Page 89 of A Nantucket Wedding

Tears rolled down her cheeks silently, for Jane couldn’t find breath to make a sound. She gulped, trying to stop the tears, trying to control herself. This was so much, this wastoomuch. “Am I dreaming?” she asked. “Is this real? Did you just say you want to have children with me?”

“I did say that. And it’s not the pain medication speaking. All I wanted to do when they found me was call you and tell you, but I was in rough shape when they finally found me. At least I managed to ask the rescue team leader to let you know I’m okay. I can’t begin to pronounce his name. But they got me here and gave me some shots while they yanked my arm back together and put it in a cast. Thank God for them. Thank God for you.”

“Scott,” Jane said, and now she’d found her breath and she was sobbing. “Scott, I don’t have to have children. I wantyou. I needyou. I didn’t realize it, but I did, even before you fell, I missed you so much and I love you so much, so let’s think about it. Let’s get you out of the hospital and home, and then we can talk about it, okay?”

“Jane. I want children with you. Our children. And talking is not what I want to do to get them.” Scott smiled.

A shiver of surprise laced with lust dazzled its way through Jane’s body. “Oh, my darling, my love, my sweet Scott,” she cried, and she knew she’d never said these sorts of romantic endearments to him before, because that had never been her way, their way. Yet now she could not stop calling him her darling, her dearest, her love. But her tears got her face all wet, so she had to control herself and dig tissue out of her purse and blow her nose. Then, embarrassed by her display of emotion, she smiled sheepishly. “I should let you get some sleep.”

“Yes. You should get some, too.” Scott’s eyelids drooped.

“I—I don’t know what time it is here. I need to find a hotel, an inn for tonight. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Scott told her with a wry smile.

Jane watched her husband sink back into a healing sleep.

—

In the late afternoon, Felicity was sorting her clothes, seeing what would be best for working with little kids, when her cell buzzed.

“Sweetie,” her mother said, sounding almost giddy, “the gowns are here! Anya brought them. I’m wearing mine and I’m totally fabulous!”

In the background, Anya muttered, “No, I need to let out the waist.”

Alison was euphoric. “What a day this is! Scott’s alive, and Jane’s over in Wales, and my gown is gorgeous!”

“I can’t wait to see it, Mom—”

Alison interrupted. “I’ll take the gowns down to the island. You and your family are coming this weekend, aren’t you?”

Felicity hesitated. It was the first week in September and Noah was still stonewalling her, adamant about not coming to the wedding. But her mother was so happy! Alison wanted so much for her daughters to have a wonderful summer, and they were having a wonderful summer! Well, everyone except Noah. Maybe she should simply ignore Noah and Ingrid. Maybe he’d get over her, or possibly, if he remained in the hateful mood he was in, he’d show Ingrid just a speck of his dark side and Ingrid would run away like the clever girl she seemed to be. But Felicity wasn’t going to rain on her mother’s parade.

“Of course, Mom,” Felicity said brightly. “We’ll be down this weekend.”

Felicity sighed as she ended the call. She had to shake off this sadness before she went to Nantucket. Alison and David wanted to give their families and friends a sensational party. Felicity would not allow herself to mope and moan in front of Alison.

The front door slammed. Felicity startled. It was only a little after five. Could that be Noah? More likely, a serial rapist breaking into the house.

“Felicity!”

It was Noah, and weirdly, he soundedhappy.

“In the kitchen,” she called.

Noah came into the room like a tornado. He put both hands on Felicity’s waist and picked her up and whirled her around as if they had suddenly been beamed ontoDancing with the Stars.

“It’s a miracle!” Noah shouted. He kissed Felicity hard on the mouth and set her on the kitchen counter so her face was at his level.

“Are you okay?” Felicity asked.

“Okay? I’mamazing! It’s going to happen, Felicity! It’s really going to happen!”

“Did you have a breakthrough?”

“David Gladstone is investing in Green Food!”

“He is?”

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