All summer he acted like an antisocial hermit, but when he’s on the island he visits her every week and has done so ever since her husband died. That’s a year, Em.”

“I had no idea. He never said anything.”

“He doesn’t. That isn’t his way. Richard used to do things based on how visible they were to the public, but Alec does it because it’s the right thing to do.”

Emily slid the top back onto a tube of glitter. “That’s good. So he’s not as cynical and bitter as he appears on the surface.”

“He isn’t bitter.” Sky leaped to his defense. “I think he blames himself and because of that he’s wary.”

“What’s bitter?” Lizzy lifted her head from her painting and Sky realized they had to be careful what they said.

Emily provided an explanation while Sky stared into the bowl of cranberries.

“He loves art.”

“Who?”

“Alec. I didn’t expect that. I’ve never had anyone I could talk to about that before.”

“That’s good. I’m glad you’re not upset about Richard.” Emily ushered Lizzy to wash her hands.