Island of Secrets and Scars

Surprisingly, Ian found himself enjoying the farewell picnic the islanders had prepared for him and Wes. Of course, the picnic wasn’t only to tell the two of them goodbye. They also celebrated the birth of the new baby and Ara’s recovery. They celebrated Brodie as well, but from where Ian stood with Wes and Edmund, the injured man didn’t appear to be enjoying the festivities. Ian hadn’t expected to enjoy them either. He’d much rather spend his last day on the island with Cameron. Preferably in bed.

Instinctively, his gaze went to the woman occupying his thoughts. Earlier, she’d sat at a picnic table with Esme and Luci laughing. Now, she sat cross-legged on the ground with Ara in her lap. Esme’s baby lay nestled in Ara’s arms with Cameron supporting them. The tiny girl’s head swiveled as she alternated between gazing at the baby and grinning at her mother. Ian’s chest tightened until breathing became difficult. This party might be his official goodbye as a doctor, but this island hadn’t seen the last of him. If the ideas he and Edmund had thrown around earlier panned out, they’d end up with one more islander.

Ian stopped by Brodie’s chair. The other man wasn’t completely healed. Far from it. Both his body and his mind still needed time to recover from his accident. Ian had already begun working on getting prosthetics for him. Eventually, Brodie would leave the island to get his new legs and do physical therapy. One day, maybe he’d even have his own boat again. Until then…

“What did Edmund say?” Brodie asked.

“He might know someone.” Hope bubbled in Ian’s chest.

Brodie nodded. “He usually does.”

They sat in comfortable silence, both watching Arabella fawn over the baby. A smile touched Brodie’s lips.

“She was afraid, you know?” Ian ventured.

“Who?” The other man shifted in his chair to face Ian.

He inclined his head toward Cameron. “She thought you’d be mad she kept you alive when she couldn’t save your legs.”

Brodie lowered his gaze, staring into his lap. “Sometimes I do feel that way,” the other man confessed. “But only for a minute. Look at my family.” Lifting a hand, he indicated his wife and girls who’d joined Cameron and Arabella on the grass. “They couldn’t care less if I have two legs or arms or anything else. They love me.” His lips stretched in a genuine smile now. “I worry about how to provide for them. Fishing is all I know. But if I were dead, I couldn’t provide for them at all.” He shrugged. “Do you think Doc understands?”

Ian studied the woman he loved as she snuggled the baby before handing him off to his mother. When she’d last been his, she’d been angry and bitter. Mad that he and Wes had saved her and not her child. Now, happiness radiated from her, and love shone in her bright gaze when she looked at the little girl in her lap and the people surrounding her.

“I think you should talk to her. You’d be surprised at just how well she’ll understand.” And maybe by talking with someone with a shared experience, Brodie and Cameron could both heal.

Vea broke away from the group, then ran to her father. With Ian’s help, she climbed on to Brodie’s lap, careful not to touch his still healing legs. She snuggled into his chest.

Brodie grinned up at Ian. “I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

Ian’s eyes grew warm as he watched father and daughter. Despite the other man’s physical limitations, Ian envied him. No sacrifice would be too much to enjoy the love Brodie and his family shared.

“Dr. Ian.” Arabella’s sweet voice broke through his thoughts.

Turning, he caught the girl as she ran to him. He lifted her into his arms, then planted a kiss atop her curly head. “What’s up, peanut?”

She wrinkled her nose at the nickname, pulling a laugh from him. Yeah, that one didn’t work for him either. They’d find one that did. As far as he was concerned, they had forever to figure it out.

“Guess what.” Her tiny body shook with barely contained excitement.

He chortled. “What?”

“Creek and I get to spend the night with Luci tonight.”

Cameron reached them then. Ian’s gaze locked with hers. “Is that right?” he asked the daughter aloud, while he tried with his eyes to ask the mother what that meant for them.

“Yep,” Ara replied, popping her “p.” “And Benita might come because the baby is too loud.”

Nodding absently, Ian replied, “Babies can definitely be loud.”

Cameron patted her daughter’s thin back. “Aimee has dessert for you. Why don’t you go grab some?”

When Ara began to wiggle, Ian lowered her to the ground. Silently, they watched until she’d reached the other woman.

“So, she’s spending the night? What will you do in that quiet house all alone?”

Cameron sidled closer until her arm brushed against his and her scent reached him through the smell of salt air and smoke. “I was hoping you’d have some ideas.”

When she lifted her sparkling blue gaze to his, his body went rock hard. He definitely had some ideas that his body appeared more than willing to act on.

“I’ll take her by the cottage to get pjs, then walk her over to Luci’s. If you want to meet me…”

“Absolutely.”

“You can spend the night,” she offered.

As if he’d have any intention of leaving once she got him in her home. In her bed.

He grinned. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Blushing, she dipped her head. “I should probably go help Aimee with dessert. I’ll see you tonight?”

“Yes.” Needing to touch her, he gave her hand a firm squeeze. One day soon, everyone on this island would know she belonged to him. He’d hug her, kiss her, touch her whenever he wanted. No doubt she thought they were spending their last night together. She was wrong. Tonight would change everything.

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