He watched as the ferry pulled into port, the ramp came down and cars started to unload. Soon he saw Jean and Lizzy waving excitedly at him. He returned the greeting, spying his parents behind them. The second the girls were off the ferry they ran to him, wrapping their arms around him.
“Hey, Daddy. We missed you,” they each said to him.
“I missed you too,” Cody said. He had, yet he was confident that the separation had been good for all of them. He had needed to let go temporarily.
“We had the best time.” Jean beamed up at him.
He went down on one knee and wrapped them in his arms. “I want to hear all about it.” A few minutes later, after he had spoken to his mom and dad, he herded them all off to his car.
Lizzie said, “We brought something home for Stacey.”
His chest ached. “You did?”
Excitement filled Jean’s voice as she said, “We got her a bracelet to replace the one she gave me. Now she can remember me when she leaves.”
“I’m sure Stacey will like that.” He had no doubt she would.
“Can we call her? Go see her?” Lizzy asked.
He drove out of the parking lot. “We’ll get in touch with her soon. Right now we need to get you home. So, Mom and Dad, how was your trip?”
Stacey tried to push away her feelings of being left out. She didn’t belong with Cody when he met his family. She wasn’t a member of that group. She understood that in her mind but her heart tugged her to the harbor. Knowledge didn’t make her heart hurt any less. She’d known she was getting in over her head, had tried to stop it, but couldn’t. Cody’s magnetic pull was just too strong. She and Cody hadn’t discussed the fact she would be returning to her cottage that night instead of being in his bed. They both knew the score.
Going home to an empty cottage held no appeal so she worked late. Stacey updated all the patient charts and had done some work that wasn’t necessary until the next week. She even made a second round to check on the patients. She didn’t want Cody to have to come in for an emergency on the first night of the girls’ return or while his parents were visiting. At least, that was the excuse she used.
Instead of going home, she chose to go to Sunbeam Victuals and Delectables for a cup of hot tea and a vegan sandwich. Not her favorite fare but a change from Cody’s high-calorie meals. There she wouldn’t have to worry about running into him.
The last few days had been the most contented of Stacey’s life. She and Cody worked together during the day occasionally sneaking a kiss when no one was around. In the evenings she went to his house. Sometimes she helped him prepare dinner and other times she sat and talked to him while he worked. They most often talked about his childhood which was almost idyllic compared to hers. Sometimes she would share one of her experiences in a different country.
She’d never before shared this type of connection with another human being. Cody hadn’t only become her lover but her friend. Those were more difficult to find. She’d always looked forward to leaving one post and been excited about the next but this time she was dreading the change.
She was climbing into her car when her cellphone rang. To her surprise the phone ID told her it was Cody. “Hi.”
“Could you come over?” He sounded as if he wasn’t sure about asking or was afraid she might refuse. Still, her heart skipped a beat.
“Aren’t the girls there?”
“Yes, they’re the ones who asked me to call.”
It hurt that it wasn’t him who’d wanted to call. Even though she felt compelled to go, it wouldn’t help her start detaching herself from Cody. It had been years since she’d let someone get so close to her. “I don’t know. I’m tired. I’m just heading home.” She had been up most of the night with him so it was a sweet tired.
“Just for a minute.” His flat tone implied he was uncomfortable about insisting.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She was confident it wasn’t. It would only make it harder for her. Possibly them.
His voice lowered. “The girls brought you a surprise or I wouldn’t insist.”
She couldn’t not go now. Everything in her wanted to see Cody anyway. If just for a moment. She sighed. “Cody.”
“We’re adults. We can do this.” He sounded as unconvinced as she felt. “The girls are refusing to go to bed and it’s a school night.”
He was laying the bricks of guilt on her.
“My mother and father are here also. They would like to say bye before they leave.”
“They don’t really know me.” Her being friends with his parents was just one more level of involvement she didn’t need.