Page 34 of Cut The Cake

“It does that.” She scanned the path ahead. “I can’t get over how green everything is. It’s so different from the West Coast. Southern California is dry and dusty.”

Nick studied the land, trying to view it through the eyes of someone who’d never been here before. On his right, beyond the waves that pounded against the rocky shore, the ocean stretched to the horizon. To his left, tall oaks and maples dappled the path with shade. Broken by clumps of wildflowers that bloomed in riotous colors, grass carpeted the ground.

“You’re right,” he said, thinking about how lucky he was to live in a place where tulips and flowers from other bulbs burst through the ground each spring. Rhode Island’s summers were lush with new life. Its crisp fall days were filled with rich oranges and deep reds. Even the snowy winter had its own stark beauty. “I guess I’ve taken it for granted.” In the distance, a gleaming white house sat on a small hill overlooking the ocean. Nick pedaled slower. “That’s the Captain’s Cottage up ahead.”

Jenny took in the rear of the sprawling, three-story home. “Where we’re holding the wedding. I’m not sure I would have recognized it from this angle.”

Nick’s eyes narrowed. Jenny, unlike most brides, had always referred to the wedding rather than her wedding. Filing the subtle difference away to discuss at another time, he filled her in on a little bit of the local history. “It’s a pretty big house. It had to be. The original owners, Captain Thaddeus Heart and his wife, Mary, had a dozen children.”

“Whew,” Jenny whistled while she gave her head a careful shake. “I’ve always wanted children, but maybe not quite that many.”

Nick rubbed one finger over his upper lip. He’d often thought of having kids of his own—children he could pass the tricks of the baking trade down to like his father had with him. Cooing infants who’d wrap him around their little fingers on Day One and never let go. Toddlers to bounce on his knee and play hide-and-seek with. There’d be flag football games on crisp fall afternoons. Dance recitals, science fairs, and spelling bees.

His front wheel struck a pebble. The bike wobbled. He cleared his throat and forced his thoughts back to the present. What had he and Jenny been talking about? Oh, yeah—Thaddeus Heart. “There’s a statue of him in a small park off Champagne Avenue. Have you seen it?”

“Just a glimpse,” Jenny nodded. “I wondered who it was.”

“The one and only Captain. He was an eighteenth-century seafarer, the founder of Heart’s Landing. We know he plied the seas from Boston to the West Indies. Being a ship’s captain was a hard life in those days. There were pirates to battle, bad storms, and weeks when the winds didn’t blow. They say his love for Mary was what kept him going. For a dozen years or more, he dropped anchor in Heart’s Cove in time for her birthday each year. He’d stay for a few months, long enough to have repairs made to his ship and take on provisions. And make a baby.” He laughed, self-conscious. “Rumor has it, every year he brought his wife the same present, a heart he’d chiseled out of stone during the long, lonely nights at sea.”

Curiosity colored Jenny’s dark eyes. “I’ve seen one or two on buildings downtown. That’s what you’re talking about?”

Grinning, Nick nodded. “The very same. Mary and the Captain had them mounted around town. Most of them still exist.”

“Paula showed us a broken one the day we visited Something Old, Something New.”

“That she did.” He nodded as they pedaled past the rear of the mansion. Leaning to one side, he pointed to a white fence atop the mansard roof. “See that railing? That’s the widow’s walk. They say you could see Mary standing there, day or night, fair weather or foul, watching for her husband’s sails for a month before his ship was due. One year, a hurricane struck just before Captain Thaddeus made port. With the winds howling and the storm raging around her, Mary refused to come down. She had the servants lash her to one of the posts until the storm passed and the good captain made it home. If you’re interested, ask Alicia to take you up on the roof. You can still see the path she wore in the slate.”

He caught the sidelong glance Jenny shot him. It was clear she wasn’t entirely sure about that part of the story. Nick shrugged. He hadn’t actually read Mary’s diary himself, but children for miles around grew up listening to tales of Mary and Thaddeus’s love for one another. And every fall, the town put on a pageant reenacting how the captain had battled the hurricane in order to drop anchor in Heart’s Landing in time for Mary’s birthday. For the past five years, Jason and his cousin, Evelyn, had played the lead roles.

In the distance, the land jutted out toward the sea. Nick pointed in that general direction. “The cove where Captain Thaddeus made landing is a mile or so on the other side of that point. We can stop there for lunch, if you’re up to it.”

“I’m game if you are.” With a challenging grin, Jenny stood on her pedals.

“Let’s ride, then,” Nick called.

As they raced along the bike path, the ground began a slow rise. Crashing onto the rocks, the sea fell away on their right. By the time they reached the top and braked to a stop, the steep cliffs rose high above the ocean.

“Oh, it’s beautiful.” Jenny peered over her handlebars. Below them, waves rolled smoothly onto the sandy beach of a small harbor. “Can we get down there?”

“Captain Thaddeus had his men cut stairs into the rocks. A few years ago, the town added handrails. The salt spray makes the steps slippery, but it’s safe enough if you’re careful.” The beach was a popular spot on weekends. Today, though, they had it to themselves. “I’ll get the picnic basket.”

Leaving the bikes behind, they filed down to the snug harbor, where Jenny immediately shucked off her shoes. Scrunching her toes in the sugary sand, she giggled. “I haven’t done this in ages.”

He ran a hand over his chin. Planning a wedding was a nerve-wracking experience under normal circumstances. Jenny’s had tried the patience of everyone in town. After working on the design for her latest wedding cake into the wee hours of the morning, he’d added his own name to the list. But he couldn’t deny how good it made him feel to see her enjoying herself for a change. No doubt she was under as much stress as everyone else. Determined to keep the mood light, Nick lifted one eyebrow. “I thought it was all sunshine and surfers in California.”

Jenny laughed. “I’m farther inland. A trip to the beach is an all-day affair, and my job keeps me pretty busy. It’s hard to find that kind of time. Still, you’d think I’d go more often.” She shielded her eyes with her hand. “How’s the water?”

“Cold.” Nick gave an exaggerated shiver. With the water temperature hovering in the sixties throughout the summer, most swimmers didn’t go in without a wetsuit.

“Okay if I check it out?”

“Fine by me. Just be sure to get out before you turn into a popsicle.”

He kept one eye on her while he spread the blanket and anchored it down with the basket and their shoes. Just as he expected, her laughter rang out, true and bright, when the first wave washed over her feet. Retreating from the cold water, she walked the water’s edge, bending low to pick up the occasional bit here and there.

Eager to catch up with her, he jogged to meet her. “Find anything interesting?”

“Some shells. I’m not sure what kind they are. Do you know?”

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