Page 98 of When You Were Mine

The bottom floor of the lighthouse had a welcome desk, a few chairs, and a coffee and tea station. Empty, of course. But she found a note on the counter.

Welcome to the Rán Lighthouse!

We’re very happy to host you. Please make yourself at home. I’ve set out fresh towels, sheets, and extra blankets in the Bird’s Eye Room at the very top—that’s for our most special guests—and I’ve left some toiletries in the bathroom. We turned on utilities, so you should already have hot water.

When you leave, please text Piers to let us know.

Merry Christmas!

“That’s so nice of them.” As she reached for some of the bags, she heard tires crunching over ice. “Who could that be?”

Trevor set his load down to answer the knock at the door. A woman with a wool hat and puffy, bright orange coat stood there with several insulated bags. “Welcome. I brought you some food.”

“That’s so nice of you.” Jessica hurried over. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Three children came in behind her, arms full of goodies. “It’s nearly Christmas, and you’re stranded. We wanted to.”

“Thank you.” Trevor relieved the kids of their offerings. “This is very kind of you.”

“You’re welcome,” the woman said. “This should tide you over, but if you need anything else, just let me know. I’ve taped my phone number to the red bag. Now, don’t try to clean up when you leave. Treat it like any hotel room you’d stay in. Okay, we’ll be off. Be safe.”

“I don’t even know how to thank you for your generosity.” Jessica walked them to the door. “By the way, what does Rán mean?”

“It’s the Norse goddess of water.” The woman headed out, and the kids followed her.

“She lures sailors into her watery depths,” the oldest child’s voice got snatched away by the wind.

“And she catches them in her net,” another called.

“Rán means robber,” the littlest said.

Jess waved goodbye and then closed the door behind them. She turned back to Trevor. “Of course it does.”

“What could be more fitting for a couple of outlaws from Wyoming?” Even as he tried for levity, he was watching her carefully.

Because this man could read her like a book, and he had to sense her sadness. But what was the point in dwelling on all they’d lost? They had this moment. And who knew what the future might bring? She reached for the insulated totes. “Can you believe they did all this? I wonder what they brought us.”

“Let’s go find out.” Trevor loaded up.

“I mean, if we had to get stuck in a snowstorm, this is the way to go, am I right?” There. She sounded normal. Fun.

“You got that right.” He led the way to the elevator.

They loaded everything and then settled in for the ride to the top. They were alone in a little box filled with the scents of roasted meat and warm bread. “That world I described of us?”

See, he did know her.She nodded.

“We can have it.”

“Oh, well, I’m not going to have nine children with you.”

“What about grandkids? Grand nieces and nephews? Cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws. We can have the big family we always wanted. It’ll just look a little different.”

She smiled because his endless optimism and his absolute confidence in their future made her unabashedly happy.

And now, she was completely alone with him in a lighthouse on the southern coast of Iceland.

Whatever will we do to pass the time?

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